Chapter 21: Steamed Pork with Fermented Bean Curd
The village head of Shenmu Town, surnamed Zhao, was in his early forties. Upon seeing Jiang Song’an, he paused for a moment before breaking into a wide grin: “Wife, we’re having an extra dish tonight!”
Zhao’s wife, née Wu, was busy cooking. Stepping out to take a look, she too smiled warmly: “Oh, if it isn’t Song’an! Haven’t seen you in ages!”
By now, Jiang Song’an had approached them. Greeting them cheerfully as “Uncle” and “Auntie,” he didn’t rush to speak but first handed over the meat he was carrying. Clearly familiar with Jiang Song’an, Village Head Zhao took one look at the meat and seemed to understand immediately: “Just tell me straight—what’s the big matter?”
Jiang Song’an smiled. “Uncle, you’re joking. How could this be a big deal?”
“You young rascal, don’t try to fool me. If it weren’t something important, you wouldn’t have brought such fine gifts right away.”
Jiang Song’an replied, “Uncle, what you say hurts! It’s still the first lunar month after all. I merely came to pay my New Year’s respects and happen to have a small favor to ask.”
Village Head Zhao said, “Alright, alright, a small matter then. Go ahead and tell me.”
Jiang Song’an then smiled and took out Yuan Yao’s household registration document: “This belongs to my wife. We just need to arrange a fixed stall for her in Shenmu Town and pay the residence tax. It’s a minor matter, isn’t it?”
Zhao Lizheng accepted the document with suspicion: “Is that all there is to it?”
Something was wrong.
Everything felt terribly amiss.
Madam Wu, standing aside, didn’t believe him and laughed, “Song’an, stop teasing your uncle! Just say it!”
Only then did Jiang Song’an smile and bring up the names Yuan Qi and Yuan Li: “These two are my third and youngest sisters. When they arrived back then, their household registration documents were lost. Could I trouble you, Village Head, to reissue them now?”
Upon hearing this, Village Head Zhao instantly lost all appetite for the meat he had been craving just moments before.
“What did I say? What did I say? Every time you come knocking, it’s never anything good! Is this a small matter?”
“Uncle, Uncle, don’t worry,” Jiang Song’an said with a smile. “I know it’s a bit troublesome, but you surely have a way to handle it, right?”
Zhao Lizheng sighed. “It’s truly difficult now, Song’an. Although the imperial court has been embroiled in warfare these past few years, making household registration management appear less strict, things are no longer as they were before. Just recently, the county clerk summoned us to the county seat precisely to inquire about this matter of population records. At such a critical juncture, alas…”
Lady Wu added, “Song’an, your uncle isn’t speaking falsely; this is the truth. He only just returned from the county seat a few days ago.”
Jiang Song’an replied, “I know my uncle would never deceive me. However, this matter truly requires your help; otherwise, things will become even more complicated later. After the New Year, I still plan to send Yuan Qi to study. Without proper household registration documents, it will be far more troublesome.”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Lizheng and Wu Shi couldn’t help but exchange a glance. “Song’an, you intend to send a girl to school?”
Jiang Song’an understood their thoughts, yet he nodded firmly. “Yes, there’s nothing wrong with studying; it’s better than what I have.”
Wu Shi hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back, while Zhao Lizheng said, “You, oh you, I truly don’t know what to say about you.”
“Uncle, you found a way for me back then, and now I must ask for your help again. Isn’t it true that a group of refugees will be arriving soon? Surely some among them won’t be registered. When the time comes, could you see if they might be included together? Rest assured, if any connections need smoothing or expenses incurred, just tell me directly; I will cover the costs!”
Zhao Lizheng waved his hand, then sighed heavily. “Alright, I understand. Go back home; I’ll figure something out about this matter. As for your wife’s stall, let’s deal with it tomorrow.”
Only after receiving this definite answer did Jiang Song’an smile. He stood up and said, “Thank you so much, Uncle! Please accept this small token of my respect!” With that, he pressed a string of cash into Zhao Lizheng’s hands. Zhao Lizheng hurriedly tried to return it, exclaiming, “You young fellow! What are you doing?”
“It’s meant as a gift for you! There aren’t many days left until the end of the first lunar month. Besides this cured meat, please buy some fresh meat to nourish yourself! I must be going now!”
Before Zhao Lizheng could react, Jiang Song’an had already strode out the door. Zhao Lizheng and Lady Wu exchanged sighs but ultimately accepted the gift.
Mrs. Wu: “Husband, is this matter easy to handle?”
“Easy to handle? Whether it’s easy or not, we have to deal with it since we’ve already accepted it. It’s not really a difficult task; we just follow what he said. Indeed, there have been many refugees lately, taking advantage of the chaos.”
