Chapter 43 Delicious braised pork, even gods wouldn't trade it! ...
Song Xinran knew the two children.
Yao Xu is a first-time customer of Bobo Chicken. He is in the same class as Ding Sisi, and the two are good friends. They are also taking tutoring together now, and they often come to buy food together.
You Tongtong is a student at No. 3 Middle School. She used to come every few days, but since she started making oden, she has been coming for two weeks straight. She has a lively personality and loves to chat.
"What's wrong? You ran so fast and you're sweating profusely in this cold weather," Song Xinran asked gently.
Yao Xu gritted her teeth, her voice filled with anger: "Aunt Song, we need to take action!"
You Tongtong stomped her foot: "Can we ask that fake Bobo Chicken shop to shut down?"
Amidst the angry and anxious voices of the two, Song Xinran finally understood what had happened. It turned out that another Bobo Chicken restaurant had opened near the entrance of the Third Middle School, at the farthest point from her.
"He must be feeling guilty and doesn't dare let you see him, Auntie!" Yao Xu said.
You Tongtong was even more indignant: "When I saw Bo Bo Chicken at school, I thought you made it again, so I ran out to find out it was a fake! And it didn't taste good either!"
Seeing how angry the two of them were, even more so than if their own things had been stolen, Song Xinran couldn't help but chuckle.
"Thank you for telling me about this," Song Xinran said gently, "but there's nothing I can do about it."
“How could that be! Aunt Song was the first to make Bo Bo Chicken in Lingde Town!” Yao Xu said. He had only eaten this dish in the city before, and there were very few shops selling Bo Bo Chicken, and the taste was far inferior to that of Aunt Song.
Song Xinran said, "Although I made it first, I didn't create or invent this dish. I just let you taste it first. Others can make it too."
“But, but…” You Tongtong said, “That shop also sells at the entrance of No. 3 Middle School, and many students thought it was made by you, Aunt Song.”
Actually, not long after Song Xinran started selling Bo Bo Chicken at her stall, a shop near Huangjiaoshu also added this dish to its menu. It was a shop that sold snacks and drinks, and its target customers were also students. At that time, someone came to Song Xinran to talk about it.
These students are the most well-informed.
Song Xinran repeated almost exactly what she said back then: "Everyone wants to do business that can make money, and the area in front of No. 3 Middle School isn't my territory, so how can I stop others from coming? This is better for you. With more vendors, there will be competition, and vendors will work on quality and price, so you can eat more delicious and cheap snacks."
“But… that pot-boiled chicken isn’t good!” Yao Xu said.
You Tongtong nodded in agreement: "I even went to see it in person. It looked greasy and not clean at all!"
Song Xinran said, "That makes things even simpler. If the taste isn't good, people won't buy it again after one purchase, and it will be difficult for the stall to stay open."
After hearing her words, knowing there was nothing they could do about the pot-boiled chicken, the two teenagers, as if experiencing the cruelty of life and society for the first time, drooped their eyes until a bowl of oden appeared in front of them. The steaming white mist carrying the rich aroma wafted into their noses, and both of them perked up.
Song Xinran said, "But I still want to thank you for telling me about this. I was very touched. You are all children with light in your hearts. I believe that by following this light, you will become better and more wonderful people in the future. Please have this bowl of oden."
Their faces flushed slightly; what the aunt had said was really embarrassing! They felt a little awkward, but they couldn't help feeling a surge of joy and delight.
The two exchanged a glance before accepting the oden: "Thank you, Auntie."
Song Xinran smiled and continued with her own business.
Yu Tongtong's face turned even redder from the steam. She felt as if she hadn't heard such compliments in a very, very long time, and she was so embarrassed that she couldn't lift her head.
Yao Xu muttered under his breath, "Aunt Song is probably treating me like a kindergarten kid..."
Their sixth-grade teacher wouldn't say these things anymore.
When You Tongtong heard this, she suddenly realized what was going on, but her face burned even hotter. She was already in the second year of junior high school, not in kindergarten!
After the oden sold out and the students had already returned to school, Chen Jingfang finally found a moment to chat with Song Xinran. She deliberately walked from the back of the stall to the front and glanced at the other side, but because there were many small stalls and carts in between, she couldn't see clearly.
"Xinran, a pot-boiled chicken restaurant has really opened over there."
Song Xinran smiled and said, "You've started paying attention to this too?"
Chen Jingfang said, "I heard it from those students. It's quite interesting to do business with students. They are quite righteous."
Song Xinran said, "They deliberately set up their stall on the other side to avoid conflict with us. Everyone can make Bobo Chicken; it's not unique to me. That's how it is when you're selling food. Even if you develop something new, there will be imitations very quickly. Everyone is competing on taste. As long as it tastes good, you won't have to worry about not having customers. What we need to do is improve the taste."
