Chapter 16

"What reputation? Too aggressive? Disrespectful to elders?"

Sang Luo sighed, "Granny, I'm now a widow, a fifteen-year-old widow. I have to raise little An and Ah Ning. Having a formidable reputation would be beneficial."

"In just over a day since Sang Luo arrived, she had already noticed that the old lady, despite her stern words, had a soft heart and was kind, which is why she felt inclined to explain things more clearly."

"As for disrespecting elders, even little Shen Jin could demand food while mentioning little An and Ah Ning. Today, I realized he's just mimicking Aunt. As for respecting an unkind elder, I truly can't bring myself to do it. Let the reputation be whatever it may."

"It's not that I underestimate the importance of reputation in ancient times, but Shen San and Mrs. Li's actions, one after another, cross my bottom line. I can't respect such people."

"Being tactful and adaptable depends on the situation and the person involved. In the case of Shen San and Mrs. Li, I'm not willing to compromise my own principles just to maintain a good reputation."

"Moreover, the original host followed Mrs. Li here knowing her situation, hoping for a way to survive. Unexpectedly, Mrs. Li's intention in bringing her back was different, leading to a tragic end of dying from illness and hunger. Now, relying on this body to survive, how can I pretend to have a harmonious relationship with Mrs. Li, disregarding the original host's fate?"

"And I believe that over time, I will manage to improve my life. With people like Shen San and Mrs. Li, it's better to make things clear early. Everyone will know what to expect in the future."

"Old Lady Chen felt a pang in her heart upon hearing 'a fifteen-year-old widow'."

"She had taken care of Sang Luo these past few days, mainly out of consideration for the children, Shen An and Shen Ning. But now, she truly felt a sense of pity for Sang Luo."

"Such a hard life."

"Thinking of Shen San and his wife's behavior: 'Well, it's good that these things were brought into the open today. It'll prevent them from using their status as elders to oppress you in the future.'"

"This was an acknowledgment of Sang Luo's principles and way of handling things."

"As Sang Luo was about to leave, the old lady called her back: 'Wait a moment.'"

"Sang Luo looked her way and saw the old lady's cheeks twitch slightly before she asked, 'How will you transport the sugar water to the market?'"

"Sang Luo smiled and replied, 'I'll take a clay pot with me, pour it directly into it, and carry it on my back with a carrying basket.'"

"After hearing this, the old lady didn't say much. She just waved her hand and said, 'Alright, go back to your work.'"

"Sang Luo bid farewell to the old lady and headed home. The shrimp porridge without ginger and rice wine would soon lose its freshness, and besides, the big market was the next day. She had a lot of preparations to make."

"Watching her leave, the old lady muttered to herself, 'That won't even be enough for the journey.'"

…

"A day passed in the blink of an eye."

"The next morning marked the day of the big local market."

"For their first time selling 'Fairy Tofu', Sang Luo and the two little ones took it very seriously. In the mountains of August, the days were still hot. To ensure the freshness of the ingredients, apart from the leaves picked in the evening, Sang Luo got up in the middle of the night to make the Fairy Tofu."

"Of course, the two little ones couldn't sleep either, bustling about, carrying water and handing over spoons."

"Though the plan was to split one bucket into two for sale, in reality, given the scarcity of everything at home, it was impossible to make too little."

"The big market only came once every five days, and their business was a no-capital venture. Not trying to make the most of the mountain's resources would be a waste."

"As for carrying two buckets of Fairy Tofu, Sang Luo thought it was just a matter of gritting her teeth and enduring it."

"After simmering for most of the night and making two batches, she filled four large clay pots. Just as dawn was breaking, the second batch solidified perfectly. Sang Luo used a bamboo knife to cut them into neat squares, packing thirty-two pieces into two wooden buckets borrowed from the Chen family. Even the trimmings weren't wasted but were included for tasting samples at the market."

"It's one thing to imagine, but when it actually came to lifting those buckets of tofu, Sang Luo clenched her teeth in vain..."

"So heavy! This stuff was seriously solid."

"In her last life, especially in the later years due to health reasons, Sang Luo rarely engaged in strenuous tasks. And the original owner of her current body, even after months of hardship, had lived a life so pampered before the floods, always waited on hand and foot, hardly someone used to heavy labor."

"From the mountains to the village, even before reaching the village entrance, Sang Luo's shoulders began to ache, and walking became laborious, a sight that terrified her little brother-in-law, Shen An, and his sister, Shen Ning."

"'Sister-in-law, how about I go back and get another clay pot? We can split some into our baskets,' Shen An suggested."

"Their sister-in-law had just recovered from a serious illness, nearly losing her life, and had only been recuperating for a couple of days."

"Initially confident in her strength, Sang Luo began to doubt herself after walking just a short distance. It seemed her current body was much frailer than in her previous life."

"It wasn't just a matter of poor health; she had been overly pampered from childhood, rarely even walking much, let alone engaging in physical labor, leaving her with little stamina."

"However, the two little ones weren't empty-handed either. Each carried a basket on their back; Shen An's contained a relatively heavier clay pot and several bamboo tubes made hastily the day before, filled with sugar water and clean water for washing hands at the market."

"Yes, these were the hastily made bamboo tubes, not crafted by Sang Luo, but by the old lady's son, Chen Youtian, as arranged by Sang Luo when she went to fetch the buckets in the evening."

"Shen Ning, on the other hand, carried a basket half-filled with washed and dried lotus leaves."

"In ancient times, there were no plastic bags, so Sang Luo couldn't just sell her goods and expect people to carry them home in their hands. After much thought, she had walked a considerable distance yesterday evening to a wild pond to gather over thirty lotus leaves, along with several dozen smaller leaves suitable for makeshift tasting cups."

"Considering the small stature of her younger brother and sister, and worried about stunting their growth with more weight, Sang Luo bit her lip in determination: 'No more fussing, I should be able to make it if I rest a few times along the way.'"

