Lin Wanqiu squatted in the small processing plant in the space, pinching a piece of freshly formed tofu between her fingertips. The snow-white aroma of soybeans mixed with the crisp scent of gypsum wafted into her nostrils, and she couldn't help but gently pinch it—the soft touch came from her fingertips, and it was even a little bouncy, much better than the hard frozen tofu in the supply and marketing cooperative.
"It's done! It's really done!" She almost jumped up with excitement and quickly put the tofu into a bamboo basket lined with gauze. This was the result of her third attempt: the first time, she added too little gypsum powder, and the soy milk didn't solidify, turning into a thin paste; the second time, she pressed it too quickly, and the tofu was full of honeycomb holes, making it dry in texture; this time, she finally mastered the heat, and not only was the shape regular, but the cross-section was smooth after cutting, and even the aroma of soybeans was stronger than the previous two times.
Just as she finished covering the tofu, Shen Nian'an's soft voice called from outside the space: "Mom! Mom! Where are you?" Lin Wanqiu quickly exited the space and saw her son standing on tiptoe, peering into the kitchen with a worried look on his face, clutching half a half-eaten multigrain bun in his hand.
"Mommy's here, you didn't get lost." Lin Wanqiu smiled and picked him up, deliberately rubbing her chin against his little face. "An'an, guess what good thing Mommy made for you?"
Shen Nian'an blinked her dark grape-like eyes, brought her little nose close to smell her, and suddenly her eyes lit up: "It smells good! Just like the tofu Aunt Wang gave me last time!"
"Oh, our An'an has such a keen nose!" Lin Wanqiu gently pinched the tip of his nose. "Mommy made tofu, so I'll make you tofu soup today, and add an egg, okay?"
"Okay!" Shen Nian'an hugged her neck and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, then rubbed her little head against her chest. "Mom is the best! Better than Grandma! Better than Sister-in-law!"
Lin Wanqiu felt a warmth in her heart and carried her son towards the kitchen. She took out a block of tofu from her spatial storage, along with two eggs and a handful of soaked wood ear mushrooms—these were dried goods stored in her spatial storage, and after soaking, they were plump and tender, much better than those sold in the market. She cut the tofu into small pieces and soaked them in warm water, then beat the eggs, preparing to make an egg and tofu soup.
The flames crackled in the stove, and the water in the pot quickly came to a boil. Lin Wanqiu first put the tofu cubes into the pot, then sprinkled in the wood ear mushrooms. Once the tofu floated to the surface, she poured in the beaten egg. The golden egg flowers scattered in the soup, instantly releasing a rich aroma. She also added a little less salt and sesame oil—her secret recipe—to elevate the soup's flavor to another level.
"It smells so good!" Shen Nian'an leaned over the stove, her little hands gripping the edge, her eyes fixed on the pot, drool almost dripping onto her clothes. "Mom, when can we eat? I can't wait!"
"Almost done, just a little longer, be careful not to burn yourself." Lin Wanqiu ladled the soup into a rough porcelain bowl, then took a small spoon, blew on it to cool it down before handing it to him, "Try a sip first, see if it tastes good."
Shen Nian'an took the spoon, carefully scooped up a spoonful of soup, blew on it before putting it in his mouth, and his eyes lit up immediately: "Delicious! Even better than Aunt Wang's! Mom, the tofu is so soft!" He scooped up another piece of tofu and ate it in small bites, his little mouth stuffed full, his face covered with soup stains, like a little kitten stealing food.
Looking at her son's satisfied expression, Lin Wanqiu felt a surge of joy. Back when the original owner was in the Shen family, Nian'an couldn't even get a decent meal, let alone something as rare as tofu. Now, with her spatial ability, she could not only feed her son but also ensure he ate well, which made her happier than any amount of money she could earn.
As they were eating, Aunt Wang's voice came from outside the courtyard gate: "Is Wanqiu home? I'll bring you some pickled vegetables."
Lin Wanqiu quickly wiped Nian'an's mouth, picked him up, and went to open the door: "Aunt Wang, you're too kind. You always bring us things."
Aunt Wang was holding a small jar filled with pickled radish, its golden color looking very appetizing. "Don't be so polite," she said, "it's homemade, nothing special. I just passed by and smelled the delicious aroma coming from your house. Are you making something delicious?"
Shen Nian'an eagerly exclaimed, "Grandma Wang, my mother made tofu! It's so delicious!"
"Tofu?" Aunt Wang was taken aback. "Where would you get tofu in the dead of winter? The tofu at the supply and marketing cooperative has been sold out long ago."
Lin Wanqiu quickly explained, "I made it myself. A few days ago, I asked someone to buy some soybeans and tried making it. I didn't expect it to turn out so well. Aunt Wang, if you don't mind, I'll pack you a piece to try." As she spoke, she turned around and went to the kitchen to get a piece of tofu, wrapped it in oil paper, and handed it to Aunt Wang.
Aunt Wang took the tofu, touched it, and smelled it. She exclaimed in surprise, "Your tofu is really good. It's so tender and fragrant. It's much better than what the supply and marketing cooperative sells! Wanqiu, you're really capable. You not only know how to grow vegetables, but you also know how to make tofu."
"You flatter me, it's just something I came up with on the spur of the moment," Lin Wanqiu said with a smile. "Take it home and let your child try it. If you like it, I'll make some more and send them to you later."
Aunt Wang declined for a long time, but seeing Lin Wanqiu's firm attitude, she had no choice but to accept: "Then I won't be polite. If you need any help in the future, just let me know. By the way, I just saw Grandma Shen and Zhang Lan whispering at the village entrance. It seemed like they were talking badly about you. You'd better be careful."
Lin Wanqiu's heart skipped a beat, and she nodded: "Thank you for reminding me, I understand."
After seeing Aunt Wang off, Lin Wanqiu stored the remaining tofu in her spatial storage and cleaned up the pots and pans. Shen Nian'an had already finished eating and was sitting on the kang (heated brick bed) playing with building blocks, humming a tuneless children's song. Lin Wanqiu went over, sat down beside him, and patted his head: "Nian'an, from now on, when Mom makes tofu, besides giving some to Grandma Wang, we'll also sell it for money, okay? That way we can buy new clothes and candy."
Chen Nian'an stopped what she was doing and nodded her little head: "Okay! Mom will make money, and An'an won't cause trouble. An'an can even help Mom watch the stall!"
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