Chapter 6: The Charm of Pig Offal

Having never eaten pork but having seen pigs run around, Xu Nuo couldn’t help but imagine what might happen next, especially with her extensive experience from years of reading novels. The scenario unfolding was bound to be something indescribable.

As someone who had been single for over twenty years due to her own abilities, Xu Nuo felt her cheeks flush and her earlobes were practically dripping with blood.

“Uh… I’ll just go outside and blow out the oil lamp!” Xu Nuo thought it best to make a strategic retreat, feeling that their situation was becoming more awkward by the minute.

Seeing his wife’s state, Shangguan was amused. With a raised eyebrow and a teasing glimmer in his eyes, he said, “I’ll be waiting for you in bed.”

Xu Nuo glanced at Shangguan, casually lounging on the bed with an alluring charm. His hair was slightly disheveled and his relaxed demeanor added to his appeal. Outside the door, Xu Nuo clenched her hands, unable to hold back a squeak of excitement.

How could anyone resist? She lingered at the door for quite some time, mentally preparing herself. Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door and walked over to the bed.

The candlelight in the room was dim. Shangguan had always found Xu Nuo beautiful, but tonight, she seemed different. Under the soft glow of the candlelight, her skin appeared smooth and radiant, her lips a natural cherry red, and her lively eyes sparkled with intelligence and mischief. Tonight, she seemed to possess a captivating vitality.

Xu Nuo shyly moved closer to the bed, and before she could respond, Shangguan stood up, walked over, and gently took her slender waist, bringing her close. He couldn’t help but sigh at how stunning she looked tonight.

“It’s getting late, my lady. Let’s get some rest,” he suggested, and before Xu Nuo could reply, he lifted her gently and placed her on the bed. Soon, the warmth in the room began to rise, and by deep night, the candlelight flickered out, leaving the room in silence.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window. Xu Nuo woke to find herself alone in the room. The left side of the bed was cold, indicating that Shangguan had been up for a while. As she sat up, she felt sore all over and couldn’t help but mutter under her breath, “What a beast!”

By then, Shangguan had already filled the water jug in the kitchen, planted the lemon tree they bought yesterday in the garden, and even had breakfast porridge cooking away.

Finding the well-kept courtyard and kitchen, Xu Nuo looked at Shangguan, who was squatting down and preparing vegetables. Reflecting on her situation, she felt she had truly hit the jackpot. With someone who could handle both politics and cooking, in modern society, she wouldn’t even be considered a bottom-dwelling fish!

After a quick wash and breakfast, Xu Nuo used a hairpin to style her hair and pulled Shangguan along as they headed to Old Wang’s house in the village to deal with the pig slaughter.

By the morning, Old Zhang’s courtyard already had a pig hanging, ready for slaughter.

Xu Nuo went straight to the point, “Uncle Zhang, that pig’s meat looks good today; it has the right balance of fat and lean, and the color is perfect!”

“Ah, Xu girl! Let your Uncle Wang pick the best meat for you,” Uncle Zhang said, having watched Xu Nuo grow up. Since he had no daughters, he treated her like his own.

“Ziqian is back too!” Uncle Zhang noticed Shangguan and Xu Nuo, and set down his work to grab a knife from the chopping board and make a clean cut on the foreleg of the pig.

“Here, take this home with you!” he said, offering a chunk of meat.

Looking at the piece of meat, which she estimated weighed about three or four pounds, Xu Nuo quickly shook her head in refusal, “No, no, Uncle, I have to pay for this! I can’t let you lose money. You and Aunt Zhang have already taken such good care of me.”

Aunt Zhang, seeing her refusal, stepped in and pushed the meat into Xu Nuo’s basket, saying sternly, “You don’t have to be polite with us. Don’t push it any further!”

Reluctantly, Xu Nuo accepted. She noticed the pig’s stomach and intestines lying on the ground, which seemed typical in ancient times as they were considered smelly and unpalatable, even discarded by the dogs.

“Auntie, do you and Uncle Zhang want these offal pieces? If you don’t, how about this: you charge me for the pork and give me what’s on the ground?” Xu Nuo was already planning to make braised dishes.

Uncle Zhang had been slaughtering pigs for decades and had never seen someone ask for pig offal before. Shangguan gently tugged at Xu Nuo’s sleeve and whispered, “You do know you can’t eat this offal, right? Are you sure you want to take it?”

Aunt Zhang heard the request for offal and felt even more pitying; who would want to eat such foul-smelling things unless times were tough? She insisted on not charging for the meat.

