Chapter 9 A good start, the God of Wealth arrives
In the kitchen.
Everyone had a clear division of labor. Huang Dongsheng filtered the residue and poured the filtered water into the pot, and his cousin boiled the water.
Yang Wenying squatted below and made a fire.
"We have to reduce the amount of tofu by half today. Let's make the tofu first, and use the remaining two buckets of soy milk to make yuba." Chen Yao stood in front of the stove, stirring the soy milk in the pot.
Yang Wenying and Huang Dongsheng naturally would not object. On the contrary, with Chen Yao leading the way, they would not act recklessly like headless flies.
The tofu ordered today only filled two plates, which took a short time. However, making the bean curd sheets next is a delicate job and cannot be rushed.
Boil a pot of rice water, leave some fire on the stove to keep it warm, wait for the rice water to cool down and solidify into skin on the surface, use a long bamboo stick to pick it up, twist it into long strips and put it in a round winnowing basket.
Start a fire again to boil the starch water, turn off the heat to keep it warm, and when the second bean curd skin solidifies in the pot, use a long bamboo stick to lift it up and twist it into strips.
This process was repeated many times, and only ten pieces of bean curd sheets were made in half an hour.
Everyone stood in front of the stove and watched Chen Yao make the bean curd sheets. Although they didn't do anything themselves, they knew that if they wanted to finish making this pot of soy sauce, it would probably take a whole day, and they would not have time to carry their loads to the village to sell tofu today.
"Cousin, take out the contents of this winnowing basket and dry them first. We will set off at noon and go directly to Shahe Township without staying in Shanghe Village any longer."
Huang Dongsheng went out with a winnowing basket, brought a wooden ladder, and placed the bean curd sheets in the winnowing basket on the roof to dry.
"Ayao, how about mom come and help you? You can just go and don't worry." Huang Xing watched for a while and felt that she could do it herself. Making bean curd sheets just takes a long time.
She is free at home anyway, so she might as well help her daughter.
Chen Yao peeled off the bean curd wrappers and said, "I know that mother loves me. After noon, we will leave and mother will help me make the rest."
"You kid, are you so unsure of your mother's cooking skills?"
Chen Yao raised her hands high and cried out in injustice: "My mother's cooking skills are naturally the best. It's just that I selfishly want to stay home with you more."
Huang Xing felt soft-hearted when her daughter rubbed her shoulders, and she reached out and poked her daughter's eyebrows, "You're so smooth-talking, you even coax your mother."
"Mom, we just went to various villages to sell tofu yesterday. I don't think too many people will come to exchange with us today. It doesn't matter if we go late." Chen Yao stood up straight and grinned at the two children under the stove.
How dare you laugh at her.
Yang Wenying and Huang Dongsheng tried hard to hold back their laughter, but their shaking shoulders betrayed them.
The kitchen was bustling with activity.
Zhao Xiaofu, who was standing outside the fenced yard, heard the laughter coming from the Shen family and couldn't help but smile.
"Mother, there are guests." Shen Qingshan felt sore in the corners of his eyes while picking beans. He looked up and saw the son of the village head standing outside his door.
Huang Xing heard her husband's call and hurried out of the kitchen. She was a little surprised to see the newcomer and opened the gate to welcome him into the yard. "Xiaofu, is there something the village head wants to see us about?"
Zhao Xiaofu stood in the yard and took out two copper coins from his sleeve and handed them over: "Auntie, I'm here to buy tofu from your family."
Huang Xing was stunned for a moment as she stared at the two copper coins. When she came to her senses, she quickly pushed them back and snatched the bowl from him: "How could I take your money? Take it back now. I'll go get you two pieces of tofu."
Zhao Xiaofu followed Huang Xing but did not enter the kitchen. He just stood at the door and smiled at the people inside, saying, "Auntie, you can't buy things without paying. If you don't accept it, then I don't want this tofu."
Huang Xingsheng's hand holding the tofu stopped in mid-air and he looked at his daughter, somewhat undecided.
