With the two taels of silver, Tang Zhuojun decided to buy some food.
From what she remembered, the Tang family’s meals were always very simple— steamed corn buns and pickles would make up a meal. Occasionally there might be a bit of meat, but that was usually reserved for Linlin and herself.
That wouldn’t do. Food is the foundation of the people— if you eat poorly, what’s the point of living?
Tang Zhuojun walked up to the meat stall. Since it was almost evening, the butcher was preparing to close. On the chopping board lay a few large bones with hardly any meat, and in a wooden tub on the ground hung a string of pig intestines.
“All the meat’s sold out today. Miss, if you want some, come back tomorrow,” said the burly butcher politely.
“How much for these bones and intestines?” she asked.
The butcher hesitated, then said, “I was planning to take these home myself… but if you want them, just give me a few coins.”
The large bones could make soup and still had a little meat, so they could sell for ten or so coins. The intestines, though, nobody wanted; he usually took them home for himself or gave them to neighbors.
Tang Zhuojun’s face lit up. She tested him: “Then how about I give you twenty coins for all of it?”
One coin had roughly the same buying power as a modern yuan. For twenty coins, she got all these large bones and intestines— what a steal!
The butcher was delighted and agreed, tying up the items with a rope.
Tang Zhuojun paid and smiled. “It would be perfect if there were some pig’s blood too.”
That way, she could make Mao Xue Wang. Though there was no beef tripe, it would be close enough.
From what she remembered, there were already chili peppers here, but many people couldn’t handle the spiciness, and there was no Sichuan cuisine.
The butcher said, “Actually, there’s one piece left. Wait here— I’ll get it for you. I’ll give it to you, and you should come by more often.”
Tang Zhuojun had him watch over the items, then went next door to buy the needed vegetables and seasonings. With the large bones and intestines in hand, she returned home.
Altogether, it was over ten jin of food. Her hands were red and sore, and she was out of breath by the time she got back.
Tang Zhuojun sighed. This body was far too weak.
In her previous life, her father had been a Muay Thai coach, so she had started handling boxing gloves before she could even walk. For over thirty years, she had practiced Muay Thai diligently. Even after her father passed away, she never gave it up.
If her mother hadn’t fallen ill and died when she was a teenager, she probably would have gone professional.
The loss of her mother hit both father and daughter hard. Her father fell into depression, and she devoted herself to studying medicine, working harder than anyone else…
After her father died unexpectedly, she was alone and focused even more on her career—until she transmigrated here.
Thinking of her parents, her eyes filled with tears.
“Miss, are you alright?” Xiu’er came out and was surprised to see tears in her eyes.
“Oh! Did you buy pig intestines?” Xiu’er exclaimed, noticing what Tang Zhuojun carried.
Tang Zhuojun sniffed and said, “Come help me— we’ll have a good meal tonight.”
She put the food down and silently vowed to train her body properly from now on and always bring a basket when buying groceries!
“These intestines are so smelly— who would eat them?” Xiu’er complained. “Ah, I see— you bought them to feed the cats, right?”
There were many stray cats around their home.
Tang Zhuyun was too lazy to explain. “Come inside and help— tonight I’m cooking.”
Xiu’er’s mouth formed an O-shape. “You… you’re cooking? But Miss, you can’t cook!”
“I grew up in the countryside. Of course I can cook. I just used to be too lazy,” Tang Zhuojun said.
First, she put the silver note away safely, then returned to clean the pig intestines.
Watching her work skillfully, Xiu’er almost had her eyes pop out.
When Tang Zhuojun used flour to finally clean the intestines, Xiu’er couldn’t help but comment, “These intestines are worthless, yet you’re using such precious flour to wash them.”
She had thought Miss had turned over a new leaf, but now it seemed she was still being reckless.
Tang Zhuojun, annoyed, chased her out of the kitchen and continued working.
Xiu’er wasn’t idle either; she chopped firewood at the kitchen door, thinking bitterly that when Master returned, seeing Miss acting this way, he would surely frown.
She had never actually been scolded by Master, but just one frown and she was terrified.
Even the little master— though young— made her shiver with fear when his deep eyes fixed on her.