The next day, the sky was still dim with early dawn, yet a completely different and far more complex, rich aroma had already begun to spread through the small courtyard.
Li Lanxiang had risen even earlier than usual.
The fire in the stove roared brightly, and in the largest iron pot a deep-brown braising broth bubbled vigorously.
The broth had been made from the leftover cracklings from yesterday’s lard rendering, combined with some pork bones, several spices, a generous amount of salt, a little white sugar, soy sauce, and water.
It had been simmered for nearly an hour.
Now the liquid was thick and reddish-brown.
The essence of spices and meat had blended together, releasing a powerful, irresistible fragrance.
Inside the pot were the leftovers from yesterday’s pig slaughter—carefully cleaned pig head, pig trotters, and a full assortment of offal: heart, liver, lungs, stomach, and large intestines.
The pig head had been split in half, the trotters chopped into chunks, and the organs cut into suitable pieces. They rose and sank in the rolling broth, slowly taking on a deep brown color while absorbing all the salty, savory richness of the braising liquid.
Braising required patience and time.
Li Lanxiang tended the stove, occasionally turning the pieces with long chopsticks so they heated evenly and would not stick to the bottom.
The fragrance of the braise grew stronger and stronger. Soon it drifted beyond the courtyard walls, drawing curious glances from the neighbors.
“Lanxiang from Dashan’s family, what are you cooking this time? Why does it smell so good?”
Aunt Zhao, passing by, could not help asking from outside the gate.
“Just braising some offal for the family,”
Li Lanxiang replied with a smile, offering no further explanation.
By the time the sun had risen higher, the braised meats had become tender and richly flavored. A gentle poke with chopsticks could easily separate the meat from the pig head, the trotters were soft and gelatinous, and all the offal had soaked up the broth, shining with a glossy, dark sauce color.
She extinguished the fire but left the meat soaking in the broth to absorb even more flavor.
After breakfast, Li Lanxiang fished out the braised pig head, trotters, and offal, letting the broth drain off.
She removed the bones from the pig head and sliced the meat into evenly cut thick pieces. The trotters and offal were also portioned neatly.
She brought out a clean bamboo basket and lined the bottom with fresh lotus leaves. The braised meats were arranged carefully inside, then covered with another lotus leaf.
“Dashan, come with me to the town again,”
she said to Wang Dashan, who was repairing his hunting gear.
Wang Dashan looked up, glanced at the bamboo basket in her hands, and inhaled the lingering braised aroma in the air. He more or less understood.
“To sell these?”
“Mm. Let’s try.”
Li Lanxiang nodded.
“Maybe a restaurant will want them.”
Wang Dashan said nothing more. He set aside his tools and went to hitch up the flatbed cart.
This time there were not many goods, but Li Lanxiang insisted on riding the cart—likely to keep the braised meat looking presentable.
When they arrived in town again, it was nearly noon, and the streets were lively and noisy.
Li Lanxiang did not head to the market. Instead, she had Wang Dashan slowly drive the cart through several busier streets while she scanned the roadside shops bearing signs that read “wine,” “food,” or “restaurant.”
Finally, she stopped in front of a tavern called “Yuelai Residence.”
The storefront looked tidy and respectable, and customers were constantly going in and out.
“This one will do.”
Li Lanxiang climbed down from the cart with the bamboo basket.
“Wait here for me,” she told Wang Dashan.
He parked the cart beneath a roadside tree and silently watched her walk steadily into the tavern.
At the entrance, the waiter greeting customers was momentarily surprised to see a plainly dressed woman carrying a basket walk in. A faint trace of indifference appeared on his face.
Li Lanxiang seemed not to notice and walked straight to the counter.
Behind the counter stood a shopkeeper wearing a silk robe with a small goat beard, fiddling with an abacus.
“Shopkeeper, pardon the interruption,”
Li Lanxiang said calmly.
The shopkeeper looked up and examined her briefly, his brows knitting slightly.
