When she went to pick up the children, Xia Zhaoyun asked their teacher for half a day off.
The next morning, she woke up early to steam buns, fry fish and meatballs, steam a chicken, and make braised pork belly, packing it all into a food container. Breakfast was meat-stuffed buns—a few slices of cucumber, a dollop of bean paste, chopped green and red peppers, plus two tender pieces of braised pork, all sandwiched in a freshly steamed bun and served with a sour meatball soup.
A good mood for the day starts with breakfast, after all!
She hung the food container from one of her bicycle's handlebars and a bag of fruit from the other. She also tucked a small bottle of Erguotou liquor, a pack of Mudan cigarettes, and a pair of work gloves into her bag. With the two children riding on the back, she pedaled to a nearby cemetery.
