Chapter 45 Tasting Fermented Tofu

Shen Dong said with a tired face: “Don’t even mention it. Our scallion pancakes were selling so well, many people in the county were envious and started making scallion pancakes too. Today, there were suddenly three more stalls selling scallion pancakes in the county, and they were selling them for two copper coins cheaper than ours. Many customers were attracted to them, and our business suddenly went down.”

Shen Nan also said: “There were also two more stalls selling scallion pancakes in town, and their prices were also cheaper than ours.”

Shen Nian said in a childish voice: “Zhao Uncle’s skills are amazing, can those people’s scallion pancakes be as delicious as ours?”

Shen Nan frowned: “I don’t know, but they smell good, they shouldn’t be bad. The main thing is that they’re selling them cheaper than ours.”

He asked Shen Dong: “Big Brother, should we lower our price?”

Shen Duo waved his hand without thinking: “Father, I think lowering the price is not appropriate. We’re not just selling the novelty of scallion pancakes, we’re also selling their taste. Lowering the price casually will lower the quality, and our regular customers will think that the pancakes we make are not as good as before.”

Shen Xi said: “But if we don’t lower the price, we won’t be able to compete with them.”

Shen Duo reassured him: “Father, don’t worry, there’s always a way to solve things. Let’s do this, tomorrow you ask someone to buy some of those people’s pancakes and try them. If they’re not as good as ours, then we won’t lower the price. Many people in town and the county are not short of money, they want to eat the deliciousness of scallion pancakes, not to save those two copper coins.”

Shen Nian gave him a thumbs up: “Third Brother is right.”

The method of making scallion pancakes is not difficult. As long as you put your heart into it, you can definitely make them. So it was only a matter of time before imitations appeared. This was something she had expected.

Imitating the method is possible, but imitating the taste is difficult. Especially the braised meat, preserved vegetable pork, and other things made with Zhao Uncle’s unique recipe. The taste of these things was more fragrant than modern technology, it was impossible to imitate.

She didn’t believe that those people in town could make scallion pancakes that were better than theirs.

Even if they did, it wouldn’t be a big deal. She could teach her family other ways to make a living. Scallion pancakes were just a temporary thing.

Shen Dong and Shen Nan looked at each other, thought for a moment, and decided to listen to Shen Duo first.

Although Shen Duo was young, he was the most business-minded person in the Shen family.

The next day, when they went to set up their stall, Shen Dong and the others each asked someone to buy some of the scallion pancakes from those stalls and try them. As soon as they took a bite, they frowned.

Not good!

The pancakes were soft and crispy, but the meat inside was dry, not even half as delicious as theirs.

Having gotten used to the deliciousness of their own scallion pancakes, Shen Dong and the others couldn’t stand those vendors’ scallion pancakes.

The three families regained their confidence.

Their pancakes had already spoiled the palates of their regular customers. The regular customers would definitely get used to those cheap pancakes and come back to buy their pancakes.

Sure enough, not long after, some regular customers came.

The three families all smiled.

Scallion pancakes were selling well again. With the comparison of those cheap pancakes, the reputation of the Shen family’s scallion pancakes rose even higher.

Everyone in Lanhua Village knew about the Shen family’s scallion pancakes, and they were all envious!

They also wanted to make money, but they couldn’t steal the Shen family’s recipe.

Sigh!

They should just honestly farm and make tofu!

Eight days after the first acupuncture treatment, Shen Nian gave Zhao Uncle his second acupuncture treatment at night. After this treatment, Zhao Uncle clearly felt that he was much more awake and didn’t have nightmares anymore.

Seeing Zhao Uncle’s obvious improvement, the Shen family was surprised and happy for him.

The next morning, Wan Baocai came to the Shen family again. He went to the wasteland with Shen Nian to reclaim it, went to the private school to attend classes, played with the children in the village, and even went to the outskirts of Cangwu Mountain with the white wolf. He almost got lost, which made the Shen family search for him for a long time.

Every day after that, Wan Baocai would come to Lanhua Village.

Because the road was too far, he would return home very late every time.

One day at noon, while Wan Baocai was there, Shen Nian took out the small jar containing the fermented tofu and placed it on the table. She smiled at her family and said: “It’s been a month, my fermented tofu is ready to eat. I specially invite you all to try it.”

Wan Baocai was curious: “What is fermented tofu? Is it moldy tofu? Can you eat that? Don’t poison me.”

Shen Nian glared at him: “You can choose not to eat it later. This is a delicacy I invented.”

