At half past 7, almost everyone had left the office when I walked out.
I opened UberEats on the metro and reached home just as the courier arrived. Taking the steaming bag and seeing Tonghua Ba-wan inside felt like making peace with fate.
Tonight I ordered Ba-wan, Pork Intestine Vermicelli, and Pork Meatball Soup.
Ba-wan
This is Changhua-style fried ba-wan. The first bite through its translucent, soft, springy wrapper is genuinely comforting. Pork leg and diced bamboo shoots fill it; the lean meat stays moist and savory, while sweet-savory rice sauce keeps everything balanced. After being tested from every direction at work, that resilience felt like a tribute to office workers like us.
Next came a very different bowl of vermicelli.
Most shops add oysters, but this one surprisingly uses pricier squid—remarkably generous when everything costs more. Bonito broth is thickened almost like geng soup. Both squid and braised intestine are tender, without unwanted odor, and the light, gentle broth soothed the stomach cramps my client had inspired today.
Pork Meatball Soup
Two large handmade meatballs were firm and satisfyingly chewy. The broth was lightly sweet with a delicate celery fragrance. After that hot soup, I finally felt alive again.
After a full day, I calculated the bill while eating and realized that for an office worker now, merely eating three decent meals can make a day's pay nearly vanish.
Still, never mind. At least tonight's dinner did justice to the liver I burned all day.