Chen Jingfang thought about it and realized it made sense. In the past, during the summer, there was only one person in their village who drove a tricycle to the countryside to sell watermelons, and business was very good. After a few days, several more tricycles would come.
People started comparing prices and quality, and in this way, the customer still got a good deal.
Previously, Chen Jingfang, as a buyer, naturally thought this was a good thing, but now that she's a seller, she naturally hopes for less competition.
Song Xinran seemed to have read her thoughts, and said with a slightly teasing tone, "That's just how the market is. What can we do when there are more of us?"
"As for the other side of the pot-boiled chicken, the weather is cold now, which is really not the season for selling pot-boiled chicken. If it tastes good, it should be able to stay open."
After saying that, she stopped caring about the matter and turned to Chen Jingfang, saying, "It's getting late, you should go back now."
Chen Jingfang shook her head: "I'll sell with you tonight."
Song Xinran was surprised: "That won't do. I have to wait until the students finish their evening self-study. It will be 8:30 by then. By the time we sell out, it will be past 9:00. It will be too late for you to get back."
Chen Jingfang smiled and said, "Don't worry about that. I talked to my husband about it when I got home yesterday. He's free tonight, so he'll come pick me up."
Song Xinran felt a warmth in her heart, but still shook her head: "Really, there's no need. I can handle setting up a stall by myself."
She wanted to find a helper so that someone could help her prepare the food; she didn't like these mechanical, repetitive tasks.
"Are you saying that because I'm bad at entertaining people and packing food, that's why you don't want me to stay the night?" Chen Jingfang said deliberately.
Song Xinran thought to herself that this was just using the same words she had said to deal with her, but she also understood Chen Jingfang's true intentions and smiled, "Okay, you can come with me to the stall tonight."
"Jingfang, there's something else I wanted to tell you. From now on, your salary will be paid monthly. I'll give it to you at the end of the month, which will be more convenient."
Chen Jingfang smiled and said, "Sure, anything is fine!"
Afterwards, Song Xinran wanted Chen Jingfang to stay for dinner, but Chen Jingfang said it wasn't far to go back and she missed her child.
Dinner was eaten by Song Xinran and Song Yu alone. Song Yu was a little curious: "Why didn't the new Aunt Chen come to our house?"
Song Xinran said, "Aunt Chen went home; she also has a child at home."
Song Yu said "Oh," and then asked, "Will Aunt Chen help Mom with her stall from now on?"
Song Xinran said yes, then went into the kitchen and poured the newly bought braised meat into a plate and took it out: "Xiao Yu, this is braised food that I asked your aunt to buy from the usual place. Try it and see if it tastes the same as before."
Song Yu cheered and ran into the kitchen to wash his hands: "Great!"
He took a bite with great anticipation, then frowned. He ate another piece, his mind a little blank: "Mom, no..."
But Mom and Auntie wouldn't lie.
He ate another piece, but for some reason, the braised meat that he used to think was really delicious didn't seem so good anymore.
He didn't say anything, but picked up his bowl and said, "I can finish it!"
Children naturally don't understand that when they are hungry and don't often eat meat, a meal of braised meat is incredibly delicious.
But his life has improved a lot now. He eats meals made by Song Xinran every day, with meat and vegetables. It's not that the braised meat tastes different; it's that he himself has changed.
Even though he usually eats very well, Song Yu is still an easy-going child who doesn't pick and choose his food. He can easily eat his fill of braised meat and rice.
Song Xinran always felt that the braised meat she bought was not quite right, so she decided to make it herself!
He first asked Huang Yun to save a pig's head for him, and the next day Huang Yun brought it over: "How are you going to cook this pig's head? It's very troublesome to cook."
Pig heads aren't easy to sell either, firstly because they're difficult to clean, and secondly because there's not much meat inside. Some people buy them to make soup; the resulting soup is milky white with a layer of oil on top, and it tastes pretty good.
Song Xinran said, "I'm planning to braise it and eat it. Sister Yun, you should try it too."
Huang Yun exclaimed in surprise, "You can even braise meat?"
Song Xinran said, "I've done this before, but I don't know if my skills have gotten rusty. Please don't be offended if it doesn't taste good, Sister Yun."
“What do I have to complain about!” Huang Yun said, “Everything you make is delicious. Take that oden for example. That night, Sisi brought back a thermos of broth, cooked two bowls of noodles in it, and put nothing else in it. The taste was so fresh that my daughter and I drank the broth clean!”
Song Xinran smiled and said, "Sister Yun, if you like, I'll get some more soup to cook noodles later."
Huang Yun shook her head firmly and said, "This won't do. It's something you're going to sell for money."
Song Xinran said, "I usually use the broth for oden three or four times before throwing it away and making new broth. It doesn't spoil when I throw it away. I often use the broth that I'm about to throw away to make oden rice for Xiaoyu. Sister Yun, you can come and get it if you want. It won't be a waste."
