Chapter 26: Red Fermented Tofu

Chapter 26: Red Fermented Tofu

Qiu Huanian raised his eyebrows in surprise. Jiu Jiu, usually so introverted, had never directly asked him for anything before. "What is it, Jiu Jiu?" he asked.

"Cun Lan said there's going to be a peach blossom banquet in the neighboring town in a few days. Her mother is taking her, and I want to go too," Jiu Jiu explained.

Afraid that Qiu Huanian might not feel at ease, she added, "It's only an hour and a half by mule cart, and we can come back the same day."

Qiu Huanian understood. Jiu Jiu wanted to go out and have some fun. It wasn't healthy to keep kids her age stuck at home all the time. He didn't believe in the old-fashioned idea of keeping girls indoors. Whether boys or girls, they needed to go out and see the world to develop fully.

"I'll ask about the details tomorrow. If it's convenient, I'll ask Cun Lan's mother to take you along," Qiu Huanian said.

The next day, Qiu Huanian went to the clan leader's second son's wife to inquire about the peach blossom banquet.

The clan leader's second son's wife was named Ye Taohong. She had come from the neighboring town to marry into the village and had delicate phoenix eyes, resembling her daughter Cun Lan by about sixty to seventy percent.

When Qiu Huanian asked about the peach blossom banquet, Ye Taohong knew that Cun Lan had told Jiu Jiu about it. She smiled and explained, "Our town once had a scholar named Song who retired a few years ago and planted a large peach grove in the countryside. His wife is from Jiangnan and enjoys elegance and lively gatherings. Every year when the peach blossoms bloom, she invites the women and young men from the village to a banquet in the peach grove."

"The scholar's wife is very down-to-earth. The banquet isn't formal; it's just about eating fruits, chatting, and playing games like touhu and majiang, which were brought from the south. If you don't know how to play, someone will teach you. There are also prizes for those who win a lot."

"Although I've been married for many years, my sister-in-law still remembers me and invites me every year. If Brother Hua wants Jiu Jiu to go, I can take her along and say she's a young girl from my husband's family. She can keep Cun Lan company."

Qiu Huanian thought that attending the peach blossom banquet would broaden Jiu Jiu's horizons. He made an agreement with Ye Taohong to take Jiu Jiu along when she went to the banquet in five days.

When he returned home and told Jiu Jiu the good news, her face lit up with excitement. She paced around the room, already thinking about what flowers to embroider on her clothes for the day.

With the help of Wei Liuhua, the new clothes for Qiu Huanian's family of four were ready.

There was plenty of cotton fabric, so Jiu Jiu had also made a long robe for Qiu Huanian. The design was something Wei Liuhua had learned while making clothes for a wealthy young man in the city. It had a fitted waist, a turned-down collar, and wide sleeves. When Qiu Huanian tried it on, he looked both handsome and sharp.

Because of the heavy workload these days, Qiu Huanian had kept the new clothes stored away to avoid getting them dirty or torn. He planned to save them for when he went to the city.

Jiu Jiu naturally wanted to wear her new clothes to the peach blossom banquet. With time still left, she decided to add some embroidery to her outfit, showcasing her newly learned skills.

After much discussion with Cun Lan, they decided that each of them would embroider a peach blossom on their collars. Jiu Jiu would handle the embroidery, while Cun Lan would pick wildflowers on the day to make a headpiece.

The two girls were fully immersed in preparing for the peach blossom banquet. After finalizing their outfits, they pestered Qiu Huanian to teach them how to play majiang. Qiu Huanian had actually researched this topic when making videos in his previous life. He used leftover wood to carve forty long, thin wooden tiles, marking them with characters representing tens, thousands, strings, and coins, creating a simple set of majiang tiles.

Majiang, the predecessor of modern mahjong, is a game for four players that involves strategy and decision-making, making it a fascinating intellectual game.

After teaching them the rules, Qiu Huanian let Jiu Jiu, Cun Lan, Chun Sheng, and Yun Kang play together in their spare time.

Although Chun Sheng and Yun Kang were young, they were very clever and quickly grasped the rules. Cun Lan was a bit slower, taking several games to understand. What surprised Qiu Huanian the most was Jiu Jiu. The girl, who usually didn't show off, dominated the game table, never missing a beat in her calculations, winning eight out of ten games.

Ye Taohong also learned how to play majiang from her daughter and couldn't resist having her husband Bao Yi make a set. She often invited her sisters-in-law and neighbors for a game.

"Brother Hua is truly capable. I had only heard of majiang from the scholar's wife but never learned how to play. Not only does Brother Hua know how to play, but he can also make the tiles himself!"

...

Seeing the children enjoying themselves, Qiu Huanian started making red fermented tofu. He had already tasted the red fermented tofu from Wei Dexing's gift, and while it was good, he was confident he could make something even better.

When he went to town to sell sugar, Qiu Huanian ordered fifty pounds of tofu from the Meng family's tofu shop, bought three large ceramic jars, a small jar of huangjiu, and a dozen complex spices, spending almost all of his one tael of silver. The mule cart was packed to the brim.

Meng Yuanling was puzzled. "Brother Hua, are you hosting another banquet?"

Even for a banquet, this seemed like too much!

Qiu Huanian smiled, keeping his plans to himself. "It's not for a banquet. I'm planning to make another snack to sell."

Meng Yuanling's eyes lit up upon hearing this, "Then you can make more money, and my tofu can sell more too."

Meng Yuanling had no doubt that Qiu Huanian's products would be profitable. In his mind, Qiu Huanian was already equated to a child under the God of Wealth.

"Great! From now on, I’ll only buy tofu from your family!" Qiu Huanian said with a smile.

Meng Yuanling lowered his head shyly, his dimples appearing on his cheeks, "Brother Hua, you must let me taste it when you're done."

"Don't worry, I won't forget you. I'll send half a catty to your house for a taste."

...

After returning home, Qiu Huanian cleaned several large round bamboo trays, each over a meter in diameter, sterilized them with boiling water, and dried them under the midday sun to complete the sterilization process.

