The courtyard erupted with excited cheers.

Shen Qing was influenced by the lively and joyful atmosphere, feeling as excited as if she were earning money herself.

No, it could be said that she was earning money, after all, she was getting a 20% share of the profits.

Zhao Mingyue began assigning tasks: “Second and third, you two are responsible for grinding the beans. The eldest and second daughter-in-law, you are responsible for boiling and preparing the bean paste. After dinner, rest early.

Dabo is quick with his mouth, so he and I will go to the city tomorrow to sell tofu.

Third, you go to the city to buy more soybeans and clean the cart.

Everyone else will be responsible for cooking, washing dishes, laundry, and digging wild vegetables for the garden. When we earn some silver, I’ll buy meat for everyone!”

When they heard there would be meat, the cheers in the courtyard grew even louder.

Zhao Mingyue looked at Shen Qing and said with a hint of annoyance, “Look at them, all a bunch of lazy donkeys. They need a carrot dangled in front of them just to earn money.”

Hearing about the meat, they were happier than anything else.

Shen Qing laughed along: “Who doesn’t like to eat meat? Earning money is just for a better life, right?”

Zhao Mingyue was in a better mood after hearing that.

Shen Qing noticed that Jiang Daxi, the third son of the Jiang family, was getting ready to go to the city with the cart. She suddenly spoke up: “By the way, third aunt, soybeans in the city should cost four wen per pound now, right?

Can we not buy them, but trade instead?”

Zhao Mingyue was taken aback, not understanding how they could trade.

Shen Qing continued, “Your family has many people, and second uncle’s family has a cart too. You and Dabo can go to the city, selling tofu as you go through the streets.

Send two others to the villages. It might not be easy to sell, but you can exchange soybeans for tofu. For example, one pound of soybeans for one pound of tofu. Tofu is better than soybeans, and it’s cheaper in the city. Many families will likely be willing to exchange.”

Zhao Mingyue’s eyes suddenly lit up.

She slapped her thigh, delighted: “Why didn’t I think of that!”

Yes, soybeans grow in the wilderness, and every household in the village has them.

People in the village don’t know that one pound of soybeans can make five or six pounds of tofu. If they can trade their three-wen-per-pound soybeans for tofu at four wen per pound, they would still be making a profit.

Moreover, soybeans, unlike other grains, can make you feel bloated if eaten too much, and they don’t taste very good when cooked. Exchanging them for delicious tofu should be tempting to many people.

She quickly called out to Jiang Daxi, who was about to leave, “Third, wait a minute, don’t buy soybeans yet.”

She gave new instructions: “Soak six more pounds of soybeans, and make more than thirty pounds of tofu tomorrow morning. Third, you and your father can go to the villages to exchange soybeans.”

Jiang Daxi agreed.

Thirty pounds of tofu could be exchanged for thirty pounds of soybeans, which were worth 120 wen.

After deducting the cost of the soybeans, they would earn a net profit of 96 wen!

Goodness, he and his father could earn 96 wen just by going out. Even if it wasn’t silver they earned, the soybeans they brought back would save them 96 wen for the tofu business!

Shen Qing’s sister-in-law had a sharp mind, coming up with better ideas faster than they could.

Shen Qing pointed to the tofu in the wooden trough in the courtyard and added, “The tofu we make here can be tried in our village first.”

There was so much tofu that Zhao Mingyue’s family couldn’t finish it in two or three days, so exchanging soybeans would be a good way to store them.

“Right, right, third, hurry up and clean the cart, let’s try it in the village first; and, by the way, Hehua, bring a bowl and pack your sister-in-law’s portion to take back,” Zhao Mingyue said eagerly.

Shen Qing had already taken four pounds of tofu the day before, and there were still two pounds left. She didn’t want to take any more!

She declined, “No need, third aunt.”

Zhao Mingyue interrupted, “You should be entitled to half of the tofu business, but you insisted on taking only 20%. You can’t even eat a little?”

Shen Qing laughed and said helplessly, “It’s not about taking 20% or not. Even if I took 50%, I can’t just take things for free!”

“Since you’re taking 20%, of course, you can’t take it for free. How about this: I’ll exchange soybeans too.” Even though her family had run out of soybeans, the market had them, so it wouldn’t be hard to buy them.

Zhao Mingyue nonchalantly said, “You want to exchange soybeans just to eat tofu? What about me? Should I count my own portion too? Well, fine, we can make a few more pounds of soybeans if we don’t have enough. It’s not like we’re missing a few pieces of tofu for you.”

Hong Hehua had already packed the tofu and chimed in, “What Mom said is right, the tofu business depends on you, so why make a big deal about the details?”

Shen Qing suddenly realized that she was thinking like a businessperson, wanting a clear transaction of goods and money.

But Zhao Mingyue and Hong Hehua, as farmers, had a simpler mindset.

They saw Shen Qing as part of the family, and since she provided the tofu-making skills, they didn’t count the effort and labor involved.

They thought in terms of the cost of the soybeans rather than the selling price, so they considered the exchange very cheap. How could they charge her?

Realizing this, Shen Qing stopped insisting and accepted with a smile.

Farmers valued mutual exchange, so while they gave her tofu, she could gift them some soap scraps and defective pieces from her home’s soap-making business, which were still usable.

The scene at Qili Village, which had previously been busy only with Shen Qing’s family, now found Zhao Mingyue’s family even busier.

The remaining households, the Feng and Qin families, were only involved in polishing pen shafts, but they were all working hard to make sure they didn’t do poorly.

Further behind, there was Jiang Er Ye and Jiang Wu Ye, but since the malt was still in the germination stage, there wasn’t much to do except feel anxious.

Just after noon, Jiang San Ye and Zhao Mingyue, both with beaming faces, came to find Shen Qing.

They knew that Shen Qing’s family was making brushes in the courtyard, so they didn’t enter.

Instead, they walked with her along the main road towards a quieter area in the fields.

Zhao Mingyue, full of energy, spoke with a slight quiver in her voice, “Today was the first day. We didn’t dare make too much. We made only 80 pounds. Fifty pounds, Dabo and I sold in the city. We sold it all in one hour!

The remaining thirty pounds were exchanged by the head of the household and Daxi along the southern road, running through three villages, and brought back thirty pounds of soybeans. The journey took longer, but they were home before noon. Qing’er, your idea is truly brilliant. We sold 80 pounds of tofu in one day!”

Jiang San Ye waited for his wife to finish speaking before adding, “We discussed it, and the soybeans we exchanged are just like selling the tofu, so we still count it as 80 pounds of tofu. Four wen per pound equals 320 wen; after subtracting the 64 wen for the 16 pounds of soybeans, we are left with 256 wen. Two percent of that is 52 wen.”