"Chapter 21"
"The three of them were energetically picking leaves while Chen Youtian also arrived home."
"Sitting in the courtyard spinning hemp, Chen Youtian's mother was surprised to see her son return with the buckets so early, 'Back already?'"
"As she spoke, she got up to look inside the buckets he had brought back, noticing their basket from the morning and an additional ceramic pot, 'How did it go? Was everything smooth?'"
"Setting down his load, Chen Youtian nodded, 'Smoothly. I sold my eggs quickly, thanks to them.'"
"Curious, his mother urged him to elaborate and glanced outside the courtyard towards the Shen residence nearby, 'Let's talk inside the main room.'"
"Qin Fangniang, who had been weaving in the west room, stopped her loom and came out. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law went into the main room together to listen to Chen Youtian's account of Sang Luo's day at the market."
"Chen Youtian, facing his mother and wife's expectant looks, fell silent for a moment."
"Not much of a talker, he briefly mentioned how many pieces of Fairy Tofu Sang Luo had brought, the price per piece, and what she had bought with the earnings."
"Finally, after some thought, he added details about Sang Luo's effective management and unique way of calling out at the market without repeating phrases, and mentioned how she chose the mountain path on their way back, 'She's quite calculative.'"
"Chen Youtian's mother nodded approvingly, 'Being calculative is what keeps a family afloat.'"
"Qin Fangniang expressed her admiration, 'Just in half a morning, she earned over fifty wen?'"
"That's a substantial amount for a farming family."
"Like her husband, who had taken out those dozen or so eggs this morning, they had been saving up for six or seven days. On average, their daily income from eggs was just about two or three wen."
"Chen Youtian shook his head, 'It's more than that. Some of it was exchanged for goods. If you include the value of those items, it's probably over sixty wen.'"
"Hearing this, Qin Fangniang was speechless with envy."
"Over sixty wen in a day, and with a market every five days, how much would that be in a month? And in a year?"
"She couldn't calculate it exactly, but knew it was an amount beyond her wildest imagination."
"Chen Youtian's mother was quite pleased, 'At this rate, their lives will gradually improve, and Shen An and Ah Ning will have something to rely on.'"
"Seeing her daughter-in-law daydreaming with starry eyes, she brought her back to reality, 'Don't be too envious. They don't have land or fields and rely entirely on this craft for a living. Didn't you hear Youtian? They had to trade for vegetables and use up all their money for a pot and some grain.'"
"Qin Fangniang, still somewhat dazed, nodded, 'I know, I just think having a skill like that is really great.'"
"It is indeed great, but not something to envy. Chen Youtian's mother, always thoughtful, remembered the upcoming autumn harvest and asked, 'What's the current price of grain?'"
"Upon hearing his mother ask about the grain price, Chen Youtian paused before responding, 'Seventy wen per dou.'"
"Qin Fangniang's eyes lit up, 'Seventy wen?'"
"Chen Youtian nodded, attempting a smile but not quite managing."
"Qin Fangniang, puzzled, asked, 'Isn't the price increase a good thing? We've already pre-paid this year's autumn tax. Once we harvest the grain, we can keep what we need and sell the rest to grain merchants at these good prices. Our family should have some extra savings this year.'"
"For farming families, saving money is hard because there aren't many other income sources. They rely on their crops and occasional odd jobs during the off-season. After a year of hard work, paying taxes and rent, and covering household expenses, plus occasional illnesses or social obligations, saving a couple of taels of silver is considered a good year."
"That's why Qin Fangniang was particularly envious of Sang Luo earning over sixty wen today."
"Chen Youtian nodded, 'It is a good thing.'"
"But then he fell silent, choosing not to say more."
"Chen Youtian's mother glanced at her son, understanding his unresolved sorrow. Noting that her daughter-in-law hadn't noticed, she changed the subject, 'You're back early today. Rest a bit, have some water, and then go help your father in the fields.'"
"It's better than staying home brooding."
"Chen Youtian nodded, fetched himself a bowl, poured half a bowl of water from the jug in the main room, drank it, and then went to the yard to pick up a hoe before heading to the fields."
"Qin Fangniang was somewhat baffled, 'Mother, what's wrong with him?'"
"Chen Youtian's mother looked at her."
"What's wrong? He's thinking about his eldest son again."
"The reason for the rising grain prices? It's the continuous wars. The imperial granaries are running low, prompting early tax collection. Everyone's grain reserves are tight, compounded by disasters in the north. Naturally, the prices have surged."
"For Chen Youtian, the topic of war touches a raw nerve because of his eldest son's death."
"Unlike the Shen family, where Shen Lie was sent to war due to Shen San's manipulations with money, their eldest volunteered, changing his name with the village head. The family only learned of it when he was about to leave, too late to reverse it."
"When he first heard that his eldest son and Shen Lie, serving in the same unit, had perished, Chen Youtian wished he could die himself."
"It took him more than half a year to somewhat recover, but whether he truly healed is something everyone in the family knows."
"He couldn't have healed."
"But could he really discuss this with his daughter-in-law?"
"Both parents loved their son equally. His daughter-in-law hadn't thought in that direction; why should he remind her and reopen barely healed wounds?"
"So, Chen Youtian's mother simply waved her hand, 'Maybe he's thinking about the severe disasters in the north. We too fled famine once.'"
"Thinking back to the time when her family fled their famine-stricken hometown, Qin Fangniang sighed, 'Ah, when heaven doesn't leave a way out, people are utterly helpless.'"
"Chapter 22"
"Sang Luo was completely unaware of the Chen family's situation."
"Having picked enough leaves from the Fairy Tree with the two children, they returned home where she washed a small portion, enough for about four pieces, to make Fairy Tofu."
"Shen Ning, having learned the process after several tries and seeing her sister-in-law tirelessly working the past few days with little sleep, eagerly stepped forward, 'Sister-in-law, let me do it. You take a rest.'"
"Making this wasn't difficult and Shen Ning was indeed capable, so Sang Luo considered for a moment and agreed, 'That works.'"
"After delegating the task to Shen Ning, Sang Luo didn't rest but instead fetched a bowl of water from the spring to moisten the hemp drying on the bamboo rack outside."
