Chapter 61

Chapter 61

It was that day at the market stall and the inn where they had eaten, selling quite a bit of goods. These people wanted to find Xiao-Uncle Zhang again but had no idea where to look.

However, the inn served cold dishes which had become incredibly popular recently. Even those who didn't stay at the inn came for the food, making a substantial profit, and the innkeeper rewarded the staff with a generous amount of money.

They had agreed to deliver in a few days, and the innkeeper wasn't in a hurry, but the people from other taverns and teahouses were eagerly waiting for Xiao-Uncle Zhang. They inquired from the innkeeper for a long time, trying to find out when Xiao-Uncle Zhang would come.

The innkeeper naturally wouldn't say, so these people had no choice but to scold their own staff, feeling they had missed a golden opportunity by not recognizing the value of Xiao-Uncle Zhang's goods.

Such delicious and profitable items, whoever got there first would have the advantage. It was said that the inn and the teahouse had made a fortune just in the past few days.

When Xiao-Uncle Zhang returned to Gourd Town with new goods, he found everything completely different.

He disembarked and leaned against the shore, retching a few times as usual. Despite having taken several boat rides, he still felt seasick. The breeze blew over him, and he looked around.

This time, he wasn't lost. Just as he was thinking about which tavern to visit first, a servant ran up and asked if he was selling bean sheets and hawthorn preserves. Xiao-Uncle Zhang nodded blankly, unsure who this person was.

The servant clapped his hands and laughed, "I've been waiting for you! Come quickly, our innkeeper has been looking forward to your arrival for days."

Just as Xiao-Uncle Zhang was being led away, another person grabbed him, "Why should you go with him? I've been waiting here for a long time. By the rules of first come, first served, you should follow me."

Xiao-Uncle Zhang was pulled back and forth between the two servants. Suddenly, a third person appeared, trying to carry him away.

This startled the other two, and they stopped arguing, instead confronting the third person, "Where did you come from? You can't take him away. We've been waiting here for two days; you should wait in line."

Xiao-Uncle Zhang stepped down, wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, and after listening for a while, realized that these people were all vying for his goods.

Xiao-Uncle Zhang felt a surge of satisfaction, remembering how they had refused to let him in or buy his goods before, even driving him away without a purchase.

They had looked down on him, saying that if his goods were good, what use would they have for their chefs. But now, after just a couple of days, these chefs were no longer useful.

He recognized a few of these servants, ignoring those who had treated him poorly, and went with the one who had politely invited him to their tavern.

The servant was overjoyed, hurriedly calling the innkeeper and boasting, "All the taverns in town were competing for him, but only I managed to get him."

The innkeeper was delighted, gave him a reward, and respectfully greeted Xiao-Uncle Zhang, "We were too hasty last time; we truly failed to recognize your talent."

After saying many kind words, the innkeeper discussed the business, not even tasting the goods, and immediately bought the bean sheets, bean curd, and jelly tofu.

This innkeeper happened to know someone in White Cloud Town, who also ran a tavern. Hearing that Xiao-Uncle Zhang was promoting his goods in Gourd Town, he urged the innkeeper to buy them quickly.

"We can't even get these goods here."

At first, Lin Chunyan had planned to sell her bean sheets and bean curd in these taverns at a lower price, hoping for better sales and a decent income. However, like Xiao-Uncle Zhang, she faced rejection from these people who looked down on her skills.

Only Chef Zheng changed his mind quickly, persuading Lin Chunyan to agree after much talk. Later, the tavern keepers realized the value and sought Lin Chunyan multiple times, but she never showed up.

Hearing this, the innkeeper of Crane-Viewing Pavilion became anxious. How could he not be worried? If Lin Chunyan got angry and stopped selling in their town, they would lose a lot of money, all of which would go to the inn.

Xiao-Uncle Zhang originally thought he would stay in Gourd Town for a few more days, but within half a day, he sold everything and signed several long-term contracts. He happily returned to White Cloud Town, retching at the dock before heading straight to Lin Chunyan's stall.