In the end, it was Shangguan who discreetly slipped some money under Uncle Zhang’s chopping board before they left, allowing Xu Nuo to relax.

Shangguan carried the basket of pig offal without a single complaint, despite the strong odor, his face revealing no signs of discomfort.

Returning home, Wang Shi looked at the three pounds of pork in the basket, pleased and thinking about how to improve the couple’s meals. However, when she saw the pig offal on the ground, she was taken aback.

“Nuo Nuo, what are you planning to do with these pig offals?” Wang Shi didn’t even need to ask Shangguan; it was obvious these were bought by Xu Nuo.

Xu Nuo replied with a grin, “Don’t worry, Mama! Just give me an afternoon, and I’ll turn these into treasure. Who knows, we might even make a little profit!”

Saying this, she instructed Shangguan to place the pig offal in a basin and fill it with water to soak.

Next, she took out the large garlic cloves that Wang Shi had fetched from the neighbors’ house, cleaned the outer layers, and minced them along with the red chili peppers, setting them aside in a bowl.

Wang Shi prepared all the vegetables that Xu Nuo needed for the cold dishes and placed them in the basket, while Xu Nuo focused her attention on the basin of pig offal.

The main reason offal is often considered unappetizing is that it hasn’t been cleaned properly. Xu Nuo washed all the offal twice in clean water to remove the blood.

Then, using the last of the flour and some salt in the house, she mixed them in a basin and kneaded the offal. Afterward, she rinsed it with clean water twice more, cutting the cleaned intestines, pig heart, and stomach into small pieces. She placed them into a pot of boiling water, adding scallions, ginger, and vinegar, and blanched them for ten minutes before taking them out.

At first, Shangguan could only watch from the side, but soon he stepped in to help Xu Nuo with the cleaning.

After blanching, the strong smell of the offal was gone, replaced by a rich aroma of pork. Observing the process, Wang Shi exclaimed, “So these really are treasures!”

Expecting the offal would be used for soup, Xu Nuo surprised them by preparing a modern-style braised dish often seen at night markets.

Firstly, Xu Nuo began making the braising liquid by placing scallions, ginger, Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, and cinnamon in water. She boiled it on high heat, then let it simmer on low, adding rice wine, salt, and sugar. Finally, she put the cleaned intestines into the pot to braise on low heat.

As the aroma of the braised dish wafted through the air, it was intoxicating. Shangguan became increasingly curious, watching Xu Nuo with interest, finding her even more attractive in her element.

After simmering for several hours, Xu Nuo finally instructed Shangguan to turn off the stove as evening approached. When she opened the lid of the pot, the delightful fragrance wafted out. The sauce had a rich scent mixed with a hint of sweetness, coupled with a profound meaty aroma.

Xu Nuo eagerly scooped out some pig stomach, pig heart, and pig intestines from the pot and called for both of them to come and taste.

Shangguan looked at the meat soaked in the braising liquid, its vibrant color and soft texture inviting. When he took a bite, the flavor filled his mouth, creating a lingering scent that made him savor it even more.

Having previously made braised dishes at home, Xu Nuo felt a mix of nervousness and excitement. When she saw Shangguan and Wang Shi eagerly reaching for a second serving, she knew she had succeeded.

“Yes!” Xu Nuo cheered quietly, fist pumping with joy.

Compared to the pig intestines, Xu Nuo believed the braising sauce was the key. She ladled some sauce over rice, and taking a bite brought her a sense of pure happiness. If only the base broth were replaced with bone broth, it would taste even richer.

“You guys think I should bring the leftover braised dish to sell at the academy gate? Do you think anyone would be interested?” Xu Nuo asked, nibbling her chopsticks and looking up at Shangguan.

After all, she was unaware of the students’ tastes at the academy. Noticing Shangguan hadn’t responded for a long time, she couldn’t help but think how great it would be if Zhang Yan were around; his feedback would be invaluable.

With hopeful eyes, she buried her head in her meal.

Shangguan noticed Xu Nuo’s changing expressions and couldn’t help but smile. Sometimes his wife seemed just like a child, with all her emotions written on her face.

“Sure, that could work. I think it will be more popular than those cold dishes. However, it may be a bit challenging to get people to accept it right away,” Shangguan offered his thoughts.

“That’s easy to handle,” both Xu Nuo and Shangguan exchanged glances, speaking in unison, “Zhang Yan!”

Yes, as long as Zhang Yan approved, there would surely be a crowd willing to try it. If people didn’t trust Xu Nuo’s cooking, they would certainly trust Zhang Yan’s taste.