Chapter 37

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

After finalizing the money matters, Old Chen borrowed a large wicker basket from Shen Xingyi’s household. With the basket propped up on a carrying pole, he prepared to take Chen Xiaosang home.

Chen Xiaosang, feeling a bit sad about leaving, waved towards Shen Dalang. As she walked away, she called out, “I’ll come to see you tomorrow, remember to dig up the Tianma.”

Shen Xingyi laughed heartily and replied, “Sure, come and visit every day, okay?”

Shen Dalang shot his father a glance, then looked towards the retreating figure of Chen Xiaosang. Without a word, he turned around and headed back into the house.

“Hey! Son, she hasn’t even left yet, why are you rushing back inside?” Shen Xingyi called out after him, moving to catch up with Shen Dalang.

Ignoring his father, Shen Dalang picked up a book and began to read, causing Shen Xingyi to huff in frustration. “Fine, but don’t come crying to me if you end up alone in the future!”

“She’s only six,” Shen Dalang retorted coolly.

Unfazed, Shen Xingyi held up his butcher’s knife, its edge gleaming coldly, and made his way over to Shen Dalang. “She’ll grow up in a couple of years. Look at her, she’s a good kid, and she’ll surely grow into a beauty.”

With a conspiratorial air, Shen Xingyi continued, “Son, just think about it. She knows how to make money. Already, she’s helped you earn so much. If you marry her, she might even support you to pass the imperial examinations.”

“Well, your old man might not have the ability, but your future wife does,” Shen Xingyi persuaded.

Shen Dalang, feeling increasingly exasperated, picked up his book and retreated back into the house, leaving his father alone in the yard.

When Chen Xiaosang arrived home, her mother, Mrs. Li, was in the yard, busy preparing a chicken for dinner.

Excited, Chen Xiaosang ran over to watch. Seeing this, Mrs. Li chuckled, “It’s all blood, don’t let it scare you. Go play.”

“Mom is so good, getting us a chicken for dinner,” Chen Xiaosang praised her.

Old Chen, who had just entered the yard, didn’t pay any attention to the small talk between mother and daughter. Instead, he took the basket of goods straight to the kitchen.

In the past, Mrs. Li would have been reluctant to kill a laying hen, but the circumstances were different now. Her grandchildren were injured, her daughter was complaining of dizziness, and her sons had returned home looking thin and weary. With a firm resolve, she decided to kill the chicken.

The chicken was a compensation from the children’s uncle. It was meant to nourish the children, so there was no room for reluctance.

Meanwhile, Dashu’s wife came out of the kitchen wiping her hands. She called for Chen Xiaosang to come and learn how to prepare pig offal.

Chen Xiaosang bounced into the kitchen and asked Dashu’s wife to take out the large intestines she had fetched yesterday and today. She instructed her to clean them using white flour.

“Clean it with white flour?” Dashu’s wife couldn’t believe it.

“Exactly, the large intestines aren’t clean. Only white flour can wash them thoroughly,” Chen Xiaosang replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

In her previous life, all the recipes she had seen used white flour to clean large intestines.

Dashu’s wife’s hand trembled as it rested on the sack of white flour. She cautiously asked Chen Xiaosang, “Where did you learn this?”

Chen Xiaosang blinked innocently, “The old herbalist mentioned that this is how the wealthy families prepare their meals.”

“What a wealthy family indeed, not considering white flour as a staple!” Dashu’s wife exclaimed.

She glanced at Chen Xiaosang and then at the white flour.

In the past, she would have been skeptical of a child’s words, but these days, Xiao Sang had been managing honeysuckles and Tianma, significantly contributing to the family’s income. She trusted Xiao Sang wholeheartedly.

But… the flour…

A pound of white flour could buy five to six pounds of large intestines.

Dashu’s wife gritted her teeth, reluctant to waste the precious white flour. She probed Chen Xiaosang, “Can we use plant ash to clean the large intestines?”

Chen Xiaosang paused, trying to recall. She hadn’t heard of anyone using that method before, so she shook her head, “I’m not sure.”

Dashu’s wife steeled herself and walked towards the stove to retrieve some plant ash.

