At dusk, Sea Breeze Street was shrouded in a rich, heavy fragrance, sweet and salty intertwined.
The scent seemed to have fermented and settled over long years, drifting out with the steam and luring passersby to stop and instinctively take deep breaths.
Tata stood on tiptoe, watching the brownish-red broth roiling in the pot.
He Xi hefted the ladle. "This step is called reducing the sauce. Once the broth thickens enough to coat the spoon and slowly run down it, it's ready."
"Got it, meow!"
"He Xi, do you need a hand?" Zoya asked softly as she pushed open the kitchen door.
"No, go take a break. Tata and I can handle it," He Xi replied with a smile.
Seeing Zoya leave, Bruce, drooling all over himself, asked as well, "Woof, need my help?"
"Yes. Stay farther away." Without turning around, He Xi waved him off. "You're in the way. Go wait in the living room."
Bruce pretended not to hear and lay back down in the corner of the kitchen.
Besides the pot of braised pork that had taken the most effort, the table was already set with Tata's specialty—cod stewed with clams—along with two cold dressed dishes and scones bought from the market.
The crisp chime of the doorbell rang out.
"Zoya, that should be Mr. Royce. Could you go open the door?"
A moment later, the warm greetings of the landlord couple drifted in from the living room.
"Oh! He Xi! To be honest, I could smell it from home already!" Mr. Royce sniffed the air the moment he entered, saying excitedly, "I would have come even earlier if my wife hadn't reminded me to mind my manners."
On the tray, the trembling, glossy cubes of rosy-red pork gleamed beneath the lamplight like translucent red jade, giving