Chapter 39

Eager to get the fermented tofu started, Wang Yuan’er woke up early the following day and, seeing the bright sunshine, quickly finished the morning chores. After ensuring her family had eaten, she slipped into the kitchen and got busy with a series of clanging tasks.

“What are you looking at?”

Wang Min’er stretched her neck to peek into the kitchen. Suddenly, a chill ran down her neck as a ghostly voice spoke beside her, making her scream in fright.

Turning around, she saw that it was Wang Qing’er, that mischievous girl. Infuriated, she reached out to pinch her face and scolded, “Wang Qing’er, scaring people like that—are you out of your mind?”

Wang Qing’er dodged her grasp with a giggle and teased, “Why were you sneaking around like a thief? Would you be scared if you didn’t have a guilty conscience?”

“Who’s guilty? Does the kitchen belong only to your family’s branch?” Wang Min’er, feeling flustered, pretended to be calm and threw out a snarky remark, imitating the city ladies by flinging a handkerchief and stomping her foot. “I don’t care to look anyway!”

Watching her wear a jacket trimmed with mouse fur and a pleated long skirt, Wang Qing’er couldn’t help feeling envious. She mimicked her stomping and swaying walk, then spat and turned into the kitchen.

“Eldest Sister, you’re already busy so early in the morning. What are you making?” Wang Qing’er slouched by the stove, lazily poking at the firewood with a stick, looking bored.

“I’m making something really great, something that will make us lots of money in the future,” Wang Yuan’er said mysteriously while chopping vegetables with a knife. Then she asked, “So, what were you and Min’er arguing about earlier?”

“I saw her sneaking around at the doorway, peeking in,” Wang Qing’er said with a pout, sounding a bit sour. “Eldest Sister, did you see what she’s wearing today? Ugh, dressing up in fine clothes but looking so unworthy. It’s just awful.”

Wang Yuan’er glanced at her and smiled. “Oh my, am I smelling jealousy?”

“Eldest Sister!” Wang Qing’er huffed, glaring at her angrily.

“Alright, let her wear what she wants. Once we earn some money, I’ll buy you something nice too, okay?” Wang Yuan’er replied with mild exasperation.

“Then I want something yellow. Yellow suits me,” Wang Qing’er quickly chimed in, scooting closer. “Eldest Sister, is there anything I can help with?”

“Here, chop these chili peppers for me; chop them really fine!” Wang Yuan’er gestured toward a bowl filled with red peppers nearby.

Since the tofu wasn’t dried yet and couldn’t be processed immediately, Wang Yuan’er decided to chop the chili peppers into a powder-like texture for later use.

The two sisters busied themselves in the kitchen, chatting and laughing, creating a warm and lively atmosphere.

Wang Yuan’er soon took the purchased blocks of tofu and cut them into small cubes. She then retrieved a flat and finely woven bamboo tray personally made by their grandfather, washed and dried it, and neatly arranged the tofu cubes inside.

This kind of bamboo tray, unlike the deeper ones, was common in rural households for drying goods. Most families had their own flat trays, also called drying trays, with either tight or loose weaving.

In Changle Town and its surrounding areas, except for the large families with sloped rooftops, most houses had flat rooftops to make it easier to dry items under the sun.

After arranging the tofu cubes neatly, Wang Yuan’er climbed a ladder to the rooftop and placed the drying tray in the sun.

With the tray set, Wang Yuan’er wiped her hands on her apron and casually sat on the rooftop, gazing over the peaceful and serene Changle Town. Her eyes wandered toward the towering Changle Mountain, and her lips tightened involuntarily.

Who would have thought that such a tranquil Changle Mountain could someday unleash a sudden and ferocious flash flood that would destroy the entire town? They would have to find a way to move their family soon!

Chapter 40

After drying the tofu, Wang Yuan’er cleaned up the kitchen, wiped her hands, and entered the east room. Madam Liang and Wang Chun’er were sitting on the kang bed by the window, laughing and chatting as they worked on embroidery.

“What are you talking about? You’re laughing so happily,” Wang Yuan’er asked with a smile as she pulled over a small bench, took her needlework basket, and picked up her unfinished embroidery.

“Nothing much, just talking about when Sister Guiying got married the other day. When the groom’s family came to pick her up, they decorated the ox-cart with a big red silk flower. The silk flower was so beautifully made!” Wang Chun’er replied gently, looking up.

In these ten villages, people typically used sedan chairs or ox-carts and donkey carts to pick up brides. The least fortunate had to walk to their new homes with the bride.

Guiying’s marriage was farther away, and the groom’s family wanted to give her dignity, so they used an ox-cart to pick her up. Her wedding day was quite festive.

Wang Yuan’er joked with a laugh, “That silk flower was really well-tied. When Chun’er gets married in the future, her groom must bring a big red silk flower to pick her up. Otherwise, she won’t leave. Mother, don’t you agree?”

“Of course,” Madam Liang nodded in agreement.

Wang Chun’er, who was always shy, blushed when her elder sister teased her like that. It was about her own marriage, after all. She scolded, “Eldest Sister, why are you bringing me into this?”

Wang Yuan’er chuckled, pulled over the shoe sole embroidery Chun’er was working on, and said, “Our Chun’er has such skillful hands. Who knows which lucky family will have the fortune to marry her?”

The more Wang Yuan’er said, the redder Wang Chun’er’s face grew. Finally, she stood up, pretending to be angry, and tickled her elder sister. “Eldest Sister, you’re getting less and less proper! You’re not married yet, and I certainly won’t get ahead of you.”

The two sisters started playfully laughing and wrestling. Madam Liang, however, grew thoughtful after hearing what Wang Chun’er said.

Wang Chun’er, unable to handle the teasing as her elder sister could, blushed deeply, stomped her feet, and ran out with the excuse of feeding the livestock.

“Mother, what are you thinking about, so lost in thought?” Wang Yuan’er nudged the dazed Madam Liang.

Madam Liang snapped out of her reverie, put her embroidery aside, and pulled her daughter to sit beside her on the kang. “Chun’er reminded me that you’re the eldest sister, and you’ve already come of age. It’s time to talk about marriage.”

Wang Yuan’er paused for a moment. Having experienced life in her past incarnation, she was not as shy as Wang Chun’er and said, “Mother, I’m only fifteen. There’s no rush.”

“Silly girl, marriage is a major life event for a woman. It’s not something you decide and act on right away. There’s the process of betrothal, engagement, and so on—it’s quite complex. It’s fine to settle it now; a year or so of preparation would be enough,” Madam Liang smiled and lightly patted her hand. Then, with a hint of guilt, she added, “It was Chun’er who mentioned it, and I suddenly remembered. I almost delayed your important matter.”

Wang Yuan’er shook her head, pursed her lips, and said, “Mother, I haven’t thought much about this yet, and besides, I’m still in mourning.”

Madam Liang was startled, and when she remembered her late husband, her eyes reddened, and she stayed silent for a long time.

Seeing this, Wang Yuan’er silently cursed herself and quickly changed the subject: “But if Mother has her eyes on a good young man, it’s not impossible to consider him. Your daughter doesn’t seek wealth or high status but only hopes for someone honest and caring, like Father.”

After her previous life’s marriage experience, she no longer desired a wealthy family.

Madam Liang sniffled and smiled, “Your father was indeed a caring man, like back when…”

She went on to recount Wang Da’s good traits in detail. Wang Yuan’er listened patiently, occasionally adding a few playful remarks, and the previously somber atmosphere lightened considerably.