"Having been out all morning, the hemp had dried a bit too much. Examining it, Sang Luo guessed it might bleach unevenly, yielding reddish spots. Such hemp wouldn't sell well, but it was still usable for their own needs."
"Now with a way to earn money, Sang Luo wasn't too bothered about this. Not to mention weaving, the house should have some thread and rope. She patiently doused each strand of hemp with water several times and figured it would be ready for spinning after drying for another day."
"Shen An had already repacked the grain into another old cloth bag. Seeing his sister and sister-in-law busy, he approached Sang Luo, 'Sister-in-law, what can I do?'"
"Usually, at this time, he'd take his sister to gather edible wild plants and fruits, but with enough food for the next couple of days, he was at a loss."
"Maybe I should go and cut some more hemp?"
"No need for now," Sang Luo glanced at the wild grass growing all around, "Grab a basket, let's go to the creek to find some things, and maybe we can set a fish trap too."
"At the mention of setting a fish trap, Shen An's eyes lit up. He hurried inside and came back with an empty basket."
"After instructing Shen Ning to stay home, Sang Luo set off with Shen An."
"Setting the fish trap was just an extra task; her main goal was to find stones by the creek suitable for making makeshift hoes. Iron tools were too expensive, and she couldn't afford them yet. She couldn't always rely on borrowing everything from the Chen family, especially farming tools."
"Until she could afford proper tools, a temporary alternative was necessary."
"Understanding that they were looking for stones to make hoes, Shen An knew exactly what to find. They both bent over searching along the creek, eventually unearthing several stones that only needed some shaping to be usable."
"Busy till nearly noon, Shen Ning found them with two hoe heads and an axe head shaped from stone, and several wooden handles suitable for the hoes."
"Let's go back to process the wood, then bind them with hemp rope, and they'll be ready to use."
"Shen Ning watched in amazement, her admiration for Sang Luo's abilities soaring to new heights!"
"Returning home, the amaranth porridge was ready. After lunch, Sang Luo shaped the wood for the hoe handles, twisted a few strands of hemp rope from the dried hemp outside, and quickly fashioned two makeshift stone hoes."
"Limited by materials and craftsmanship, the hoe was more of a shovel in terms of effort required. Sang Luo tested it in the overgrown weeds outside the house; it was harder to use than a regular hoe but adequate for weeding and tilling."
"Shen An and Shen Ning each tried the hoes. Excited by their new tool, they took it to the hillside behind their house, where they used to grow vegetables, only to be called back by Sang Luo: 'You hardly slept last night and worked hard this morning. Take a nap now, and you can play in the afternoon!'"
"A nap was restorative and helped digest the meal. Obedient, the children cleaned their new tool at the spring before heading to bed."
"Perhaps due to the sleepless night and morning exertion, when Sang Luo woke, it was already late afternoon. Seeing the children still sleeping soundly, she quietly got up."
"The Fairy Tofu in the clay pot was set. She cut it into four pieces, reserving two as a refreshing treat for the children, and packed the other two in the borrowed clay pot from the Chen family, covering them with a clean lotus leaf."
"She placed the morning's grain purchase, bag and all, into her basket, set the clay pot on top, and headed to the Chen's."
"Arriving at the Chen residence, she found the grandmother and her granddaughter spinning hemp under the eaves of the main house."
"Sang Luo greeted them cheerfully, calling the grandmother 'Granny' and the little girl 'Miss'."
"The young girl, remembering the Fairy Tofu and fish Sang Luo had brought before, brightened up at seeing her, calling her 'Sister Shen' with extra sweetness."
"Sister Shen..."
"Sang Luo was still not quite accustomed to this address but responded with a smile nonetheless."
"Spotting Qin Fangniang in the kitchen window, Sang Luo realized it was the time most families prepared their second meal of the day."
"Her modern mindset, ingrained with the habit of three meals a day, influenced her dietary advice to the children the previous day, though it reflected her own lifestyle."
"Putting aside her work, the grandmother stood up and approached, 'What brings you here at this hour?'"
"Sang Luo, smiling, set down the carrying basket she had on her back: 'I've come to return the hemp processing tools and wanted to ask if I could borrow your mortar for a bit.'"
"'Of course, the tools are under the eaves. I'll get the pestle for you.' Old Lady Chen, having heard from her son about Sang Luo buying grains, had guessed she'd come to borrow the mortar, but hadn't expected her to arrive so soon."
"Taking the hemp tools and placing them aside, she glanced at the basket Sang Luo had just put down. Inside, a clay pot was covered with a lotus leaf, and underneath was a cloth bag presumably filled with grains. Old Lady Chen was a bit surprised: 'You finished the rice I carried up the mountain the day before yesterday?'"
"It was two liters of rice."
"Well, two liters might not last long in an average household, but Old Lady Chen thought Sang Luo and the two kids wouldn't be indulging in such a luxury as plain white rice."
"Sang Luo laughed: 'Oh, no, this is a different cloth bag.'"
"She took the clay pot out of the basket and, lifting the lotus leaf, handed it to Old Lady Chen with a smile: 'I made this after returning home. It's to add a dish to your meal, as a thank you for Uncle Youtian's help in carrying my load today.'"
"Old Lady Chen immediately spotted the glistening miraculous tofu inside the pot."
"She knew that Sang Luo sold it for two wen a piece, more expensive than eggs, and shook her head in refusal: 'It was just a small favor, no need for such a gift.'"
"Sang Luo placed the clay pot firmly into Old Lady Chen's hands, letting go only when she had a good grip, smiling: 'But it was a big help to me, especially this morning. Also, I would like to borrow this clay pot for a few more days.'"
Holding the weighty clay pot, Granny Chen felt a mix of emotions. She glanced towards the courtyard entrance, saying nothing more, but accepted the pot, telling Sang Luo to use it as needed and simply come over for any future borrowings, without the need to bring something each time.
She then invited Sang Luo to sit for a while before carrying the pot into the kitchen.
Sang Luo smiled in response, picked up the bag of grain from her basket, and headed straight for the mortar under the eaves of the Chen family's house.
At this time, nearly every farmhouse had a mortar because grain was more durable and less prone to infestation than rice, which could attract weevils. So, families would mill only enough rice for a few days; those with sufficient labor would do it every few days, while others, particularly the women, had to do it almost daily.