If plant ash could wash clothes, it should be able to clean the intestines.

She decided to try it out, and if it wasn’t clean, she’d revert to using flour.

After filling a basin with plant ash, Big Tree’s wife turned the large intestines over in the ash, rubbing them bit by bit.

Once she felt satisfied with her cleaning, she rinsed it with water, examining it carefully. The large intestines were spotless.

Chen Xiaosang moved closer for a better look. It was even cleaner than when she used to wash them with flour. What was more impressive was the absence of any unpleasant odor.

She gave Dashu’s wife a thumbs up, “Sister-in-law, you’re ingenious!”

Dashu’s wife felt a sense of accomplishment. She had indeed saved a significant amount of flour.

Following Chen Xiaosang’s directions, she cut the pig intestines into pieces, blanched them, and set them aside.

She then took out spices like cassia and star anise, added oil, and fried them until fragrant. Next, she added water and the cleaned intestines.

She washed the freshly plucked onions and ginger from the vegetable garden, tossed them into the pot, covered it, and let it simmer slowly.

Chen Xiaosang initially intended to pluck the pig’s hair strand by strand as she did before, but Dashu’s wife thought it was too time-consuming and chose to singe it with fire instead. It was quicker and simpler.

Watching her sister-in-law work with such efficiency, Chen Xiaosang marveled at her capabilities.

When the pot cover was lifted, the aroma of the braised intestines wafted out. Chen Xiaosang couldn’t resist hovering over the stove, her mouth watering at the sight of the simmering intestines.

Dashu’s wife scooped out a small bowlful and handed it to her before returning to braise the pig’s head.

Chen Xiaosang bit into a piece of braised intestine, her eyes sparkling with delight. Eagerly, she dashed over to her sister-in-law, standing on her tiptoes to offer her a piece. “Sister-in-law, you should try this too.”

Her sister-in-law, the wife of Dashu, was completely charmed by the young girl’s enthusiasm. Her heart fluttered with affection, and she yearned to wrap the girl in a warm hug and plant a loving kiss on her.

Having shared with her sister-in-law, Chen Xiaosang then went on to feed Mrs. Lee, whose laughter was so hearty that it made her eyes disappear into thin lines of mirth.

Upon entering Dazhu’s room, the three Zhu brothers, immediately surrounded her. They leaned in, sniffing at her bowl. “Wow, what a delicious aroma!”

Erzhu, the second boy, was especially intrigued. “What’s this tasty treat?”

Chen Xiaosang shared a piece with each of them, then asked confidently, “Good, isn’t it?”

The three boys responded with happy nods, their mouths full, managing to utter, “Delicious!”

“This is pig intestine, braised with a bunch of spices. Only my sister-in-law and I can make it this way. You won’t find this anywhere else!” Chen Xiaosang declared, her small head held high with pride.

The three boys nodded in agreement, echoing her sentiment. “Delicious! Auntie is amazing! And so is Mom!”

Their shouts woke Chen Dashu, who was having a nap. He sat up in bed to find the four children squatting on the ground, engrossed in something.

“What are you guys up to?” Chen Dashu asked, slipping into his shoes and approaching the group.

Chen Xiaosang extended a piece of the braised intestine towards Chen Dashu. But being so tiny, even with her arm fully stretched, she could only reach his waist.

“Big brother, have some,” she offered.

Chen Dashu eyed the dark morsel before popping it into his mouth. The mix of spices and the satisfying chewiness of the intestine had him smacking his lips in enjoyment.

“What’s this?” he asked, genuinely curious.

“It’s pig intestine,” Chen Xiaosang responded cheerfully.

Chen Dashu found himself reaching for another piece from Chen Xiaosang’s bowl. Sensing this, Chen Xiaosang guarded her bowl protectively, her cheeks puffed in mild protest. “Second Brother and the others haven’t tasted it yet!”

Chen Dashu muttered under his breath, “Aren’t pig intestines supposed to be stinky? How is it so good? Are you pulling my leg?”

Dazhu jumped to Chen Xiaosang’s defense. “Auntie would never lie.”

“If you don’t believe me, go ask my sister-in-law. She helped make it,” Chen Xiaosang chimed in right away.

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