The first step in making red fermented tofu is fermenting stinky tofu. This process must be free of contamination, or the result won’t be edible fermented tofu but spoiled tofu.

Qiu Huanian moved the tray stand to a shaded corner of the wall, cut fifty catties of steamed tofu into mahjong-sized cubes, and spread them flat on the trays to naturally ferment in a warm, ventilated environment.

After three days, a thick layer of white fuzz covered the tofu, indicating that the stinky tofu was well fermented. If the fuzz was black or green, it meant the stinky tofu had gone bad and was inedible.

Qiu Huanian sterilized three big jars by heating them up, toasted salt, Sichuan pepper, chili, and red yeast rice separately, then ground them into powder and mixed them into a curing mixture. Using long chopsticks, he dipped each piece of stinky tofu in yellow wine, then thickly coated it with the curing mixture and placed it into the jars.

Finally, Qiu Huanian boiled water with star anise, cinnamon, bay leaves, and other spices, along with scallions and ginger, cooled and filtered it, poured it into the jars, added the remaining yellow wine, and sealed the jars.

After a week of fermenting, the red fermented tofu was ready.

To keep the recipe secret, Qiu Huanian mixed up the ingredient ratios when shopping and bought some unnecessary items, making it impossible for anyone to deduce the exact recipe by inquiring about the shopping list.

Red fermented tofu could be stored in jars for several months. Qiu Huanian made two full jars, planning to sell them to Huang Daniang in the city. The remaining tofu from the first two jars was packed into a third jar, to be kept for gifts or personal consumption.

Qiu Huanian claimed the recipe was passed down by his birth mother, and he had improved it through research. After the grave incident, people in Du Village knew that Mei Xueer's origins were somewhat unusual, so no one doubted it.

On the day of the peach blossom banquet, as dawn broke, Ye Taohong came with Cun Lan to pick up Jiu Jiu.

Both little girls were dressed in clean clothes with peach blossoms embroidered on their collars, and their dark hair was adorned with beautiful wildflower hairpins, looking utterly adorable.

Qiu Huanian packed a small pouch of Sorghum Candy for Jiu Jiu and gave her a few copper coins for emergencies. After much urging, he watched her board the clan leader's donkey cart and head off.

As the sun was about to set, and Jiu Jiu still hadn't returned, Qiu Huanian grew anxious. He went to the clan leader's house several times to ask, but they all said the clan leader's second son, Bao Yi, had gone to fetch her but hadn't returned yet.

After asking three times, Du Yunse decided, "Let's take the cart and go see. There's only one main road there; we might meet them halfway."

The clan leader's family was also worried and agreed upon hearing this.

Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse pulled the cart and donkey out of the yard and left the village with the setting sun. After walking for about a quarter of an hour, they saw Bao Yi's donkey cart.

"Uncle Bao Yi, where's my Jiu Jiu?" Qiu Huanian asked anxiously, seeing no one on the other's donkey cart.

Seeing them, Bao Yi knew they were worried about the child and didn't beat around the bush, "Jiu Jiu was left at Song Juren's residence. Taohong and Cun Lan are staying with her. I was afraid the family would worry, so I stayed for a while and came back to report."

Qiu Huanian breathed a slight sigh of relief but still felt uneasy, "Uncle Bao Yi, what exactly happened at the peach blossom banquet? Why was it my Jiu Jiu who was left behind?"

They pulled the carts to the roadside, and Bao Yi explained.

"I'm not entirely sure of the details. At the time, Mrs. Song and her niece were present, and the atmosphere was a bit off. I didn't feel comfortable asking too much. You'll have to wait until you see Jiu Jiu to ask her in detail."

"Taohong told me that at the peach blossom banquet, Mrs. Song's niece, who was visiting, accidentally slipped and fell into the small river. Jiu Jiu happened to be nearby and went down to rescue her."

"Jiu Jiu was all wet, and Mrs. Song was afraid she might catch a cold, so she kept her at her residence for the night. Since Jiu Jiu is young and shy, Taohong and Cun Lan stayed with her."

Bao Yi comforted, "Brother Hua and Yun Se, rest assured. I see that Mrs. Song is a gentle person and truly fond of Jiu Jiu. She won't let Jiu Jiu suffer any injustice."

"It's late today, but you can head to the Song residence first thing tomorrow morning to bring Jiu Jiu home."

After hearing this, Qiu Huanian was not completely at ease.

There must be more to this story. Why would Mrs. Song's niece fall into the water out of the blue, and what role did Jiu Jiu play in it? Everything remains a mystery, and we must not let our guard down.

At the crack of dawn the next day, Du Yunse and Qiu Huanian drove the mule cart to the neighboring town to pick up Jiu Jiu from the residence of Scholar Song. Bao Yi had other matters to attend to and entrusted them to bring Ye Taohong and Cun Lan back as well.

Scholar Song loved the peach blossoms of his hometown. In the year he passed the provincial examination, he was invited by the county magistrate to personally name his hometown 'Peach Blossom Town.' The residents of Peach Blossom Town took great pride in this, and the town's old name was nearly forgotten.

Scholar Song did not pass the metropolitan examination but, taking advantage of a good opportunity, became a county magistrate in a small northwestern county with his status as a Juren. A few years ago, feeling that he was getting old, he decided to retire and returned to Peach Blossom Town with his wife to enjoy his later years.

Scholar Song's residence stood in the northern part of Peach Blossom Town, covering two acres of land. It was a three-section courtyard with a small garden. The house had pink walls and blue tiles, with flower windows revealing the scenery, exuding a hint of southern charm, likely catering to the preferences of Mrs. Song, who was from the south.

In Peach Blossom Town, one could easily spot the Song residence standing out like a crane among chickens. After an hour and a half of driving the mule cart, Qiu Huanian finally arrived at Peach Blossom Town, where he could see the distinctive residence from afar.

