Chapter 138

Chapter 138

The next day, Xu Yuqing sat up, exhausted. Thoughts at night lead to dreams by day; she had dreamt last night that Yan Lan was chasing her, shouting that how could douhua be sweet, and throwing the sweet douhua at her.

Her body was covered in sweet douhua made with brown sugar syrup.

Shaking her head vigorously to dispel this terrifying dream, Xu Yuqing struggled out of bed. The first thing she did wasn’t washing up but checking on her soybeans in the kitchen.

She had soaked them last night, and now, they were perfectly hydrated, crumbling easily under pressure—a sign they were ready.

Draining most of the water from the soybeans, she realized Xie Junli must still be out getting breakfast. Xu Yuqing quickly went back to wash up, planning to grind the beans after breakfast before the cafeteria got busy.

Xu Yuqing was always decisive and efficient. After quickly finishing the breakfast Xie Junli brought back, she immediately took her soybeans without even saying goodbye, slamming the door shut behind her.

...

Xie Junli sighed helplessly, his eyes bloodshot from fatigue. Last night, Xu Yuqing had suddenly started kicking in her sleep, waking him up. She was having a nightmare, muttering, "I can't make salty douhua!" repeatedly until it faded away.

Though he didn’t know why Xu Yuqing was under such stress, he still followed her, hoping to offer some assistance.

However, he didn’t see her along the way, surprised by how fast she was moving.

Xu Yuqing was indeed in a hurry, running all the way. Suddenly, she remembered that Old Fang might know how to make salty douhua!

Old Fang was an expert; a simple brine for salty douhua wouldn’t be a challenge for him.

Feeling relieved, Xu Yuqing decided to try the salty douhua despite her reluctance.

Arriving at the familiar back door, she knocked. There was noise inside, but no one answered. Switching hands with the soybeans, she knocked again.

After a long while, still no one came to open the door. Standing on tiptoe, she peeked inside and called softly, "Is anyone there?"

When there was still no response, she raised her voice, "Anyone? Can you open the door?"

Finally, there was a sound, and the back door opened hurriedly, revealing a somewhat familiar face—Old Fang’s relative, whom she had met once.

Nodding gratefully, Xu Yuqing followed, tightly holding the basin of soybeans.

He Yun led Xu Yuqing inside, her expression unchanged, but her eyes kept stealing glances at her. Xu Yuqing looked better than the last time they met, radiant and refreshed. In contrast, He Yun had been scolded by her uncle, and everyone was less afraid of her now. She still had to do all her work, and her once soft hands had become rough and calloused. She had secretly glanced at Xu Yuqing’s hands, which also had calluses but still looked delicate and beautiful.

She pursed her lips, pushed open the door, and found everyone inside bustling about. They had just finished breakfast and were resting. Seeing Xu Yuqing, they were delighted and stood up to greet her.

"Ah! Comrade Xu, you haven’t come in a while! I heard you found a good job. Congratulations!"

Everyone congratulated her sincerely, and Xu Yuqing was deeply moved by their warmth.

At that moment, Old Fang approached, sizing her up and noticing the basin in her hand. He asked curiously, "What’s that? Why did you bring a basin of soybeans?"

Oh, right! Xu Yuqing patted her head, having forgotten the main reason in her excitement. She quickly held up the basin, "Uncle Fang, I heard there’s a stone mill here. I want to borrow it to grind some soy milk."

She said excitedly, looking expectantly at Old Fang, who frowned. "There is a stone mill, but it’s very dirty. Why do you suddenly want to grind soy milk?"

Xu Yuqing was thrilled to hear there really was one. She wasn’t bothered by the trouble; she was simply craving it. "No problem, I’ll clean it myself. It won’t bother anyone!"

Old Fang knew Xu Yuqing’s character and nodded, leading her to the storage room. In a corner, on a dusty shelf, lay the stone mill buried under clutter. Xu Yuqing looked puzzled until Old Fang cleared the items, revealing the mill.

She had thought it was a small table before.

It seemed it had been there for a long time.

The stone mill was small, perched on a tiny wooden stand. Seeing its true form, Xu Yuqing couldn’t help but laugh. "Uncle Fang, why is this stone mill so small?"

Old Fang looked disdainful. "Isn’t it because it’s small that it’s been here so long? The Logistics Department only bought this size. If I used it to make tofu, it wouldn’t be enough for everyone even if I worked day and night."

