The Tofu Queen: A Modern Woman's Ancient Kingdom Journey

Walking out of the Desheng Inn, Jiang Huaiyu felt the reassuring weight of the contract in her sleeve and the two hundred tael silver note tucked safely alongside it.

The manager of the inn, Master Li, escorted her respectfully to the door, speaking in a low but serious tone. "Miss Jiang, I trust you'll honor your word. The tofu recipe must remain exclusive to our inn and the other two we've agreed upon."

Jiang Huaiyu's smile was faint but unwavering. "A promise made is a promise kept. The soft tofu recipe will only be sold to your three establishments. Should another place start serving tofu and it's linked to me or those around me, I'll refund the entire amount."

Master Li gave a strained nod. He couldn't exactly feel triumphant, given the circumstances. But considering that even their head manager—someone known for his prudence and business acumen—had conceded before Jiang Huaiyu, he found some solace.

Tofu was different from most secrets worth buying. Rather than risk Jiang Huaiyu selling the recipe to everyone in town, the three major inns had agreed to share the tofu market between them. If someone wanted tofu, they'd have no choice but to visit one of their inns.

Still, the simplicity of the recipe had shocked them. Soybeans and gypsum—ingredients so basic they bordered on absurd. Even their head manager had been rendered speechless after learning the method. Paying two hundred taels for something so elementary was enough to make them laugh—or cry.

After leaving Desheng Inn, Jiang Huaiyu made her way to the other two premier inns in the county. She repeated her pitch, making it clear that the tofu recipe would only be sold to these three establishments. Her confidence, coupled with her nonchalant readiness to walk away, kept the price high, despite the other managers gritting their teeth in frustration.

By the end of the day, Jiang Huaiyu had three contracts and a sum of six hundred taels in silver notes. Before leaving town, she bought paper, envelopes, and ink from a stationery shop, using the tools to write three letters. She handed the sealed letters to a shop assistant, paying him to deliver them to the managers of the three inns.

Her task completed, she wandered through the bustling streets, pausing at a fabric shop to purchase soft cloth for making new clothes for Tangbao. While Jiang Huaiyu knew she could sew a passable outfit herself, she figured she could always sketch a pattern and hire a tailor if needed.

She sampled street food and eventually settled in a teahouse directly across from the county courthouse. Finding a seat with a clear view of the courthouse doors, she ordered tea and snacks.

When the tea arrived, its bitter taste shocked her tongue. Curiosity led her to inspect the pot's contents: an assortment of herbs and leaves. This wasn't tea—it was a medicinal brew.

"I need proper tea leaves. This is ridiculous," she muttered, resolving to fix that in the future.

From her vantage point, Jiang Huaiyu saw a familiar figure leaving the courthouse. It was Wang Dazhuang, his face a mixture of confusion and relief. Without hesitation, she paid for her tea and descended the stairs gracefully. Her confident strides caught attention, but she ignored the stares, focusing solely on Wang Dazhuang.

"Miss Jiang!" he called, his voice thick with emotion.

"Shh. Not here. We'll talk in the village," she interrupted, glancing around. With so many eyes and ears nearby, this wasn't the place for a conversation.

By the time they reached the city gate, Wang Dazhuang had managed to calm his nerves, though questions still burned in his mind. Jiang Huaiyu spotted one of her business partners, the manager of Fucui Inn, enjoying a leisurely meal on the second floor of the establishment.

As their eyes met, the man raised his wine glass in mock acknowledgment. Jiang Huaiyu returned his gaze with icy indifference before continuing on her way, Wang Dazhuang in tow.

The sight of Wang Dazhuang walking free wiped the smirk off the man's face. His wine glass slammed onto the table, the liquid sloshing over the edge. "What is the meaning of this?!" he growled, rising to his feet, his companions and attendants shrinking back in confusion.

Meanwhile, on the bumpy ride back to the village, Wang Dazhuang finally mustered the courage to ask, "Miss Jiang, what happened? How am I free?"

Jiang Huaiyu leaned back against the cart, her voice calm but firm. "You were falsely accused. This entire ordeal was a scheme to force me to hand over the tofu recipe."

"I knew it! It must've been that snake, Young Master Yan!" Wang Dazhuang exclaimed, clenching his fists.

"Correct. And that's why I sold the recipe," Jiang Huaiyu admitted.

Wang Dazhuang's shock was palpable. "You—how could you?! You shouldn't have bowed to his threats!"

Jiang Huaiyu raised a hand to silence him. "Calm down. The recipe wasn't sold to him. I sold it to the three largest inns in town, splitting it among them. Each now has an exclusive right to the recipe, and they'll protect it because it benefits them. I also included tofu-based recipes to ensure their success."

Wang Dazhuang was stunned into silence. While her plan had secured his freedom, he couldn't help but worry that she'd sacrificed too much.

"This isn't the end," Jiang Huaiyu said, her eyes gleaming with determination. "I taught your wife a new method—salted tofu. Soon, you'll open a shop in town to sell it. But first, approach the village elders. Offer them a portion of the profits for communal projects. That will ensure their support and protection."

"But—"

"No buts," Jiang Huaiyu interrupted. "This will safeguard your family and the business. Trust me."

As the cart rolled into the village, Jiang Huaiyu's thoughts turned to her future. The recipe might have been sold, but she had plans that reached far beyond the confines of this small village.

The road to the capital awaited. And she intended to travel it on her own terms.