Chapter 53 : Selling Braised Meat

At the entrance of the alley, a gatekeeper collected five cents from each person and questioned their purpose. Qin Xiaoting revealed the braised meat wrapped in her cloth bag to the man, who was as thin as a monkey, and he let her in.  

The skinny man caught a whiff of the aroma, swallowed hard, and stared at it with wide eyes. “How much is this meat selling for?”  

“Braised pork is 2.5 yuan per pound, or 3 yuan without a ticket,” Qin Xiaoting replied quickly.  

The man’s eyes widened as he cursed, “Pork is only 80 cents a pound! Why don’t you just rob people instead?”  

Qin Xiaoting, undeterred, explained, “I use a special secret recipe. It’s costly, and I have to add sugar as well. Even though it looks expensive, I don’t make much profit.”  

Meanwhile, Jiang Li remained expressionless. She picked up a nearby stool leg, as thick as her forearm, and snapped it in half with ease.  

The skinny man gulped again, this time in fear. “Miss no, big sister leave me half a pound to try it, please!”  

Now that he’d bought something, he felt safer.  

Qin Xiaoting smiled and swiftly pulled out a scale. She measured out half a pound and wrapped it neatly in oil paper.  

The braised meat was sliced into thin, translucent pieces soaked in a rich, brown marinade with peppercorns and dried chilies floating in it.  

Unable to resist, the skinny man grabbed a piece and popped it into his mouth. It was spicy, with a hint of sweetness that lingered. He had never tasted such flavorful braised meat before.  

As he opened the package, the aroma wafted through the air, catching the attention of nearby people. They turned their heads, drawn by the smell.  

A small crowd gathered to inquire about the price. Some complained that it was too expensive, but Qin Xiaoting repeated her explanation.  

Unable to resist the tempting fragrance, many bought a couple of taels to try. Some older women tried to haggle and even asked for scraps after the meat was weighed.  

Jiang Li stood nearby, like a silent guardian. Anyone who thought of stealing or tried to take advantage of Qin Xiaoting because she was a woman was scared off when Jiang Li casually snapped sticks into splinters and scattered the pieces in the wind.  

Before entering the black market, Qin Xiaoting had produced a charcoal pencil and wig like a magician, disguising both of them thoroughly.  

Jiang Li didn’t need to check, she knew even her own grandfather wouldn’t recognize her now.  

In less than two hours, nearly 10 kilograms of braised meat had been sold, leaving only a few scraps. As it neared dinnertime, Qin Xiaoting decided to close the stall.  

“Let’s grab some lunch. To celebrate today’s success, I’ll treat you to dumplings,” Qin Xiaoting said with a smile.  

Jiang Li agreed happily. They packed their things and left.  

As they exited the black market, a short man with pockmarked skin and a thin mustache started trailing them.  

Noticing this, both women became alert. They had earned nearly 30 yuan in a short time, making them an easy target.  

They quickened their pace and headed toward crowded areas. With her familiarity with the area, Qin Xiaoting navigated through several alleys, eventually losing their pursuer.  

“He’s gone,” Qin Xiaoting said, patting her chest in relief.  

Jiang Li nodded. “Next time, we should bring a change of clothes and swap them after leaving the black market. That way, even if someone recognizes us there, they won’t know us afterward. To be extra safe, let’s disguise ourselves as men next time to avoid unnecessary trouble.”  

“You’re right, but I’m too short. I don’t think anyone would believe I’m a man,” Qin Xiaoting said with a laugh.  

“Then I’ll dress as a man. At 175 cm, with a little padding in my shoes, I can look pretty intimidating,” Jiang Li offered.  

Qin Xiaoting hugged Jiang Li warmly. “Lizi, I’m so lucky you were here today. I would’ve been scared out of my mind.”  

Jiang Li smiled. “The braised meat sold out so fast today. We should prepare more next time.”  

Qin Xiaoting nodded. “Sure, but pork tickets are hard to come by. We could try something else, like pig offal or trotters.”  

“That’s a good idea. It’s cheaper to make, and since the price won’t be as high, more people will want to buy it,” Jiang Li agreed.  

The two women removed their disguises and sat outside a state-owned restaurant, tallying up their earnings for the day. The braised pork had brought in 28 yuan and 60 cents.  

There were only a few ounces of meat left from the original ten pounds, accounting for the free samples given to customers. That summed up their total income.  

As per their agreement, Qin Xiaoting rounded off the earnings and handed three yuan to Jiang Li. “Lizi, this is your share. We sold less today, but next time, we’ll bring more. I know someone near the black market. I’ll drop off the meat there the night before, and we can pick it up from her house after we sell everything.”  

Jiang Li nodded. She knew this was just an excuse. In truth, the meat must have come from a secret stash.  

Jiang Li accepted the money without hesitation. Even close friends should settle accounts clearly.  

Qin Xiaoting breathed a sigh of relief. She had worried that Jiang Li might refuse the money, creating unnecessary tension.  

With the profits sorted, they turned their attention to enjoying their meal.  

Each ordered a plate of dumplings, but Jiang Li added two extra pounds, worried she wouldn’t be full.  

She also ordered sweet and sour carp and braised pig trotters.  

The sweet and sour carp was fried to a crisp, coated in a flavorful sauce that was tangy and delicious. Jiang Li was thoroughly impressed.  

The braised pig trotters reminded her of the ones she had eaten last time. She had been craving them ever since returning home.  

“The extra two dishes and dumplings are on me,” Jiang Li said firmly. She had no intention of taking advantage of Qin Xiaoting.  

After all, she had already earned three yuan for her efforts at the black market, it wouldn’t feel right to freeload on top of that.  

“No way, I said I’d treat you to this meal,” Qin Xiaoting insisted.  

As they chatted, a waiter’s sharp voice interrupted them. “Did you forget to bring what you promised? You know the rules, don’t you?”  

Noticing the diners’ attention, the waiter quickly smiled and said, “Just some mountain goods my distant relatives sent me.”  

She then pulled the person she had been addressing into the kitchen. Jiang Li caught a glimpse of the man’s profile and immediately recognized him, it was Zhuang Guoliang.  

Moments later, Zhuang Guoliang emerged from the kitchen, his bamboo basket now tampered with. Jiang Li could guess what had happened.  

From the original novel, she knew that Zhuang Guoliang didn’t work for a state-owned slaughterhouse but for a private operation hidden deep in the mountains.  

This pig farm was run by a powerful man in Yongfang County known as Yongge, who secretly procured pork and sold it to state-owned restaurants.  

Jiang Li had to admit a certain admiration for Zhuang Guoliang. It took guts to butcher live pigs at a private farm and sell the meat discreetly.  

However, his darkened expression suggested a recent argument with the restaurant staff. Clearly, his visit hadn’t gone smoothly.  

Jiang Li’s curiosity was piqued. She leaned over and whispered something to Qin Xiaoting, who nodded and glanced at Zhuang Guoliang’s retreating figure with interest.  

“Let’s follow him and see what’s going on!”