Chapter 20: Chapter Twenty: Pork and Sour Cabbage Stew

Second Uncle cursed as he swung the fire poker, making the Liu brothers yell “Ow! Ow!”

This thing is made of iron; any hit leaves bruises turning blue and purple, and a wrong strike could easily break bones.

But the Liu brothers were seasoned from being beaten by Second Uncle and knew how to dodge the most vulnerable spots.

Watching Second Aunt cheer them on without trying to stop or dissuade them, the brothers knew this beating was unavoidable and quickly knelt down, begging for mercy.

“Dad! Dad! Stop! We’re sorry! We won’t dare again!”

“Dad! Dad! Please, stop! We won’t dare again!”

Second Aunt shouted sharply from the side: “Beat them till they’re dead! You two never learn, always causing trouble—would your father have missed out on meat if not for you two? You deserve every blow!”

Only after he was tired and out of breath did Second Uncle drop the poker, then glare at the two bruised and swollen boys: “Get out! Get out! Get out! Don’t show your faces in front of me!”

He then took out a bottle and cups from the cabinet, poured two taels of loose liquor, and downed it in one gulp.

His eyes fixed on the Li family’s direction, he muttered fiercely: “Just wait and see!”

Li Xuewu planned to invite the three uncles, Xu Damao, and some other household men over for the pork stew—he couldn’t possibly eat such a huge pig alone, living in the same courtyard.

But hearing the words of Third Uncle and Second Uncle, he found them unbearable, so he led He Yuzhu inside.

Liu Yin was also annoyed—what kind of people are these, beating their kids because they can’t get meat?

The children in the courtyard, seeing both families’ kids get beaten within moments, scattered like birds and beasts, afraid the fire at the city gate would burn their fish.

“Point Guard Here”

Outside the Li family’s door, it instantly grew quiet.

He Yuzhu didn’t care at all about the uncles’ attitudes—he’d always been rebellious.

He wasn’t idle now either; he took Liu Yin’s ladle and volunteered to braise the offal.

Li Shun, fearing He Yuzhu’s awkwardness, spoke up to ease the tension: “I’ve tasted Zhu’s cooking—he’s no worse than a state banquet chef. Liu Yin, you’d better learn a few tricks from Zhu.”

He Yuzhu chuckled: “Uncle Li, you’re flattering me—it’s nothing special, just ordinary skill.”

Li Shun laughed heartily: “You’re not the humble type, so why act humble with me? When your father passed, he invited us over—that was the time you cooked, and I still remember it vividly.”

He Yuzhu tilted his head and smiled: “Hey, that was years ago! I’m grateful you’ve looked after me—you never charged me for helping with headaches or fevers. With you, I’d never dare act superior.”

Li Shun modestly replied: “When your father passed, he entrusted us to care for you and your sister. I’ve only got these few skills—I could help you so little, nothing worth your gratitude.”

He Yuzhu remembered this well, but few people helped him and his sister afterward; that meal and his father’s kindness had long faded away.

As the wild boar was butchered, the first piece of meat was already sliced off by Liu Yin and her mother and tossed into the pot, along with a basin of sour cabbage.

This was Grandma’s requirement—Northeastern pork and sour cabbage stew is especially fragrant.

After seasoning the braised dishes and covering the pot to simmer on low heat, He Yuzhu had already set the steamed buns and pork and sour cabbage stew on the eight-legged table.

At that moment, Liu Yin said: “Husband, should we invite a few heads of household from the courtyard over for dinner?”

Li Shun waved his hand: “Forget it—it’s this late, they’ve all eaten. Xuecai, go get the wine from the cabinet.”

Seeing Li Shun refused, Liu Yin said no more and arranged the bowls and chopsticks on the table.

He Yuzhu tilted his head: “Aunt Liu, didn’t you hear what Second Uncle and Third Uncle were yelling at their kids? They don’t want to come.”

Liu Yin smiled: “If they don’t want to come, fine—it’s not like we’re begging them.”

Liu Yin was dissatisfied with these so-called “big men” in the courtyard—they just smoothed things over; every household had their own hidden agendas.

The Li family’s approach was harsh: you hold your meetings, but the Lis always send only Grandma Li or Li Xuecai.

No involvement, no approval, no opposition—no problem, doesn’t matter, don’t bother me.

These were all Grandma Li’s rules; Liu Yin learned household management from her after marrying in, so the family’s customs were set by Grandma Li.

Li Xuewu ushered He Yuzhu to the table, took the wine from Li Xuecai, and poured He Yuzhu a cup: “Brother Zhu, you’ve worked hard today—thank you for your effort.”

After saying this, he began pouring wine for Da Lao and Li Shun; when his brother declined, he poured himself a cup.

“Brother Zhu, I toast you—we haven’t seen each other in ages. Come on, drink up!”

He Yuzhu was deeply moved and raised his cup, draining it in one go.

After finishing his cup, He Yuzhu exhaled sharply: “Hey, this liquor’s strong—isn’t this the stuff from our gate?”

Li Xuewu laughed: “This is from my second uncle’s distillery—my father brought it back last summer. It’s steeped with herbs—very potent.”

He Yuzhu nodded: “Hey! Then I’ll have to taste it properly.”

Liu Yin placed a plate of buns on the table: “It’s not fine liquor—just grain-based, just for novelty. Northeastern grain is fragrant, so the liquor tastes good too.”

Seeing He Yuzhu had drunk, Li Shun picked up his chopsticks and urged him to eat meat.

“Zhu, eat the meat—wild boar is common in the Northeast. You’ve eaten it before—it tastes different from domestic pork.”

According to dining etiquette, the guest must drink the first cup and pick up chopsticks first—even though Li Shun is a generation older, He Yuzhu is an adult and must be treated as such; besides, he came to help, so etiquette must be observed.

The Li family’s old customs didn’t stop there—after serving dishes and buns on the eight-legged table, Liu Yin set up a kang table inside, then brought over more dishes and buns to eat there.

The old rule said: when hosting guests, women of the household must not sit at the main table—they must eat inside, apart from the guests.

So at the main table in the outer room sat only Da Lao, Li Shun, Li Xuewen, Li Xuewu, Li Xuecai, and He Yuzhu.

Inside, seated cross-legged around the kang table were Grandma Li, Liu Yin, Zhao Yafang, and Li Shu.

The outer room table was lively.

Li Xuewu found the pork less fragrant than in later times—it was dry and had a fishy odor, possibly because it was a boar, or a wild boar, or because the blood wasn’t drained immediately after the kill.

But He Yuzhu and the Li family ate heartily.

He Yuzhu ate a bite of sour cabbage and pork, then a sip of medicinal liquor, his face flushed red.

Li Xuewu kept pouring wine—refilling He Yuzhu’s, his father’s, and Da Lao’s cups—the atmosphere grew lively.

The Li family’s merriment naturally reached across to Third Uncle’s house.

Third Uncle gnawed on his cornbread, dipping it in salted vegetables, seething with anger.

Third Aunt gazed out the window and said: “The Li family’s so lively—especially He Yuzhu yelling the loudest.”

Third Uncle felt bitter inside and muttered sourly: “Their merriment is theirs—I’ve got nothing.”

Third Uncle grunted, dropped his cornbread, turned away, and angrily crawled under the quilt to sleep.

Third Aunt stared at the barely-touched food.

“Aren’t you eating?”

Third Uncle sulked: “I’m full from anger!”

Third Aunt snorted and muttered: “This stubborn old man—he just torments me.”