Zhao Guihua opened the door and ordered two servings of rice, along with a braised pork and a stir-fried pork dish.
Though not cheap, the meals were hearty and flavorful.
"We've got other staples, so we didn't need much rice. Let's share, and dig into the braised pork," Zhao Guihua urged.
With everyone contributing, no one hesitated. Each took a portion of rice, and Zhao Guihua also shared some of Wang Zizhen's salted vegetable wraps. Aunt Wang offered a steamed bun, and everyone traded bites.
Although they had brought food, it wasn't much—just enough for two meals. As they traveled further south, the heat grew, and they were concerned about food spoiling. So, pooling their resources made sharing a meal enjoyable and practical.
Yinlai commented, "This braised pork isn't as good as what Uncle Li makes, but it's not bad."
Aunt Wang agreed. "Of course not. My husband Li has been a chef all his life—he's an expert at this."
