Selling Braised Pork Intestines 1

When Jiang Ru went to her neighbor's house, Auntie Wang was at home washing clothes.

She wasn't like Jiang Ru, who only had clothes for one person to wash. Uncle Wang not only sold pork but also had to butcher pigs, so his everyday clothes were very dirty and had to be washed with stove ash. They also had laundry detergent at home, but after using it for a while, she found it a bit wasteful. Stove ash was still better, and most importantly, it cost nothing.

Auntie Wang's courtyard gate was wide open. Seeing Jiang Ru approach, she looked up in surprise, then with joy, "Why are you here?"

She quickly stood up, wiped her wet hands on the apron across her chest, then went inside to get a chair for Jiang Ru, saying cheerfully, "Oh, ever since my daughter got into college, the house has been much quieter. It's just me alone every day, I really want to find someone to talk to."

She placed the chair behind Jiang Ru. "Come, sit down, child."

Jiang Ru secretly chuckled. Although she had only met this auntie yesterday, she noticed that every time she opened her mouth, she would mention her college-educated daughter within two sentences, as if it had become her catchphrase.

She handed the plate in her hand to Auntie Wang. "Auntie, these are the pork intestines I braised last night. I brought some over for you to taste. I hope you like them."

Auntie Wang immediately exclaimed "Oh!" twice, then quickly waved her hand in refusal. "This child, I gave you things, how can I take something back? You're too polite, it's not worth much. Just take it home and eat it yourself."

"There's still some at home, I can't finish it all by myself. I brought some over for you and Uncle to taste." Jiang Ru gently placed the plate into her hand.

Seeing that Jiang Ru wasn't joking, Auntie Wang refused a couple more times, then no longer stood on ceremony. "Alright, then I'll accept it."

She took the plate from Jiang Ru's hand and casually picked up a piece to put in her mouth. Originally, she hadn't thought much of it, just felt it smelled very fragrant, even more fragrant than the dish she stir-fried with dried chilies. To her surprise, after one bite, her eyes immediately lit up, and she couldn't help but taste another piece. She looked at Jiang Ru and said, "This tastes so good, not smelly at all. How did you make it? It's even better than mine."

It was fragrant and rich in the mouth but not greasy, and very chewy.

Jiang Ru pursed her lips and smiled. "I'm glad you like it, Auntie. I was worried you wouldn't be used to the flavor."

Auntie Wang didn't think much of it, smiling, "This dish is really delicious, your Uncle will definitely like it too. Let me transfer it to a plate and return yours."

She carried the plate into the kitchen, emptied the pork intestines into her own bowl, then washed Jiang Ru's plate clean.

When she returned to the courtyard, Jiang Ru was sitting on the chair sewing a baby jumpsuit. Seeing the unfamiliar-looking baby clothes, she had originally intended to ask how to make the pork intestines, but couldn't help but ask first, "Are these clothes for a baby?"

Jiang Ru nodded. "Yes, they're jumpsuits."

She held up the clothes, unfolded them for Auntie Wang to see, and explained a bit about the design.

Auntie Wang listened for a while, feeling that this style of clothing was also very clever. Later, when her daughter married and had children, she could also sew two sets for her grandchildren.

Thinking this, she felt a little envious. Suddenly, she felt that the wife Li Xiao married was truly good. She looked thin and delicate but was skillful and capable.

Jiang Ru meticulously spoke about the advantages of this type of clothing. "My child will be born in the cold season. If they have to be undressed and dressed again every time they pee, it's inconvenient and they can easily catch a cold. This jumpsuit style is much more convenient; you just need to unbutton the bottom."

"This child truly has a thoughtful heart."

Jiang Ru smiled and added a few more sentences, then asked her about things to pay attention to during pregnancy. Auntie Wang was a talkative person. Thinking that Jiang Ru's parents weren't around, and her mother-in-law was muddle-headed and unreliable, she recounted all her pregnancy experiences. When she got excited, she even cursed a few times about the shameless things her mother-in-law had done back then.

She then comforted Jiang Ru, "It's good that your mother-in-law isn't around to be an eyesore. Back then, I was eight months pregnant and about to give birth, but she still made me go to the river to wash clothes for the whole family. It was freezing winter, and after washing a basin of clothes, my hands were frozen stiff, and I was so tired I couldn't stand. On the way back, I even slipped and stepped into an ice hole, getting half my pant leg wet. Thinking back now, it's still painful."