He gazed at it for a moment, wondering when he might afford such a house, adding another concrete goal to strive for.

In ancient times, without air conditioning, Wi-Fi, or cars, one should at least live in a big house, have white rice and flour with meat and eggs for every meal, and be able to afford beautiful clothes!

Upon arriving at the Song residence and stating their purpose, the servants politely invited them into the house. Du Yunse stayed in the outer hall to chat with Scholar Song, while Qiu Huanian was led to the inner hall to meet Jiu Jiu.

Scholar Song's children had already established their own families and careers elsewhere and did not return to their hometown with their parents. The Song residence had few masters and even fewer servants. As Qiu Huanian walked through, he noticed that everything in the residence was meticulously arranged, without any excess, reflecting Mrs. Song's household management skills.

In the inner hall, Qiu Huanian met Mrs. Song. Mrs. Song was in her fifties, with well-maintained black hair and a fair complexion that made her look younger than her age. Her frame was smaller than that of northern women, and she wore a pine-green silk robe with a red gemstone-embedded headband.

Jiu Jiu sat below her, answering her questions. Mrs. Song had a constant smile on her face, appearing very amiable.

Opposite Jiu Jiu sat a girl of about fifteen or sixteen, with a slender frame and a delicate, gentle face, looking down with a sorrowful expression.

Qiu Huanian, observing the girl's attire, guessed that she was the niece from Mrs. Song's family and felt somewhat surprised.

Last night, when Bao Yi mentioned that Jiu Jiu had saved the niece from drowning, he had assumed that the niece was about the same age as Jiu Jiu. He hadn't expected her to be fifteen or sixteen years old.

At this age, falling into the water by accident was even more unlikely to be a simple matter.

Jiu Jiu, worried about embarrassing her brothers, had been carefully regulating her behavior and speech in the Song residence. When answering Mrs. Song's questions, she would think thrice before speaking. Seeing Qiu Huanian arrive, her eyes lit up, revealing her childlike nature.

Qiu Huanian's heart softened, and he smiled at Jiu Jiu before greeting Mrs. Song.

"I've always heard Jiu Jiu talk about how amazing her Brother Hua is. Today, I finally get to meet him. Chun Shui, please show Brother Hua to his seat."

Chun Shui, Mrs. Song's head maid, led Qiu Huanian to his seat. Qiu Huanian and Mrs. Song chatted about everyday matters, such as farming, making sugar, and cooking—typical rural topics.

After listening for a while, Mrs. Song sighed, "Cotton thrives in water and heat but is vulnerable to dampness and pests. It's very difficult to grow. When my husband was a county magistrate in the northwest, he once bought high-quality seeds to promote cotton cultivation, but it didn't yield much. If you can devise a method to cultivate cotton in Zhang County, it would greatly benefit the nation and its people. You might even receive an imperial reward."

Having been an official's wife for many years, Mrs. Song naturally had a broader perspective and insight. She pointed out a path that Qiu Huanian had not previously considered. Although Qiu Huanian recorded cotton cultivation methods to benefit the common people, receiving an imperial reward for it would also be a good thing.

In ancient times, having a prestigious reputation was very important, making many tasks easier to accomplish.

Mrs. Song then pointed to the Sorghum Candy on the table and smiled, "Though this candy is rough, it carries a rustic appeal. I quite enjoy it. During the Peach Blossom Banquet, I specifically had the servants purchase a batch to include in the sweet fruit platter. I didn't expect it to be your creation."

The fact that Sorghum Candy could be sold in Peach Blossom Town was naturally Meng Wudong's achievement. He found a new sales channel every few days, steadily increasing sales. The daily sales volume had already surpassed what Qiu Huanian sold in town.

Last time, Meng Wudong bought eight hundred pieces of Sorghum Candy from Qiu Huanian in one go. Before the next delivery, Qiu Huanian had no idea that his Sorghum Candy had already been sold in the Song residence and appeared at the Peach Blossom Banquet.

He smiled and said, "Thank you, Madam, for supporting our business."

Mrs. Song appreciated his attitude of being both friendly and respectful, and said to him, "Several families at the banquet asked me what this sorghum candy is called and where it was bought. I had the servants inform them, so you might need to prepare more candy in the future."

Although Mrs. Song's original intention for hosting the Peach Blossom Banquet was simply to entertain her fellow townsfolk, given Mr. Song's status as a Provincial Scholar, his influence was undeniable. Many prominent families in Zhang County would try to leverage connections to have their household members attend the banquet and befriend Mrs. Song.

After this Peach Blossom Banquet, the fame of the sorghum candy made by Qiu Huanian would no longer be limited to the vicinity of Qingfu Town but would spread throughout Zhang County. If the right channels were established, sales were expected to increase significantly.

After speaking for a while, Mrs. Song shifted the topic to Jiu Jiu. "Yesterday, Qinghe accidentally fell into the water, but fortunately, Jiu Jiu was there to save her. I took a liking to this child and wished to gift her some clothes and jewelry, but she declined everything, saying her elder brother taught her not to accept rewards without merit. She even neatly folded and returned the clean clothes provided to her after yesterday's incident. I really had no choice but to ask you, as her sister-in-law, to persuade her."

Qiu Huanian raised an eyebrow slightly, understanding the implication in Mrs. Song's words—no matter what, the official account of yesterday's incident from the Song family would only be "an accidental fall into the water."

Qiu Huanian had no intention of probing into the truth. The status gap between their family and the Song family was too vast, and it was best to stay as far away from such secrets as possible.

Jiu Jiu, remembering Du Yunse's teachings, did not rashly accept Mrs. Song's gifts. However, this only made Mrs. Song more uneasy. It would be better to clarify the matter, accept the gratitude, and bring the issue to a close.

Qiu Huanian smiled and patted Jiu Jiu's head, saying to Mrs. Song, "I thank you on behalf of Jiu Jiu. My husband, Yunse, has always taught the children to be strict and respectful. Jiu Jiu is young and remembers her brother's words, so she might have been a bit nervous. Please don't take offense."