"As they were talking, someone up ahead called out, 'Is that little An?'"

"'Uncle Youtian!' Shen An exclaimed excitedly, running forward. 'Uncle Youtian, it's me! What are you doing here? Are you also heading to the market?'"

"Chen Youtian looked at the little one, then at Sang Luo behind, struggling under her load, thinking to himself that his mother had predicted this."

"He nodded, 'I'm also heading to the market to sell some things. Your granny asked me to wait here for you, fearing your sister-in-law couldn't carry the load for six or seven miles. I'm here to lend a hand and watch over you at the market.'"

"The last part of his statement was meant for Sang Luo, who was approaching with her load."

"In fact, his mother's exact words were: 'That Sang woman is as thin as a stick, yet so ambitious. Two buckets? I bet she'll collapse halfway! I'm sending you to the market early with our eggs to make some money. Wait at the village entrance, and if you see them, help her with her load. Keep an eye on her at the market too. It's the least we can do after eating her half bowl of fish.'"

"Wasn't it exactly as she had predicted?"

"Without even reaching halfway, Chen Youtian noticed that Sang Luo was already exhausted before even reaching the village entrance."

"For the rest of the journey, Sang Luo's bamboo shoulder pole was carried by Chen Youtian, while Sang Luo held his basket of eggs."

"Though he referred to it as a basket, Sang Luo saw that it contained only about a dozen eggs."

"Either the Chen family didn't have many chickens, and with the hot weather, they were worried about the eggs spoiling, necessitating the trip for just a dozen, or they didn't need to go to the market today and were only doing so to help her."

"Considering that the old lady had silently arranged for Uncle Youtian to make several new bamboo tubes for her yesterday, the latter seemed highly likely."

"Feeling grateful, Sang Luo found that any words of thanks seemed too superficial at the moment. Her normally sweet-talking mouth became uncharacteristically earnest as she simply said, 'Thank you for the trouble, Uncle Youtian.'"

"In her heart, she resolved to foster a good relationship with the Chen family, knowing the saying, 'A distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor.' In comparison to her close but indifferent Uncle Shen San's family, the elderly Mrs. Chen, a mere neighbor, seemed far more valuable."

"Chen Youtian chuckled, 'Let's go, getting a good spot at the market means getting there early.'"

"While carrying the load, he glanced at the green lotus leaves in Shen Ning's basket, 'Are these lotus leaves for wrapping the Fairy Tofu?'"

"Before Sang Luo could respond, Shen Ning eagerly nodded and went on to explain how Sang Luo had found the smaller leaves for tasting, proudly adding to Chen Youtian, 'My sister-in-law knows so much!'"

"Hearing the details of the tasting setup, Chen Youtian nodded in approval along with Shen Ning's remarks, 'That's quite well-organized.'"

"The six or seven-mile journey passed quickly amidst the excited chatter of Shen An and Shen Ning. They started out in the dim light of dawn, and by the time they reached the market, the day had brightened considerably."

"The so-called big market was actually a marketplace in a centrally located large village in Qingpu Township, facilitating exchange among the surrounding villages."

"'This place is called Sanli Village, named for being three miles from the county seat. Several villages along our route are named after their distance from the county seat, like Sanli Village, Wuli Village, Qili Village, Shili Village.'"

"Sang Luo realized only then how close the big market was to the county seat, finding it intriguing. She asked, 'Didn't we pass more than two villages on the way? What about the other villages?'"

"Chen Youtian replied with a smile, 'Many others are clan-based settlements named after family surnames, and some are named after the local geography or landmarks.'"

"Sang Luo absorbed this new information as they entered Sanli Village. By now, the market was bustling with early arrivals. The villagers who lived closer had already secured their spots, displaying their goods on shoulder poles, in baskets, tied with straw ropes, or even just laid out on the ground. There were all sorts of arrangements."

"Shen An and Shen Ning were wide-eyed with fascination. The last time the siblings had been to the market was when Shen Lie was still around."

"Shen An scanned the market and pointed to a spot near an intersection, 'Sister-in-law, there are more stalls over there, and it's by the intersection. Should we set up our stall there?'"

"After asking, he realized that his sister-in-law was unfamiliar with the area and turned, along with the two children, to look at Chen Youtian for guidance."

"Chapter 17"

"Feeling a bit pressured under the scrutiny of six eyes, Chen Youtian recalled his past experiences at the market and nodded."

"Seeing his nod, Shen An, carrying his own basket, quickly led Shen Ning to an empty space big enough for both of their stalls, swiftly removing his basket to claim the spots."

"After helping to place the two buckets of tofu, Chen Youtian considered his task done. He took his basket of eggs and squatted at the spot Shen An had reserved for him."

"Surveying their surroundings, Sang Luo noticed that their stalls were flanked by a vegetable seller on the left and a winnowing basket seller on the right. Further along were vendors selling maltose, eggs, hemp fiber, homespun cloth, mats, and brooms – a variety of mostly local produce."

"In addition to the vendors, there were already groups of people, presumably locals, strolling along with baskets, coming to shop."

"Shen An, observing the nearby stall owners who mostly stood up, engaging passersby about their goods, and then looking at Chen Youtian, who was sitting quietly beside his basket, turned to ask Sang Luo, 'Sister-in-law, how do we sell our tofu? Do we need to call out to attract customers?'"

"The matter being crucial to their livelihood, Shen An was getting nervous."

"'Yes, we do. Even the finest wine needs to be advertised. Besides, many people are unfamiliar with our product. But before that, we need to do some preparations,' Sang Luo explained."

"As she spoke, she arranged the two buckets, took Shen An's basket containing sugar water bamboo tubes, and placed them in Shen Ning's basket with the lotus leaves. She then had Shen An hold the ceramic pot and bamboo knife while she turned over the now-empty basket to use as a makeshift stand, placing the ceramic pot on top to check its stability."

"'Done, our display table for selling is all set.'"

