However, seeing Jiang Fuzheng’s scrutinizing gaze remain unchanged, Ye Li hastily added, “Rest assured, this method wasn’t stolen. It won’t cause any disputes with others.”

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Jiang Fuzheng’s expression softened slightly.

“As long as it wasn’t stolen or plundered, then you need only share it with Ji Xiaozi.”

“Thank you for your understanding, Uncle Jiang.”

Ye Li breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing his reaction, Jiang Fuzheng dropped his scrutiny and spoke earnestly, “Since you possess this skill, you should focus on building a life with Ji Xiaozi from now on.”

“Though tofu-making is hard work, it does provide some income.”

“Once Ji passes the scholar exams and you have your craft to fall back on, your family’s hardships will finally turn to sweetness.”

Ye Li nodded immediately upon hearing this. “You’re absolutely right. That’s precisely what I had in mind.”

One reason he’d revealed his skill was to start a business.

No matter the era, making money first was the first thing to do.

As for that cheap husband…

According to the original body’s memories, that cheap husband’s face was quite to his taste.

Ahem, his sexual orientation was actually male.

Now that he’d transmigrated into a fulang, he could openly pursue same-sex relationships, which eased much of his resentment over the sudden shift.

Still, since he could openly pursue such relationships, he intended to choose carefully.

His future partner must not only be exceptionally handsome but also share compatible temperaments.

The Great Xia Dynasty was relatively tolerant toward women/husbands. Its laws explicitly permitted divorce from a husband if the marriage proved unsustainable.

But where would one go after a divorce?

In his previous life, many women found themselves without a home after marriage.

This place was no exception.

Therefore, his immediate priority was making money.

But not only was his original body poor, the Jiang family was poor too.

He wanted to start a bean product business, yet he had neither money nor beans—though the Jiang family owned fields, they didn’t grow soybeans.

Though his mind was full of worries, he showed none on his face. He picked up the large soup ladle he normally used for serving broth and began scooping tofu pudding into the willow basket.

Two catties of soybeans could yield about twelve catties of tofu pudding. After serving out three bowls, the remaining portion still amounted to ten catties.

He filled the entire willow basket with tofu pudding, packing it tightly. Then he laid a wooden board over the surface and pressed a clay jar filled with water onto the board.

In half an hour, the firm tofu would be ready.

Jiang Fuzheng watched him work while sipping his tofu pudding. Seeing the methodical efficiency, as if he’d done this before, Jiang Fuzheng felt puzzled but held his questions.

His gaze shifted to Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya.

Jiang Mai held his bowl of tofu pudding, yet his eyes never left Ye Li. His dark pupils darted about, lost in thought.

Jiang Ya stood before the cutting board, his little head bobbing as he ate.

Jiang Fuzheng couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

Just a bowl of tofu pudding, yet it was so utterly delightful.

After a moment’s thought, he said, “Ji’er, since you’re going into business, here’s what we’ll do. I’ll lend you twenty… no, ten catty.”

“I’ll lend you ten catty of beans, and you may use our family’s stone mill to grind the soy milk.”

“As long as you diligently make tofu, I’ll definitely lend you more beans later so you can keep this business going.”

“But you must never hit Xiao Mai or Xiao Ya again.”

The words came suddenly, yet they swept all Ye Li’s worries away.

A timely gift indeed!

His face lit up with gratitude as he promised, “Rest assured, I’ll never hit them again. I’ve truly turned over a new leaf.”

Jiang Fuzheng’s expression remained stern. “If you strike them again, you’ll kneel in the ancestral hall.”

“…Understood.”

Very well.

Time will reveal true character.

Jiang Fuzheng finished the tofu pudding in his bowl in a few bites, set it down, and added, “Now, come home with me. Bring back ten catties of beans.”

Ye Li agreed, then turned to Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya: “Wait here. I’ll be back soon.”

Jiang Mai held his bowl, his dark eyes fixed on Ye Li, saying nothing.

Jiang Ya chirped, “Okay!”

Ye Li couldn’t help but smile, murmuring “Such a good boy” before following Jiang Fuzheng out of the kitchen.

But upon hearing “Such a good boy,” Jiang Mai’s little face crumpled.

What on earth was wrong with that vicious fool…

Yezaopo Village was flanked by several rolling hills covered in jujube trees, hence the village’s name.