Mrs. Song laughed, "How could I blame her? I like such a clever and well-mannered child. I would love to have her come to the mansion often to play *mahjong* with me!"

"You probably don't know yet, but Jiu Jiu won first place at the Peach Blossom Banquet yesterday!"

Seeing Qiu Huanian's acquiescence, Mrs. Song had Chunshui fetch the prepared gifts from the back. They included two rolls of brightly colored jacquard satin suitable for young people—one in lilac and the other in a shade of pink—a set of pearl and gold-plated hair accessories for a young girl, a jade bracelet of good quality, and a red cloth package containing silver, likely weighing five taels.

Seeing such generous gifts, Qiu Huanian understood why Jiu Jiu dared not accept them. These items were worth at least fifteen taels, sufficient to construct a brick-and-tile house in Du Village!

"Lacking time to prepare tailored garments, I opted to gift these fabrics instead. Let Jiu Jiu choose what she likes to wear and have them made accordingly."

When Qiu Huanian tried to decline, Mrs. Song added, "This is a life-saving favor. It's only right for me, as the elder, to prepare generous gifts. Besides, there are some peculiarities to this matter, and it's also to help Jiu Jiu recover from the shock."

Mrs. Song's implication was clear. She knew that the truth behind the incident couldn't be hidden from Jiu Jiu's family, so the generous gifts also included compensation for discretion.

Compared to Wei Dexing's approach, Mrs. Song's actions were far more tactful. Even when the underlying meaning was understood, it didn't leave a bad taste.

"Then I'll accept these on behalf of Jiu Jiu. I'll keep them safe at home and bring them out for her to wear when the time comes." Qiu Huanian made it clear that the fabrics and jewelry would be kept for Jiu Jiu and not sold off immediately.

Mrs. Song's smile deepened. After chatting for a while longer, Qiu Huanian declined the offer to stay for a meal, citing farm work, and prepared to leave. Mrs. Song had Chunshui pack the gifts onto the mule cart and sent someone to fetch Ye Taohong and Cun Lan from the guest quarters to leave together.

Although Mrs. Song had never truly lived a rural life, she understood human relationships well. She met with Qiu Huanian alone to ensure the details of the gifts remained confidential, avoiding potential disputes in the village when Jiu Jiu returned.

Throughout the entire process, Chi Qinghe, the young lady from Mrs. Song's maternal family, kept her head down and remained silent. Her sorrowful expression and tear-filled eyes revealed a heart burdened with grief.

After all the outsiders had left, Mrs. Song sighed and said to her young niece, "The gifts have been sent on your behalf. You can rest easy now."

The generosity of the gifts was partly due to the fact that they included contributions from both Mrs. Song and Chi Qinghe. The jacquard satin and silver came from Mrs. Song, while the hair accessories and bracelet were selected by Chi Qinghe from her own jewelry collection. Otherwise, Mrs. Song wouldn't have had any suitable jewelry for a young girl on hand.

Chi Qinghe nodded silently, feeling a slight relief from the torment in her heart.

Yesterday, she had been determined to end her life but didn't want to involve others. When she jumped into the river and was about to submerge her head, she suddenly saw an unfamiliar young girl stepping into the water and swimming toward her. Startled, Chi Qinghe instinctively stood up, and the two of them struggled back to the shore together.

If she hadn't been so resolute in her desire to die, the water, which only reached chest height, wouldn't have been enough to drown her.

Chi Qinghe wasn't sure whether her failed attempt at suicide was a good or bad thing, but the fact that the young girl named Jiu Jiu had risked her life to save her was undeniable. No matter what, she owed Jiu Jiu gratitude and compensation. Jiu Jiu's acceptance of her gifts made Chi Qinghe feel that at least one thorn had been removed from her otherwise worthless life.

Seeing Chi Qinghe's expression, Mrs. Song knew she still hadn't fully come to terms with things. She spoke earnestly, "If you want to find fault with yourself, you can pick out a hundred reasons. According to the southern family rules, if this were brought before the ancestral hall, kneeling before our ancestors for judgment, the outcome would likely be a white silk rope or a cup of poisoned wine."

Chi Qinghe lowered her head, her thin shoulders trembling uncontrollably as clear tears streamed down her gaunt cheeks.

"But if you want to live, you only need one reason."

Chi Qinghe hesitantly looked up, and Mrs. Song, gazing at her tearful eyes, said, "Your parents endured great hardships, traversing thousands of miles to bring you from the south to the northeast under my care, hoping you would lead a fulfilling life."

"Do you truly wish to let down their deep love for you as their daughter?"

Chi Qinghe let out a low sob, and Mrs. Song sighed, "I have reached the age of knowing my fate, and having seen many things, I now understand that what once seemed like insurmountable obstacles are but fleeting shadows."

"When you live to be thirty, fifty, or seventy, and look back at the things that happened in your teens, what will they amount to?"

Mrs. Song stood up, "Think it over. I am tired and will go lie down for a while."

"The maid you brought from the south is not suitable. I have decided to release her from her indenture and let her leave the Song household. Later, I’ll have Chunshui help you pick a new maid who suits you better."

Chi Qinghe opened her mouth, hesitated for a moment, but ultimately said nothing.

In a corner of the Song family's back garden, Chunshui had someone open the woodshed to release Zao'er, who had been locked up overnight, and brought her to the back gate.

Zao'er was the head maid Chi Qinghe had brought from the south. To avoid drawing attention, Chi Qinghe had only brought one maid and an old nanny. Zao'er was sixteen this year, with a sharp chin, big eyes, and a lively little mole at the corner of her mouth, looking like a sly little fox.

Shortly after Chi Qinghe fell into the water yesterday, Chunshui had Zao'er locked in the woodshed. Terrified all night, Zao'er began to plead for mercy as soon as she saw Chunshui, "It’s a mistake, Sister Chunshui! I really don't know why the young lady fell into the water. Please tell the mistress, please help me beg for mercy!"

