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Even though it was well past noon, the pork stall was still bustling with customers. Several people were lined up to buy pork, with a few leaving as Su Zhi arrived, leaving one woman standing there.
Su Zhi immediately recognized the woman as Liu Siniang, the gentle lady who had shown no disdain towards her during the time when she still bore the reputation of being a jinx. Despite only seeing her briefly, Su Zhi remembered her well, particularly recalling her silhouette as she carried heavy firewood despite her frail appearance.
“Liu Siniang, you’re buying pork too, what a coincidence,” Su Zhi greeted as she was assisted by Shen Zi’an off the cart. Liu Siniang had been Zhao Xiaomei’s childhood playmate and had now married into another village. She was a gentle and kind-hearted woman, exuding warmth in her interactions.
Turning around and seeing Su Zhi, Liu Siniang smiled warmly, her pale face brightening up. “Xiaomei, no, Su Zhi, you’re here for the market too.”
After exchanging greetings with Su Zhi, Liu Siniang nodded towards Li Shi and Shen Zi’an as a form of acknowledgment. Her demure and respectful demeanor indicated not rudeness but unfamiliarity with greeting men.
Recalling Shen Zi’an mentioning Liu Siniang’s harsh mother-in-law who often accused the gentle daughter-in-law of improper behavior at the slightest interaction with men, Su Zhi understood why Liu Siniang avoided conversing with men, especially younger ones, to avoid her mother-in-law’s scolding. Over time, this behavior had become a natural response for her.
Observing Liu Siniang’s submissive posture, Su Zhi felt sympathy for her, realizing the challenges faced by women in ancient times.
“We are about to head back after buying some meat. How about you? Did you come with someone else or alone? If you came alone, why don’t we go back together later? We just got a cart and can give you a ride. Let’s chat along the way,” Su Zhi suggested warmly.
Liu Siniang, looking at the cart and the goods loaded on it, expressed her congratulations upon hearing about their encounter with the tiger. She held Su Zhi’s hand and remarked, “Congratulations. I heard about your tiger encounter yesterday. Thankfully, you have great luck. May God protect you from harm. Be careful next time.”
Su Zhi thought to herself how kind Liu Siniang was. While others might have focused on their potential earnings from the tiger encounter, Liu Siniang’s genuine concern for their safety stood out.
At this point, Li Shi had purchased a piece of pork, opting for two pounds of pork belly because of his small household size. Pork was considered a costly commodity, with fat being the most expensive at seventeen wen per pound, lean meat being cheaper at fourteen wen, and pork belly priced at sixteen wen per pound.
Despite the pork being raised on a diet of pig feed and household scraps rather than modern feed, resulting in a less greasy taste, Su Zhi still wasn’t fond of fatty meat due to personal preferences.
Aware of Su Zhi’s taste preferences, Shen Zi’an bought two pounds of pork belly and three pounds of lean meat.
The pork seller recognized Shen Zi’an and Li Shi, engaging in polite conversation with Shen Zi’an. Swiftly cutting the pork, he even offered two bones to Shen Zi’an.
Curious, Su Zhi inquired, “Do you have pig offal for sale here? If so, how is it priced?”
Su Zhi scanned the area in search of pig offal and noticed pig hearts and livers but didn’t spot pig intestines. Su Zhi had no intentions of getting rich by selling pig offal, as she possessed the Spirit Spring and wouldn’t engage in arduous labor. Moreover, she found the idea of using flour or salt to clean pig offal somewhat unreliable, considering the high cost of flour and salt during that time. Wasting these precious commodities to clean pig offal might be seen as reckless spending. She wondered if vinegar and alkali were available to eliminate the foul smell, but were these items even present in that era?
Upon hearing Su Zhi’s inquiry, the pork seller, noting Su Zhi’s pleasant voice and recognizing her as Shen Zi’an’s wife, responded cheerfully, “Young lady, why inquire about that? Your husband bought you plenty of meat; isn’t that enough? Pig offal isn’t tasty; pig hearts and lungs are fine, but pig intestines are too stinky. Even if thoroughly cleaned, they retain a distinct flavor.”
Su Zhi realized that no one seemed to know of methods involving flour or salt to remove the smell. Nevertheless, some people did consume pig offal.
“Just curious about the prices,” Su Zhi replied.
“Pig hearts are priced like lean meat, while pig livers and lungs cost eight wen per pound, and pig intestines are five wen per pound,” the pork seller informed her.
Upon realizing that pig offal was significantly cheaper than meat but not devalued to the point of being discarded, Su Zhi understood that in ancient times, people were frugal and unlikely to waste edible items. Despite the slight odor, offal was still considered a valuable protein source.
“I’ll take the pig heart, add a pound of pig liver, and weigh the intestines for me too,” Su Zhi requested. While she had no intention of profiting from selling pig offal, she enjoyed consuming it as it was flavorful, affordable, and nutritious—making it a sensible purchase.
Li Shi and Liu Siniang observed Su Zhi’s decision, surprised by her choice to buy pig offal despite Shen Zi’an’s recent meat purchase. It seemed unlikely that she lacked access to meat.
