Chapter 110 Stinky Tofu
No one knew what Gao Cuifen was thinking. All they knew was that Gao Cuifen pushed the door open and went out early the next morning, just after dawn.
No one knew where she went or what she did.
But at night, Gao Cuifen came back carrying two large sacks and was seen by everyone.
Two bulging sacks, even bigger than the one Yao Dazui brought back the day before.
Seeing her carrying two large sacks in, Ma Yulan exclaimed: "Hey, Lao Gao, what did you buy? There are so many, are they heavy? Come, let me help you carry them in..."
As Ma Yulan spoke, she reached out to take the sack from Gao Cuifen. However, Gao Cuifen didn't hand it to her. Instead, she shook her head and said, "No, no, it's not heavy. It just looks like it takes up space, but it's actually very light. You don't need to touch it."
Ma Yulan asked worriedly, "You really don't need my help?"
"No, no, it really doesn't sink."
Afraid that Ma Yulan wouldn't believe it, Gao Cuifen carried the two big guys on her back and took two steps easily to show Ma Yulan.
Seeing Gao Cuifen working without any effort, Ma Yulan gave up the thought of going over to help. However, she did ask curiously, "Old Gao, what did you buy? Cotton? It looks so light."
Gao Cuifen shook her finger mysteriously and said, "No, it's not cotton. It's something good."
"Good stuff? What good stuff can you get?" Li Xiuying curled her lips and said sarcastically.
Gao Cuifen was furious when she saw Li Xiuying's nose and eyes were not the same. She snorted coldly and said, "Then I have to let you see it."
After saying that, she threw the two sacks on the ground, opened the pocket of one of them, and took out a tightly wrapped pair of stockings.
Yes, a pair of stockings, a pair of flesh-colored nylon pantyhose.
Li Xiuying was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing. She said, "I thought it was something good, but it turns out to be just a pair of stockings."
Gao Cuifen: "You old-fashioned guy, you don't know, these are not ordinary stockings, they are the latest model, ultra-thin velvet 3D stockings."
As early as when Gao Cuifen came back carrying the big sack, everyone in the yard came over to watch. Now everyone heard what Gao Cuifen said, and Da Liu asked curiously.
"No, Aunt Gao, those ultra-thin velvet stockings you're talking about are still stockings, aren't they?"
Gao Cuifen: "That's different. These ultra-thin velvet stockings I bought are made using the latest high-tech technology. Compared to ordinary stockings on the market, they are more elastic, more wear-resistant, feel better, are more breathable, and wrinkle-free. Come over and take a look. Don't my stockings look better than those sold in department stores?"
She held up the stockings to show everyone, and Shi Qiu Shui curiously tiptoed over to take a few looks.
After reading it, she pursed her lips and returned to Shi Yue. She didn’t feel that the stockings that Grandma Gao had were any different from those sold in department stores.
No one else noticed any difference.
Take Li Xiuying for example. She stared at the stockings for several seconds and then wanted to touch them. However, as soon as she stretched out her hand, Gao Cuifen pushed it away.
"Hiss—" Li Xiuying pulled her hand back in pain, glaring at Gao Cuifen and asking, "Why did you hit me?"
Gao Cuifen: "Hey, you're asking me? Who told you to do it?"
Li Xiuying said unhappily, "That's not what you said. Your stockings feel better than those sold in department stores. If I don't touch them, how can I know whether what you said is true or not?"
Gao Cuifen: "That won't work either. I'm going to sell this thing. You can only look at it, not touch it! Otherwise, if you touch it and it breaks, how can I sell it?"
Li Xiuying: "Hey! You..."
She pointed at Gao Cuifen's nose and was about to curse, but before she could say anything, she suddenly realized what was happening and looked at Gao Cuifen and said, "What did you say? Sell it? You want to sell this thing?"
Gao Cuifen: "Yes, I want to sell stockings. I'll set up a stall to sell stockings!"
This was a business she came up with after careful consideration throughout the day and night.
