Chapter 53

Chapter 53

But Lin Taohong soon widened her eyes, nodding up and down in surprise, "Delicious, truly delicious."

There was no trace of the foul smell from before; it was truly miraculous.

Wang Yingniang no longer hesitated, putting the stinky tofu in her mouth. Although she had been involved in the entire process, the nauseating smell still caused her some distress.

She had thought something might have gone wrong with the steps, but that feeling dissipated by half when Lin Chunyan and Lin Taohong both said it was delicious.

When she put the piece of stinky tofu in her mouth and the wonderful texture filled her mouth, all her doubts vanished completely.

At this moment, only one thought remained in her mind: This is too delicious!

If not for Lin Chunyan's guidance, she would never have imagined that spoiled tofu could turn into such a delicacy.

"Let’s take it to the docks tomorrow," Lin Taohong said after eating several pieces.

When Mrs. Zhang walked to the window, she saw the three of them eating the stinky tofu. Her words took a turn.

"What good thing are you three eating? Not leaving any for me!"

The four of them had become quite familiar. Lin Chunyan saw her as soon as she entered the courtyard. Seeing her pinch her nose, it was clear she was about to scold them. With a half-smile, Lin Chunyan said, "Mother, the smell might be hard to take. I think you’d better not eat it."

"You’re fooling your old mother again." Mrs. Zhang stomped in, no longer believing Lin Chunyan’s words, who could turn black into white.

If it were bad, Lin Taohong would have been the first to run away, not keep picking up the stinky tofu with her chopsticks.

Seeing that she hadn’t fooled Mrs. Zhang, Lin Chunyan felt a bit disappointed and handed her a pair of chopsticks.

"This is the stinky tofu I mentioned earlier. Mother, try it and see how it tastes."

Mrs. Zhang, no longer caring about her brother-in-law, picked up a piece and put it in her mouth, quickly closing her eyes in comfort.

Outside, Hu Shi and Zhang Xiaomei were shocked. Zhang Manliang blurted out, "Oh, why are Auntie and the others eating shit?"

Mrs. Zhang had just swallowed the piece of stinky tofu and was about to pick another one when she heard this, unsure whether to eat or not.

This uncertain look was exactly like Hu Shi’s.

Mrs. Zhang naturally didn’t think Zhang Manliang’s behavior had anything to do with her brother-in-law; everything bad was because of Hu Shi, her sister-in-law.

Uncle Zhang was also a bit embarrassed, scolding Zhang Manliang, fearing that Lin Chunyan and the others would really get angry. He seemed to make a decision, forcing a smile.

"Yan Niang, don’t take offense at him. It must be some new delicacy, just different from what we’re used to..."

He couldn’t continue, finding his own words insincere, so he asked Lin Chunyan to give him a piece to taste.

Zhang Xiaomei and her two brothers looked shocked, as if Uncle Zhang had taken the wrong medicine.

Even Hu Shi didn’t understand; even if it was to reassure Lin Chunyan and the others, there was no need to go to such lengths.

Was it really safe to eat that stuff?

Seeing Uncle Zhang’s determined expression, Lin Chunyan couldn’t help but laugh, "Uncle, do you really want to try it?"

Uncle Zhang stiffened his neck, "I will!"

Lin Taohong, enjoying the spectacle, immediately handed over a small bowl, adding, "Uncle, don’t let the smell fool you. It smells bad, and it tastes... bad too..."

Uncle Zhang’s expression became even more indescribable. Without looking at the golden-brown surface or the cilantro, green onions, and garlic sauce that tempted his appetite, he closed his eyes and put the piece of stinky tofu in his mouth.

It definitely wouldn’t be poisonous, at worst it would cause a few bouts of diarrhea.

To avoid upsetting his nieces, a few bouts of diarrhea were nothing!

As soon as this thought crossed his mind, he realized something was off. The thing that should have been foul-smelling actually emitted a strange aroma.

And it tasted surprisingly good.

Uncle Zhang savored it a few times, finding it increasingly delicious.

The texture was different from regular tofu, especially after being marinated, making it even more flavorful.

