READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Tofu
In this world, 20 taels of silver could buy a small house with a courtyard. For the average villager, like Wang Dazhuang, Zheng Xiaoyue's husband, even saving 10 taels in a year was a near-impossible task. Every coin earned went right back out for daily expenses.
"Do you know where I can borrow a stone mill?" Jiang Huaiyu asked Zheng Xiaoyue as they walked back from the market. "Or maybe buy one? It'd be better if it's for sale."
Zheng Xiaoyue furrowed her brows in thought. "We have one at home that's not being used. Are you planning to grind the soybeans into flour? If so, it might be easier just to steam them. Grinding them into flour makes them even harder to eat."
Jiang Huaiyu smiled. "Actually, I've read about a recipe in an old text that can turn these soybeans into something delicious. It won't cause bloating and can be prepared in all sorts of ways."
"Really?" Zheng Xiaoyue's eyes widened, though she sounded skeptical. "It must be complicated, though. Don't you need to add other ingredients? Plain soybeans turning into a delicacy sounds far-fetched."
"Let's make a deal," Jiang Huaiyu said with a calm smile. "Tomorrow, if you and Brother Wang can help clean the mill, I'll come over and show you."
That evening, Jiang Huaiyu busied herself at home, carefully preparing for the next day. After feeding Tangbao and ensuring he was comfortably asleep, she washed the soybeans and set them to soak in a large water jar.
The next morning, she woke to the faint crowing of roosters. Brushing her teeth with a twig dipped in coarse salt and splashing her face with cold well water, she felt instantly refreshed.
After checking on the chickens and preparing Tangbao's porridge, she headed to Zheng Xiaoyue's house. Zheng's young daughter, Xianghe, greeted her enthusiastically.
"Auntie, I'll watch Brother Runjing for you!"
"Thank you, Xianghe. There's some candy on the table at my house. You can eat it while you work on your weaving. If there's any left, bring it over later."
Blushing from the compliment, Xianghe nodded earnestly and dashed off to her task.
At Zheng Xiaoyue's home, the couple had already prepared the mill. It sat gleaming in the corner of the yard, freshly cleaned.
"Does this mill work for you, Jade?" Zheng Xiaoyue asked, tugging her guest toward it. "I hardly slept last night trying to figure out what you're planning to do with those soybeans!"
"Don't worry. You'll see soon enough." Jiang Huaiyu laughed. "But first, I'll need Brother Wang's help to carry the soaked beans over."
Wang Dazhuang, a man of few words but abundant strength, nodded and followed them to fetch the two jars of beans.
"Now, we grind them." Jiang Huaiyu began pouring the soaked beans into the mill, showing them how to add water during the process to create a smooth paste.
While Wang Dazhuang worked the mill, Zheng Xiaoyue dragged Jiang Huaiyu into the kitchen to prepare breakfast. As they peeled and washed sweet potatoes and taro to steam, Zheng began dispensing unsolicited marital advice.
"Men need to be kept in line, you know. Give them orders, keep them working, and don't spoil them. When I first married, I was shy as a mouse. Now, people call me the Lion of the East Bank!"
Jiang Huaiyu laughed as she arranged the food in the steamer. "Well, to Brother Wang, you're probably the prettiest lion he's ever seen."
"Don't be ridiculous!" Zheng shot her a playful glare but couldn't suppress a grin.
When breakfast was ready, they brought food outside to the exhausted Wang Dazhuang, who had already finished grinding the beans. The rich, creamy soybean paste filled two large buckets. Following Jiang Huaiyu's instructions, Wang carried the paste into the kitchen, where it was boiled in a large pot over a roaring fire.
Jiang Huaiyu stirred the boiling soy milk to prevent it from sticking, her focus unwavering. When it was ready, they strained the liquid through a cloth, separating the smooth soy milk from the rough okara (bean pulp).
The scent of fresh soy milk filled the kitchen, its rich aroma tantalizing even the skeptical Zheng Xiaoyue. "This actually smells amazing!" she admitted.
Next came the magic. Jiang Huaiyu added a solution of gypsum powder to the hot soy milk, carefully stirring it before letting it rest. Within minutes, the liquid began to set, transforming into soft, silky tofu.
Both Zheng Xiaoyue and Wang Dazhuang watched in awe as Jiang scooped up a ladleful of the delicate, snow-white curd. "That's incredible!" Zheng exclaimed.
Meanwhile, at the edge of the yard, Aunt Xu crouched by a hole in the wall, trying to spy on the proceedings. "What's all the fuss about? It's just some white, slimy mush!" she muttered, though she couldn't tear her eyes away.
To showcase tofu's versatility, Jiang Huaiyu prepared several dishes: cold tofu with sauce, pan-fried tofu, and a light tofu soup. After tasting each dish, Zheng Xiaoyue was nearly bouncing with excitement.
"This is delicious!" she declared.
Jiang Huaiyu asked, "If you saw tofu at the market, priced at one coin per piece, would you buy it?"
Zheng hesitated, considering the cost. A single piece of tofu would only serve one meal, while one coin's worth of pork could last her family days. "As a treat, maybe a few times a month," she admitted.
Jiang Huaiyu smiled, her confidence renewed. The success of her tofu experiment marked the first real step toward building a life in this world. With the right plan, even a humble soybean could pave the way to prosperity.