Chunshui didn't waste words with her and directly slapped a piece of paper onto Zao'er's pretty face.

As Chi Qinghe's head maid, Zao'er had learned to read along with her mistress. She held the paper and stared at it for a long time, unable to believe it, "This... this is..."

"The mistress knows that the Song family is too small to accommodate someone of your stature. She has released you from your indenture. You are free to go wherever you wish, just don't come back to cause trouble!"

Chunshui also handed her a bundle, "This contains your saved monthly earnings and your clothes. I personally packed them, and nothing is missing. Don’t linger here and draw attention. Hurry up and leave."

Zao'er was taken aback by this sudden turn of fortune. Her lips moved as she tried to justify herself, "At least let me bid farewell to the young lady before I go, otherwise it will be hard to explain when I return home."

Chunshui sneered at her words, "Do you think I can't see through your intentions? Your parents are all in the south. You didn’t want to stay in the northeast with Miss Qinghe forever and plotted to push her into the river so you could escort her body back south. You thought your schemes were hidden, but every single one of them was seen by the mistress!"

Zao'er's face turned pale as her secret plans were exposed. If her actions were thoroughly investigated, she could be sentenced to death!

Chunshui looked down on her, "Now you're scared? Why weren't you scared when you were harming others? We servants can have our own plans, but we must not lose our conscience. Miss Qinghe has always treated you well, and your parents have a good reputation in the Chi family, yet you repaid kindness with betrayal. If it weren't for that little girl from the Du family being nearby yesterday, you might have succeeded in killing Miss Qinghe!"

"The mistress is kind-hearted and has given you a way out. If you continue to twist the truth and stir up trouble, I will immediately have someone take you to the authorities!"

Zao'er dared not stay any longer. She quickly packed her indenture and bundle and ran out of the Song family's back gate. Once she reached a secluded spot, she opened the bundle to check and found her two good sets of clothes, three taels of saved monthly earnings, and a gilded hairpin and a pair of agate earrings that Chi Qinghe had given her. She couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

If she pawned these items, it would be enough to get her back to the south!

Zao'er was initially overjoyed, but then she began to hesitate. If she returned to the south, she would have to explain to the Chi family why she had returned alone without Miss Qinghe. If Mrs. Song had written something in her letter, she might even be arrested by the Chi family and taken to the authorities.

Moreover, although her own indenture had been released, her family's contracts were still in the hands of the Chi family. If she returned home, she would likely have to continue serving as a maid.

Zao'er's heart raced, and she felt her lips dry and her throat parched. She didn't want to go back. She wanted to take a chance and make something of herself, to make Mrs. Song and Chi Qinghe bow before her, and to have Chunshui, who had humiliated her, suffer a thousand cuts!

Zao'er took out a few copper coins and found a mule cart in Peach Blossom Town heading to the county. She planned to go to the county office first to completely erase her slave status.

Chunshui watched Zao'er's figure disappear, her expression turning cold.

The play for the young lady's benefit was finally over. If the young lady hadn't been so emotionally unstable and still didn't believe that Zao'er had intended to harm her, the mistress wouldn't have had to go through so much trouble and could have simply reported Zao'er to the authorities.

But it was just a detour.

Thinking of the letter Mrs. Song had sent to the county office in advance, and the "evidence" of Zao'er stealing the family's property in her bundle, Chunshui smiled faintly.

...

Back at home, Qiu Huanian carefully stored the gifts from the Song family. Although the brocade and jewelry were nice, Jiu Jiu couldn't wear them now. On one hand, she was worried about damaging them while working, and on the other, dressing too conspicuously in the village could attract unwanted trouble.

When there were no outsiders around, Jiu Jiu whispered to Qiu Huanian about what had happened the day before.

"I won a pair of pearl earrings as a prize in a game of mahjong tiles, and many strangers came over to make sarcastic remarks. I couldn't stand it, so I quietly slipped into the depths of the peach grove to hide and find some peace."

"I saw Miss Qinghe and her maid talking by the river. Miss Qinghe seemed to be crying. I originally wanted to avoid them, but the next moment she suddenly jumped into the river. Her maid not only didn't try to save her but also ran away."

"Fearing for her life, I rushed over to save her. By the time I was brought to the Song residence, the maid had already disappeared."

Qiu Huanian patted Jiu Jiu's fluffy head, first affirming her, "It's good that Jiu Jiu has a kind heart, but next time, you should also pay attention to your own safety. What would your brothers do if something happened to you in the river?"

"I can swim. Chun Sheng is too mischievous; he often goes fishing in the river when the water rises in summer. I was afraid he might drown and I wouldn't be able to save him in time, so I learned to swim. I wasn't just trying to show off by saving someone."

Children in the village don't have so many rules; kids of a few years old, regardless of gender, love to play in the river.

"Still, you should be careful. There's an old saying, 'Those who drown are usually the ones who can swim,' understand?"

"I understand, Brother Hua," Jiu Jiu nodded obediently. "Brother Hua, isn't it strange about Miss Qinghe falling into the water? She clearly jumped in herself, but Mrs. Song said it was an accident."

Jiu Jiu was very puzzled by this but didn't dare to ask directly at the Song residence. Her intuition told her that this question shouldn't be asked carelessly.

Qiu Huanian hummed in agreement, "This is the Song family's private matter. Jiu Jiu, just go along with what Mrs. Song said, and don't tell anyone else what you just said. If you have the chance to visit the Song residence again in the future, don't bring up this matter either. Just act as if it never happened."

Jiu Jiu tugged at her little braid and thought for a long time, figuring it out on her own.

The Peach Blossom Banquet was just a small rural gathering. Mrs. Song didn't offer anything too valuable; the pearls on the earrings given as a mahjong prize were only half the size of a pea and probably worth about four qian of silver.

Because they weren't too conspicuous, and since many people knew Jiu Jiu had won this prize, Qiu Huanian didn't put the earrings away but directly gave them to Jiu Jiu to wear.

