Chapter 23 (Braised Food)

Faced with the many questions from her colleagues, Shui Yu felt stuck.

How should she respond?

If Madam and Young Madam knew this was pig offal, would they still want to eat it? Unless something unexpected happened, Young Master Pingyu would likely refuse.

Sighing, she hesitated for a long time, deciding to trust that the girl wouldn’t lie. She told them sincerely, “This is the stew made with pig offal, including intestines and stomach…”

As expected, after she spoke the truth, those who had been eager at first immediately shifted their expressions, saying in unison, “Oh, I see. Miss Yan is truly talented. She can make pig offal taste so delicious!”

“Yes, it’s amazing. By the way, I still have work to do, so I’ll head back now.”

“Madam is still waiting for me, I’ll leave first…”

Soon, they all dispersed one by one.

When Yan Qiushu opened her eyes to the enticing aroma of stew, she found Shui Yu and Aunt Xu sighing nearby.

“What’s going on?” she asked, still confused.

Shui Yu complained, “The stew you made was so delicious that it drew a crowd. But once they found out it was made from pig offal, they all left!”

In any other situation, this wouldn’t have been an issue. However, having witnessed firsthand how popular Yan Qiushu’s food could be, she felt disappointed by their reaction to the pig offal.

Seeing her frustration, Yan Qiushu chuckled. “It’s okay. Not everyone can appreciate pig offal.”

Even in modern times, many people avoid it, not because of the taste, but due to mental barriers. Yet those who enjoy it really savor it.

As the maids in the Xiao Mansion often came from families that had plenty to eat, they were less inclined to try dishes like this. Being a maid here offered a better life than most ordinary families, where they didn’t lack for meat.

Shui Yu pursed her lips and asked, “What about these?”

They were cooking primarily pig intestines, hearts, and stomachs. The intestines made up the bulk and were not something one could eat casually.

At that moment, various seasonings were added to the pot. The once pink and white pig intestines turned a rich brown as they rolled in the savory sauce, transforming into something far more appealing than the greasy and soft dish people often imagined.

Yan Qiushu smiled and said, “It’s almost time to take them out. Let’s pack them up and bring them to the young lady.”

“Do you think she’ll like this?” Shui Yu wondered, skeptical but hesitant to voice her doubts further, fearing it might undermine Yan Qiushu’s confidence.

Yan Qiushu replied, “It doesn’t matter if she likes it or not. As long as someone does, there will be a market for it.”

Reluctantly, Shui Yu began to prepare the food boxes. Yan Qiushu and Aunt Xu worked together, cutting the large intestine into sections, slicing the pig heart, and cutting the pig stomach into strips, placing them on different plates.

Since this was just a tasting, they didn’t pack too much. After arranging everything, Yan Qiushu set aside a portion, saying, “Madam Xu, see who likes it and share it with everyone. It’s quite tasty.”

Aunt Xu smiled and replied, “How could anyone dislike it?”

Yan Qiushu laughed back. “There will always be people who don’t like it. Taste is subjective.”

Before she first encountered pig offal, she had never eaten any internal organs. It wasn’t until a colleague encouraged her to try it that she couldn’t resist tasting a few bites. After that, she discovered a new world of flavor.

Of all the pig offal, she preferred the pig stomach, but since the large intestine was more commonly available, she focused her efforts there.

Before leaving, Yan Qiushu checked the time. It was still early afternoon, and there was ample time before the Xiao family’s eldest young master and his wife would have dinner, ensuring that their appetites wouldn’t be affected.

Yan Qiushu felt quite considerate for thinking this way.

At the Xiao Family House, Xie Qingyun took a deep breath, noting that the rich aroma of the stew had lightened up. It must be nearly done.

She glanced toward the next yard. The two courtyards were close together, and they were the first to catch the enticing scent. However, after learning about the ingredients, Xie Qingyun’s maid had come back a bit hesitant.

Though Ah Shu assured her that the pig offal would taste great, Xie Qingyun had grown up as a picky eater, avoiding such dishes her entire life. As a result, she refrained from letting the maid try it, feeling a mix of guilt and conflict.

Her husband, who was quietly reading, sensed her dilemma and said, “Don’t worry, Ah Shu isn’t the type to be offended.”

Xie Qingyun smiled and replied, “I’m not worried about her being stingy; I just hope she doesn’t feel unappreciated.”

That girl had stayed in the mansion for the sake of her sixth brother. If they displeased her, would she cry in secret?

Though Xie Qingyun was in her thirties, an age when many women were preparing to become grandmothers, she adored children. Dongdong and Wan’er were the two kids she spent the most time with. Despite Ah Shu being older, her innocent and simple demeanor, especially her eyes resembling Wan’er’s, made Xie Qingyun instinctively view her as a child.