Upon hearing this, Huang Yun's eyes crinkled with laughter: "Really? Then let me know when you're going to change the soup base, so I can scoop some back and make rice with it. How do you make rice with it?"
Huang Yun thought the name sounded rather elegant, like the name of a dish in a high-end restaurant.
Song Xinran smiled and said, "It's just rice soaked in soup."
Huang Yun gave a thumbs up: "You're so cultured, you picked a much nicer name. I'm going back now, I still have things to do at home."
As Huang Yun was about to leave, Song Xinran quickly called out, "Sister Yun, how much is the pig's head?"
Huang Yun waved her hand and said cheerfully, "It's free. It's not easy to sell here anyway, so it's perfect for you to avoid wasting it!"
She walked quickly, and in the time it took to say two sentences, she was already gone. Song Xinran thought that she would send more to Huang Yun after the braised food was ready.
*
When Chen Jingfang arrived, the door was wide open. She thought Song Xinran had come back from the market so early today, but as soon as she entered the house, she saw Song Xinran holding a big pig's head and putting it into a pot.
Chen Jingfang was startled: "Xinran, are you planning to sell pig's head meat today?"
Song Xinran had already put the pig's head into the pot, put the lid on, and said with a smile, "It's not for sale, it's for my own consumption."
"Why are you thinking of eating pig's head? It takes some effort to prepare it."
Song Xinran: "I bought some braised meat at the market a few days ago, so I thought I'd make it myself."
Chen Jingfang laughed: "I thought so too, but homemade braised food just can't compare to the taste of braised food stalls. It took me two or three days to finish it. It's better to cook it myself to avoid wasting food. I've cleaned pig heads before, so I have experience. I'll help you."
Song Xinran laughed and said, "Okay, then you can try my braised meat and see if there's any difference compared to the braised food stalls."
Blanch the pig's head to remove the fishy smell and scrape off the hair. Next, chop it open with a knife and remove the meat inside.
Pig's head meat can be cut in half before braising, or it can be cut in half first and then braised. However, Song Xinran thinks that cutting it in half first and then braising it will make it more flavorful.
After preparing the meat, Song Xinran began to stir-fry the seasonings for braising. Braised dishes emphasize a harmonious blend of spices and a rich, mellow broth, making the ingredients especially important. Scallions, ginger slices, star anise, cinnamon, and other essential ingredients are indispensable, and the soy sauce also requires careful attention.
There is bulk soy sauce in Lingde Town. Song Xinran bought the most expensive one. This soy sauce has a pure taste and no additives to enhance the flavor. It is best used for hot dishes and braised dishes.
After preparing all the ingredients, she first caramelized the sugar for the meat.
Chen Jingfang was quite surprised by her actions: "Does braised meat need to be caramelized? Just rub some dark soy sauce on it, and it will still have the same color."
Song Xinran explained, "Caramelizing sugar is not just to make the meat look better; more importantly, it affects the taste. It not only adds a caramelized and slightly sweet flavor to the food, but also neutralizes the greasiness and fishiness of the meat. This makes the braised meat more fragrant and tastes very different. This is an effect that cannot be achieved by adding dark soy sauce or sugar during the braising process."
Song Xinran has a lot of experience in cooking; she loves to research and cook.
These words sounded very troublesome to Chen Jingfang. Caramelizing sugar is a technical job that requires precise control of the heat and you have to watch out for sugar splattering. It's much hotter than just oil, and if it splatters, it leaves a mark on your hand.
She leaned over, wanting to see how Song Xinran caramelized the sugar.
Heat oil in a pan, then add rock sugar. Stir constantly with a spatula until the rock sugar turns into a light yellow liquid, then slowly turns into a deep amber color. Large, dense bubbles rise in the pan, and the sweet aroma of caramel fills the air.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Song Xinran poured the meat into the pot and stir-fried it quickly. Watching the surface of the pig's head meat gradually be coated with a layer of shiny amber color, Chen Jingfang couldn't believe it: "Xinran, how come the caramel color didn't splatter when you were stir-frying this?"
Song Xinran said, "Water must not get into the sugar when caramelizing, and the meat must also be dried."
As she spoke and moved, the sweet and meaty aromas intertwined, transforming into an enticing fragrance that slowly rose from the pot.
Even Chen Jingfang, who isn't a big eater, found the aroma incredibly enticing; she had never tasted this before when making braised dishes.
I never knew that caramelizing sugar could have such a big effect! Chen Jingfang felt she had learned something new.
Then look at the color. The surface of the pig's head meat has a natural, glossy, dark reddish-brown color that is far more vibrant than just soy sauce. Although meat braised with dark soy sauce also has color, it looks dull and less appetizing.
This already looks like the braised meat sold at a braised food stall.
Song Xinran didn't stop. She added light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and hot water to the pot. After the water boiled, she put in the prepared spice packet, a piece of rock sugar, and salt. She then covered the pot and started simmering.