"For food items, especially those that can be eaten directly without further processing, presentation is key. No matter how good the product, it loses appeal if just placed on the ground."

"Sang Luo, having set up stalls several times before formally starting her work in her previous life, was adept at improvising these arrangements."

"Then she called over to Shen Ning, 'Ah Ning, we need the clean water for washing hands.'"

"Shen Ning, not knowing what to do earlier, reacted with eagerness when asked by Sang Luo to help."

"She quickly found a bamboo tube filled with clean water from among several, turned her back to the street with Sang Luo, and poured the water for Sang Luo to wash her hands."

"After washing her hands, Sang Luo took out a piece of trim from the Fairy Tofu, held it in one hand, and with a bamboo knife in the other, began to slice it into smaller pieces right above the ceramic pot."

"Her meticulousness in cleaning her hands before touching the food caught the attention of neighboring stall owners. They were especially intrigued by the unfamiliar, shimmering green substance Sang Luo was handling. A curious elderly woman selling eggs asked, 'Young lady, what is that you're selling? It looks like food?'"

"Sang Luo smiled, 'It is indeed food, Fairy Tofu. It's delicious!'"

"The old woman, hearing of such a novel and divinely named item, craned her neck to see better, 'I've never seen this before. How do you eat it?'"

"'It depends on your preference. If you have malt sugar or honey at home, you can dissolve some into sugar water, pour it over the sliced tofu as a dressing, and eat it directly as a dessert. Or, if you prefer savory, you can season it with oil, salt, soy sauce, and some chopped green onions to make it a dish.'"

"Her clear voice ensured that the surrounding stall owners, drawn by the novelty, heard her explanations."

"They watched as she swiftly sliced the glistening green 'Fairy Tofu' into neat squares. With a deft movement, she let the pieces fall into the earthenware pot, where the color of the tofu contrasted beautifully against the pot's base color, making it even more visually appealing and inducing salivation among the onlooking vendors."

"It seemed to them that this must be quite a tasty treat."

"No sooner had this thought crossed their minds than Sang Luo scooped up another piece of trim from the bucket, rapidly slicing it horizontally and vertically. In no time, the pile of Fairy Tofu in the earthenware pot grew."

"With her skillful slicing, the nearby vendors remained rooted in place, captivated by her actions."

"After slicing four pieces of trim, Sang Luo finally covered the bottom of the earthenware pot. She looked up at Shen Ning, 'Ah Ning, add the sugar water.'"

"The mention of sugar water piqued the curiosity of the elderly woman who had asked earlier, as she instinctively stretched her neck to get a better view."

"Shen Ning, eager to contribute, quickly came forward with the sugar water, uncorking the bamboo stopper and evenly pouring it over the Fairy Tofu. She then stirred it with a wooden spoon brought from home until well mixed before placing the spoon in the pot."

"'Done, sister-in-law,' Shen Ning announced proudly."

"It was her first time handling such an important task, and her sense of accomplishment was evident in her voice."

"Sang Luo smiled and praised her, then turned and took a small leaf from the basket, eyeing a few women nearby with baskets. She raised her voice and called out, 'Fairy Tofu here, the perfect summer delicacy, a fresh taste you've never experienced before! Sweetened with sugar water it's a dessert, seasoned with oil and salt it's a great dish. Suitable for both sweet and savory preferences, only two wen per large piece, don't miss out as you pass by!'"

"Her voice was high and clear, standing out amidst the hum of others asking 'Buying vegetables?', 'Need a winnowing basket?', 'Malt sugar, anyone?'. Her pitch was exceptionally eye-catching."

"Sang Luo continued, 'Fairy Tofu, great for both sweet and savory tastes, turned into a delicious dish when mixed cold. It's cooling, detoxifying, and anti-aging. For just two wen, you're not buying a loss or a trick, but a delightful food you've never tried before!'"

"Shen An, Shen Ning, and Chen Youtian, squatting nearby watching over his sales, were all astounded."

"Shen An swallowed hard, 'My sister-in-law, usually so calm... to think she can be this assertive for the sake of making money to support the family!'"

"Shen Ning looked at Sang Luo with admiration, thinking, 'My sister-in-law is the best!'"

Chen Youtian, in amazement: "…Selling goods can be done with such a flourish?"

Several nearby stall owners were also astonished: "This young lady is impressive! Though she's a new face here, her confidence and skill are of a seasoned seller."

By then, Sang Luo was already holding a small leaf in one hand and a wooden spoon in the other, deftly placing a piece of Fairy Tofu on a clean, crisp green leaf and offering it to the malt sugar seller closest to her: "Uncle, it's our first day setting up a stall. Try this fresh delicacy."

The old man was dumbstruck, unsure whether to accept it or not.

He wondered, "If I take it, will it cost me two wen?"

Sang Luo, as if reading his mind, smiled and said, "It's a free sample. For two wen, you get a much larger piece. Feel free to try it without worry."

After saying this, she extended the tofu towards him.

"A free taste…" The old man, encountering such a treat for the first time at the market, hesitantly accepted it.

Sang Luo swiftly prepared a second piece and offered it to the elderly woman who had first engaged in conversation with her: "Auntie, please try this as well."

The elderly woman hesitated, "Really free?"

Sang Luo, with a smile: "Yes, it's free!"

Hearing it was free, the other stall owners exchanged glances. Some were tempted to move closer, others shifted their feet but remained hesitant, while an outspoken tall man had already walked straight up to Sang Luo's stall: "Young lady, I'd like to try a piece too."

"Alright!"

She scooped up a piece of Fairy Tofu, caught it with a leaf, and handed it over.

The tall man popped it into his mouth right there, chewing thoughtfully, his eyes lighting up.

Sang Luo smiled, "Big brother, how do you like the taste of this Fairy Tofu?"

The man nodded, "It's good. I bet it would taste great savory as well."

He peered into the bucket where Sang Luo was keeping the Fairy Tofu and asked, "How big is the piece for two wen?"

