Chapter 14: Red-Oil Fermented Bean Curd
(1)
Yuan Qi stood dumbfounded before the secondhand book stall. While living at her Aunt Wang’s house, her male cousin had many books in his room. Once, she had accidentally stumbled upon a picture book and became so engrossed that she spent the entire afternoon reading it; however, after that, she never had the chance to see one again…
But now, her eldest sister was going to buy books for her as well…
“Just these, how much?” Yuan Yao selected three or four volumes. The shopkeeper, being quite honest, replied, “Two qian.”
The price sounded terrifying, but given how precious the books were, Yuan Yao gritted her teeth and prepared to pay. Suddenly, Yuan Qi said, “Eldest Sister! Maybe… maybe I’ll just buy one copy for now… This is so expensive…”
The younger sisters were so understanding that it broke Yuan Yao’s heart. She smiled and said, “It’s fine; we’ll buy them and read them slowly at home. Don’t worry about the money.”
At that moment, the shopkeeper suggested, “Why not buy four copies? If you do, I’ll give you a discount.”
Yuan Yao was taken aback and asked, “What kind of discount?”
“The last copy will be half price for you.”
This was quite tempting, so Yuan Yao turned her gaze back to the bookshelves. At a glance, she unexpectedly spotted a book she had longed for in her previous life!!
After starting her incense powder business in her past life, Yuan Yao had been collecting various materials. The spice merchant who first introduced her to the trade once mentioned an incense recipe book from the former dynasty. It recorded numerous methods of making incense, not limited to the Central Plains but also including some precious formulas from the Western Regions. However, it had been scattered among the common people during times of war. She had always wanted it but could never find it.
Yet now, those four large characters “Bamboo Forest Incense Recipes” stood right before her eyes. For a moment, Yuan Yao felt as if her breath had stopped.
“Um…” she trembled slightly, pointing toward the opposite bookshelf: “Could you take that one down for me to see?”
The shopkeeper turned around. “Certainly.”
He quickly took the book down and handed it to her.
Upon opening it, sure enough, it was a fragrance manual. ⑻一4巴一⑥96伞
Borneol camphor, Baizhuan incense, blended fragrances…
These familiar names met Yuan Yao’s eyes; she drew a deep, excited breath: “Shopkeeper! I’ll take this one!”
“Alright.” The shopkeeper didn’t think twice. Yuan Yao immediately paid, fearing the opportunity might slip away. Yet all three sisters noticed their eldest sister’s excitement. After leaving the bookstore, they whispered, “Eldest Sister, is this very valuable…?”
Yuan Yao replied, “It’s not about being valuable, but it’s very useful. Let’s go, and don’t tell anyone…”
The three nodded vigorously, promising not to utter a single word.
Among the three books Yuan Qi had chosen, one picture book was also meant for Yuan Li. On the way back, Yuan Yao bought Yuan Li a small wooden rocking horse with moving parts. Only nine years old, Yuan Li was delighted; she finally had her own gift too!
The four sisters returned to the Jiang family courtyard, their hearts content.
The first thing upon returning was to put away everything they had bought that day. They had earned a total of 190 wen from selling goods, yet spent it all on books and an embroidery basket, even adding over 100 wen more from their own pockets; the three younger sisters could not help but feel deeply pained by this expense.
However, Yuan Yao’s next words immediately halted their distress.
“Eldest Sister places great hopes on all three of you. Ah Shuang, you must study embroidery diligently; it is a valuable craft, and skilled embroiderers are hard to find nowadays. Moreover, Eldest Sister knows you enjoy pondering such things and have deft hands, so do not fret over the cost. This embroidery basket will serve us well for many years.”
“If Xiaoqi enjoys reading, she should pursue it diligently. Although women cannot take the imperial examinations, gaining knowledge and understanding principles is still beneficial. In the future, there may be opportunities to work as an accountant or engage in business, which would be a promising path.”
“As for Xiaoli, though she is still young, I, as your eldest sister, will also plan for your future. Even though you are girls, you must always remember one truth: live for yourselves and keep your destiny in your own hands. Do you understand?”
Yuan Shuang and Yuan Qi nodded vigorously, while Yuan Li loudly agreed. Yuan Yao smiled, gently patting their heads. “Go play now.”
The three sisters went off to attend to their respective tasks. Yuan Yao calculated today’s accounts. The high expenses were unavoidable due to purchasing costly items, yet they had still managed to earn some profit. Out of the total 190 wen, the lotus roots and kudzu roots dug up by Jiang Song’an cost nothing. After accounting for the costs of mung beans, adzuki beans, and malt sugar, the expenses amounted to roughly thirty wen. Although the profit margin from selling the pastries was somewhat low, as she had told Aunt Dou, this was only their first day setting up a stall; substantial earnings couldn’t be expected immediately.
She also needed to start preparing for the fourteenth day’s market.
In the afternoon, Aunt Dou came again and bought two large kudzu roots from Yuan Yao, adding another thirty wen to their earnings. Yuan Yao tucked all the coins into her bulging money pouch.
Seeing this, Yuan Shuang smiled and said, “Sister, let me sew you a new money pouch first. At this rate, your current one will soon be too small.”
Yuan Yao laughed happily. “Alright then, I’ll wait for you, Shuang’er.”
Night fell, and Yuan Yao was utterly exhausted. One downside of Jiang Song’an not being home was that she had to handle all the heavy labor herself. Originally, she had wanted to take a bath, but upon seeing the enormous tub, she ultimately gave up. After a quick wash, Yuan Yao returned to her room and fell asleep almost the moment her head touched the pillow.
