He Zifeng and Qiu Yu were both in high spirits, especially Qiu Yu, who had never seen so much money before.
Qiu Yu strung together one tael of copper coins for safekeeping. “If there’s another business opportunity like this, we should do it again,” he said, excited by the quick profit and eager to earn more.
He Zifeng replied, “This job was arranged by Gouzi’s dad, and we can’t rely on him every time. Liuzi, the village chief, mentioned his brother-in-law would be hiring soon. I’ll give it a try then.”
With farmland secured, their daily expenses in the village were minimal. However, having recently split from the family, their financial foundation was still weak. They needed to save more, especially for their son’s future.
Qiu Yu stored the tael of copper coins under the bed in a small box, leaving the remaining money in the cabinet. They agreed that either of them could use the money as needed, as long as they informed the other afterward.
It was already midday. Having eaten pancakes on the way home, neither of them was particularly hungry. They left some steamed buns and pickled vegetables in the kitchen for their son.
He Zifeng suggested, “Let’s take a nap first.” After staying up to cook pancakes in the first half of the night and traveling to the market in the second half, they were exhausted. Both fell asleep quickly.
Little He Ran returned home for lunch and found both his fathers sound asleep. Feeling drowsy himself, he yawned, kicked off his shoes, and climbed onto the big bed, nestling between them. Even in sleep, Qiu Yu instinctively pulled the boy into his arms.
He Zifeng was the first to wake after an hour. Feeling refreshed, he saw that both Qiu Yu and their son were still sound asleep. Not wanting to disturb them, he quietly left the house.
He unloaded the cart and returned it to the neighbor. Then he began rendering the lard from the pig fat. He cut the fat into finger-width slices, added water, and heated it on the stove. Soon, the water evaporated, and the fat began releasing oil.
He stirred it constantly to prevent burning. When done, he poured the hot lard into a clean jar, where it would solidify into white fat for later use. The leftover crispy lard bits were salted and made for a delicious snack. He Zifeng saved most of it for Qiu Yu and their son.
Next, he roasted the pig trotters over a small fire in the yard to remove any remaining hair and to eliminate the gamey smell.
As he worked, Qiu Yu emerged from the house, still flushed from sleep, his face radiant and soft. Seeing the progress He Zifeng had made, he smiled warmly and immediately set about soaking the five pounds of soybeans in water.
“I’ll cook extra pig trotters and share them with the women who helped us sew,” Qiu Yu said.
He Zifeng nodded. “Good idea. They deserve it.”
He also requested, “Let’s cook rice tonight. Soybeans and pig trotters go perfectly with rice.”
Qiu Yu agreed, setting aside enough rice to cook a full pot, something they could finally enjoy freely now that they lived independently.
By afternoon, the trotters were cleaned and ready. While fetching water, He Zifeng ran into Liu’s wife, who handed him a bundle of new clothes.
“These are the clothes Qiu Yu asked me to make. Try them on and let me know if any adjustments are needed,” she said cheerfully.
Back home, Qiu Yu urged He Zifeng to try on his new clothes. Although indifferent to fashion, He Zifeng obliged. As he changed, his muscular physique caught Qiu Yu’s eye, making his cheeks flush.
“You look great,” Qiu Yu complimented, his voice soft.
He Zifeng chuckled, “Then I’ll wear it for you often.”
He planned to change back into his old clothes to avoid soiling the new ones while working, but Qiu Yu stopped him. “Keep them on. I’ll wash your old clothes.”
He Zifeng, touched, decided to humor him and wore the new outfit as he fetched water. Along the way, neighbors complimented his improved appearance.
By the time he returned, little He Ran was awake, wearing his matching outfit. “Dad!” the boy called out, his voice bright and cheerful.
He Zifeng scooped him up, planting a kiss on his cheek. The boy giggled, his eyes narrowing with joy.
In the kitchen, the aroma of braised pig trotters and soybeans filled the air as Qiu Yu skillfully prepared the dish, adding dried chilies for a hint of spice. The savory fragrance wafted through the yard, making He Ran’s mouth water.
The trotters were cooked until tender and fell off the bone. The soybeans absorbed the rich flavors, becoming soft and delectable.
He Zifeng couldn’t resist tasting a bite, giving a thumbs-up in approval. Even little He Ran eagerly nibbled on a piece, savoring every bite.
The couple then prepared portions to share with the neighbors, each bowl containing two pieces of pig trotter and half a bowl of soybeans.
“Wow, how generous!”
“This smells amazing. Did Qiu Yu make it?”
“Thanks so much, I was just wondering what to cook tonight.”
When they delivered the food, everyone was delighted. Pork trotters and soybeans are inexpensive, but the enticing aroma made everyone’s mouth water. They delivered it just in time for dinner preparations, which was perfect timing. Neighbors nearby were drawn to the smell and couldn’t help but feel tempted. Qiu Yu explained how he made the dish, but everyone shook their heads repeatedly:
“No way, no way! That’s too much trouble. If I dared to waste that much firewood, my mother-in-law would give me a hard time.”
Even Gouzi’s father was thrilled. He’d had a good day of sales, earning back the cost and still having half a bundle of fabric scraps left over. The rest was pure profit. He laughed and said, “Just in time for some drinking tonight.” He felt more and more that befriending He Zifeng was a good choice—He really knew how to be considerate. Someone like that was worth keeping close.
The pot was originally filled to the brim, but after delivering portions to everyone, it was reduced to just a small plate, barely enough for the family to each have a small piece of pork trotter and half a plate of soybeans.
The cooked pork heart was shredded and served as a cold dish. Its chewy texture, combined with garlic sauce and green onions for seasoning, made it a standout. The rendered pork cracklings became a tasty snack.
The broth, mixed with soybeans and poured over rice, was fragrant and delicious. He Zifeng and little He Ran ate until their stomachs were full.
That night, Qiu Yu chopped up the large bones, put them in an earthen pot, and let them simmer overnight on a low fire. By the next morning, the bone broth would be ready for making noodles!
That night, the entire village was enveloped in the unfamiliar yet tantalizing aroma.
The next day, a few sisters-in-law gathered by the creek and chatted:
“Yesterday’s pork trotters weren’t nearly enough.”
“Exactly! How do they make it taste so good?”
“I only got to eat some soybeans, but even those were so flavorful. Amazing.”
At every family’s dinner table, the food had been devoured quickly. Since it was gifted by someone else, no one felt comfortable asking for more, leaving them craving and conflicted.
One of the sisters-in-law said, “My uncle’s brother works as a waiter in the city. He’s brought back dishes twice before, but none of them were as tasty as what Qiu Yu made. Let’s ask him if he’d sell it—we’ll pay for it.”
The craving had been awakened, and with only two small pieces to go around for the elderly and children, everyone had enjoyed it but was left wanting more.
“Exactly, let’s ask him!”
“Hmm…”
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