Chapter 97

The success of the fermented tofu business was beyond the expectations of everyone in the Wang family. Grandpa Wang was pleased, while Grandma Wang had mixed feelings but said nothing. The main house had only a few orphans left, with the only male child still nursing. Wang Yuan’er, the eldest granddaughter, had taken charge of the household, which was beneficial overall. Thus, the elderly couple supported Wang Yuan’er’s business venture.

However, wealth attracts envy, and naturally, some people are jealous, especially Madam Zhang. She could never have imagined that the fermented tofu, which didn’t smell particularly appealing, would become such a huge hit. Thinking about how Wang Yuan’er counted her silver coins every day made Madam Zhang feel extremely envious. She was even more unsettled with her sister-in-law now purchasing fermented tofu for the Tang family.

As Wang Yuan’er had previously suggested, Madam Zhou indeed used fermented tofu to make bamboo shoots in sauce for the old matriarch of the Tang family, earning many rewards. Now, with the Qingming Festival approaching, there were plenty of spring bamboo shoots available. Bamboo shoots in sauce were a very appetizing and refreshing side dish. Therefore, Madam Zhou confidently promised the master that she could get fermented tofu at a cheaper price through her relatives and came knocking.

Madam Zhou not only came to buy for the Tang family but also had her own plans. “You are her legitimate second aunt. To put it bluntly, their parents are dead. When it comes to marriage in the future, who will they rely on if not you and Wang Er? They’re just orphans and children; what major decisions can they make? Take this opportunity to help manage their business; it’s a good thing,” Madam Zhou suggested quietly.

Madam Zhang looked troubled, “You know how guarded Yuan’er is.”

“You’re as stubborn as a log. Can’t you offer to help? Watch how they do it, and then we can do it ourselves,” Madam Zhou said with a hint of impatience. “Making money benefits you and our Zhou family; it’s a win-win.”

Madam Zhang pursed her lips, knowing this was a good idea. A small jar of fermented tofu fetched dozens of coins. Selling in large quantities could make a fortune.

But if it were as simple as Madam Zhou said, things would be easier. Not to mention, Wang Yuan’er and even Wang Qing’er were very vigilant, always watching her in the kitchen like a hawk.

“Don’t be careless. Just look at how much the Tang family wants to buy. You’ll know how good it is,” Madam Zhou pressed, her eyes full of schemes. She hadn’t expected the fermented tofu to be so popular. The Tang family was large, and gifting fermented tofu as a novelty had them ordering more than twenty jars. Now, it was popular in Changle Town; imagine the fortune if it spread to other places!

Having worked as a nanny for the Tang family for years, Madam Zhou wasn’t naive. Compared to Madam Zhang’s short-sightedness, she saw the bigger picture. If their family could make fermented bean curd, the Zhou family would become rich.

With this thought, Madam Zhou became even more determined to find a way to get the fermented tofu recipe.

While Madam Zhou had her own plans, Madam Zhang was unaware of her intentions. She was also thinking about how to get the recipe. Being close to the source, she thought it might be best to follow her sister-in-law’s advice and frequently check on the sisters.

Chapter 98

Madam Zhou came to buy fermented tofu for the Tang family. Although she shamelessly asked for a family discount, Wang Yuan’er and her sisters were still happy because it was a big order after Huifeng Yuan. Low-profit, high-volume sales were always better than single sales.

However, Wang Qing’er soon noticed something off. Ever since Madam Zhou’s visit, Madam Zhang had been loitering around their kitchen, especially when they were making fermented tofu, offering to help enthusiastically.

Something seemed fishy. Wang Qing’er suspected that Madam Zhang, who wasn’t usually so helpful, had ulterior motives. She told Wang Yuan’er, “Do you think Second Aunt is trying to learn how we make fermented tofu so she can make it herself?”

Having lived two lives, Wang Yuan’er wasn’t naïve. She had noticed Madam Zhang’s unusual behavior, especially when she asked about the timing of adding the sauce, confirming her suspicions.

Madam Zhang wanted to steal their business—or rather, she was envious and wanted to learn their method to start her own fermented tofu business.

The sisters discussed this and confirmed Madam Zhang’s intentions. Hot-tempered Wang Qing’er immediately wanted to confront her. “She wishes! I’m going to give her a piece of my mind.”

“Come back,” Wang Yuan’er called sternly. “There’s no solid proof. What are you going to say to her?”

“It’s as clear as day. Her intentions are obvious,” Wang Qing’er retorted, fuming.

Wang Yuan’er couldn’t help but smile but had to calm her down. “Sit down.”

“Yes, Qing’er, listen to Eldest Sister,” Wang Chun’er urged gently, believing that Eldest Sister had her reasons.

Although still angry, Wang Qing’er sat down reluctantly, clenching her fists in frustration.

Wang Yuan’er was also upset but had gained perspective over two lifetimes. She knew that every business faced competition. The key was doing better than others, maintaining quality and fair pricing, much like how restaurants competed over which had the best dishes.

Wang Yuan’er never dreamed of having an exclusive business. She knew that as ordinary people without power or influence, they couldn’t monopolize the market. Fermented tofu was bound to be replicated by others eventually, whether by Madam Zhang, the Li family, or the Chen family.

She couldn’t control other people’s actions, only ensure their business was the best, establishing themselves as the originators of fermented tofu. When people thought of fermented tofu, they would think of Wang’s fermented tofu first.

“But should we just let Second Aunt learn our hard-earned recipe? It’s bad enough if outsiders do it, but she’s our blood relative, and she’s scheming against us,” Wang Qing’er said, still indignant, her eyes red.