Back in the kitchen, the newly bought pot needs to be boiled first. In the 1970s, Zeng Wenjuan rinsed the iron pot with hot water to remove dust and impurities on the surface.

Wipe the cooking side of the pan with ash to remove any rust and dirt. Rinse it again with hot water to make sure the inside of the pan is clean and free of impurities. Place the pan on the stove and turn it on low heat to dry out the moisture. Make sure all parts of the pan are dried out to prevent rust.

After doing this, use a clean cloth to dip in an appropriate amount of lard and evenly apply it to the cooking side of the iron pan. Place the pan on the stove and heat it over low heat to allow the lard to penetrate the surface of the pan. Continue heating for about 15-20 minutes until the lard starts to smoke.

Slowly push away the sparks and turn off the fire. Let the iron pan cool naturally. During the cooling process, the lard will form a protective film on the surface of the pan. When the pan is completely cooled, wipe off the excess lard with a clean cloth. Store the iron pan in a dry and ventilated place to avoid moisture and rust.

By the time I got the pot ready, it was already past six o'clock. If I didn't make dinner, it would probably be completely dark.

Zeng Wenjuan first washed the rice and put it in the pot to steam. Then she cut the pork belly into pieces, each piece of meat was very even, just the size of a finger, so it was just right for adults and children to eat.

"Mom, are we all going to eat meat tonight?" Goudan swallowed his saliva unconsciously as he looked at the raw meat. Meat was the most delicious thing in the world. It was greasy and fragrant.

Zeng Wenjuan glanced at Goudan and smiled and said, "Yes! We have been eating meat these past two days to nourish Goudan. Goudan can tell mom what he wants to eat in the future. We have a pot at home and mom can cook it for him."

When she was in the Zhao family, Zeng Wenjuan cooked all the meals. But after the family split up, there was no pot at home, and there was not much food, so she could only eat some "pig food" every day.

"Okay, when I grow up, I will learn to cook from mom. Then mom won't have to work so hard." Goudan said with concern.

Zeng Wenjuan smiled and said nothing more, but her hands kept moving. Because she had bought enough seasoning, the aroma of braised pork wafted out.

Lin Beige happened to live near the village chief's house and smelled the fragrance. He immediately thought that the village chief's family was eating meat and immediately started cursing.

"These idiots... They use our money to eat delicious food and drink spicy drinks, and they don't even know to avoid people. I pray that you will give birth to a son without an asshole. If you eat meat every day, how can you not be bloated to death!"

Almost everyone around could smell the fragrance and were initially envious, but after hearing Lin Beigo's scolding, everyone closed their doors. It was truly unlucky to have such a person as a neighbor.

After Zeng Wenjuan finished cooking, she served a bowl of the food and said to Goudan, "Goudan, let's go take this bowl of braised pork to your village chief's grandfather's house. We'll eat when we get back."

"Okay." The mother and son held hands and went to the village chief's house. Zeng Wenjuan shouted at the door: "Uncle village chief, auntie, have you eaten?"

"Ah! I'm eating! Have you eaten? If you haven't eaten yet, come and eat together!" Yuan Yujuan came out and greeted.

Zeng Wenjuan smiled and glanced into the house, and happened to meet the eyes of the village chief's eldest daughter-in-law. She was startled by the other's hostile eyes.

"Wenjuan, what's wrong? Is there something wrong? How about we talk while we eat?" Yuan Yujuan was a little puzzled. Zeng Wenjuan was not an ignorant person! Why would she come here at dinner time? She still had this expression. When she turned around and saw her eldest daughter-in-law looking like she wanted to eat someone, she glared back at her.

Hearing Yuan Yujuan's call, Zeng Wenjuan came back to her senses and handed over the bowl of meat in her hand: "Auntie, this is the braised pork I made myself. And this is half a year's rent, I'll give it to you first." Youxing took out six dollars from his pocket and handed it over.

Seeing the money, Yuan Yujuan's first reaction was to put it in her pocket. But soon, she returned the money: "What are you doing! It's just a broken house. If you are not in trouble now, the house will be demolished. If you still treat me as your aunt, you can take the money back. What's more, you still have to teach the villagers how to make money, so you can teach your aunt more when the time comes."

Zeng Wenjuan looked at Yuan Yujuan, and was very touched. Her eyes were slightly red as she looked at Yuan Yujuan and nodded: "Okay, then, auntie, do you have any pickled vegetables? I'll trade you some meat, and the extra ones will be my gift to you and the village chief uncle."

Yuan Yujuan looked back at her greedy grandchildren and nodded with a simple smile: "Okay, I'll take the meat. It just so happens that my family has dried some new pickled cabbage this year, I'll get it for you right away."

Zeng Wenjuan took the dried pickled cabbage and walked home holding Goudan's hand. Goudan asked in confusion: "Mom, what do we want pickled cabbage for? Don't we want to eat meat?"

"Well, mom will make sauerkraut and meat for our Goudan tomorrow. Feed our Goudan and make him plump and white. What do you think, Goudan?" Zeng Wenjuan asked him with a smile and lowered her head.

Goudan is so happy, he can eat meat tomorrow! He smiles with two dimples on his face, which makes you indulge in it and can't help yourself.

After returning home, Zeng Wenjuan took the food out of the cupboard. She first helped Goudan to prepare a bowl of white rice, put two pieces of fat and lean braised pork in it, and poured some sauce on it. It became a fragrant braised pork rice.

"Eat quickly! Try the braised pork made by mother and see if it's delicious. If you like it, I will make it for you in a few days." Zeng Wenjuan coaxed.

Goudan nodded obediently, but he didn't want to eat meat every day. It wasn't because he didn't like it, but because he felt that such a life was too fake, as if all this was not real, just his fantasy. For a long time afterwards, Zeng Wenjuan proved with her actions that all this was real, and they were both enjoying love.

Goudan took a bite of the braised pork with rice and immediately praised Zeng Wenjuan: "Mom, the meat you cook is delicious. Mom is the best, Mom is the best mom in the world, everyone is better than Mom."

"Then who is more powerful, me or your father?" Zeng Wenjuan looked at her son with amusement, not knowing where he learned this.

Goudan answered without hesitation: "Of course to mom! Daddy is no match for mom."

After dinner, Zeng Wenjuan was washing dishes in the kitchen while Goudan was writing down the days in his notebook in the moonlight.

"August 16, 1973. The weather was fine. Today was my happiest day. I ate meat for the third time. It was the braised pork my mother made for me. The first time was when my mother was injured and she made me bacon. I thought it was the most delicious. The second time was roasted hare. I seemed to see my father that time. He seemed to be very powerful, even more powerful than my mother. Today's braised pork is the third time I have eaten meat, and it is the most delicious. But I am a little unhappy. It is so different from my previous life. I am so afraid that my mother will leave me. I am so afraid that all this is a dream."