"What are you saying?" Lin Wanqiu shook her head and gently touched his wine glass. "We are husband and wife, and we should face things together. Besides, with you here, I'm not afraid of anything."
Nian'an jumped down from Aunt Wang's arms, ran to the two of them, and took their hands: "Dad, Mom, the bad guys have been driven away, let's continue eating! I still want to eat Mom's braised pork!"
The child's words made everyone laugh, and the atmosphere in the courtyard returned to its lively state. Lin Wanqiu asked Aunt Li to bring out the stewed braised pork. The large pieces of pork belly glistened with oil, and the aroma was irresistible, attracting the villagers to pick up their chopsticks. Shen Tingzhou put a piece of meat on Lin Wanqiu's plate and said in a low voice, "Eat slowly, don't choke."
Lin Wanqiu took a bite of the braised pork, the soft, sweet flavor spreading in her mouth, filling her heart with happiness. She recalled the days after she transmigrated, when she worried about food and clothing every day and had to deal with the Shen family's torment. Back then, she never imagined she would have what she has today—a warm home, a caring husband, a sensible son, and supportive villagers.
After a few rounds of drinks, the villagers gradually relaxed. Some sang folk songs, while others chatted about their plans for the coming year. Aunt Li leaned close to Lin Wanqiu and whispered, "Wanqiu, your braised pork is so delicious! And the tofu you made before was so popular in town. Do you think we could make some other good food so everyone can earn a little more money?"
Lin Wanqiu's heart skipped a beat. Running a tofu shop had indeed made money for many villagers, but a single side business was not a long-term solution. She thought of the modern food production techniques stored in her space, especially the soy sauce production method—in the 1960s, most soy sauce was sold in bulk and had a rather simple flavor. If she could make a soy sauce with a rich flavor and beautiful packaging, it would definitely be popular.
“Aunt Li, that’s a great idea,” Lin Wanqiu said with a smile. “I was just planning to make soy sauce. We’ll use soybeans we grow ourselves and brew it using a new method. It will definitely taste better than it does now. Then, we can not only sell it in the county town, but also in neighboring counties, so everyone can earn more money.”
"Really?" Aunt Li's eyes lit up. "That's wonderful! Wanqiu, whatever you say, we'll do it!"
Hearing this, the villagers gathered around, asking all at once, "Late Autumn, what do you need to make soy sauce? We have soybeans at home, can we use them?"
"Yes, Wanqiu, we'll all follow you! You tell us what to do, and we'll do it!"
Lin Wanqiu was deeply moved by everyone's enthusiasm. She cleared her throat and said, "Don't worry, everyone. To make soy sauce, we need to select good soybeans first, and also prepare the brewing tools and the right place. In a few days, I'll write down the specific methods, and then we can discuss how to do it together. Don't worry, as long as we all work together, we'll definitely be able to make good soy sauce and make our Hongqi Production Brigade's life more and more prosperous!"
"Good!" the villagers responded in unison, and the atmosphere in the courtyard became lively again. Shen Tingzhou looked at Lin Wanqiu's confident appearance, his eyes filled with pride. He knew that Lin Wanqiu could not only manage her own family well, but also lead the villagers to prosperity. She was someone he would protect for the rest of his life.
As the sun set, its golden rays bathed the courtyard, turning the blue-brick houses and red lanterns into a warm orange-red hue. The housewarming banquet was drawing to a close, and the villagers began to leave, each reminding Lin Wanqiu to start making soy sauce early. Lin Wanqiu agreed and saw them to the door.
Back in the courtyard, Shen Tingzhou hugged Lin Wanqiu from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder, and said gently, "Wanqiu, you've worked hard."
Lin Wanqiu leaned against him and said with a smile, "It's not hard work. I'm happy to see everyone living a good life. By the way, tomorrow I'll go to my space to check on the soybean storage and then organize the soy sauce making method so I can start brewing as soon as possible."
“Okay,” Shen Tingzhou nodded. “If you need any help, just let me know. Whether it’s finding tools or a venue, I can help you.”
Holding a meat bun, Nian'an ran to the two of them, tilted her little face up, and said, "Mom, I can help too! I can help you pick out the soybeans and remove the bad ones!"
Lin Wanqiu squatted down, rubbed her son's head, and said with a smile, "Okay, then Nian'an will be Mom's little helper."
The family of three stood in the courtyard, watching the sunset, their hearts filled with happiness and anticipation. Lin Wanqiu knew that Old Lady Shen and Zhang Lan would not give up easily, and more difficulties would await them in the future. But as long as the three of them worked together, with the support of their fellow villagers, there was no problem they couldn't solve.
She thought of the modern agricultural and food production techniques in the space, and of the future, and her heart was filled with confidence. Next, she would not only brew soy sauce, but also develop more food-related businesses, so that the villagers of Hongqi Production Brigade could live a prosperous life, and that her own and her family's lives would become increasingly better.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com