Zhang Hongmei put the meat into the pot, and there was a sizzling sound. She quickly stir-fried it until the oil was released, then added soy sauce and stir-fried it again. After that, she added the hot water that had been used to cook the meat earlier, and there was no need to add salt.

"Brother Zhang, do you have any peppercorns or star anise at home?"

Yes, here you go, they're all here.

Zhang Hongmei took a small cloth bag, checked it, and saw that the seasonings were quite complete: cinnamon, bay leaves, fennel seeds, and cardamom. She added a little of each before covering the pot.

"Red Plum, is this all right?"

"Yes, just wait until the water in the pot has reduced, and the meat will be tender by then."

It smells so good! It's been so long since I've had such delicious braised pork. Zhang Shouyi swallowed hard, feeling ashamed of his own lack of self-control.

Zhang Xingguo was also drawn over by the aroma. "Why does the red plum smell so good? When are we eating? I'm getting hungrier and hungrier."

"It should be ready in about an hour. Braised pork won't taste good if it's not stewed until it's tender."

"Okay, I'll wait. Wang Xiaoshun, your drool is coming out." Zhang Xingguo deliberately mocked him.

"Commander!"

Zhang Xingguo felt goosebumps all over when he heard Wang Xiaoshun's incoherent and convoluted tone. "Speak properly, go and get the wine. I'll have a drink today. Don't look at him, do I have to listen to him?" Zhang Xingguo shouted angrily when he saw Wang Xiaoshun looking at Zhang Shouyi.

Zhang Shouyi said slowly and deliberately, "Xiao Shun, go get it. Let's all have a drink today."

Upon receiving the order, Wang Xiaoshun quickly ran off to find the wine.

"Uncle Zhang, I've brought you some wine too. Try that one; my third uncle said it's strong."

"Really? Hongmei, if you don't want to be my daughter, then be my daughter-in-law?" Zhang Xingguo thought it made more and more sense, and looked at the two of them with smug satisfaction.

Zhang Hongmei was stunned. What did this mean? Daughter-in-law? She looked at Zhang Shouyi with disdain and glared at Zhang Xingguo. "Uncle Zhang, this joke isn't funny. If you say it again, I won't talk to you anymore."

Zhang Shouyi suffered a massive blow. His dad was unreliable enough, but why did this little brat look down on him? He glanced helplessly at his unreliable father; there was nothing he could do, he dared to say anything.

Zhang Xingguo believed he wasn't wrong, but his son Hongmei seemed reluctant. Was this a bad thing? Was his son stupid? If he didn't settle down with such a good girl soon, he'd have nowhere to turn if she ran off to someone else.

He completely ignored them, but in his heart he became even more convinced that Zhang Hongmei was his daughter-in-law.

Zhang Hongmei decided to ignore this mentally ill person and turned back to start mixing the vegetables.

First, take the glass noodles out and rinse them in clean water, then take them out and drain them. Put them in a small bowl, smash a clove of garlic, add vinegar and soy sauce, and then just wait for me to make some chili oil and pour it on.

Wild vegetables are mixed like this too, but I don't have any seasonings for other dishes. Looking up at the sky, I sadly think of the proverb, "Even a skilled cook can't cook without rice."

Wang Xiaoshun had already set the table, and Zhang Xingguo urged Zhang Hongmei to hurry up and find some wine.

Annoyed to no end, Zhang Hongmei told him to go find it himself, but he refused. So she washed her hands, went out of the kitchen, found her cloth bag, took out two bottles of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor), and handed them to Zhang Xingguo.

Afterwards, he asked Wang Xiaoshun to carry the two large bags of rice and flour he had brought over, while he himself carried the peanuts, soybeans, and soybean oil he had brought into the kitchen.

"Are all these red plum blossoms for me?"

"Yes, this is a gift for Uncle Zhang. I'll go fry some peanuts and soybeans too; they'll be perfect with the drinks."

Zhang Xingguo's eyes welled up with tears as he sat at the dinner table, lost in thought.

The rich aroma of meat wafted from the kitchen, an absolute temptation for a man who hadn't had meat in a long time.

Zhang Hongmei brought out the rice bowl, cleaned the pot, and lit a corn stalk. She was dry-frying peanuts and soybeans, but the fire couldn't be too high.

One dish of each was stir-fried, and by then the fire in the meat pot had been turned off. I lifted the lid, picked up some meat with chopsticks, and tasted it. It was fatty but not greasy, and had a savory and delicious flavor.

Wang Xiaoshun and Zhang Shouyi, who were watching, couldn't help but swallow hard.

"Brother Xiaoshun, bring the peanuts and soybeans to the table. I'll cook the meat right away, and then we can eat."

The four people sat around the dining table. The three men each poured a glass of wine, while Zhang Hongmei poured a bowl of water.

Zhang Xingguo raised his glass and said, "Let's clink glasses and drink to our hearts' content."

After setting down his wine glass, Wang Xiaoshun refilled the glasses for all three of them.

"Good wine, this wine is strong enough." Zhang Xingguo was very satisfied; he had never drunk such a strong wine before.

But Zhang Shouyi's mind was in turmoil. This liquor was clearly Erguotou, where did this girl get it? He gave Zhang Hongmei a complicated look and then joined the scramble for the food.

"Hongmei, this meat is so delicious. I wish I could eat it every day."

"That won't do. Eating too much meat can easily make people sick. It's better to have a balanced diet of meat and vegetables."

"I don't believe it. She only says that because she can't afford meat every day." Zhang Xingguo scoffed, thinking that Zhang Hongmei was trying to fool him.

“Dad, Hongmei is right, but it’s good to eat a few more meals now.”

Zhang Hongmei only ate a few pieces of the ten-pound meat, while the other three finished it all. Wang Xiaoshun didn't even have time to talk, his mouth was full of food.

All that's left on the table are peanuts and soybeans. The dishes were so good today that we can save those two for dinner.

After the meal, the three of them slumped into their chairs, and Zhang Hongmei got up to clear the table. Half a bottle of wine remained; it seemed they had eaten most of it.

Zhang Shouyi struggled to his feet. "Hongmei, I'll boil some water for you. Go to sleep after you wash up. You've had a long day."

"Thank you, Brother Zhang, but I can cook it myself. I'm afraid you won't be able to bend down."

Am I making fun of myself? But I really ate too much today. I only ate one bowl of rice, but I ate three bowls of braised pork. I can't even bend over anymore.

Zhang Shouyi didn't insist. Instead, he strolled around the yard to digest his food. Zhang Xingguo was also pulled out by him. He couldn't just lie down after eating so much.

Before going to bed, Zhang Hongmei took out the book she had borrowed from Zhang Shouyi and said she would return it to him the next day. If you borrow and return, it will be easy to borrow again.

Because she was outside, she didn't enter the space at all. Better safe than sorry; she couldn't leave any potential problems for herself.

Zhang Hongmei woke up at five o'clock, when it was already light. She quickly got up and found that the other three were already up.

"Is Hongmei sleeping well?"

"Uncle Zhang, I slept very well, I don't have any problem with choosing where to sleep. Why are you all up so early?"

"I'm used to it; I exercise every day. What do you want to eat for breakfast? I'll have Xiaoshun go buy it in a bit."

"I can eat anything, I'm not picky. By the way, Uncle Zhang, I need to go out this afternoon."

"I'll have Xiao Shun follow you."

"No need, it's nothing serious."

"Your brother Zhang is going to work, why don't you let him go with you?"