Granny Chen took the Fairy Tofu into the kitchen, and soon returned with the empty pot and a human-height wooden pestle, handing it to Sang Luo with a question, "Can you mill rice?"
Sang Luo nodded in confirmation.
In fact, she had never actually milled rice herself; in modern times, where rice was readily available, finding a place selling unprocessed grain was rare. Even living in the mountains, buying grain from local farmers meant getting mechanically husked rice, not the raw, unprocessed kind that needed milling.
As for her previous self, since moving into the Shen family, Li Shi had delegated the task of milling rice to her. The two bags of grain they split after parting ways were unprocessed, and she had milled them using the Shen family's stone mortar, though naturally, what was left wasn't all rice – about thirty percent was bran.
When there was no grain left, she would lump the bran together, wrap it in wild vegetables, and force it down – that was a meal in itself.
The children had gone to borrow grain from the Shen family when even the bran was finished at home.
Remembering her previous self's memory of milling two bags of grain until her arms ached unbearably, Sang Luo felt apprehensive, grateful that she only had a little over two liters of grain to process.
Sang Luo took the bag from her basket, poured all the grain into the mortar, and started working with the wooden pestle. It felt easy at first, but soon, only she knew the aching soreness in her arms.
No wonder milling rice was used as a punishment in the Qin Dynasty; milling rice non-stop for a whole day was indeed like enduring torture.
Granny Chen, observing her, placed the washed clay pot back in Sang Luo's basket. She silently shook her head, her curiosity piqued about Sang Luo's background. It seemed unlikely she was a typical farmer's wife.
But Granny Chen, always respecting boundaries, just mused to herself. Unless Sang Luo shared voluntarily, she wouldn't pry, continuing her work with hemp and chatting intermittently with Sang Luo.
When it seemed about time, Granny Chen approached and stopped Sang Luo, examining a handful of the rice and bran mixture. She then went inside to fetch a winnowing basket, a small reed broom, and a bamboo mat.
She spread out the bamboo mat in the farthest corner of the yard from the kitchen and placed the broom on top, then handed Sang Luo the winnowing basket with a hesitant look, asking, "Do you know how to winnow?"
It wasn't that she underestimated Sang Luo, but winnowing rice required skill beyond mere strength, as unskilled efforts could scatter the rice all over.
Sang Luo recalled her predecessor's memory and nodded, "Yes."
Granny Chen handed her the winnowing basket and returned to her hemp, occasionally glancing at Sang Luo.
Initially unsteady, Sang Luo gradually became adept, reassuring Granny Chen.
This was Sang Luo's first time instinctively performing a task according to her predecessor's memory, her palms sweaty with nervousness.
The first round of winnowing didn't completely separate the grain; some unhusked grains were still mixed in. She poured the rice back into the mortar for another round of milling. After repeating the process twice and winnowing again, the basket was filled with clear grains, with only a few unhusked grains remaining.
Sang Luo picked out the few unhusked grains from the rice, totaling about a dozen. Deciding they weren't worth milling again, she threw them back into the mortar. The Chen family could mill them along with their rice in a few days, avoiding any waste.
She poured the rice into her own grain bag, borrowed a cloth from Granny Chen to dry the clay pot, swept the bran onto the bamboo mat with a special broom, then poured it into the clay pot she brought.
With that, the task of milling rice was complete.
After cleaning and rolling up the bamboo mat, Sang Luo didn't even need to ask where to put it as Granny Chen took over, noticing Sang Luo's dusty hands. She fetched a ladle of water from the kitchen for her to wash her hands.
Sang Luo, however, shook her head, "No rush, Granny. Where's your measuring container? I borrowed two sheng of rice from you the other day, and I'd like to return one sheng now."
This statement surprised not just Granny Chen but also Qin Fangniang, who was cooking in the kitchen. Both couldn't help but turn to look at Sang Luo in the yard.
Both mother-in-law and daughter-in-law knew, as Chen You Tian had told them, that after buying the clay pot, Sang Luo only had enough money left for two and a half sheng of grain, which would make just over one and a half sheng of rice. And now she was offering to return a whole sheng?
Granny Chen looked at the deflated grain bag in Sang Luo's basket and shook her head, "If you return a sheng, what will be left for your family? Keep it for yourselves. It's the thought that counts, no need to rush."
But Sang Luo, not one to owe debts, insisted with a smile, "We have enough at home. To be honest, I plan to sell some more Immortal Tofu tomorrow, so you really don't have to worry about us running out of food."
Granny Chen, puzzled, remarked, "But tomorrow isn't a market day, is it?"
Sang Luo explained, "Yes, I plan to make a smaller batch and carry it in a backpack to sell in Sanli Village. I think it should work."
Understanding Sang Luo's plan and her continued need for the pot, Granny Chen nodded, then went inside to get a measuring container and measured out one sheng of rice from the bag.
After Sang Luo left, Granny Chen shared with Qin Fangniang, "This Sang Luo, she really has a likable character."
Chapter 23
When Sang Luo returned home, the two siblings were already up. Noticing that the backpack and the newly bought bag of grain were missing, along with two pieces of Immortal Tofu, they guessed that their elder sister must have visited the Chen family.
They decided to use the newly made stone hoes to turn over the previously cultivated plots behind the house.
By the time Sang Luo got back, a small part of the vegetable garden had been loosened, and the uprooted weeds were picked out and tossed aside.
Seeing Sang Luo, Shen Ning hurried over excitedly, "Elder Sister, Brother and I have been turning the soil in the garden. We also watered the hemp you left out to dry."
The little girl's eagerness to please was truly endearing. Sang Luo couldn't help but praise her, put the backpack inside, and joined in the work. Unlike the siblings who worked on the previously cultivated land, Sang Luo tackled the uncultivated mountain terrain.
With several days without rain, the soil was hard and clumped. The deep-rooted weeds and numerous stones in the mud made it especially difficult. Despite exerting all her strength, Sang Luo managed to clear less than half a square meter by the afternoon, accumulating a pile of stones and roots.
She now understood why the Shen family had not cultivated this mountainous land; the task was exhausting and the soil quality poor. Other than resilient wild grass, it seemed unlikely that any crops could thrive here without meticulous care.
