Chapter 58 (Soy Milk)
By this time, everyone at the table had actually finished eating, for example, Xiao Huaiyu was wiping his mouth.
Madam Xiao's words made her stunned. She looked at her second sister-in-law, then at her mother, not knowing what had happened: "Mom, was my second sister-in-law bullied?"
Mrs. Xiao did not answer and continued to eat with her head down. After eating for a while, the wontons that had been left there were at the right temperature and could be eaten directly without blowing on them.
She kept talking, and even this seeming calmness made Song Mingdai even more uneasy.
Mrs. Xiao is like the pillar of the Xiao family. Even though she has not been out for many years, as a daughter-in-law who has been married to this family for more than ten years, she has always relied on them. In fact, compared with the Song family, the Xiao family is her real home.
Now she feels regretful and doesn't know how to explain it.
It wasn't until Madam Xiao finished her last bite, drank a big mouthful of soup with satisfaction, wiped her mouth, and then she said slowly, "Are you really not going to tell me yourself?"
"It's okay, my daughter-in-law. It won't happen again." Song Mingdai lowered her head resignedly and said softly.
Xiao Pingsong, who had been eating in silence, suddenly said, "No way! I saw my aunt beat you with my own eyes, and you didn't even dare to resist!"
Song Mingdai's breathing stagnated and she glared at her son angrily.
Xiao Pingsong raised his little face stubbornly, believing that he was not wrong. His grandmother said that he did the right thing. His mother had been in the inner courtyard and could not see clearly enough. She made a wrong decision but thought it was good for the Xiao family and him.
Then you should correct it yourself.
Dad said that when he grows up he will protect Mom. Since he can't do that now, then let Grandma do it.
Anyone who bullies his mother will naturally be taught a lesson. No one in the Xiao family is allowed to be bullied!
Madam Xiao said sternly, "What are you looking at Pingsong for? He's smarter than you and knew to come to me! And you, being bullied to the point of being bullied by someone in my Xiao family, you didn't even bother to come and say a word! Song Mingdai, you're back to life! You're getting dumber and dumber, just like your pedantic mother!"
Song Mingdai's expression froze, and her eyes suddenly became moist. She bit her lips tightly, trying to endure it, but she still felt a little aggrieved in her heart. For a moment, she lost the restraint she had when she was sober, and defended herself in a hoarse voice, "I just want Pingsong to grow up safely..."
The atmosphere at the table suddenly fell silent, and Mrs. Xiao's eyes turned red, and she turned her face away guiltily.
Xie Qingyun slowly patted the shoulders of the people around him and whispered, "Pingsong will definitely grow up safely!"
Song Mingdai pursed her lips tightly and said nothing, but her eyes revealed that she was not completely trusting.
This is easy to say, but according to the previous situation of the Xiao family, if something happens to Xiao Huaiting, who has been fighting outside for many years, the Xiao family will definitely be swallowed up immediately.
As a member of the Xiao family, she felt it very clearly.
Her father, brothers, sisters-in-law, who once tried to please her, had all changed their attitudes towards her in the past few years. Whenever she went out occasionally, she could feel the malice coming towards her, and they made no secret of their hope for the demise of the Xiao family.
These malicious thoughts made her dream every day for a period of time. Her dreams were all bloody. The Xiao family was ransacked, the family was broken up, and everyone was dead. She hugged Pingsong and fell in a pool of blood. Her husband, who had passed away many years ago, told her guiltily that he had failed to protect them and their son.
Song Mingdai clearly remembered that every time before her husband went to the battle, he would run to the tablet of the Xiao family's ancestors and pray that he would survive safely so that he could watch his son grow up, get married and have children.
However, his name was Xiao Huaian, but he never had peace in his life.
Ever since I met him, this man has been fighting. He has fought in so many battles, big and small. Each time he would be away for months or even years, and then he would bring back a body full of wounds, countless achievements, and... the emperor's jealousy and suspicion.
Song Mingdai saw with her own eyes how difficult this path was, so she didn't want her son to continue staying in the Xiao family, being implicated by the Xiao family, or becoming a person like his father.
But she is useless. She is just an ordinary woman with no power or money. The only ones she can rely on are either her husband's family or her own family. Her husband's family is in crisis. In order to protect her son, she can only choose to return to her own family, hoping that she will not be targeted.
