Chapter 5 Trust
"Since 'stinky tofu' is a delicacy recorded in ancient books, then I guess it should be not bad." Liu Huixiang looked at Su Xian with bright eyes.
Coincidentally, Su Xian was also looking up at her.
Human eyes are black, but they like to search for beautiful and vivid things.
The two of them sat opposite each other, and they could be seen each other even if they looked up...
After staring at each other for a moment, Liu Huixiang looked away calmly, thought for a moment and said to Zhang Cuihua: "I've decided. I'll use half of the tofu to make stinky tofu."
"Half!?" Su Xian and Zhang Cuihua were both stunned.
Su Xian was very pleased that she could make such a decision. It was a kind of trust.
But he still advised: "Madam Liu, there is no need to do that. Let's try it with a small piece of tofu first. Half a piece of tofu is really too much!"
Zhang Cuihua said, "Miss, that stinky tofu is just a few words in a book. I have never seen it, nor have I heard anyone mention it. It is better to be cautious."
After hearing this, Liu Huixiang frowned slightly.
Zhang Cuihua added: "Although Mr. Su is a student of the county school, he is lazy and does not know the difference between grains. How can he..."
The so-called "students" were students in the central and local official schools, or in modern terms, "school students." Su Xian was a student in the Leshou County School.
"shut up!"
Liu Huixiang interrupted her and said, "Since stinky tofu is recorded in ancient books, it must be true! Mr. Su is a scholar who can read and write, how can you make such a statement?"
Although she spoke in a soft voice, she scared Zhang Cuihua. She quickly stood up and stood aside with her head down, not daring to speak again.
Su Xian shook his head slightly.
Scholar?
A scholar is good for nothing!
In this era, people who can read and write are extraordinary and can be said to be superior to others.
But the original owner almost died of starvation or thirst on the street...
He was not too interested in being a scholar.
While shaking his head, Su Xian was about to make a self-deprecating remark, but he heard Liu Huixiang slowly say: "Today, we won't set up a stall. All the tofu will be used to make stinky tofu!"
Zhang Cuihua looked up and opened her mouth, but did not try to persuade him further.
She knew that although this young lady looked weak, she was actually quite stubborn and once she made a decision, nothing could change her mind.
She could also understand why her young lady trusted Su Xian so much?
First, as a neighbor, Su Xian never hated her bad reputation.
Secondly, Liu Huixiang believed that the reason why Su Xian's family was penniless and his life was getting worse and worse was because he was unlucky because of her, and she always felt guilty about it.
"Madam Liu, there's no need for that. Let's try it on a piece of tofu first." Su Xian felt a little nervous.
"I believe... that 'Qimin Yaoshu' is correct! Sir, please wait a moment. There are still some soaked beans that have not been ground..."
Liu Huixiang stood up and asked Zhang Cuihua to continue grinding the beans.
Seeing this, Su Xian could only nod and say, "Then let's follow Madam Liu's wishes."
after a little while.
Su Xian sat at a small wooden table against the wall. Seeing that they were busy, it seemed inappropriate for her to just sit there, so she offered to help.
"inappropriate!"
Liu Huixiang put down the wooden spoon she was using to add ingredients, looked at him seriously and said, "Mr. Su is a scholar, with a book of sages in his left hand and a pen for the state in his right hand. How can you do such a vulgar job?"
"But it's not good for a grown man like me to watch you two women working, right?"
Liu Huixiang smiled, like a hundred flowers blooming, and walked towards the kitchen, saying with a smile: "Sir, just sit down and relax. Let me make a cup of tea."
"this……"
Su Xian felt a little bit at home, but he wasn't here as a guest.
As daughters, not only did they not let him help with the housework, they also made tea for him with a smile?
Just because he is a scholar?
Su Xian stood up a little uncomfortably and watched Liu Huixiang walk into the kitchen, thinking to himself, "Could it be that being a scholar is really so popular?"
"Mr. Su, just sit down and relax."
