Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Not Eating Meat Is a Sin

After finishing more than half a bowl of malted milk, Yu Nuannuan let out a small, satisfied burp.

Alright, now she wouldn’t have to drink porridge for dinner.

As soon as Yu Nuannuan finished her malted milk and looked up, she saw six little kids standing across from her—who else could they be but her six older brothers?

When the six boys saw Yu Nuannuan looking at them, they all broke into big grins. “Nuannuan’s full!”

Yu Hai heard the voices and glanced over.

Looking at his six skinny nephews, Yu Hai asked Xu Shuhua uncertainly, “Mom, should we make a bowl for each of them too?”

Xu Shuhua lifted her eyelids and said, “Make what? Aren’t they eating candy already? Oh right, I bought some meat too. Hurry up and take it to the kitchen, tell your wives to stew it for dinner. We’ll have meat tonight! Isn’t that better than drinking malted milk? Right, my dear grandsons?”

The Yu family’s situation was what it was—throughout the whole year, they only got to eat meat during the New Year.

It had been half a year since the last time they’d had meat.

It wasn’t just the kids—even Yu Hai swallowed hard when he heard there’d be meat for dinner. He could hardly believe it. “Mom, really? We’re having meat?”

“Would I lie to you?”

As Xu Shuhua spoke, she completely uncovered the flower-patterned cloth, revealing what was underneath.

There was a slab of pork belly, streaked with fat and lean, weighing at least two jin (about two pounds), and a big paper-wrapped bundle whose contents weren’t clear.

The pork belly was tied with straw rope. Xu Shuhua picked it up and handed it to the dumbfounded Yu Hai. “What are you staring at? If you don’t take it in now, don’t even think about eating it tonight!”

The meat was right in front of them—how could they not eat it? That would be a crime!

Yu Hai had no intention of committing such a crime, so he took the meat and dashed off to the kitchen.

The six Yu brothers followed close behind, but Yu Hai blocked them at the kitchen door as he came out. “Alright, none of you go in. The kitchen’s full of smoke and fire, and you can’t help anyway. Just wait outside.”

Yu Wei nodded vigorously. “Fourth Uncle, we won’t go in. We’ll just wait at the door.”

Seeing that they really weren’t going in, Yu Hai relaxed and hurried back to sit next to Xu Shuhua.

“Mom, tell me honestly—did you find some money?”

Otherwise, how could his mom be so generous? Candy, malted milk, and now pork belly—how much did all this cost?

This was something she’d have to tell Yu Hai eventually, but not now. So Xu Shuhua said nothing, handed Nuannuan to Yu Hai, picked up the other unopened basket, and stood up. “Alright, you play with Nuannuan. I’m going to wash up.”

After a whole afternoon of running around, her face was covered in sweat and dust.

Before long, the aroma of meat wafted out of the kitchen.

Yu Hai couldn’t help it—he swallowed hard.

Yu Nuannuan couldn’t help it either—she swallowed hard too.

What to do? She wanted to eat so badly!

When would she finally grow teeth?!

So anxious!

Originally, Chen Qiaoqin had planned to make braised eggplant, but now that there was meat, she decided to make braised pork belly with eggplant instead.

Maybe it was because it had been so long since they’d had meat, but Chen Qiaoqin thought the smell was almost intoxicating—she nearly bit her own tongue several times.

It wasn’t just Chen Qiaoqin; even the other three women busy in the kitchen kept swallowing their saliva.

Finally, when the food was set on the table, the whole family stared at the big bowl of braised pork belly with eggplant, not daring to pick up their chopsticks.

Xu Shuhua glanced around at everyone, then picked up her chopsticks first. “What are you all waiting for? Eat!”"

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