Seeing his reaction, Zhang Xiaomei was almost in tears, pushing Hu Shi beside her, "Mother, what’s wrong with Father? Has he gone crazy?"

Hu Shi was also startled, stepping forward involuntarily, "Has he really gone mad from the smell? Why is he so quiet?"

Lin Chunyan and Lin Taohong couldn’t help but laugh, and even Mrs. Zhang watched the scene with amusement.

Uncle Zhang came to his senses and asked Lin Chunyan for a few more pieces. Looking back at his wife and the nearly crying Zhang Xiaomei, he reassured them casually.

"I’m fine, this stuff is really delicious."

Hearing this, Zhang Xiaomei burst into tears, "Mother, it’s over! Father has really gone mad, he thinks that lump of shit is delicious!"

Uncle Zhang’s temples throbbed, while Lin Chunyan and Lin Taohong covered their mouths, laughing even harder, finding Zhang Xiaomei quite amusing in her innocence.

Lin Taohong, not one to miss an opportunity, offered them the dish, "Do you want to try it? It’s really very good."

Zhang Xiaomei shook her head vigorously; she didn’t want to eat it. The smell was bad, and it had some strange effects. She was afraid she would become a fool if she ate it.

Zhang Manliang, however, was bold. He thought that no matter what, there must be something special about it.

It couldn’t be that everyone who ate it became abnormal.

Uncle Zhang looked approvingly at Zhang Manliang, feeling that this was more like his son.

Zhang Xiaomei watched Zhang Manliang nervously, trying to persuade him earnestly, pulling Hu Shi along, "Second Brother, don’t be foolish..."

Lin Chunyan didn’t look again and fried the remaining stinky tofu with Wang Yingniang, then went to check on the fermented tofu she had made earlier.

After about half an incense stick’s time, a commotion suddenly erupted in the courtyard. Lin Chunyan tidied up the stinky tofu before craning her neck to see what was happening.

“What’s going on?”

Lin Taohong had been watching for a while and, upon hearing Lin Chunyan’s question, quickly told her with a delighted air, “Sister Xiaomei and Shitou are fighting.”

“Fighting?”

Lin Chunyan put down what she was doing and walked into the courtyard, only to find that Lin Taohong wasn’t exaggerating at all—Zhang Xiaomei and Zhang Manliang were indeed fighting fiercely.

It was all over a piece of stinky tofu in a bowl.

“You already took one from me just now!” Zhang Manliang glared at Zhang Xiaomei, almost in a frenzy, “You said you didn’t want it earlier, so why are you trying to take mine now? If this gets out, won’t you be embarrassed?”

Zhang Xiaomei completely ignored what Zhang Manliang said; if she was embarrassed, so be it.

The key was that the stinky tofu was really delicious. When Zhang Manliang had asked for a bowl earlier, his expression was exactly the same as Uncle Zhang’s: first, he looked like he was facing certain death, then he was shocked and amazed, and finally, he couldn’t stop eating.

Zhang Xiaomei couldn’t resist and really wanted to know what magic this stinky tofu held. She picked up a small piece with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth to taste.

That tiny bit made her mouth open wide like an egg, and she forgot all about propriety, snatching the bowl from Zhang Manliang and eating from it, even urging Zhang Niuli to try some.

“It’s really delicious! This thing is so magical, it smells like shit, but it definitely doesn’t taste like shit!”

Zhang Manliang moved away, holding his bowl, and muttered under his breath, “Can you please not be so uncultured, talking about shit? It’s too vulgar.”

Zhang Xiaomei ignored him, stuffing two pieces into her own mouth and picking another one for Hu Shi.

“Mother, you must try it, it’s really delicious.”

Hu Shi’s reaction was hard to describe, almost identical to Zhang Xiaomei’s earlier.

Mrs. Zhang watched the commotion for a while and then said to Hu Shi, “If your child wants you to eat it, go ahead and try it. Don’t be worse than a child.”

She always got her revenge, and she hadn’t forgotten how Hu Shi had looked at her earlier.

Hu Shi shook her head firmly; the smell brought back many unpleasant memories. But Zhang Xiaomei didn’t care and shoved a piece into Hu Shi’s mouth.