The village wasn’t large, with only twenty-two households, twenty of which bore the surname Jiang.

Jiang Fuzheng’s home sat in the village center.

As the Lizheng, he lived not only in a brick-and-tile house but also on a floor paved with smooth earthen bricks.

Jiang Fuzheng weighed out ten catty of beans on his scale, then led Ye Li on a tour of the other households in the village, promoting Ye Li’s tofu.

By the time Ye Li returned home carrying the beans, evening had fallen.

At the doorstep, he found the two little ones, Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya, squatting beside the well, chopping pig feed.

The brothers had been chatting, Jiang Ya’s small face still wearing a smile.

But upon seeing him return, the smile vanished instantly.

The clatter of chopping also quieted considerably, shifting from the clanging chop of the broken knife to a slow, deliberate slicing of the pig fodder.

Ye Li couldn’t help but curse the original owner in his heart once more.

Earlier, the original owner had scolded them for making too much noise while chopping fodder and had beaten them soundly.

After that, the brothers dared not chop loudly in front of the original owner.

He didn’t speak to them, instead carrying the beans straight to the kitchen.

Placing the beans beneath the cutting board, his gaze swept over the scene. The three earthenware bowls used earlier had been scrubbed clean and stacked neatly on the board. His expression softened.

Such sensible children.

He approached the stove, lifted the clay pot weighing down the tofu, and pulled back the burlap cloth. A tofu block shaped like a willow basket revealed itself.

He pressed it with his fingers. It felt firm yet springy.

He cut off a piece, intending to fry tofu puffs.

It wasn’t that he was impatient, but grinding soybeans was such grueling work.

Today, he’d used the large stone mill from Jiang Fuzheng’s house to grind soybeans into milk. He’d only pushed the mill for about ten minutes, yet his arms still ached now. That’s why he wanted to fry the tofu puffs immediately.

If this dish didn’t turn out well, he’d better change professions sooner rather than later.

First, he cut the tofu into small squares two fingers wide and thick. Then he opened the cupboard and took out a clay jar.

Only a thin layer of lard remained inside—barely enough for frying the puffs.

With preparations complete, he stepped to the kitchen doorway.

Seeing Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya each carrying a large basket of chopped pig grass toward the backyard, he called out, “Xiao Mai, Xiao Ya, which one of you can come help tend the fire?”

The original owner had left such a terrible impression on the two youngsters that no amount of sweet talk now would win their trust.

Therefore, he planned to spend more time with the brothers.

One concrete action spoke louder than a hundred sweet words.

Jiang Mai halted, astonishment filling his heart.

With Lizheng gone, this useless fool was actually being kind?

His eyes darted about before he replied, “I’ll do it.”

“Then feed the pigs first. I need to fry tofu.”

“I’ll go pick some garlic shoots now. After frying the tofu, I’ll make garlic shoot stir-fried tofu.”

Ye Li said with a smile.

Fried tofu?

Jiang Ya couldn’t help but swallow.

He wanted to eat it.

Jiang Mai saw his expression and knew exactly what he was thinking.

Jiang Mai grabbed his small hand and led him toward the backyard.

So what if it’s fried tofu?

Would they even get to eat it?

Grandpa Lizheng isn’t here!

That evil fool hasn’t beaten them today. Maybe he’ll start right after the fried tofu.

In the backyard, Jiang Mai dumped the grass from his basket into the pigpen.

They only had two piglets now, but this grass wasn’t enough. He and Jiang Ya returned to the front yard.

He instructed Jiang Ya to carry the remaining grass to the backyard and feed the chickens while he was at it, then hurried into the kitchen.

Seeing Ye Li standing at the cutting board, slicing garlic shoots, he said nothing. He sat down before the stove, picking up the fire tongs and flint.

“Should we start the fire now?” he asked.

“Yes, start the fire now. Keep it low—don’t add too much wood.”

Ye Li replied without looking up, still slicing the garlic shoots.

Jiang Mai’s small face flashed with surprise again.

Still being so gentle?

Unaware of Jiang Mai’s thoughts, Ye Li finished slicing the garlic shoots and carried the clay jar of lard to the pot.

Seeing the iron pot already steaming slightly, he poured all the lard from the jar into it.

When frying puffed tofu, the oil temperature shouldn’t be too high at first.

