17 Pig Stomach and Chicken Soup

Wen Mengdong, who usually rushed to help with every chore, stood far away, wrinkling his nose as he watched his elder sister and sister-in-law wash the pile of slick, slimy pig offal.

"If you stand that far away, there won’t be any left for you when it’s cooked," Wen Zhongxia said, suppressing a smile.

Upon hearing this, little Dong’er’s fair, delicate face showed a moment of internal struggle.

Wen Zhongxia turned the pig intestines inside out and used scissors to trim away the layer of white fat clinging to them. Too much fat would make the dish cloying, but leaving a little bit would ensure a soft, glutinous texture.

Fortunately, the butcher had already given them a rough cleaning. If they had seen the offal in its most raw, visceral state, they probably wouldn't have been able to stomach eating it, no matter how delicious the final result was.

"I never imagined cleaning these would be so much work," Xu Xiu said. She had already scrubbed them three times with vinegar, flour, and Shaoxing wine according to her sister-in-law’s instructions, yet it still didn't seem enough.

"The cleaner they are, the more fragrant they taste," Wen Zhongxia laughed.

"If it weren't for you, I don't think I would have ever considered buying this stuff in my life."

"A pig is a treasure from head to tail. Even pig brains, when drizzled with spicy sauce and roasted over charcoal, taste even more tender than tofu."

"Stop, stop!" Xu Xiu quickly held up a hand. "My dear sister-in-law, please let me get used to pig intestines, liver, and lungs before you start talking about pig brains." She couldn't even fathom how one would eat a pig's brain; she had never even seen one.

Wen Zhongxia giggled, her bright, almond-shaped eyes sparkling with joy. Seeing her sister and sister-in-law laughing and chatting as if they were washing precious jewels rather than dirty pig offal, Wen Mengdong shifted his feet and inched closer, step by step. When he reached them, he realized the strange odor was gone.

He squatted down to watch with curiosity, and Wen Zhongxia took the opportunity to point at each organ, giving him a quick biology lesson. Wen Mengdong looked at his sister with even greater adoration.

Aside from the stomach, all the other parts were tossed into the pot to be braised in the master stock used for their daily meat dishes. While the braising pot bubbled away, emitting clouds of savory steam, Wen Zhongxia set to work on the pig stomach chicken soup.

She had specifically chosen a butter chicken, which was perfect for stewing. It weighed two pounds; any larger, and it wouldn't fit inside the stomach. With a flick of her knife, she trimmed off the head, feet, and tail. She stuffed the two tender chicken feet and some scallions and ginger into the chicken's cavity, then tucked the entire chicken inside the pig stomach, much like a nesting doll.

After simmering the pig-stomach-wrapped chicken in high-quality broth for over an hour, she pulled it out and sliced into the stomach. The trapped, steaming heat burst forth instantly. By now, the chicken was cooked perfectly tender, its flavor having fused completely with that of the pig stomach. She sliced the stomach into strips, chopped the chicken into bite-sized pieces, and returned them to the pot to continue simmering. For a health-conscious touch, she added a few goji berries and red dates at the very end.

The pig stomach chicken soup was milky white and savory, with tiny droplets of yellow fat and vibrant red goji berries floating on the surface. It smelled heavenly.

Xu Xiu had watched with her own eyes as her sister-in-law painstakingly cleaned the stomach, and the mental block she’d had was gradually washed away. She took a piece of the curled stomach; it was exceptionally crisp and tender, yet retained a satisfying chew.

"This is so delicious!"

Wen Mengdong had been about to reach for the chicken, but hearing his sister-in-law’s praise, he swerved his chopsticks and picked up a piece of the stomach instead. He kept his head down, his face flushed. He remembered how he had turned up his nose at the offal on the way home, and he knew his sister must be laughing at him. Let her laugh—the taste was what mattered most.

The stomach was chewy yet tender, without even a hint of gaminess.

"I told you it would be delicious, didn't I?" Wen Zhongxia smiled at him.

"Mm-hmm." Wen Mengdong couldn't stop eating.

Outside, the sky had turned dark, and the oil lamp on the table flickered. Wen Zhongxia chewed on a piece of soft, succulent chicken and reached out to adjust the wick, making the light suddenly much brighter. The warm, dim glow illuminated the steaming pot, as if the very deliciousness of the meal had captivated the light itself.

***

Taking a bite of meat and a sip of the rich, savory soup, one felt incredibly comforted.

The braised offal was also ready. She fished it all out, and aside from setting aside a little for them to taste, she had other plans for the rest.

"Are you planning to sell this braised offal too?" Xu Xiu couldn't believe that the foul-smelling intestines could turn out so flavorful; they were even chewier than the stomach, becoming more fragrant the more one chewed.

"That's the plan. I’m going to conduct a little survey tomorrow."

Wen Zhongxia loved offal, but she wasn't sure how the students would receive it. She would give out samples; if most people liked it, she would sell it. If it was truly unacceptable, she would drop the idea. Either way, the offal hadn't cost much.

And so, at the food stall the next day, many customers were gifted a small saucer of braised snacks. At first, they didn't know what it was, only that the pieces were a glistening reddish-brown, tossed in a spicy, aromatic sauce with cilantro—it looked quite tempting.

When Wen Zhongxia told them it was pig intestines, lungs, heart, and kidneys, some looked astonished, while others even recoiled in fright. However, since it was free, most couldn't resist picking up their chopsticks.

