Liu Guixiang finished a piece of braised pork and could hardly believe her eyes: “Is this really braised pork?” She widened her eyes in astonishment. Was real braised pork this delicious? Luckily, she firmly believed in Ping Ger’s excellent cooking skills. Even though the layers of fat looked daunting, she dared to take a bite, and once she did, she couldn’t stop eating. It was so good! Too delicious! It wasn’t greasy at all, and she couldn’t find the words to describe how fragrant it was, even her tongue seemed to want to swallow itself whole.

The braised pork she had eaten at banquets before must have been fake.

“Ping Ger’s skills are good enough to work as a chef in a tavern in town,” Chen Yuandong said, setting down his chopsticks with a smile of satisfaction.

Liu Guixiang, who had attended a wedding banquet at a tavern in town, looked disdainful: “With their skills, how could they compare to Ping Ger? Our Ping Ger is among the best, even if he goes to the county town. I’ve never eaten at a county banquet, but my father once did and talked about it for a long time. If he could taste Ping Ger’s braised pork trotters, he’d probably be so amazed he couldn’t move.”

Old Chen just enjoyed his wine and side dishes. Chen Yuandong understood this well and said with a smile, “When your birthday comes, father-in-law and mother-in-law will come over. We can ask Ping Ger to help prepare the food for a big family feast.”

Liu Guixiang glanced shyly at her husband, her fair cheeks blooming with a faint blush. Although she didn’t say anything, she felt very happy inside.

She knew she hadn’t married the wrong person.

The pork belly, priced at two coins a piece, seemed expensive, but its profit was similar to that of the trotters. After all, pork belly was costly, at twelve wen a pound. Adding in the needed ingredients and spices, Chen Pingyu’s pork belly pieces were also sizable, making the profits quite reasonable.

Four pounds of pork belly cost less than a hundred coins, and after subtracting costs, they made less than forty coins. Quite good for a morning’s work, especially for a farmer.

Chen Pingyu felt very satisfied to earn money at home while allowing his family to enjoy the fruits of his labor.

Dad Chen no longer minded that his third son had bought four pounds of pork belly at once, seeing the pile of copper coins, he thought the purchase was worth it!

“From now on, if you want to cook or buy anything, just go ahead. If you run out of money, tell me.” He didn’t want to stifle his son’s skills. Whether his son could get married in this life largely depended on whether his skills could attract a reliable partner.

Chen Yuanqiu, nearby, chimed in, “Third Brother, I’ve saved some money too. If you need it, feel free to take it.”

“Shut up,” Dad Chen said with a bit of a headache. “Little one, you’re already seventeen. Don’t be so reckless every day. Your savings shouldn’t be touched. If you can’t keep it, give it to me, and I’ll hold it for you until you get married.”

Building a new house after splitting the family would cost quite a bit of silver, and while both sets of parents would contribute a little, the rest depended on how much the children saved.

“Dad, I have money,” Chen Yuping said, enjoying the warm atmosphere of the family that felt so cozy it warmed his heart. “The money I spend can be quickly earned back. Right now, the business isn’t big, just doing a little at home, so finances aren’t tight at all.”

Dad Chen nodded, “As long as you’re aware of it.”

With the experience from yesterday, Chen Yuping boldly bought ten pounds of pork belly. Third Uncle gave him two pork bones and asked if he wanted trotters as well.

There were still three trotters left.

“Give them all to me.” Chen Yuping thought about making some yellow bean soup and inviting his second brother and the others over to drink. The rest he would make into stewed trotters. Compared to braised trotters, stewed trotters were richer and more flavorful.

“Three trotters will cost you ten coins.” Third Uncle laughed. “I’ve heard so much about how good your braised pork and trotters are that I’m getting a bit tempted myself.”

“I’ll bring some over around noon for you to try, but I’m not making braised trotters today, they’re too spicy for you. I’ll change the flavor to a stew instead.”

Third Uncle felt very pleased upon hearing this.

