The soybean milk in the large pot bubbled and gurgled, filling the house with its fragrant aroma.
Sun Cai sat by the stove, tending the fire while occasionally skimming off the foam.
“Miss, it’s ready to eat now. Do you want to have a taste?” he asked with a grin, turning to look at the lady beside him.
Half a day had passed, yet the lady sat there calmly, watching his every move without the slightest impatience.
Making tofu might seem simple, but it wasn’t something one could learn just by watching a couple of times—it required the skill of an experienced hand.
With a hint of pride, Sun Cai tried to act casual.
The eatery was small, and the aroma drifted into the front hall, making the two diners pause mid-bite.
“What’s cooking? It smells amazing,” one of them sniffed the air and remarked.
The other took a bowl, poured himself a serving of strained liquor from a small stove, and drank deeply before hurriedly picking up more food with his chopsticks.
The cold dishes on the table had already been cleared, replaced by two plates of hot dishes. Meat dishes these days were typically limited to lamb, donkey, chicken, or duck—beef was forbidden, pork was considered unrefined, and fresh river shrimp, fish, and crab were rare in the capital.
Yet, the meat dishes before them were different from the usual stewed chunks of meat cooked with cabbage or radish found in ordinary eateries. Instead, they consisted of neatly sliced meat stir-fried with an unknown ingredient, emitting a fragrant and slightly sweet aroma. The two diners couldn’t help but dig in eagerly.
The fourth brother came over, carrying a tray.
“Guests, your soup is here,” he said.
The two diners looked over and saw a deep ceramic dish placed before them, supported by a tray of glowing charcoal beneath it. The soup inside was still bubbling, with thin strands of noodles and tender greens occasionally floating to the surface, filling the air with a rich aroma.
“Is this tangbing?” one of them couldn’t help but ask.
“This is rice noodle soup,” the fourth brother replied with a smile, as he scooped portions into bowls and handed them chopsticks.
Rice noodles?
Now, that was something new!
Then again, everything they had encountered in this little eatery had been novel and intriguing.
No wonder this place was located near the capital—it was truly exceptional. The two guests exchanged delighted smiles, thoroughly pleased with their meal.
“Wait.”
Just as Sun Cai was about to ladle the soybean milk into a basin, stirring it with a wooden stick while reaching for a bowl of water to drip into the mixture, Cheng Jiao-niang, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up.
Sun Cai was so startled that he nearly dropped the bowl into the basin.
“What are you adding?” Cheng Jiao-niang asked.
Sun Cai chuckled sheepishly.
“Miss, this is the key to forming tofu. You are indeed sharp,” he said. “But even if you know what it is, it won’t help—you have to get the amount just right. If you add too much—”
“Let me see it,” Cheng Jiao-niang interrupted, reaching out her hand.
Sun Cai hesitated but, seeing no way out, reluctantly handed it over.
Cheng Jiao-niang took the bowl, sniffed it briefly, and then handed it back to Sun Cai.
“It really isn’t,” she said.
Isn’t what? Sun Cai was confused.
“Go on and continue,” Cheng Jiao-niang said, offering no further explanation.
Scooping up the last strand of rice noodles, they left only a bit of broth in the deep dish. After finishing their final bowl of liquor, the two men set down their bowls and chopsticks, letting out satisfied sighs.
Whether from the alcohol, the steam from the food, or simply the warmth of a hearty meal, their faces were flushed with a rosy glow.
“Who would’ve thought that such a small eatery could serve food this exquisite?” one of them said with a smile.
“Indeed, the capital truly is rich in abundance,” the other chuckled, waving to call for the bill. “I can’t wait to finally enter the city and experience it for myself.”
The old manager approached with a smile.
“That’ll be one guan,” he said cheerfully.
One of the guests handed over the money without hesitation while standing up and glancing around.
“Your food is clean and delicious—why is business so quiet?” he asked, puzzled.
“This little shop has only just opened, and people don’t know about it yet,” the manager replied with a smile. Then, as if struck by an idea, he untied the string of coins, took a few from it, and pressed them back into the guest’s hand.
“You two are travelers—would you mind spreading the word for us? It’d help bring in some business. Thank you for your trouble.”
The guest burst into laughter. Businessmen valued fair trade, so he didn’t mind that the manager had only returned a small portion of the money. Instead of making a show of generosity and refusing, he simply reached out and accepted it.
“You know how to do business. With that skill, you won’t have to worry about customers,” he said with a grin.
The fourth brother and the old manager escorted the two guests to the door, while another worker, the fifth brother, had already brought their horses over.
“They’ve been well-fed,” the fifth brother said.
Seeing their horses’ coats gleaming and their travel-worn fatigue somewhat eased, the two guests nodded in satisfaction. Stepping onto the mounting stone, they got on their horses and took one last look at the shop’s signboard.
