Chapter 25

"Can you?" Zhou Nan was very aware of the conditions in the countryside. Her natal family, the Zhou family, was already considered to be quite well-off. And with her occasional financial assistance, they could afford to cut two slices of meat into small pieces and mix it with vegetables to impart some meaty flavor.

Let alone the Gao family. Neither of those two were diligent workers. Zhou Nan did not believe they could even afford to eat meat.

An ZhiXia directly proved it with action. "Let me make some braised pork for you all. If mom is worried that I'm wasting the meat, she can keep an eye on me."

She took the meat and knife, and sliced the meat into finger-width strips.

Initially she was not very skilled at it. After all, this was her first time actually preparing it, despite miming it before.

But soon, she handled the knife more smoothly.

She had intended to cut square pieces, but there was not enough time to simmer it thoroughly before mealtime. Slicing it enabled faster stewing.

Usually cooking for a large household made Zhou Nan rushed and frenzied no matter the task. Between housework and childcare, she did everything in a hurry to save time.

Naturally, this meant she was not very meticulous, and her cooking was just passable.

Like now, when it was time to start cooking, there was no green onion or ginger.

Fortunately there was white sugar in the house. She caramelized it for color.

She had wanted to show off her culinary skills, but had made assumptions. There was only salt and soy sauce for seasoning, not even chili or spices.

Even the Shaoxing wine for removing fishy smells was replaced by the Baijiu liquor An JingZhi had leftover.

Watching An ZhiXia grow increasingly adept, Zhou Nan sank into thought.

She firmly believed the impoverished Gao family could not afford meat. But this girl clearly had more experience handling meat than even herself. She must have cooked it many times before. She had only returned for two days, five including her time at the Zhou house.

Where had she cooked it if not at the Gao house?

How did the Gao family even have meat?

An MeiYun had known about her background two years prior and reconnected with the Gao family...

Some things really could not withstand scrutiny.

Zhou Nan could never have imagined her daughter was someone who had died and drifted for a whole century. A hundred years was plenty of time to learn far too much.

Some things, An ZhiXia herself had forgotten. Perhaps one day when she reencountered them, she would suddenly remember that she knew how to do this before.

Zhou Nan assumed An MeiYun must have provided for the Gao family these past two years. She had never lacked excuses to ask her for money in the past.

In truth, while An MeiYun was of a higher class than the Gao family, she was far from what Zhou Nan imagined.

The only reason she helped the Gao family was to get them to deal with An ZhiXia. Plus grooming some capable subordinates.

And she kept some for herself too. When she returned after rebirth, she made contingencies, like eliminating An ZhiXia and stashing away money for herself.

If her earlier plans failed, the money would be her biggest safety net.

The meaty aromas were already being coaxed out. An ZhiXia added ample water and started simmering it.

Turning back, Zhou Nan was still standing there motionless.

"Mom, didn't you say you were going to make hand-pulled noodles?"

"Oh, right, I'll make them now." Zhou Nan hurriedly went to find a basin to mix flour and make noodles, but her mind was still preoccupied with An MeiYun and the Gao family, and she felt awful.

An ZhiXia could tell her mother was distracted, assuming it was worry over being scolded by the elders.

More than half an hour later, An JingZhi and the others returned. All three were teachers, though Liu Ling taught elementary school, so their dismissal times were similar.

An JingZhi could smell it as soon as he entered. "What a nice aroma...smells like braised pork?"

He was puzzled. After so many years together, he knew his wife's cooking ability best. He had even tried learning himself for a period, but the meals always turned out much the same. Pork was only ever sliced and stir-fried with chili peppers, or sometimes stir-fried garlic sprouts. Chicken and fish were only stewed for soup, which she said suited a large household and prevented shortage.

There were many chores at home. She had looked after their son before, now their grandson. Everything relied on her, and she was already exhausted enough. An JingZhi could not make too many demands of her. Nowadays, being able to eat their fill was considered a good life.

But today's meaty aroma reminded him of the fine cuisine the family chefs had made when he was still young master.

"Trust your nose." Zhou Nan happened to emerge from the kitchen then. "Go wash your hands and get ready for dinner. The food will be done soon."

After speaking, she deliberately approached and exchanged looks with An JingZhi. "Dad and mom are in the room. They already know about ZhiXia's return."

An JingZhi's previously relaxed expression immediately tensed up. He asked her, "Did dad and mom give you and ZhiXia a hard time?"

"Dad was a bit angry that we hid such a big thing from them, but I think mom actually quite likes ZhiXia." Zhou Nan said.

"That's good then. You go prepare the food, I'll go see how dad and mom are first." The old master was reasonable when angry. As a grown man, as long as old madam was not upset, it would not be a big issue.

His mother was a lady from a wealthy family. She had looked down on his wife from the start. Though he had not been fond of her initially either. But after so many years and children, what needed reconciling had long been reconciled.

Zhou Nan was of poor origins, but capable and uncomplaining. With the dismissal of the servants years prior, and old madam's distaste for menial work, Zhou Nan was kept plenty busy.

As men grew older, they understood more. Finding a wife able to keep a household was crucial.

He had not understood the old master's wisdom initially. But after the family's decline, the merger of public and private enterprises into full public ownership, An JingZhi finally grasped his grandfather's wisdom and foresight.

Someone like old madam, pleasant on the surface with elegant speech and conduct, to be blunt, without the old master's status and the guards and maid to care for them after retirement, the old couple likely could not even eat a hot meal.

An JingZhi did not resent his own mother, he judged the situation impartially.

The food was quickly set on the table. The whole family was present. Old master and madam sat in the principal seats, not saying anything.

Zhou Nan took a bowl and set some side dishes for An WenQing, then went to feed him. An MeiYun also emerged from her room and silently sat in the lowest seat.

Knowing old madam's age and adherence to etiquette, An JingZhi used the public chopsticks to place meat in her bowl. "Dad, mom, this meat today was made by ZhiXia. Try it and see how the taste is."

Old master loved hand-pulled noodles, but old madam disliked them. At home, it was inconvenient to make two meals lest it get out they were adhering to the old ways and exploiting the common people.

Zhou Nan had long placed the noodles before him, paired with the other dishes on the table, clearly made specially for him.

He did not vocalize it, but was satisfied with his daughter-in-law's filial consideration. And regretted his own cold reception initially, and flare of temper.

He had only just heard about this switched child situation at home. It seemed too preposterous.

To raise someone else's child unknowingly, while one's own flesh and blood suffered hardships in the countryside, he had been incensed upon first hearing about it.