Uncle Zhang chuckled, and Hu Shi, unsure whether to eat or not, glared at Uncle Zhang, blaming him for starting this.

“The taste is really unique,” Uncle Zhang scratched his head, “Why don’t you try it, dear?”

Hu Shi tentatively took a sip, her face showing no expression, while Zhang Xiaomei eagerly asked, “Mother, how is it? Is it really delicious?”

“It’s okay,” Hu Shi said with a stern face, but she honestly finished the piece of stinky tofu.

Zhang Xiaomei didn’t mind; she felt this was Hu Shi’s recognition of Lin Chunyan’s skills, completely forgetting how she had looked down on these skills before.

After quickly finishing the stinky tofu in Zhang Manliang’s bowl, she ran to Lin Chunyan.

“Yan Niang, how did you make this stinky tofu? The taste is amazing, I’ve never tasted anything like it.”

Lin Chunyan replied, “I just came up with it randomly; I didn’t expect it to taste so good.”

Lin Taohong wasn’t as polite as Lin Chunyan and blocked Zhang Xiaomei’s view with her body, “Sister Xiaomei, don’t look. We’re going to sell this at the market.”

Zhang Xiaomei withdrew her gaze, ignoring Lin Taohong, and asked Lin Chunyan again, “Yan Niang, can I go with you to the market tomorrow? I’ve never been there before!”

Lin Chunyan didn’t immediately agree; she still didn’t know why Uncle Zhang and the others had come today.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Zhang was asking Uncle Zhang, “You came all this way, and you’ll stay here tonight. I’ll send you back tomorrow morning. You’ve seen that we’re all doing well.”

Hu Shi raised her eyebrows, “Don’t rush us, Sister. We came all this way to see how you’re doing.”

“Now that you’ve seen, everything is fine,” Mrs. Zhang lowered her eyes, her hands never stopping, “But we’re much busier than usual and may not have time to entertain you.”

Uncle Zhang was about to agree when Hu Shi shot him a glance, and he closed his mouth in fear.

“Since you’re so busy, why don’t Niuli stay to help? I see you’ve hired an outsider, but they’re not as reliable as family.”

Mrs. Zhang glanced at Zhang Niuli, who was as tall as Uncle Zhang, and immediately understood Hu Shi’s intention.

She didn’t dare agree, even though she thought it might be a good match to marry Lin Chunyan to her own family, better than marrying her to someone unknown.

If Lin Chunyan were like Lin Taohong, she might have agreed.

Hu Shi was most proud of her son. She hadn’t planned this when they came, and at first, she hadn’t thought much of Lin Chunyan.

But seeing how capable Lin Chunyan was, keeping the house in perfect order, adding a new kitchen, and even buying a cart, even if the money was borrowed, it showed she had the ability to borrow!

Unexpectedly, Mrs. Zhang directly refused, “With all our daughters here, Niuli staying isn’t appropriate.”

Even during dinner, Hu Shi’s face remained long and sullen. Her face, with high cheekbones and a thin, narrow shape, looked particularly gloomy when she was upset.

Mrs. Zhang didn’t pay much attention, eating and drinking as usual.

Hu Shi knew Mrs. Zhang was a tough character but still felt angry. She then turned her eyes to other matters and asked about the jelly tofu.

“I wonder how it’s made; we don’t have it where we’re from.”

Their place was farther from the town, requiring them to cross a mountain, and there were several villages around, making it relatively bustling, though not as much as the town.

Hu Shi thought, since Mrs. Zhang had refused her once, could she refuse again?

We can't abandon our natal home!

Mrs. Zhang indeed didn’t intend to spread the word. She picked up a few morsels of the dish, showing particular favor for the fermented tofu, adding several pieces to her steamed bun and savoring it with relish.

This fermented tofu is made alongside stinky tofu, not difficult to prepare. After cutting the tofu into small cubes and draining the water, place them in a container to ferment until the surface becomes slightly sticky and has a pungent aroma, then it’s ready for pickling.

The jar must remain free of water and oil. Inside, add some white wine, salt, and a bit of sugar. After tightly sealing the lid, pour more white wine over it, and seal it for about half a month before consumption.