Seeing him leave in the morning and return in the afternoon, Lin Chunyan knew the business must have gone well and smiled, asking a few questions.

Xiao-Uncle Zhang excitedly recounted the events, "I never expected it to go so smoothly. They were afraid I might change my mind, so they didn't even taste the goods and insisted I sign the contract right away."

He could read a few characters but not many, so he had to ask a scholar to read the contract to ensure there were no mistakes.

Hearing this, Lin Chunyan thought for a moment and asked Xiao-Uncle Zhang if he wanted to rest at home or go to the next town.

Xiao-Uncle Zhang, full of ambition and having only been out for a day, replied, "I'm fine. Except for the seasickness, I can go to the next place."

Lin Chunyan then told him about the next destination, suggesting he stay at home for the night and leave early the next morning.

Xiao-Uncle Zhang ate a bowl of hot noodles at the stall, intending to chat with Mrs. Zhang but noticed her talking with Jin Niangzi. He called out a few times but received no response, muttering, "What is my sister talking about over there? She didn't even notice I'm back."

Lin Chunyan glanced over, "I don't know. She's been like that since yesterday. When I asked, she wouldn't say anything."

Xiao-Uncle Zhang didn't press further, knowing Mrs. Zhang's temper. If even Lin Chunyan couldn't get an answer, he wouldn't succeed either and might end up getting scolded.

Today, Lin Taohong had also done well selling fried bean curd, offering a few pieces to Xiao-Uncle Zhang, "These are freshly made; they're incredibly tasty."

Xiao-Uncle Zhang, having already eaten a bowl of noodles, still picked a few pieces. Knowing they were fried in plenty of oil, he expected them to be good.

Putting one in his mouth, he found it fragrant and flavorful, different from the five-spice and spicy bean curd. He savored them, attracting a passerby who had just disembarked.

This traveler had just had a bowl of fish soup at Song Wanniang's, feeling unsatisfied. Song Wanniang suggested, "We have meat buns, bean sheets, bean curd, and stinky tofu here. Each has its unique flavor, and they are all very tasty. If you're still hungry, why not try them?"

Following Song Wanniang's direction, the traveler saw a crowded stall with various delicious foods. Seeing Xiao-Uncle Zhang enjoying the fried bean curd, he ordered some as well.

Song Wanniang had directed many travelers before. Shen Wanniang, overhearing, felt jealous and muttered, "You go out of your way to please them, yet they may not treat you well. We've been neighbors for years, and you've never recommended my noodles."

Before Song Wanniang could respond, Meizi spoke up, "What do you mean by 'going out of my way'? Our relationship is great. Why would it be as bad as you say? Not to mention whether your noodles are good or not, but after you spread lies to the travelers last time, we dared not associate with you. If you offend us by accident, will you also spread lies about us?"

These words were what Song Wanniang had told Meizi, who remembered them and repeated them to Shen Wanniang.

Shen Wanniang's face turned red and pale, clutching her chest and wailing, "You little wench, at my age, you dare to point fingers and curse me. No wonder you're an orphan."

Song Wanniang was upset. Though she usually spoke softly, those who didn't know her might think she had a good temper, but her son's behavior revealed her intolerance for injustice.

Song Wanniang put down her spoon, "Who are you calling an orphan? Mei Zi is my goddaughter. Are you cursing me or bullying us orphans and widows?"

A fight seemed imminent, but the vendor selling fried snacks quickly intervened, "We've been neighbors for years. There's no need to quarrel over small matters and hurt our friendship."

Shen Wanniang, seeing Song Wanniang's reaction, dared not escalate and only huffed.

Meanwhile, after Wang Xiaolang and his companions returned from climbing the mountain, Old Lady Wang called Zhou Wanniang to meet the siblings.

Although Zhou Wanniang had stayed for a period before, she wasn't unfamiliar.

