Chapter 50: One Recipe Isn’t Enough? Here’s Two More: Bing Sanlang Completely…

Chapter 50: One Recipe Isn't Enough? Then Here Are Two More

Bing Sanlang was completely...

"Bing Dalang, what you're doing is far too unfair to your brothers and us as a couple," Qian Shi continued. "No matter what, you’ve studied for so many years, and our household has supported you all this time. Now that you’ve gained benefits, you kick us aside. Don’t you think you’re just an ungrateful backstabber?"

The Bing couple had cooled down. Seeing Qian Shi still trying to drag Bing Wengu down and ruin his reputation and future, Liang Shi retorted, "The Bing family only has one pair of ungrateful backstabbers—you two. The other children are all loyal and righteous. After kicking you out of the family, did we ever treat you unfairly?"

Liang Shi pressed further, "A large tile-roofed house, four mu of land directly allocated to you, plus ten ounces of silver—tell me, is that considered unfair treatment?"

Bing’s father sneered, "Given your character and the Qian family’s greedy nature, isn’t it just because the silver was enough that you didn’t make a fuss even after being made branch relatives?"

"With this division, even families in the village that don’t support scholars—ask them if they could get this much when dividing property."

Of course, they absolutely couldn’t. Otherwise, why would the villagers now be so envious of the Bing family? It was because they knew that, relying solely on their own hands, they could never save up enough in a lifetime to afford a blue-brick tiled house.

Qian Shi and the Qian family were left speechless, and the villagers went wild again.

"What? A large tile-roofed house, four mu of land, and ten ounces of silver? Who gets that much when dividing property? Even if I smashed my old bones and sold them by weight, I wouldn’t fetch that price!"

"A young couple getting so much silver after separating—that’s practically living like royalty. I wouldn’t even dare dream of such a thing!"

"Now I really don’t understand Qian Shi and Bing Sanlang’s thinking. With money and silver, they should just live well. Sure, the Bings making them branch relatives was harsh, but the compensation was generous. If they’re still upset, they could just treat it as distant clan members from now on."

"People are just never satisfied! With folks like Qian Shi and Bing Sanlang, even if you sold yourself by weight, they’d still complain you weren’t worth enough!"

Qian Shi trembled with rage at the villagers’ words.

"You’re all just talking without feeling any pain. If your eldest brother had a family heirloom tofu recipe and gave it to his in-laws, I wonder if you’d still be so calm?"

The villagers had already heard the recipe was given to the Nan family by Bing Wengu, but hearing it firsthand still shocked them. They all thought Bing Wengu was blinded by lust.

Aunt Bing, worried the villagers would spread bad gossip about Bing Wengu, spoke up, "Even so, that’s our Bing family’s business. What does it have to do with you, relegated to branch family members? You have no right to cuss out my parents to their faces!"

The villagers’ attention returned to Qian Shi’s insults toward her in-laws.

Seeing her daughter getting beaten, Qian’s mother urged her to keep arguing and quickly said, "In the end, your Bing family deliberately mistreated my daughter and son. The whole family turned against them. Hiding such a tofu recipe during relegation was just to cheat them out of their rightful share!"

Qian’s father seized the direction, avoiding the issue of Qian Shi’s insults and focusing only on the Bing family’s unfairness.

"You can’t just palm off my daughter and son with peanuts! You must compensate us!" Qian’s father shouted.

"Not one copper! Do whatever you want!" Liang Shi snapped back, even angrier.

Qian’s father pointed at Liang Shi. "Everyone, look at how these two Bings bled their third son dry to feed the eldest! They're so biased it's ridiculous, yet they blame my daughter and San Lang for resenting them!"

"If this is mistreatment—getting a large tile-roofed house, four mu of land, and ten ounces of silver—then ask the villagers: who wouldn’t want to be ‘mistreated’ like this?" Bing Wengu countered.

"I would! I would!" Feng Sanlang raised his hand, grinning. "I’d dream of being ‘mistreated’ like this by my parents."

