When Yan Yongfang was around twelve, she too had bullied Yan Xiaoyu and her younger brother, mainly to curry favor with Yan Xingsheng.

Back then, Yan Xiaobao was six or seven—that age when even dogs find you annoying. His arrogant nature was already beginning to show, and he loved to torment Yan Xiaoyu and his sister. Being younger, he felt some fear facing two older children.

So he demanded that Yan Yongfang accompany him.

As a girl, Yan Yongfang was overlooked in the Yan household. Only when caring for Yan Xiaobao would she receive a word or two of praise from his parents.

When Yan Xingsheng told her to watch over his brother, she complied, indulging Yan Xiaobao in everything. Yan Xiaobao, skilled at throwing tantrums and rolling on the floor, knew his sister feared angering their parents. He used this to threaten her into helping him bully others.

Years passed like this. As Yan Yongfang grew older, she seemed to realize her behavior was wrong and stopped aiding Yan Xiaobao’s bullying. Occasionally, when she couldn’t bear to watch, she would even step in to stop her brother.

Beyond that, she was no different from her parents—she despised the Yan Xiaoyu family from the bottom of her heart.

To call this girl truly wicked would be an exaggeration. Compared to her siblings, she was almost conscientious—though her past complicity in their cruelty was undeniable.

Now, with the two households openly feuding over business, her sudden appearance here signaled nothing good to Yan Xiaoyu.

Sure enough, Yan Yongfang wore a displeased expression, her opening words dripping with accusation.

“I saw someone carrying tofu out of the market—it really was you two.” She glanced at the clothes Yan Xiaoyu and his brother wore, her eyes clouding with confusion. “You’re doing quite well for yourselves now. Why aren’t you satisfied? Why must you antagonize the Qian family?”

Yan Xiaoyu shot her a cold stare. “Everyone runs their business with their own skills. What? Is the Qian family some kind of exceptional family? They can run a tofu business, but we can’t?”

Yan Yongfang had long knew Yan Xiaoyu had changed. Even though he had shut him down with a few words, she still felt angry.

“The Qian family is wealthy and powerful! They’ve been making tofu in Lantai Town for years! Your family has a cripple, a stutterer, and two unmarriageable son and daughter. What skills do you have to compete with the Qians?!”

Yan Xiaoyu rolled his eyes in exasperation.

Every member of the Yan family’s eldest branch, regardless of age or gender, shared the same arrogant disposition. He simply couldn’t fathom where this family got their nerve.

“Right, our family’s crippled and stuttering, with two unmarriageable children—utterly useless.” Yan Xiaoyu locked eyes with Yan Yongfang, suddenly flashing a mocking smile. “Then why the rush? My stall’s only been open half a day, and you’re already drooling over it. What, is the Qian family so weak they can’t even compete with a bunch of good-for-nothings like us? Do they need a little girl like you to intimidate them?“

”Yan Xiaoyu!“ Yan Yongfang’s eyes widened in fury. ”I’m doing this for your own good, do you understand?!”

She pointed toward the market exit, in the direction of the Qian family’s tofu shop. “This spot is practically right next to the Qian family’s shop! You chose to sell tofu here just to deliberately provoke the Qians! If you really push them too far, you and Yan Xiaoyue—one ger, one girl—can you really handle the Qian family’s wrath? Can your lame father protect you?!”

“For our own good?” Yan Xiaoyu’s lips twisted into a mocking smile. “When the Qians deliberately undercut our prices to drive us out, you didn’t utter a word. But now we’ve set up our tofu stall in town, and you rush over like this? That’s for our own good?”

Yan Yongfang gritted his teeth. “You two stole the Qian family’s business with your tofu and got Xiaobao thrown in jail. How dare you blame me and the Qians now?”

“Yan Xiaobao brought it on himself. Besides, it was your beloved big brother who personally escorted him to the magistrate’s office. You can’t pin that on me. As for the Qian family’s tofu business—” Yan Xiaoyu’s eyes crinkled with laughter, his expression innocent, yet his words dripped with malice. “If you insist I’m stealing the Qian family’s business, then I’ll show you how to do it properly.”

“You!” Yan Yongfang was rendered speechless. Finally, she glanced at the table piled high with tofu and buckets of tofu, then sneered disdainfully.

”What good is your sharp tongue? You two have been fussing about all morning, and how many pieces of tofu have you sold?“

Her gaze fell on the empty bowl in front of Yan Xiaoyue: “You sure ate a lot. Does the money from selling tofu even cover one meal for your sister?“

Yan Xiaoyue felt wronged. The copper coins they earned today filled an entire box—she couldn’t even count them all. How could it not be enough for one meal?

But she wasn’t good at arguing. In the end, she only replied honestly, ”It’s enough. We earn it. It’s enough for us to eat.”

“You earned enough?!” Yan Yongfang’s voice rose sharply. “Yan Xiaoyue, are you already telling tall tales?”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a customer approached the stall: “Owner, pack me another portion of fermented tofu. My mother bought half a portion this morning—it’s truly delicious. She said this stuff keeps well, so I’ll buy another portion to take to my father-in-law tomorrow for his drinks!”

“Sure thing! You really know your stuff—this stuff is perfect with liquor.” Yan Xiaoyu responded warmly, taking the copper coins from the customer’s hand and tossing them into his wooden box.

Yan Xiaoyue quickly pulled out an oil paper bag and carefully scooped the fermented tofu inside with wooden tongs.

Yan Yongfang, who had been standing nearby, heard the clink of coins landing in the money box and stared in disbelief—Yan Xiaoyue hadn’t been exaggerating!

