Um, strawberries?
I guess so. After all, when I was a kid, I didn’t know the scientific name of this thing, and I always called it wild strawberry.
"These are the strawberries I grew. They're a little special, so I brought them out to share with you."
"You and Lily go wash up first. I'll wash the strawberries and have them as dessert with breakfast."
Jiang Che casually answered the question and then asked the two girls to go to the backyard to wash up.
The two of them obediently went to the backyard, but Hu Lili looked back at the fruit plate in Jiang Che's arms with some surprise, her heart full of doubts.
Is it really a strawberry? Why doesn’t it look like one?
Dad got up early and went out to inspect the fields while the sun was still high.
My mother was preparing breakfast. Since so many people suddenly came to our house, she had to prepare more.
"Mom, do you need my help?"
Jiang Che came to the kitchen with a fruit plate and placed it on the counter.
"Son, you're awake now. It's a good opportunity for you to take these soaked soybeans to the backyard and grind them so I can make tofu pudding this morning."
As she spoke, Chen Xiuzhi handed a bowl of plump white soaked soybeans to Jiang Che. Chen Xiuzhi had soaked these last night. With so many guests dining there, she couldn't be too shabby.
"Wow, I haven't had the tofu pudding you made for a long time. I miss it so much!"
"Don't worry, leave it to me. I guarantee it will be polished quickly and finely."
Jiang Che took the beans, picked up the bucket and went to the backyard.
Tang Tian and Hu Lili were standing side by side by the ditch in the backyard brushing their teeth, their mouths full of foam as they watched Jiang Che walk in.
"Jiang Che, what are you doing?"
Tang Tian was the most curious and asked while spraying white foam.
"Grinding beans! You're in for a treat this morning! My mom's braised tofu pudding is a specialty in Huaxi!"
As he spoke, Jiang Che gave Chen Xiuzhi in the kitchen a thumbs up. Chen Xiuzhi glared at Jiang Che, then turned around and fiddled with her breakfast with a smile on her face.
"Really? Auntie is really awesome. Wait until I finish brushing my teeth and then I'll help you."
"Grinding beans is such a fun thing, I have never experienced it before."
After saying that, Tang Tian brushed her teeth quickly, wanting to join in as soon as possible.
Jiang Che fetched a bucket of water and poured it on the millstone.
My dad told me that these two large stone mills were made by my grandpa one by one to make it easier for my grandma to make tofu.
After using it for so many years, it still looks as good as ever.
My mother's skill in making tofu pudding was inherited from my grandmother. I have to say that the relationship between my grandparents is really good!
In order to make it easier for grandma to make tofu pudding, he carved a stone mill by hand.
After pouring water on it, Jiang Che used a bamboo brush to clean the dirt on the stone mill. It had not been used for a long time, and some dirt was easily left on the uneven stone mill.
After Jiang Che cleaned the millstone, Tang Tian and Hu Lili also finished washing up and gathered around with interest.
"Jiang Che, how do I use this?"
Tang Tian asked curiously.
These two big stones look very heavy.
"It's very simple. I'll teach you."
"When I turn the millstone later, just use this small spoon to scoop the soybeans into this hole."
Jiang Che said as he gave instructions.
"Okay, leave it to me."
Jiang Che nodded, turned around, picked up the long T-shaped joystick, and inserted one end into the wood protruding from the edge of the millstone.
He started pulling the joystick. With Jiang Che's current physical condition, pulling the millstone was extremely easy.
If Jiang Che wasn't afraid that the other two couldn't keep up, he could even make the millstone produce sparks.
"Tang Tian, please pour some water into the hole for me to clean it."
Jiang Che shouted.
In the kitchen, Chen Xiuzhi smiled happily as she saw Jiang Che, Tang Tian and Hu Lili getting along so harmoniously.
Tang Tian watched the millstone turning back and forth, not daring to reach out her hand.
"Tangtang, let me go first. You can watch and learn from the side first, and then you can try it later."
Hu Lili looked at the flustered Tang Tian and said with a smile.
"Okay, you should do it. It's spinning too fast, it's a little hard to start."
Tang Tian handed the spoon to Hu Lili, who stood by and watched with a very serious look.
Hu Lili is a child from a farming family and has done a lot of these things before, so they are not difficult for her at all.
He took a gourd ladle, scooped a ladle of water, and after the stone mill turned, he quickly poured the water in.
After pouring out a bucket of water, clear water will flow out from the outlet of the millstone, which means it is almost done.
Hu Lili began to pour the liquid into the millstone hole one spoonful at a time with a small spoon, her movements very skillful.
As Jiang Che pushed the stone mill quickly, the light yellow soy juice from the mill outlet flowed into the bucket, and the bean smell began to spread in the backyard, which smelled very pleasant.
"Lily, I know what to do. Let me try."
When Hu Lili had scooped half of it, Tang Tian suddenly said.
"Okay, here's the spoon. Be careful, Jiang Che, turn it slowly and don't hit Tangtang."
Hu Lili handed the spoon to Tang Tian and walked aside, without forgetting to remind Jiang Che.
Jiang Che smiled and nodded, and indeed slowed down.
Tang Tian scooped up a spoonful of beans and carefully put it into the millstone hole. She succeeded on the first try and found that it was not that difficult.
Later on, we became more and more skilled and had a lot of fun. As the saying goes, work is less tiring when men and women work together.
Before he knew it, a whole pot of beans had been ground. Jiang Che brought the bucket to the kitchen and his mother immediately took over.
"Auntie Chen, can we see how you make tofu pudding? I can help."
Tang Tian asked curiously. Although she had drunk tofu pudding before, she had never seen how it was made.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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