"You’re the Bing family’s son—of course you’d side with them. But mark my words, if the Bings don’t give us an answer today, this isn’t over!" Qian’s mother threw caution to the wind, aiming to squeeze more money. After this incident, the Qian couple and the Bings were irreparably estranged.

Bing Wengu scoffed. "Not over? Qian Shi insulted her in-laws—our Bing family also wants this unresolved! Let’s take it to the yamen and ask how many years in prison one gets for striking elders!"

Qian’s mother froze. Qian’s father hurriedly said, "My daughter was already relegated to separate branch family—at most, she’s just a distant clan daughter-in-law. Even if she hit or cursed someone, it’s just insulting a distant elder. There's no law against cursing someone else’s elders landing you in jail—otherwise, every man and woman in the village would be locked up!"

"Since they’re already separate branch of the family, what does our family recipe have to do with them? Why should we compensate them?"

Bing Wengu had backed the Qians into a corner. If they demanded compensation, Qian Shi and her husband would face jail. If they wanted to avoid jail, they had to admit they were separate branch family members—meaning Qian Shi’s insults to Liang Shi and Bing’s father were just that, but no compensation would be given. Both options were bitter pills to swallow. But for the Qians, there was no choice at all. No amount of silver was worth going to jail!

However grudgingly, the Qian family had no choice but to drop the matter. Just as Qian Shi and Bing Sanlang were about to return to their room, Bing Wengu stopped them and said, "Since things have come to this, there's no need for us to continue living under the same roof. I'll pay you ten taels for your house and the land it stands on. With this money, you can easily purchase another plot in the village and build a big tiled house."

Qian Shi's eyes gleamed with a sudden idea. "We won't move. This house is ours—why should we leave? You think you can brush us off with such a pittance? In your dreams! I’m telling you, we refuse to leave. We’ll stay right here to spite you!"

Bing Wengu remained unruffled and nodded calmly. "Though you’ve been adopted out and are legally separate now, my parents still raised Bing Sanlang with care. If Bing Sanlang laid hands on them, even if he avoids penal servitude, he should at least receive a few dozen strokes of the cane."

That many strokes would leave Bing Sanlang either dead or crippled.

Qian Shi’s eyes reddened with fury. "Bing Dalang, you’re truly still waters run deep—how ruthless you are!"

Bing Wengu gave a slight nod, as if thanking her.

In the end, Bing Wengu bought the couple’s house for ten taels of silver, and Qian Shi and Bing Sanlang were driven out of the Bing household.

However, Bing Wengu did not treat them unfairly. Building a new tiled brick house would cost only one or two taels of silver—what's pricey is the land. Even in the village, a plot large enough for a family of seven or eight wouldn’t exceed four or five taels. By any measure, Bing Wengu had given them far too much.

But Bing Wengu was no kind-hearted man. If he showed mercy to his enemies, it was always for a hidden purpose.

He sought to burnish his reputation. Bing Wengu was preparing for the imperial examinations, which in this dynasty required a joint guarantee system. Candidates needed three local scholars (xiucai) to vouch for them before they could sit for the exams.

Back at the town school, the teachers had arranged the guarantors. Now that Bing Wengu had withdrawn, he had to find them himself.

Before agreeing, the xiucai would investigate the candidate’s character. Poor scholarship was irrelevant—what mattered was moral integrity. Any whiff of scandal could lead them to refuse, no matter the fee.

Bing Wengu had to consider this. That was why, in front of the entire village, he gave Qian Shi ten taels of silver. This way, anyone who heard the story would praise his generosity and sense of duty, leaving no room for criticism.

With the silver in hand, Qian Shi and Bing Sanlang packed their belongings and left in disgrace from the Bing household.

In the depths of winter, the frozen earth couldn't be dug. The couple had no choice but to stay temporarily with the Qian family, planning to build their new house come spring.

During this time, the greedy Qians found endless excuses to shake them down. At first, they managed to extract a taels or two. But when Bing Sanlang saw the Qians grow even more demanding instead of being satisfied, he refused to play along.