Sang Luo reached in and pulled out a piece larger than her palm, smiling, "Big brother, if you cut it up at home, it's enough for a whole dish."

Pleased with the size, the man readily said, "Alright, give me one piece."

"Sure thing!"

Sang Luo's voice was especially cheerful, celebrating their first sale, "We're open for business!"

Shen Ning, excited, quickly took out a lotus leaf from her basket and passed it over. Sang Luo received it, placed the Fairy Tofu on the leaf, then bent down to scoop up another small piece to add, smiling warmly, "Big brother, as a token of appreciation for supporting our opening day, here's an extra small piece for you."

The man, not expecting this extra treat, thanked her with a smile and pulled out two wen to give to Sang Luo.

Sang Luo gestured for Shen An to take the money, while she handed the leaf holding the two pieces of Fairy Tofu to the man, "Enjoy, and come back for more next time."

"The man nodded, took the lotus leaf-wrapped Fairy Tofu, and returned to his own stall."

"Shen An and Shen Ning were so elated they were practically beaming. Shen An, holding the two wen in his hand, trembled with excitement, 'Sister-in-law, did we really make money?'"

"Sang Luo smiled with her eyes curved, 'The money is in your hand, isn't it enough proof?'"

"'Yes! Yes!' Shen An was overjoyed, glancing at the money in his hand before asking Sang Luo, 'Sister-in-law, where should we keep this money?'"

"Sang Luo, busy with other things, simply gestured, 'You keep it for now.'"

"She trusts me with this!"

"Shen An's eyes shone with determination, 'Sister-in-law, I'll take good care of it!'"

"Chapter 18"

"We're really earning money now!"

"The two siblings were so happy they were nearly delirious with joy."

"Sang Luo let the siblings revel in their excitement over the two coins while she seized the moment to continue offering samples to nearby stall owners."

"While doing so, she called out, 'For the first three customers this morning, to bring good luck, buy one piece and get a small piece extra. Hurry and seize this opportunity, pay for one and get half more!'"

"This call caught the interest of the elderly woman who had just tried the sample."

"Normally, the idea of spending two wen on a dish would not appeal to her – why spend when they grew vegetables at home? Eating is eating, after all."

"But for two wen, getting a main dish plus a bonus for a dessert, and that bonus is free, a giveaway!"

"The elderly woman instantly felt this was a great deal!"

"This treat would taste good with some sugar water, and her little grandson would definitely love it."

"Spending two wen for a large piece as a savory dish would provide something novel for the whole family, and the smaller bonus piece, sweetened with sugar water, would delight her grandchildren."

"With this thought, the elderly woman quickly stepped closer to Sang Luo."

"'Young lady, I'd like to trade some eggs for it, would that be okay?'"

"She still hesitated to spend money, but trading eggs laid by her own chickens was less painful for her."

"'Of course, that's fine.'"

"Bartering was still very common at that time, especially in rural markets. While some paid with money, many traded goods with stall owners. As long as both parties agreed, such exchanges were welcome."

"Sang Luo's household was in need, so why not?"

"At that time, eggs were priced at one wen each. Hearing Sang Luo's agreement, the old lady quickly picked two eggs from her basket to offer in exchange."

"Shen Ning took the eggs, and Sang Luo noticed that the old lady hadn't picked the smallest ones to give."

"In that case, Sang Luo was generous too. When scooping out the Fairy Tofu for the old lady, she also chose a relatively large piece for the bonus, handing it over with a warm smile: 'Thank you for your patronage. If you enjoy it, come back to me next time, whether to buy or to trade.'"

"The old lady's eyes crinkled up with happiness at the sight of the bonus piece Sang Luo had picked for her, 'Sure thing, sure thing!'"

"She joyfully returned to her stall, holding her two pieces of tofu."

"The option of bartering opened up possibilities, and the nearby stall owners who had tasted the samples were now intrigued. Didn't they hear the young lady announcing the first three customers would receive an extra piece?"

"One stall-owning woman thought to act, but a plump woman with a basket was quicker. From a distance, she sprinted over, shouting even before she reached the stall: 'The third one is mine!'"

"As soon as she arrived, two copper coins were already in her hand, quickly passed to Shen An. Then, grinning widely at Sang Luo, she said, 'The bonus piece, right?'"

"It was not only free to taste but also came with a bonus, and it was a new delicacy. She had heard about it from afar."

"Initially, she just wanted to try the free sample, but seeing that two of the three bonus offerings were already claimed, she rushed over without even trying, eager to make a purchase first!"

"A new food that sold immediately upon sampling must be good."

"Having paid and secured her purchase, and seeing Sang Luo nod in agreement, she finally took the time to examine the Fairy Tofu she'd heard being advertised from afar."

"Looking down into the ceramic pot, she recognized the small cut pieces as samples."

"The appearance of the food was very appealing, especially for a woman like her who disliked the heat. The green color itself seemed cooling and refreshing!"

"Her eyes and mouth were both eager as she turned to Shen Ning, 'Young lady, can I also try a sample? I still don't know what it tastes like.'"

"The woman who was too late to act first was frustrated, 'You don't even know the taste and you competed with me?!'"

"Huh?"

"That's not fair at all!"

"Isn't that too annoying?"

"Shen Ning, who had spent the morning just passing leaves to her sister-in-law and wasn't sure what else to do, quickly responded when given a task by the plump woman."

"'Okay, sure, just a moment.'"

"She quickly turned to grab a small leaf, scooped a piece of the tofu with the spoon, and carefully presented it to the plump woman on the small leaf."

"The plump woman, who had come out just to buy vegetables, was thrilled to get a free treat."

"Being a food lover, she brought the leaf to her mouth, tilted her head back, letting the tofu slide off the leaf along with every drop of the sugar syrup, savoring it all."

"Chewing contentedly, her eyes lit up with delight!"

"Bouncy, refreshing, smooth, sweet – oh, how it suited her taste! If only it had a bit more sugar, it would be even more delicious."

