"Zhou Yan, are you closed today?"
"Haven't seen you in ages! I heard your restaurant is doing really well."
"You brought so many things to visit your grandma? So thoughtful."
Along the way, villagers greeted Zhou Yan. He'd reply to those he recognized, and give a brief answer to those he didn't.
Soon, an old house came into view. The rammed earth walls were covered in brown moss, and foxtail grass swayed on the blue-tiled roof. A persimmon tree stood by the door, laden with golden persimmons.
Under the tree sat a reclining chair, where an elderly woman with gray hair, wearing a dark blue, diagonally-buttoned blouse, leaned against it, smiling as she watched a thin, bony young man squatting beside her, holding an enamel basin.
The young man was hunched over, his clothes tattered, his hair disheveled and tangled with dirt. He finished his sweet potato porridge in the basin before putting down the enamel basin and spoon, giving the old woman a chuckle, and getting up to leave.
Zhou Yan rode by on his bicycle, and the young man smiled at him as he passed.
Zhou Yan recognized him; he was Mr. Tree from Zhou Village.
"Grandma!" Zhou Momo called out softly.
The old woman turned around, smiled, and got up to reply, "Oh, Momo and Zhou Yan are here."
The old lady's name was Zhang Shufen. She was seventy five years old, very spry, with a straight back. Her short, silvery-white hair was neatly combed and tucked behind her ears; she had a lot of hair, more than many college students.
Her clothes had a few patches, but they were spotless. Her smile was gentle.
Zhou Yan parked the bicycle at the door and first lifted Zhou Momo onto the ground.
"Grandma!" Zhou Momo rushed to the old lady and hugged her leg.
"Good girl." The old lady reached out and patted her head, smiling, "You've grown a little taller."
"Grandma." Zhou Yan said casually, taking something off the handlebars, "Was that Zhou Qi just now?"
"That's that brat, still so chubby, his head's like a slumped chicken's. He'd chase ants for miles if he saw them moving." The old lady nodded with a smile. "I thought he hadn't eaten, so I gave him the leftover sweet potato porridge from the pot."
"Grandma, what happened to him?" Zhou Momo asked curiously.
"He took the wrong medicine when he was two years old, and became that brat. When he was four, his father died, and his mother couldn't survive with him, so she ran away. He's been scavenging for food in the village and town, working as a beggar." The old lady shook her head, a look of pity on her face, and sighed, "He's a poor child."
"Then... next time I'll give him a piece of candy." Zhou Momo didn't quite understand the meaning of hardship.
"Okay." The old lady smiled again, looking at the fish and spare ribs Zhou Yan was carrying. "Why are you carrying so much stuff? Don't you two little ones have anything to eat at here?"
"I got you two jin of wine. I just learned how to make braised crucian carp with perilla leaves; I'll show off my skills today, I guarantee you'll be satisfied." Zhou Yan said with a smile.
"These past few days, the village gossips have been saying my grandson's struck it rich. Judging by today's commotion, it really does seem like it." the old woman said humorously, bending down to pick up the enamel basin from the floor. "Come in, have a seat."
Zhou Yan carried his things inside. The main room was spotless, the square table and benches gleaming.
On the wall hung a black and white photograph of a middle-aged man in an old military uniform. On the small table beneath the photo sat a long-necked wine bottle with a single wild chrysanthemum in it.
"Hello, Grandpa." Zhou Momo walked over, picked up a piece of candy, placed it on the table, and greeted him warmly, "Grandpa, have some White Rabbit candy."
"He doesn't like sweets, I'll eat it for him." The old lady picked up the candy, peeled it, and fed it to herself, smiling, "Hmm, this White Rabbit candy is still a bit sweet."
"Then I'll bring Grandpa some cola next time." Zhou Momo looked at the old lady and said, "Cola is so delicious!"
"What's 'Cola'?" the old lady asked Zhou Yan.
"It's a drink invented by foreigners." Zhou Yan explained with a smile.
"Your grandfather crossed the Yalu River to fight the foreign devils back then. He even wrote to me saying that foreign chocolate was delicious and he wanted to bring me a box." the old lady said with a smile. "If you give him some foreign cola, he'll definitely be happy."
Zhou Yan smiled but didn't reply, looking at the man on the wall with a serious yet somewhat reserved expression.
This was his grandfather, Zhou Yi, a Sichuan soldier in the War of Resistance against Japan. He later volunteered for against the America War and never returned.
His father and all five brothers were raised by the old lady alone. The youngest, his fifth uncle, was born the year his grandfather died, and the old lady named him Zhou Weiguo.
The old lady opened the cupboard and pulled out a pile of snacks, arranging them on the table. "Here, you two little ones, have some. Take whatever you want."
The fruit platter contained sunflower seeds, candy, dried longan, and some biscuits—quite a variety.
She also brewed them some tea.
Zhou Momo had already climbed onto a stool and was sitting at the table, munching on biscuits.
"Where's Uncle? I haven't seen him." Zhou Yan asked the old lady, having put two crucian carp in the kitchen bucket.