“Tai Ping Residence,” one of them read aloud, nodding with a smile.
With that, they spurred their horses forward and soon disappeared into the distance.
“Manager Wu, why did you charge them less?” the fourth brother asked bluntly, showing no hesitation in his curiosity.
The old manager wasn’t annoyed. Instead, he chuckled.
“How much do we actually need to charge for that meal to make a profit?” he asked.
The fourth brother didn’t know the answer.
“Eight coins would have been enough to turn a profit,” the manager said, holding up his hand. “So even though I gave him some money back, it was just returning his own money to him.”
“But isn’t it always better to make a little extra?” the fourth brother still didn’t understand.
The manager shook his head.
“If you want to earn more, you have to be willing to earn less first,” he said. “By not being greedy, you actually gain more in the long run.”
The fourth brother scratched his head.
“Well, you’re the one making the decisions. I’d better focus on practicing how to serve food and drinks properly first,” he said with a sheepish grin.
“Ban Qin,”
Cheng Jiao-niang called out.
The maid outside the door quickly responded and came in, holding a paper-wrapped package.
Inside the room, Sun Cai had already placed a heavy stone on top of the tofu.
“It’ll be ready to eat by tomorrow,” he said, clapping his hands, then looked at Cheng Jiao-niang with a hint of satisfaction. “Making tofu isn’t just about skill—it takes strength too.”
Cheng Jiao-niang nodded.
“You do it again,” she said.
Sun Cai, who was holding onto the wooden frame, lost his grip and nearly stumbled.
“Do it again?” he asked, wide-eyed. “Miss, this tofu can’t be kept for long, and no one will eat it once it’s made. After all, it’s just beans—what a waste to ruin them like this.”
“If you don’t waste it now, it will be wasted forever,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied, taking the paper-wrapped package the maid handed her. “You just go ahead and do it. I won’t make you work for nothing.”
Sun Cai pursed his lips.
“Alright, if it pleases you,” he said.
Although he couldn’t sell himself for a carefree, stable life, playing along with this lady might at least bring in a bit of money. He decided to focus on the present and the immediate livelihood.
Sun Cai clattered as he took the soaked beans and began grinding them. Occasionally, he glanced over and noticed that the lady wasn’t staring at him like before, but instead was giving orders to the maid to fetch water and bring basins, though he couldn’t tell exactly what she was doing.
Let her do whatever she wants, Sun Cai thought, focusing on his work. Before long, he had the soybean milk ready, poured it out, took a deep breath, rubbed his sore arms, and grabbed the wooden stick to start stirring. Just as he was about to pick up the water bowl again, Cheng Jiao-niang called out to him.
“This time, add this,” she said.
The maid handed over a water bowl.
“That won’t do,” Sun Cai shook his head and waved his hand. “Miss, this isn’t a game. There are rules to what you can add.”
“Just put it in,” the maid said, “Why are you being so fussy?”
Sun Cai sucked in a breath through his teeth, feeling helpless.
“Fine, fine. But I’ll warn you, if you don’t follow my steps exactly, the tofu won’t turn out right,” he said.
“Enough, don’t overestimate yourself,” the maid snorted, handing him the water bowl.
Sun Cai reluctantly took the bowl, noticing that it was completely different from his own. He couldn’t help but sniff it, and a strange yet somewhat familiar scent wafted up.
What is this?
He couldn’t help but pause, lost in thought.
“Pour it,” the maid urged.
Snapping out of his reverie, Sun Cai continued with his work. Before long, another block of tofu was pressed under the stone and set aside.
It was already close to evening.
Cheng Jiao-niang said no more, bidding farewell to Xu Maoxiu and the others before getting into the carriage to head back. When she entered the house, the Zhou family home was already brightly lit.
“Miss, the water is ready. I’ll go get your clothes for you,” the maid said, stepping inside but pausing for a moment.
A few unfamiliar maids were sitting in the corridor. When they saw her, they quickly smiled and greeted her.
“Miss, you’re back,” they said.
The maid’s face showed surprise as she sized them up, then glanced toward the room. She noticed several bundles neatly placed in the center, and the room’s furnishings were now different from when they had left.
“Who told you to enter Miss’s room?” she shouted, frowning, as she quickly strode into the room.
Sure enough, the bedding, clothing racks, and other items had all been removed. The small tables were gone, and the ink, paper, and brushes were nowhere to be found.
“What’s going on? Who moved Miss’s things?” she demanded.
The maids remained calm and composed, smiling as they again bowed to Cheng Jiao-niang.
“Miss, this room is a bit old, and with the spring rains coming, it may not be suitable. Madam asked us to make some repairs, so we’ve arranged for you to stay elsewhere for now. Once the repairs are done, you can move back,” one of the women said with a smile.
The maid stood stunned, unable to believe what she was hearing.
Is this… to kick them out?