He dipped a chopstick into the oil. When bubbles formed where the chopstick met the lard, he dropped the sliced tofu cubes into the pot.

At this point, he had to stir quickly to ensure even heating.

Once the tofu cubes floated to the surface, he turned up the heat to raise the oil temperature higher, allowing the puffed tofu to set.

He said, “Xiao Mai, turn up the heat a bit.”

Jiang Mai added a dry log to the stove.

As the wood caught fire and the oil temperature rose, the aroma of fried puffed tofu began to fill the kitchen.

The tofu puffs expanded nicely.

But that wasn’t enough.

Without leavening agents, achieving a honeycomb texture and greater puffiness required frying them longer.

Only after about ten minutes were they properly fried.

This method produced fluffy tofu puffs that didn’t shrink back, resembling the ones sold in supermarkets.

Jiang Mai sniffed the aroma discreetly while puzzling over something.

Frying tofu simply didn’t require that much time.

What a bumbling fool—he can’t even fry tofu properly.

But he dared not voice this aloud, keeping it only to himself.

Amidst Jiang Mai’s silent grumbling, the puffed tofu was finally done.

Ye Li instructed Jiang Mai to turn off the heat. He scooped the plump puffs into a small clay bowl with a strainer, then ladled a spoonful of salt from the shaker and sprinkled it over.

He stirred them evenly to distribute the salt, then picked one up and took a bite.

Freshly fried, the puffs were light and fluffy, their honeycomb-like interior perfectly replicating the texture he remembered.

As for the taste, besides a subtle saltiness, they had a satisfying chewiness.

And the bean aroma was far richer than any store-bought version.

Successfully recreated!

There was no need to change careers just yet.

Finishing that piece, he picked up his chopsticks and skewered five puffs from each clay pot.

He handed two skewers to Jiang Mai: “You and Ya-ger try these.”

Jiang Mai stared at the skewers in disbelief. After frying for so long, the tofu wasn’t blackened or dried out—it was plump and puffy.

And what’s more!

This vicious fool actually offered them to him and Ya-ger?

“What are you staring at? Call Ya-ger over to eat. After you finish, help me tend the fire so I can fry some more.”

Ye Li pretended not to notice the little guy’s shock, simply shoving the skewers into Jiang Mai’s arms.

Jiang Mai took them somewhat awkwardly.

Seeing Ye Li cut another piece of tofu, he blinked, then grabbed the skewers and headed outside.

Who cares? At least it’s not poisonous. Eat first, worry later.

Just as he stepped out of the kitchen, he spotted Jiang Ya coming from the backyard, clutching the wooden scoop used for feeding chickens. He waved to Jiang Ya: “Come quickly! The fried tofu’s ready.”

Jiang Ya had already spotted the treat in his hand. He hurriedly set down the scoop and ran over.

Reaching him, Jiang Ya tilted his little head, a bit confused. “Is this tofu?”

Plump and round, just like candied hawthorn!

It looked so delicious.

“Yes, it’s tofu. Go ahead and eat some,” Jiang Mai handed him one skewer.

Jiang Ya took the string of puffed tofu and bit into the top one.

After chewing a few times, his eyes lit up again.

It looked puffy, but inside it was soft!

Delicious!

He looked at Jiang Mai.

Though Jiang Mai was also eating, his gaze was fixed on the kitchen door.

Jiang Ya couldn’t help saying, “Second brother, eat up! It’s so good.”

Jiang Mai gave a nod and turned his head back. Indeed, this fried tofu was tastier than he’d imagined.

Seeing Jiang Ya’s beaming face, he couldn’t help but smile too.

He took another bite of a puffed tofu piece and handed the remaining three skewers to Jiang Ya. “You eat these. I need to tend the fire for Li-ger.”

“Then eat two more yourself!” Jiang Ya refused to take them.

Something this delicious—second brother must be craving it too.

Hearing this, Jiang Mai took another bite but refused to eat the last two. “I need to tend the fire. If I’m late, Li-ger will be angry.”

Li-ger will be angry.

Those four words carried a certain weight.

Jiang Ya dared not refuse further and quickly reached out to take the skewers.

Watching Jiang Mai turn and enter the kitchen, he paused for a moment, then grabbed the two skewers and ran toward the room he shared with Jiang Mai.