However, Gu An'an could not agree.

"I don't keep useless people as pets."

After she finished speaking, she felt that she was crazy for trying to reason with a drunkard.

She must have so much free time.

"I am not a piece of trash."

Jiang Yong'an explained very seriously, "I have been learning from my master for many years. I can go up the mountain to hunt, and I can earn two taels of silver every month. I am not a good-for-nothing."

Is two taels of silver a lot?

Gu An'an picked up the wine jar and stuffed it into Jiang Yong'an's hand, "Then save up more money, find someone willing to marry you, and live a good life."

The man took the wine jar, took a big gulp, and when he put it down, he found that the person had already run away.

"Why did you abandon me?" The man slumped onto the table, staring at the quiet candlelight, before collapsing to the floor.

...

The next morning, Gu An'an came over to stew braised pork.

Seeing Jiang Yong'an cleaning there, she was quite certain that he had been drunk last night and didn't know what he had said or done.

However, the alcohol content of ancient wines was very low, generally less than 20 degrees, or even as low as one digit.

If you get drunk from such a low alcohol content, what would happen if you had a bottle of Moutai or a bottle of vodka? You'd be knocked out after just one drink.

In that instant, Gu An'an suddenly found Jiang Yong'an quite amusing.

A man who can't hold his liquor.

She thought for a moment, then rummaged through the cupboard and found a wine jar. She poured some wine into the pot to use as cooking wine.

The aroma of braised pork came out quickly.

Even Su San Niang from next door couldn't help but come over to see what was going on, "Little Gu, what are you doing? It smells so good!"

It smells good enough on ordinary days, but today it's different. It feels like something is crawling down my nose and esophagus into my stomach.

That aroma whetted my appetite.

Gu An'an smiled happily, "I'm stewing braised pork. Third Aunt, why don't you come and try it later?"

"Braised pork?"

Gu An'an nodded.

Food in this era was mainly steamed and boiled. Although frying, stir-frying, and deep-frying existed, they were not common in ordinary households.

Since pork is considered lowly, naturally not many people would bother to make braised pork.

Su San Niang glanced at the pot and thought the color was very bright, like a pot of agate stones being cooked.

Standing by the pot, the aroma became even more enticing.

"How come you're so good at making all this food and drink?"

Gu An'an used her usual excuse, "It was taught to me by the Kitchen God in my dream."

"Why didn't the Kitchen God teach me?" Su San Niang felt that she must have offended the Kitchen God and his wife. "When it's ready, save me a bowl."

She walked away gracefully, but as she reached the door, she suddenly remembered, "By the way, Xiao Gu, how much is this bowl of meat?"

"Not expensive, fifty coins."

After much deliberation, Gu An'an set the price at fifty coins.

A bowl of braised pork contains about one pound of cooked meat.

This bowl of meat requires two pounds of meat to cook.

Considering all the ingredients I used, fifty coins really isn't expensive... right?

Gu An'an glanced at Su San Niang's face seemingly unintentionally, and watched the latter turn and leave, feeling somewhat puzzled.

Could it be that you priced it too high?

Although pork is cheaper, it's still very dangerous to go hunting wild boar in the mountains.

Fifty coins, that's really not expensive.

You should know that two ounces of cooked beef would cost eighty coins.

As Gu An'an was thinking, Su San Niang returned, carrying an iron basin from somewhere—

"Pour me a few more bowls."

Gu An'an: "..."

I didn't realize you could eat so much.

However, each bowl has its own price, and as long as the payment is settled, it's negotiable.

Just as Su San Niang was carrying half a basin of braised pork out, Mr. Hong, the owner of the incense shop next door, poked his head out and asked, "What is Madam Gu making? It smells so good!"

He runs an incense shop, and he's used to smelling all sorts of incense and candles every day, so he's long since become accustomed to other smells.

However, the aroma from next door is quite unusual.

Su San Niang ignored the man and carried the braised pork back to her shop.

This Gu Niangzi is so delicious and beautiful; you can tell it used a lot of sugar.

Sugar is such a wonderful thing. Su San Niang grew up in Suzhou Prefecture and ate plenty of sugar.

But things were different in Anzhou Prefecture. She suppressed her impulse and went to get bowls and chopsticks before she could enjoy her meal.

Meanwhile, Gu An'an next door welcomed another neighbor.

Without saying a word, Boss Hong took away the two bowls.

Seeing the braised pork being divided up by her neighbors, Gu An'an suddenly realized that this was what she should do from now on.

The bowl of meat looked exceptionally substantial. The key was that raw pork cost six coins per pound, and with the addition of sugar and firewood, the cost was less than twenty coins.

A bowl of braised pork can earn you thirty coins, which is much more profitable than a golden feast. The key is that it's also much easier to make.

It's nothing like that, where you have to make meatballs and egg crepes at the same time; it's just too much trouble.

With a new love, Gu An'an handed over the task of making meatballs and spring rolls to Jiang Yong'an and Liu Jiuniang, while she focused on selling braised pork.

Her carefully prepared braised pork looked delicious, especially when it was placed in that white porcelain bowl. The perfectly balanced pieces of lean and fatty pork were coated with layers of agate-like broth, and the aroma was incredibly tempting.

The regular customers of Gu's Food Shop haven't arrived yet, but it has attracted the attention of the neighbors on the street.

In less than an hour, the entire pot of braised pork was sold out.

Some of the regular customers who arrived late were unhappy, saying, "Why didn't you leave us a bite of the new dishes? Is Madam Gu treating us like outsiders?"

"No, no, how could I?" Gu An'an immediately agreed, promising to make more tomorrow so that everyone would have some.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!