Who would have thought that the Song family would also be involved in these disputes? Fortunately, the Song family was not very powerful. Even if they forced her to come back, they would not dare to really confront the Xiao family. Once she angered the Xiao family and was kicked out of the Xiao family, even if they were angry, they would have to give up all their hopes of currying favor with the rich and powerful.
She didn't want to tell the Xiao family because they were protective of their own people. Once they knew, something would definitely happen to the Song family, and it would be difficult for her to go back. Although the Xiao family was in a better situation now that Prince Chang had returned, who knew if Prince Chang, who had been vacant for five years, could have the last laugh under the pressure of his brothers?
Not to mention... who knows if Prince Chang is so close to the Xiao family in order to make a comeback?
He was afraid that once he ascended the throne, the Xiao family would be of no use to him.
After all, they are the royal family. You can only judge a person by their appearance but not by their heart. The Xiao family fought so hard for the royal family, and so many people died, but in the end, didn’t they still become a thorn in the eyes of the royal family and a thorn in their flesh?!
So Song Mingdai endured it yesterday, it would only be a matter of a few days.
Who knew my son would be so disappointing? I've already told him about it.
Xiao Pingsong's eyes were red, and he cautiously reached out to hold his mother's hand: "Mom, don't be sad, I'm not afraid..."
"I'm scared!" Song Mingdai wiped her tears casually, her nose red. The cold and distant feeling disappeared, leaving only a full sense of fragility and tenacity. She looked at her son's face, which looked more and more like his father, and said word by word: "Your father has always wanted to see you grow up and get married, so you must be well! Mother doesn't mind suffering this grievance. After all, they are my family and will not really ask for anything more. Mother suffered this grievance before she got married, so she doesn't care."
Although she was a legitimate daughter, her mother was not favored at that time. Her father favored his concubine and controlled the family. Even her mother did not dare to confront her. Everything only got better after she married into the Xiao family.
It's just a little grievance, she doesn't mind.
Madam Xiao's tightly pursed lips trembled, and the anger on her face faded a lot. She said slowly: "Second son's wife, I know what you are thinking, but the situation is changing every moment. I was wrong before and kept thinking about going with your father and the second son. Now I have thought it through and I will not do the same as before. So even if there is no Prince Chang, even if the Xiao family is really liquidated, I will die rather than let these children get into trouble!"
After all, Madam Xiao was a woman who had fought in the battlefield. Now that she had recovered, she was full of energy and her words carried a weight of a thousand pounds.
Although Prince Chang is the Xiao family's current partner, the Xiao family is not completely without any other countermeasures.
Song Mingdai's eyes trembled twice, and she whispered, "It was my daughter-in-law's fault. I won't do it again."
"Forget it!" Madam Xiao was too reluctant to say anything to her. She just vented her anger on the Song family and said hatefully, "Boss, just tell the Song family."
Xiao Huaiqi patted his mother's back soothingly: "Don't worry, mother, I will make sure everything is arranged."
The problem is solved.
In the morning when Yan Qiushu was still drowsy.
When she got up to eat wontons, she heard Xiao Pingsong happily telling her what happened that morning.
When she heard that Xiao Pingsong had mustered up the courage to expose his mother and told Mrs. Xiao in front of everyone that her mother was beaten by her aunt, she almost choked and had to drink several sips of milk before she felt better.
This is also an unlucky child.
Professional mother's station demolition!
However, it was good that the matter was resolved and the family was able to speak frankly with each other, and she felt relieved.
When the Xiao family unites, they are definitely an extraordinary force.
After that day, Xiao Pingsong was not seen for several days. I heard that he was locked up at home by Song Mingdai to copy books.
Yan Qiushu expressed deep sympathy for this.
It was not until three days later that the listless Xiao Pingzhou finally reappeared with his younger brothers and sisters. He saw Yan Qiushu and Zhou Zhaoqin pushing a millstone together.
The millstone rotates, and white juice is squeezed out at the outlet and slowly flows into the wooden barrel.
There was already a lot of juice in the wooden barrel.
The whole yard is filled with a slightly astringent yet fragrant bean smell?
Xiao Pingsong sniffed uncomfortably: "Aunt Yan, are you going to make tofu?"
