“Brother, your Braised Pork Belly smells so good!”
Yáng Yīng stood on her tiptoes, her eyes fixated on the bubbling Braised Pork Belly in the pot.
The bright red pieces of meat were coated in a glistening sauce.
The rich aroma drilled straight into her nostrils.
She swallowed repeatedly, the sound of her Adam’s apple bobbing up and down especially noticeable in the quiet kitchen.
“It’s ready, Yīngzi! Quickly wash your hands and get ready to eat!” Yáng Fēi called out as he dished up the food.
“Okay, Brother,” Yáng Yīng replied crisply, then trotted off to wash her hands.
A bowl of glistening Braised Pork Belly, a plate of green and white stir-fried cabbage, a bowl of clear soup with floating egg shreds, and four snow-white, soft steamed buns.
This was their dinner!
At the table, Yáng Fēi first served his sister a piece of Braised Pork Belly with alternating layers of fat and lean meat, then took a piece himself and put it in his mouth.
After chewing slowly, he revealed a look of contentment on his face, “Rich but not greasy, perfectly sweet and savory…”
It was the familiar taste!
In his previous life, he had been an orphan and learned to support himself from a young age.
Although his cooking skills were far inferior to the professional chef Shǎ Zhù, making a few home-style dishes.
Was still easy for him!
“Brother, the Braised Pork Belly is so delicious!”
Yáng Yīng said with her mouth full, her cheeks puffed out.
Then, she eagerly took a large bite of a steamed bun, stuffing it into her mouth along with the Braised Pork Belly. The oily sauce flowed down the corners of her mouth to her chin, and a bit even got on her nose, making her look just like a little kitten stealing food.
Yáng Fēi chuckled and shook his head, adding another piece for her: “Eat slowly, no one is snatching it from you.”
Just then, two small figures suddenly appeared at the doorway.
The little boy was holding a coarse porcelain bowl, his clothes washed until they were faded. The little girl’s braids were tied askew, and she clutched tightly at her older brother’s clothes.
Both pairs of eyes were fixed on the bowl of Braised Pork Belly on the table, and they unconsciously swallowed.
“Dà Hǔ, Èr Yā, why are you here?”
Yáng Yīng asked, looking up, with meat juice still on her lips.
Dà Hǔ scratched his head sheepishly and held up the bowl he was carrying: “Grandma was worried you two haven’t eaten, so she sent me to bring you some steamed buns.”
Yáng Fēi looked at these two children.
Based on the original host’s memories, he knew a little about them.
They were the grandchildren of Old Mrs. Liú from the back courtyard. The older one was called Dà Hǔ, and he was Yīngzi’s classmate.
The younger one was called Èr Niū, and she was just over five years old.
Old Mrs. Liú’s son had sacrificed his life on the Korean battlefield; he was a martyr, a hero who protected the country. The family had a martyr’s plaque; Yáng Fēi had seen it once.
Her daughter-in-law went out every day before dawn to sweep the streets.
As for her!
She made paper boxes every day to supplement their income.
With the martyr’s subsidy, they had an income of about thirty yuan per month, but in Yáng Fēi’s impression, their family was still living frugally!
This family, who had a hard life, still thought of him and his sister.
For the kindness shown by Grandma Liu.
Yáng Fēi’s heart warmed.
Not everyone in this courtyard was a beast!
He reached out and took the coarse porcelain bowl.
He felt the residual warmth in his palm, thinking it must have been sent immediately after being taken out of the oven.
“Are these steamed buns for me?”
Yáng Fēi asked softly.
Dà Hǔ nodded vigorously, his eyes shining: “Yes! Brother Xiǎo Fēi, for you and Sister Yīng!”
“Thank your grandmother for me.” Yáng Fēi carried the bowl back into the room and placed the steamed buns on the table.
Then he picked up his chopsticks.
He carefully selected a few pieces of Braised Pork Belly with alternating fat and lean meat from the meat bowl and put them into a small, full bowl.
As he turned, the two children had already run quite far.
Yáng Fēi quickly called out:
“Dà Hǔ, you don’t want the bowl?”
Dà Hǔ stopped at the sound of his voice, took his sister’s hand, and ran back. When he saw the glistening Braised Pork Belly in the bowl, his eyes widened: “Brother Xiǎo Fēi, why is there meat in the bowl!”
He quickly waved his hands, “Grandma said we shouldn’t take other people’s things without asking.”