"One piece plus the bonus wasn't enough for her – she could easily snack on it all by herself!"

"Without hesitation, the plump woman took out two more wen from her purse, 'Young lady, give me another piece, I want two, plus the bonus piece. That makes two large and one small, three pieces in total, right?'"

"Sang Luo smiled, 'Yes.'"

"While speaking, she had already added another piece to the lotus leaf, 'Here are three pieces of Fairy Tofu for you, take care!'"

"The plump woman, beaming, carefully placed her purchase into her small bamboo basket. Satisfied and proud, she walked away amid the envious glances of others who had wanted but missed the third special offer."

"The woman who missed the third special offer looked on in dismay: '…'"

"So, the bonus is gone, should I buy it or not?"

"Before she could decide, Sang Luo was already calling out again: 'Fairy Tofu, fresh and delicious, bouncy and smooth, suitable for both sweet and savory tastes, cooling, detoxifying, and anti-aging. A unique delicacy you've never tried before!'"

"'Only two wen for a large piece, a small price to let your family enjoy a new culinary experience they've never had before.'"

"'Don't miss out as you pass by. It's not easy to make this, there are only a little over thirty pieces left, and now only twenty-eight remain. First come, first served, miss it now and you'll have to wait for the next market!'"

"This last statement, coupled with the actual counting, immediately removed the hesitation of those like the stall woman who had initially wavered due to missing the bonus."

"It's only two wen to introduce something new to the whole family, why hesitate! If you wait, it might be gone!"

"I'll buy it!"

"As soon as one person made a move, a second person began approaching the stall."

"The crowd at the market, which had unknowingly grown, noticed the bustle around Sang Luo's stall and the sound of a woman advertising 'Fairy Tofu', and they began to gather around to see what was happening."

"Sang Luo selling, Shen An collecting money, and Shen Ning, finally realizing her role after the plump woman's request for a sample!"

"Shen Ning thought, 'Sister-in-law is busy, but I can help!'"

"She began preparing samples, holding a leaf and a spoon."

"The shy young girl, excited by the prospect of earning money from her sister-in-law's creation, flushed with enthusiasm and courageously raised her voice: 'Anyone who hasn't tried it yet, come get a small piece for a free tasting.'"

"It was her first time attracting customers. While not as outgoing as Sang Luo and a bit quieter, the small stall was gaining popularity. And she was offering free samples. As soon as Shen Ning finished speaking, people passing by started responding."

"'Free tasting? Then give me a piece to try.'"

"The word 'free' held great appeal at such a rural market in ancient times."

"Who wouldn't take something that's free?"

"Passersby stopped in their tracks."

"Shen Ning suddenly found herself busy, her words becoming more fluent as she spoke."

"'Yes, it's free.'"

"'There's a limit of one piece per person.'"

"'Auntie, you've already taken one piece before.'"

"Sang Luo was busy with her hands and mouth, calling out while selling, keeping everyone updated: 'Delicious Fairy Tofu, only twenty-six pieces left! If you haven't tried it, come for a free tasting. If you have, don't hesitate, take it home for only two wen and let your family taste it too!'"

"On the bustling streets of the market, which had just come alive in the early morning, the crowd was especially concentrated around this one stall at the crossroads, buzzing with activity."

"It's human nature to be drawn to excitement, especially in a market where a crowd and commotion usually mean good and affordable eats!"

"Moreover, Sang Luo's voice was clear and unceasing, with a variety of enticing phrases: fresh delicacies, free tasting, two wen per piece, almost sold out, hurry or you'll miss out. Each concept was thrown out to accelerate the pace of the oncoming crowd."

"Chen Youtian, who had been quietly sitting and selling eggs without much success, was now caught in the lively, almost dazed atmosphere."

"Goodness me, with Sang Luo's ability like this, she really doesn't need any help from me, her son."

"Chapter 19"

"Chen Youtian's intuition was right."

"The thirty-two pieces of Fairy Tofu Sang Luo had brought, along with the two kids, sold out in less than an hour, and even Chen Youtian's eggs were sold off thanks to Sang Luo's persuasive promotion. Several people bought a few each, clearing his stock as well."

"It was the first time the honest man witnessed such a bustling scene in selling goods. An adult with two children had practically set up a one-man band, creating an atmosphere as lively and jubilant as a grand theater performance."

"Looking at his empty basket, he wondered, who's taking care of whom here?"

"Sang Luo, while packing up, asked Chen Youtian, 'Uncle Youtian, we need to buy some things from the market. Could you wait for us? We can go back together afterward.'"

"Chen Youtian nodded, 'Alright.'"

"He didn't say much. Walking over to Sang Luo's side, he picked up the carrying pole, stuffed the clay pots, bamboo tubes, wooden spoons, and his own basket into two water buckets, and hoisted them onto his shoulders."

"What was left for Sang Luo were two carrying baskets: one filled with the items they had traded for, and the other empty."

"Chen Youtian glanced at the items in the exchanged basket: a small piece of burlap, some vegetables like radishes, sunflower greens, eggplants, and cucumbers, plus two eggs."

"The burlap and eggs were fine, but those vegetables, easily grown if one had land, seemed like a wasteful trade to Chen Youtian, a farmer accustomed to tilling his own fields."

"He moved his mouth several times, wanting to speak. As someone who wasn't much of a talker, he ended up saying nothing, just waiting on the side."

"Sang Luo and Shen An had already loaded their carrying baskets. The copper coins that Shen An had been clutching carefully in his pockets were now all handed over to Sang Luo."

"Women's clothing, unlike children's, doesn't usually have pockets, and since Sang Luo didn't have a purse, she divided the money into two parts and tucked it into her sleeve pockets."

"Of the thirty-two pieces of miraculous tofu sold, three were traded for goods: one for eggs, one for four types of vegetables, and another Sang Luo voluntarily exchanged with an old woman selling fabric nearby for a piece and a half of burlap."