He lifted the stone mill, which was about the size of two basketballs, not too heavy despite being made of stone. Stepping over Xu Yuqing, he placed it on the kitchen floor. Everyone gathered around, curious. "Hey, seeing this thing makes me crave tofu."

"That’s true, but grinding it is a lot of work. No one does it anymore."

Everyone chattered, and Xu Yuqing squatted down, turning the mill a few times. It still spun smoothly.

Just as she was about to lift it, Old Fang stopped her. "Don’t, you’re too small. I’ll ask Little Zheng to carry it for you. Return it when you’re done."

Public property remained public, but borrowing it was fine.

Xu Yuqing nodded, not daring to strain her back. She stepped back, making space for Little Zheng to pick it up.

"Can you manage?" Xu Yuqing asked anxiously.

Little Zheng gritted his teeth. He usually stayed in the kitchen and rarely trained, so lifting it would be tiring, but he couldn’t admit weakness in front of a female comrade. He shook his head. "Not tired at all!"

With that, he started walking. Xu Yuqing thanked everyone and prepared to leave. Just then, a voice echoed, "No need to thank us; it’s Brother Zheng doing the hard work."

Xu Yuqing paused, feeling a bit embarrassed. She didn’t know who said it, but she realized she shouldn’t take it for granted. Just as she was about to ask Little Zheng to put it down, someone entered—the door opened, and it was Xie Junli.

His cold face showed no emotion, and he immediately found Xu Yuqing, nodding at Old Fang. "Is it here?"

Xu Yuqing was stunned. How could he come back? But it's good that he's here. She looked at Xie Junli with surprise. "Yes, just right. Little Zheng, you've worked hard. Put it down and let Commander Xie carry it back!"

Huh? Little Zheng was also stunned. He lifted his head, and Xie Junli was right there, not far away. Seeing Xie Junli's face, his nervousness resurfaced. He looked at Xie Junli nervously. "Or, or maybe I should do it. Commander Xie, rest assured, I'll make sure to deliver it to your wife!"

He said it seriously, almost like an oath, and even stopped calling her Sister Xu.

Xu Yuqing looked at him amusedly and gave Xie Junli a meaningful glance, signaling him to take over.

It's easier to order around someone familiar. Xie Junli understood the look and reached out. Before he could even move, Little Zheng respectfully handed the stone mill to Xie Junli. "Sure thing! Then I won't disturb you. I'll go chop some vegetables."

With that, he darted behind the crowd, clearly terrified of Xie Junli.

Everyone found this amusing but held back their laughter. Only Old Fang couldn't help but burst into laughter, teasing Xie Junli. "Your face, really." He shook his head, a mix of exasperation and amusement.

Xie Junli showed no reaction, took the stone mill firmly, and looked at Xu Yuqing. "Let's go."

"Okay."

Xu Yuqing responded, holding a basin of yellow beans she had brought. She turned and smiled at Old Fang. "Uncle Fang, everyone, wait a bit. I'll bring some over for you to taste once it's done!"

"Alright! Sure thing!"

Old Fang responded with a smile, breaking the tension. "If it's too much trouble, don't bother bringing it over. Just sneak me a taste."

"Pah! Why can you have a sneak taste and not me?"

"Hey, you guys eat so much, Little Xu will be exhausted!"

The group chattered on, and the atmosphere became lively again. Xu Yuqing smiled and agreed, bidding everyone farewell before heading back to make tofu.

The door closed, and the smiles on everyone's faces faded. The atmosphere grew tense as they went back to their tasks. Only Old Fang and He Yun were left standing there. He Yun poked her wrist in regret, forcing a smile. "Uncle, I'll go work now."

Old Fang didn't respond immediately. After a while, he said coldly, "If you're going to work here, work properly. I'll find you someone to marry. If you still have any improper thoughts, drop them now, or I'll send you back."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving He Yun clenching her fists, seething with resentment as she watched Xie Junli's back. Feeling helpless, she silently turned to wash dishes.

Outside, Xu Yuqing carried the basin, cheering Xie Junli on. "Faster, or you'll be late! Hurry up!"

Xie Junli looked at his obviously gleeful wife and quickened his pace, though he still seemed relaxed.

