Chapter 21 Moldy Tofu

The next day, Zhang Ershun’s wife’s family held a wedding feast. Before dawn, the groom led the wedding party to pick up the bride. Due to their limited resources, they didn’t have a red sedan chair or a horse-drawn carriage. The groom could only push a flatbed cart decorated with red silk to fetch the bride.

The bride’s name was Zhang Xiaochao, and she lived in Dawang Village, a one-and-a-half-hour walk from Lanhua Village.

Shen Nian woke up at the crack of dawn and went to see Uncle Zhao with Shen Feng. Uncle Zhao had also woken up in a daze and was happy to see Shen Nian. He followed her to wash up. Although he was simple-minded, he always remembered the promise of making a big meal. After washing his face, he didn’t wait for breakfast and dragged Shen Nian to Zhang’s house.

The Shen family members were anxious and shouted after them.

After getting a breakfast at Zhang’s house, Uncle Zhao tied a white cloth around his head, rolled up his sleeves, and started working.

He looked nothing like an injured person.

Shen Nian wanted to help cook, but she was too young and was taken out again and put in the doll’s nest to play.

Shen Cai also came to help. Because he was tall and knew how to cook, he was exceptionally allowed to stay and assist. He followed Uncle Zhao, busy as a bee, and never complained no matter how the adults ordered him around.

Shen Nan twitched his lips: “This kid, a good man, how can he be so obsessed with cooking! If he were this diligent in his studies, I would be laughing in my dreams.”

Zhao Dehai, with his right hand bandaged, walked over and said with a smile: “Shen Nan, everyone has their own aspirations. Although Shen Cai is not good at studying, he has a passion for cooking. Don’t underestimate chefs. It’s not shameful for a man to be a chef. The great chefs in the big restaurants in the county are all men. They are all very successful. As long as your Shen Cai learns well and becomes a real chef in those big restaurants, he will have a lot of money!”

Shen Nan also knew the benefits of being a chef, but you need a place to learn. Just studying in the village wouldn’t get you anywhere.

When the food was almost ready, the groom also brought the bride back. They stopped the flatbed cart at the entrance of the village. The groom carried the bride on his back and entered the village. Firecrackers were exploding, and the village was instantly festive and lively. Countless children cheered and shouted.

The bride’s family brought many relatives, some of whom lived in the town. When they saw that Lanhua Village didn’t even have a single brick house, they were disgusted.

“Such a poor place, what kind of delicious wedding feast can they make? It’s not worth the trip.”

“We’re only here for Xiaochao’s father’s sake. Just say a few words and eat a few bites.”

After the newlyweds paid their respects to heaven and earth and the bride entered the bridal chamber, the banquet tables were set with food. Seeing the simple dishes, the bride’s family’s relatives were even more disgusted.

There were only twelve dishes on a table for ten people, and only three meat dishes.

It was incredibly shabby!

But when they picked up their chopsticks and took a few bites, they were surprised!

The dishes on the table looked unremarkable, but each one was surprisingly delicious.

Even better than what the chefs in town made.

They couldn’t believe it and took a few more bites.

Delicious! Absolutely delicious!

“How are these dishes so delicious? Did the groom’s family hire a chef from the county?”

“No, no, no. I’ve been to wedding banquets in restaurants in the county, and these dishes are even better than the ones in the restaurants!”

“The groom’s family is so poor, how could they afford to hire a chef from the county? They must have been made by villagers.”

“Is Lanhua Village so amazing?”

The relatives couldn’t help but speed up their eating. All thoughts of shabbiness, poverty, and simplicity were forgotten.

Zhang Ershun’s wife’s family walked past them, seeing their eating speed, they held their heads high, their chests puffed out, and their faces beaming with joy!

The villagers were also proud to see the guests eating so happily.

……

After sending off the guests, the Zhang family went to thank Uncle Zhao and gave him the agreed-upon payment. They also praised Shen Nian and gave her many melon seeds and candy.