The old Lady Wang pointed to the row of pastries on the table and asked if the young ladies and gentlemen at home wanted to eat.

Having played outside all day, they reached out for the food as soon as they saw it.

Old Lady Wang also invited Zhou Wanniang, “Don’t be so formal; treat this place like your own home and play with your sisters.”

The two young ladies from the house came over to talk to Zhou Wanniang. Seeing that they were eating the chrysanthemum pastries too, Zhou Wanniang thought back to her earlier suspicions, originally thinking these were meant to intimidate her, but unexpectedly, her cousins were eating them as well.

Qingjie, still young, loved the sweet and sour hawthorn slices the most. She took one and put it in her mouth, asking Zhou Wanniang indistinctly, “Wanniang sister, do you have these hawthorn slices in your city?”

Zhou Wanniang shook her head, “There are no such hawthorn slices in our city, but there is hawthorn cake, which looks similar to what’s on the table.”

On the other side, Rongjie had a maid bring over the hawthorn cake, “You’re mistaken; this hawthorn cake is also made by Lin Xiaoniang. It’s only sold at Clear Breeze Building, and it’s not easy to get a piece. The taste is different from the hawthorn cake at Shufangzhai.”

Zhou Wanniang didn’t particularly enjoy sour foods, but she couldn’t refuse Rongjie’s offer, so she took a piece and put it in her mouth.

“How is it?”

Rongjie waited for Zhou Wanniang’s comments. After taking a bite, Zhou Wanniang put down her spoon and nodded, “Indeed, it’s different from Shufangzhai’s; the flavor is richer.”

Rongjie clapped her hands in approval, “That’s right. I used to dislike hawthorn cake, not knowing what was so good about it. But last time when my digestion was off, eating this hawthorn cake made me feel better. Since then, I’ve enjoyed it.”

On the other side, the young Master Wang was holding a jar of hawthorn preserves, having not drunk much jujube water today. He drank all the sweet and sour juice in the jar without leaving any for his sisters, making Qingjie cry. Only after another dish was brought from the kitchen did she calm down.

Zhao Pozi, who was in charge of the kitchen purchases, had thought that Li Niangzi bringing pastries from outside would make Old Lady Wang angry. Unexpectedly, it earned Li Niangzi favor, causing Zhao Pozi to toss and turn all night, unable to understand how a wild girl’s food could win such favor, even prompting the old lady to send someone to buy more.

Her pastries were from Shufangzhai, and people had been eating Shufangzhai’s pastries for years. Why didn’t they work?

Zhao Pozi thought about it all night, showing up for work the next day with dark circles under her eyes. The few maids in the kitchen giggled behind their hands, earning her a stern glare and a punishment to stoke the fire before they quieted down.

At this moment, Li Niangzi came out after washing her hands. Zhao Pozi glanced at her and saw her preparing to make fried sauce noodles again, snorting, “She’s been trying to make this for almost a month and hasn’t succeeded. There’s no need to waste the grain. If the ladies find out, they’ll have something to say, and we might suffer the consequences.”

Li Niangzi ignored her. Yesterday, she had visited Lin Chunyan again, who gave her two scoops of soybean paste, instructing her to use it to season the meat. Li Niangzi felt like she had received a royal mandate and wished she could have made it right away if not for the busy schedule.

Finally, with nothing much to do this morning, she followed Lin Chunyan’s method, pulling the noodles and stir-frying the meat with the soybean paste, slicing cucumbers, radishes, and bean sprouts to the side.

Seeing Li Niangzi making the dish again, the maids pouted and muttered under their breath. Despite the family’s status in the Imperial City, the maids and servants had been with them for years, and the rules weren’t strict.

Even if punished, they would only stand outside for half a day, and a few jokes would pass the time, making them even more unruly.

“Li Niangzi, we won’t be eating fried sauce noodles today. We just received our monthly allowance and bought some fresh food from outside,” the maids said with smiles.