Zhang Cuihua forced a smile on her fleshy face, "My lady once said that Master Su is well-read and talented. If he doesn't pass the imperial examination, he could become a general or a prime minister!"
"The young lady's vision is not wrong! So Mr. Su, just sit down and relax. The young lady will not let you do such vulgar work."
Zhang Cuihua's words did come from Liu Huixiang's mouth, but she didn't quite agree with it before.
Just now, Su Xian's initiative to ask for help changed her mind slightly, so she said these words to dispel Su Xian's concerns.
Besides, Su Xian, with his thin arms and legs, what kind of help could he possibly bring? He might as well be making things worse.
"Cuihua... shut up!"
At this time, Liu Huixiang came over with a tray, her pretty face flushed... How could she say those words to Su Xian!
She first scolded Zhang Cuihua, then secretly glanced at Su Xian.
Seeing that Su Xian looked normal, she moved lightly and brought him some tea.
"Sir, please have some tea."
Su Xian thanked him and took it. At the same time, he understood something in his mind: "Yes, in this era, being a scholar is a promising career..."
Liu Huixiang picked up another scroll from the tray, handed it to Su Xian and said, "This is a copy of the Annotated Book of Rites that I brought from my mother's home. It's the only one of its kind in the world !"
"If you are bored, you can read this book, and it may help you improve your studies."
"Thank you very much."
…
The room became quiet, with only the sound of the millstone turning.
Liu Huixiang held a wooden spoon in her hand and followed the rhythm of the stone mill, repeating the action of "scooping soybeans from the wooden barrel and pouring them into the millstone" with a very focused expression.
Su Xian sat there leisurely, drinking tea, holding the scroll in his hands, seemingly studying the text carefully. But in fact, his eyes kept sliding towards the millstone.
Because of the angle, he could see Liu Huixiang's profile.
There are many kinds of clothing for women in the world today, with ruqun and Song Dynasty style coexisting.
Liu Huixiang wore a set of Hanfu in the style of the Song Dynasty, with a lake green embroidered bodice, a plain silk fluffy skirt, and a double-breasted narrow-sleeved jacket.
It looks graceful and beautiful, full of classical charm.
That's fine, the point is -
Su Xian found that her breasts were very full!
The tube top was held up tightly!
Especially when she bent down to pour the beans into the grinding eye, the shocking effect was most obvious.
very scary!
In the past, Su Xian had only dealt with her face to face a few times.
Moreover, Su Xian at that time adhered to the principle of "don't look at what is inappropriate", and he only found that people had beautiful faces and would not look at anything else.
Just now, when he entered the room and saw her standing next to the stone mill, and when they sat face to face and drank porridge, Su Xian seemed to have noticed something, but he did not observe carefully.
So, this time, we have discovered a new world!
"Madam Liu, the steps for making stinky tofu are neither too many nor too few. And some other things need to be prepared." Su Xian put down the scroll, stood up and walked to the opposite side of Liu Huixiang.
Well, that's much better.
"Is there anything else we need to prepare? Just tell me, sir." Liu Huixiang kept adding ingredients and glanced at Su Xian with a smile on her face.
"We need to prepare some wooden boxes and a lot of straw..."
“…”
While negotiating the details, Liu Huixiang and Zhang Cuihua had already finished grinding the soaked beans.
Separate the soy milk, put it into the pot in the kitchen and boil it over high heat.
Zhang Cuihua did all the rough work, while Liu Huixiang did the technical work of making tofu.
Su Xian was just a "spectator".
You can watch the tofu making process and appreciate the beauty at the same time.
Time flies in the busyness, and after a while, the tofu is formed.
"Sir, what do you think of this tofu?"
Liu Huixiang took out a square piece of tender tofu and put it on a plate for Su Xian to inspect.
Su Xian looked at the trembling jelly-like soft tofu and praised, "So big! So white!"
"Huh?" Liu Huixiang was stunned.
"Oh, this tofu is too tender. It needs to be pressed a little harder." Su Xian pinched himself secretly.
