Chapter 7: Eldest Brother Ye Sells Skewers in Two Towns
Just like yesterday, Ye Li called out to Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya, who were about to go out to collect firewood.
"Come here, it's time to pay your wages."
Upon hearing the sound, Jiang Mai led Jiang Ya to the kitchen door.
He looked at the stove.
There was unsold tofu on the stove.
Ye Li presses tofu in willow baskets; thirty catties of tofu fill two willow baskets.
Now, one willow basket is full, and the other willow basket also has a large piece left.
Jiang Mai stared at the two willow baskets for a moment and said, "The tofu hasn't been sold out yet."
"You two helped even when we didn't sell everything, you didn't slack off."
"Don't worry, the rest of the tofu can be fried into tofu puffs and sold."
Ye Li took two copper coins out of the winnowing basket and handed them to him: "Here, keep them safe, don't lose them when you're gathering firewood."
Jiang Mai: "..."
He glanced at the tofu on the stove, hesitated for a moment, and then reached out his little hand to catch the two copper coins.
"Alright, you two go gather firewood. I'll go find Aunt Qiumei to exchange some soybean oil."
Ye Li said with a smile.
There's not much lard left at home.
When he was selling tofu yesterday, he specifically asked several families who were familiar with the Jiang family, hoping to find out which family had plenty of oil and was willing to sell to him.
Two days ago, Wang Qiumei went to the county town to exchange three jin of soybean oil. He is currently busy making tofu and does not have time to go to the county town, so Wang Qiumei is willing to exchange the soybean oil for him.
At this time, the soybean oil is extracted using the traditional pressing method, and even if it is fully pressed, it still has a slight beany smell.
But its low price is irresistible.
Nine catties of soybeans can be exchanged for one catty of soybean oil at the oil mill.
That works out to 27 coins per pound, which is cheaper than rendering lard yourself.
If you fry the tofu puffs in soybean oil, the cost can be reduced further.
As for the taste, ordinary people don't have that many fuss about it.
Furthermore, the correct way to eat tofu puffs is to let them absorb all kinds of juices. As long as there are enough seasonings, the beany taste can be completely suppressed.
After Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya went out, Ye Li took eighteen catties of soybeans and a small piece of tofu to Wang Qiumei to exchange for soybean oil.
He carried two pounds of soybean oil home, rolled up his sleeves, and started frying tofu puffs.
He also fried a few large skewers of orchids.
Orchid-shaped skewers are also called tofu skewers, but they are different from the dry tofu skewers that don't absorb much sauce even after soaking for a long time.
The large skewers of orchid-shaped noodles have many honeycomb-like layers inside, making them very fluffy and similar in texture to tofu puffs. They absorb the broth exceptionally well when soaked in hot pot or spicy hot pot.
He can make fried tofu puffs, so naturally he can also make large skewers of tofu.
After a flurry of activity, about half an hour later, he had fried two pounds of tofu puffs and one pound of orchid-shaped skewers.
After turning off the engine, he found a piece of unused burlap and sewed it into a cloth bag—he had inherited the original owner's memories, and although he wasn't very skilled, sewing a cloth bag was still no problem for him.
After washing the sewn bag, he prepared to take the tofu puffs and large skewers of orchids into the city to sell to restaurants.
To be honest, he would rather set up his own stall.
The best way to eat tofu puffs and orchid-shaped skewers is in mala tang (spicy hot pot) and hot pot.
Selling skewers will definitely earn more than selling tofu puffs or large skewers of orchids.
But he needs to make tofu every day, so he simply doesn't have the time or energy to set up a stall.
He packed half a pound of each of the two kinds of food and was about to lock the door of the main room and head to the county town when a slightly familiar voice rang out from the courtyard gate: "Brother Li."
He turned his head and looked at the person who had come. He smiled and said, "Brother, what brings you here?"
The original owner had two older brothers, the eldest named Ye Liang and the second named Ye Wen.
The visitor was the eldest brother, Ye Liang.
Ye Liang is twenty-three years old this year, but his hands are rough and his face is dark, clearly showing that he has experienced a lot of life's hardships.
He stood at the doorway, looking at Ye Li's smile with some surprise.
His father and his third brother had a fight a couple of days ago. Knowing his third brother's personality, he should be giving him a cold look, a sour look, and rolling his eyes when he sees him now.
But now there are smiling faces!
Although puzzled, he still raised the small cloth bag in his hand and explained, "I went to the county town with my employer to deliver goods today, and my father asked me to come and see you. He stir-fried some dried shrimp."
Shrimp?
Ye Li's eyes lit up, and she hurried over.
The Ye family lives in Darong Village, near the Nantong Canal, making it very convenient for them to buy river delicacies.
Fresh dried shrimp is expensive, costing more than ten coins per pound.
Although the original owner loved to eat it, Father Ye only bought a pound of it during festivals.
It's neither a holiday nor a festival, yet Father Ye bought some and had Ye Liang deliver it, the meaning of which is very clear.
Sure enough, Ye Liang saw Ye Li take the bag and said, "Father said that now that you and Xiao Ji are married, you should settle down and live a peaceful life. Constant arguing will not make life better."
"Let Xiao Ji focus on his studies. Once he passes the imperial examinations and becomes a scholar or a graduate, your good days will begin."