And with limited manpower, why waste efforts on such barren land instead of more fertile fields?
For Sang Luo, however, this was the only land she could cultivate.
After a day of toil, gathering the fishing basket and having dinner, all Sang Luo wanted was a thorough bath and hair wash.
But that was a dream – without a proper bath or tub, she could only go to a nearby secluded and clean stream with Shen Ning, while Shen An stood watch from a distance. She had to wash hurriedly while clothed.
It was her third day like this, feeling the dirtiest she had ever been in her life.
Lacking shower gel and shampoo, fortunately, she had wood ash, which after being sifted to remove impurities, worked well in removing dirt and grease.
At this moment, Sang Luo deeply regretted that during the few years she lived in the mountains in her last life, despite having internet access and being active on a certain site, posting numerous videos and gaining some popularity, she never thought of expanding into the domain of handmade soap making, a skill often featured by crafty YouTubers.
She only vaguely remembered reading in a novel that it involved using pig pancreas, but beyond that, she knew nothing.
Otherwise, mastering this craft could have been a golden opportunity, right?
Of course, this was just wishful thinking. After all, how could she possibly have it all?
After washing herself, Sang Luo saw Shen Ning struggling to wash only a small part of her hair. She called the little girl over and thoroughly washed her hair, wringing it out before they both, clad in wet clothes and covered with their dirty outer garments, hurried home.
Their path home was smooth and uneventful, thanks to Shen An leading the way through their sparsely populated mountain area.
For Shen An, a boy, bathing was much easier. He simply needed to find a clean spot in the nearest stream, strip down to his shorts, and he could enjoy a good wash.
Preparing for their second venture selling Immortal Tofu, the three of them were much calmer this time, and the children managed to sleep without too much excitement.
Sang Luo had a good rest that night, preparing everything she could beforehand, only waking for half an hour in the middle of the night to finalize preparations before returning to bed.
As dawn broke the next day, with birds chirping outside, Sang Luo and the children quickly got up. After washing up, she sliced the solidified Immortal Tofu into sixteen large pieces and some smaller scraps. After organizing everything needed for the day, including the hemp cloth obtained the day before, they set off for Sanli Village.
Since they were planning to sell by walking through villages, they didn't need to prepare lotus leaves this time.
Shen An felt a bit uneasy because they didn't bring the bamboo tubes with sugar water for sampling the Immortal Tofu, as they had run out of sugar.
"Elder Sister, can we sell well without sugar water for the sample tasting?" he asked.
Sang Luo understood that having sugar water for samples would make selling easier, but she didn't want to keep asking the old lady for malt sugar. Maintaining good relationships required sincerity and knowing one's limits; overstepping could lead to annoyance.
She reassured, "Yes, we can. It'll just mean visiting more households and talking a bit more."
Sang Luo noticed a significant difference between Sanli Village on market days and non-market days. It was much quieter, but as a large village with several shops, it still had more vitality than the smaller Shili Village.
At this time, the men of each household were taking advantage of the just-risen sun and cooler temperatures to work in the fields, while the women were busy with household chores, washing and preparing breakfast.
Full of ambition and imagining how he would help with shouting and selling in Sanli Village, Shen An found himself hesitant to speak up upon arriving, missing the bustling atmosphere of market days.
The women sweeping outside their houses at the entrance of Sanli Village barely noticed the outsiders with baskets, as their village was accustomed to seeing strangers, likely just shoppers heading to the local stores.
They thought nothing special of these visitors, assuming they were probably there to buy from one of the shops in the village.
It wasn't until Sang Luo called out clearly, "Immortal Tofu for sale, cooling and detoxifying, a delicious way to beat the heat!" that the women took notice.
Both women looked over in curiosity at the unfamiliar sound of "Immortal Tofu."
"What's Immortal Tofu?" they wondered.
Although Sang Luo had created quite a stir at her own stall the previous day, the news of her unique tofu hadn't spread far, and few villagers in Sanli Village were familiar with it.
As Sang Luo approached, she noticed a woman pausing her sweeping to stare. Sang Luo greeted her with a smile, "Big sister, would you like to buy some Immortal Tofu? It's versatile - great for cold dishes or cooking, suitable for sweet or savory tastes. Mixed with sugar water, it turns into a refreshing dessert, and it makes a great savory dish too."
The woman hesitated, unsure of how to respond.
Sang Luo then took a pottery basin from Shen An's basket, offering, "You can try a small piece for free. Just bring a bowl, and I'll give you a sample. You can try it with sugar water or make it like a cold dish. If you like it, you can buy more; if not, this small piece is on the house."
Hearing the offer of a free sample, not just the first woman but also her neighbor, who was sweeping nearby and had been eavesdropping, came over, intrigued by the prospect of a freebie.
"Of course, big sister, bring a bowl. It's better with some seasoning, tastes more flavorful that way," Sang Luo advised.
The woman understood that, like any dish, it would certainly taste better with added seasonings than just boiled in water.
"Alright, wait for me, I'll just go and dissolve some sugar in water and be right back," the woman said with a smile, hurrying home to prepare.
"Who would pass up the chance to try something for free?"
Seeing her neighbor taking the initiative, the woman who first interacted with Sang Luo also became interested: "I'll go get a bowl too."
In a blink of an eye, both women had left, leaving Sang Luo and the two children standing there.
Shen An and Shen Ning were both a bit excited. If people were willing to try, they'd probably be willing to buy, right? After all, the people in Sanli Village were wealthier than those in their own village.
As they waited, Sang Luo kept busy, standing in place and continuously calling out to attract customers. Soon, curious onlookers began to peek out from their homes.
Perhaps Sang Luo's persistent calling sped up the two women who were promised a free taste; they returned quite quickly, followed by several children.
The first woman Sang Luo spoke to was apparently preparing breakfast at home. She fetched some condiments she planned to use for cooking, quickly mixing salt, sauce, and chopped green onions to make a savory sauce.
The other woman, who came of her own accord, returned quickly too. Her bowl contained a bit of dissolved substance, not hot, and the color didn't look like malt sugar.
Seeing Sang Luo eyeing her bowl, the woman chuckled, "It's honey water. You should give me a bit more to try, or it wouldn't do justice to the honey I used."
"Ah, honey – that's quite a generous ingredient."