This type of unexposed fermented tofu is very soft. Lin Chunyan also made another kind, where after the tofu surface molds, instead of immediately placing it in the jar, she first dried it under the sun for two days, making the tofu firmer.

She also made a jar with Sichuan pepper and Chinese prickly ash, which tasted even better.

Mrs. Zhang loved eating fermented tofu the most. Hearing Hu Shi's words, she only lifted her eyelids slightly, "How can you say that?"

Hu Shi was so angry that she slammed down her chopsticks, scaring Wang Yingniang into a shiver, too afraid to pick up any food.

"We are your natal family; is there really a need to hide things from us?"

Mrs. Zhang put the fermented tofu in her mouth, casually wiping her mouth with her sleeve. Seeing Lin Chunyan’s glare, she quickly lowered her sleeve.

She had this habit before, always wiping her mouth with her sleeve during meals. When Lin Chunyan scolded her, she would argue back.

"Only if the sleeve gets oily will others know we are living well."

Not only did she do this, but many people had developed this habit as well.

Lin Chunyan ignored her arguments, always saying, "What’s the point of letting outsiders know how well we live?"

After being scolded many times, Mrs. Zhang found it annoying. Seeing Lin Chunyan’s glare, she hurriedly explained, "It’s just a habit. I’ll wash the sleeve after the meal."

Hu Shi was both amused and angered by Mrs. Zhang’s indifferent attitude. On the side, Uncle Zhang was stunned, never imagining that the fearless Mrs. Zhang could have such a day.

After dealing with Lin Chunyan, Mrs. Zhang turned to Hu Shi, "It’s not that I’m not siding with my natal family, but that’s what we rely on for survival. If I tell you, you’ll tell your natal family, and your sister-in-law will tell hers..."

Despite her long explanation, Mrs. Zhang refused to reveal the method.

The others were focused on their meals, leaving Hu Shi without any support. Back in the room, she vented her anger.

"Now that you’ve earned a little money, you look down on us poor relatives. It’s a shame you still think of them!"

Uncle Zhang tried to explain quietly, "My elder sister is just like that. Besides, she doesn’t look down on us."

"Look down? She wouldn’t even marry into our family and keeps hiding that recipe."

The children, however, were unaffected by Hu Shi’s mood and weren’t in a hurry to return to their rooms, having eaten too much and needing to digest.

After spending the afternoon together, Lin Chunyan realized that Zhang Xiaomei had a fiery personality, similar to Mrs. Zhang, never giving up until she achieved her goal.

Lin Chunyan had already refused her twice, but she still wanted to go to town. Seeing Lin Chunyan making tofu, she came over.

"Yan Niang, you can make tofu too?"

Zhang Xiaomei was shocked when she saw them sorting soybeans.

"Could it be that the fermented tofu and tofu are all made by you?"

"Not just that," Lin Taohong said proudly, "the bean curd skin and dried tofu you had for dinner tonight were also made by us."

Zhang Xiaomei was momentarily stunned, and even Zhang Manliang stood there for a while, looking at Lin Chunyan as if she were a monster.

Wang Yingniang couldn’t help but laugh, finding the experience identical to her own when she first met Lin Chunyan.

The longer they spent together, the more Lin Chunyan seemed incredibly capable, knowing how to make almost everything.

As the weather turned cooler, it also grew darker earlier than usual. Little Hei barked at the door, and soon the sound of footsteps approached.

"Is Sister Yan Niang at home?"

It was Sanlang and Silang, who had gone to the river to catch fish in the afternoon. They seemed to have a natural talent for fishing, managing to catch several large crabs.

These crabs moved around in the bucket, bumping into each other in a chaotic mass.

Zhang Xiaomei had eaten lunch at the second house and knew Sanlang. Seeing what he brought, she couldn’t help but pout.

"I thought it would be something delicious. These big crabs aren’t as good as the small ones we had at the banquet, which can be eaten in one bite, crispy and satisfying."

"These things are everywhere in the village ponds and ditches. Even if given away for free, no one wants them."

Zhang Xiaomei’s comment caught Lin Chunyan’s attention.

"Are you sure, Sister Xiaomei?"