Having tasted easy gains, the Qians refused to back down. They harassed the couple with backhanded comments or outright denied them meals. Finally, Bing Sanlang could bear it no longer. He moved out, renting a room from another villager at a higher rate, and only then did the harassment stop.

But all this was no longer Bing Wengu’s concern. He had Aunt Bing move into Qian Shi’s old room, separating her from Bing Sanniang. Now, every member of the Bing family had their own private space.

Having expelled Qian Shi and Bing Sanlang and shooed away the villagers, Bing Wengu turned his attention to the remaining Bings.

He scanned the family and asked, "Now, does anyone else have grievances? Bing Silang, you first."

"None," said Bing Silang, wiser after the confrontation. "Though the brothers have supported you all these years, you’ve compensated us fairly. No young couple in the village ever receives so much in a family division. As for the tofu recipe—to be blunt, even if you hadn’t given it to the Nans and kept it until the official division, who could prove when you got it? The recipe was always yours to give as you pleased. I’ve no objections."

"Our branch has none either," said the honest Bing Erlang and his wife, now past their resentment.

The contract had long stipulated that each branch could earn as they pleased, keeping their profits private.

Greed had clouded their judgment—they’d forgotten the agreement—but now they remembered.

Though a lingering resentment lingered, they could only blame their own lack of ability, not Bing Dalang, who was their elder brother, not their parent.

Finally, Bing Wengu turned to the youngest twins. "Bing Wulang, Bing Sanniang, what about you two?"

Though young, the twins understood the recipe’s significance.

Bing Wulang, just a boy, already had private savings and a brick-tiled house—leaving other village kids in the dust. Some were even angling for betrothals for him. He had achieved what others spent lifetimes pursuing—what more could he want?

Besides, his parents had promised to fund his future marriage, leaving him with no money troubles.

As for Young Miss Bing, she had even fewer objections. Even if the recipe became the family's, it wouldn't have the slightest connection to her, a daughter bound to marry into another family—there was no chance the recipe would be part of her dowry.

At best, if the family prospered, she might get a bigger dowry. But now, her eldest brother had already promised her a room in the big tiled house, a share of the land's produce, and that their parents would arrange her dowry in the future.

Judging by how her eldest brother treated her older sister—choosing to take her back home rather than leave her in a miserable marriage—he’d never abandon her and would provide her with a respectable dowry. So why risk angering her future lifeline over a recipe that was never meant to be hers?

Having figured this out, the twins spoke in unison: "We have no objections. Whoever owns something gets to decide its fate. Though we're young, we still understand this principle."

Aunt Bing said, "Our family of three has been entirely supported by Da Lang. We’re already beyond grateful and would never dare covet his recipe—that would make us heartless ingrates."

Once everyone in the Bing family had voiced their stance, Bing Wengu gave a slight nod and said in an indifferent tone, "Now that no one has any further issues, all of you, scram."

The Bing family obediently retreated without a word, none daring to drag their feet or grumble.

"Wengu, that’s not right," Nan Jinping said. Despite Bing Wengu’s overwhelming presence and intimidating aura, for some reason, she—usually timid and sharp at reading people—felt unusually bold this time and wasn’t afraid to speak up.

When Bing Wengu turned to look at her, that invisible pressure instantly dissipated. His face even broke into that same gentle smile again, as if no matter what Nan Jinping did, he would endlessly indulge her.

"What’s ours is ours to give—only if we choose. No one should ever think they can force us."

With the Bing family settled, Bing ErNiang arrived. On the way, she had already heard a brief account of what happened from her brother-in-law, leaving her speechless.

Upon reaching her parents’ home, Bing ErNiang was about to enter the Bing couple’s room when Feng Sanlang abruptly pulled her aside.

Taking her to a secluded spot, Feng Sanlang recounted the entire sequence of events in the Bing family.

Finally, Feng Sanlang said, "Your eldest brother... well, he’s buried in books. He’s got that bookish naivety."

Not wanting to outright call Bing Wengu insane, Feng Sanlang opted for a more tactful phrasing.