"Such extravagance in ancient times, only the wealthy could afford honey. Common folks rarely bought it. It seems this woman either comes from a well-off family that enjoys the finer things or perhaps someone in her family obtained a beehive from the mountains."
Sang Luo responded with a smile, handing the pottery basin to Shen An to hold while she herself took out a bamboo knife and a wooden spoon from Shen An's basket.
"The sample pieces were already cut at home into mahjong tile-sized portions. Using the wooden spoon, she scooped up a piece and then divided it into four smaller pieces with a few cuts from the bamboo knife."
"The jade-like tofu immersed in the richly colored sauce captivated the watching children, especially those from the family of the woman holding the sauce bowl – it was for their household."
"Mom, let me try a piece."
"Auntie, let me have a piece too."
"Children of various ages eagerly crowded around."
"Sang Luo glanced over and scooped another similarly sized piece, dividing it into four as before, and dropped it into the other woman's bowl of honey water."
"The children behind that woman, who had been eyeing the tofu with envy, cheered as well."
"Mom/Auntie, give me a piece."
"Both women had spoons ready in their bowls. Sang Luo's sales demonstration quickly turned into a live tasting show, attracting the attention of several other women who had initially just glanced over when hearing Sang Luo's call. They couldn't resist and came over to join."
"What are you selling here?"
"Can I try it?"
"Zhu Zi, is this stuff tasty?"
The child asked was the one who had tasted the salty version.
Since honey water isn't something every household has, asking about the salty one is more relatable.
The child named Zhu Zi nodded: "It's delicious."
He then looked enviously at the neighboring siblings and eagerly asked, "Er Lang, is the one with honey good?"
"So tasty, incredibly tasty!" declared Er Lang, illustrating his fondness for this novel food. Tugging at his mother's sleeve, he pleaded, "Mom, it's so good, buy some, I want it for breakfast."
"Such a small piece, it's gone in one bite."
The woman, now tugged by her son, tried the last piece herself, her eyes lighting up upon tasting. She turned to Sang Luo and asked, "Young lady, how do you sell this fairy tofu?"
While asking, she eyed the size and quantity in the pottery basin, which seemed quite generous.
Sensing a potential buyer, Sang Luo responded cheerfully, "Not expensive at all, just two wen per piece. The portion is generous, enough to fill a large bowl."
"Two wen isn't expensive for villagers of Sanli who can always scrape something together from the mountains or fields to trade for cash. The woman agreed promptly: "Alright, give me one piece."
Her children cheered at her words, with the eldest girl eagerly volunteering to go home and fetch the money.
Meanwhile, at the salty-taste tester's side, her kids were also pulling at their mother's and aunt's sleeves, imploring them to buy.
The woman gave in, nodding: "Okay, get us one too. Wait here, I'll go get some money."
With two households having tasted and bought, others began to follow suit.
As the woman turned to fetch her money, neighbors who had initially come just to see what was happening also started heading back to fetch their bowls. Not everyone intended to buy, but everyone wanted a free taste.
Sang Luo welcomed the tasting, knowing that tasting led to buying. As she served, she seized opportunities to keep calling out her sales pitch. The commotion attracted more onlookers from nearby houses.
Shen An and Shen Ning were visibly excited, frequently glancing towards the pork stall.
"Meat, oh meat, we'll be eating it today."
"Chapter 24"
In just a short time, several households near the entrance of Sanli Village had women hurrying home and then quickly reappearing with bowls, each followed by a few kids. The tasting session was bustling.
Of course, not everyone was willing to spend money on food; some came only to let their children have a free taste, with no intention of buying.
Among these were some who genuinely didn't buy, and others who, after tasting and unable to resist their children's longing looks, decided to share a piece with a neighbor, each family chipping in to buy one together.
"For just one wen each, the two families can split it, enough for an extra dish at home."
At this first stop, Sang Luo sold six pieces of fairy tofu, earning twelve wen. Shen An clutched the coins tightly in his pocket, fearing they might be stolen or lost.
Further inside the village, households who had witnessed the earlier scene eagerly approached Sang Luo as she arrived, eliminating the need for much promotion.
"What are you selling, young lady?"
Sang Luo repeated her introduction and free tasting routine, which was smoothly effective. Everyone enjoys a free treat, especially when they were preparing breakfast and had condiments readily available.
After selling a few more pieces, a woman who tasted but didn't buy immediately hesitated before speaking up as Sang Luo was about to move on: "Can I trade something for it?"
Used to bartering, Sang Luo responded: "Certainly, but it depends on what you have to exchange."
The woman inquired: "What would you be willing to exchange for?"
Without hesitation, Sang Luo replied: "Grain would be fine."
Vegetables don't last long, and they weren't immediately needed. Fabric would require giving change, so cash was preferable, especially since Sang Luo wasn't in urgent need of fabric anymore.
Hearing grain was acceptable, the woman hesitated then asked: "If I exchange soybeans, how would that work?"
Indeed, soybeans were considered grain at this time.
Bean meals were a staple in Sang Luo's original time, and here too, soybeans, among others, were a main food source. Not everyone could afford white rice, so beans often made up a large part of the diet, especially for poorer families.
Unsure of the current price of soybeans, Sang Luo vaguely suggested: "Just equate it to the bean's price, equivalent to two wen."
The woman pursed her lips and finally nodded, "Alright, just wait a moment. I'll go measure out the soybeans."
After the woman brought out the soybeans, Sang Luo noticed it was half a sheng. So, are soybeans priced at four wen per sheng now?
Thinking about the grain, which costs seven wen per sheng, the price seemed about right. Without a bag to carry the beans, she took out the hemp cloth she had brought and wrapped the beans before placing them back in her basket.
Seeing someone trading soybeans opened up the idea for others who were initially reluctant to buy. Persuaded by their children, two more pieces were traded away.
By now, of the sixteen pieces of fairy tofu Sang Luo had brought, only two remained.
She had sold fourteen pieces, earning twenty-two wen, plus one and a half sheng of soybeans. The funds for buying meat and sauce seemed to have been successfully gathered.
Approaching the butcher's, Sang Luo contemplated walking further to sell the last two pieces, then visiting the meat and grocery stores. Completing this would mark the success of her day's endeavor.
