Era: Starting with the struggle to refuse being taken advantage of

Chapter 32 The Wang family is poor!
"I just stir-fried some meat, Mom. Don't worry about it, just wait to eat."

When Liu Chunhua asked him questions, Wang Chengpeng gave her a perfunctory answer.

If she finds out what I'm doing, this braised pork will probably be ruined prematurely.

I can't afford it, I really can't afford it!
Although she had doubts, Liu Chunhua had her own things to do, so she ignored Wang Chengpeng and busied herself on the side.

Ever since Wang Chengpeng showed off his skills last time, Liu Chunhua has been extremely confident in his cooking abilities and is happy to let him tinker around in the kitchen.

Taking advantage of Liu Chunhua's momentary lapse in attention, Wang Chengpeng poured the already stir-fried pork belly pieces back into the pot.

After a few quick stirs, Wang Chengpeng added some soy sauce and pre-made caramelized sugar, then covered the pot with the lid, letting the fire burn freely underneath, allowing all the essence to be fully infused into the braised pork.

As time went by, even before the pot was boiled, the whole kitchen was filled with the delicious aroma of meat.

Now, even if Liu Chunhua was slow to react, she knew that Wang Chengpeng was up to something big.

Liu Chunhua glanced at Wang Chengpeng, then at the covered pot, and finally just sighed without saying anything.

The meat is already in the pot; saying anything more at this point is futile.

Instead, it would be better to give Wang Chengpeng a good talking-to afterward and teach him not to be so extravagant.

My family isn't as glamorous as it seems on the surface; we're drowning in debt.

In order to ensure that their families can eat the hottest meals, experienced people always choose to cook at the most appropriate time.

Just as the braised pork was almost cooked, Wang Tieshan returned with light steps.

He was accompanied by several neighbors traveling the same way, and they chatted casually to pass the time during the tedious journey.

In an era when meat is a rare treat, most people are extremely sensitive to the aroma of meat and quickly detect the enticing scent in the air.

It's practically impossible to eat something all by yourself without telling others.

Immediately, someone exclaimed, "Wow, what is this thing that smells so good?"

Soon another person chimed in, "Judging by the direction, it seems to be the location of Old Wang's house."

"I never expected you to eat so well after the family split up, Lao Wang."

Faced with the compliments of the crowd, Wang Tieshan showed no joy whatsoever. Instead, he sighed deeply and said:
"It's not that the food is good; it's just that the children are ignorant and don't know how hard things are at home."

"When I get back, I'll have a good talk with Cheng Peng and tell him about his family's difficulties, so he won't keep doing such extravagant things."

Another person chimed in, "Your Xiaopeng is indeed a bit sensible. The family is in such dire straits, yet he's still thinking about eating big fish and meat."

"Today you even went to the team leader to get your work points in advance, just to prepare for the days to come."

"I have to say, your family has really sacrificed a lot for Xiaopeng's wedding."

"But Xiaopeng is still young, and it's only natural for him to want to eat something good."

"Just give them a little guidance, but don't go too far."

Wang Tieshan sighed, said nothing, and quickened his pace to get home.

He didn't want to tell the children about the family's difficulties in order not to put pressure on them, but if it would lead to such consequences, he would rather confront Wang Chengpeng sooner rather than later.

As for why Wang Tieshan believed that all of this was Wang Chengpeng's doing, it's quite simple.
Liu Chunhua couldn't possibly do something so extravagant, and Wang Meiyan had no money, so it's obvious who did it.

With incredibly mixed feelings, Wang Tieshan sat down at the dining table with a stern face.

Wang Chengpeng, however, seemed completely oblivious and diligently brought out a large bowl of food.

The dish was covered with a slightly smaller bowl, giving it a mysterious feel.

Only the aroma of meat wafting from the bowl told them that this dish was definitely not ordinary.

Once everyone was seated, amidst everyone's expectant gazes, Wang Chengpeng quickly lifted the lid of the bowl, revealing the dish. The unique, glossy red color of the braised pork immediately attracted everyone's attention.

Upon closer inspection, this braised pork is simply perfect.

The pork skin is reddish-brown, the fat is glistening, and the lean meat is a deep reddish-brown, all blending together to create a visually appealing pork belly.

Coated in reddish-brown gravy, it gleamed in the afterglow of the setting sun.

Needless to say, the aroma of the meat is irresistible, and the appearance of this braised pork alone is enough to whet your appetite, making you want to pick up a big piece and savor it.

The parents had pretty good self-control, but what child could resist such a tempting treat? Wang Meiyan's mouth watered, her eyes fixed on the freshly cooked braised pork.

Her little hands were even more uneasy, wanting to grab the food but not daring to, and in the end she could only turn her head away, unable to resist the temptation of the braised pork.

Although he was somewhat prepared, Wang Tieshan was still shocked when he saw the braised pork.

Liu Chunhua stood up and prepared to go to the kitchen to get a bowl and take most of the braised pork back with her.

The money has already been spent, the food has already been prepared, and the only thing Liu Chunhua can do is to make the dish more cost-effective.

We'll give the two kids two pieces per meal, and Lao Wang and I will just dip them in the broth. That way, the meat will have died a worthwhile death.

"Mother, don't go anywhere, sit down and eat."

Seemingly aware of Liu Chunhua's intentions, Wang Chengpeng called out to her directly and even picked up his chopsticks, placing two large pieces of braised pork into each person's bowl.

Shaking his head slightly and sighing inwardly, Wang Tieshan forced a smile and said, "Chunhua, sit down quickly, don't spoil the children's fun at this time."

"We can talk about it after we finish eating."

Wang Tieshan, the head of the family, spoke up, and even if Liu Chunhua had her own ideas, she eventually sat down, and the four of them ate dinner in a subtle atmosphere.

Wang Meiyan is still a child, so she has far fewer worries.

In addition, he was so tempted by the braised pork that he ignored the cornbread, picked up a piece of braised pork and put it in his mouth and chewed it in big bites.

The braised pork was stewed to perfection, rich but not greasy, and melts in your mouth.

As the delicious flavor melted quickly in her mouth, Wang Meiyan was so happy that her eyebrows curved into a smile.

Seeing that Wang Meiyan was enjoying her meal, the serious expressions on her parents' faces finally eased a bit, and they also picked up a piece of braised pork to taste.

However, they were not as uninhibited as Wang Meiyan; they only took a small bite and let the deliciousness of the braised pork gradually melt in their mouths.

They would occasionally take a bite of the cornbread, savoring this rare delicacy.

Finally, they didn't even let the broth left in the bowl go to waste; they wiped it with a cornbread and it became a rare delicacy.

From beginning to end, apart from Liu Chunhua putting a piece on Wang Meiyan's plate halfway through, no one touched the large plate of braised pork placed in the middle.

Shaking his head slightly, Wang Chengpeng thought to himself that improving his family's living conditions was a long and arduous task.

Perhaps I should reveal some of my abilities to avoid people being faced with something good but not daring to enjoy it.

However, at that moment, Wang Chengpeng heard his father, Wang Tieshan, speak earnestly:

“Cheng Peng, I understand that you mean well and want your family to eat better.”

"But you may not know much about your family situation."

"Weren't you curious why I went to the team today? It was to get some work points in advance for emergencies."

"It's only March now, and even if I begged and pleaded, the team leader and accountant would only agree to let me withdraw five yuan in advance."

"The Wang family is poor!"

(End of this chapter)