Jiu Jiu had pierced her ears last year but hadn't worn any proper earrings yet. She was so thrilled that every day while fetching water, she would tilt her head to admire her reflection in the water of the vat or basin. When someone saw her, she would immediately blush and run away.

Qiu Huanian teased her, "If you're this happy with small pearls, what will you do when you wear gold, silver, coral, or jade? Will you need seven or eight people to carry mirrors around for you to look at yourself?"

Jiu Jiu stomped her foot and ran out the door in a flash, her mind filled with fantasies of the jewelry Brother Hua had mentioned.

How amazing would it be if that day ever came true!

...

After the red fermented tofu had been marinated in the jar for seven or eight days, Qiu Huanian opened the four-pound jar, and a strong, complex aroma of fermented spiciness wafted out.

He scooped out two pieces of red fermented tofu with a clean, high-temperature sterilized wooden spoon and called his family to dip them into freshly steamed white buns.

Steamed buns dipped in red fermented tofu is one of the most popular breakfast dishes in countless northern university canteens.

The hot, fluffy steamed buns are split in the middle, and half a piece of bright red fermented tofu is sandwiched inside. With a firm press, the tofu smoothly spreads out, and the light pink paste evenly coats the unevenly torn surface. The first bite brings a rush of satisfaction from the carbs and savory flavors, instantly making you want another.

Chun Sheng wolfed down several bites, nearly biting his tongue and choking, left speechless. Jiu Jiu quickly blew on a spoonful of porridge and fed it to him.

"One should eat slowly and chew thoroughly, not so recklessly," Du Yunse corrected him.

Chun Sheng didn't dare to speak, his eyes darting to Qiu Huanian for help. Qiu Huanian smiled and mediated, "He's just a kid; it's normal to get excited over something he loves to eat."

Chun Sheng nodded eagerly, "It's just that Brother Hua's red fermented tofu is so tasty!"

After Qiu Huanian spoke, Du Yunse stopped scolding Chun Sheng. Chun Sheng blinked triumphantly, but before he could continue devouring his food, his foot was suddenly kicked under the table.

Chun Sheng winced and turned to see his sister glaring at him. He didn't dare to continue misbehaving and obediently lowered his head to start chewing slowly.

Qiu Huanian observed everything, his gaze shifting from Jiu Jiu to Chun Sheng, then playfully landing on Du Yunse, a smile crossing his face as he looked across the table. Du Yunse helplessly shook his head and continued eating.

In the current household hierarchy, both Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng hold Du Yunse in awe, Du Yunse listens to Qiu Huanian, Jiu Jiu can manage Chun Sheng, and in summary, Qiu Huanian undoubtedly stands at the top of the food chain.

It's true that one thing always conquers another.

"Do you think the red fermented tofu I made is better, or the one sold in the county?" Qiu Huanian brought out the fermented tofu sent by Wei Dexing for everyone to compare.

"Brother Hua's is better!" Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng said in unison.

After tasting carefully, Du Yunse said, "The aroma of yours is more delicate, the texture is finer, and you've added many spices, making it far superior to Wei's."

Qiu Huanian nodded in satisfaction. His recipe, refined through countless iterations and corrections online, combined with his own insights, was a game-changer in ancient times.

"Well said, here's another bite as a reward!" Qiu Huanian broke off a small piece of steamed bun, dipped it in the remaining red fermented tofu, and fed it to Du Yunse. Du Yunse lowered his head to eat from his hand, his warm lips brushing against Qiu Huanian's fingertips, sending a shiver through him.

Qiu Huanian quickly looked away and noticed Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng standing beside them, looking up eagerly.

Qiu Huanian coughed and turned to go to the storeroom to weigh, "I'll weigh how much red fermented tofu we have in total after making it."

After deducting the weight of the empty jar previously weighed, fifty pounds of tofu and various seasonings, spice water, and yellow wine combined yielded eighty pounds of red fermented tofu. The two jars meant for Huang Daniang held about seventy pounds.

Qiu Huanian pulled out the small pottery jars he’d bought earlier, each for six coins, and divided the ten pounds of red fermented tofu from the reserved jar into twelve half-pound jars, preparing them as gifts, leaving four pounds in the jar for the family to enjoy slowly.

Before lunch, Qiu Huanian took a small jar of red fermented tofu to the clan leader's house. Yun Cheng had returned yesterday, having passed the academy exam on his first attempt. The clan leader was overjoyed and decided to hold a feast in the village in a few days to celebrate. Qiu Huanian went to inquire about matters in the prefecture city.

At the clan leader's house, many relatives had come to congratulate, and Yun Cheng was surrounded and unable to break free. Qiu Huanian gave the red fermented tofu to Meng Fuyue and walked with her to the garden to talk.

Meng Fuyue had already prepared a basket of precautions, "The prefecture city is quite different from the village and the county. Everything costs money, and people on the streets wear clean, nice clothes—no patches. Two or three out of ten even wear luxurious silk."

"The prices of food and general goods are two to three times higher than in Zhang County. Even hot water in inns costs extra, one coin per pot. Fortunately, we brought everything and didn't spend much money."

"We stayed at a mid-range inn, close to the examination hall, costing one hundred and twenty coins per room per day. Initially, we booked two rooms, but after one night, Bao Ren and I couldn't sleep and found a lower-class inn for forty coins per night."

"In Zhang County, forty coins could get you a high-class room, but in Xiangping Prefecture, it only gets you a pigsty-sized room with a straw mat."

"I think our village is better; going out without money is just misery."

Qiu Huanian calculated the prices and asked Meng Fuyue, "Auntie, did you see Zhao's family in Xiangping Prefecture?"

"We didn't see them, but we heard news. They arrived in Xiangping Prefecture shortly after us, renting two back rooms three streets away from the examination hall, reportedly until the academy exam results are announced, about two months, spending a full three taels of silver!"

Zhao's family stayed longer, making renting more cost-effective than staying at an inn. Three taels of silver could buy an acre of fertile land in Du Village. For Du Yunjing's academy exam, the family really went all out.

