Lu Shaotang reached out to carry her.

Lin Shu playfully glared at him.

He reluctantly decided to support her instead, guiding her slowly outside.

Lin Shu said, “Mother, let’s make a set of stuffed intestines this year.”

Fang Dihua asked, “What stuffed intestines? All we have are large and small intestines.”

Lin Shu responded, “Just stuff them together.”

Everyone was curious and asked how to do it.

Lin Shu explained, “Clean them well, chop up a basin of ginger, mix it with Sichuan pepper powder, black pepper powder, and chopped green onions, and stuff it into the small intestines. Then stuff a few small intestines into one large intestine. Afterward, stew the pig’s head, offal, and trotters in a large pot; it will smell delicious.”

Even before it was cooked, everyone was already salivating at the thought and urged her to hurry with the stuffed intestines.

This task needed to be done carefully and cleanly, so Fang Dihua was in charge of it.

Old Man Lu and Lu Erge managed the slaughter, with strict instructions not to let Lu Da (the big sister-in-law) interfere.

Lu Da’s work around the house was rather rough.

On one side, they prepared the sausage casings, while on the other side, they were breaking down the pig, each responsible for their own task.

In the cold December weather, the pig meat that wasn’t being used immediately was wrapped in newspaper and oil paper and placed in a clay basin.

It quickly froze, and by evening, it was moved to a large jar to freeze thoroughly.

Wang Mazi, who helped with the slaughter, didn’t ask for payment; he was content with just a meal of the slaughtered pig.

During the New Year’s period, almost every household killed a pig, so he would get to enjoy ten or so pounds of meat.

Fang Dihua invited Wang Pozi and Huzhi to stay for the meal as well.

Different regions have their own styles of slaughtered pig dishes.

In the North, the style is generally robust.

They use a large iron pot to boil pig blood, bones, and offal, then add cabbage and tofu.

This year, Lin Shu prepared a slightly different dish from previous years.

Instead of fresh cabbage, she used pickled cabbage that had been stored for a while.

She simmered big bones and ribs to make the broth, then added pig blood, pickled cabbage, radishes, and potatoes.

Another large pot was used for making braised meat.

The pig’s head, ears, tongue, trotters, and offal were all added, along with a large bag of spices wrapped in cheesecloth.

The mixture was brought to a boil over high heat and then simmered on low for at least three hours.

These spices had been collected by Lin Shu over the past six months: some from the supply store, some traditional Chinese herbs from Old Man Lu, some wild herbs she foraged, and some from the steel plant’s cafeteria.

The combination of dozens of spices perfectly enhanced the aroma of the pork.

In other words, the broth was so delicious it would even make the soles of shoes taste good.

After a couple of hours, the fragrance of the stew wafted around Lu’s courtyard, swirling with the wind and spreading to neighboring homes.

It was so fragrant that the aroma could be smelled ten miles away.

The pot of bone broth and pickled cabbage was ready first.

Fang Dihua invited Aunt Li, Jin Ping’er, Qiu Pozi, Wang Pozi, and others to join them for the meal.

They were only willing to come one by one, at most bringing children who were close to Tiantian and Panpan.

They promised to invite Old Man Lu and others to their own pig slaughter feast in return.

It was a mutual exchange, maintaining a good relationship.

Those who didn’t come were still given a small bowl of meat soup, with some vegetables, pig blood, and bones.

The children delivered it, and everyone eagerly enjoyed the fragrant soup.

The delicious meat soup was so good it made even bread taste amazing.

By the time the pot of braised meat was ready in the evening, the whole village was so tantalized by the smell that they couldn’t sleep!

“Why doesn’t it smell as good?”

The meat from their own pig wasn’t any worse.

They must go to the Lu family tomorrow to taste some of that meat soup!

When they slaughter their own pig for the New Year, they should definitely ask Lin Shu for help to make it just as delicious!