At this point, the braised meat only needs to be simmered over low heat, turning it over occasionally.
Song Xinran took out the frozen goods from the refrigerator to prepare the ingredients for her afternoon stall.
As the broth simmered over low heat, tiny bubbles rose to the surface, and the rich aroma of meat mixed with various spices seeped out from the gaps in the lid, gradually filling the entire kitchen.
Chen Jingfang couldn't help but glance at the pot several times, thinking how incredibly delicious it smelled!
She used to go to the braised meat stall to buy vegetables and encountered the stall when it was just set up. At that time, the braised meat was still hot. As soon as the stall owner put it on the table, she could smell a rich and fresh aroma, which tempted her to buy a pound and a half on the spot.
However, after trying it at home, I felt that the taste was not as good as the aroma, but it was definitely better than the taste of my homemade braised food.
But the aroma of the braised food that Song Xinran made was better than anything she had ever smelled before!
The pork fat is slowly rendered over a low flame, releasing its rich, fatty aroma. The spiciness of the old ginger and the sweet, slightly spicy flavor of the scallions blend together. Bay leaves, Sichuan peppercorns, and other seasonings are simmered in the braising liquid, releasing a complex aroma. The kitchen is warm and humid with steam, and the aroma of the braising liquid is strong yet not overpowering, rich yet gentle. Just one whiff of it makes you feel full.
Chen Jingfang felt saliva constantly being secreted in her mouth, as if it was an involuntary bodily reaction that she couldn't control.
Chen Jingfang had heard the story of quenching thirst by looking at plums, and thought that this was probably the same principle. When a person is extremely thirsty, just thinking about plums that are juicy, slightly sour and sweet is enough to make their mouth water.
But she ate breakfast before coming over, and it's only midday now, far from when she's hungry, so why is she already craving food?
At this moment, Song Xinran opened the window wide to let some fresh air into the kitchen.
Chen Jingfang felt her mind clear up a bit when she smelled the cold wind outside, and felt slightly embarrassed: "Xinran, how did you make this braised food? It smells so good it could make someone dizzy."
Song Xinran said, "Making braised food is very simple. Everyone uses about the same amount of seasoning. If you want it to taste good, just choose a good piece of meat, stew it for a long time, and make sure it's not too salty or bland."
Hearing her relaxed tone, Chen Jingfang felt a little embarrassed to say, "...I've made it before, but it didn't taste like this."
Song Xinran said, "Take it slow. There will definitely be shortcomings the first time you make it. You will make corrections one by one and the taste will get better."
Chen Jingfang asked in surprise, "From what you're saying, you've made braised food many times?"
Song Xinran thought to herself, "Yes, I did it many times in my past life." She just brushed it off now: "I did it before."
Chen Jingfang was secretly amazed. How come she had never noticed that Song Xinran was such a good cook before? She had already cooked a lot of food at just over 20 years old.
Yes, Chen Jingfang thought this should be described as cooking. Ordinary people just call it food, but when someone like Song Xinran, who has the flair of a chef, cooks, that's called culinary arts.
After a while, Song Xinran opened the pot lid again, and the hot steam carrying a rich aroma instantly wafted out, filling the entire kitchen and being carried outside by the wind.
She flipped the meat over to make sure each piece was evenly and fully submerged in the braising liquid. Steam rose from the pot, and Song Xinran fanned it with her hand to check the heat. She then put the lid back on, trapping the simmering aroma inside.
It only took less than a minute to flip it over, but the aroma was already quite rich, especially the braised flavor that was simmered over a low flame, which was even more domineering, mellow and fragrant.
Song Xinran's house is on the first floor, and the road is right outside the kitchen. The aroma wafts out, and passersby can't help but sniff and look around in the direction of the fragrance.
"Who's making braised food here? It smells amazing!"
"It's so early in the morning, it must be made to sell at a stall, otherwise I've never heard of any homemade food smelling so good. I heard that in big cities there's something called flavor enhancer, and if you put a little in the food, it can make people dizzy with the aroma, but it's bad for your health!"
"This braised food must have had flavor enhancers added, otherwise it wouldn't smell so good. I've never smelled anything like it when I buy braised meat at the market!"
Even after the passerby had walked away, he could still smell the faint aroma of the braised food, even after walking more than a hundred meters away.
If Song Xinran knew this, she would definitely protest her innocence. She made the braised food for her own consumption, so how could it possibly harm her? It was purely due to the good combination of various seasonings.
She knew a lot about chemical flavor enhancers in her past life, but had never used them. They could only fool outsiders, but when she tasted them, her mouth and throat would complain. Although they smelled good, the aroma felt soulless and not as flavorful as a combination of various natural spices.