Hearing this, Li Niangzi only nodded. Before she started making fried sauce noodles, her other dishes were praised by the maids and servants, who often tried to get some to take home.

But since she started making fried sauce noodles, their attitudes changed, as if she had made something terrible, spoiled by their refined palates.

In an ordinary household, the fried sauce noodles would be savored.

The noodles cooked quickly, and the rich aroma of the soybean paste filled the kitchen, different from anything before. A maid who hadn’t eaten breakfast couldn’t resist the smell, her stomach growling as she tiptoed over to look, wondering where the scent was coming from.

Zhao Pozi also smelled it, her heart skipping a beat as she approached Li Niangzi, “What should we serve the old lady this morning? Let me help you.”

Li Niangzi didn’t let her touch anything, coldly saying, “Just the fried sauce noodles.”

Hearing “fried sauce noodles,” Zhao Pozi groaned, “The old lady is very particular about food. She will surely scold us for serving fried sauce noodles. We should prepare something else.”

Seeing Li Niangzi unmoved, Zhao Pozi paced anxiously, finally deciding to help herself, stirring another dish and calling a maid to help with the fire.

By then, the meat sauce was ready. Li Niangzi tasted it with a pair of chopsticks and sighed deeply. Yes, this was the flavor she had been tasting daily at Lin Chunyan’s stall.

It turned out it was the soybean paste. She didn’t know how it was made, but it was much better than her own, more fragrant and richer.

The soybean paste recipe was passed down from Li Dainiang, and many people in the Imperial City praised the dishes made with it.

The bowl of noodles was soon served to the old lady. There were no strict rules here, and men and women sat together, encouraged to be relaxed.

Seeing the fried sauce noodles, the young Master Wang’s eyes lit up, “Li Niangzi finally made it. I’ve been waiting for so long.”

He picked up a strand and put it in his mouth, finding the taste identical to what he had at Hu Xiaolang’s place.

It was worth the wait.

If Li Niangzi hadn’t made it, he would have had to go to Lin Chunyan’s stall, which would have been embarrassing if Hu Xiaolang teased him about it.

Fortunately, Li Niangzi made it, though he didn’t know it was taught by Lin Chunyan. Knowing that might have made him regret it.

Seeing him enjoy it so much, the old lady smiled broadly, picking up a strand and putting it in her mouth. The meat was tender, and the noodles were coated with a thick layer of sauce, very delicious. After finishing, she wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, “This is indeed very good. Give Li Niangzi a reward for her hard work.”

Everyone else eagerly dug in, except Zhou Wanniang, who wasn’t very enthusiastic. She didn’t like noodles and found everything different from her city, where they didn’t eat noodles for breakfast.

They should have served fruit or small dishes and a bowl of porridge instead. Eating noodles left sauce on the lips, which wasn’t elegant.

Zhou Wanniang slowly picked up a strand, her actions deliberate, making the other two young ladies from the Wang family seem less refined.

The old lady noticed but said nothing, waiting until they had eaten to ask, “How does it taste? Does it suit your palate?”

Qingjie nodded quickly, “Grandma, it’s very good. I want to eat it again tomorrow.”

The old lady, fond of her articulate and sweet-voiced granddaughter, smiled and nodded, “If our Qingjie says it’s good, we’ll have it again tomorrow. Let Qingjie eat her fill, alright?”

Rongjie also agreed, noticing Zhou Wanniang’s lack of enthusiasm. After the gathering, she had a maid bring some pastries to Zhou Wanniang.

Zhou Wanniang was grateful and ate the chrysanthemum pastry with tea, then saw the tofu skin, momentarily stunned.

When she was in the city, Xue Xiaoniang had given her a lot of this, saying it was a delicacy she encountered on the road, urging her to try it.

She never expected to find it here, feeling a mix of emotions.

Rongjie, seeing her daze, thought it was because of the fried sauce noodles and comforted her, “Cousin, treat this place like your own home. If you don’t like something, just tell Grandmother, and she’ll have the kitchen prepare something else for you. It’s no big deal.”

