5 Braised Pork Belly

Wen Zhongxia was ushered into the main hall by a servant. She had barely settled into her chair when a booming voice echoed from the back parlor—a person whose presence was felt before she was even seen.

"Mistress Wen, back with the money before even three days have passed?" Mistress Yang said with a smile, her eyes darting over the visitor with a hint of scrutiny.

Wen Zhongxia stood and offered a respectful bow. "I was afraid you might be anxious, so I brought the money the moment I earned it," she replied with a smile. "Here are three hundred and twenty wen. Please count it; not a single coin is missing."

Mistress Yang counted the coins meticulously before beaming. "Since you brought it yourself, Mistress Wen, I’m sure it’s correct. I trust you."

*A pity,* she thought to herself. Now she had no reason to reclaim the property, given the one-year contract they had signed. She really should have set the rent higher.

"Thank you for your kindness all this time, Madam. I don’t have anything grand to offer, but these are some small snacks I made myself. If you don't mind them being a bit rustic, please do have a taste." Wen Zhongxia handed over a thick, generous parcel of popcorn.

"Oh, you shouldn't have," Mistress Yang said, though her hands were already opening the package. After trying two, she asked in surprise, "Is this what you’ve been selling to earn your money?"

Wen Zhongxia nodded. "Indeed."

Mistress Yang looked at her with new eyes. She had previously dismissed the girl as a delicate creature incapable of honest labor, never imagining she would be managing a trade. Having helped her own family run a shop in her youth, she knew the hardships involved, let alone the difficulty of earning money so quickly. It seemed this young woman had some real talent. No wonder she looked so spirited today.

"Having a trade is a good thing. To live, one must be able to fill one's belly; everything else is empty talk."

Wen Zhongxia agreed wholeheartedly. "You speak the truth, Madam."

After a short chat, Wen Zhongxia rose to take her leave. Before she reached the door, Mistress Yang did not forget to remind her to pay the next month's rent on time. Wen Zhongxia agreed with a smile.

Once she was gone, Mistress Yang immediately carried the popcorn to the study. Her husband, Lü Bo, was sipping tea from a small pot while painting. She set the popcorn down in front of him without ceremony and recounted the day's events in a few quick sentences.

Lü Bo carefully moved his painting paper aside to avoid smudges. "So, this is that Mistress Wen you mentioned, the one who carries herself like a lady of noble birth?"

"That’s the one. She’s selling food now—this snack called popcorn," Mistress Yang said with a click of her tongue. "I wonder what happened to her family to drive her to such straits."

Lü Bo set down his brush, picked up two pieces of popcorn, and popped them into his mouth. "As long as the rent is paid, don't go prying into other people’s private business."

"I’m not prying; I’m just having a chat with you."

"Be a bit gentler with them in the future. It’s not easy for a widow and a young sister-in-law; it’s quite pitiful." Before he finished speaking, his hand reached for more.

Mistress Yang was displeased. "If I were truly harsh, I could have kicked them out the first time they missed the rent. Do you think I would have given them two chances?" She huffed. "You spend all day here painting and ignoring the ledgers, living comfortably, while I’m the one dealing with the headache of collecting rent. If we aren't firm with those deadbeats who have money but refuse to pay, how would we ever get a cent? If we have no money, is our whole family supposed to live on thin air?"

"I didn't say anything, yet you have so much to say back," he muttered. Mistress Yang gave a light snort and pulled the popcorn away. "I’m saving these for my grandson when he gets home from school."

Lü Bo, not yet satisfied, called out to her retreating back, "My lady, at least leave me a little!"

***

With the rent paid and their purses lightened, Wen Zhongxia and Xu Xiu worked even harder to hawk their popcorn, and their daytime earnings hit a new record. By the time they closed up the stall, Wen Zhongxia had only one thought: they were not eating hard wheat cakes for dinner again. She wanted meat!

Xu Xiu would have been content with a simple meal, but seeing the longing in her young brother-in-law and sister-in-law’s eyes as they passed the butcher shop, her heart ached. "We’re buying it! We’re having meat tonight!"

There were only a few customers at the butcher's, and half a pig carcass remained on the block. Fatty meat was more popular at fifteen wen per jin, while lean meat was thirteen. Wen Zhongxia chose a jin and a half of streaky pork belly, as the three of them were in desperate need of nourishment. She also bought two marrow bones from the butcher for four wen.

With the pork tied to a rope and a bag of rice and some vegetables in hand, the trio headed home. Xu Xiu hadn't bought so many provisions in a long time; as soon as they arrived, she hurried to pour the rice into the bin.

"Don't rush, sister-in-law. Come here," Wen Zhongxia said, pulling her to a bench.

"What is it, Xia'er?" Xu Xiu asked, confused.

Wen Zhongxia pulled a small wooden jar from her pocket. Inside was a pearly white paste with a faint herbal scent.

"What is this?"

"The physician called it Ziyun Hand Balm. It’s specifically for treating cracked and frostbitten skin. If you apply it a few times every day, the chilblains will heal quickly." Wen Zhongxia had slipped into the pharmacy next door while Xu Xiu was waiting in line at the rice shop.

She took Xu Xiu’s right hand and, using her index finger, scooped out a dab of the balm and gently applied it to the back of her hand.