She knew that sound all too well. If there hadn’t already been a layer of coins inside, the new ones wouldn’t have made that distinct clink.

She’d spotted the fermented tofu bowl on the table the moment she walked in, but her attention had been on the tofu and tofu pudding. She hadn’t paid it much mind, yet now it seemed that this stuff was selling quite well—already a repeat customer after just half a day?

After the customer left, Yan Yongfang pointed at the fermented tofu and asked Yan Xiaoyu, “Is this food made from tofu too? Where’s the recipe from?”

“What business is it of yours?” Spotting the probing in her eyes, Yan Xiaoyu shot her a sour look.

The Yan Xingsheng family had been bouncing around him all day long. Just when Yan Xiaobao had finally gone inside, this Yan Yongfang was already getting on his nerves. It was truly annoying.

Her face flushed red.

“Fine, I won’t ask! It’s just some crappy food—why are you treating it like it’s some kind of treasure?” Yan Yongfang was furious at his impatient attitude.

“Yan Xiaoyu, I’m warning you one last time. Today I’ll let it slide, but tomorrow you’d better not sell tofu here again. Otherwise, Qian Hong and his father won’t let you off the hook.”

Yan Xiaoyu was so furious she almost laughed. “What if I insist on staying?”

“Then you’ll see!”

Yan Yongfang spat out the threat before storming off without a backward glance.

Yan Xiaoyu’s temper flared, and his expression darkened afterward.

Several stall owners nearby had witnessed the commotion. The man selling buns beside them sighed, “So Qian Hong’s daughter-in-law is actually related to you?! But she’s outrageous—who just asks for recipes like that?”

The others chimed in with agreement.

Yan Xiaoyu had no interest in discussing this with outsiders. He gave a perfunctory reply and left it at that.

Yan Yongfang and Qian Hong were so disgusting. The resentment welled up inside him, and if he didn’t vent it, he wouldn’t sleep a wink tonight.

Yan Xiaoyu secretly pondered how to retaliate against the Qian family’s tofu shop. Before long, he had a plan.

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

The afternoon market was less crowded than the morning, so Yan Xiaoyu took the opportunity to comfort his older sister, Yan Xiaoyue, who had been frightened earlier.

“Sister, we’re running a legitimate business here. We’ve paid our taxes and are protected by the authorities. Don’t be afraid. Those customers are just people with two eyes and a mouth—nothing to be scared of. You’re new to selling food, so feeling uneasy is normal. I’m here with you. If you don’t want to smile, don’t smile. If you don’t want to talk, don’t talk. When customers come, we just take their silver, pack the food neatly, and hand it to them…”

Yan Xiaoyu thought his sister was quite something, but Yan Xiaoyue was actually quite ambitious.

“Well, Mother said we can’t always rely on you for everything.”

After saying that, she begged Yan Xiaoyu to teach her how to hawk the wares. Yan Xiaoyu bellowed a few calls at the top of his lungs for her to imitate. Still nervous, she closed her eyes and managed two shaky shouts—her voice trembling—but at least she’d opened her mouth.

Later, when the crowd thinned, Yan Xiaoyu handed the stall over to Yan Xiaoyue and strolled over to the Qian family’s tofu shop.

The Qian family’s tofu shop hadn’t been affected much at all; business was actually quite good today. When Yan Xiaoyu arrived, three people were already buying tofu at the front of the shop.

Yan Xiaoyu didn’t approach, only watching from afar. He waited nearby for a while, finally catching the right moment.

A gruff-looking old man, carrying a bamboo basket, was just about to head toward Qian’s Tofu Shop when Yan Xiaoyu intercepted him.

“Grandpa, I’d like to ask you something. Is that shop up ahead Qian’s Tofu Shop?”

Yan Xiaoyu flashed the old man a smile.

The old man lifted his eyelids and glanced at him. ”Of course it is! Can’t you read? It’s written right there in big letters—‘Qian Family Tofu Shop’!“

Yan Xiaoyu feigned confusion. ”Really, the Qian Family Tofu Shop? That’s strange! How can the same tofu be sold at two different prices? In Beiling Village, they sell it for four coins a block, right? And the tofu looks the same size as here!“

The old man grew flustered: ”What are you saying? Qian’s tofu sells for only four coins in Beiling Village?! I’ve bought from Qian’s many times, but I’ve never seen tofu sold for four coins a block!”

Yan Xiaoyu nodded. “My family lives near Beiling Village. My mother just bought tofu from Qian’s yesterday.”

“Well, well! Qian’s sure knows how to make a buck! They sell tofu for four wen in Beiling Village, but charge us five here!”

The old man’s face turned ashen with anger. He stormed off toward Qian’s Tofu Shop.

Yan Xiaoyu hid around the corner and watched. Before long, a commotion erupted at the Qian family’s place, drawing a crowd of onlookers.

“What? I’ve bought tofu here for years at five coins, yet you sell it to your fellow villagers for just four?!”

“So we’re the suckers getting ripped off! No more buying here, no more!”

“Fine, count this one at four coins. But what about all the ones I bought before?!”

“Big shop bullying customers! They clearly think they can take advantage of us just because they’re the only tofu shop in town!”

“There’s more than one now. I passed the market earlier and saw someone hawking tofu, though it wasn’t on the main street, so I didn’t go check.”

“We should switch where we buy from now on. The Qian family is too bullying!”

“I’ll head to the market later and see if there’s a tofu stall.”

“…”

Yan Xiaoyu had only intended to cause trouble for the Qian family, but unexpectedly, he’d also attracted customers to his own stall. He felt a surge of satisfaction, his heart light with delight, and returned home cheerfully.