"By the way, Brother Hua, if you have good quilts and mattresses, remember to bring them when you go to the prefecture city. The inn bedding is damp and hard—totally unbearable. Yun Se is taking the scholar exam, so don't let this affect his performance."

Qiu Huanian took mental notes of all Meng Fuyue’s tips and began planning their trip to the prefecture city.

With about twenty days left before the academy exam, and the journey taking three to four days, he needed to start preparing the things to bring now.

Du Yunse said he didn't need to go to the prefecture city one or two months in advance, but Qiu Huanian thought arriving just two or three days before the exam wasn't good either, in case unfamiliarity with the environment, food, or water affected his exam performance.

Coming from modern times, Qiu Huanian had extensive exam experience. Although he wasn't taking the exam himself, he aimed to help Du Yunse with all the off-field preparations, working together to pass the academy exam and start the first step of "imperial examination investment."

The next day, leaving Du Yunse at home to focus on studying, Qiu Huanian took two large jars of red fermented tofu to the county town. Upon arriving at Huang Erniang's shop, Huang Erniang's eyes lit up, and she immediately asked a neighbor to watch the shop while she took Qiu Huanian to Huang Daniang's eatery.

"I was just saying the other day, if you didn't bring the fermented tofu soon, it would be too late!"

"What would be too late?" At noon, the eatery named "Fresh Taste House," located in the center of the county town, was bustling with customers, the aroma of food filling the air.

"Of course, it's the 'Hundred Flavors Test' hosted by the prefect of Xiangping Prefecture. Our prefect loves good food and, after each academy exam, hosts a 'Hundred Flavors Test,' inviting famous chefs from the entire prefecture to present their best dishes for the new scholars to taste, ranking them first, second, and third, with the top scholar of the current academy exam composing a poem as a gift."

"The chefs who received the inscribed poems not only gained fame but also a touch of literary sophistication. Many upscale restaurants in the city vied to hire them at premium rates. My sister made her fortune twelve years ago by winning a second-class award at a tasting event."

As they spoke, Huang Daniang came out from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. She bore some resemblance to Huang Erniang, being in her forties with strong arms and a ruddy complexion, radiating a hearty, earthy energy.

"So this is Brother Hua? Let me see the red fermented tofu!"

"See, I told you my sister is even more impatient than I am," Huang Erniang teased.

Qiu Huanian moved the jars of fermented tofu from the cart. Seeing his delicate hands, Huang Daniang stepped forward and lifted both jars herself. "Let's taste it in the kitchen."

In the kitchen, Qiu Huanian opened a jar and, with a clean long-handled spoon, scooped out a small bowl of the tofu along with its juice. Huang Daniang dipped the tip of her chopsticks into it, tasted it, and smacked her lips.

"This taste is spot on, better than what Wei Dexing sells. With this, I'm sure to win an award at this year's Hundred Flavors Tasting!"

The Hundred Flavors Tasting, like the academy exam, is held twice every three years. Over the years, traditional methods have been refined to perfection, and only innovation can lead to victory.

After developing a new dish with the red fermented tofu, Huang Daniang considered participating in the Hundred Flavors Tasting again. She had been thwarted by Wei Dexing's control over the raw materials and thought she would have to give up, but then Qiu Huanian appeared with superior red fermented tofu.

"Though I don't know the exact recipe, I can tell your red fermented tofu contains many spices, which likely makes it more expensive than Wei Dexing's. I won't take advantage of you, Brother Hua. Please name your price."

Qiu Huanian shook his head, "Just stick to the agreed price of seventy wen per catty. I don't incur transportation costs for making the tofu myself, and selling it in jars saves on container costs, so it balances out."

"If you're willing, after winning an award at the Hundred Flavors Tasting, just tell everyone that the red fermented tofu you used was made by me. Wouldn't that be more profitable for me?"

"Good! I'll take your good word for it. This time, I must win the top prize at the Hundred Flavors Tasting!"

Qiu Huanian mentioned that the two jars of red fermented tofu weighed seventy catties in total. Without weighing them, Huang Daniang went to the accounts room and handed Qiu Huanian five taels of silver.

"We straightforward folks handle business straightforwardly. I'll round it up for you. If the new dish sells well, I'll be buying red fermented tofu from you regularly in the future!"

After deducting one tael for costs, Qiu Huanian made a net profit of four taels, the most he had earned in one go since he arrived in this time. He smiled, weighed the silver ingot in his hand, and carefully stored the money.

Hearing that Qiu Huanian's fiancé would soon go to the city for the academy exam, Huang Daniang gave him a plate of carp cakes symbolizing success in the exams and recommended a nearby inn.

"The innkeeper is my sworn sister. Just mention my name when you go, and she'll take good care of everything for you."

"At the Hundred Flavors Tasting, I'll be waiting for your husband to pass the scholar exam and judge my dish!"

After a meal at Huang Daniang's, Qiu Huanian wandered around the city, buying four catties of cotton, two large water bags with good seals, and various small items.

Meng Fuyue had mentioned that the carriage to the city was very bumpy and empty inside. Qiu Huanian planned to sew some seat cushions and backrests. With money, of course, you should treat yourself well.

The new clothes for their trip to the city for the exam were ready. Thinking that Du Yunse would need to attend social gatherings and banquets after passing the scholar exam, Qiu Huanian decided to make him another set of clothes. He took the old, faded cloth given by Wei Dexing to the town, added some money, and exchanged it for a bolt of misty green cotton.

The cotton resembled the color of misty green mountains after rain in late spring, elegant with a hint of distant allure.

To save time, the new clothes were made by Wei Liuhua. Initially, only Du Yunse's outfit was planned, but the family insisted on making one for Qiu Huanian as well. Unable to refuse, he agreed.

Wei Liuhua put all her skills into making a traditional scholar robe for Du Yunse, with several upright bamboo stalks embroidered from the waist up, the highest reaching to the chest. The dark green bamboo against the misty spring mountain-like fabric made the wearer appear even more noble and pure.