Originally, she also wanted to start a food business like Yao Dazui. After all, the cost of selling food is lower than that of selling other things. However, she knows her own cooking skills. Although the things she makes cannot be said to be unpalatable, they are definitely not delicious. It is definitely fine to eat at home, but if she takes it out to sell, it will definitely not sell.
Later, she thought about it carefully and felt that she should sell things that she was familiar with, that is, clothes.
So early this morning, she went out and headed for Xiushui Street.
Xiushui Street is the largest clothing wholesale market in downtown Beijing.
Gao Cuifen had heard of this place before, but she had never been there before. When she went there today, she was really shocked by what she had seen, even though she had never seen the world.
A street more than 200 meters long, with stalls lined up one after another, all of which are small stalls selling clothes and accessories.
Gao Cuifen followed the crowd in and was soon dazzled by the sight.
She hadn't decided what to sell at first, and after coming in and seeing so many things, she became even more confused.
At this time, Gao Cuifen's stingy nature was revealed. She calculated carefully that she didn't have much capital, so it was definitely not cost-effective to buy clothes. It would be better to pick out small things. So, her eyes fell on the stall selling shorts and socks.
Holding the small bag, she walked around Xiushui Street several times and found a stall selling stockings that was doing particularly good business. In just a short while, that stall had completed several big deals.
Realizing that the stockings business was good, Gao Cuifen decisively took the money and went to purchase stocks.
These stockings were the result of her haggling with the stall owner, and were also the goods she wanted to sell at her stall.
When Li Xiuying heard Gao Cuifen openly admit that she was going to set up a stall to sell stockings, she immediately curled her lips.
She said, "Gao Cuifen, you're really good! Old Yao just said yesterday that he wanted to set up a stall to do business, and you're already following his lead today, right? You're such a smart imitator!"
Although Gao Cuifen was indeed a disciple of Yao Dazui, she was still unhappy when she heard what Li Xiuying said.
Gao Cuifen: "You're so annoying! It's just a stall, isn't it? Old Yao isn't the only one doing business in our courtyard. Why is it okay for others to do so, but I'm considered a shrewd person for doing so? Besides, Old Yao and I sell different things, and he's not unhappy about it. Why are you trying to sow discord?"
Li Xiuying: "Who is sowing discord? Who is sowing discord? Am I sowing discord? I just can't stand what you're doing! You..."
Seeing Li Xiuying getting into a fight with Gao Cuifen, Yao Dazui quickly stepped out to break up the fight. She dragged Li Xiuying to the side, saying, "Alright, alright, Lao Li, please stop talking. Lao Gao's business has absolutely nothing to do with me."
Ma Yulan also came up to smooth things over: "Yes, Lao Li, please stop talking. There's nothing wrong with Lao Gao wanting to set up a stall to do business."
Seeing that everyone was speaking for her and no one was on Li Xiuying's side, Gao Cuifen proudly shook her head and went home with her things. Li Xiuying was so angry that her face turned red. She snorted heavily and shook off Yao Dazui's hand.
She stared in the direction of Gao Cuifen's house, thinking with pure malice that Gao Cuifen was not cut out for business and this business would definitely fail in the end!
Gao Cuifen can only be proud for two days. When the time comes and she can’t sell her products, she will probably just cry!
Li Xiuying not only thought so, she also decided to wait for Gao Cuifen to go out to set up a stall and follow her to see how upset Gao Cuifen was because she couldn't sell anything.
Just like that, on Saturday night, Li Xiuying, Gao Cuifen, Yao Dazui, and Shi Yue and Shi Qiu Shui, father and daughter, met at the entrance of the cinema.
Li Xiuying had come to see Gao Cuifen setting up her stall. Gao Cuifen had chosen the spot for her stall following Yao Dazui. As for Shi Yue and Shi Qiushui...
That was pure coincidence.
Shi Yue brought Shi Qiu Shui to watch a movie.
Xiao Wang from the Security Department bought the movie tickets, but he couldn't watch the movie due to something urgent, so he gave the two tickets to Shi Yue. Shi Yue thought that he had nothing to do in the evening, so he took Shi Qiu Shui to watch a movie. Unexpectedly, he ran into a group of familiar people at the door before entering the cinema.