Song Xinran would flip the meat about every twenty minutes. Every time she opened the pot, the aroma would disturb Chen Jingfang's mind. She was cleaning the vegetables, but before she knew it, her eyes would fall on the pot, and she would think to herself, "Why does this smell so good!"
Seeing that it was almost eleven o'clock, and after watching Song Xinran flip the pot two or three times, Chen Jingfang couldn't help but ask, "Xinran, it's been more than an hour and it's still not done. If you stew it for too long, the meat will fall apart and it will easily burn at the bottom."
Song Xinran said, "It'll be ready soon. Don't worry, I'm watching it. It won't burn. If it burns, the smell will change."
After simmering for almost two hours, Song Xinran finally lifted the lid and took out the braised meat. The rich, savory aroma of the braised meat spread out like a summer thunderstorm, without warning.
Chen Jingfang couldn't help but swallow, feeling as if her stomach was growling.
The neighbors next door were also quite noisy. The old lady shouted, "Close it tightly! Stuff the door with some cloth, and close the windows too!"
The old man who was closing the window said, "Don't just sit there like a spectator, come and help!"
The old lady said, "Didn't you want to like this braised food? Smell it more."
The old man kept a straight face and didn't say anything, but his nose twitched involuntarily. He smelled the aroma of the braised food and felt as if a hand was scratching inside his stomach, making his stomach clench and scream that he wanted to eat it!
Close the door and windows tightly, so that less of the braised smell will waft in and won't be so tempting.
The old man thought to himself, "Living next to Xiao Song is a sweet trouble."
When I was young, I felt that even if there wasn't a good dish, just smelling it was enough. I would eat rice while smelling the aroma and feel that I was enjoying a delicious meal.
I can smell it now, and it's still incredibly fragrant, but it's a pity I can't eat it! It's not a pleasant feeling for my stomach to voice its opinion.
...
Song Xinran picked up the braised meat and put it into the bowl, feeling that the braised food she made this time was definitely good.
The surface of the meat is coated with a layer of thick, oily braising sauce, giving it an amber-like sheen. The stewed pig's head meat is so tender that the skin and flesh tremble, and the meat fibers glimpse a glistening sheen of oil. The fat at the tip is almost translucent, with drops of braising sauce clinging to it.
Chen Jingfang swallowed hard. Smelling the aroma and looking at the braised meat, she knew without even tasting it how tender and succulent it would be, with a gelatinous texture. If she could slurp it up, it would be absolutely delicious.
Song Xinran stuck her chopsticks into the meat, and the chopsticks went in with a "duang". She picked out a piece of meat and gave it to Chen Jingfang: "Try it."
Looking at the glistening, steaming piece of meat, Chen Jingfang swallowed hard, still maintaining proper etiquette: "You're the chef, just taste it yourself."
However, his gaze remained fixed on the braised meat, clearly demonstrating a hypocrisy.
Song Xinran smiled and said, "I just tasted it. It's naturally better for more people to try the flavors of the dishes."
Since that's what they've said, Chen Jingfang has no reason to refuse, especially since she doesn't really want to refuse.
The moment the braised meat touched her lips, only one word remained in Chen Jingfang's mind: Delicious!
It smells amazing! The aroma isn't just superficial; it permeates every fiber of the meat, every inch of skin and flesh, stewed until tender and melts in your mouth. The fat transforms into a rich, gelatinous substance, while the lean meat becomes soft and mushy, so you can easily swallow it whole. A lingering, delicious aftertaste fills your throat and mouth, making you crave another bite!
Chen Jingfang quickly stopped herself from having such thoughts. She wasn't usually this impolite, so why couldn't she control herself now?
She gave a thumbs up and praised without reservation: "Delicious! It's better than any braised meat I've ever bought before! Xinran, it's a shame you don't open your own shop with such skills!"
Song Xinran smiled and said, "Eat more if you like it."
Although Chen Jingfang was extremely tempted, she still shook her head: "You worked so hard to make this, so eat more of it. Now that we have a freezer, we don't have to worry about it spoiling."
Song Xinran said, "It's not hard work at all. I made it just so that everyone could try it. The braising liquid is still here, so it'll be easy to make it next time."
She simply cut the meat without paying much attention to knife skills. The meat was stewed until tender and not greasy, and eating it in big bites actually satisfied her appetite.
While chopping, she thought about sending some to Huang Yun's house and having Chen Jingfang take some home to try. The elderly couple next door always patronized her business, buying quite a lot each time, so she also sent a bowl to the two elders to try. Finally, she saved some for Song Yu; he really liked braised food, but the ones she bought a couple of days ago, even the little one thought the taste was a bit off…
After dividing it like this, there's not much pork head meat left.
After quickly cutting the food into small pieces, Song Xinran first knocked on the door of the neighbor's house.
Inside, an elderly couple was arguing at home. The woman called out, "You go cook today."
The old man said, "Then I'll take you out to eat."