Before she could move on, someone near the butcher's shop called out to her.
"Tofu lady!"
"Tofu lady?"
Sang Luo paused, realizing she was being addressed, and turned to see a plump woman emerging from the house behind the butcher's.
A familiar face.
It was the woman who had snatched the third portion of the extra tofu yesterday.
"Tofu lady, over here, this way!"
The plump woman was visibly delighted to see Sang Luo, gesturing eagerly and her eyes darting to the pottery basin in Sang Luo's hands. Spotting the remaining two pieces of tofu, her cheeks dimpled with a joyful smile.
"'Didn't you say you'd sell next market day? Why did you come today?'"
"Unembarrassed, Sang Luo replied with a smile: 'I wanted to buy some lard and meat at the market, so I made a bit extra to bring along.'"
"'Buying meat?' The plump woman laughed upon hearing this, gesturing with her chin towards the back where the meat stall was: 'That's my parents' meat shop. Go on, just tell my dad what you want and he'll cut it for you.'"
"'So your sister-in-law's family owns a meat shop? What good fortune for you.'"
"Who eats the best these days? Apart from the wealthy, in the countryside, it's often the butcher's family."
"The plump woman clearly agreed with Sang Luo's statement, smiling and in very good spirits."
"Looking at the clay pot in Sang Luo's hands, she said, 'You've come at the perfect time. I've been thinking about this very dish. Sell these two pieces to me, so I can let my parents and siblings try them too.'"
"She had bought some yesterday to take back to her husband's family, and today she was back at her parents' home to help with the butchering. Running into Sang Luo selling miraculous tofu was a perfect opportunity to treat her family and avoid her sisters-in-law thinking she only takes from her parents' home."
"Sang Luo was more than happy to oblige, her eyes smiling: 'Of course! You're a returning customer. These are the last two pieces I have, and I'll throw in a few smaller pieces as a bonus for you.'"
"'A bonus, that's wonderful!' The plump woman loved bonuses, especially the kind that was unique to her and unavailable to others. It made spending money feel even more satisfying."
"Asking Sang Luo to wait a moment, she happily went inside to fetch a bowl for the tofu. Coming back, she mentioned to her father that Sang Luo was a familiar lady and asked him to pick out a good piece of meat for her. Then, after saying goodbye to Sang Luo, she went inside with the two bowls of miraculous tofu she had just bought to sell the idea to her mother and sisters-in-law."
The butcher, being a doting father, allowed his married daughter to occasionally return to her parents' home to fetch some meat for her in-laws. Upon hearing his daughter mention a familiar young lady, he was especially accommodating.
"What kind of meat would the young lady like to buy?"
Sang Luo inquired about the meat prices.
The butcher smiled and said, "It depends on the type. Fatty meat is more expensive, while lean meat is cheaper."
Sang Luo glanced over the meat counter, which, like in modern times, had the meat sorted by type. She pointed to a piece with seventy percent fat and thirty percent lean, asking, "How about this one?"
The butcher took one look and replied, "For rendering lard? That would be 18 wen per jin."
Shen An squeezed the handful of coins in his hand, thinking it was quite expensive. The coins hadn't even warmed up in his pocket before they were about to be spent again.
The little fellow felt the pinch but said nothing, trusting that his elder sister-in-law would make the right decisions for the household.
Sang Luo pondered for a moment before requesting, "Could you please cut half a jin for me?"
The butcher responded with a smile, expertly weighing the meat in his hand before cutting it. The piece he cut was exactly half a jin, not a bit more or less.
Such skill with his hands was truly a remarkable talent.
After weighing the meat, the butcher picked up a piece of pork liver, slicing off a small portion of about two liang, and bundled it with the meat using straw rope. Handing it to Sang Luo, he said, "Since you're acquainted with my daughter, I'll give you this piece of pork liver as a gift."
The butcher had been listening and observing attentively. He saw how the young lady generously gave several pieces of the so-called 'Fairy Tofu' to his daughter. Offering a piece of pork liver was a small gesture in return, a way to reciprocate the kindness and maintain face for his family.
Sang Luo was pleasantly surprised and expressed her gratitude. Her eyes then fell on the nearly meatless pork bones piled in a corner of the counter. Remembering the radish she had at home, she inquired about the price.
"Are you interested in the rib bones? They don't have much meat, but they're great for soups, very aromatic. One wen per piece. Would you like one?"
At one wen, these nutritious bones were economically efficient. However, considering the pork and liver she already had, Sang Luo decided, "I'll pass this time. What I have today is enough."
The butcher nodded, "Alright, just come by whenever you need it."
As Sang Luo prepared to place the meat into her basket, she suddenly realized she didn't have a kitchen knife at home, only a bamboo knife, adequate for tofu but not for meat. This realization made her pause.
She promptly handed the meat and liver back to the butcher, "Uncle, could you please help me cut these?"
With a puzzled look, the butcher listened as Sang Luo sheepishly explained, "We've just recently set up our own household and haven't managed to acquire all the essentials yet. We don't have a kitchen knife at home."
Understanding her predicament, the butcher asked how she wanted it cut and then skillfully did as requested.
Now that tying it with straw rope wasn't an option, Sang Luo washed one of the earthenware bowls she had brought and placed the cut meat and liver in it.
Seeing the array of delicacies purchased, Shen An and Shen Ning were so thrilled they wanted to offer carrying the basket for their sister-in-law, but felt too shy to say so in front of the butcher and held back.
Shen An took the morning's earnings out of his pocket and handed them to Sang Luo.
Sang Luo accepted the coins, counted out nine wen for the butcher, and tucked the remaining seventeen wen into her sleeve. After thanking the butcher again and noting that the portly sister-in-law wasn't present, she requested the butcher to pass along her thanks when he saw her. With these courtesies exchanged, Sang Luo then took her leave.
Shen Ning, remembering her sister-in-law's comment from yesterday about needing sauce for the eggplant dish, quickly asked Sang Luo, "Big sister, are we going to buy sauce now?"
Sang Luo nodded, "Not just sauce, let's also get some vinegar."
Vinegar is a wonderful ingredient. It's great for removing fishy smells, adding flavor to cold dishes, and even when making bone soup, a few drops of vinegar can help dissolve the nutrients from the bones more effectively.