"Her handkerchief was too small to serve as a filter for making the tofu, which was both time-consuming and laborious. The coarsely woven burlap sold by the old woman wasn't suitable for finer uses but was decent for poor families to make summer clothes or patches."

"For Sang Luo, it was perfect for use as a filter cloth."

"Of course, a piece of tofu worth two wen couldn't fetch a piece and a half of burlap. After asking the price, Sang Luo paid the old woman an additional seven wen and added a sizable corner piece of tofu to make the deal."

"The remaining twenty-nine pieces of tofu were sold for copper coins, totaling fifty-eight wen. After giving away seven wen for the burlap, Sang Luo ended up with a substantial fifty-two wen in her sleeves."

"Indeed, it was a 'substantial' amount."

"At that time, a single copper coin wasn't heavy, but over fifty of them together..."

"When Sang Luo took the coins from Shen An, she weighed them in her hand, estimating their modern equivalent to be about four liang (approximately 150 grams)."

"Thinking about the heaviness, akin to carrying half a box of Yili milk in one's sleeve pocket, she mused that it was far from pleasant."

"This situation highlighted the importance of having a purse."

"Of course, the one and a half chi (about half a meter) of cloth she got could be cut into a proper filter cloth with a little bit left over. However, given its coarse texture and the heaviness of the coins, it wouldn't be suitable for a purse."

"Sang Luo planned to visit a fabric store in the county when she had the chance, to buy some affordable cloth for sewing her own purse."

"For now, the priority was to buy two ceramic pots. If she intended to continue her business, she couldn't always rely on borrowing from the Chen family. Borrowing once or twice was fine, but more than that would inconvenience them, and she didn't want to be inconsiderate."

"Looking around, Chen Youtian noticed and asked her what she was looking for."

"Sang Luo replied, 'I need to find ceramic pots and also buy some rice.'"

"Chen Youtian explained, 'You won't find that at the stalls. The government collected taxes early this year, and the rice harvest isn't in yet. Everyone's tightening their belts, so no one will be selling grain. You'll need to go to the general store at the entrance of Sanli Village for both rice and pots.'"

"His mood visibly dropped as he mentioned this and he led the way to the general store, carrying the burden."

"In the original owner's memory, such general stores didn't exist in small villages; they were only found in larger villages with markets. They usually sold a variety of non-perishable goods, convenient for people who needed to buy essentials on non-market days without traveling to the county."

"When Sang Luo and her group followed Chen Youtian to the general store, they indeed found it stocked with an assortment of goods. Inquiring about the price of grain, the storekeeper said, 'Rice is seventy wen per dou (about ten liters).'"

"Indeed, at this time in the countryside, people usually bought rice in its unprocessed form and pounded it into rice at home because it was slightly more cost-effective."

"Typically, one dou of grain yields about seventy percent or slightly more rice. The price of rice in county grain stores was similar to the price of unprocessed rice, accounting for the labor cost of processing."

"At first glance, it might not seem much different, but pounding rice is also labor-intensive, isn't it?"

"But who in the countryside would spare efforts? Moreover, whether to buy grain or rice, the difference seems only a matter of labor costs, but in reality, it's significant because milling rice also produces an extra thirty percent of bran."

"For farmers, this bran is also valuable – it's food for people during tough times, and excellent feed for chickens, ducks, and pigs when times are a bit better."

"Bran is a treasure too!"

"Chen Youtian's attention, however, was entirely fixated on the grain price of seventy wen per dou!"

"'Why has the price gone up again? Wasn't it just sixty wen not long ago?'"

"The storekeeper looked at him, 'Haven't you paid attention to grain prices for several months? It's gone up twice already.'"

"'This year the government collected taxes early, and there's a shortage of grain. Plus, several northern provinces are suffering from floods, causing many traders to buy grain from our southern regions. There's also an influx of refugees from the north, which greatly increases the demand for food. My pricing is in line with the county grain store. You can check there if you don't believe me, but you'll find the same price.'"

"Chen Youtian was left speechless."

"Sang Luo pursed her lips. In her original owner's memory, the grain prices here were already low compared to those in her disaster-stricken home provinces, where a dou of rice sold for hundreds of wen."

"The original owner, having been sheltered, wasn't very aware of normal grain prices. When Sang Luo first fled to Qi Yang County, the price for a dou of grain was sixty-five wen."

"Sang Luo based her pricing of Fairy Tofu on this assumption."

"Therefore, when she heard the storekeeper's price of seventy wen per dou, she wasn't as shocked as Chen Youtian. Only upon seeing his reaction and hearing his conversation with the storekeeper did she realize that seventy wen per dou must be a high price in the south too."

"Sang Luo felt a bit heavy-hearted."

"With the memories of the original owner, it wasn't hard for her to infer that the common people in this era were enduring hard times, with wars, natural disasters, heavy labor, and taxes. They were just struggling to survive, without the luxury to think further."

"It wasn't until now, confronted directly by the issue of grain prices, that she faced this unavoidable reality."

"But what could be done about it?"

"Sang Luo knew she couldn't manipulate fate or divine powers to transport herself to a better place, nor did she have the ability to overthrow the ruling powers and establish a peaceful and prosperous era as a great empress."

"All she could do was to try a bit harder to ensure her own survival and possibly lead a better life, nothing more."

"Seeing Chen Youtian silent, the storekeeper asked, 'Are you going to buy it?'"

"Sang Luo took over the conversation, 'Yes, we will buy, but first I want to look at the ceramic pots.'"

"Author's note:"

"Though this is a fictional dynasty, the grain prices referenced here are based on historical records. During times of chaos or disaster, grain prices could soar to thousands of wen per dou."

"Grain prices varied across different dynasties, influenced by factors like annual harvests, the state of the world, and the value of currency at the time."

"In this story, the dynasty is on the decline, with natural disasters in the north, but the overall world is not yet in chaos, especially in the south where the protagonist resides. The price is set considering these factors."