"Brother Xiaofu, we will accept it this time. Next time you can just exchange it with soybeans." Chen Yao wiped the soy milk off her hands and gave the tofu in the bowl to Zhao Xiaofu.
Zhao Xiaofu discovered that Chen Yao was very different since she got married. Every time he saw her, she was smiling. It was obvious that her family was living a hard life, but she still helped the villagers in the same village. What was she trying to do?
I came here today just to see what she is up to.
"Brother Xiaofu?" Chen Yao saw Zhao Xiaofu staring at her blankly and called him again.
Zhao Xiaofu took the tofu and handed her two copper coins. He glanced at the stove and asked, "What's that dustpan of yours? Are you going to sell it too?"
Chen Yao waved at Huang Dongsheng and said, "Go get two of the first batch of dried bean curd sheets and let Brother Xiaofu take them home to try."
"Okay, cousin, I'll get it right away." Huang Dongsheng also had a smile on his face.
Today, before I even left the house, someone came to buy something. It’s a really good start and the God of Wealth has arrived.
Zhao Xiaofu left the Shen family with two pieces of tofu and two pieces of bean curd sheets, smiling.
Only when he turned around and no longer saw Huang Dongsheng off did he smirk and stare coldly at the food in the bowl.
It seems that what my father said was right. The Yang brothers and sisters are not ordinary people and need to be kept a closer eye on.
If someone from above comes to investigate and finds that they have escaped from Fang County, their family will inevitably be implicated.
Chen Yao didn't know that her business had already been targeted before it became big. She had two more copper coins in her pocket and was happily celebrating with everyone, singing the God of Wealth song.
We had lunch at home at noon. It was no longer just cold pancakes and cold water, but hot sweet soy milk and salty hot bean dregs. The three children's stomachs were so full that they were bulging.
After resting for a while at home, Chen Yao carried a load of two plates of tofu and half-dried bean curd sheets and headed for Shanghe Village.
After promising to give the wife of the butcher of Shanghe Village a taste of the bean curd sheets, they told their aunt and uncle how to eat them, asked their aunt to deliver two, and left four for their aunt's family to try, and then left.
"Ayao is such a thoughtful kid." Huang Mei looked at the bean curd sheets in the basket, the corners of her lips never lowered.
Tian Baolai put down the rope in his hand and came over to drink water: "Mom, make it for me at home tonight."
"Go, pull your wooden plow. This is A Yao's gift to me and your father as a filial piety. You have no share!" Huang Mei slapped her son's dirty hand away, preventing him from touching it.
Tian Baolai rubbed the backs of his hands and waited for his mother and sister to hold the wooden plow. Then he picked up the thick hemp rope and pulled it with his father.
"Dad, I saw it clearly. My cousin gave me four pieces of bean curd sticks. One is for me and my sister. You and mom can't be greedy for ours."
"You little rascal, if you keep talking about your mother behind her back, I'll beat you up." Tanaka was so tired that he was sweating profusely, his chest and back were soaked, but looking at the children, he still felt that he had endless energy.
What a coincidence, Dad, me too!
Tian Baolai carried a rope on his shoulders and kept walking forward. Half of the land at home had been turned over by them.
As soon as Chen Yao and the other two entered Shahe Township, they shouted slogans and people in the fields immediately stood up and came towards them.
The villagers walked together in groups of three or four, and at first they asked each other what each family had brought to exchange for tofu.
After hearing Chen Yao say that there was not much tofu left today, they rushed to the front of the carrying pole as if they were in a race.
If Huang Dongsheng hadn't stopped them, the baskets would have been overturned by the crowd.
Chen Yao looked at everyone. This was a little different from what she expected. It seemed that the two copper coins Zhao Xiaofu had given them earlier really brought them wealth.
"Everyone, please don't push. Let's line up and come one by one." Chen Yao protected the basket and signaled Huang Dongsheng and Yang Wenying to maintain order.
It was still a piece of tofu and a bowl of soybeans. Chen Yao changed out a piece of tofu and introduced the new food, bean curd sheets, to everyone she met.