Chen Yuping still had some spices left over from his purchase in town, and he carefully selected them. Quantity was key, more wasn’t always better. In fact, if the spices were too strong, the dish would lose its true flavor.

That’s why the same ingredients and seasonings could yield vastly different tastes, some delicious, some mediocre.

This also required a certain talent.

Chen Yuping believed he had quite the knack for cooking.

Several people had arrived late yesterday and missed out on the braised pork. Those not short on money immediately paid in advance, agreeing to come back for it at noon.

Before noon arrived, some couldn’t help but leave their fields and rush to Chen’s house.

“Ping Ger, is the braised pork ready? I’ve been too restless to work all morning.”

“It’s perfectly cooked now. If you’re just having wine, I’ve stewed some trotters as well, they’re really tasty, but I don’t have much left, as I need to save some for my family.”

“How many can you sell? I’ll take them all since I brought money.”

In a small bowl, there was braised pork and a piece of stewed trotters, nearly overflowing.

The person threw out a dozen coins without a second thought, grinning widely, “Ping Ger, I’m off! I’ll return the bowl this afternoon.”

“Alright.”

Just as he left, two more arrived. Two brothers, rare twins from the village, who looked very similar.

“Ping Ger, we’re here for the braised pork.” They had also paid in advance yesterday for three pieces.

Chen Yuping neatly packed the bowl and handed it to them.

One after another, several groups came by, and soon the ten pounds of braised pork, aside from what was left for the family, was sold out completely.

Chen Yuping closed the door and headed to Third Uncle’s house with a bowl.

One piece of stewed trotters and one piece of braised pork. He wasn’t being stingy, it was just all he could spare.

Seeing him, Third Uncle was very happy and kept chatting with him.

Chen Yuping stayed a while before leaving.

Upon arriving home, he found several people waiting at his doorstep, chatting under the eaves. When they saw him, they all asked if there was any braised pork left.

“You came too late, it’s all sold out.”

“Ping Ger, you should cook more! Your braised pork is so fragrant and flavorful, you don’t have to worry about it selling out.” Two coins a piece might sound expensive, but once they tasted it, they knew it was worth it. Pork belly was twelve coins a pound, and no matter how one cooked it, it wouldn’t compare to this deliciousness. Eating it felt like a waste, it was better to spend two coins to buy it from Ping Ger, savor it slowly, and enjoy several bites. Totally worth it!

“Yes, that makes sense. Ping Ger, you need to cook more tomorrow.”

“It’s not even lunchtime, and it’s already gone!”

They all chimed in, urging him to make more. Chen Yuping smiled and promised he would definitely make more, sending everyone off.

As he nibbled on the stewed trotters and enjoyed the braised pork, Chen Yuanqiu felt extremely proud. “Third Brother, you don’t know! On the way back, I heard so many people talking about your braised pork, especially those who didn’t get any. They were practically drooling!”

“Just be careful not to speak out of turn,” Chen Yuping reminded him.

“I know, I know! I won’t stir up trouble,” he replied, grinning like a cat that got the cream.

Father Chen said to Dad Chen, “Later, I need to go to the Shen Village to get some wine.” His son’s stewed trotters were so much tastier than the braised ones, and he was craving wine, but they had run out at home.

“Father, I still have some wine at my place.” Chen Yuandong said, putting down his chopsticks and heading outside.

Chen Yuanqiu looked at his second brother pouring wine, “I want some too!”

“Why should a kid drink wine? Go away.” Father Chen firmly refused.

“Father, today’s wine is from Second Brother’s house,” Chen Yuanqiu said, looking at his second brother with eager eyes.

Dad Chen thought the boy was a bit pitiful, so he said, “Give him a little.”

“What about you, Ping Ger?” Chen Yuandong asked.

“I’ll have some too.”

The wine wasn’t strong, it wasn’t about drinking to excess but simply enjoying a few sips to satisfy their cravings.