Caught off guard by Lin Chunyan’s intense gaze, Zhang Xiaomei stuttered, "Of course, but what’s so strange about that?"

Fearing Lin Chunyan wouldn’t believe her, she nudged Zhang Manliang, who was still in shock.

"Shitou, haven’t you come to your senses yet? Aren’t there a lot of these big crabs where we’re from?"

Poked awake, Zhang Manliang nodded randomly, "There are indeed many of these in our area, in the small streams, but they taste terrible, and no one wants them."

Lin Chunyan felt her mouth watering.

Isn’t this the perfect time for crab?

Lin Taohong, who knew Lin Chunyan well, noticed her expression and shook her arm, "Sister, are you planning to cook these crabs? Like the spicy small crabs?"

"No, not the same!"

Lin Chunyan looked at the crabs in the bucket, already thinking of several ways to prepare them: scallion oil crab, crab seafood porridge, meat crab hot pot, steamed crab, stir-fried crab, and dry pot crab...

She wished she could rush to the kitchen right now and stir-fry these little crabs.

Wang Yingniang was even more anxious than her. This young lady would go a bit crazy whenever it came to cooking. Without considering the time, she pulled Lin Chunyan straight to the kitchen.

"I'll handle these crabs." Wang Yingniang rolled up her sleeves, not fearing the crabs' pincers, and started cleaning them directly.

She didn't forget to call out to Lin Taohong outside the door, "Red, come quick and start the fire."

Lin Taohong, who had hoped to escape this ordeal: ...

She had eaten too much at night and doubted she could eat much of the cooked crabs. She looked around, trying to avoid the situation, and started chatting with Sanlang.

Lin Chunyan naturally saw this in the kitchen, huffed, but didn't force her over.

Sanlang responded half-heartedly; his attention was entirely drawn to the kitchen, wishing he could go in and help with the fire.

Zhang Niuli had been gone for a while and only now returned under the moonlight, carrying several bundles of firewood. He had feared that Mrs. Zhang and the others, busy with their stall every day, might run out of firewood at home.

Mrs. Zhang had firmly refused earlier, but seeing how considerate and well-mannered Zhang Niuli was, she couldn't help feeling a bit regretful.

"If I had known you went to that mountain, I should have stopped you. You're not familiar with the area, and if something happened..."

She didn't finish her sentence because Mrs. Zhang caught a wonderful aroma.

This scent also drew Hu Shi and Uncle Zhang, who were arguing inside the house, out.

After washing the crabs, Lin Chunyan cut them in half. Since there was plenty of tofu at home, she decided to make crab tofu.

Wang Yingniang watched intently as the tofu was placed on top of the crabs. After heating oil in the pot, she added ginger slices and then placed the small crabs upright in the pot.

Finally, she added seasonings and some water, covered the pot, and after three minutes, it was ready to serve.

Lin Taohong, who had just said she wouldn't eat, exchanged a glance with Sanlang, and they both dashed out when they smelled the aroma.

Sanlang ran faster, and Lin Taohong clung to his clothes from behind, "Move aside, let me taste first."

In the kitchen, Lin Chunyan and Wang Yingniang had already picked up the crab tofu to taste. The tofu absorbed the rich flavor of the crab roe and was so tender that one couldn't tell whether they were eating tofu or crab roe.

Lin Taohong came over eagerly, seeing them enjoy their meal, and wanted to join in.

"You said you were full. There's not much left, you can eat tomorrow."

Lin Taohong wouldn't agree, and with a pleading face, she said, "Big Sister, don't tease me. I'll work hard and won't be a burden."

"I'll only let you have a taste. If you eat too much, you won't be able to sleep later."

Lin Taohong thought a taste was fine, pushed Sanlang aside, and picked up the chopsticks to eat.

She didn't mind the heat, picked a piece of tofu, and put it in her mouth, still using her chopsticks to scoop out the crab roe.

"Delicious, so fragrant."

Seeing her enjoy it so much, Sanlang couldn't wait any longer and pushed her aside, "Big Sister, let me have a taste."

The commotion attracted the others. Zhang Xiaomei, seeing they had finished cooking the crabs, exclaimed and wanted to join in.