Naturally, she didn’t want to upset her, but asking her to eat pig offal still posed a psychological barrier.

Xiao Huaiqi smiled and said, “She won’t be upset. Haven’t you noticed? She always prepares two versions of most dishes. Since the third sister doesn’t like spicy food, she makes her meals lighter. And since mother enjoys spice, she prepares something bolder for her. She considers you and me, and she’s even more thoughtful toward Dongdong and Wan’er. How could she be upset over differing tastes?”

Xie Qingyun considered his words and realized they were true. From the beginning, Ah Shu had offered two flavors of chicken wings to cater to everyone’s preferences.

She smiled and said, “We’ve been together so long, yet I never noticed that. In that case, I’ll go see her.”

“I’ll come with you,” Xiao Huaiqi offered.

As they were leaving, they bumped into Yan Qiushu, who was heading out.

“Young Master, Young Madam? What brings you here?” Yan Qiushu asked in surprise.

Xie Qingyun smiled and explained, “You mentioned pig offal could be a business opportunity. I followed the delicious smell to see for myself. This is the first time I’ve encountered such a tempting aroma.”

“Perfect timing! I was just on my way to your place to ask for your opinions on the taste. I think the eldest young master and young mistress might not be accustomed to it, so I’ll ask the maids and servants in the outer courtyard for their feedback. This dish is inexpensive to make, and if it tastes good, even ordinary families would be interested in buying it.”

Those serving in the inner courtyard of the Xiao family are the core members, while many others are needed for the rough work in the outer courtyard. She had asked Shui Yu, and most of the workers there were bought from outside. Those sold as slaves often come from poor families and have no qualms about eating pig offal, making them the perfect candidates for tasting the food.

Xie Qingyun found this amusing. As expected, this kid considered that they might not be used to it. She nodded in agreement, “Alright, Madam Tian, go to the front yard and bring ten servants and ten maids. Tell them they’re here to help taste the pig offal prepared by Miss Yan. It’s the delightful aroma we caught a whiff of this afternoon. Only bring those who are willing.”

“Yes, I’ll go right away. Master, Madam, and Miss Yan, please wait a moment.” Nanny Tian bowed and hurried off.

The host’s invitation for help tasting the pig offal was met with enthusiasm, as many of the Xiao family servants were eager to join in.

Before long, everyone arrived.

A total of twenty men and women stood in two staggered queues to save space while allowing everyone to see the reactions of the tasters.

Yan Qiushu took the opportunity to bring out the dishes while Aunt Xu distributed chopsticks, giving each person a pair. Shui Yu also brought a full plate of chopped pig intestines for them.

Yan Qiushu looked at them and raised her voice, “Please taste this for a bit. Once you’re done, let me know if you would be willing to pay ten cents for a pound.”

Given that the price of pig offal is usually seven or eight cents, ten cents for the cooked version is still less than the cheapest pork. If it tastes good, they would likely be willing to buy it.

“No problem!”

“Don’t worry, Miss Yan, we’ll enjoy it!”

The two leading tasters were excited. Seeing the pig intestines arrive, they eagerly reached for their chopsticks. The enticing aroma had tempted them for a long time, and they were eager to eat.

As for the taste of pig intestines, who would be bothered by that?

While they, as servants, didn’t worry about having good food in the Xiao family, most had experienced hardships; otherwise, they wouldn’t have sold themselves into slavery. They certainly wouldn’t mind pig intestines.

Up close, the brown pig intestines released a familiar, appetizing scent. The servants expected a delicious aroma but feared a bad taste. However, once they tasted it, they found no strange smell whatsoever.

Biting into the meat, they noticed it was firm yet crispy. After being cooked thoroughly, the large intestines were full of flavor—soft without being mushy, rich without being greasy. The stew’s aroma danced on their palates with every chew. It was hard to believe they were eating pig offal.

“Delicious!” exclaimed the first taster, surprised, “This tastes much better than I expected!”

One by one, others followed suit, praising the dish.

“Master, Madam, Miss Yan, this pig intestine is truly delicious, far better than the meat I usually eat!”

“It’s tastier than fatty meat. If not cooked well, fatty meat can be greasy. But this intestine is chewy yet easy to bite into and is so flavorful! It’s fragrant and salty, perfect with rice!”

A servant in the seventh position, hearing the praises, became suspicious. Was this flattery?

How could they like it so much?

This servant had never been fond of pig offal. In his earlier years, before being sold into the mansion, it was the only meat dish he could afford.

At that time, his hometown hadn’t experienced flooding, and his family would occasionally buy offal to enjoy a meat dish. Yet, because of this, he grew to hate it.

He found it utterly disgusting!