Mrs. Wu sighed emotionally: “This child Song’an is truly something. Despite not having much himself, he still worries about the four of us at home. Did you hear what he just said? He even wants to send the youngest one to school.”
“Of course I heard it, but that’s none of our business.”
Mrs. Wu: “I understand.”
–
Yuan Yao hadn’t expected Jiang Song’an to actually manage this matter; she was overjoyed. Reissuing two household registration documents was no small feat. She asked in a low voice, “How much did it cost in total?”
“One string of cash and one strip of pork,” Jiang Song’an replied honestly.
That sounded about right. Yuan Yao breathed a sigh of relief. At that moment, her heart was truly filled with joy, as if an enormous burden had been lifted. Smiling, she headed toward the kitchen. “You’re not in a hurry to leave, are you? Let me prepare a good meal for you this afternoon.”
Jiang Song’an was in no hurry to leave. Glancing at the hairy tofu Yuan Yao had laid out to dry in the courtyard, he said leisurely, “No rush; I’ll depart in a few days. Shall we go to the market tomorrow? I’ll accompany you.”
Yuan Yao paused mid-chop, startled. “You’re coming with me? I’m setting up a stall; what would a grown man like you do tagging along?”
Jiang Song’an shrugged indifferently. “Can’t I watch my own wife conduct business? The first two times I wasn’t home; this time, I’m going no matter what.”
Yuan Yao sighed helplessly, “Suit yourself. Go if you want.” With that, she resumed preparing dinner.
Although they had already eaten sweet rice balls for breakfast, Yuan Yao still wanted to take advantage of Jiang Song’an being home to prepare a proper reunion feast. Thus, for dinner, she made a substantial dish: steamed pork with fermented bean curd.
Fermented bean curd is truly a wonderful ingredient, versatile in its uses; steaming it with meat is just one method. Similar to preparing braised pork with preserved vegetables, half-fat, half-lean pork belly is sliced into strips as thick as chopsticks, boiled, then thoroughly coated inside and out with fermented bean curd before being inverted into a bowl and steamed. In less than half an hour, the kitchen was filled with the rich aroma of meat mingled with the distinctive fragrance of fermented bean curd.
This scent was simply impossible to ignore. At dinnertime, families who could barely afford meat would likely wish they could eat their rice accompanied by nothing but this enticing aroma!
“Oh, the Jiang family is cooking again! How enviable—they get to eat meat every single day!”
“You call that envy? Do you possess anything like Jiang Song’an’s talents?”
“No… that’s exactly why I said I was envious…”
Yuan Yao, unaware of all this, remained busy in the kitchen. Besides the fermented bean curd steamed with pork, she also steamed a pot of lotus-leaf buns. These buns were essentially a reshaped version of mantou, formed into flat discs to make it easier to sandwich the meat later; no actual lotus leaves were used. Adding two vegetable dishes and a soup, dinner was now complete.
Of course, if outsiders were already drooling with anticipation, how much more so those within the household? Jiang Song’an had repeatedly glanced toward the kitchen several times. He had even stopped chopping firewood, simply waiting for Yuan Yao to announce that dinner was ready. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he heard the long-awaited words: “Dinner is served!”
Four people, eight legs—instantly, they all stood neatly aligned at the kitchen doorway.
Yuan Yao couldn’t help herself and burst out laughing.
“Set the table!”
The steamed fermented bean curd pork gleamed a vibrant red, instantly whetting the appetite. The rich flavor of the fermented bean curd had thoroughly permeated every fiber of the meat. Picking up two slices with chopsticks and tucking them into a flatbread, one could see the marbled fat and lean meat still sizzling with glistening red oil. One bite—oh my! The spicy, aromatic essence of the fermented bean curd blended seamlessly with the savory richness of the pork and the fragrant warmth of the bread, making it impossible to tell which element truly shone brightest!
Exquisite—truly, nothing but exquisite.
Steamed pork is a substantial dish, typically reserved as the grand finale during festivals and special occasions. Yet Yuan Yao could only manage a few slices before feeling cloyed, and her three younger sisters were no different. Moreover, since this fermented bean curd carried a spicy kick, eating too much soon became overwhelming. Before long, Yuan Shuang, Yuan Qi, and Yuan Li set down their chopsticks, gulping down water in great mouthfuls.
Jiang Song’an still had a hearty appetite; two or three slices of meat tucked inside a lotus-leaf bun barely seemed enough to whet his hunger. He devoured four in one go, eating so vigorously that sweat beaded on his forehead, only stopping when he finally felt somewhat satisfied yet still longing for more.