Indeed, living under someone else's roof, Zhou Wanniang lacked the confidence to say more. She only commented that the chrysanthemum pastries and bean curd were quite good, "It would be nice to keep some in the house for when we're hungry, to snack on."

After tidying up the kitchen, Li Niangzi came to the noodle stall as usual. Lin Chunyan thought that giving her the fermented bean sauce would have kept her away, so she was taken aback by her appearance.

Li Niangzi had come to thank Lin Chunyan, "I finally figured out why my fried sauce noodles didn't taste right. But I can't just take your fermented bean sauce without reciprocating. If I paid you, it might seem too formal. How about I teach you how to make steamed mutton instead?"

Lin Chunyan was surprised at this and waved her hand to decline, "That's not necessary. I don't use much mutton at my stall. It's expensive, and we don't eat it often."

Li Niangzi misunderstood Lin Chunyan, thinking she was shy, and went to the butcher's shop to buy some mutton, waiting for Lin Chunyan to close her stall.

Seeing her persistence, Lin Chunyan could only take her home.

Mrs. Zhang knew that Li Niangzi was coming to teach Lin Chunyan how to cook mutton, and was delighted at the prospect of a delicious meal.

In the kitchen, Li Niangzi wanted to send Wang Yingniang and Lin Taohong out, as this was a secret recipe taught by her master. Teaching Lin Chunyan was already an exception; she couldn't let others learn it too.

Lin Chunyan asked first, "What kind of mutton dish do you plan to teach me today? Steamed, braised, stir-fried, or boiled?"

Hearing that Lin Chunyan knew so many methods, Li Niangzi became serious, "Today, we'll make steamed mutton."

Lin Chunyan said, "There's no rush to have them leave. Let's see how my steamed mutton turns out first, Li Niangzi."

Li Niangzi was puzzled by Lin Chunyan's intention but nodded in agreement.

Lin Chunyan chose a piece of mutton from the spine area, marinated it for half an hour to make it tender, steamed it for fifteen minutes, added scallions and ginger slices, and continued steaming for a bit longer. Finally, she sprinkled green pepper strips and seasonings before serving.

Soon, Li Niangzi's smile faded, replaced by a look of seriousness and concentration.

She never imagined that Lin Chunyan not only knew how to make steamed mutton but did it exceptionally well, even surpassing her master's teachings in some aspects. Seeing Li Niangzi's expression, Lin Taohong couldn't help but boast, "My elder sister can cook anything, and her skills are top-notch. How does her steamed mutton compare to yours?"

Li Niangzi said nothing, only picked up a piece of mutton and dipped it in the sauce before eating it.

The steamed mutton was not only fresh but also perfectly seasoned. After one bite, she almost dropped her eyebrows in surprise, admiring Lin Chunyan's skill.

Li Niangzi had practiced making steamed mutton for nearly ten years under Li Dainiang's guidance before she was trusted with the recipe. Li Dainiang told her it was the key to her survival in high society and advised her to keep it secret.

Li Niangzi rarely showed off this skill, only using it during grand banquets hosted by the family's matriarch. Her steamed mutton was famous throughout the town and even attracted visitors from the county who specifically came to taste it.

She never expected that in this small village, a woman who sold miscellaneous foods like Lin Chunyan could make such excellent steamed mutton, even better than her own after years of practice.

Lin Chunyan saw the expression on Li Niangzi's face and understood her thoughts. She didn't let Li Niangzi leave immediately but asked her to demonstrate the steamed mutton recipe she learned from Li Dainiang. Lin Chunyan pointed out two flaws and suggested improvements for next time, "As you tasted, the mutton prepared this way is indeed better."

Li Niangzi listened carefully, feeling somewhat embarrassed for showing off her skills in front of an expert. She asked curiously, "How did you learn to cook these dishes, Lin Xiaoniang?"

