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“I haven’t sold even two pairs of straw sandals. Typically, they would have sold out by now. With the last market being canceled and the weather getting hotter, there should be more demand for straw sandals,” another person scratched their head.
“You guys, idle gossip doesn’t accumulate virtue. It’s said that heaven’s eyes see all. Speaking ill brings bad luck! It’s strange that business is good!” An old man selling young lambs clicked his tongue.
Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback.
Surprisingly, it might be true. Those who had been making a ruckus were now looking worried, and all their businesses were suffering.
Conversely, those who had remained quiet were faring well. Take the old man selling young lambs, for instance. He had brought three and now had only one left.
Livestock was generally hard to sell, with selling two or three at a market being considered good. Yet, he had sold two at this market, which was quite remarkable.
Considering the success of Jiang Youcheng’s family business and their luck, contrasted with their own struggling business…
Could it be that heaven was truly watching over them? These people shivered involuntarily.
Jiang Youcheng, accompanied by Jiang Mixia and Song Jingyun, headed straight to the butcher’s shop.
There were many customers buying meat, and the butcher was bustling with activity.
Various kinds of meat were laid out on the cutting board, while a wooden basin underneath held pig liver, heart, and intestines, among other offal.
Those well-off bought finer cuts of meat, while others who wanted to satisfy their cravings and save money bought offal. Although it didn’t compare to pork, it was still a hearty option, despite its slightly gamey taste.
“Two pounds of pork belly,” Jiang Youcheng straightened his back. “Good quality.”
In the past, he had always scrimped and saved, especially with only one daughter at home. He would only dare to buy meat so confidently during festive occasions.
With money in hand this time, Jiang Youcheng spoke more assertively and loudly than usual, resonating through the butcher’s shop, causing some to cover their ears.
“Alright, two pounds of pork belly,” the butcher, accustomed to shouting, didn’t find it unusual, swiftly slicing off a piece from the dwindling supply of pork belly.
They weighed the meat, and it was precisely two pounds. Pork belly cost eighteen coins per pound, so two pounds would be thirty-six coins. The butcher gave them a discount, charging thirty-five coins.
Jiang Youcheng paid the money, took the meat bundled with hemp rope by the butcher, and placed it in a woven basket, covering it with a lid.
They didn’t need to carry anything back, and the weather wasn’t hot, so the three of them chatted as they strolled home.
By the time they reached home, the sun was directly overhead.
Liu Shi was tidying up the woven baskets she had made in the morning. Seeing the three return empty-handed, she grinned, “Everything’s sold out?”
“Everything’s sold out,” Jiang Youcheng was very pleased. “The woven baskets, fish, all of it, sold out completely.”
“Let me tell you, today was truly thanks to Jingyun. Without him, the basket of fish wouldn’t have sold for as much…” Jiang Youcheng went on to recount the incident at the market where the fish didn’t sell, the jests, and Song Jingyun’s suggestion to try sell the fish at Fuyun Restaurant, and how those who had spoken ill had all fallen silent.
The story was vividly recounted with great animation.
“These people are really nosy. Our family’s affairs are our own business, it’s none of their concern. Why pay attention to what they say!”Liu Shi, usually gentle, rarely argued with others aside from her sister-in-law, Zhang Shi.
Whenever she did argue, it was always because someone had called Jiang Mixia a simpleton.
Now, hearing others mock her daughter and son-in-law, she was filled with anger. “And you, how can you, as a father, stay silent when our child is spoken of in such a manner? You should speak up, instead of waiting for Xiaxia to come back and defend you.”
“It’s just that I’m not good with words…” Jiang Youcheng scratched his head, feeling guilty.
He truly struggled with words, especially when he was agitated or nervous, he found it even harder to express himself.
Having known Jiang Youcheng’s temperament for so many years, Liu Shi didn’t dwell on it. She simply gave him a disapproving look. “In the future, you better stand up for our child when we’re out. Otherwise, what’s the use of being her parents?”
“Got it, got it,” Jiang Youcheng smiled, trying to appease her. “Honey, please start cooking quickly, let’s not let the child go hungry.”
They had woken up early that morning to go to the market and had eaten breakfast early, so by now, their stomachs were rumbling.
Liu Shi took the pork belly, rinsed it with water, and busied herself in the kitchen. Jiang Youcheng helped with lighting the fire.
The pork belly was cut into small, suitable square pieces, then boiled to remove impurities, followed by caramelization and stewing in water.
As the fire roared, the aroma wafted out through the gaps in the pot lid.
“So fragrant,” Song Jingyun sniffed.
Even Jiang Mixia couldn’t help but swallow and nod. “Absolutely.”
Having lived a modest life for the past few days, this was the first time she had the chance to eat braised pork. The aroma alone made her mouth water.
Meanwhile, Liu Shi prepared a pot of mixed grain rice at noon, using sorghum and rice. The sorghum rice had a rough texture, while the rice was soft and tender. The combination of the two brought out a unique and delightful texture.
They poured a ladle of braised pork over the mixed grain rice, the meat and its broth making the rice glisten with its rich aroma. The fatty and lean layers of the pork melted in the mouth, leaving a lingering taste.
Song Jingyun, excited, savored a piece. The braised pork was delicious—pork was truly delicious. His wife hadn’t lied; it was truly a dish that tasted good no matter how it was prepared, even better than fish or egg custard.
Food was indeed wondrous, far better than the routine absorption of energy to sustain life in the interstellar era, rendering life mundane.
Suddenly, Song Jingyun felt that being able to traverse to this place might be a sign of destiny’s favor!
At lunch, he ate two full bowls. In the afternoon, as he helped Jiang Youcheng with the woven baskets, he let out a satisfied burp after bending over. But this burp carried the flavor of the braised pork.
After that, Liu Shi made a large pot of braised pork soup with flatbread noodles for dinner, the aroma of the sweet potato noodles, combined with the tender spinach leaves and the fragrant braised pork soup…