Grandpa Shen said with a smile: “Didn’t Zhao Uncle teach you how to make it?”

Zhao Uncle quickly said: “It was Nian Nian who made it.”

Shen Dong nodded: “Yes, yes, yes, it was Nian Nian who accidentally made the tofu moldy, and you taught her how to make it.”

Zhao Uncle chuckled: “Yes, yes, yes!”

Shen Dong took the earthenware pot: “I’ll open it. You all move back a bit, so you don’t get the smell.”

Shen Nian pouted: “You’ll be the first one to be knocked out by the smell, Father.”

Shen Dong laughed: “Knocked out by the smell? That means this thing is very potent, we can’t eat it.”

Although Zhao Uncle had vouched for it, he still felt in his heart that tofu that had gone moldy like that couldn’t be eaten.

The lid of the earthenware pot was opened, and a strange smell spread out instantly.

Wan Baocai pinched his nose and exclaimed exaggeratedly: “What is that smell? It’s disgusting!”

Shen Nian used chopsticks to pick up a piece of fermented tofu and put it in a bowl. Looking at the fermented tofu, which looked quite good, she was overjoyed. She thought to herself, it’s a pity there are no chili peppers, otherwise, it would look and taste even better.

Wei Shi asked: “Who wants to try it first?”

Shen Nian used chopsticks to pick up a bit and was about to put it in her mouth, but Wei Shi was scared and quickly snatched the chopsticks from her hand and stuffed them into Shen Dong’s mouth: “Let your father try it first, he’s the strongest here.”

Shen Dong: “…” Wife, you are truly my good wife!

But…

He took the chopsticks and carefully tasted the fermented tofu.

“The texture is soft, salty and fragrant, it melts in your mouth.” Shen Dong’s eyes lit up instantly: “Delicious! This thing is really delicious, it’s a good thing to eat with rice!”

Wei Shi touched his head: “Besides being delicious, is there anything uncomfortable?”

Shen Dong shook his head: “Even if there is something uncomfortable, it wouldn’t show up right now. Wife, this fermented tofu is really good, you try it too.”

Wei Shi tasted a bit: “Hmm, it’s really good.”

Shen Cai couldn’t help but lean over and taste it, then he praised it endlessly.

The two elders also came over to taste it.

Then it was Shen Feng and Zhao Uncle.

Finally, it was Wan Baocai and the four guards.

Shen Nian stood aside, smiling as she watched everyone taste the fermented tofu.

After they finished tasting it, she smiled and said: “I told you, right? This is a delicious food that you can eat, it won’t upset your stomach. Fermented tofu is a good thing. I’m a genius for being able to make it.”

Shen Dong hugged her: “Yes, yes, yes, you’re a little genius. You’ve come up with such a delicious thing, you’re Daddy’s pride!”

Zhao Uncle clapped his hands and laughed happily: “Nian Nian is the best!”

Shen Feng looked at Shen Nian with a smile: “Nian Nian is the most capable, I want to learn from Nian Nian.”

Shen Cai said: “Nian Nian, Fourth Brother admires you. Can I learn how to make fermented tofu from you?”

Shen Nian nodded: “Of course!”

Then she said to Shen Dong: “Father, this rare fermented tofu, should we sell it for money?”

Shen Dong was stunned: “You made this thing just to sell it for money?”

Shen Nian said obediently: “Yes! Why else would I go through so much trouble to make it? I made it to sell it, to sell it for a lot of money!”

Shen Duo just arrived at the door and heard this. He quickly ran in, laughing: “I’m good at selling things, I’ll help.”

Shen Cai picked up some fermented tofu and stuffed it into his mouth: “Try it first.”

After tasting it thoughtfully, Shen Cai clapped his hands excitedly: “This thing can be sold to Master Wang, the landlord in town! The other day when I was selling pancakes, I overheard the servant who was in charge of buying ingredients for the Wang family say that Master Wang is old and has had a poor appetite for the past two years. He can’t eat any delicacies, he only likes things with strong flavors. He should like this fermented tofu. If we can really win Master Wang’s favor, the reputation of fermented tofu will be established. It will be hard to sell it then.”

Shen Dong looked at Shen Cai with admiration: “You have so many ideas! Okay, if we try it tonight and there’s no problem, then we’ll sell it to Master Wang.”

Wan Baocai, who had been unable to speak, couldn’t stand it anymore. He interjected: “Sell it to Master Wang? There’s a big rich man standing right in front of you, shouldn’t you sell the fermented tofu to me? You guys think I don’t exist!”