But since they had met, they still had to say hello. Shi Yue led Shi Qiushui forward and said with a smile, "What a coincidence! I didn't expect to see you all here."
Yao Dazui had just set up her stall when she sold several bags of sunflower seeds and peanuts. Business was even better than she had expected, and she was in a very good mood. She said with a smile, "Hey, Shi Yue, are you taking your daughter to see a movie?"
Shi Yue: "Yeah, yes, a colleague gave me the ticket for free, and I thought it would be a waste not to see it, so I brought Xiao Qiu to take a look."
Yao Dazui: "Hey, that's good."
Shi Yue: "How are you? How's business going on your first day at the stall?"
Yao Dazui smiled and said, "It's not bad. At least we have a good start."
Shi Yue: "Oh, that's good."
He took out a dollar from his pocket and said, "Well, Aunt Yao, I'll take care of your business too. Can you give me a bag of sunflower seeds and a bag of peanuts?"
Yao Dazui pushed his hand away and said, "Well, it's just a small amount of food, why are you paying for it? Just take it if you want to eat it."
Shi Yue: "No, you are doing business, I can't take it for free."
Yao Dazui refused Shi Yue for a while, but she couldn't resist Shi Yue and finally accepted the money. However, she didn't take the money in vain, and specially gave Shi Yue two bags full of melon seeds and peanuts.
Shi Yue happily accepted it, looked at Gao Cuifen, and asked, "Aunt Gao, how is your business?"
Gao Cuifen had a stern face but hadn't said anything yet when Li Xiuying spoke first: "Shi Yue, you're really bringing up something irrelevant. Don't you know that your Aunt Gao hasn't even opened her business yet?"
Li Xiuying said this while looking at Gao Cuifen with a sneer.
She said Gao Cuifen would never be able to do business, and see, she was right!
Gao Cuifen was furious, but she still tried to be tough: "That's because I haven't started shouting yet. Wait, once I start shouting, people will definitely come to buy stockings. You'd better stand aside, or you'll be squeezed by the shoppers!"
Li Xiuying: "Hey, you're really bragging without paying any tax, and you're trying to squeeze me. I'm watching right here. If you can sell a single pair of stockings tonight, I lose!"
Gao Cuifen: "That's what you said!"
Li Xiuying: "I said it!"
Gao Cuifen: "Okay! Then just wait for me to sell it!"
As she spoke, she picked up a pair of stockings and began to advertise them: "Come on, take a look! These are the latest ultra-thin velvet stockings, so fashionable and durable, even Miss Hong Kong is wearing them! If you don't have one yet, you're really out of fashion!"
It’s no wonder that Gao Cuifen’s shouting actually attracted the attention of several girls passing by.
Seeing people coming over to ask about the situation, Gao Cuifen proudly pouted at Li Xiuying. After seeing Li Xiuying's face darken, she smiled with satisfaction and went to greet the customers who came over enthusiastically.
"Girls, you want to buy some stockings, right? Take a look at these ultra-thin velvet stockings of mine. They're the latest model, woven with the latest technology. The quality and feel are much better than the old ones. You can feel them..."
Seeing that Gao Cuifen was also busy, Shi Yue considerately chose to leave with Shi Qiu Shui. The movie was about to start, so he took Shi Qiu Shui into the cinema.
Shi Yue and Shi Qiu Shui had calculated the timing just right. Not long after they sat down, the lights in the cinema dimmed, and the screen in front lit up, and the movie began.
Shi Qiu Shui was staring at the screen intently at the beginning. After all, this was her first time watching a movie, so she was quite curious. But as the plot progressed, she gradually lost interest.
Xiao Wang bought the movie tickets and planned to watch the movie with his girlfriend, so he chose a more romantic movie. If a young couple came to watch it, it would definitely be fine, but if Shi Qiu Shui watched it, it would feel rather boring.
I really don't know why the hero and heroine in the drama are in love with each other!
She yawned again and again out of boredom. When the movie finally ended, she rubbed her flat stomach, stood up impatiently, and said, "Dad, I'm hungry. Let's go eat!"