Talking, she led the two children towards the grocery store across the street.
The grocery store owner remembered Sang Luo and her companions and greeted them with a smile, "Young lady, what are you buying today?"
Sauce and vinegar are staples in the store, conveniently placed in the most accessible and visible spot. Sang Luo spotted them immediately, "I need some sauce and vinegar. How much are they?"
The shopkeeper, hearing she wanted sauce and vinegar, replied, "Did you bring your own containers? If you have your own containers, the sauce is one wen for two big spoons, and vinegar is one wen for two 'jiao' (a unit of measurement)."
The 'jiao' here is also a unit of measurement, similar to the long-handled liquor ladles used for dispensing alcohol in modern rural areas.
Naturally, Sang Luo didn't have her own containers, so she ended up buying the smallest earthenware pots of sauce and vinegar available in the store, spending a total of twelve wen.
With the remaining five wen, Sang Luo bought a palm-sized pot, necessary to store the rendered pork fat.
It wasn't that she didn't want a larger pot; it was simply that her budget only stretched to a small one. However, they wouldn't have much pork fat to store for the time being, so it was sufficient.
Sang Luo had planned to buy needles today, as the piece of fabric she had obtained needed hemming to prevent fraying with use.
Unfortunately, she didn't have enough money left, so that would have to wait for another time.
This time, Shen An and Shen Ning happily carried the basket containing the pork, while Sang Luo, having the heavier pots and jars, switched them into her own basket.
Leaving Sanli Village, the two children were so joyful that they seemed to float as they walked.
Sang Luo, however, was calculating in her mind about the scarcity of food at home. With their three meals a day, even just cooking porridge, the two and a half liters of rice they had wouldn't last many days.
She needed to earn money to buy more food.
But would she be able to sell another sixteen blocks of fairy tofu in Sanli Village tomorrow?
Sang Luo understood that it wouldn't be possible, at least not as smoothly as today. To sell everything would require a lot more effort.
Today's success was because everyone was curious to try something new. If she were to come again tomorrow, it might not be as easy to sell. Sanli Village might be wealthier than nearby villages, but only to a certain extent. Coming every three to five days might work, but daily visits were unrealistic.
Sang Luo couldn't help but turn her gaze towards the dirt road leading to the county town. Uncle Tian had mentioned yesterday that the county town was just three miles from Sanli Village. The spending power of rural farmers was limited, but people in the county wouldn't find a snack costing two wen expensive.
Chapter 25
The return journey, despite carrying no less than on the way there, did not feel tiring for the trio.
This was because of the little additions to their household and food supply, and the anticipation of soon enjoying the meat.
Arriving home around midday, Sang Luo boiled water to clean the newly purchased pot for rendering pork fat. She then started the process of rendering the fat using water.
The two children, who had been busy with tasks these past few days, did not work the fields today but instead eagerly watched by the stove. Shen Ning, who had once exclaimed that the fairy tofu tasted better than meat, had almost forgotten what meat tasted like.
As the water in the pot began to dry up and the pork started to sizzle and release oil, its robust aroma filled the small house. The children, entranced by the rich scent of meat, couldn't move their feet.
"Aren't you afraid of the oil splattering?" Sang Luo asked with a chuckle, pushing the children back a bit, carefully controlling the fire in the stove.
Shen An and Shen Ning, unable to resist the temptation, inched closer again. They stayed there, eagerly sniffing the air for about three-quarters of an hour until the crispy pork rinds were finally ready to come out of the pot.
The two children eagerly gathered around, barely able to tear their eyes away from the fried pork rinds, and looked expectantly at Sang Luo, "Big sister, can we eat now?"
Sang Luo intended to caution them about the heatiness of the food, but seeing their longing, eager expressions, she found herself unable to utter the words.
"Go ahead and eat, but just two pieces each for now. Freshly fried rinds are very heaty. Most importantly, we haven't had much oil in our diet for a long time, so eating something too greasy all of a sudden might upset our stomachs."
The two kids nodded vigorously, not bothering with chopsticks, and each grabbed a piece with their hands.
Sang Luo glared at them, about to chide them, when Shen Ning, already holding a piece of pork rind, cheerfully brought it to Sang Luo's mouth, "Big sister, you first."
Shen An, a beat slower, paused his hand mid-air, not bringing the piece to his mouth, but looking at Sang Luo instead.
Sang Luo: "..."
She quietly lowered her raised hand and bit into the pork rind, savoring its crispy texture.
"Hmm, it's really delicious when eaten hot, though it's heaty. But I must admit, it tastes best right out of the pot."
She smiled, "It's delicious, thank you, Ah Ning. Everyone, go ahead and eat, but be careful not to burn your mouths."
The siblings began munching contentedly, their eyes twinkling with joy.
After savoring the first piece with delight, they ate the second one more appreciatively.
Seeing the kids enjoy the food, Sang Luo took a tiny pinch of salt from the jar, sprinkled it evenly over the bowl of pork rinds, and stirred it with chopsticks, "That should preserve it a bit longer in this weather. We won't cook with it; you can keep it as a snack to enjoy gradually."
The siblings were stunned, their eyes fixed on the small bowl of pork rinds, hardly believing their luck.
To Shen An and Shen Ning, pork rinds were a rare luxury, seldom enjoyed more than a few times a year.
In the past, when the family rendered pork fat, its irresistible aroma was hard to ignore. Their aunt would usually give each child in the family a piece to savor the flavor.
Of course, the practice of giving one piece of pork rind each was really only for Shen An and Shen Ning. Their cousins Shen Jin and Shen Yin could easily ask for more from their mother, but Shen An and Shen Ning couldn't.
For several days, their younger cousins occasionally enjoyed extra pieces, likely under their Aunt's instruction to eat away from Shen An and Shen Ning. Shen Jin, however, would deliberately eat in front of them, tantalizing them until he popped the last piece into his mouth with relish.
When Shen An and Shen Ning were around three or five years old, they would cry out of envy, but after their elder brother left home, their cries went unnoticed. Even their Aunt stopped instructing Shen Jin and Shen Yin to eat away from them.