"When did you buy this? It must have been expensive!" Xu Xiu tried to pull her hand away. "My hands will get better on their own when the weather warms up. Why waste money on this?"

"Sister-in-law, you work so hard for us. A jar of balm is nothing. Your hands must be kept beautiful, or my eldest brother will blame me when he returns," Wen Zhongxia said in a lighthearted tone.

As the cooling balm seeped into her sores, it stung slightly, bringing tears to Xu Xiu’s eyes. She was overwhelmed with emotion. Since recovering from her illness, her sister-in-law had changed completely. It was just as the old saying went: one truly grows only after enduring trials. She couldn't say if this change was entirely good, but she certainly felt the burden on her own shoulders lighten significantly.

After putting away their purchases, Wen Zhongxia donned an apron and sleeves, took the marrow bones, and hacked them apart with force, revealing the creamy white marrow at the center. She knew marrow was essentially fat and hardly a source of calcium, but it was delicious.

She blanched the bones and moved them to an earthenware pot with ginger and scallions. The radishes were in season—long, plump, and full of water. Wen Zhongxia washed one and couldn't resist taking a bite; it was crisp and refreshing, with a faint, spicy kick.

Wen Mengdong, seeing the adults busy, didn't just sit around waiting for dinner; he insisted on helping. He was currently struggling to carry an armful of firewood. "Sister," he asked with wide eyes, "can radishes be eaten raw?"

"Of course." Wen Zhongxia cut a small slice and popped it into the boy's mouth. He chewed twice, and his face immediately scrunched up. "Ah, it's spicy..."

Wen Zhongxia laughed heartily. "You’re not ready yet! If you can't handle this little bit of spice, you won't be able to enjoy all the spicy delicacies I’m going to make in the future."

"Alright, don't tease him," Xu Xiu said, quickly leading Wen Mengdong away to get some water.

Wen Zhongxia cut the radish into chunks and let it simmer slowly with the marrow bones. For the pork belly, she decided to make red-braised pork, using the maltose she had left over from the popcorn.

She melted the sugar in the pot until it turned a light amber, bubbling with tiny froth, then tossed in the bite-sized pieces of meat to coat them in the color. A faint, savory aroma began to drift through the room. She added water until it covered the meat, then covered the pot to let it simmer.

She propped the spatula on the lid and looked back to see the two of them standing by the stove, staring intently. The little one even had a suspicious trail of moisture at the corner of his mouth. They hadn't eaten meat in so long that they were truly famished.

Soon, the large pot and the earthenware jar were steaming. The rich fragrance of meat filled the kitchen. Even Wen Mengdong stopped guarding the stove and stared longingly at the pot.

The pork belly was coated in a glossy, reddish-brown sauce. She turned up the heat to reduce the liquid, then finished it with a sprinkle of scallions. Fearing it might be too rich, she quickly stir-fried some Napa cabbage. Cabbage was the favorite winter staple for the people of Dongjing—cheap, delicious, and requiring nothing more than a pinch of salt to draw out its naturally sweet juices.

With one meat dish, one vegetable dish, and a soup on the table, she called, "Dinner is served."

Wen Zhongxia placed a piece of pork in each of their bowls. "Try this red-braised pork."

The meat was tender and succulent; it trembled as it was lifted by the chopsticks. The fat melted in the mouth without needing to be chewed, and the lean meat was far from dry. Every bite was an explosion of flavor.

"It’s delicious! I’ve never eaten such good pork," Xu Xiu said, her eyes shining. The little boy had his face buried in his bowl, eating with singular focus.

Seeing them enjoy her cooking, Wen Zhongxia felt a deep sense of satisfaction. "It’s even better with rice."

She ladled herself a bowl of soup. The radishes had turned translucent and were so tender they fell apart at a touch; their original sharpness had melted into the broth, leaving only a gentle sweetness. She took a sip of the marrow, which slid effortlessly into her mouth, rich and buttery. Wen Mengdong tried to copy her, but his technique was clumsy, and his cheeks puffed out in vain. The two women laughed, and eventually, he had to settle for using his chopsticks to scoop it out.

"It's softer than tofu," the boy marveled.

The stir-fried cabbage was juicy and crisp, perfectly cutting through the richness of the pork. By the end of the meal, all three were stuffed—it had been a long time since they had felt such a satisfying, full meal.

Xu Xiu looked at the scraped-clean plates with a hint of shame. She had intended for the large portion to last for two meals, but her sister-in-law’s cooking was just too good, and she hadn't been able to stop herself from adding another bowl of rice. *What a sin,* she thought.

Once full, the mind tends to wander. Xu Xiu couldn't help but think of her husband and father-in-law, who were far away. "I wonder what they are eating over there?"

Wen Zhongxia had read in history books about the fates of demoted officials. Even if they still held honorary titles, most lacked a salary. They had to fend for themselves in those distant lands, and some were even restricted in their movements. Still, it was easier than being a convict in exile; at least they weren't forced into hard labor.

Wen Zhongxia didn't mention this, choosing to comfort her instead. "Eldest brother is strong and capable; he will take care of himself and Father. We will earn more money, and when we have the chance, we can send letters and clothing to them. Once this storm passes, perhaps there will be a turning point."

Xu Xiu sighed. She knew that the political affairs of the court were beyond the reach of common folk like them, so she followed her sister-in-law's advice and tucked her worries away for the time being.