After work, Shi Yue took Shi Qiu Shui to the cinema without eating. After the movie, it was almost seven o'clock, so it was normal for Shi Qiu Shui to be hungry.
Shi Yue: "Okay, I see there are a lot of food stalls at the door. Let's go and see what to eat."
There is a department store next to the cinema, which is considered to be a relatively large shopping mall in their area. Because many people come to the mall to buy things, there are many stalls on this street. These stalls sell all kinds of things, including clothes, food, and even plasters.
This is also the reason why Yao Dazui and Gao Cuifen both came here to set up stalls.
Shi Yue and Shi Qiu Shui walked out of the cinema and glanced towards the door. Yao Dazui and Li Xiuying were gone, but Gao Cuifen hadn't left yet.
Shi Yue: "Aunt Gao."
Gao Cuifen's face was beaming with joy: "Oh, Shi Yue, are you coming out after watching the movie?"
Shi Yue: "Yeah, yes. Hey, where are Aunt Gao, Aunt Li, and Aunt Yao?"
Gao Cuifen: "They both went back."
She paused and added, "Your Aunt Yao sold all her stuff and went back home. As for Li Xiuying...she left because she felt uncomfortable seeing me making money."
When Shi Yue heard this, he knew that Gao Cuifen must be doing good business. He looked down and saw that Gao Cuifen's stall, which was originally full of stockings, was almost cleared out.
He smiled and said, "Your business is pretty good too?"
Gao Cuifen was not modest at all: "It's not very good, it's very good. You didn't see it just now. There were so many girls surrounding me. They were all vying to buy my stockings."
Shi Yue: "So you've sold out and are closing up shop?"
Gao Cuifen: "Yes, they're all sold out. I've sold all the new ones. The ones left on the stall are the ones I took apart for display. I definitely can't sell something that's been taken apart as brand new, right?"
Shi Yue rarely looked at Gao Cuifen with respect. He thought that with Gao Cuifen's stingy personality, she would sell these to others as if they were brand new.
Noticing Shi Yue's look, Gao Cuifen said with a dark face, "Hey, why are you looking at me like that? I'm telling you, I'm stingy, but I also have a bottom line. I won't do anything that would cheat others."
Shi Yue quickly explained: "No, Aunt Gao, you misunderstood, I..."
Gao Cuifen shook her head proudly and said, "What misunderstanding? That's how you think of me. Humph, I don't know you guys, you just look at people through the cracks in the door and look down on them."
She quickly packed up her stall tools, snorted at Shi Yue again, and left with her things on her back.
Shi Yue: ...
Shi Yue shook his head helplessly, lowered his head and said to Shi Qiushui: "Let's go, let's go eat."
Shi Qiushui: "Charge!"
Shi Qiu Shui's shining eyes scanned the various snack stalls, looking for the food she wanted to eat. Suddenly, she smelled a special scent floating in the air.
The smell is a bit stinky, but not completely stinky. There is a special fragrance in the stinky smell, and also the unique oily fragrance of fried products.
How to describe this taste specifically?
It can only be described with the word "above", yes, just the two words "above"!
Shi Qiu Shui narrowed his eyes and subconsciously walked towards the direction where the fragrance came from.
"Hey, Xiaoqiu, stop running around!"
Shi Yue was not paying attention and almost let Shi Qiu Shui run away. He quickly grabbed Shi Qiu Shui's collar and pulled Shi Qiu Shui back.
Shi Qiushui: "Dad, I want to eat that! That!"
She pointed excitedly at the stall in front of her that was emitting a strange smell.
Shi Yue looked in the direction she pointed and asked, "Do you want to eat stinky tofu?"
Shi Qiushui nodded vigorously and said, "Yes! I want to eat!"
Shi Yue frowned in disgust. He didn't like the taste of stinky tofu. He thought that it smelled stinky and how could it taste good?
Shi Qiushui: "Dad, I want to eat stinky tofu, please let me eat it~"
Shi Yue: "Okay, okay, you can eat it, but I have to tell you in advance, you can eat this stinky tofu by yourself, I won't eat it."
