Chapter 49 The Zhao Uncle Fully Recovers

Zhang Ershun thought for a moment and then told them the truth, “To be honest, all the tofu was sold to the Shen family’s eldest branch. They seem to have come up with a new kind of food, and the main ingredient is tofu. They ordered a lot of tofu from me. These past two days, our family has to focus on making tofu for the Shen family’s eldest branch, so we won’t be going out to sell tofu for now.”

They delivered tofu to the Shen family every day, so it wouldn’t be long before the whole village knew about it. Besides, Old Man Shen had said that they didn’t intend to keep it a secret.

Wang Po and the other woman were astonished.

“Is that true?”

“Isn’t the Shen family selling cakes? Why are they now interested in tofu?”

Zhang Ershun smiled, “We don’t know either, and we don’t dare to ask too much. Two aunties, I’m really sorry, you came all the way for nothing today. By the way, I’d like to ask, do you have any soybeans at home? If you do, sell them all to me. The price is negotiable. Also, our family needs extra hands to make tofu. Two aunties, you are clean and efficient in your work. If you have time, would you be willing to help? The wages are ten copper coins a day.”

Every household in the village had soybeans. It was difficult to sell them in town, and the price was low, so many people would keep them and deal with them slowly. Zhang’s family offered a fair price, so selling the soybeans to them was more profitable than selling them in town.

Seeing the opportunity to make money, Wang Po and the other woman were happy. They not only agreed to work, but also volunteered to promote the purchase of soybeans for the Zhang family in the village.

Soon, villagers came to the Zhang family with their soybeans.

When Shen Dong was selling cakes in the county, he asked Shen Cai to deliver some milk cakes to Shen Bo at the academy for him to try.

He had to let his brother taste the rare delicacy his sister had made.

Shen Cai told Shen Bo how to eat it.

Shen Bo tasted some milk cakes in front of him, thought for a moment, and said, “I’ll share the milk cakes. Come to me tomorrow.”

After Shen Cai left, he turned around and shared the milk cakes with the headmaster and his classmates.

Unfortunately, there were too few milk cakes, otherwise, he could have shared them with more people.

Wan Baocai got up to go home before nightfall. He met Shen Dong and Shen Cai on the way back. After greeting each other, Shen Dong learned about the five hundred jin of milk cakes.

He was overjoyed and thanked Wan Baocai profusely.

When he got home, he looked at the two hundred jin of tofu and was full of energy.

…

The mold on the fermented milk cakes should be white, not black. There are many ways to ferment them, besides using straw, there are also bamboo trays, sieves, and other methods. Before, Shen Nian used straw, but now she wanted to make milk cakes in large quantities, so she wanted to switch to using bamboo trays.

She used the excuse of what Zhao Uncle had taught her to tell everyone about fermenting with bamboo strips.

“We can use bamboo strips to make a square bamboo board to put the tofu on. One board can hold two jin of tofu. Then we can make a large shelf, each shelf can hold ten bamboo boards, and we can arrange them in rows. It’s not only beautiful and clean, but also very convenient.” Shen Nian gesticulated to explain to everyone.

Her expressive ability impressed the adults.

If you didn’t look at her appearance, no one would believe that she was only three years old.

“Let’s do it as Nian Nian said. Tomorrow, I’ll go up the mountain to cut bamboo.” Old Man Shen stroked his beard and said to Shen Dong and the others, “You continue to sell cakes, don’t worry about making milk cakes.”

Selling cakes was very profitable, and they couldn’t stop this business unless it was absolutely necessary.

Shen Dong and the others agreed.

Old Man Shen then looked at Zhao Uncle, “You deserve half the credit for the milk cakes. You should get a share of the money earned. We’ll…”

Before he could finish, Zhao Uncle interrupted him and said seriously, “Ten percent, I only want ten percent. If there are more people, I don’t want a penny.”

Old Man Shen was also straightforward, “Alright, ten percent it is. Zhao Uncle, you’ve recovered quite well these past few days. You speak much clearer than before. Have you remembered anything from the past?”