In her previous life, Yuan Yao had once despised his rough manner of eating, but now she found everything about it endearing. A man who worked hard outside all day needed extra nourishment upon returning home; otherwise, how could he endure such toil? Thoughtfully, she ladled another bowl of soup for Jiang Song’an. “There are more buns in the pot; eat as much as you like. There’s plenty.”
Jiang Song’an gave her a meaningful glance. “I’m full now; I’ll eat again tonight.”
At the time, Yuan Yao hadn’t grasped the deeper meaning behind those words. It wasn’t until nightfall, just as she stepped out of the bathing room, that Jiang Song’an eagerly embraced her from behind. Only then did Yuan Yao understand what he had meant by “eating again tonight.”
“I’ve missed you terribly.”
Jiang Song’an’s breathing grew heavier; his large hands roamed restlessly, while his burning lips could not resist kissing her earlobes and neck.
Yuan Yao’s body instantly went limp, but today…
Jiang Song’an was burning up all over, yet unexpectedly, a basin of cold water poured down from above. Yuan Yao said helplessly, “Did you forget what I told you before? It’s my time of the month today; it’s not possible.”
Jiang Song’an froze for a moment.
That’s right, it was indeed these couple of days. Jiang Song’an’s eyes suddenly turned bloodshot, his breathing grew heavy and labored, clearly in distress.
Yuan Yao sighed, “I can’t do anything about it. Go wash up.”
Jiang Song’an stood still for a long while before finally following her into the bed curtains.
Confused, Yuan Yao had no time to react before Jiang Song’an silenced her with his lips.
“It’s fine,” Jiang Song’an said, pressing his large hand onto Yuan Yao’s shoulder and pulling sharply. A cool breeze swept in, and before she could even cry out, he lowered his head and bit her.
“There are other pleasures.”
The man’s voice was rough and heavy.
..
The next day was market day, and Yuan Yao now had her own official stall, right next to Aunt Dou’s. The stall wasn’t large but was neat and tidy, with two sets of tables and chairs at the back that weren’t needed for the time being.
Yesterday, Yuan Yao had been reluctant to let Jiang Song’an accompany her, yet today she found it quite advantageous. Early in the morning, without her needing to say a word or worry about anything, Jiang Song’an effortlessly set up the stall. Tofu, winnowing baskets, jars—all were neatly arranged. Even the spices, chili powder, and white liquor needed for on-site use were lined up in order. Of course, all this was done under Aunt Dou’s guidance from the side; otherwise, Jiang Song’an wouldn’t have known how to arrange them. Only after Jiang Song’an finished his tasks did Yuan Yao leisurely arrive.
She had originally felt somewhat embarrassed, but seeing Aunt Dou’s knowing yet silent expression, she didn’t bother explaining. She merely shot another glare at Jiang Song’an, who dared not utter a single word and stood beside her, obediently accepting her reproach.
Everything was ready, awaiting customers. Today, there was no need to call out; those who had previously paid deposits to Yuan Yao naturally arrived early to wait. Yuan Yao greeted them with a smile and swiftly began her work.
These jars had only been delivered the previous afternoon—exactly ten in total. Besides the three already reserved, seven remained. This quantity still fell far short of demand, but there was nothing she could do about it; she worked alone. For now, quality mattered even more than quantity. Every jar of red-oil fermented bean curd was crafted meticulously by Yuan Yao, right before everyone’s eyes.
Yuan Yao had included complimentary gifts for the three customers who had made prior reservations. Later buyers wanted the same treatment, but Yuan Yao smiled and replied, “There are no more gifts available today. However, if you’re willing to wait, you may place an order for ten days from now, and I’ll include two extra pieces as a gift. The jars need to be custom-made, and the tofu must be allowed to grow its mold first.”
“Ten days…” Those eager to taste it soon scratched their heads, torn with indecision. Yuan Yao smiled again and suggested, “Otherwise, why not take some kidney bean cakes or arrowroot powder? I include complimentary gifts with those as well.”
“Alright then, I’ll buy a jar of fermented bean curd and ten pieces of kidney bean cakes; could you throw in a little arrowroot powder for me? I’ll try it at home and come back if it’s good!”
“Sure! No problem!”
The free tofu topping was gone, yet Yuan Yao always found a way to make you buy it—and even more of it. Aunt Dou watched from the side and nudged Jiang Song’an with her lips: “See that? Your wife is quite something.”
Jiang Song’an had been standing behind Yuan Yao the entire time, neither offering unsolicited advice nor getting in her way. Yet his gaze never left her; watching the graceful figure bustling before him, his eyes softened, and a faint smile curved his lips.