Qiu Huanian's outfit was a cross-collar pipa-sleeved long gown with a white embroidered panel on the chest, featuring a lively and fresh pattern of narcissus and butterflies.

Both garments shared the same main color but were crafted to convey different feelings. Worn together, they avoided monotony while maintaining a harmonious connection.

While trying on the clothes, the idea of a 'couple's outfit' suddenly crossed Qiu Huanian's mind. He looked at Du Yunse, whose new attire enhanced his demeanor, and nodded in satisfaction.

Wei Liuhua charged twenty wen per garment for city orders, with embroidery costs ranging from five to thirty wen depending on complexity.

For these two outfits with intricate embroidery, Qiu Huanian paid Wei Liuhua a hundred wen, the highest price.

Wei Liuhua was overjoyed with the money she received, as it was all hers to keep. Her mother-in-law, Zhao, and sister-in-law, Qiaoxing, couldn’t take a single penny from her. She was more than happy to work non-stop!

Since Zhao and the others left, Wei Liuhua’s life had become increasingly comfortable. Youge was already able to walk by holding onto things, and his little face was getting cuter and more adorable by the day. Wei Liuhua wished those people would never return.

While Wei Liuhua was busy making clothes, Jiu Jiu wasn’t idle either. She pieced together scraps of fabric and made four thick seat cushions and backrests as instructed by Qiu Huanian, using a pound of cotton for each.

Hu Qiuyan made thick-soled shoes for each of them, knowing they were heading to the prefectural city for exams. Qiu Huanian’s shoes even had a string of pear blossoms embroidered on them.

Other villagers who were on good terms with them also showed their support, some giving eggs, others fried noodles, and some wild vegetables.

"I used to think Yun Se really couldn’t take the imperial exams, but who knew he could! You must be careful on your journey!"

"Our Yun Se is a real prodigy! He’s going to be a high official in the future, passing the scholar exam is nothing for him!"

"Yun Se, do your best in the exams, and make sure to outperform Zhao’s precious son!"

Qiu Huanian smiled and thanked the villagers, distributing Sorghum Candy to them. As for the few who were jealous and made comments like "Taking the exam is one thing, passing is another" or "He’s just wasting money; he won’t pass," Qiu Huanian simply ignored them.

Once Du Yunse returned home after passing the exams, these rumors would naturally dissipate.

The day before departure, Qiu Huanian settled Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng at home.

"There’s nothing much to worry about at home. Just feed the mule and chickens every day, and stir the vat where I ferment the bio-enzyme."

"Tomorrow morning, take your bedding to Auntie Qiuyan’s house. During the day, stay home and study with Yun Kang, and at night, lock the doors and stay at Auntie Qiuyan’s, understand?"

Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng nodded obediently. Du Yunse had left them nearly a month’s worth of homework, so they wouldn’t be idle.

Qiu Huanian handed over the leftover veggies and eggs to Hu Qiuyan to cover Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng’s meals. The cotton seedlings were still young and didn’t need much care, so he asked familiar villagers to keep an eye on them.

As for the Sorghum Candy, although Qiu Huanian had made a lot in one go, it obviously wouldn’t last more than twenty days.

After much consideration, he spent a few days extracting a hundred pounds of sorghum starch and taught Jiu Jiu the recipe for Sorghum Candy, having her supply Meng Wudong.

He stopped selling candy in Qingfu Town, letting Meng Wudong supply Meng Yuanling to sell at the tofu shop, splitting profits evenly.

"Do you remember how to make Sorghum Candy? If the beetroots run out, buy more from Sister Liuhua. If it gets too much, don’t push yourself, don’t overwork for money."

Jiu Jiu nodded, "Brother Hua, don’t worry, I’ve learned it. I’ll make a little every day, I won’t tire myself out."

Chun Sheng also thumped his chest and promised, "Brother Hua, don’t worry, if my sister gets tired of stirring, I’ll help!"

The hardest and most laborious step in making Sorghum Candy is stirring the mixture of starch and sugar water in the pot until it solidifies. This process requires precise control of the heat and constant vigorous stirring. If you slack off even a little, the sugar will burn.

During the trial run, Jiu Jiu struggled with the stirring towards the end, and Chun Sheng volunteered to stand on a small stool in front of the stove to help. They took turns stirring the sugar mixture and managed to make a pot of Sorghum Candy together.

Since his diet improved, Chun Sheng had grown stronger and sturdier, like a little calf.

Although he was smart, his mind wasn’t on studying. He only wanted to run around and play outside every day, lagging behind Jiu Jiu and Yun Kang, who started learning at the same time, which often made Du Yunse frown.

Qiu Huanian wasn’t the type of parent who forced their children to achieve great things. He always advised Du Yunse that Chun Sheng was still young and would improve as he grew older. Apart from being playful, Chun Sheng had no other issues and wasn’t at the stage where strict discipline was necessary.

On the eve of their departure, Qiu Huanian took out all the money at home and started calculating.

Previously, the expenses for the grave and the materials for making red fermented tofu had almost depleted the family’s savings, leaving only two taels of silver. Now, he had five taels of silver from Mrs. Song as a thank-you gift, five taels from selling red fermented tofu, and the increasing small income from selling Sorghum Candy these days, totaling fifteen taels of silver and over five hundred copper coins.

Unknowingly, they had already saved enough to build a house.

Qiu Huanian planned to start building a new house as soon as they got back from the prefectural city, the sooner the better.

On the day of departure, the pre-booked carriage arrived at Du Village to pick them up. Familiar faces came to see them off. Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse paid their respects to Du Baoyan and his wife, and Mei Xueer, loaded their luggage onto the carriage, and set off for the prefectural city to take the exams.

Looking out at the rapidly passing fields and villages, Qiu Huanian felt a surge of anticipation. He wondered what the prefectural city of this era would be like and what experiences awaited him there.