"Chapter 20"

"The same type of earthenware pot as the Chen family's was priced at thirty-six wen each in the store. Sang Luo haggled persistently, managing to get the storekeeper to reduce the price by two wen."

"Sang Luo purchased a ceramic pot and two and a half sheng (approximately 2.5 liters) of grain. The fifty-two copper coins in her sleeve, which hadn't even warmed up yet, were quickly spent, leaving not a single coin."

"However, once she held the newly bought pot and the grain inside it, her feeling of regret vanished, replaced by a sense of contentment and satisfaction."

"Finally, she had some grain and possessions of her own."

"Shen An and Shen Ning also crowded around, touching the pot and the grain, filled with immense satisfaction."

"'Sister-in-law, let me carry it.'"

"'I want to carry it.'"

"The siblings eagerly vied to carry the pot."

"Seeing this, Chen Youtian's solemn face broke into a smile, 'Why carry it and tire your hands? Put it in the bucket. It's easier to carry that way.'"

"But Shen An shook his head, grinning foolishly, 'Uncle Youtian, it's not heavy. If I get tired, you can help me carry it then.'"

"Shen Ning quickly added, 'And me too! If big brother gets tired, I'm here. Let's take turns carrying it, big brother.'"

"In a back-and-forth exchange, the siblings had already decided who would carry the pot first and who would take over later."

"Sang Luo watched them amusingly and let them be, handing the ceramic pot to Shen An. Her gaze then fell on the pork stall across from the general store."

"It seemed like a long time since the original owner's body had any meat. Just the sight of the pork stall triggered an intense craving and hunger."

"Sang Luo, recalling the lone jar of salt in her grass hut as her only seasoning, found herself uncontrollably salivating at the sight of the pork."

"It appeared that since fleeing famine, the original owner hadn't tasted meat, and the mere thought of it made her stomach churn uncomfortably."

"Tomorrow, she resolved, she would definitely find a way to earn some more money."

"With this in mind, Sang Luo asked Chen Youtian, 'Uncle Youtian, does the pork stall sell meat even on non-market days?'"

"Hearing her question, Chen Youtian glanced over and saw Sang Luo gazing longingly at the pork stall, her eyes almost green with desire."

"He paused, then nodded, 'Yes, they do. It's the only pork stall serving dozens of surrounding villages, and they sell meat every day.'"

"Shen An and Shen Ning, hugging the pot filled with rice grain as if it was a treasure, finally diverted their attention from their new possessions and grain at the mention of the pork stall, following Sang Luo's gaze to the stall across the street."

"An audible gulp, they both clearly swallowed hard."

"'Sister-in-law, do we still have money?' The siblings, not yet able to count, understood that the pot and the grain they held were expensive."

"Sang Luo shook her head decisively, 'No, we don't have any left. But we can still earn more.'"

"Shen An, a bit dazed, glanced at the meat stall and then at the grains in his arms, swallowing twice before saying, 'Big sister, meat is expensive. Even if we have more money, it's better to buy grains.'"

"He was truly afraid of hunger."

"Having experienced the fear of eating chaff and then having no chaff at all, only grains could provide him with a sense of security."

"Yet, the mere thought of meat made his mouth water uncontrollably, creating a tantalizing and hungering turmoil in his stomach."

"Shen An awkwardly shifted his gaze away, fixing his eyes on the grains in the clay pot, continuously reassuring himself: 'Grains are good, grains are the best, there's nothing better than grains!'"

"Shen Ning, even more than her elder brother, couldn't take her eyes off the meat counter across from them, swallowing her saliva repeatedly."

"Sang Luo patted the two little ones: 'We'll buy grains and eat meat too, but take it slow. Eating lots of meat at once isn't good, but buying some fat to render oil is necessary.'"

"Eating wild vegetables all year round without any fats or oils, it's no wonder their bodies are breaking down."

"You can tell just by looking at the kids' dry and rough hair."

"'Let's go. Next time I earn enough, I'll buy some and you can have the rendered fat to eat.'"

"Chen Youtian, who initially thought Sang Luo was being too extravagant in wanting to buy meat, realized he was mistaken upon seeing the emaciated appearance of the three, looking like they had hardly enough to survive."

"Right, since Shen Lie left for military service, the children's lives had noticeably worsened, and now with Shen Lie gone and them cast out with Sang Luo, they probably couldn't even afford a drop of oil."

"Watching the two kids walk beside Sang Luo, swallowing saliva while talking happily to their big sister and then turning to call him, Chen Youtian responded and silently followed with his load."

"As he walked, Chen Youtian's thoughts turned to his eldest son, who, like Shen Lie, had been conscripted to the front lines and never returned. He thought it was a long-forgotten grief, but in this moment, the dam of his suppressed sadness suddenly burst, overwhelming him."

"Taking a few steps with his load, he quickly lifted his hand from the carrying pole, pressing his palms against his eyes to stifle the pain. After a moment, his vision cleared, and he continued forward."

…

"As they approached Shili Village around mid-morning, still a distance from the village entrance, Sang Luo suddenly stopped."

"Pointing at a small path leading into the mountains, she said, 'Uncle Youtian, I'll take this path home. We can part ways here. Thank you for today. Please take the bucket back yourself, and I'll deliver the other pot to your home later.'"

"Chen Youtian hesitated, thinking the mountain path was a longer route, but quickly understanding her intent, nodded in agreement, 'Alright.'"

"Setting down his load, he took out the wooden spoon and bamboo tubes that belonged to Sang Luo and handed them to her before they parted ways."

"Shen Ning, puzzled, waited until Chen Youtian was a bit farther away before asking softly, 'Sister-in-law, why are we taking the mountain path?'"

"Sang Luo glanced at her and instead asked Shen An, 'What do you think, Shen An?'"

"Shen Ning then looked towards her older brother."

"Shen An, holding the ceramic pot, guessed, 'Sister-in-law doesn't want the villagers to see we have enough money to buy grain, right?'"

