Three years later

Zhao Yian, holding a bamboo tube in his arms, peered into the yard. Seeing no one there, he breathed a sigh of relief. He tiptoed into the backyard, came to the chicken coop, took out the bamboo tube, opened the lid, and shook it quickly. A dozen earthworms fell into the chicken trough. A few hens strolling nearby saw it and flew over, flapping their wings and scrambling to peck at the earthworms. The scene was instantly in chaos.

Zhao Yian smiled and muttered softly, "Eat more! I finally dug some earthworms today while Daddy wasn't paying attention. I'll go dig more tomorrow. Wait for me."

After saying that, he ran to the front yard without any reluctance, hid the bamboo tube behind the water tank, fetched water to wash his hands, and then ran next door to find his father.

The Zhao family's new house was built two years ago, and the old house was also renovated. Now the new house has a large yard, which is specially used for drying bean curd sheets and bean skin. A roof was built against the wall, and several stoves were built underneath to make soy milk. The stone mill was also moved to the new house. The new house is like a tofu workshop.

In addition to continuing to sell tofu, the original tofu shop now also sells dried bean curd sheets (yuba) and tofu skin. The tofu skin was incredibly popular upon its launch, its tender, smooth, and chewy texture instantly captivating many. It sold well not only in the village, but also in restaurants in town and even from the county. With so much demand, the Zhao family ran out of manpower, so they hired a few more people: one to pick the dried bean curd sheets, one to grind the beans, and one to make the soy milk. With their work split up, they could produce quite a bit each day.

A new room was added to the old house, which was reserved for Zhao Yian to live in in the future. It was built next to Lin Yan and his room.

Zhao Yian still lives in the same room with his father and grandfather. The bed is not big enough, so they push the original bed against the wall and put a smaller one next to it. Lin Yan knows that there are those kangs in the north, which are very big and can sleep a whole family, but he doesn't know what they are like.

"Daddy!" Zhao Yian found Lin Yan at the tofu shop and threw himself into his arms. Lin Yan smiled, stopped what he was doing, and stroked Zhao Yian's hair. "Where did you go to play again?"

"I went to play with Nan Ge'er under the big tree at the entrance of the village." Zhao Yian looked at the pile of bean curd sheets and tofu skin in the yard and felt a little greedy. "Daddy, I'm hungry."

"Daddy will cook noodles for you. What do you want to eat?" Lin Yan said as he walked towards the kitchen.

"Bean curd!" Zhao Yian shouted, raising his little hand.

Lin Yan smiled, stopped, picked up a few pieces of bean curd from the bamboo pole, and continued walking towards the kitchen with Zhao Yian.

Yu Ge'er now works as a manager in Feng Xiu Niang's embroidery shop and sometimes lives in the shop. However, even if he lives in the shop, he will inform his family so as not to worry.

Zhao Shiyun and Zhao Qiming had gone to town to make deliveries. Demand for yuba (dried bean curd sheets) had been increasing over the past two years, and the Zhao family's tofu was so delicious that some restaurants had even ordered from them. Lin Yan had been considering expanding his business, opening a workshop in the village, purchasing soybeans from the villagers, and hiring more of them.

However, the family still has to discuss it, and after the discussion, they have to discuss it with the village chief, and they have to wait for a while.

Business in town was still brisk. For the past few years, it had been run by Aunt Liu, his cousin's wife, and Yue'er, who had also hired a new boy to wash the dishes. Yue'er was in charge of the front of house. Over the past two years, Lin Yan had gradually handed over management responsibilities to his cousin's wife, becoming a hands-off manager, only occasionally inventing new dishes and serving them up. On weekdays, he enjoyed spending more time at home with Yian, enjoying those warm family moments.

Speaking of Yue Ge'er, he got engaged to the young man from the butcher's family last month. This happened because Lin Yan was in confinement at home that year and the shop was too busy. Widow Liu asked Yue Ge'er to go to the butcher's to buy food several times, and the butcher's youngest son took a fancy to him. Unfortunately, Yue Ge'er was still young at that time, so when he turned sixteen this year, the butcher's family found a matchmaker to propose marriage. Yue Ge'er didn't agree at first, and after Widow Liu persuaded him several times, Yue Ge'er finally agreed.

Widow Liu and Yue Ge'er have worked in Lin Yan's shop for the past few years and saved a lot of money. The house in the village is no longer the thatched hut it used to be. In addition, they can eat meat every day, and Yue Ge'er's complexion has become rosy, unlike the pale and thin look when he first came. He is diligent and able to endure hardships. The man from the butcher's family is also a good boy. Widow Liu is still satisfied with this marriage. She only hopes to save more money and buy more dowry for Yue Ge'er when he gets married.

*

"The noodles are ready, come and eat." Lin Yan brought the noodles to the yard, took a small bowl and gave one to An An, asking him to eat slowly.

Zhao Yian had just learned how to use chopsticks, so it was a little difficult for him to pick up noodles. He simply rolled up the noodles with the chopsticks, blew on them hard, and only put them in his mouth when they were almost cool.

"Daddy, it's delicious." Zhao Yian said vaguely.

Lin Yan touched his hair and said, "Slow down, there's more."

Zhao Yian nodded and slowly finished a small bowl. Lin Yan then gave him another bowl, which was mostly filled with tofu skin. Zhao Yian was delighted, slurping the tofu skin with a satisfied look on his face. "Daddy, I want to have stuffed tofu tonight," he ordered.

"Okay, Daddy will make it for you. What else do you want to eat?"

Zhao Yian thought for a moment, "How about chicken wings?"

There are no chicken wings at home. I wonder what Zhao Shiyun will buy when he delivers the goods. There will definitely be pork, but I don’t know about other dishes.

"Then wait until your father comes back and see what he bought. If there are no chicken wings, we can eat them tomorrow, okay?"

Zhao Yian was very easy to talk to. "Okay, I'm fine with anything." He smiled at Lin Yan, who hugged him and gave him a kiss. "You're so good."

While they were eating, they heard the sound of a donkey cart at the door. It should be Zhao Shiyun and the others returning. Sure enough, not long after, Zhao Shiyun came in carrying a basket of vegetables, followed by Zhao Qiming.

Zhao Yian put down his chopsticks, jumped off the bench, and threw himself into Zhao Shiyun's arms, "Dad, you're back."

Zhao Shiyun half-knelt down, picked up Zhao Yian, and kissed him vigorously, "You're back. Is An An obedient at home?"

"Hmm! What did Daddy buy?" He looked at his hands. Zhao Shiyun handed the basket to Lin Yan, "He bought a fish, pork belly, and chicken wings."

"Wow, great!" Zhao Yian cheered. Zhao Shiyun looked at Lin Yan with a puzzled expression. Lin Yan smiled and said, "I was ordering food when you weren't here. I wanted to eat stuffed tofu and chicken wings."

Zhao Shiyun suddenly realized, and laughed and shook Zhao Yian twice. Zhao Yian screamed and hugged his father's neck, afraid that he would fall down. After hugging him, he giggled again.

"An An, look what grandpa bought you?" Zhao Qiming spoke from behind.

Zhao Yian looked over and saw a candied haws! He struggled to get down, and Zhao Shiyun quickly put him down. Zhao Yian trotted over to Zhao Qiming and took the candied haws, smiling, "Thank you, Grandpa."