Xu Yuqing was skeptical. Carrying the basin of beans, her arms were already sore. When she placed it on the stone mill, Xie Junli didn't even flinch, continuing to walk briskly.

She looked at him admiringly. "Xiao Xie, all that training wasn't for nothing. Those muscles weren't built on empty calories."

She marveled at his strength.

Xie Junli glanced at her, carrying everything with one arm while using the other to pull out keys from his pocket to open the door. Xu Yuqing was amazed by his ease. Xie Junli, seeing her expression, felt playful. "I could carry another you."

He waved his free hand.

Xu Yuqing rolled her eyes. "Thanks, but no thanks. Go to work!"

Xie Junli, dismissed without ceremony, walked away confused. Xu Yuqing shut the door, as if discarding him after use.

Xie Junli stood silently, looking at the closed door, puzzled. He glanced at his arm, wondering if Old Yu's advice was wrong.

Inside, Xu Yuqing blushed, feeling shy. She was glad she had sent him away quickly, or he might have succeeded.

She separated the stone mill and washed it thoroughly, scrubbing every crevice. For hard-to-reach spots, she used her fingernails. After half an hour, the stone mill was spotless, though not shiny.

She reassembled the mill and struggled to move it inside, feeling her biceps calling out. She placed it on the stove, aligning the outlet directly with the pot, saving her the need for a bucket. She rinsed the soaked beans again, using about three parts water to one part beans, and began grinding.

At first, she thought grinding would be easy, but it proved challenging. Her wrists ached, and she switched hands repeatedly. No wonder Old Fang said it takes a day and night to grind enough for everyone—it was tough work.

She ground circle after circle until the pot was full of milky white liquid and the basin was empty. She breathed a sigh of relief, noticing a blister on her middle finger. It wasn't severe, so she ignored it, rinsing the stone mill clean.

In another pot, she placed two sticks and a strainer on top, covering it with a cloth. Using a gourd ladle, she scooped the mixture, leaving the pulp on the cloth and letting the juice flow through.

Smelling the bean scent, Xu Yuqing looked forward to the soy milk. She hadn't had it in a long time.

Too bad Sister Yan Lan isn't here; she could have tasted sweet soy milk.

Soon, the strainer was full, and Xu Yuqing squeezed the pulp dry, pressing it into a ball to extract all the juice. She set the pulp aside and repeated the process.

In no time, the pot was full. Xu Yuqing started a fire to boil the soy milk and prepared the coagulant, which was salt brine—what remained after salt was boiled and dried.

She had learned about this from the canning factory and bought it at the supply store, though it wasn't cheap.

She mixed the salt brine with water according to the ratio and waited for the soy milk to boil.

Raw soy milk is toxic and must never be consumed casually. After boiling it over high heat until bubbles appear, it needs to be boiled for another five minutes to ensure it's safe before turning off the heat. Xu Yuqing first scooped out a small basin of soy milk. Later, she would add some sugar to make it sweet.

She then poured salt into the remaining soy milk in the pot, stirring it gently in a circular motion.

After stirring, she left it undisturbed to wait for the tofu to set.

At that moment, there was a sound at the door, along with a child's crying. It sounded familiar, and Xu Yuqing was startled. She put down her spoon and walked outside. Sure enough, it was Yan Lan and Yu Song. "Sister Yan Lan, what happened?"

She gently stroked Yu Song's red, tear-stained face, asking with concern.

Yan Lan shook her head, quickly bringing Yu Song inside and setting him down. She rubbed her hands and waist, exhausted. "This little rascal insisted on sliding down the hill as soon as we stepped out. Fine, he slid, but then he fell and refused to walk. I had to carry him all the way here."

She was breathless from the effort.

Xu Yuqing hurriedly patted her back. Yu Song, now on his feet, clung to Xu Yuqing's leg. After comforting both mother and son, Xu Yuqing gave them a look. "Would you like something warm and sweet?"

Yu Song's eyes lit up. "Yes!"

"Great!" Xu Yuqing led Yu Song to the kitchen, having him sit on a chair while she waited. Yan Lan followed closely behind. The air was filled with a rich aroma of beans, causing Yan Lan's eyes to brighten. "Yuqing, you've already made it? It smells wonderful!"

Yu Song chimed in, "It does smell good!"

Pleased by their praise, Xu Yuqing nodded proudly, pouring slightly cooled soy milk into a thermos. She poured a small bowl for herself, tasting it first. The familiar sweetness and bean flavor made her nod approvingly. She then poured two half-bowls.