"Sang Luo smiled, her lips curving."

"This child is truly clever."

"Seeing his sister-in-law's reaction, Shen An knew he was right and couldn't help but smile, still just a child at heart."

"Though Shen Ning wasn't as thoughtful or observant as Shen An, she wasn't slow to understand, especially after her brother's recent reminder. She looked around cautiously and whispered, 'Sister-in-law, we can't let the villagers know we're making money from Fairy Tofu, can we?'"

"Clever little thing."

"Sang Luo found this amusing and pinched Shen Ning's nose, 'You're really smart!'"

"As she picked up a tree branch to use for sweeping along the path, she led the siblings down a trail into the mountains, explaining, 'Our house is too small, without even a proper yard. It's best to avoid drawing attention to ourselves as much as possible.'"

"Upon hearing this, the smiles on the siblings' faces gradually turned to looks of concern."

"Seeing their reaction, Sang Luo laughed lightly and comforted, 'Don't worry too much. Our village is small, and few go to the market. The market is held every five days, so it's not easy to run into someone. Even if we do, they won't easily figure out what we're doing. It's just that being watched can be troublesome. We'll have to be more discreet in our actions, unlike now.'"

"The siblings thought about how their sister-in-law added ash water to the leaf juice, indeed, a secret step unlikely to be guessed by ordinary people."

"Their worried expressions eased, and they nodded in unison, 'Sister-in-law, we'll be careful.'"

"As they walked deeper into the mountains, Sang Luo took the opportunity to pick leaves from the Fairy Tree."

"Seeing his sister-in-law gathering leaves, Shen An looked around and found a spot to set down the ceramic pot he'd been holding. He and his sister then began helping to pick leaves, wondering aloud, 'Are we going to eat this for lunch?'"

"Sang Luo shook her head, 'We just ate it this morning; we can't have it for every meal. For lunch, we'll cook sunflower green porridge.'"

"With their current living standard, eating plain white rice was unaffordable; porridge was more realistic."

"Shen Ning glanced at the basket on the ground and ventured, 'Sister-in-law, can we eat stewed eggplant?'"

"The siblings had eaten eggplant before, but that was several months ago. Eggplant wasn't a rarity; every household in Shili Village grew it, except for theirs."

"Now that they had eggplants, it was natural to crave some."

"Sang Luo looked at Shen Ning with a smile, 'Is Ah Ning craving eggplant?'"

"Shen Ning nodded vigorously, 'It's been so long since we had it, stewed eggplant is so fragrant.'"

"She said this while swallowing her saliva."

"Sang Luo laughed out loud at this, seeing Shen Ning's flushed face, and said, 'I'm craving it too, but stewed eggplant is fragrant with oil and sauce. If we only have salt, it becomes more like boiled eggplant, and that would waste these few eggplants.'"

"So, we won't have eggplant today."

"Seeing the visible disappointment on the little girl's face, Sang Luo smiled, 'Wait until I buy some meat. We'll use the fat to make oil, cut some lean meat into mince, and then stew the eggplant with it. We can also add some perilla or mint leaves, and it'll be so delicious you'd want to swallow your own tongue.'"

"Just hearing about it, Shen An and Shen Ning were already salivating at the thought."

"Considering the hot weather and the perishability of vegetables, they wondered if their sister-in-law would buy meat in the next few days?"

"The siblings exchanged glances, neither daring to voice their thoughts, fearful of misunderstanding and adding pressure to their sister-in-law."

"Shen An changed the subject, 'Sister-in-law, why are we picking these leaves?'"

"Sang Luo noticed their expressions and decided not to elaborate, answering Shen An's question with a smile, 'We're going to make some Fairy Tofu and take it to Chen family's grandparents this evening as thanks to Uncle Youtian for carrying our loads twice today. We can't let him do all that work for nothing.'"

"The siblings nodded vigorously, acknowledging that without the Chen family's pot and bucket, they wouldn't have been able to set up their stall and earn money to buy a pot and more than two sheng of grain, along with eggs, hemp cloth, and various vegetables."

"Thinking of vegetables naturally led them back to the thought of Sang Luo's description of minced meat with eggplant, causing their mouths to water again, overcome with craving."

"Sang Luo found their reactions amusing but didn't tease them further, 'Besides, we're going to the market again tomorrow. Let's see if we can earn enough to buy the meat.'"

"The siblings looked up at Sang Luo almost simultaneously, their eyes sparkling with excitement. Shen Ning, barely containing her joy, said, 'But sister-in-law, tomorrow is not a market day.'"

"Sang Luo nodded, 'That's why we won't make much, just twelve pieces. We'll put them in the ceramic pot and carry it in the basket to sell in Sanli Village, just to earn enough for meat and sauce.'"

"'I know, like a peddler!' Shen An's voice was filled with excitement, 'Sanli Village is much wealthier than our village. We sold so much tofu in just an hour today, and many people still don't know about it.'"

"Shen An felt confident that even though it wasn't a market day, they could still sell out."

"With this in mind, he quickened his leaf-picking, discussing with Sang Luo: 'Big sister, why don't we make more, like sixteen pieces? Just like two clay pots – you carry one, and Ning and I will take turns carrying the other, just like today.'"

"Eager to earn money for meat, Shen Ning nodded vigorously: 'Right, right, I can carry it.'"

"Sang Luo looked at the two bright-eyed kids and then at the clay pots they had carried all the way home today, realizing they were even more capable than she had thought."

"Sang Luo raised her eyebrows, thinking... perhaps it could work?"

"If the kids really couldn't carry it, she could manage to carry an extra pot for a while."

"She nodded in agreement."

"The two little ones were so excited they almost jumped up, but remembering Sang Luo's instructions to earn the money quietly without letting others know, they suppressed the cheers on the tip of their tongues and happily bounced on the spot."

"Shen Ning, being close to Sang Luo, especially wanted to snuggle up to her big sister at this moment."

"Big sister is really great!"