"Isn't it a waste of money to eat out?" the old lady said. "As soon as I smell the smell from next door, nothing tastes right to me, and I don't even want to cook."
But people can't go without eating, especially as they get older; their stomachs can't handle skipping a meal.
The old man thought the same thing, and he spread his hands: "What can we do? Are we still counting on Xiao Song to sell braised meat?"
The old lady's eyes lit up: "Great! This tastes so good, if Xiao Song sells it, we can buy some!"
The old man said, "But no students buy braised meat near the Third Middle School. If you want to sell it, it's better to go to the vegetable market. There are three braised food stalls in the cooked food section there!"
The two were talking animatedly, seemingly about helping Song Xinran open a braised meat stall, when suddenly there was a knock on the door.
The old lady stood up and walked to the door. As soon as she opened it, she smelled a strong aroma of braised food.
No doubt about it, it's the braised food wafting from Xiao Song's house!
Song Xinran said with a smile, "Auntie, I made some braised meat, you should try some too."
W-what?!
The old lady almost thought she had misheard. How could such a good thing happen? They were just talking about waiting for Xiao Song to set up a stall selling braised food, and now it's delivered right to their doorstep?
"Grandpa's home too," Song Xinran greeted.
The old lady realized what was happening and instinctively tried to decline, but this decline didn't mean she really didn't want it; it was just a habit of this generation.
But before he could finish speaking, his wife's voice came from behind him: "It's Xiao Song! Come in and sit down! This braised meat smells so good, Xiao Song, your cooking is really good!"
He acted as if he would accept it without any hesitation or politeness.
Song Xinran smiled and said, "I won't sit down. I still need to take some meat to Sister Yun. Please have a taste, Uncle and Aunt."
The old man stepped forward, smiling as he took the plate of braised meat: "Alright, we won't keep you any longer. But Xiao Song, with your skills, you could easily set up a stall at the market, selling on market mornings when there are plenty of people!"
Song Xinran said, "I understand, thank you, sir. I'll think about it carefully when I get back."
The elderly couple carried their plates home. Before they could even speak or heat up their food, they grabbed their chopsticks, sat down at the table, and each took a bite.
The surface of the pig's head meat is covered with a layer of oily honey color. When you put your chopsticks down, the translucent fat trembles. Dip it in the thick braising sauce at the bottom of the plate and you can't wait to put it in your mouth.
I was so amazed that I couldn't speak. It was salty, fresh, and sweet, soft, glutinous, and fragrant. It slid down my throat in an instant.
I've never eaten such delicious braised pork in my entire life!
Even a god wouldn't trade this!
The old woman kept exclaiming, "Little Song is such a good girl, kind and compassionate!"
"She's pretty, and her child is well-behaved. Every time I see her son, Xiao Yu, the child greets me sweetly as 'Grandma,' hehe!"
"His cooking skills are excellent; many restaurants can't replicate this taste!"
The old lady ate and talked, but she felt the atmosphere was a bit quiet. She turned her head and saw that her husband was eating without saying a word. The meat was soft and tender, which was especially suitable for people like them with bad teeth. They didn't have to chew it hard. The meat was easily cut by the palate and tongue. It was fresh, mellow and fragrant with a sweet aftertaste!
The old man was still engrossed in tasting the food, his eyes half-closed. His chopsticks went to a familiar spot, but only bumped against the table.
When I opened my eyes, I was surprised to find that my wife had taken the plate away.
"I haven't had enough to eat yet!"
The old woman said sternly, "You have high blood pressure, so you should eat less meat, especially fatty meat. A few bites were enough!"
The old lady took the plate back to the kitchen, put it in the cupboard, and started heating up the food.
The old man leaned closer: "Let me have another bite, Xiao Song's braised pork fat isn't greasy at all, it's okay!"
The old woman pressed against the cupboard door, remaining motionless.
The old man was at his wit's end and could only swallow his saliva as he looked at the half-eaten plate of braised meat.
*
Song Xinran brought another large plate to Huang Yun. Huang Yun, an elderly woman at home, was surprised to learn that Song Xinran had come to deliver braised food and said that Song Xinran was too kind.
Ding Sisi was coming home from school when she saw Song Xinran and happily called out, "Aunt Song!"
Her gaze shifted downwards, her eyes lighting up: "Aunt Song, is this for us?"
Song Xinran nodded, and Ding Sisi couldn't help but cheer, "Thank you, Aunt Song! Aunt Song, you're so kind!"
The old man sternly scolded, "Sisi, you can't be rude."
Ding Sisi took the plate with both hands: "Aunt Song, I won't stand on ceremony. I'll tell my mom when she gets back!"
Song Xinran smiled, waved to the little girl, and left.
The old woman turned around and scolded Ding Sisi: "Aunt Song brought us food, how could you just accept it without even saying hello? That's so impolite!"