"Yes!" Yan Qiushu nodded vigorously and continued to work hard.
Xiao Pingsong quickly rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward: "I'll help you, I'm strong!"
Seeing this, Yan Qiushu happily stepped back, and Dongdong hurried forward: "I want to play too!"
But because the shorter one was occupied by Zhou Zhaoqin, he could only use the long one and push together with his brother. As they pushed, his short legs hooked up and his whole body flew into the air.
Xiao Pingsong suddenly found that the resistance he was pushing was getting stronger and stronger. He was wondering, and when he looked up, he saw Aunt Yan and Wan'er smiling there. He felt something was wrong. When he looked down, he saw his brother holding the stick and swaying with his strength.
The young boy was so angry that his nose was crooked. With a dark face, he pushed his unlucky brother away and exerted force alone.
"Dongdong, be careful or Brother Pingsong will spank you~" Wan'er reminded.
Although Xiao Pingsong has a good temper, he is a big boy, so don't be too easy with Dongdong.
"I'm not afraid!" Dongdong chuckled and encouraged, "It's fun, do you want to try it?"
Wan'er shook her head.
Dongdong tried to persuade her again, and Wan'er began to get restless. At this moment, Xiao Pingsong waved his hand and said, "Wan'er, come here. Brother will carry you up and sit down."
Wan'er's eyes lit up and she jumped over happily. Xiao Pingsong carried her to the long pole. He held her with one hand and pushed the pole with the other, moving forward with even greater effort, but without a trace of dissatisfaction.
Dongdong, who felt that he was being treated differently, said: "..."
Dongdong immediately threw himself into Yan Qiushu's arms: "Wow, sister Shu, I'm being bullied!"
Yan Qiushu couldn't help laughing, but seeing how hard he was trying to fake cry, she still tried to comfort him: "It's okay, I'll give you something delicious to drink later."
"Huh???" Dongdong widened his eyes, full of anticipation.
Yan Qiushu pointed at the millstone and said, "It will be ready soon."
Dongdong was speechless: "Tofu!"
"That's right, every step of making tofu is a delicacy!" said Yan Qiushu.
Soybeans are treasures from the inside out.
Ordinary soybeans can be fried until crispy, added with a little salt, and eaten as a snack.
Drink the cooked soy milk directly. If you let it cool down a bit, you can harvest a layer of tofu skin on top, also known as yuba. If you add some gypsum water, you can make tofu pudding, which you can wrap in gauze and press for a while to make tofu.
Even the bean dregs filtered before making soy milk can be eaten, but most people don’t like to eat them. However, they are very good for feeding pigs. Now the pigs in Zhuangzi are fed with bean dregs.
Of course, Yan Qiushu doesn’t make tofu just for the sake of making tofu.
But do something else.
Just as I was thinking about it, the soy milk was squeezed out and poured from one bucket into another pot. A fine gauze was added in the middle to filter out the bean dregs inside so that the soy milk would taste better.
Put the pot on the stove and stir it constantly with a long spoon to prevent it from getting stuck at the bottom and overflowing. You don't need to worry about the foam on top, it will dissipate on its own as it cooks.
When the soy milk boiled, the slightly astringent taste of the soaked soybeans changed, and the aroma of the beans themselves became more mellow. The children who were originally playing by themselves gathered around, all three of them tilted their heads, took a deep breath in unison, and exclaimed, "I didn't know beans were so fragrant!"
Zhou Zhaoqin looked around, afraid he wouldn't fit in, so he quickly and clumsily imitated them. He took a deep breath, but before he could praise them, Yan Qiushu said while stirring the drink, "Come and get a cup if you want one. One cup per person, with a spoonful of sugar."
The three children all ran to the other side to get their own cups. Zhou Zhaoqin also had one, but he was a beat late again and hurried over. Dongdong ran the fastest. Xiaopang held the cup in his hand and urged: "Give me more, give me more, fill it up!"
This is a living treasure.
Yan Qiushu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She cooperated and filled his cup to 90%. Then Dongdong turned around and pulled Shui Yu: "Give me an extra spoonful of sugar. I added too much soy milk."
Yan Qiushu: "..."