"Here, try Aunt Xu's sweet soy milk."

She carefully handed the bowl to Yu Song, ensuring he held it steadily before letting go. Yu Song's eyes sparkled as he looked at the soy milk, drooling slightly. He instinctively licked his lips and looked at Xu Yuqing. "Thank you, Aunt Xu."

"Go ahead, enjoy," Xu Yuqing said, smiling warmly and patting his head.

Watching him drink contentedly, she stood up, satisfied, and poured a bowl for Yan Lan.

"Sister Yan Lan, try some too."

Yan Lan took the bowl with both hands and took a sip. Her eyes lit up. "This is delicious! So sweet, I haven't had this in ages."

Xu Yuqing also poured herself a bit. The familiar aroma was rich and smooth, with just the right amount of sweetness.

After finishing her cup, she nodded contentedly. At that moment, the tofu had almost set. She gently tapped it with a spoon; it was soft, like jelly.

Yan Lan curiously peered over. "Is this tofu?"

"Not yet, this is still tofu pudding," Xu Yuqing chuckled, taking the bowl from Yan Lan and scooping a small half-bowl for her.

"Sister, do you prefer salty?" Xu Yuqing asked, concerned, remembering she had forgotten to ask about the recipe earlier.

Yan Lan nodded. "Yes, when I was young, we always added soy sauce, but I love it sweet."

Sweet! Xu Yuqing's eyes lit up, ignoring the mention of soy sauce. She retrieved a sugar jar from the cabinet and sprinkled a spoonful of sugar evenly over Yan Lan's bowl.

And Yu Song's bowl as well.

Then she took out a large bowl—Xie Junli's usual bowl—and filled it to the brim, leaving it aside for him. The leftover tofu pudding would be used to make tofu.

She brought a bamboo tray and placed it over another pot, laying a steaming cloth over it. The tray was too big, so the tofu wouldn't set properly. She reconsidered and removed the steaming cloth, replacing it with a porcelain bowl.

Yan Lan watched Xu Yuqing's actions curiously, not knowing what would happen next. Like Yu Song, she obediently stood by, doing nothing.

The pot of tofu pudding filled more than half the porcelain bowl, leaving much behind. Xu Yuqing wasn't in a hurry. She first wrapped the tofu tightly and placed a plate with several stones on top.

Soon, water began to seep out. Xu Yuqing carefully lifted the plate and bowl, pouring out the excess water.

She repeated the process with the remaining tofu pudding, quickly emptying the pot. Yan Lan helped clean the pot, while the two porcelain bowls, each containing wrapped tofu, sat on the other pot.

The tofu had released most of its water and was now soft tofu. She carefully drained the water from the bowls and added more stones to the plates.

"Sister Yan Lan, let's have tofu for lunch. I'll make my favorite tofu dish for you."

"Sounds great, I'll look forward to it," Yan Lan eagerly agreed, watching the tofu.

With Yuqing's skills, she could already imagine how delicious lunch would be.

Xu Yuqing repeatedly drained the tofu water, noticing it becoming drier. Once satisfied, she carefully lifted the entire block of tofu, emptied the porcelain bowl, and removed the cloth. "Sister Yan Lan, you and Yu Song stay here. I'll take some tofu to the canteen."

Yan Lan waved her hand, taking the bowl from Xu Yuqing. "I can take it. You rest a bit; you've been busy since early morning. You still have to cook later. I'll go, you and Yu Song stay home."

Without waiting for Xu Yuqing's response, she left with the bowl.

Seeing this, Xu Yuqing decided to let it be and led Yu Song to sit in the main room. She leaned back, truly tired from the morning's work.

But thinking about the delicious meal to come, it was worth it.

Today's tofu wasn't enough for frying. Tomorrow, Xie Junli would be off, and she planned to make more—frozen tofu, fried tofu balls, and fried tofu puffs.

Since she was going to the trouble, she might as well make plenty.

Deciding this, she sipped her soy milk contentedly. Yu Song mimicked her, leaning against a long chair, holding a bowl as big as his face, drinking happily.

Unencumbered by Yu Song, Yan Lan walked briskly. Not recognizing the back entrance of the canteen, she entered through the front. She briefly greeted familiar faces and hurried inside, holding the bowl tightly to avoid any incidents.

