Chapter 13: Storytelling

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Zhuang Zhuang exclaimed in delight. Although he wasn’t sure what a potato pork rib stew tasted like, it sounded wonderful based on his mother’s description.

Xiaoguo chopped the ribs into smaller pieces and blanched them with ginger slices in the pot. When the water boiled, she removed the pork ribs and rinsed them with water. She then washed the pot clean and added oil. While the oil was cool, she put in some rock sugar to caramelize it. Xiaoguo told Zhuang Zhuang to stand back so that hot oil would not splatter on him. When Zhuang Zhuang was far enough from the stove, Xiaoguo poured the pork ribs in. As the meat dropped into the hot oil with a splash, Zhuang Zhuang breathed in the aroma with his tiny nose. What a wonderful fragrance it was.

Once the ribs were colored by the caramelized mixture, Xiaoguo poured in hot water and added seasoning. She then placed a steamer rack above the pot and scooped two spoonfuls of rice into a basin. Before putting the lid over the steamer, she added water into the basin with rice, and let it cook. Zhuang Zhuang was then asked to add more firewood.

All this while, Zhuang Zhuang had been hanging around beside Xiaoguo. Upon hearing what she had assigned him to do, he quickly added a big bundle of firewood to the fire. Taking in the fragrance around him, he asked his mother, “When will it be cooked?”

Xiaoguo thought to herself. “Add the potato and noodles in three quarters of an hour and wait another quarter hour for cooking time.” With the numbers sorted out in her head, she told Zhuang Zhuang, “Ok, so we wait 45 minutes before adding the potato and noodles, then let it cook for 15 minutes.”

Zhuang Zhuang tried to count with his small fingers. “How would a three-year-old be able to figure this out?” Xiaoguo thought to herself. Without a word, she went back to the house and came back with a small candle. “When this little candle burns out, the food will be ready.”

Zhuang Zhuang nodded vaguely in acknowledgment. He insisted on staying in the kitchen to feed the fire. Xiaoguo knew there was no use trying to stop him. Zhuang Zhuang was now trying to blow out the candles as hard as he could. If the candle could burn faster, the food would be done sooner. Xiaoguo looked at him with amusement and left the kitchen without a word.

The sky was turning dark, and clouds of white smoke were floating out of every chimney. Feeling that it was about time, Xiaoguo returned to the kitchen just as Zhuang Zhuang was running out. “Mother, the candles are almost burnt out.” Zhuang Zhuang called out to Xiaoguo, his cheeks flushed with excitement.

“All right,” said Xiaoguo as Zhuang Zhuang led her towards the stove and lifted the lid. A blast of hot steam, accompanied by a wonderful aroma, hit them both in the face. Zhuang Zhuang’s stomach started gurgling. Xiaoguo wasn’t feeling hungry before she came into the kitchen, but enticed by the rich fragrance, she could hear her stomach growling in response.

The rice was almost cooked. In this warm weather, they could leave the rice out in the open without it turning cold too quickly. Seeing that Zhuang Zhuang was very hungry, Xiaoguo quickly served him two pieces of meat. Then, she scooped some sliced potatoes and vermicelli and placed them into his bowl.

Little Zhuang Zhuang sat on the bench. The flickering flame from the stove lit up his face. He picked up a piece of pork rib with his small hands and blew on it. Xiaoguo sat beside him and looked at him lovingly. When the pork rib had cooled down, Zhuang handed it to Xiaoguo. “Mother, please have it.”

“You can have it. I will eat later.” Xiaoguo told him.

After making sure that his mother was not going to eat, Zhuang Zhuang started digging in.

The mother and son pair sat in front of the warm stove and relaxed for a while. Coincidentally, the rice was done. The two of them brought the dishes and rice into the dining room and started eating. Influenced by Zhuang Zhuang’s hearty appetite, Xiaoguo finished two big bowls of noodles. Zhuang Zhuang also had one big bowl.

After eating and washing the dishes, the two of them went to bed on the brick bed. During the olden times, there was little entertainment. After eating, people usually went to bed. Even when they couldn’t fall asleep, they would lay there till sleep came.

Because he was so stuffed, Zhuang Zhuang tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. He said in a pitiful voice to Xiaoguo, “Mother, I can’t sleep.”

Xiaoguo got up and let Zhuang Zhuang lean into her arms, rubbing his tummy gently with one hand as she said to him, “Mother will tell you a story.”

“Sure, sure.” Zhuang Zhuang nodded eagerly.

Xiaoguo thought carefully about what story to tell. She decided on the tale of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. “Once upon a time, there was a young lady whose grandmother gave her a red cape…”

With the lull of her gentle voice, Zhuang Zhuang slowly closed his eyes as he listened to the story. By the time Xiaoguo finished the story, Zhuang Zhuang was sound asleep. She put Zhuang Zhuang down and slowly got up to leave.