Lin Chunyan replied calmly, "My grandfather was a famous chef in the surrounding villages, though he mainly cooked for large feasts in the countryside. I have an aunt who secretly learned his cooking techniques and became skilled at creating new dishes. I learned from her."

These words were partly true and partly false, making it hard for anyone to verify.

Lin Chunyan's aunt was expelled from the family years ago for learning the cooking techniques and later ran away with a traveling merchant, never to be heard from again.

Li Niangzi no longer doubted her and felt a bit embarrassed, "I've taken advantage of your kindness, and yet I came here to thank you."

"That's nothing. You've helped me sell many chrysanthemum pastries. When I make more pastries, I'll need your help again."

This was not difficult, and Li Niangzi readily agreed. As she left, she took some small crabs and snails.

At the stall, she had seen many people buying these items while eating noodles, but because they were messy and unrefined to eat, Li Niangzi had never tried them. Seeing that Lin Chunyan gave them to her, she took them home.

If they weren't good, she thought, she could give them to a maid to enjoy.

However, when Zhao Pozi saw what she brought back, she didn't say much but asked for some.

Zhao Pozi was fond of playing cards and drinking, and since she had little to do in the household, the matriarch turned a blind eye to her behavior, which only made her more brazen. Whenever she had free time, she would find a place to drink and play cards.

Coincidentally, Zhao Pozi had once drunk wine at Yang Pozi's house, where the latter served the small snails as a side dish, which surprised her.

But after trying them, she found that the snails paired well with wine, adding a unique flavor.

Li Niangzi was annoyed by Zhao Pozi's persistent requests. After being treated rudely for so long, she refused to give her the snails and took them back to her room. Thinking they would go to waste, she decided to try them herself.

To her surprise, the snails and crabs were incredibly flavorful, and she understood why Zhao Pozi wanted them. Paired with wine, they would be a delightful treat.

That evening, after making two dishes of steamed mutton, Li Niangzi had to return to her duties at the mansion and didn't stay for dinner. This left Lin Chunyan's family to enjoy the hot, fragrant bowl of mutton.

"I never thought I'd get to eat mutton one day."

Mrs. Zhang sighed, picking up a piece of meat with her chopsticks and putting it in her mouth. Lin Chunyan then brought out the remaining mutton soaked in bread, along with sweet garlic to cut through the richness.

The sweet garlic was pickled recently, and many people enjoyed it with their noodles. Some preferred raw garlic, others liked preserved garlic, and some favored sweet garlic.

Lin Chunyan had pickled all varieties, placing a jar on each table so that anyone could take what they wanted.

Wang Yingniang, who had watched closely in the kitchen, was still thinking about how the steamed mutton was made. She asked questions about the parts she didn't understand, annoying Lin Taohong, who told her to be quiet, "Can't you eat in peace? Even the best food can't stop your mouth. Can't you wait until after the meal?"

Wang Yingniang fell silent, scooping up a spoonful of the bread soaked in mutton broth. The bread was finely broken and had absorbed the rich flavors of the mutton. Each bite was filled with the aroma of the mutton broth. The sweet garlic on the side was a perfect match, refreshing and satisfying.

After receiving the goods, Liu Shangke traveled for several days before finally reaching the capital city. His brother-in-law, upon seeing him return with the items, exclaimed in relief.

"I've been waiting for you. The old lady has asked about it several times, and I didn't know how to answer." He began to examine the items Liu Shangke brought.

Liu Shangke let him look through the items while sipping water slowly, recounting his journey and experiences, "You wouldn't believe how many delicious things there are in White Cloud Town. If it weren't for the urgency to return to you, I would have stayed longer."

Hearing that he had gone so far, his brother-in-law was surprised, "It's strange that this dish is only available in that small town. With so many people in our capital, no one can replicate it."

"Isn't that the truth? Only Lin Xiaoniang can make it."

Liu Shangke introduced each item he brought back to his brother-in-law and encouraged him to taste a few on the spot.