Unfortunately, even though Chen Yao told everyone how to eat this new food, no one was willing to try it.
However, the lady who had previously exchanged seeds for tofu today exchanged a bowl of soybeans for tofu, and Chen Yao gave her a piece of bean curd stick.
The other one was given to the old man who bought tofu for one penny.
"Auntie, if you think it tastes good, please spread the word in the village. If someone comes to exchange bean curd sheets with me next time, I'll give you two a piece of tofu for free."
The two ladies were about to leave when they heard that they would be given tofu next time. They immediately came up to them and asked, "What do you mean by publicity?"
"When you're chatting with others, you can talk about the taste of our yuba and what it tastes like in your mouth."
"This stuff is like toilet paper, what can it smell like?"
"Could it be the smell of meat?"
The two ladies teased Chen Yao together.
Chen Yao didn't get angry either. She told Yang Wenying and Huang Dongsheng to pack up their stall first. She chatted with the two ladies beside them, "You can take this bean curd skin home and fry it, stir-fry it, stew it, or serve it cold. The taste will be different depending on how you cook it. If you stir-fry it with meat, it will naturally taste like meat."
The two ladies just felt that the young lady in front of them was good at fooling people. How could this soft thing be compared with meat?
If it wasn't given to them, they wouldn't want it.
"Auntie, if this bean curd sheet is dried and stored, it can be kept for a long time. If you get tired of eating radishes and cabbages in winter, take out this bean curd sheet, soak it in water, and stew it in a hot pot. The taste is really delicious and will leave you with a lingering aftertaste."
"Besides, this bean curd sheet is not sold anywhere else. It is my Shen family's unique secret recipe. You two are the first to get it from me." Chen Yao stunned the two ladies.
"Then I'll go home tonight and try making it the way you said. If it tastes good, I'll come back to see you."
"Thank you, Auntie!" Chen Yao bowed to the two women to express her gratitude.
The burden on the return journey was much lighter than yesterday, but Huang Dongsheng couldn't hide the smile on his face.
"Cousin, I was wrong yesterday."
Chen Yao patted his shoulder and said, "I'm also wrong. I didn't explain my plan to you two in advance."
"So, cousin, are we going to start growing bean sprouts next? When can we carry our loads to Qingfeng Town to sell them?"
Yang Wenying didn't dare to ask these questions, but Huang Dongsheng asked them for her.
Chen Yao knew what they were thinking about. She picked up a stick from the ground and knocked on the tall grass by the roadside in annoyance. She was about to speak.
With a whoosh, a white shadow jumped out from the tall grass and instantly got into their basket.
The three were so frightened that they dropped their burdens and stepped back.
Huang Dongsheng remembered that he was a man and had promised his uncle before leaving that he would protect his cousin and that person. After calming down, he plucked up his courage, picked up the stick that had fallen on the ground and walked forward.
Chen Yao grabbed Huang Dongsheng's arm and handed him the tiger bone knife, "Cousin, use this."
Huang Dongsheng held the tiger bone knife and slowly moved to the front of the basket. His eyes narrowed into slits and his hands trembled with fear. When he saw clearly what was inside, he was so happy that he grabbed the things in the basket with his bare hands.
"Cousin, it's a rabbit, and it's alive!"
"Wow, what a fat rabbit! We are so lucky today!" Chen Yao put away her tiger bone knife and went over to take a look with Yang Wenying.
The rabbit's ears were grabbed and it kicked its legs in fear. Chen Yao quickly pulled a handful of straw and twisted it into a rope to tie up the rabbit's legs. "Let's go home first. We can talk while we eat the rabbit."
"Ah, rabbits are so cute, can't we raise them?" Yang Wenying pulled Chen Yao's sleeve and was still a little scared afterwards.
"We have to eat meat. It's getting cold, so we can use the rabbit fur to make hand guards for your uncle and your brother. Don't you want to see your brother? Do you still want to kill the rabbit and eat it?"
Yang Wenying's eyes lit up: It must be killed and eaten!
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