"He went to weed early this morning. He'll be back for lunch. Don't worry about him." the old lady replied casually, peeling sunflower seeds for Zhou Momo.
"Okay." Zhou Yan pulled out a stool and sat down, taking two oranges from the bag and handing them to the old lady. "These are fresh red oranges, very sweet."
"I can't eat that many. Take half back with you later. Your uncle doesn't eat any fruit." the old lady said, looking at the bag of oranges.
"Okay."
"How's your restaurant business?" the old lady asked gently.
"Not bad." Zhou Yan said with a smile. "Selling noodles and soup pot, I can make a hundred yuan a day."
"A hundred yuan a day and you call that not bad?" the old lady chuckled. "You're like a shrimp trying to cross a river, still needing its antennae!"
"Then just think of it as your grandson getting rich, and I'll take you to live a good life." Zhou Yan peeled an orange for Zhou Momo.
The old lady said leisurely, "I'm living a very good life now. I have dried meat and wine everyday, and I even play a little card game in the afternoon. I have no worries about food and clothing. My life is like that of an immortal. As long as I'm fat while I'm alive, I don't care if I smell bad or smell good after I die."
"You have a great attitude." Zhou Yan praised sincerely.
"Your shop is doing well, and you're making a lot of money, but don't go around telling everyone." the old lady said, carefully instructing him. "It's best to keep it to yourself, like a mute eating dumplings – just know it in your own heart, so you don't attract unwanted attention."
"Okay, I understand." Zhou Yan nodded, feeling a warmth in his heart.
Having a wise and loving elderly person in the family felt wonderful.
He felt a little happy.
Zhou Yan chatted with the old lady. She was very talkative, and when she talked about things from her younger days, her eyes sparkled, and a smile played on her face.
Especially when she mentioned his grandfather, her smile became even brighter, and her tone was full of pride: "Your grandfather was in the Sichuan Army. He went to fight against the Japanese in 1938, and later came back injured and recuperated for a year before rejoining the army to continue fighting. He had scars all over his body, and he said those were his badges of honor."
Later, after the Japanese were defeated, the family was allocated land, and he wanted to come back and farm. But then the foreigners attacked again, reaching the Yalu River. He received orders from above, he was a unit commander, after all so he packed his things overnight and rejoined his unit to fight the foreigners. He even wrote me a letter from there, but it wasn't mailed; it was sent back with his belongings.
He said he wasn't a coward, that he killed seven or eight foreigners, and that he didn't bring shame to me and the children…"
The old woman's tone was slow, like a gently flowing stream.
Zhou Yan listened quietly.
Zhou Momo, on the other hand, was engrossed in eating snacks, oblivious to everything else.
After the old woman finished speaking, Zhou Yan went to the kitchen to cook pork ribs. The ribs had to be cooked until tender to be delicious; the cooking time couldn't be too short.
"Zhou Qing brought some beef intestines, beef tongue, and a pound of beef shank this morning. I braised them this morning and they're soaking in the pot. We'll cut two plates to eat for lunch. Let's not make too many dishes; there are only three of us plus the baby, we can't eat that much."
The old woman lifted the lid of the pot, and the fragrant aroma of braised meat instantly filled the air. Inside the pot was a rich, reddish-brown broth, with a piece of beef shank peeking out, and braised beef intestines floating on the surface.
"It smells so good!"
Zhou Yan couldn't help but swallow, his mouth watering. This pot of old braising liquid had been nurtured by the old woman for over ten years. She used it to braise beef offal, beef tongue, beef shank, as well as chicken feet, duck heads, and rabbit heads for New Year's and other festivals – everything she braised in it tasted delicious.
The braised dishes were snatched up as soon as they were served.
The old woman treasured this pot of braising liquid; even her most beloved great grandson wasn't allowed to touch it.
The year before last, Fanwa accidentally tipped over the braising pot, spilling about a third of the liquid. He was severely punished by his father and grandfather with thin bamboo sticks, and it was only the old woman's intervention that finally settled the matter.
Later, Zhou Yan learned that his uncle and brother Fei were afraid of being scolded by the old lady, so they decided to act first.
Everyone in the family knew how precious this pot of braising liquid was, but no one dared to touch it.
[Ding! High quality braising liquid detected. Side quest triggered: Obtain this braising liquid to acquire the initial braising liquid and begin your braised food cooking journey! Quest reward: Complete Braised Food Recipe Collection. Accept: Yes/No]
Zhou Yan's eyelids twitched.
This system is really cunning!
But selling braised food is a good business.
It can be served as a dish in restaurants, and customers can also buy it and take it home.
Once it's braised, you just need someone to be responsible for slicing and weighing it; it doesn't take up any space in the kitchen.
Fortune favors the bold, let's go for it!
"Grandma, this pot of your old braising liquid tastes absolutely amazing. Can I take some back to the shop to use?" Zhou Yan asked cautiously.
"Get lost!"
"Magic cloak!"
"You dare to even think about my old braising liquid? Don't make me slap you!"
The kind old lady disappeared.
The first-generation Sichuan-Chongqing Tyrannosaurus Rex cast a shadow.
Zhou Yan: "...
"Grandma, love me one more time..."