Year 1979: Eating meat with my wife and children

Li Xiangdong laughed and said, "I'm using them as liquor bottles. Inside are two jin of Erguotou that I just drank."

"Why buy bulk liquor? Just take it from home. Binzi, remember to take my two bottles of Tongzhou Laojiao with you when you go out later."

Qian Bin readily agreed, "Okay, Dad."

Uncle Qian was a generous man, and Qian Bin's personality was like his father's. When the group of childhood friends got together to eat and drink, Qian Bin usually paid the lion's share.

"That won't do, Uncle Qian. We're already feeling bad enough about this, how could we possibly take your wine too?"

"Yes, Uncle Qian, if you do this, none of us brothers will dare to come to your door again."

Li Xiangdong and the other two quickly declined, saying that Qian Bin would pay for the pig's head and offal, as it was their business and they couldn't let their elders contribute.

Besides, they can just drink some loose liquor. Tongzhou Laojiao is not cheap; a bottle costs 2.8 yuan and requires a liquor coupon!

Uncle Qian didn't insist. "Alright, let's keep these two bottles of wine for now. We'll drink them when Binzi's wife's baby is born and we have her one-month celebration."

Li Xiangdong then remembered that Qian Bin's wife was about to give birth, which explained why he hadn't seen her when he entered the courtyard; she must have been resting inside.

He clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Uncle Qian, I'd like to congratulate you in advance. When my nephew's one-month celebration comes, I'll definitely have a good drink with you."

The reason he said that was because he knew that Qian Bin's wife had given birth to a big, healthy boy.

Uncle Qian smiled broadly, fanned himself with a palm-leaf fan, and said loudly, "What nephew or not? In our Qian family, it doesn't matter whether you have a son or a daughter. I like daughters very much too."

He said that, but Li Xiangdong's words seemed to touch his heart, making him extremely happy. In the Qian family, Qian Bin was the only son in three generations, and he definitely hoped that his daughter-in-law could give him a big, fat grandson.

"You guys keep busy, I won't get involved. I have to go to work at four o'clock this afternoon, I'm going back to my room to rest for a while."

Li Xiangdong said, "You need to rest well. Health is the foundation of everything. The kitchen is still counting on you, Uncle Qian."

"You have such a sweet voice, child. Now that you've come all the way back from the countryside, you must come visit Uncle Qian's house more often."

After Uncle Qian stepped through the threshold and into the house, fanning himself with a palm leaf fan, he turned to his son and said, "Binzi, remember to bring the spice packet for the braised meat later. It's something I specially prepared for the restaurant, and the braised meat tastes authentic."

"I know dad."

Qian Bin replied, and after his father entered the house, he stood up and rubbed his numb legs a couple of times. He was a little overweight and couldn't squat for too long.

"Dongzi, you're such a smooth talker. Your mouth is as sweet as honey. You've completely charmed my dad. He even brought out the seasoning packet for braised meat. Why don't you become my dad's son?"

The braising spice packet is a secret recipe of the Qian family. His father never lets outsiders use it. Even in the kitchen, his father watches over the whole process, afraid that someone will learn it.

Xiang Lin held a pig's ear in his hand and said admiringly, "Dongzi is known for his silver tongue. Otherwise, how could he have gotten a wife while living on his father's relief grain in the countryside?"

Zhang Sen chimed in, "That's right. When Dongzi went on a blind date with his wife, he said he was a good student, had high moral character, was helpful, and was even named a 'Five-Good Student' by his school. His walls at home are covered with certificates of merit."

After everyone finished laughing, Qian Bin asked curiously, "Hey, Dongzi, when your wife found out you lied to her, didn't she slap you a couple of times?"

Li Xiangdong said angrily, "Stop spreading rumors about me! There's no such thing! My wife just took a liking to my excellent qualities. Hurry up and do your thing, you've already singed all the pig bristles off!"

Under the disdainful gazes of the three men, he found a shady spot, squatted against the wall, took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a satisfying puff.

After the pig's head was singed, it was black and needed to be scrubbed again. Qian Bin put the pig's head, the already singed pig's trotters, and the pig's tail together, filled a bucket with water, poured it into a basin, and began to scrub it.

Xiang Lin and Zhang Sen were cleaning the pig offal in another basin. The pig intestines were sticky and smelly, and the children around them all ran far away.

"Binzi, give me the pig's tail, I'll wash it."

Li Xiangdong thought for a moment, then got up and walked over. He squatted down next to Qian Bin and turned the pig's tail out of the basin.

He planned to stew it and take it back to his daughter, so he decided to do it himself. He was worried about Qian Bin, who always looked like he was asleep while working with his squinty eyes.

It took a long time to clean it. This thing is not only wasteful to make, but also troublesome to clean up.

Seeing Xiang Lin and Zhang Sen still peeling the white membrane off the pig kidneys, Li Xiangdong asked, "Are you two done cleaning up?"

"It'll be done in a minute."

Pour all the washed items into a bucket of water, and wash the two large basins with soap powder before putting them back inside.

Xiang Lin and Zhang Sen carried buckets of water, while he and Qian Bin followed behind, each carrying a teacup.

After leaving Qian Bin's house, they walked through several narrow alleys, some so narrow that Xiang Lin and Zhang Sen had to squeeze through sideways before finally reaching the main road.

Zhang Sen stopped, put the bucket down, and turned to Li Xiangdong and Qian Bin behind him, saying, "It's too heavy, it's hurting my hands. Let's switch, you two can carry it for a while."

Xiang Lin didn't say anything. He knew his brothers' character too well; none of them were hardworking.

Li Xiangdong, carrying a teacup, walked right past them without stopping. "Why switch? You and Xianglin can switch hands. Hurry up, we'll be there soon."

"What are you looking at me for? I'm the head chef today, don't bother me with any helper work."

Qian Bin wasn't stupid. Besides, Dongzi was right. They were almost there, so why change anything?

Crossing the main road leads to the north side of the alley, which is commonly known as Beichuanban Hutong, where wealthy families lived.

Shi Zhengzhe's family has a courtyard house in the north of the alley, about the same size as Li Xiangdong's.

It is said that this courtyard was part of Shi Zhengzhe's mother's dowry, because the deed was in his father's name. Now the neighborhood committee has returned it to the father and son.

The alleyways here are wide enough for four people to walk side by side. After passing through two more alleyways, we finally arrived at A-Zhe's house.

"finally reached."

Xiang Lin put down the bucket he was carrying and went forward to bang on the door.