Having been married to Feng Sanlang for so many years, Bing ErNiang knew him well enough to predict his every move. She immediately grasped his meaning.

Bing ErNiang didn’t fully understand Bing Wengu’s reasoning either. She thought it was normal for him to keep the recipe from his other brothers, but why give it to an outsider?

Then again, she reflected—who else in the village would take in a divorced sister, provide her with a room and land, if not Bing Wengu? With that, she let it go.

If her brother thought like everyone else in the village, would he still stand up for his sisters like this?

Bing ErNiang glared at her husband. "Oh, hush! What do you know? My brother is a scholar—his thoughts can’t possibly align with an illiterate like you. You and him? A sparrow next to a swan!"

She first went to Aunt Bing’s room to compare notes, but finding her absent, she turned to the Bing couple’s quarters instead.

After hearing the full story at her parents’ home, Bing ErNiang concluded one thing: no one could tell Bing Wengu what to do now. He was so smitten with his young husband, it bordered on obsession, and most importantly, Bing Sanlang and Qian Shi were now completely cut off from the Bing family.

Before leaving, Feng Sanlang asked if Bing ErNiang wanted to visit Qian Shi’s family to check on Bing Sanlang and his wife, but she refused.

She wasn’t particularly clever, but she wasn’t stupid. She knew who her real support was. The only one who would genuinely stand by her was Bing Wengu. Now that he had expelled Bing Sanlang and Qian Shi, they were practically his enemies. If she went to see them and Bing Wengu found out, he’d surely resent her for it, and in the future, he might not help her when she needed it.

As for Bing Sanlang, he was no different from any other married-out girl’s brother in the village. Bing ErNiang certainly wouldn’t offend Bing Wengu for his sake.

She took the Feng brothers back to her in-laws’ home.

Jiang Shi, seeing them return, immediately asked, "How did things turn out at your parents’ place? Did you get the tofu recipe back?"

Whether the Nan family or the Bing family ran the business made a huge difference to the Feng family.

Feng Sanlang quickly recounted the events. "The recipe still belongs to the Nans."

Jiang Shi tsked in disbelief, while Cong Shi burned with envy.

She’d had her eye on Bing Wengu from the start. If her niece had ended up with him, the tofu recipe would have belonged to her family, and they would have prospered.

Cong Shi kicked herself for giving up too soon.

"What brings Da Lang here today?" Miao Shi, who had risen early to make tofu, saw her son Xiao Geer and son-in-law entering together, her heart racing.

Just yesterday, the Bings had a huge blow-up, and now her son-in-law had arrived first thing in the morning—was he here to yank the recipe and cut them off?

Miao Shi and Nan’s father exchanged glances, both seeing anxiety and worry in each other's eyes.

Nan’s father sighed inwardly. Well, their family had already operated the tofu business for several days and made a tidy sum—they’d still profited.

As for the idea of keeping the recipe and continuing the business without returning it, neither Miao Shi nor Nan’s father entertained it. They weren’t saints, but they genuinely cared for their son and always considered Nan Jinping's well-being. They wouldn’t ruin their son’s marriage over a tofu recipe.

Gu Shi stayed out of sight in the courtyard, too scared to show her face. After the major incident in the Bing family yesterday, the Nan family had inevitably discussed their response in private. They had already decided that if the Bings came to reclaim the recipe today, they would stop the business.

Though she knew the decision, Gu Shi couldn’t accept it. Worried she’d let her bitterness slip when facing Bing Wengu and his husband, she deliberately stayed out of sight.

Despite the storm inside them, Miao Shi and Nan’s father maintained their usual warm expressions.

"It’s cold outside—come in and have some hot sweet water. Later, we’ll have your sister-in-law prepare a couple of good dishes, and you two can stay for breakfast," Miao Shi greeted Bing Wengu and Nan Jinping warmly.

"Then we’ll put you to work, Ma," Bing Wengu replied without hesitation. He was here to bring them more money—why stand on ceremony?