"Everyone eat a little less, or you'll be too full to sleep later."

Hu Shi in the yard gave Uncle Zhang a dirty look and muttered, "Did you hear that? The children want to eat, and they're being picky."

Uncle Zhang didn't know how to respond and walked forward dejectedly, but his worries were soon overshadowed by the aroma.

"Father, try this."

Zhang Xiaomei picked up two pieces of tofu and fed them to Uncle Zhang, "I never knew crabs could be cooked so deliciously. I'll ask Yan Niang how to do it and learn."

Uncle Zhang took a bite and was immediately captivated by the aroma of the crabs, nodding as he ate, "I didn't expect it to taste so good. Yan Niang is very skilled."

Hu Shi, watching enviously from the side, looked around for a moment before finally stepping forward.

"What's so good about it?"

Hu Shi dismissed it, thinking they hadn't tasted anything better, "When I was young, I often fished for these in the river."

But the crabs had little meat and were difficult to eat, which annoyed her.

"It really is delicious." Zhang Xiaomei brought the crab tofu close, and Hu Shi, not wanting to disappoint her daughter, took a light bite.

Immediately, she paused.

"Why does this crab taste different from what I've had before?"

Then, as if turning her frustration into appetite, she didn't wait for Zhang Xiaomei to say anything and went to the kitchen to get a bowl and chopsticks, eating heartily.

She didn't stop until everything was gone.

While eating, she kept looking at Lin Chunyan, her eyes full of regret.

Mrs. Zhang felt sorry for her, "At your age, you shouldn't be so greedy."

"It's just some crab tofu, it won't bankrupt you. Next time, I'll have my Niuli bring you some more; we have plenty."

Mrs. Zhang took her seriously, "I'll be waiting."

As night fell, Mrs. Zhang didn't want to sleep with Hu Shi and the others, so she insisted on coming over with her quilt.

Lin Taohong, disliking the crowdedness, refused to move, "Mother, your room has a large kang, perfect for three people. Our room's kang is much smaller."

"I get anxious when I see your Aunt." Mrs. Zhang put down the pillow and gently pushed Lin Taohong, "Why do you talk so much?"

Lin Taohong moved the pillow, wanting to switch places with Lin Chunyan; she wanted to sleep on the other side.

Lin Chunyan moved over accordingly. In the darkness of the night, only the stars shone through. Lin Chunyan asked Mrs. Zhang in the dim light, "I can tell that Aunt wants us to help her out."

Mrs. Zhang grunted twice and lowered her voice, "How could I not know why she's putting on this act? Our life is just getting better, and now we have another mouth to feed."

As she spoke, she glanced at Wang Yingniang and continued, "There's no reason to give our way of making money to others."

Even if it were her own brother, it would be unacceptable.

In her eyes, only Lin Chunyan and Lin Taohong were of utmost importance; even her own brother had to take a back seat.

Lin Chunyan felt that Mrs. Zhang was quite clear-headed about such matters, knowing what was most important for herself.

"It doesn't have to be so extreme," said Lin Chunyan. "Uncle Zhang is a good person, and it's clear that Zhang Niuli and Shitou are also capable."

Mrs. Zhang turned over to face Lin Chunyan, "Do you have any ideas?"

"Today, I heard they said there are many crabs in the river ditch over there. It's not too cold yet, so we can eat them for a while. I thought we could trade our jelly tofu and bean curd for crabs."

"What are those crabs worth?"

Lin Taohong interjected from the side, "Our jelly tofu and bean curd can actually be traded for money."

"Just listen to me," Lin Chunyan spoke calmly, "We have limited manpower, and we can only manage this small plot of land. Uncle didn't mention that they haven't even seen jelly tofu over there."

"Do you mean we should sell our jelly tofu to them and let them sell it in the village?" asked Wang Yingniang.

Lin Chunyan nodded, confirming Wang Yingniang's understanding, "Exactly. Although we'll earn less, we won't have to deliver the goods ourselves, saving us a lot of effort, and we can sell more at a thin profit."

Mrs. Zhang was silent for a long time. Lin Chunyan thought she had fallen asleep and poked her, "Mother, what do you think of this idea?"

