By the time she finished cleaning the stove, the congee simmering in the clay pot was ready. Lin Yuezhen took out the salted eggs, then finely chopped some cabbage leaves and stirred them into the congee with a little salt. After taking the pot off the heat, she scooped out some pickled vegetables, chopped them finely, and tossed them with Sichuan peppercorn oil, chili oil, sesame oil, and sugar.
She washed and cut open the salted eggs, placing them on a white earthenware plate. Their brilliant golden yolks resembled blooming rapeseed flowers.
"Mama, how did I end up in Auntie's bed?" Little Douzi asked as he came out of the room, pattering off to the toilet as he spoke.
The two women watched him, shaking their heads with a smile.
After breakfast, Little Kai and his sister stood at the courtyard gate under a black umbrella, calling for him to go to school.