After a meal of pork dishes in the afternoon, Fang Dihua was reluctant to eat the braised meat that evening and only gave everyone a taste of the stuffed intestines.

The intestines had a rich ginger flavor, not too spicy, with a thick, rich fatty aroma that wasn’t greasy at all.

They were also stuffed with savory meat broth, making them fresh, rich, and satisfying.

This was something they had never tasted before, and both adults and children said it was delicious.

Brother Lu Dage’s eyes sparkled with satisfaction, as if he’d had such a gratifying experience that he could die on the spot!

“If only we had a couple of small glasses of wine with this, it would be even more perfect. It’s a divine culinary experience!”

Old Man Lu was pleased, and on account of his third son, he made an exception and allowed a couple of small drinks that evening.

It was essential not to waste such delicious braised meat.

At home, Lin Shu had made fruit preserves, fruit jams, and fruit cans for the children. They took them out to drink with the adults, making it a lively occasion.

Xu Xiaoyou was invited by Fang Dihua to stay the night.

Lu Xiuxiu, who liked cleanliness, initially thought the meat sausages would be dirty and not tasty, but she was instantly won over after tasting them.

She had never eaten such delicious sausages!

The meat broth, now turned into meat jelly, was also a treat, with distinct layers of flavor, rich and refreshing.

Dipped in garlic paste, it was an ultimate pleasure.

Lin Shu hadn’t drunk any alcohol during the pork meal in the afternoon, but seeing the happy and lively atmosphere of the family, she couldn’t resist having a couple of drinks now.

Fang Dihua worried it might affect her foot.

Old Lu said, “A small injury like this is nothing. With the third son back and everyone happy, having a couple of drinks is only right.”

While Brother Lu Dage was pestering his father, Lu Shaotang and Lu Erge quietly clinked glasses with his wife, his dark eyes smiling at her.

Lin Shu: “Cheers!”

She drank it all at once.

Although she didn’t have the same tolerance as Fang Dihua and Lu Da, she could handle a few drinks.

Lu Shaotang: “… Drink slowly.”

He intended for her to sip, but she downed the drink in one go.

Lin Shu poked her wine glass at him, “Refill it.”

Lu Da came over to clink glasses with Lin Shu again, and they clinked glasses with Fang Dihua.

The children joined in with various toasts and drinks.

Before long, Lin Shu had drunk four or five glasses of wine.

The effects of the alcohol began to show…

Lin Shu’s face was flushed with a rosy hue, and her eyes sparkled with affection.

Lu Shaotang hesitated to let her drink more, choosing instead to give her and the children sweet water.

Lin Shu stuck out her tongue playfully, “You’re so stingy!”

Lu Shaotang secretly pinched her waist in response.

During washing up, Lu Dage (Old Brother Lu) noticed that Lu Shaotang (Third Brother Lu) was unusually cheerful, humming an unfamiliar tune.

He laughed and said, “San’er, the braised meat that your wife made is really delicious! If we could have it three times a year, it would make life worthwhile.”

The underlying message was clear: “San’er, find a way to bring a pig back every few months.”

Lu Shaotang, feeling pleased, didn’t argue with his brother.

He quickly finished washing up and went back inside.

Lin Shu, sensing that the room felt unusually empty, had a slight uneasy feeling.

Unfortunately, after drinking a bit, her brain was a little dulled and relaxed, making her more susceptible to temptation.

Despite her previous insistence on resting due to her injury, when Lu Shaotang entered the room and removed his vest, revealing his well-defined chest and abs, she couldn’t help but become infatuated.

Lu Shaotang, with a slight flush from the alcohol and a deep, husky voice, said, “Your foot isn’t fully healed yet.”

Last night, she had been restless and complained about her pain while in his arms.

Lin Shu, still with her feet soaked in medicinal wine, continued to caress him, “It’s fine. I don’t need to use my feet right now.”

Later, when she sobered up, she regretted her actions.