Before she even opened her eyes, Old Mrs. Xu smelled a delicious aroma. She stepped out of the east room to find the outer room thick with the rich scent of pig trotters and red dates.
Seeing Xu Changqing dozing in front of the stove, she shook her head. 'She's so tired she didn't even notice me walk up.' Old Mrs. Xu stepped forward and gently patted her granddaughter's head.
Xu Changqing looked up, her eyes bleary.
"Go on inside and get some sleep."
'What a fool.'
'As if someone's going to steal it. Why stand guard all night!' Old Mrs. Xu turned to the other stove on the left. With one hand, she removed the rag plugging the gap in the lid, and with the other, she lifted the lid.
The wooden lid was made of two semicircles, each with its own handle. When placed on the pot, they fit together to form a complete cover.