Making money is truly exhausting, yet my heart feels fulfilled…
–
For the next market day, Yuan Yao planned to turn all the remaining kidney beans into bean cakes.
The mung beans were already gone; she would check the prices when she went to town and buy more only if they were reasonable, otherwise she would let it be. She had something far more important to sell: red oil fermented bean curd.
On New Year’s Eve, all the aged tofu sent by Aunt Dou was cut by Yuan Yao into neat, square cubes and placed in a clean bamboo winnowing tray in the courtyard. Beneath them lay an even layer of dry straw. After waiting seven or eight days like this, a layer of white fuzz had grown all over the surface of the tofu.
Yuan Yao inspected it carefully and felt quite satisfied.
This is exactly how fermented bean curd is made: the fuzzy tofu is marinated together with spices, chili powder, baijiu liquor, and sesame oil for another seven or eight days. The result is a brilliant red-oil fermented bean curd that pairs perfectly with rice or congee.
The first batch of mold-covered tofu had been marinated in advance by her; it would be ready to uncover precisely on the thirteenth day of the first lunar month. Without any samples to offer, naturally, she couldn’t easily convince others that this delicacy tasted so good.
Fermented bean curd is already quite common in the prefectural city, but it has truly never been seen here in Shenmu Town. Actually, this dish would be best made by Aunt Dou, though perhaps she doesn’t know how.
Yuan Yao thought it over and, that evening, sent a small plate over for Aunt Dou to taste. Since she would need to borrow their space tomorrow to sell her fermented tofu products, it was only proper to give advance notice.
Yuan Yao also straightforwardly explained her plan: if sales went well, it would serve as promotion for Aunt Dou’s tofu stall as well. After all, the quantity of fermented bean curd needed was small, and Yuan Yao was confident in its flavor. If people enjoyed it, they would be more willing to buy both the fermented bean curd and Aunt Dou’s regular tofu.
This took Aunt Dou by surprise, but after tasting Yuan Yao’s fermented bean curd that afternoon, she immediately agreed, “No problem! Go ahead and sell it right here at my place! If you do well, I can sell you my tofu at a discount later!”
Aunt Dou’s words brought Yuan Yao immense relief, and she felt even more grateful toward her. After all, not everyone thinks this way; had she encountered someone petty, misunderstandings would have been inevitable. Selling tofu right in front of another’s tofu stall—how would that person react? Yet, viewed from a different perspective, it could be a win-win situation.
This was also a lesson she had learned while doing business in Chang’an City.
Yuan Yao smiled and said, “Very well, let’s meet tomorrow morning.”
Yuan Yao returned home in high spirits. Upon arriving, she sent over a small dish of fermented tofu to the Liu family. Additionally, as previously agreed upon with Jiang Song’an, she delivered to them the dozen or so eggs laid over the past ten days by the old hen that Grandma Liu had gifted her.
However, it was clear that Grandma Liu refused to accept them. Yuan Yao, eloquent and smiling, said, “Grandma, this isn’t me being distant. Earlier, Song’an had asked Sister Hongmei to look after me; I’m merely expressing my gratitude. These are just a few small items. If you don’t take them, I wouldn’t dare ask you for any favors.”
Grandma Liu understood: “What favor do you need?”
Yuan Yao didn’t stand on ceremony and got straight to the point: “I heard Sister Hongmei used to run a pickled vegetable business. I wonder if you have some clean jars? To be honest with you, Grandma, I plan to sell these red-oil fermented bean curds at tomorrow’s market fair, but I’m short on jars and would like to exchange for some.”
So that’s what it’s about,” Grandma Liu said, waving her hand. “Just take them.
After speaking, she glanced at her daughter-in-law. Hongmei immediately understood and soon brought out seven or eight small earthenware jars. Yuan Yao thanked her and accepted them; only then did Grandma Liu accept the small basket of eggs.
Upon returning home, Yuan Yao immediately washed these small earthenware jars clean. Each jar wasn’t large, holding exactly twenty pieces of tofu. Of course, she certainly wouldn’t accept the Liu family’s jars for nothing; judging from how Jiang Song’an had previously sent meat yet Grandma Liu insisted on returning a chicken, she clearly had no intention of taking even the slightest advantage of anyone.
Therefore, when Yuan Yao brought eggs today, she had already guessed they would be refused; thus, she first exchanged them for the jars. Later, once she sold these jars of fermented bean curd, she would repay Liu Apo for the jars. If Liu Apo still refused the money, Yuan Yao would claim it was a deposit for the next batch of jars. After all, over such a long time, no one could keep track clearly anymore.
Yuan Yao calmly proceeded to wash the fermented bean curd jars, just as Yuan Shuang came running over: “Eldest Sister, shall we pickle them now?”
Yuan Yao shook her head: “No, we will pickle them on the spot tomorrow when we go to the market.”
“On the spot?”
Yuan Yao nodded. “Yes.” Tomorrow, she would take all the genuine ingredients to the market and let everyone watch as she placed them into the jars. Otherwise, with these dark earthenware pots, no one could tell what was inside.
Her spices and chili powder were absolutely authentic; only thus could she justify selling the red-oil fermented bean curd at a higher price. Including the cost of the jar, she planned to sell each for thirty wen. It wasn’t cheap, but she believed someone would surely buy it.
Yuan Shuang wanted to help her eldest sister work, but Yuan Yao stopped her. “Ah Shuang, go check if the winter melon paste we simmered in the kitchen yesterday is ready.”
Yuan Shuang answered with a yes, though curiosity filled her heart. Yesterday, her eldest sister had simmered a small jar of winter melon paste using winter melon flesh and honey, yet claimed it wasn’t meant for eating. She wondered what it was intended for…