Shi Qiushui: "Okay!"
Shi Yue led Shi Qiushui to the stinky tofu stall and said, "Boss, give me a small portion of stinky tofu."
Shi Qiushui pouted in dissatisfaction: "Dad, I want a big portion!"
Shi Yue readily said to the stall owner, "Ah, I don't want the small portion, I want the big portion."
The stall owner nodded and said with a smile, "Okay, a large portion of stinky tofu. Do you want chopped green onions, cilantro, and chili peppers?"
Shi Qiushui stood on tiptoe and replied, "Yes! Auntie, I'll eat them all!"
"good!"
The stall owner greeted him and started frying the stinky tofu skillfully.
The air began to be filled with that stinky smell again. Shi Qiu Shui kept sniffing. She really liked this smell!
"Squad leader?"
Just as Shi Qiu Shui was immersed in the smell of stinky tofu, he suddenly heard a weak voice coming from the side.
Shi Qiushui turned around and said in surprise, "Hey! Cao Juan, it's you!"
The one who called Shi Qiu Shui was none other than Shi Qiu Shui's new classmate Cao Juan.
Shi Qiushui had a very deep impression of Cao Juan, because Cao Juan was the most taciturn person in their class. Although Cao Juan, as Xiong Jie's deskmate, sat diagonally behind Shi Qiushui, Shi Qiushui had not heard Cao Juan say a few words in a week of school!
So when she heard Cao Juan taking the initiative to talk to her, she was quite surprised!
Shi Qiushui: "Cao Juan, are you here for the stinky tofu too? Have you ever tried this stinky tofu before? It smells so good, I wonder if it tastes good too?"
Cao Juan: "Well, this place, this stinky tofu tastes delicious too, even better than it smells."
Shi Qiushui's eyes lit up: "Really? Is it really that delicious?"
Cao Juan nodded vigorously: "Yes! It really is!"
She paused and said a little embarrassedly: "Because the stall owner is my mother. I eat the stinky tofu she makes every day. It's still delicious."
Shi Qiushui's eyes widened: "Huh?"
At this time, the stall owner had just finished frying stinky tofu and turned around. She noticed Cao Juan talking to Shi Qiushui and said in surprise, "Hey, Xiaojuan, do you know this little classmate?"
Cao Juan looked more relaxed when she turned to her mother. She nodded and said, "Yes, Mom, this is our class monitor, Shi Qiushui."
Mother Cao: "Oh, it's your classmate!"
She slapped her forehead and said awkwardly, "If I had known that this little classmate was your classmate, I wouldn't have accepted her money..."
She thought for a moment, picked up a portion of fried potatoes, put them in her bag, and said, "Little classmate, I don't have anything else to treat you, so I'll treat you to some fried potatoes."
Shi Qiushui said sweetly, "Thank you, Auntie!"
Mother Cao: "You're welcome. It's just a serving of fried potatoes. They're all ours to eat at home. I'm glad you don't mind."
Shi Qiu Shui picked up a piece of potato covered with seasonings and put it into his mouth. The outside of the potato had a crispy texture with a slightly burnt edge, while the inside was soft and sticky.
Shi Qiu Shui took a bite and squinted his eyes happily.
"Delicious! So delicious!"
Mother Cao smiled and said, "As long as it tastes good, it's fine. As long as it tastes good..."
Shi Qiu Shui quickly finished the fried potatoes, and then moved on to the stinky tofu that had been "tempting" him with its smell.
Stinky tofu tastes the same as fried potatoes, both are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. However, unlike the glutinous texture of potatoes, the inside of the tofu is more tender, and the aroma is more obvious after the tofu is fried. Paired with Cao's mother's special sauce, Shi Qiu Shui ate it without even raising his head.
She finished the stinky tofu in no time, like a hungry tiger pouncing on its food, and said to Cao Juan seriously, "I'm starting to envy you now!"
Cao Juan: "Ah?"
Shi Qiushui: "I envy you for being able to eat such delicious stinky tofu every day!"
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