His easygoing manner threw Miao Shi for a loop, her mind in knots. If he were here to reclaim the recipe, why was he acting so at ease? But if not, why else would he come? Even if they doted on Jin Geer, they would never allow him to take the family’s tofu recipe to the Bing household.

Fortunately, Bing Wengu didn’t keep them stewing for long. He stated his purpose directly, "Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, my husband mentioned that relying solely on tofu makes the business too limited. So, I’ve come to teach you two more recipes."

Wait, what?

Nan Jinping was floored—he had never said such a thing! He thought the business was doing well, with hundreds of coins earned daily, making him so happy he dreamed of it at night.

Miao Shi, Nan’s father, Gu Shi hiding in the shadows, and the rest of the Nan family were stunned.

Were they so on edge they were seeing things? What did he mean by teaching them two more recipes?

"Da Lang, what did you say? This old lady didn’t quite get that," Miao Shi asked, bewildered.

"Mother, have you heard of dried tofu sheets and tofu pudding?" Bing Wengu ignored their expressions and continued, "I happen to know how to make both. Today, I’ll teach them to you."

Miao Shi and Nan’s father finally snapped to but still stared at Bing Wengu in disbelief, like he’d grown a second head.

Bing Wengu wasn’t about to let them stew on it. He stood up and walked to the stove, saying, "Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, pay close attention. Dried tofu sheets and tofu pudding are simple—you’ll pick it up in no time."

Uh-huh. At the time, Miao Shi didn’t grasp the implication of his words. Only later did she realize Bing Wengu was implying they were a bit slow on the uptake. Last time, when teaching them tofu-making, they’d been all thumbs, forcing him to repeat the process multiple times.

The Nan family made tofu daily, soaking large quantities of soybeans and grinding them into slurry, which was filtered several times to produce smooth, residue-free soy milk.

After boiling the soy milk and skimming off the foam, they simmered it briefly, adding a pinch of salt to enhance coagulation.

Once it cooled a bit, they slowly stirred while adding brine or vinegar water until bean curd formed.

*Note: This step is crucial for turning soy milk into tofu curds.*

"At this stage, the tofu curds are ready. Pouring broth over them, garnished with scallions, cilantro, chives, and Sichuan pepper, makes a killer bowl of tofu pudding," Bing Wengu said, setting aside a large bowl.

"I’ll teach you how to make the broth later. Now, let’s move on to dried tofu sheets..."

The subsequent steps were quite simple. All they needed to do was pour the tofu curds into a cloth-lined container, press them firmly with a weight to squeeze out excess water, enhancing the texture and chewiness of the tofu sheets.

In about seven minutes, the tofu sheets were ready and could be cut into desired sizes.

Taking advantage of the waiting time, Bing Wengu taught the Nan family how to prepare the tofu pudding gravy.

The sauce-making process wasn’t complicated. Dried black fungus and other preserved ingredients, commonly stored by farming households, could be chopped and used. Even if the Nan family didn’t have these on hand, they could easily acquire them from nearby villages—nothing too rare or hard to find.

The black fungus didn’t need to be stir-fried; they could simply be boiled in water. The soaking liquid from the dried mushrooms shouldn’t be discarded—the clear, sediment-free portion could be added to the broth to boost the flavor. Since there was no seasoning powders at the time, this step was crucial. After that, just add salt and starch, then simmer until thickened.

Pepper and other spices weren’t omitted because Bing Wengu didn’t want to use them—it was simply that farming families couldn’t afford them. Pepper, imported by foreign merchants, cost a fortune. As for condiments like soy sauce and vinegar, though ordinary households could afford them, they weren’t considered necessities, so impoverished farming families rarely bought them. Naturally, the Nan family didn’t have any.

Soon, a pot of savory sauce was ready. In winter, there was no coriander (known as "yan sui" or "hu sui" by the locals), so only a bit of scallions put up last fall was sprinkled on top. Poured over the tofu pudding, it was truly tasty.

Bing Wengu’s creations were noticeably smoother and more tender than what the Nan family usually made.