"It's a good idea, but I'm afraid that once we make money, the relationship with our relatives will change."

Mrs. Zhang was still scared from what happened with Lin's father, feeling that no one in the world could be trusted. Even when they were poor, he could still keep a mistress outside; how much more so now that they had money.

"Whether it's good or not, we should try it out."

Mrs. Zhang nodded, "Then tomorrow, we'll talk to them. Your Aunt will probably jump with joy when she finds out."

Mrs. Zhang knew Hu Shi well, and sure enough, Hu Shi jumped up when she heard the news.

Zhang Niuli and Zhang Manliang were stunned, while Uncle Zhang rubbed his hands nervously, "I'm afraid we're taking advantage of you."

"Not at all. How much we can sell depends on Uncle and Cousin's abilities. And they need to come regularly to pick up the goods, which is quite a distance."

"This is nothing!" Hu Shi was afraid Lin Chunyan would change her mind, "We may not have much, but we have plenty of strength."

She then asked how they managed to sell the jelly tofu, "That stinky tofu might be hard to sell, so let's leave it out. As for the tofu, we already have someone selling it in our village."

Lin Chunyan hadn't made much stinky tofu anyway, so she didn't say much.

Hu Shi originally wanted to stay longer, hoping to wear down Mrs. Zhang's resistance, but now that they had a better prospect, she couldn't wait to return.

Zhang Xiaomei, however, wanted to go to town and pleaded with Hu Shi, "Mother, I've never been to town. I should learn how to sell things from Yan Niang and the others, so I don't end up holding onto unsold goods."

Hu Shi had to agree. Since it was for learning skills and forming a partnership, neither Lin Chunyan nor Lin Taohong stopped her.

Uncle Zhang loaded the items onto the cart, "Since that's the case, let's all go together and learn."

On the way, Zhang Xiaomei chattered non-stop until they reached the town, where the crowd made her a bit shy.

"Sister Xiaomei, follow Brother Shitou around town, and you'll learn how to set up a stall."

Zhang Xiaomei nodded, and Wang Yingniang also came to town. Her status had changed, and this was her first time here.

Fortunately, the people like Auntie Tang were kind and didn't look down on her because of Wang Chuizi. Instead, they asked about her recent situation.

"Your parents are unreasonable. Now that you have this opportunity, stay with Yan Niang and her family. She's a good person."

Wang Yingniang naturally didn't mention anything at the moment. Being here made her uncomfortable, reminding her of many unpleasant things.

Meanwhile, Zhang Xiaomei and the others spent half a day wandering around town, seeing many new things. They marveled at the fact that flower hairpins cost two coins each, something that would be ridiculed in their village.

"How can people here be so foolish? They spend money on flower hairpins for their heads. If this were in our village, people would scold them."

Hu Shi thought the same. After watching the commotion for a while, they all walked to Lin Chunyan's stall.

In just a short time, the stall was surrounded by many people, with more standing on tiptoe to see.

Zhang Xiaomei approached and asked, "What are they looking at?"

The person peering over recognized her accent and pointed to Lin Chunyan, "This young lady has brought some new delicacies. They say it's stinky tofu and fermented bean curd, and everyone is waiting to taste them."

Old Qin, a food connoisseur, had already ordered a portion of stinky tofu. Despite its strong smell, he dared to try it.

The people around him weren't as bold, only daring to taste the fermented bean curd. One bite was enough to make them exclaim how delicious it was.

"The fermented bean curd is fine, but I wonder about the stinky tofu..."

Just as this person shook his head, Old Qin put the stinky tofu in his mouth, chewed a few times, and nodded repeatedly, saying it was delicious.

"Isn't it smelly?" someone asked, wrinkling their nose, unable to bear the odor.

Seeing their reactions, Zhang Xiaomei couldn't help but laugh. It reminded her of what she experienced yesterday.

"Of course it's not smelly. It's very fragrant and even better than the jelly tofu!" Old Qin took another bite and began praising the stinky tofu.

Mr. Zhao's two sons disagreed, "Father-in-law, you're being partial. That jelly tofu is the best."