“Madam, are you here to eat?”
“Not to eat. I wanted to ask if your establishment buys braised meat.”
As she spoke, Li Lanxiang lifted a corner of the lotus leaf covering the basket.
Immediately, a distinctive fragrance drifted out—a blend of meat aroma, savory spices, and the fresh scent of lotus leaves. It wasn’t overpowering, but it was unmistakable.
Inside the basket, the braised meats looked beautiful.
The slices of pig head were reddish-brown and glossy, with clear layers of texture. The pig trotters were dark and rich in color, full of gelatin. The cut braised offal was arranged neatly as well.
The shopkeeper’s nose twitched. The hint of impatience on his face faded, replaced by mild surprise and interest.
He stepped closer to inspect the meat, then looked back at Li Lanxiang.
“You made this yourself?”
“Yes. We slaughtered a pig at home yesterday and braised some of the offal and scraps.”
Li Lanxiang replied evenly.
“The shopkeeper is welcome to taste it.”
The shopkeeper thought for a moment and told the waiter to bring clean chopsticks and a small plate.
He picked up a slice of pig head, held it to the light to examine the color, sniffed it, and then finally placed it into his mouth.
The moment the meat touched his tongue, the savory flavor of the braising sauce came first, followed by the rich aroma of pork. The meat was tender but still pleasantly chewy, and the spices blended perfectly—enhancing the flavor without overpowering it.
Compared to the plain soy-braised meats or cold pork slices his tavern usually served, this braised meat was clearly superior.
Especially that layered spice aroma—it was very appetizing.
The shopkeeper chewed slowly, a glint of interest flashing in his eyes.
He tried a piece of pig stomach next. It was crisp yet tender, thoroughly flavored, without the slightest hint of offal smell.
“The taste… is indeed very good.”
The shopkeeper set down the chopsticks and smiled the practiced smile of a businessman.
“How do you plan to sell this braised meat, madam?”
“You’re the expert, shopkeeper. What price do you think is fair?”
Li Lanxiang calmly returned the question.
The shopkeeper stroked his beard and calculated quickly.
The flavor was unique, the ingredients were genuine. As a drinking snack or side dish, it would surely sell well.
He knew the town’s meat prices—fresh pork belly sold for twenty-five copper coins per jin.
This braised meat required time, spices, and was already cooked…
“Well then,”
the shopkeeper said,
“Meat and offal together—fifteen coins per jin. How about that?”
This price was ten coins cheaper than fresh pork belly, but more than double the price of raw offal—leaving enough profit for the restaurant.
Li Lanxiang also calculated quickly in her mind.
Her basket held about twenty jin of braised meat.
At fifteen coins per jin, she could earn more than three hundred coins.
After subtracting the cost of spices and firewood, she would still net over two hundred coins—and save the trouble of selling piece by piece.
“Deal.”
She nodded readily.
“Let’s go with the shopkeeper’s price.”
Seeing her agree so easily, the shopkeeper was pleased and immediately ordered the meat to be weighed.
The basket with lotus leaves was weighed together, and after subtracting the basket’s weight, the braised meat came to twenty-two and a half jin.
The shopkeeper calculated 338 copper coins, but directly handed over 340 coins to round it up.
The heavy string of copper coins was placed in Li Lanxiang’s hand.
She carefully stored it away, thanked the shopkeeper, and left the tavern with her now-empty basket.
Wang Dashan had been waiting outside the whole time.
When he saw her come out carrying an empty basket and looking calm, he knew the deal had succeeded.
He didn’t ask how much she had sold it for. Once she climbed onto the cart, he simply turned the cart around.
“Let’s stop by the butcher shop first,”
Li Lanxiang said instead.
Wang Dashan drove the cart toward the butcher stalls near the market.
Li Lanxiang stepped down and walked to a meat stall.
The butcher had just sold half a pig and was tidying up.
“Boss, how much are the offal, pig head, and pig trotters?”
Li Lanxiang asked.