“Tasty.” Once the tofu pudding was ready, Bing Wengu scooped a bowl, ladled the sauce over it, and handed it to Nan Jinping first. The Nan family looked at each other, once again confirming the high regard their Jin Geer held in Bing Wengu’s heart.

Each got a bowl. Nan’s eldest brother gave a thumbs-up. “Brother-in-law, you're amazing at this. I don’t know how you do it, but your tofu pudding is incredibly fresh—even tastier than your sister-in-law’s fancy meat meals.”

Gu Shi, who'd been watching, nodded eagerly. “My boy's husband, how are your hands so talented? You can write, and your cooking is superb. Even the tofu you make is smoother and more tender than what we’ve been making for over a decade.”

After enjoying the tofu pudding, the pressed tofu sheets were ready. Bing Wengu’s craftsmanship was, of course, impeccable—the tofu sheets had an excellent texture and chewiness.

By then, breakfast was also prepared. Originally, Gu Shi had planned to serve just an egg, but now she quickly added a dish of braised meat slices and incorporated the freshly made tofu sheets.

After a quick breakfast, Bing Wengu returned home. Miao Shi watched him leave and whispered to Nan Jinping, “Before, when you told me your husband cooked for you, I thought you were just comforting me. But after seeing his skills today, I know it’s true.”

Nan Jinping smiled contentedly. “Mother, I’m doing just fine now. You don’t need to worry about me—I don’t have to do a thing for household chores. Whenever he has time, Dalang personally cooks delicious meals for me, and no one else in the family gets a share. Regular clothes are washed by my sisters, and even my underthings—Dalang insists on washing them himself, saying he doesn’t want my hands to get rough.”

Miao Shi glanced down at Nan Jinping’s hands. In just a few months, they had become completely different from how they looked when he was still at home.

You can't fake hardworking hands—whether they've done labor or not is obvious at a glance.

Soon, folks coming to buy tofu began showing up. Mother and son busied themselves, leaving no time for further chatter.

Miao Shi warmly greeted them. “How many pieces of tofu would you like today?”

“Same as always.” The diligent men from the village now all sourced their goods from the Nan family to resell elsewhere.

“Today, my boy's husband taught us how to make tofu pudding and tofu sheets. Would you like to buy some?” Miao Shi asked.

The villager paused, likely surprised that after yesterday’s confrontation—where the Bing brothers discovered the Nan family’s tofu recipe had come from Bing Dalang—the Nans not only kept the recipe but also obtained two new ones from Bing Wengu.

What exactly was going on with the Bing family?

No matter how confused the villagers were, the products were undeniably real.

“Try the tofu pudding—a large bowl costs just one coin. For the tofu sheets, three coppers for two, or one copper per sheet if you buy more.” Miao Shi even tore off a small piece for the villager to sample.

After tasting it, the man immediately ordered twenty sheets. “Your tofu sheets are excellent—even better than the ones I bought in town last time. Let me also try a bowl of tofu pudding.”

One taste was enough to get him hooked. When he returned for more, the tofu pudding had already sold out. Since it wasn’t made in large quantities and couldn’t be transported easily, it was mostly enjoyed fresh by the villagers.

The tofu sheets were flying off the shelves—almost everyone who came for tofu also took a sheet, and even fellow villagers came specifically to buy them.

The three Bing brothers also arrived, trying to blend in. Though they tried to keep a low profile, they were quickly noticed.

Li Shi hadn’t slept well the night before. Before dawn, she had planted herself outside the Nan household, watching as Bing Wengu led Nan Jinping inside. She had wanted to stop them but didn’t dare—Bing Dalang’s presence since coming back was too intimidating for ordinary people to challenge.

Now that she finally spotted the other two Bing brothers, she couldn’t wait any longer and charged over.

“Bing Erlang, Bing Si Lang! What happened after you went back yesterday? Did Bing Wengu make things right with you? Did he say he’d take back the tofu recipe and stop the Nans from running this business? And did he make them pay you back what you're owed?”