Shen Nian'an's eyes lit up: "Tofu? Is it the one Aunt Wang gave me last time? Soft and fragrant?"

"Yes, that's it." Lin Wanqiu nodded with a smile. "The tofu my mother makes is even better than the one Aunt Wang gave me."

In the afternoon, Lin Wanqiu entrusted Chen Nian'an to Aunt Wang's care, then closed the door and entered her spatial dimension again. The soaked soybeans had swelled up and felt soft in her hand. She poured the soybeans into the grinder, pressed the start button, and the machine hummed as it turned. Milky white soy milk flowed down the outlet, while the soybean pulp was filtered to the other side.

Once the soybeans were ground, she poured them into a large pot and heated them over a wood fire. The soybeans needed to be stirred constantly while cooking to prevent them from burning. As she stirred, she recalled the steps from her skill set, feeling both nervous and excited. This was her first time making tofu; if she failed, not only would she waste the soybeans, but she would also have to start building up her energy reserves again.

Before long, the soy milk boiled, filling the air with a rich aroma of soybeans. Lin Wanqiu quickly turned down the heat and added gypsum powder to the soy milk according to the correct ratio, stirring constantly until a layer of fine foam appeared on the surface. Then, she covered the pot and patiently waited for the soy milk to solidify.

This is the most crucial step; the time cannot be too long or too short. Lin Wanqiu sat by the pot, her eyes fixed on the lid, counting in her mind. After about half an hour, she lifted the lid and saw that the soy milk had solidified into tender tofu pudding. She scooped up a spoonful, and it trembled like jelly.

"Success!" Lin Wanqiu was overjoyed. She quickly poured the tofu pudding into a wooden frame lined with gauze, wrapped it in the gauze, placed a wooden board on top, and weighed it down with a few stones. This would press out the water from the tofu pudding, turning it into firm tofu.

While pressing the tofu, Lin Wanqiu started thinking again: Once the tofu is done, she would first send a piece to Aunt Wang to thank her for her help all this time; then she would send a few pieces to the commune canteen so that Chef Li could try them. If he thought they were good, she could supply the canteen with tofu regularly; the rest could be taken to the market to sell, and she was sure she could get a good price for them.

She had even planned to make tofu skin, dried tofu, and bean curd sticks in the future. These were rare items that she could not only eat herself but also sell to the supply and marketing cooperative to earn more money. By then, she could save enough money to move out with Nian'an, build a spacious and bright new house, and never have to put up with the Shen family's attitude again.

Just then, Aunt Wang's voice came from outside the space: "Wanqiu, Nian'an missed you, so I brought him back."

Lin Wanqiu quickly exited the space, opened the door, and saw Nian'an rush into her arms, her little face flushed: "Mom, is the tofu ready? I want to eat it."

"Almost done, just a little longer." Lin Wanqiu patted her son's head, her heart filled with anticipation. She knew that as long as she worked hard, things would definitely get better and better in the future.

That evening, Lin Wanqiu entered the space again, lifted the stone on the wooden frame, and removed the gauze—a piece of snow-white, firm tofu appeared before her eyes. She cut the tofu into small pieces with a knife, picked up a piece and tasted it; it was fresh, tender, and delicious, much better than the tofu sold at the supply and marketing cooperative.

The electronic screen lit up green: "Newbie mission completed! Rewards have been issued, 'Tofu Derivatives Production Manual' has been unlocked, current energy value: 120 points."

Lin Wanqiu was overjoyed. She quickly packed the tofu into a bamboo basket, preparing to deliver it to Aunt Wang and Master Li the next day. She knew this was just the first step in her side business; there was much more to do and a long road ahead. But she had the confidence and courage to live a wonderful life of her own, with Nian'an by her side, in this era.

Unbeknownst to her, behind a large tree outside the courtyard wall, Shen Tingzhou stood quietly. He had overheard Lin Wanqiu and Nian'an's conversation and knew she was making tofu, filling him with guilt and admiration. He hadn't expected Lin Wanqiu to be so capable, not only able to grow out-of-season vegetables but also make tofu. He secretly vowed to uncover the truth of what happened back then as soon as possible, return to Lin Wanqiu and Nian'an's side, protect them, and never let them suffer again.

Shen Tingzhou turned and left, his steps more resolute than when he arrived. He knew he could no longer secretly watch the mother and child suffer; he had to act quickly and provide them with a safe haven.