Zhao Uncle scratched his head, “I haven’t remembered anything, but I’ve been sleeping very well lately. Sometimes, some familiar images flash through my mind.”

Shen Dong said, “That means you’re going to remember. That’s great. We’re all happy for you that you’re getting better.”

Zhao Uncle chuckled, “I’m happy too. I want to remember everything. Thank you for taking care of me.”

Shen Nan patted his shoulder, “Don’t say such things. You are Cai’s master, we are family. It’s only natural for family to look after each other.”

Zhao Uncle was touched. He looked at Shen Nian, and Shen Nian smiled at him, “Zhao Uncle, you are our family. We all hope you get better.”

Zhao Uncle’s nose twitched, “I will get better.”

Shen Feng smiled. He was also accepted by the Shen family like this.

The Shen family is a magical place!

The next day, Shen Dong and Shen Cai went to the county to sell cakes. When they arrived, Shen Cai went to the back gate of the academy at the right time and received an order from Shen Bo.

Good heavens, another forty-two jin of milk cakes.

Before the milk cakes were even made, they had already sold over six hundred jin.

This business was really lucrative.

…

Today, Shen Nian didn’t go to the private school. Old Man Shen took his grandchildren up the mountain to cut bamboo early in the morning. The white wolf was excited and followed them, running around here and there.

After cutting the bamboo, Old Man Shen led the children back home, dragging the bamboo with them.

This one dragged a small piece, that one dragged a large piece.

Shen Nian held the thickest and shortest piece, which Old Man Shen had shortened. The longer part was in his hand.

Seeing her grandfather, who was already old, carrying the thick bamboo and sweating profusely, Shen Nian felt sorry for him. She really wanted to help him carry the bamboo home with her strength.

But… forget it, she’d better keep it a secret. It wouldn’t be good if she scared her grandfather!

After the bamboo was brought home, it still needed to be processed, which was even more laborious. But none of the Shen family members were afraid of hardship. No matter how tired they were, they had to work.

The whole family was busy in a flurry of activity.

Shen Dong and his group came back early today. After putting down their things, they didn’t rest. They drank some water and then joined in the work.

After two days of hard work, the bamboo boards were finally finished.

The Zhang family also delivered five hundred jin of tofu in these two days. The remaining tofu would take another two days to be made.

Shen Nian didn’t want to rest for a moment. She followed the adults, cutting tofu, arranging it, and was busy running around.

She was a small person, carrying a bamboo board of tofu, walking steadily, so sensible that it made people feel sorry for her.

The Shen family’s eldest branch didn’t have enough rooms, so they borrowed a room from the fourth branch to store the tofu. Worried about snakes, insects, and mice harming the tofu, Shen Dong bought insecticide from the county and sprinkled it around the room where the tofu was stored. He also asked the white wolf to guard it.

“Mantou, the powder on the ground is for killing insects and snakes. You must not eat it, understand? It will poison you.” Shen Dong repeatedly warned him.

The white wolf howled at him.

I know! I know! You’re such a nagging old man!

When all the tofu arrived and was cut into pieces and arranged, it was already three days later.

Looking at the room full of tofu, everyone in the Shen family was stunned.

This was the result of their four families working hard for five or six days.

It was spectacular!

The room was filled with the aroma of tofu!

Shen Nian looked at the rows of tofu and said, “Father, Mother, can we have a milk cake workshop in the future? Like the oil pressing workshop.”

Shen Dong touched her little head, “Your idea is good. If the milk cake business can last long, Father will consider it.”

…

At night, everyone was asleep.

Shen Nian quietly went to Zhao Uncle’s room to give him acupuncture for the last time.

When the last needle went in, Zhao Uncle felt excruciating pain and fainted.

Shen Nian was startled. She checked his pulse and was relieved to find that he was fine. Then she stayed by Zhao Uncle’s side.

After a quarter of an hour, Shen Nian took out the silver needles and put them back in her space. Zhao Uncle opened his eyes, saw Shen Nian’s face in a daze, and then fell asleep again.

Shen Nian looked at his face, “Zhao Uncle, when you wake up tomorrow morning, you will be completely healed. Congratulations!”