Pushing open the canteen door, it wasn't yet mealtime. Someone in the kitchen spotted her immediately. "Comrade, it's not time for meals yet!"

He shouted loudly.

Yan Lan laughed and quickly walked over, placing the enamel basin on the counter. "I know this is comrade Xu Yuqing's tofu. She said to send it over for you to try."

She spoke rapidly, her head poking in to look at the bustling cooking scene inside, which surprised her a bit—despite the cold outside, one of the chefs was working shirtless.

However, after she finished speaking, everyone turned to look at her, their eyes wide with surprise at the basin in her hands. "She really made it?"

"Wow, it's tofu! Looks pretty good!"

Old Fang put down his cleaver, moved aside the small iron door, and came out, gratefully taking the basin. "Thanks, let her know we appreciate it."

"Sure thing." Yan Lan nodded, watching them carefully transfer the tofu to their own plates. She took back the basin and left.

But this time, she went back to her own home first.

When she had gone out, she hadn't expected to bring food again, so she couldn't go empty-handed every time. Fortunately, her mother had brought some nice things yesterday, which Yan Lan didn't know how to prepare—perfect for Yuqing.

In the storage room, there were two large pig trotters. Yan Lan remembered the delicious soybean stewed pig trotters she had eaten at Xu Yuqing's place last time. The taste was simply divine.

Even if she asked her mother to make it, she wouldn't know how.

So it was better to take them over, rather than have them bother her at home.

Each large pig trotter was chopped into several pieces. Yan Lan initially wanted to use a small basket, but found it wouldn't fit. So she grabbed a wicker basket, tossed the pig trotters in, and added a few pounds of rice.

She knew Yuqing wouldn't accept too much, so this amount was just right and manageable for her to carry.

With the basket on her back, Yan Lan stepped through the snow, heading towards the Xie family's house.

Xu Yuqing saw that it was still early and wasn't in a hurry to cook. After all, tofu was simple to prepare. She went to her room to fetch her notebook and fountain pen, then sat down to teach Yu Song how to write.

"Yu Song, two horizontal lines and a hooked vertical line. This character is 'Yu,' your surname."

Yu Song looked puzzled at the drawing on the paper, nodded, and took the fountain pen from Yan Lan, imitating Xu Yuqing's stroke. He began to draw.

"Two horizontal lines and a hooked vertical line—" he muttered, but being young, his hand movements were uncontrolled, and the result looked nothing like the character 'Yu.' Nevertheless, the little boy was delighted and laughed after finishing his attempt.

Xu Yuqing couldn't help but laugh at his expression.

After he was done marveling at his work, Xu Yuqing held his hand, guiding him gently. "Like this, two horizontal lines and a hooked vertical line."

Yu Song found this fascinating and tried again, but still couldn't recognize the character 'Yu.' Xu Yuqing smiled at his enthusiasm.

If only they had some colored pencils, Yu Song would love them.

They eventually stopped writing and started doodling in the notebook. Yu Song seemed to enjoy it, laughing and being lively. Xu Yuqing realized that taking care of a child could be quite fun.

Just as they were about to change the page, Yan Lan pushed open the door and returned. It had started snowing again on her way back, and she had brushed off the snow before entering.

"What are you guys doing?" Yan Lan asked, curious about Yu Song's happy face.

Xu Yuqing, however, was focused on what Yan Lan was carrying. "Sister Yan Lan! What did you bring this time?"

Helping to unload the wicker basket, she saw the bag of rice and the pig trotters underneath. Surprised, she looked at Yan Lan. "Sister Yan Lan, why did you bring so much!?" She was slightly annoyed.

Yan Lan ignored her protests. Friends should share, especially since they had eaten together many times. Familiar with the Xie household, she directly placed the rice in Xu Yuqing's cabinet.

Xu Yuqing tried to stop her. "Sister Yan Lan, take it back later."

"No way. I carried it here; I'm not taking it back. If you don't want it, I won't come over for meals anymore. I'll starve myself!" she joked, holding Xu Yuqing back while tossing the items into the cabinet and kicking the door shut.

"Alright, no need to be so formal. Let's get the meat ready and start cooking. I'm starving."

She called out, and Xu Yuqing had no choice but to watch her carry the wicker basket to the storage room.