Gradually, Shen An and Shen Ning grew more aware of their circumstances, understanding that crying was futile, that not everything they desired was within reach, and that they were different from Shen Jin, Shen Yin, Shen Tie, and Shen Tian. They realized there were things their Aunt valued too highly to share with them, so Shen An would lead Shen Ning away, not bothering to linger.
Until now, until today, until the moment before they tasted those two pieces of pork rind, the siblings couldn't clearly recall the actual taste; only the rarity and their longing for it were deeply etched in their minds.
"All this for us to snack on?"
He looked at Sang Luo in astonishment.
Sang Luo nodded with a smile, adding matter-of-factly, "Of course, and for me too."
Sang Luo was never one for self-sacrifice. She didn't believe in adults having to abstain from everything, always giving up their share for the children. Even if Shen An and Shen Ning were her own, she believed she would feel the same.
Shen An and Shen Ning burst into smiles, and Shen Ning picked up another piece of pork rind to offer to Sang Luo, "Big sister, have another piece."
"Clever and ingratiating."
"Sang Luo, without hesitation, took a bite and then cautioned the young girl: 'Next time, don't use your hands to take it.'"
"Shen Ning looked at Sang Luo and then at her own hands, puffing her cheeks: 'Big sister, I'll wash my hands clean when I get home.'"
"'Yes, but if you don't develop good habits, you might grab and eat without washing your hands next time, and illness enters through the mouth.'"
"Shen Ning listened and realized the logic, nodding, 'Okay, I'll remember that.'"
"Big sister's always right," acknowledged Shen Ning.
Sang Luo chuckled as she stirred salt into the hot oil, a trick to prolong the shelf life of lard, while Shen An and Shen Ning pondered where to stash their prized pork lard residue, its fragrance too tempting not just for people, but also for insects and rodents.
Sang Luo let them busy themselves with their hiding plans, focusing instead on carefully ladling the hot lard into prepared pottery jars. She patiently waited for the cooking jar to cool down before trying to pour out every last drop of residue.
Of course, a bit of oil residue always remained in the jar, but it wasn't a concern. She planned to use it later to prepare a pork liver and mallow soup for lunch, ensuring nothing went to waste.
Ideally, the leftover oil would be perfect for cooking eggplant, but since they only had one jar and couldn't separate the oil, they had to cook the eggplant first, then add cold water to the clay pot for rice. This process made preparing eggplant dishes impractical.
Recently, they'd been fishing regularly in the nearby stream. Today, Sang Luo and Shen Ning ventured a bit farther, successfully setting their fish trap and finding four plants of purple perilla and mint, which they dug up with the roots intact and wrapped in large leaves to bring home.
Terracotta pots, unlike iron ones, can't withstand frequent temperature changes. They'll crack before long if used this way.
If I wait for the pot to cool down naturally, our meal would turn cold. Cold dishes made with pork fat… I'd rather skip that idea and save it for the next meal.
Standing up, Sang Luo announced, "Let's go find some perilla, mint, and wild onions."
Shen Ning quickly got up to follow, but Shen An stayed put: "Big sister, I'll stay and watch over things."
They now had some possessions, especially food, which seemed plentiful today. Without a lockable cabinet at home, they both felt their belongings weren't safe with no one around.
Of course, their 'watching' was more about guarding against small animals and rodents from the mountains rather than people, given the strong scents attracting them.
Nodding, Sang Luo grabbed a stone hoe and a backpack.
The fish trap still needed setting, but with their modest food storage, she planned to collect it by evening if they were to visit the county town early the next day. The other backpack was reserved for collecting fairy leaves in the afternoon.
Seeing her take these items, Shen Ning appeared puzzled: "Big sister, do we need the stone hoe?"
Sang Luo replied, "If we find them, we'll dig them up with roots to plant behind the house. Next time we need them, we can simply pick some from there."
Excited at the thought of planting, Shen Ning's spirits lifted, and she also grabbed a stone hoe: "That sounds great, I'll dig some up too."
Shen An felt tempted to join, but glancing at the oil, pork rinds, and raw meat on the stone platform, he decided to stay and dutifully guard their home.
Upon hearing their return, Shen An excitedly rushed out to meet them, and the siblings gleefully went off to plant the perilla and mint.
After planting and watering the herbs, Shen Ning's excitement gave way to uncertainty. "Big sister, these herbs grow wild in the fields; will they survive in our garden?"
The siblings were apprehensive, recalling a previous unsuccessful attempt at gardening that had left them utterly disheartened, without a single yield.
Their previous total loss in gardening had been a significant blow to the children's morale.
Sang Luo pondered the quality of the soil behind her house, recognizing it was far from ideal.
The area, particularly flattened during the construction of the grass house, lacked even a single tree, meaning no fallen leaves to enrich the soil, making it inferior even to unclaimed, tree-filled areas.
"To improve growth, you should gather some leaf mold from under nearby trees. It might help the plants thrive," she suggested.
In fact, Sang Luo intended to bring some leaf mold from the forest for planting soil. Ultimately, growing their own vegetables was essential. Composting takes time, and transporting leaf mold was the quickest solution, though it would require buying a couple of bamboo baskets specifically for carrying soil.
However, Shen An and Shen Ning couldn't wait. Armed with several large leaves, the siblings began gathering leaf mold from nearby areas.
By midday, Sang Luo had prepared lunch.
It was a half pot of mallow and pork liver soup.
Aside from fish, this was the first time in nearly half a year the siblings had enjoyed a meal with "meat."
They had no rice, just a half pot of soup rich in pork liver. The siblings were overjoyed, as if celebrating a major festival. One bowl was filled with pork lard residue, and lacking enough bowls, Sang Luo used a bamboo tube as a makeshift bowl.
To Sang Luo, this pig liver wasn't particularly delicious. Lacking starch and unwilling to use an egg white for tenderizing, it didn't match the delicacy she knew from her previous life. However, Shen An and Shen Ning kept praising its taste. With only half a pot of soup, Sang Luo ate sparingly, ensuring the siblings had their fill, who cleaned off every bit of meat and soup.
After a brief nap at noon, Sang Luo planned to visit the Chen family.
Hearing about the visit to the Chen household, Shen An and Shen Ning were excited, with Shen Ning immediately checking on the bowl with the pork rinds.
"Big sister, can I take some pork rinds for little Ya? She's treated me and brother before," Shen Ning asked.