Pork offal is something only people who are too poor to afford meat would buy to satisfy their cravings. Wang Fugui held a piece of small intestine between his fingers, wanting to throw it away, but the aroma in his mouth made him reluctant to part with it.
Madam Wang stared longingly at Wang Fugui, hoping he would eat some too.
"What a poor fellow! He actually eats this stuff!" Wang Fugui said with disdain as he put it in his mouth. "It's alright, he must be terrified of being poor, so he's just making do with whatever he can find to eat."
"The Tao family said they want to open a restaurant, sir. Do you think this food will be very popular?" Seeing that Wang Fugui had eaten, Madam Wang also asked someone to bring chopsticks.
"With her stingy attitude, who would go to her restaurant?" Wang Fugui said critically.
"Yes, I think so. The cooking is really good, better than our family's chef," Madam Wang said truthfully while chewing on a pig's stomach.
Wang Fugui paused, frowned as he looked at Madam Wang, but then picked up a piece of pig's stomach.
"They say they came here to escape famine, so they must be too poor to afford meat and can only eat these things, but they still find ways to make them taste good!"
"It's delicious, isn't it? I think it's pretty good too, but it's kind of embarrassing because most people don't want pig offal!"
The couple took turns eating, and managed to finish most of a plate of braised pork offal before stopping when their stomachs were bloated.
The two looked at each other, both with awkward expressions. Finally, Wang Fugui spoke up: "I'll use the rest to have with my drinks tonight!"
The small restaurant would not open for some time, and in the meantime, Tao Wan's mother asked the broker to find an old scholar to teach her family to read.
This was the first time the old lady had taught such an old student. She was quite moved to see the older student learning the Thousand Character Classic. As the saying goes, everything is difficult at the beginning, but there is no fear of those who are determined! Even if you are old, it is never too late to learn to read.
“Well, Madam, do you know how to read? Don’t refuse to learn just because you’re an elder!” The old scholar said when he saw Tao Wanniang. He seemed to have already assumed that Tao Wanniang was also illiterate, otherwise, how could her two sons be illiterate?
Tao Wan's forehead throbbed. She was learning to read? It was unbelievable that the old man could even say that; she knew far more characters than he did!
“Master, you can’t just say things like that. I can do more than just recognize characters; I can write them too!” Tao Wanniang said patiently. “Don’t disbelieve me. If you don’t believe me, I’ll recite some verses for you!”
“Anyone can talk big, madam. As an elder, you should set an example for the younger generation,” the old scholar said to Tao Wanniang in a serious tone.
Tao Wanniang was getting a little annoyed. How could this old scholar be so dense?
"Don't you believe me? Come on, bring me a pen!" Tao Wanniang said, rolling up her sleeves.
She picked up the pen, then paused, her mind racing with thoughts. Which one should she choose? Looking at her son and daughter-in-law, who were gazing expectantly at her, and her little girl, Tao Wanniang wrote with a flourish: "The roc rises with the wind, soaring ninety thousand miles high. Even when the wind ceases and it descends, it can still stir up the vast ocean. People see me as always unconventional, and laugh coldly at my grand pronouncements. Even Confucius feared the young; a man should not underestimate the young."
The old scholar was astonished to see Tao Wanniang's brushstrokes flow like a divine being, her ink flowing effortlessly. When Tao Wanniang finished her poem, he couldn't help but read it aloud: "The roc rises with the wind in a single day..."
"Is Mother writing about me?" Ling Dapeng asked with amusement.
Tao Wanniang glanced at Ling Dapeng and smiled foolishly.
"What a fine poem! What a fine poem! Madam, you have such literary talent that I am truly ashamed!" The old scholar felt ashamed of his earlier words. "Is this poem about your sons? Both of your sons are handsome and tall; they are sure to be outstanding individuals in the future!"
"Master, you misunderstand. This poem is not my own; I'm merely borrowing it!" Tao Wanniang said frankly. "These masters won't say I'm illiterate, will they?"
"Since Madam has such great talent, why doesn't she raise her children herself..." the old scholar asked, puzzled.
What a meddlesome old man! Tao Wanniang sighed helplessly, then said, "In the past, we were poor and exhausted. We had to do everything we could to survive. Alas, the past is too painful to recall. I'd better get back to cooking!" After saying that, Tao Wanniang walked away.
The old scholar looked at Tao Wanniang's retreating figure and couldn't help but admire her. Then he looked at the Ling brothers and their wives and put on a stern face.
"You are already fortunate to have such a wise and intelligent mother. How can you become mediocre people with no knowledge? You must memorize this Thousand Character Classic today!"
“Master, I can do it!” Little Qiao’er said first.
"Hmm, you're a promising young man, you have quite the flair of your mother!" the old scholar praised.
Tao Wan's mother didn't care how difficult it was for her son and daughter-in-law to learn; she was full of confidence in the dishes she had recently researched.
Eggs can be used to make steamed pork with rice flour. As for the pork, it can be stir-fried, pan-fried, or boiled. What should we call this restaurant? Farmhouse Restaurant! Yes, let's call it Farmhouse Restaurant!
Tao Wanniang was in the kitchen, where she not only prepared several dishes, but also came up with a name for the restaurant.
She couldn't sit still at the thought, so she immediately went to call Bai Yumei to go out together.
"Yu Mei, go get the mask. Let's find a shop that makes signboards. My restaurant will be called 'Farmhouse Restaurant,' doesn't that sound more approachable?"
Bai Yumei didn't comment on the restaurant's name, but she felt a little excited thinking that she would finally no longer have to wear an official hat.
"Sister Tao, your restaurant is definitely the most suitable one you've chosen. I'll handle the bill collection for you, you can rest assured!"
"Since I'm using you, I'm not worried!" Tao Wanniang wasn't worried at all. It was just collecting money and keeping accounts, no big deal.
Soon, the two of them had finished what they needed to do, and Bai Yumei, wearing a special mask, was finally able to see the light of day!
Although people might cast curious glances at her when she walks down the street, Bai Yumei feels that she can now accept other people's stares with ease.
On their way home, Tao Wanniang and Bai Yumei saw a magnificent carriage driving ahead in the distance.
Tao Wanniang didn't pay much attention; there were quite a few wealthy people living in Wuyi Lane.
But the carriage seemed to eventually stop in front of her house, which made Tao Wan Niang curious.
"I wonder what kind of rare guest has arrived," she muttered to herself, urging Bai Yumei to hurry up.
Xiao Yi recovered from his injuries and thought he should come and thank Tao Wanniang. Although he had already given her money and a house, how could money replace the debt of saving his life?
"Your Highness, this is it. I'll go knock on the door," Cheng Feng said, and went to knock on the door.
"Are you looking for me?" Tao Wanniang's voice came from afar and approached. Cheng Feng and Xiao Yi both turned around and saw Tao Wanniang and Bai Yumei walking over.
"So it's the young master and Lord Cheng. It seems you really came to see me!" Tao Wanniang said casually after recognizing the visitors.
Xiao Yi was stunned. Why did Tao Wanniang look so much fresher and younger?
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