Chen Gu held the bean skin and put it in his mouth. At first, he felt a numbing and spicy sensation, followed by a rich bean fragrance that grew stronger with each chew, making him want another piece.

Seeing this, Liu Keshang reached out to take a bean skin as well, pushing the haw jelly and haw chips closer to Chen Gu. "This is really delicious, sweet and sour, great for stimulating appetite. It's perfect for the young masters and misses in your household."

Chen Gu had eaten quite a bit; he particularly enjoyed the cold dishes, especially the tofu threads and kelp threads, along with the jelly tofu, which would be even more refreshing in summer.

Apart from these, what he valued most was the dried tofu. Not for any other reason, but because the old dowager in the manor loved it so much. If not for the dried tofu, they wouldn't have sent people out to look for it.

Liu Keshang then talked to Chen Gu about doing business together. "Before I left, I heard many people were looking for this dried tofu. I only took some to my tavern, thinking it would sell well. I've already discussed with Lin Xiaoniang; she will supply the goods, and I'll send my staff to pick them up every five or six days."

"Of course, while you were away, people kept coming to look for it. No one thought to look elsewhere, giving you a head start. If we had been any later, this business might not have been ours."

Hearing this, Liu Keshang couldn't sit still. "I need to get the goods on display quickly. Tomorrow, I'll send someone to spread the word, and you should also say a good word for me to the old dowager."

"Don't worry about that. We're family, after all. There's no need to mention others."

Chen Gu took the items and returned home directly, showing them to his mother-in-law first. Zhou Pozi was a favorite of the old dowager, having been a dowry maid who endured many hardships before being granted freedom by the dowager. Now, her family lived outside the manor, only visiting when they had time.

His wife was also a favorite of the old dowager. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were so influential that they could walk around the manor as they pleased, and even outside, people treated them with respect.

When Zhou Pozi saw the items, she tasted them herself and listened to her son-in-law explain how he found them. She then took the items to the old dowager, embellishing the story to make it more interesting, leaving the dowager amazed.

"I never expected such effort would be made for a piece of dried tofu. But it is indeed delicious. As I grow older, my teeth aren't as strong as they used to be, and I prefer softer foods."

Zhou Pozi quickly comforted the old dowager. "If you say your teeth aren't good, what about us old women? Should we stop eating altogether? You're just overthinking things."

She then took out the jelly tofu and showed it to the dowager. "This is very soft and can be seasoned in various ways. I hear it's quite popular there."

The old dowager immediately ordered her attendants to prepare a bowl according to Zhou Pozi's instructions.

Liu Keshang had brought many seasonings, including dried haw and raisins. The attendants just needed to follow the instructions to mix everything together.

After tasting it, the old dowager praised it highly and rewarded Zhou Pozi. "Take this back to your two sons-in-law. They must have worked hard on this journey."

Then, she asked an attendant to summon Miss Xue. "Thanks to her thoughtful heart. Now that we have something good, we should let her try it too."

Miss Xue had always been frail. After a long boat ride, she had lost weight. Fortunately, she had eaten some dried tofu during the trip, or she might have been blown away by the wind upon returning to the capital.

When the attendant came to fetch her, she quickly changed into appropriate attire and went to see her grandmother. On the table, she saw a transparent dish topped with a bright red sauce, but she didn't know what it was.

The old dowager didn't keep her guessing. "This is what your mother-in-law's husband found at a stall in White Cloud Town. It's said to be a new delicacy. Try it and see if you like it."

Miss Xue took a spoonful and put it in her mouth. First, she tasted the haw chips and raisins, which were sweet and sour, complementing the soft and glutinous red beans. She nodded and said, "It's indeed very good. The woman who makes this must be very skilled."

The old dowager laughed. "You're wrong. The person selling this isn't a woman, but a young lady. I hear she's not very old and makes delicious food. She has over a dozen types of noodles on display. If she were in the capital, we'd certainly invite her to make some for us to taste."