If the original owner of this body had heard such words, she would definitely have rolled her eyes.
But now standing in front of Ye Liang is Ye Li.
Ye Li smiled and said, "Brother, you're right. Now that I've married into this family, I'm hoping to become a scholar's husband. I've thought it through, and I will never hold Jiang Ji back in the future, so you and Father can rest assured."
Ye Liang was taken aback by these words.
Before he could figure it out, Ye Li invited him into the house: "Have you eaten? Are you thirsty? I just fried some tofu puffs, have a taste."
"The employer provided meals, and I've already eaten. What kind of tofu puffs?"
Ye Liang, not understanding why, followed in his footsteps.
"This is a new and interesting food. Try it and bring some back for your father and the others as well."
Ye Li went into the kitchen, placed the fried shrimp on the cutting board, and then took out a ceramic bowl containing tofu puffs and large skewers of orchids from the cupboard.
He took out a pair of chopsticks and warmly invited Ye Liang to try some.
Once Ye Liang started eating, he told him the origin of the tofu puffs, which shocked Ye Liang so much that he almost choked.
"When did you learn to make tofu?" Ye Liang asked incredulously.
"It's a secret. I'm only telling Jiang Ji."
A hint of embarrassment appeared on Ye Li's face at that moment.
Ye Liang: "..."
He stared wide-eyed, as if he had seen a ghost, his eyes almost popping out.
Has Third Brother suddenly fallen for Xiao Ji?
"Brother, don't ask about the specifics. The most important thing right now is to find a way to sell the tofu puffs. I don't have any money. The beans and the stone mill were given to me by my second uncle. I need to earn money quickly to pay him back."
"I was just about to take some to the county town to sell."
Ye Li suppressed her shyness and changed the subject.
This was important, so Ye Liang immediately started thinking about it, following his words.
that is.
Both the Ye and Jiang families were dirt poor, but now that they had some new food, the most important thing was to sell the tofu puffs.
As he was pondering this, Ye Li said again, "Brother, how about we let Brother Yi try setting up a stall in town?"
Liu Yi was Ye Liang's husband.
The Ye family was poor, and everyone in the surrounding area of Darong Village knew that the Ye family had to give Jiang Ji, an outsider, a small amount of money every year for his upbringing. Therefore, Ye Liang, the elder brother, only got married last year.
In fact, the Liu family was much better off than the Ye family. Liu Yi's parents ran a pancake stall in Baxian Town and earned money every day.
But Liu Yi was determined to marry Ye Liang, this dark-faced man, and the Liu family had no choice but to go along with him.
"Let Yi Ge'er set up a stall?" Ye Liang asked in surprise.
"Yes, Brother Yi has experience. This stuff tastes good, so it will definitely sell."
Ye Li then proceeded to demonstrate to Ye Liang the correct way to eat tofu puffs and orchid skewers.
Nothing special, just be willing to use generous amounts of ingredients.
Moreover, Liu Yi's parents sold pancakes, and pancakes with skewers are a perfect match.
Half an hour later, Ye Liang, carrying a pottery jar in his arms and a basket on his back, set off on his way back to the village.
Ye Li gave him the fried tofu puffs and orchid skewers she had just made, and told him to take them to Liu's pancake stall to sell.
They even cut him a piece of tofu so that the Ye family could taste his cooking.
Darong Village is located south of Beiyang County. Ye Liang had to cross Beiyang County to get home, and by the time he walked home, it was almost dark.
In the Ye family's courtyard, Ye's father and Liu Yi sat at the kitchen door doing needlework.
Ye Daji and Ye Wen have not yet returned from working in the fields.
When Ye's father saw his eldest son push open the courtyard gate and enter, he quickly put down his needlework and went to greet him: "Did you see Li'er? Is he still angry?"
Liu Yi also got up.
But his attention was focused on the pottery jar in his man's arms.
He was a little puzzled. He had only carried a small cloth bag when he left, so why was he carrying a small jar now?
"I saw him. Li Ge'er isn't angry anymore, and he can even make tofu now."
Ye Liang smiled and spoke.
Father Ye was taken aback: "Ah?!"
"What?!"
Liu Yi was stunned. Could a simpleton like him make tofu?
Ye Liang raised the small jar in his hand: "Father, Yi Ge'er, you should both try this red oil sesame paste tofu puffs."
As he spoke, he turned around and gestured for the two men to look at his basket.
By the time Father Ye and Liu Yi calmed down, it was completely dark.
Ye Daji and Ye Wen also returned.
Ye Wen was not yet married. In the dimly lit, low-ceilinged kitchen, the family of five sat down at the old dining table.
The only food on the table was corn porridge and pickled vegetables.
At dinner, the Ye family couldn't even bear to eat the cornbread.
But with Ye Li's extra meal today, dinner became quite plentiful.
Uncle Ye poured the chili oil and sesame paste tofu puffs into the earthenware basin, then cut a piece of firm tofu into it. The chili oil was diluted by the firm tofu, making the color less appealing and the taste a bit bland, but the Ye family was very satisfied.
After enjoying this delicious meal, even Liu Yi, who had always looked down on the original owner of this body, was full of confidence for tomorrow's pancake sandwich.
The next day, as dawn broke, Liu Yi carried the already cooked tofu puffs and large skewers of orchids to Baxian Town.
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