Their refusal to accept any rebuttal made Lin Chunyan busy preparing sweet sauce for them.

Nowadays, this sweet sauce contains many ingredients: raisins, hawthorn slices, crushed peanuts, jam, dried fruits, maltose... A single bite is soft and sticky, sweet and sour. Even if they just ate the seasonings alone, they could finish a large bowl.

Old Qin hurriedly slapped his own face, "Young masters, don't be angry. I was indeed being partial. The jelly tofu is naturally very delicious, but this stinky tofu has a different flavor that lingers in one's mouth."

With this living signboard, more people came to try the stinky tofu. Those who didn't like its taste chose to eat fermented bean curd instead.

There were also those who had bought bean sheets and bean curd skin earlier, now coming over to eat noodles. For a while, the stall was bustling with activity.

Zhang Xiaomei and Hu Shi watched in amazement. Just the other day, they were saying how silly the people in town were, even buying flowers to wear. Now, they thought, how many flowers could the flower seller sell compared to Lin Chunyan's booming business?

After a busy moment, Lin Chunyan looked up and saw Zhang Xiaomei returning from her stroll. She quickly pulled her over and taught her how to prepare the sauce.

Zhang Xiaomei's face turned rosy with excitement. After learning a few times, she tried it herself and helped sell it, feeling a great sense of accomplishment.

Hu Shi observed from the side all along. When the crowd thinned out, she decided what to take.

The jelly tofu was cheap and attracted the most buyers. The stinky tofu, being a new delicacy, wasn't as widely accepted yet; it might take some time to sell.

There were fewer people buying bean sheets and bean curd skin. These items were expensive, and they feared no one would be willing to buy them.

Small crabs and dried fish weren't brought along; the villagers didn't fancy eating these.

Only the fermented bean curd should be taken, as it goes well with rice, and a piece can last a long time. The villagers might be willing to buy it.

"Let's take these. We'll try selling them first."

Lin Chunyan directly packed the items onto their cart and invited them to have a bowl of noodles.

Before noon, people started coming for noodles, with a variety that they had never imagined.

Lin Chunyan prepared bean sprout and minced meat sauce noodles, finely slicing the beans and meat, then stir-frying them in oil until the beans changed color before adding the seasonings and simmering over high heat.

These sauces were prepared the day before and kept in bowls. Once the noodles were cooked, the sauce was simply ladled over them.

Due to the rich sauce, each noodle was coated, filled with minced meat and beans, making every bite incredibly satisfying.

This bean sprout and minced meat sauce was not expensive, using only a small amount of minced meat, and the beans were from their own fields, so the price was low. Many people enjoyed the bean sprout and minced meat sauce noodles.

As Zhang Xiaomei ate, she glanced back and saw several people already engrossed in their meals, slurping away. Others were just arriving, some in long robes, some delivering food, and others clearly merchants from afar, heading straight for Lin Chunyan's stall to order their favorite dishes.

Amidst the bustle, a lady in fine silk approached, immediately ordering the fried sauce noodles.

She was a regular, often seen at the noodle stall, but unlike other regulars, she preferred to eat alone and rarely spoke, always ordering the fried sauce noodles.

Seeing her behavior, Lin Taohong recommended other noodle sauces, explaining that they had a wide variety of noodles, from north to south, and whatever one wanted could be ordered.

But Li Niangzi only shook her head, still wanting the fried sauce noodles. Once the noodles arrived, she began to savor them slowly.

While eating, she frowned in thought, trying to figure out what sauce was used and why her own attempts never tasted the same.

Seeing her like this, Lin Taohong simply left her alone, continuing to fry the tofu, treating the lady as someone with a proud and somewhat peculiar personality.

Having run the stall for a long time, she had encountered all sorts of people, but someone who preferred solitude and only liked the fried sauce noodles wasn't unusual.

After finishing the meal, Zhang Xiaomei suddenly felt that she had been too shallow in the past, always thinking about which young man in the village she could marry, never considering the solid path of earning money through honest trade.

No wonder Mrs. Zhang outright rejected her mother's proposal of marriage. If she could earn so many copper coins every day, she wouldn't care about getting married!