Shen Nian shared the candy with her brothers. When she got home, she took Uncle Zhao to the kitchen.

Shen Cai followed them: “Nian Nian, don’t try to make my master cook again. He’s very tired and needs to rest.”

Shen Nan, not far away, was speechless: “You haven’t even apprenticed yet, and you’re calling him master. This stinky boy is determined to be a chef!”

His wife, Liu Shi, tugged at his sleeve: “A Cai likes it, just let him do it!”

Shen Nan scoffed: “Let him do it, let him do it. What’s the big deal? When he’s older, I’ll go to the county and see if I can get him into a big restaurant. He can only learn things outside, what can he learn at home!”

Shen Cai went into the kitchen and saw Shen Nian and Shen Feng squatting by a small wooden box with Uncle Zhao, chattering away.

He recognized the small wooden box. It was made by his elder brother for Nian Nian. Ten days ago, Nian Nian took a large piece of tofu, cut it into small pieces, and put it in the box. She covered it with straw and said she was going to plant tofu. The family members thought it was just a game and didn’t waste much tofu, so they let Nian Nian play.

But now, when he got closer, he saw that the tofu had gone moldy and had white fuzz on it.

Shen Cai pulled Shen Nian over: “Nian Nian, this tofu can’t be eaten, you have to throw it away.”

Shen Nian saw him reaching for it and quickly stopped him: “Fourth Brother, don’t throw it away. Uncle Zhao said this is moldy tofu, it can be eaten, and it’s very delicious.”

Shen Cai stopped, looking incredulous: “What? This tofu has turned into this, and it can still be eaten? Moldy things will make you sick!”

Shen Nian pulled him: “It’s true, don’t you believe me? Ask Uncle Zhao.”

Shen Cai turned to Uncle Zhao.

Uncle Zhao was still staring at the white moldy tofu. When he saw Shen Cai looking at him, he remembered Shen Nian’s instructions and nodded vigorously: “Yes, yes, it can be eaten, it’s delicious. This is moldy tofu.”

Shen Nian smiled: “See! It can be eaten. I’m so smart, I just fiddled around and invented a rare delicacy.”

Shen Cai was still skeptical, looking at the moldy tofu with no appetite, he even thought it smelled bad: “Can this thing really be eaten? How do you eat it?”

Shen Nian told him how to eat the moldy tofu. For every sentence she said, Uncle Zhao nodded.

Just as they were talking, Shen Dong and the elders walked in. Shen Cai excitedly told them about the moldy tofu.

Upon learning that such severely moldy tofu could be eaten, Shen Dong and the others couldn’t believe it.

Shen Lao even waved his hand: “Nian Nian, you can play with tofu, but you can’t play with my white wine.”

Washing moldy tofu with white wine, how dare you!

……

Half an hour later, Shen Nian and Uncle Zhao had washed all the white moldy tofu with fragrant white wine, then evenly coated it with orange peel powder, peppercorns, and salt, put it in a wide-mouthed earthenware jar, poured a layer of white wine on top, and sealed the jar with a layer of water on the edge.

Seeing his precious wine being wasted by his granddaughter, Shen Lao was heartbroken.

His own granddaughter, he couldn’t hit her, he couldn’t scold her, he had to spoil her even if he had to kneel down!

Shen Feng clapped his hands and smiled: “It can be eaten after a month of sealing. It will last for two years without going bad, and it will be very fragrant.”

Uncle Zhao gave a thumbs up and nodded repeatedly: “Yes, yes, Nian Nian did the right thing, Nian Nian is so smart, so great!”

Shen Lao was still heartbroken about his wine: “I hope it can really be eaten, otherwise I’ll break your butts!”

Shen Cai looked at the earthenware jar with anticipation.

Uncle Zhao was so amazing, if he said something could be eaten, then it must be fine.

He had already learned his sister’s technique. He would try to make some moldy tofu himself later.