One bite was all it took. The intestines were snappy and glutinous, the lungs were perfectly chewy, and the heart and liver were deeply seasoned. Combined with the spicy, fragrant sauce, it was a delight for the palate. The small saucer held only a few pieces, and just as it piqued their appetite, it was gone.

"It’s not enough!" the customers complained.

Wen Zhongxia collected their feedback and promised that if she started selling it, she would make sure everyone got their fill.

Hang Yao hesitated for a long while, glancing at the sun. If he went now, surely he wouldn't run into her eating again. As he walked, he felt secretly annoyed. He had never worried about meals before; he simply ate whatever the dining hall served. But now, when he ate there, the food just didn't taste right. He hadn't visited the food stall for a few days, so going now wouldn't seem too eager.

Classes hadn't ended yet, and the Wen food stall was empty. From afar, he saw Mistress Wen sitting at the table, seemingly coaching her brother in his studies.

"The mulberry leaves have not yet fallen, their color is lush and fresh... If a man is lost in love, he can still be saved; if a woman is lost in love, there is no salvation."

Her voice was melodious and elegant, making the poetry sound quite pleasant.

Wen Mengdong tilted his head and asked, "Sister, what does that mean?"

"It means that a man who loses himself in love can still find a way out, but once a woman loses herself in love, she cannot break free." Wen Zhongxia spoke earnestly. "This is a classic line, a timeless truth that every woman should keep in mind. You must remember it well."

"Sister, I’m not a woman," the little boy said blankly.

"Even if you aren't, you must remember it. You mustn't be like the man in this poem, *Mang*—flitting from one love to the next, unfaithful and fickle. If you become like that, Sister won't like you anymore."

The little boy, confused, asked seriously, "Sister, what exactly is love?"

Wen Zhongxia was stunned.

Xu Xiu laughed out loud. "Xia’er, he’s only a child! Why are you telling him this?"

"Sister-in-law, you don't understand," Wen Zhongxia argued righteously. "A healthy view on emotions must be nurtured from childhood."

As soon as she finished, she caught sight of that kind stranger standing before her stall.

"Sir, what would you like to eat? The wontons were just wrapped, and we have meat burgers, too. I remember you wanted one last time but missed out."

This customer was truly strange; he always came when there were no other people around. Did he not have classes to attend?

Hang Yao suppressed his surprise and curiosity at what he had just overheard, and said calmly, "I’ll have those two things."

***

Wen Zhongxia prepared his food, and Hang Yao sat down beside the little boy. Wen Mengdong remembered this big brother who had helped him pick out books at the bookstore and showed him his *Classic of Poetry*. "Big brother, I’m already reading this poem, *Mang*."

Hang Yao said with satisfaction, "If there’s anything you don’t understand, I’ll teach you."

Wen Mengdong didn't stand on ceremony and immediately asked about the parts he found confusing.

Wen Zhongxia felt more and more that she had chosen a prime location. Just as Mencius's mother moved three times to find the right environment, setting up her stall here provided an atmosphere of learning that couldn't be found anywhere else.

"Sir, your food is ready."

Wen Zhongxia brought it over and sat down opposite him. Hang Yao looked at the plate of braised snacks. "I didn't order this."

"It's a complimentary sample. I'm conducting a small survey to see if people like it before I decide whether to add this dish to the menu. However, I must declare beforehand that it is made from pig organs. If you can't eat it, I'll take it away."

"Pig organs can be eaten?"

"They are very delicious. I really hope you’ll try it; your opinion is very important to me."

Hang Yao paused, looking into her sparkling eyes. "My opinion is very important?"

Wen Zhongxia nodded repeatedly; she cherished every customer's opinion.

Hang Yao coughed softly. "Then I shall try it."

This was his first time eating animal organs. This piece must be the intestine—a small, wrinkled cylinder. He tried his best not to think about what had once passed through it, pursed his lips, and put it into his mouth.

Oh?

It was rich and mellow, glutinous when chewed, with a unique, savory aroma. The spicy sauce wasn't too sharp; the subtle heat blended with the braised flavor to create a complex, layered taste. He had heard that the poor, unable to afford meat, were the only ones who bought these pig scraps, yet she had made them taste even better than meat.

Did she have hands that could turn decay into magic?

This young woman could not only recite the *Classic of Poetry* but also transform such dirty ingredients into a delicacy; she was truly a strange and contradictory person.

Hang Yao looked up and saw the young woman resting her chin on one hand, smiling brightly, as if she knew he had been conquered by the dish.

"Your cooking is excellent," he said honestly.

"Thank you," Wen Zhongxia smiled. "So, if I sell this, do you think people will buy it?"

"Naturally. At the very least, I would." Hang Yao immediately looked away after speaking; he felt he had answered too quickly.

Wen Zhongxia said with satisfaction, "Hurry and eat your wontons, they'll get cold."

Hang Yao lowered his head to sip the soup, hiding his sense of unease. The wontons were also delicious, and his attention soon returned to the meal. Before long, the bowls and plates were empty.

Wen Zhongxia happily came to clear the table; she loved watching others finish the food she had made. Hang Yao watched her smile, curled his lips, and added, "Mistress Wen, regarding the matter you asked me to look into, I’ve made some progress."

"Oh?" Wen Zhongxia paused in her cleaning.