Ding Sisi said, "Mom and Aunt Song are the best of friends, so there's no need for such formalities. Besides, Aunt Song's cooking is the best!"
The old man shook his head in disapproval: "No matter how delicious it is, you can't do it like this."
Turning her head, Ding Sisi stuffed a piece of meat into her grandmother's hand and asked with a grin, "Grandma, is it delicious?"
The old man stopped talking, swallowed his words with a stern face, then went into the kitchen, took out a bowl and chopsticks: "Go see why your mother hasn't come back yet. Braised meat tastes best when it's hot."
Ding Sisi laughed twice and ran out with light, deer-like steps.
*
Song Xinran handed the last portion of the package to Chen Jingfang, who was about to go home. Chen Jingfang hurriedly said that it was not appropriate, but Song Xinran insisted that her family should try it. In the end, Chen Jingfang still took it home. She knew how delicious it was after tasting it herself and wanted her family to try it as well.
When Song Yu returned in the afternoon, his nose twitched first. He followed the smell into the kitchen, opened the cupboard, and immediately saw the braised meat inside.
The little guy's eyes are shining, it's braised pork!
He took a deep breath; the braised pork smelled so good! This was the taste he used to have!
After putting down her schoolbag, Song Yu ran out quickly. As soon as she got to the stall, she chattered, "Did Mom buy braised pork? It smells so good! I could smell it as soon as I got home!"
Looking at the child's happy expression, Chen Jingfang recalled how her two-year-old had ate the braised meat with gusto earlier that day, clapping his hands and repeatedly saying how delicious it was, "Mommy, it's delicious!" He was so happy he could have jumped for joy!
Delicious food truly transcends age. She said, "It wasn't bought by your mother; it was made by her."
Song Yu exclaimed "Wow!" and called out, "Hello, Aunt Chen."
She turned around and said, "Mom is so amazing! Mom's braised meat is the best!"
Song Xinran touched his slightly plumper, rounder face and said, "If Xiao Yu is hungry, you can go home and eat now."
Chen Jingfang thought to herself, Song Xinran really spoils her child. The three- or four-year-old has no self-control and wants to eat until he's full. If you're not careful, he'll eat too much and have to see a doctor.
"No, please!" Song Yu's voice was soft and sweet. "I want to wait for Mom to go back and eat meat together!"
Song Xinran smiled and pinched his cheek again.
Chen Jingfang was deeply surprised when she saw this scene. What an obedient child!
I really want to discuss with Xinran again how to educate children.
That evening, Song Yu ate his first braised pork, which he thought was the best he had ever eaten. He ate too much without realizing it, but Song Xinran, who knew his appetite, reminded him to stop. Only then did Song Yu stop, feeling that his stomach was a little bloated.
Song Xinran took him for a walk, and the little boy held her hand, praising her repeatedly: "Mommy makes the best braised pork in the world!"
Song Xinran couldn't stop smiling: "Xiao Yu, is there any other braised food you want to eat? We still have some braising sauce at home, Mom will make it tomorrow."
Song Yu said, "I want to eat braised chicken feet. Chicken feet are delicious."
Song Xinran planned to not only braise some chicken feet tomorrow, but also buy some chicken wings, duck feet, and other similar items to braise together.
The next day, Song Yu went to class and told Yuan Yuan, "My mom made some really delicious braised pork yesterday. My mouth smelled so good when I went to sleep last night."
Yuanyuan blinked and asked, "Song Yu, aren't you brushing your teeth?"
Song Yu blushed. He used to not brush his teeth at his aunt's house, and none of the other children in the village brushed their teeth either. But after he came to town with his mother, she bought him a toothbrush and toothpaste and taught him how to brush his teeth. Song Yu started to learn, but he was not very good at it yet and had to try his best not to drool.
"Swish, swish," he said softly, actually feeling a little guilty because he hadn't swiped very well.
Yuanyuan asked, puzzled, "Then why does my mouth still smell like braised meat after brushing my teeth?"
Song Yu said, "It smells so good! I even dreamed about it last night. It's a hundred times better than the braised pork sold outside! It's so tender that you don't even need to chew it. It's so delicious! My mom said she's going to make braised chicken feet today too!"
He described it vividly, and Yuanyuan swallowed hard. In the past, when she went to Song Yu's house to call Song Yu to go to school together, she would always eat something at Song Yu's house. Now her mother doesn't let her go to Song Yu's house in the morning anymore. Every time she calls from outside, she waits for Song Yu to come out, and the two of them go to kindergarten together.
Yuanyuan felt that she hadn't eaten anything from Song Yu's family in a long time. Mentioning it brought back memories of the taste, and her mouth watered.
Yuanyuan quickly covered her mouth and said in a muffled voice, "Song Yu, I'm going to your house to eat chicken feet too. I love chicken wings the most."
Song Yu nodded: "Okay, my mom also asked last night why Yuanyuan didn't come to our house to play."
