Juhua smiled. "Don't eat any more. I still have more to cook. You can try the other dishes later, or you won't have room for dinner."
As she spoke, she scooped out four pieces of tofu and cut them into cubes. She ladled some broth from the large pot to serve as a base, added ginger and chili paste, and cut the green garlic shoots into sections. She poured everything into the pot, covered it with a lid, and let it simmer. Then, she took a small piece of lean meat from the pig's face, sliced it thinly, and added it to the pot for extra flavor. Tofu absorbs flavor easily, and after just a short while, she sprinkled some chopped scallions on top and took it off the heat.
The large pot held dark red tofu, mixed with vibrant green garlic shoots and scallions. Billowing steam carried the aromas of chili paste and savory meat.