Wan'er poked his fat belly in disdain, then took a delicate sip of the soy milk with only half a spoonful of sugar, smacked her lips, tasted it, blew on it, and took another sip, saying in amazement, "This is just like milk!"
Dongdong nodded in agreement: "If it weren't for the different taste, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference!"
Xiao Pingsong said: "No, their colors are still different!"
Yan Qiushu took a look and found it was true.
One of them is milky white and the other is beige, but both are very mellow, one has a milky aroma and the other has a bean aroma. The latter is cooked thoroughly and has no fishy smell. Just add a little sugar and it will taste very delicious.
Zhou Zhaoqin also took a sip. The child, used to delicacies from land and sea, was pleasantly surprised to find something ordinary tasted quite good. He nodded repeatedly, "Delicious!"
"Of course it tastes good, but I made it!" Yan Qiushu said with a smile, blew on the soy milk in her hand, and took a sip. Just as she was tasting it, she lowered her head and found that a layer of skin had formed on the surface of the soy milk after taking it off the stove.
Dongdong also noticed it and excitedly pointed at this one, asking others to look: "It's really the same, this one also has milk skin!"
Yan Qiushu explained: "This is not called milk skin, it's called oil bean skin."
As she said this, she picked it up with chopsticks.
The bean curd skin looked thin and crispy, but it did not break easily when picked up with chopsticks. The soy milk dripped back into the pot. After waiting for a while, Yan Qiushu placed the bean curd skin on the prepared pole to dry, and then put the pot back on the stove to boil it again.
I can get a piece of fried bean curd skin every time, except... it's a bit troublesome.
But all four children were very interested in this game. Yan Qiushu did it twice, and then gave it to Wan'er and the others to take turns, one time each, until they were tired. Then Yan Qiushu added a little gypsum water to the game, stirred it with a long spoon, and covered it with a lid.
Xiao Pingsong's eyes were full of anticipation: "The tofu pudding will appear soon?"
Wan'er held her face in her hands and asked, "Will it taste better than last time?"
Dongdong patted his chest confidently and said, "Of course, everything Sister Shu makes is the most delicious!"
Zhou Zhaoqin, who spoke the least, was led along and nodded vigorously: "Yeah!"
That’s right!
What Sister Shu cooks is the most delicious!
Even the most ordinary fried rice makes him unforgettable!
Yan Qiushu was overjoyed by the praise and was just counting the time until she could eat her homemade tofu pudding when Nanny Huang suddenly came over. She looked unwell and spoke hurriedly, "Miss Yan, the Madam wants to see you."
Yan Qiushu had no choice but to put down the work in her hands and follow him out. Before leaving, she asked Shui Yu and Aunt Xu to take care of it. They definitely knew how to make tofu, and the steps were very simple. The sweet and spicy tofu pudding were all prepared, so they just had to season it and eat it.
But Dongdong and others wanted to go with her.
But Huang Ma stopped him: "Young Master, Young Miss, you guys eat here first. Children shouldn't get involved in adult matters, okay?"
The four children looked at each other and could only give up with regret.
Yan Qiushu originally thought it was about food, but she didn't expect the children to be allowed to eat. She became a little unsure. After walking a few steps, she asked anxiously, "Mammy, what did my aunt want me to do?"
Nanny Huang gave her a sympathetic look and whispered, "Don't be angry, young lady."
Yan Qiushu was speechless: "How could it be?"
"It was the Xue family who sent someone to propose marriage," said Madam Huang, adding unhappily, "but to take a concubine for his fifth young master!"
Propose marriage?
Who is it for?
Yan Qiushu subconsciously thought of this in her mind, because she was not a member of the Xiao family, so she did not consider this level for a while, but when she heard about taking a concubine, she suddenly understood.
It's for her!
Yan Qiushu was indeed slapped in the face. She was angry, not only angry, but also laughed out of anger!
Taking a concubine?
How dare that fair-skinned and friendly-looking young man want to take her as his concubine?
Yan Qiushu's pace suddenly quickened.
Nanny Huang was caught off guard and couldn't keep up for a while. When she looked up, she only saw the extremely fast footsteps and the skirt fluttering due to the speed. She was stunned for a moment, but then she chuckled and jogged to catch up.
She is truly worthy of being the Sixth Young Master’s favorite!
It’s the Xiao family’s aura!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
