Chapter 7: Sweet and Sour Ribs

Warmth blossomed in Jing Hongyi’s heart. He smiled and gently shook his head.
“You keep this for yourself, Zhunzhun.”

But little Jing Zhun stubbornly shook her tiny head, raising her chubby little hand even higher. Her voice was soft and milky,
“No, Mama bought me lots of candy. Besides, besides, Zhunzhun already had some today.”

She added earnestly,
“Mama said little kids can’t eat too much candy, or their teeth will go bad.”

The little piece of sticky-sweet osmanthus sugar was almost poking Jing Hongyi on the chin.

Unable to resist his little sister’s insistence, he could only slightly open his mouth.

As the candy entered, a wave of gentle sweetness spread across his palate.

The faint fragrance of osmanthus mixed with the rich, glutinous sweetness of malt sugar—sweet but not cloying—just right. It even carried a trace of warmth from Zhunzhun’s palm.

Jing Hongyi slowly savored the sweetness melting in his mouth, but deep down, his heart stirred at that natural, effortless “Mama” from his sister’s lips.

Had it really been that long?
In the short time he’d been away from home, had his little sister already grown so close with that woman?
That title—so intimate and natural—held none of the fear or timidity she once had.

He lowered his gaze, looking at his little sister’s eager, proud face, and his emotions became a tangled mess.

Before long, a mouthwatering aroma wafted over from the kitchen.

It started with a sweet and sour tang, warm and caramelized, drilling straight into the nose and making one’s mouth water.

“Dinner time—!” Pu Jiaojiao called out loudly.

Supper had already been laid on the table.

The most eye-catching dish was undoubtedly the plate of sweet and sour pork ribs.

Each rib was evenly coated in a glossy sauce, glistening red and appetizing, like it had been lacquered with honey.

The sauce was thick but not sticky, clinging tightly to the ribs, with slightly charred edges that added a touch of rustic flavor.

Up close, the tangy vinegar and sugary aroma intertwined, enhanced by the rich scent of stewed meat and bones—bold, intense, and hitting straight to the heart.

Beside it were cabbage-and-pork buns steamed the day before, just reheated now.

The bun skin was soft and snowy white, faintly revealing the green cabbage bits and pink minced meat inside, all steaming hot.

There was also a small dish of smashed cucumber salad—bright green and fresh—seasoned just right with garlic and sesame oil, refreshing just to look at.

Since they already had buns and ribs, Pu Jiaojiao had only made mianyu tea soup that evening. She layered eggs over the top, a mix of whites and golds. She had simmered it with rock sugar specially for this meal.

Rock sugar was still a rare treat at this time—after all, sugar was expensive. This little piece of rock sugar had been taken from the Pu family’s general store earlier that day, then cracked into pieces. Even just a small pinch brought a subtle sweetness.

Pu Jiaojiao removed her apron.
“Come eat while it’s hot. The ribs just came out of the pot—they’re at their best now.”

Little Jing Zhun, who had been impatient for a while, had already washed her hands and obediently sat on her small stool, her big eyes blinking as she swallowed her drool.

Pu Jiaojiao gave her a small dish and smiled while picking out two pieces of ribs for her.
“Make sure to blow on it first, it’s still hot from the pan.”

Jing Zhun already had one rib in hand, her fingers turning red from the heat, but she still couldn’t bear to let go. Instead, she blew on it softly with her little mouth.

Then she took a big bite. Her round eyes lit up immediately.
“So yummy!”

With her mouth full of meat, her words came out muffled, but the look on her face said it all.

Jing Hongyi sat down, still a little reserved.

These past couple of days, Jing Hongyi couldn’t quite get used to the change in his stepmother. And starting from yesterday, it seemed he’d actually been eating meals that tasted good.

In fact, they were far better than what they used to eat when living with Father—who didn’t cook. Most of the time, they either bought food from outside or asked the auntie next door to prepare a simple meal.

But truth be told, that auntie’s cooking couldn’t hold a candle to this woman’s.

Whether he liked her or not, he had to admit—her cooking was genuinely excellent.

The lunch he brought to school today? He’d barely taken a few bites before the rest was begged off him by his classmates. That had never happened before.

The sweet and sour ribs looked especially tempting, so Jing Hongyi reached out with his chopsticks and picked one up.

The rib was coated in a glossy sauce, slightly charred at the edges, giving off a tantalizing blend of sweet, sour, and savory aromas.

He placed it in his mouth.

His teeth sank in gently—the outside had a perfect crisp chew from the caramelized edges, while the inside meat was stewed until incredibly tender, slipping off the bone with no effort.

The rich sweet-and-sour flavor instantly exploded on his tongue—the tang of the vinegar perfectly balanced out the sugar’s sweetness, leaving behind a mellow and full-bodied taste, with the fresh savoriness of the meat and bones.

It was a more complex, more enticing flavor than anything he’d tasted before.

It was… truly delicious.

Jing Hongyi slowed his chewing, savoring every bite.

Her cooking, he thought, might even be better than the food at the famous Songxiang Restaurant his father had taken them to.

Just as he was about to reach for another piece, Pu Jiaojiao’s voice rang out, light and cheerful:
“Hongyi, does your school provide hot meals at noon?”

Though a bit confused, Jing Hongyi swallowed his bite and looked up to answer honestly,
“Mm, they do.”

He paused and explained,
“If we bring food, we hand it over to the lady who tends the fire in the morning. When they boil water around noon, she’ll put all the lunches in a big steamer to heat them up.”

“Well, that’s perfect,” Pu Jiaojiao said right away, her tone upbeat. “Tomorrow morning, while I’m making breakfast, I’ll prepare your lunch too. That way, it’ll be warm when you eat it—much better than having it cold.”

“This morning I didn’t get a chance to ask you, and I didn’t dare prepare anything else, so I just let you take some buns.”

She hadn’t yet figured out how the school handled lunch, so she’d thought that even if the buns went cold, it wouldn’t be a big deal. It was early autumn now, and cold food wasn’t a major concern. Plus, the braised pig intestines from the previous day could be eaten cold too, so she hadn’t prepared anything extra.

Jing Hongyi instinctively tightened his grip on his chopsticks and replied softly,
“Okay.”

He didn’t know why, but he felt a bit happy—though at the same time, he wondered if he was being too quick to feel that way.

He wasn’t sure why this woman had suddenly changed her attitude, but he did feel a sense of relief.

Otherwise, every time he went to school, he’d be worried sick that his little sister might be bullied at home, and he’d have trouble focusing in class.

Jing Hongyi lowered his eyes slightly. Maybe… maybe this woman was just scared that their father would find out and scold her when he got back. Maybe that’s why she suddenly changed.

His hand, which had been reaching for another rib, shifted to the cucumber dish instead. If this really was the reason, as long as things looked okay on the surface and she didn’t mistreat his sister, then he could pretend the past never happened.

Father was always busy, out working to support the family. Jing Hongyi had always been a sensible child. When Father remarried and said he needed someone to help look after them, he’d felt worried, but also understood—when Father got busy, he could be gone for days at a time, and the siblings were still young. They really couldn’t go on like that forever.

He snuck a glance at the woman now smiling and gently reminding Huahua to eat slowly. There was none of the harshness from just a few days ago—she seemed much more calm and gentle now.

Maybe… maybe she really did want to change.