Shaking her head, she looked at the bewildered Yu Song and complained, "Yu Song, doesn't your mom act like a big boss?"

Yu Song didn't understand but nodded along with Xu Yuqing. "Yes!"

With someone helping, her mood improved. She stood up, planning to make stuffed tofu for lunch, which was light and suitable for children. She also planned to make tofu balls and fry some potato chunks for Yu Song to try.

Initially, she wanted to make mapo tofu, but without the proper seasonings, it wouldn't taste right, so she decided on minced meat tofu instead.

That would be perfect with rice.

With plans set, she prepared to start. Yan Lan had just returned from the storage room with her son when Xu Yuqing went to fetch a piece of meat.

Yan Lan noticed her still slightly angry expression and tried to placate her. "I can't finish it all by myself, and you know me—I'll be going to my parents' place for the New Year soon."

She took the meat from Xu Yuqing's hands and led the way into the kitchen, placing it in a basin of water. Her eagerness made Xu Yuqing unable to stay upset.

Looking at Yan Lan's cheerful and generous smile, Xu Yuqing suddenly felt grateful to have such a like-minded friend in this era.

To treat a good friend, she needed to show her best skills!

Xu Yuqing focused, looking at the tofu, took out a knife, and quickly divided it into eight large pieces.

She cut some into small nail-sized pieces for the minced meat tofu, placed others on a plate for stuffed tofu, and reserved a rectangular piece for tofu soup. The rest she crumbled for tofu balls.

Yan Lan stood nearby, wanting to help. Xu Yuqing noticed and said, "Sister Yan Lan, please get a carrot and peel it, and also a potato."

"Okay."

Yan Lan turned to find the vegetables, while Xu Yuqing arranged the differently shaped tofu pieces on separate plates.

She placed the crumbled tofu in an enamel basin, deciding not to add meat to the vegetarian balls. Taking the peeled carrot, she quickly chopped it into thin shreds and mixed it with the tofu, adding two eggs, flour, pepper, salt, and oil, stirring everything together.

Seeing this, Yan Lan exclaimed, "Are you making fried balls? I know how to do that! I'll do it. I've learned it before."

This is a special dish for the New Year, and Yan Lan learned how to make it before she got married.

She just hasn't had much chance to show off her skills yet.

Xu Yuqing saw her excited face and quickly stepped aside to let her take over. She watched Yan Lan skillfully mix the meatball filling while she went to pour the oil. There wasn't much cooking oil left at home, so they needed to be frugal. She poured half of the last basin, enough to cover the meatballs.

"Yuqing, can we start frying now?" Yan Lan looked at Xu Yuqing with concern, her hand hovering above the hot oil. Wouldn't she get burned?

However, Xu Yuqing proved that there was no need to worry. As the oil temperature rose, she could feel the slight warmth on her palm. "Sister Yan Lan, it's ready. You can start shaping the meatballs."

"Alright." Yan Lan nodded, deftly squeezing a small ball from the mixture. With a spoon, she dropped it into the oil, and it sizzled upon contact.

Yan Lan, undeterred, continued making more meatballs. Soon, the pot was filled with golden-brown meatballs, thanks to the heat of the oil.

Yan Lan couldn't judge the doneness, so she turned to Xu Yuqing for help.

Xu Yuqing held the spatula without moving, waiting for the right moment. When all the meatballs turned golden, she gently flipped them.

Frying meatballs is quick; one batch was done in no time. Yan Lan quickly started making more as the delicious aroma filled the kitchen. A small bowl of fried meatballs was soon ready.

Next came the potatoes. Xu Yuqing took the peeled potatoes Yan Lan had prepared and cut them into small pieces. Potatoes take longer to fry, so smaller pieces were better.

When the potatoes hit the hot oil, water splattered, causing the oil to sizzle wildly. Yan Lan recoiled in fear, but Xu Yuqing calmly covered the pot with a lid.

The covered pot seemed peaceful, but the sounds coming from it were not. Yan Lan approached with concern. "Won't they burn if we don't check?"

Xu Yuqing shook her head. "No worries. They're small and will be done soon."

A few minutes later, the potatoes were out of the pot, their crispy golden shells encasing soft insides. Xu Yuqing nodded in satisfaction; they were perfectly fried.

Yan Lan washed her hands and looked at Xu Yuqing curiously. "Is this it?"