Shen Zi’an interjected, “Dear, you don’t have to eat that. If you feel the meat I bought isn’t enough, we can purchase more. Brother, add three more pounds of lean meat.”
Su Zhi reassured them, “No need. Just stick to what I ordered.” She then turned to the pork seller and confirmed her purchase. Addressing Shen Zi’an, she affirmed, “Do you still doubt my cooking skills? I can certainly make the pig offal delicious.”
Shen Zi’an, recalling his wife’s exceptional cooking skills that even extended to making delicious porridge, felt more confident in Su Zhi’s abilities. He admired her culinary talent and trusted that she could make the pig offal taste delightful. He decided not to intercede, reasoning that even if the dish didn’t turn out well, it was just offal. As long as Su Zhi was happy, he wouldn’t stand in her way, even if she used copper coins to make water balloons – her happiness was the priority.
Li Shi, remembering Su Zhi’s cooking, remarked, “Zi’an, if Sister-in-Law’s pig offal turns out tasty, don’t forget to invite me for a bowl!”
Su Zhi chuckled, “Brother Shitou, I’ll definitely invite you.”
Observing Su Zhi conversing cheerfully with Shen Zi’an and Li Shi, displaying a radiant smile, Liu Siniang couldn’t help but envy her. Despite facing prior defamation, Su Zhi had moved past it all, leaving Liu Siniang wondering when her own hardships would come to an end.
After purchasing the meat, Su Zhi offered Liu Siniang a ride back with them, but Liu Siniang politely declined.
“I have some things to attend to. You can go ahead without me,” Liu Siniang said, excusing herself. Su Zhi didn’t insist, sensing that Liu Siniang might not want to draw attention by riding back with them on the cart. Aware of the village’s keen interest in her family, Su Zhi understood Liu Siniang’s wish to avoid becoming a topic of gossip. Given the presence of Liu Siniang’s difficult mother-in-law, she would likely face trouble if seen riding with them.
On the way back, Li Shi drove the cart while Shen Zi’an and Su Zhi sat in the back. The sunlight was comforting, providing warmth in the November weather. Li Shi and Shen Zi’an conversed, with Su Zhi joining in occasionally, leading to moments of shared laughter.
During their journey, they encountered several villagers from the riverside community who admired Shen Zi’an’s purchase of the cart. While they didn’t invite anyone to join them, a few audacious individuals managed to hop on. One such person was the neighbor from the Shen family, Zhao Dazhu, accompanied by his wife, surnamed Sun. Elderly villagers referred to her as Dazhu’s wife.
“Wow, Zi’an, you’re on your way to fortune! Buying a cart and all these goods must have cost a pretty penny, around thirty taels in total! Envy is an understatement!” exclaimed Dazhu’s wife, her eyes gleaming with a mix of envy and jealousy as she gazed at the cart and its contents.
Su Zhi didn’t hold a favorable opinion of this woman. While rural areas had their charms, some individuals had foul mouths, making verbal abuse a common occurrence. Particularly among the older women, their verbal attacks could be scathing, driving even men to retreat.
During her time residing at the Shen household, Su Zhi frequently overheard Dazhu’s wife hurling insults. Even Sun, known for her fiery temperament, had to yield somewhat, refraining from using too many profanities and opting for loud arguments instead. Su Zhi despised such vulgar language, and sitting across from the woman now, witnessing the spittle flying from her mouth, she was relieved her face was veiled. She also felt fortunate that Shen Zi’an wasn’t facing this woman directly; she didn’t want her husband to endure such discomfort.
Shen Zi’an replied, “We did spend quite a sum, but it was a necessary investment. Trading a tiger for a cow was a good deal. From now on, we’ll need to rely on farming to sustain ourselves.”
Dazhu’s wife glanced at Shen Zi’an and retorted, “Look at Zi’an, playing the sympathy card. Trading a tiger for a cow and having leftovers, right? We’re not borrowing money from you, so no need to act like you’ve spent every last coin! Besides, wasn’t there money from the ginseng sale? You’re a wealthy man now, so if Big Brother Dazhu needs financial help, you can’t refuse. Don’t forget we’ve known each other since childhood.”
Zhao Dazhu sat uncomfortably, having grown up with Shen Zi’an, even engaging in mischief together. However, as they matured, they drifted apart, and Zhao Dazhu found it challenging to maintain a close relationship with Shen Zi’an.
Li Shi interjected from the front, “Dazhu’s wife, don’t even think about the ginseng. It was a gift from a sacred beast, and those who have no connection meddling with it may face consequences!”
Dazhu’s wife recoiled slightly, saying, “I was just greeting Zi’an, not asking for anything for free. By the way, Zi’an, Uncle Youfu was looking for you early this morning. He seemed displeased at not finding you at home. It seems he wanted some ginseng from you!”
Su Zhi and Shen Zi’an exchanged a brief glance, relieved they had left early before Shen Youfu arrived. Otherwise, they might have been caught off guard at home!