Yuanyuan was deeply moved and looked at him with teary eyes: "Did Aunt Song really say that?"
Song Yu nodded firmly: "Of course!"
"I want to go," Yuanyuan said. "I want to go tonight!"
The two children were standing head to head, talking with great enthusiasm.
When Wu Yaoxuan arrived at the classroom with his schoolbag, he saw Song Yu talking to Yuanyuan for a long time. He pouted and said to his deskmate, "Why didn't you talk to me?"
His deskmate exclaimed excitedly, "Wu Yaoxuan, did you bring your cards today? Let's play with your cards!"
Wu Yaoxuan said, "That's not what I meant!"
He noticed that Yuanyuan and Song Yu weren't playing with toys either.
My deskmate tilted his head and thought for a moment: "Then what should we say?"
"Did you bring drinks? Let's drink yours!" the classmate said cheerfully.
Wu Yaoxuan remained silent.
My deskmate continued excitedly, "Let's go to your house after school this afternoon to play with your digger, remote control airplanes, and toy cars!"
Wu Yaoxuan turned his head away unhappily.
Desk mate: ...
He felt that Wu Yaoxuan had been acting strangely these past two days.
The morning at kindergarten passed quickly, and in the afternoon there was an outdoor activity class where the teachers led them in playing games.
The teacher said, "Today we're going to play a game that requires teamwork, called 'Fluffy Ball Toss'."
The teacher explained the rules to them: two children form a group, one holding a basket and standing in a designated spot, while the other stands outside the line to throw a ball. Both children can move, as long as they don't cross the line.
After the teacher finished speaking, some students were confused, while others nodded excitedly, indicating that they understood.
But the teacher felt they didn't understand: "If the teacher selects two children to try it out, everyone will know how to play. Who would like to do that?"
Song Yu's eyes sparkled as she raised her hand high.
His eyes met the teacher's, and the teacher smiled and said, "Let's have Song Yu and Fang Xuan come together."
Song Yu was the child throwing the ball. He held the ball in his hand, stood outside the line, and tried his best to throw it into the laundry basket. He hit two out of three.
The teacher couldn't help but applaud: "Song Yu is so amazing! Did everyone understand? That's how it's played. The team that hits the most balls within the time limit wins and gets a mystery gift!"
The students in Class 1 were all excited and shouted loudly, "We understand!"
As soon as Song Yu returned, Yuan Yuan grabbed his hand and said, "Song Yu, I want to be in your group! Let's get first place!"
The other child next to Song Yu also came up to him and said, "Song Yu, come with me!"
When Song Yu went up to demonstrate, his pitching was already so impressive. Although the child is young, he is not stupid. I know that teaming up with him would greatly increase our chances of winning.
Song Yu was in a bit of a dilemma.
The teacher noticed the slight commotion in the students' group chat, smiled slyly, clapped her hands, and said, "We have a new way of grouping students today. Instead of free team formation, we'll draw lots!"
The novel approach immediately caught the students' attention: "How will the teacher draw lots?"
The teacher took out a box full of slips of paper and said to everyone, "There are many slips of paper here. Children who draw the same number are a group."
"Yay!"
The teacher said, "Now I'm coming down, and the children will draw one in turn."
The teacher walked from one side to the other until all the children had received a slip of paper.
Yuanyuan flipped it open and said, "Song Yu, I'm number 10. What's your number?"
Someone else chimed in, "I'm number 3, Song Yu, are you?"
Song Yu unfolded his small piece of paper, on which was written: 11
Yuan Yuan cried out, "No! I want to play with you!"
"Number 10, who is number 10!" Some children were already looking for their partners, and the voice was so familiar—it was Zhang Xiaoda.
Yuanyuan raised her hand: "Here!"
Zhang Xiaoda ran over excitedly and shouted, "Yuanyuan, we're going to win first place!"
Yuanyuan was also quite happy. Although she couldn't team up with Song Yu, Zhang Xiaoda was also very good at running.
Seeing the scene descending into chaos, the teacher quickly intervened: "The children have all received their numbers. Now, I'll call out the numbers, and the children who have received their numbers should step forward."
"Now, Number One!"
The scene became orderly.
Song Yu was still a little nervous. He hadn't been at the kindergarten for very long. In his game classes, he always teamed up with Yuan Yuan. If it required several people, he would team up with Zhang Xiaoda and the others.
I wonder who his partner will be this time? Will it be a new friend who hasn't played before?
Finally, the teacher announced, "Number 11!"
Song Yu raised his hand.
Then a familiar voice was heard: "Here!"
He turned his head and saw that Wu Yaoxuan had also raised his hand. When their eyes met, Wu Yaoxuan's big eyes, which had been smiling slightly, immediately looked away, and he even snorted heavily, looking rather displeased.
"Teacher!" a child's voice rang out next to Song Yu, "Can I change my number?"
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