Miss Xue was surprised to learn that the maker was a young lady, and her attendant was equally astonished, remembering that the seller looked like an older woman, assuming she had made everything.

Seeing Miss Xue eat a bowl, the old dowager noticed her complexion improved slightly. She dismissed the attendants and comforted her. "There's nothing we can do about Zhou Wanniang's situation. It's her fate. Don't worry about it and harm yourself."

Hearing this, Miss Xue's eyes welled up. "I never expected such a thing to happen. I just got back, and she's gone again. How can I feel at ease?"

It turned out that the two were close friends since childhood, inseparable. Miss Xue had been away for a while, and upon returning, she learned that Zhou Wanniang had run into trouble. She had sent gifts but hadn't seen her friend, who had gone to hide at the Wang family's old residence.

"Luckily, the Wang family's old residence is in White Cloud Town. Fate has brought you together. You'll likely meet again. Don't worry."

Despite these words, Miss Xue shed a few tears when she returned to her room. She asked her attendant to grind ink and wrote a letter to Zhou Wanniang, asking how she was doing.

After placing the items in the tavern, Liu Keshang sent someone to promote them. He instructed his staff to offer free samples of the dried tofu, bean skin, and jelly tofu to anyone who passed by.

These items weren't yet popular in their area, known only to wealthy families. Without letting people taste them, how could they know how good they were, let alone buy them?

This strategy worked. Many people came to try the free samples and exclaimed how delicious they were, asking where they could buy them and at what price. Within half a day, most people knew that the Yellow Crane Tavern in the capital was selling a new delicacy called jelly tofu.

Earlier, the dried tofu Miss Xue had sent out had been well-received by many families, who were now looking for more. Hearing that the Yellow Crane Tavern had it, they sent messengers to inquire.

Finding that the items matched the descriptions, they hurriedly bought them and presented them to their masters. The masters, enjoying the dried tofu, wanted more and heard about the new delicacies like bean skin and jelly tofu. The clever ones had already bought them and presented them to their masters, while the slower ones were scolded and rushed to buy them.

In just a few days, Liu Keshang sold out all the goods he had brought back. Delighted, he counted the coins at night and sent his staff to White Cloud Town to ask Lin Xiaoniang to supply more, this time requesting even more than before.

With more acorns available, more jelly tofu could be produced. However, making bean skin and dried tofu was labor-intensive. Lin Taohong, hearing that more was needed, worked late into the night, managing to produce only a small portion.

Seeing her eyelids drooping, Lin Chunyan pushed her to go to bed and finished the rest herself.

Mrs. Zhang and Wang Yingniang were also busy, packing haw jelly. Mrs. Zhang remarked, "We're lucky that Zilan helped us make the haw jelly, or we'd be in trouble now."

From this experience, Lin Chunyan realized that they needed to stock up on goods in advance, as demand could surge unexpectedly.

For now, Uncle Zhang's side wasn't mentioned, as nearby villages didn't consume much. However, Uncle Xiao Zhang's side was different. Gourd Town had recently ordered a large batch, and it was uncertain how many people in the next town would want it.

After working hard for several days, they were too tired to count coins. Their house didn't have enough space to store coins, so they exchanged them for silver pieces, which were easier to store.

The first time they received silver pieces, Mrs. Zhang couldn't sleep all night, seeing the silver pieces bouncing around in front of her. She got out of bed several times to check, only feeling relieved when she confirmed they were still in place.

Early the next morning, Aunt Lin came to help with the jelly tofu. Zhao Linglan and her sister, along with Sun Niang, arrived early as well, and even Li Pozi brought her child to help.

"I heard you were short-handed and busy. I have nothing to do at home, so I can come back to feed the pigs at the right time."

Li Pozi was afraid Lin Chunyan would think they were intruding, but Lin Chunyan was delighted to see them, offering to pay them daily wages for helping out temporarily.