Qingmu rushed back before lunch, bringing a large piece of pork liver, a strip of pork belly, and a jar of pig's blood. He exchanged a few words with Juhua, telling her that Mother had returned early but had been pulled over to Aunt Zhang's house. He told her not to wait and to eat as soon as the food was ready, then left again.
'That's fine,' Juhua thought. 'I'll cook a proper meal today and treat myself.'
And so, she happily started making braised pork. She kept it simple, adding only a bit of ginger and some soy sauce for color. As it simmered in the pot, a rich, tantalizing aroma filled the entire house. Just as it was nearly done, she chopped up a handful of green garlic shoots and tossed them in. This was the very braised pork with garlic that Laicai had craved but never got to eat.