Look at their upbringing!
Wasn’t it better than that unfilial son Bàng Gěng?
Yáng Fēi crouched down to look Dà Hǔ in the eye and said gently, “You call me Brother Xiǎo Fēi, so am I still a stranger?”
He patted Dà Hǔ’s head, “You gave me steamed buns, and I’m giving you Braised Pork Belly. This is called reciprocity, do you understand?”
Dà Hǔ nodded as if he understood but not quite, his eyes couldn’t help but glance at the bowl.
The bright red meat emitted an alluring aroma, making him swallow involuntarily.
Yáng Fēi then took out four White Rabbit Creamy Candies from his pocket and gently placed them in Èr Yā’s small hand.
The little girl’s palms were a bit rough.
Her hair also looked slightly dry.
He gently rubbed the top of her head:
“You are both good children. This is Brother Xiǎo Fēi’s reward for you!”
“Thank you, Brother Xiǎo Fēi!”
Dà Hǔ thanked him loudly.
Èr Yā held the candies, shyly showing a smile, her dimples faintly appearing at the corners of her mouth: “Thank you, Brother Xiǎo Fēi—”
“Alright, take your time on your way back!”
Yáng Fēi looked at these two children.
He liked them very much!
“Brother Xiǎo Fēi, I know!” Dà Hǔ steadily held the bowl of meat in one hand and tightly held his sister’s hand in the other, then he trotted back towards the back courtyard.
“Grandma! Mom! We’re back!”
Dà Hǔ shouted loudly as soon as he entered the door.
Then he carefully placed the bowl of Braised Pork Belly on the table.
Daughter-in-law Liú was mending clothes. Seeing this, she immediately put down her needle and thread and asked: “Dà Hǔ, where did this… where did this Braised Pork Belly come from?”
“Brother Xiǎo Fēi gave it to us!” Dà Hǔ puffed out his chest proudly, saying, “He said it’s called reciprocation…”
Èr Yā impatiently added:
“Brother, Brother Xiǎo Fēi said it’s reciprocity!”
“Yes, yes, it’s reciprocity like Èr Yā said!”
Dà Hǔ nodded emphatically.
Èr Yā continued with a smile:
“Brother Xiǎo Fēi is so nice to me! He also gave me candy, Mom, look—”
Saying this, she ran to Daughter-in-law Liú.
She opened her palm as if presenting a treasure.
Daughter-in-law Liú’s mouth slightly opened, and she was stunned for a moment before looking at her mother-in-law by the bed.
Old Mrs. Liú tremblingly walked over. Looking at the Braised Pork Belly in the bowl, tears welled up in her cloudy eyes:
“Alas… this old woman has wronged that child! I should have helped find a doctor, but I was afraid Yì Zhōnghǎi would make things difficult for our family, so…”
Yáng Dàfēng was gone, and the brother and sister must be having a hard time. She never expected them to send Braised Pork Belly to their family!
Thinking about yesterday’s events, Old Mrs. Liú felt a huge weight on her heart.
If something had happened to Yáng Fēi.
She was afraid she would die with regrets!
Daughter-in-law Liú wanted to say a few comforting words, but knowing her mother-in-law’s temperament, she ultimately swallowed them back forcefully.
Dà Hǔ saw his grandmother crying and immediately panicked: “Grandma, did I do something wrong? How about… how about I take the meat back?”
Saying this, he went to pick up the bowl.
“Silly child, you didn’t do anything wrong!” Old Mrs. Liú grabbed her grandson’s hand, “It’s Grandma who was wrong.”
She paused, then instructed again,
“In the future, you must help take care of Yīngzi at school. Don’t let anyone bully her, understand?”
“Grandma, I understand!” Dà Hǔ suddenly stood straight, like a little adult, and announced, “From now on, if anyone bullies Yīngzi, I’ll beat them up!”
He even waved his little fists.
Old Mrs. Liú was amused, the wrinkles on her face smoothed out, “Okay, okay, hurry up and eat!”
After receiving Grandma's instruction—
Dà Hǔ immediately picked up the largest piece of Braised Pork Belly and put it into Old Mrs. Liú’s bowl:
“Grandma, you eat first!”
Then he served a piece each to his mother and sister, and finally, it was his turn. He took a small bite, his eyes squinting with happiness:
“It’s delicious—”
This dinner ended in a warm and harmonious atmosphere among the family of four.