Xu Yuqing shook her head, feeling a bit hungry herself, but this wasn't the best state yet. They needed to re-fry them.

"We'll re-fry them just before they come home. That way, they'll be nice and warm. For now, I'll start on the other dishes."

She took out a piece of thawed meat, intended for stuffed tofu. The ratio was three parts fat to seven parts lean, minced finely until it clung together tightly, even sticking to the knife.

To season the minced meat, she added chopped green onions, pepper powder, and salt. Simple seasoning would enhance the tofu's flavor.

The tofu was quite tender. She used a small knife to scoop out a portion, then filled it with the minced meat.

The red meat against the white tofu looked beautiful on the plate. Yan Lan marveled at Xu Yuqing's technique. "Yuqing, this is too pretty! Who would want to eat it?"

Xu Yuqing raised an eyebrow proudly, accepting the compliment. She spooned a little soy sauce over the tofu. "It's ready to steam now."

Yan Lan took over, placing the tofu carefully into the steamer. "How long should I steam it?"

"Twelve minutes. I'll let you know when it's done," Xu Yuqing said, glancing at her watch.

"Okay." Yan Lan nodded, watching Xu Yuqing's movements. Cooking felt like a performance with her.

She sliced the remaining meat into thin strips, then diced them further. This prevented the meat from clumping during cooking.

She marinated the meat and set it aside. It was almost time to start stir-frying.

One pot was steaming rice and tofu, while another had oil left for re-frying. Xu Yuqing checked the time; they had about thirty minutes until everyone returned. Now was the perfect time to re-fry the meatballs.

She ignited the fire, and as the oil heated up, she added the meatballs. The rising temperature brought out the aroma, and the meatballs made a crisp sound as they collided.

After thirty seconds, Xu Yuqing checked the timer and quickly scooped them out.

She shook the strainer three times to drain the excess oil and placed them back in the bowl. The crispy fried meatballs were ready.

Yan Lan, like a child, grabbed one eagerly but found it too hot. Xu Yuqing chuckled. "There's still little Song. Call Yu Song in."

"Okay." Yan Lan responded, still grimacing from the heat.

After the meatballs, it was time for the potatoes. Re-frying them took less time due to the higher oil temperature. She quickly fried them, drained the oil, and sprinkled chopped green onions, cumin, salt, and pepper. She tossed them evenly and served a bowl. The rest got mixed with chili powder.

Next came the minced meat tofu. The leftover oil was perfect for this dish. She added the minced meat, stir-fried until fragrant, then added chopped green onions, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, wine, and pepper bean sauce. The aroma filled the kitchen. She added a little water and the cubed tofu, letting it simmer.

She considered adding chili powder but remembered Yu Song didn't like spicy food. The sauce flavor was already delicious.

The water evaporated quickly, and the tofu absorbed the color. Xu Yuqing quickly scooped it out to prevent it from drying completely.

The final dish was tofu soup. She planned to make a modified version of Wensi Tofu Soup.

Using the available ingredients, she started by boiling water. She poured the egg liquid from a height, creating fine threads instead of large pieces.

Yan Lan watched curiously as Xu Yuqing performed this delicate task. On the cutting board was a block of tofu she hadn't sliced yet. "Yuqing, did you forget to cut the tofu? Should I help?"

Xu Yuqing continued pouring the egg threads carefully. "No, I'll do it in a moment."

Yan Lan noticed her cautious expression and stepped back, observing her actions.

She poured the eggs slowly, taking several minutes to achieve the desired effect. The fire remained low as she sped up, bringing a bowl of water. Her first move was to wet the knife, tofu, and cutting board.

Yan Lan looked over curiously. "Yuqing, what are you doing?"

Xu Yuqing smiled at her. "I'm making tofu soup. You'll see in a moment."

She sliced the tofu edges neatly, took a deep breath, and began slicing. The sound of the knife echoed as Yan Lan realized she was slicing the tofu!

To slice tofu? She looked over in shock. Can tofu be sliced? But Xu Yuqing showed her that it could, and she could slice it very thinly.

Yan Lan couldn't help but step forward to observe, wanting to see her expression. That was when she noticed that Xu Yuqing had her eyes closed, moving only her hands.

...

Yan Lan suddenly felt as if she was getting used to it, standing there numbly, taking in this moment with her eyes. Yuqing's skill would be her bragging right during the New Year.

Too impressive.