The successful creation of tofu—and the reactions of Zheng Xiaoyue and her husband—allowed Jiang Huaiyu to glimpse the first rays of hope.
In that moment, she abandoned many of her earlier plans. Simply selling tofu alone could already provide a steady income. There was no need to create too many astonishing things and draw unnecessary attention.
Setting those thoughts aside for now, Jiang Huaiyu looked at Wang Dazhuang, deep in thought, and at Zheng Xiaoyue, still marveling at the tofu's tenderness. Her expression grew serious.
"To be honest," Jiang Huaiyu said, "the reason I demonstrated how to make tofu in front of you today… is because I have a favor to ask."
Zheng Xiaoyue seemed to understand immediately. Realizing how heavy this "gift" was, she instinctively tried to refuse. "This is too—"
"Please hear me out first," Jiang Huaiyu said quickly. Her eyes flickered as she seized on Zheng Xiaoyue's recent kindness and smoothly arranged a background story for herself. She covered her face and spoke softly, "Sister, you know I'm a woman cast aside by her husband. That heartless man wanted to marry a younger beauty—he wouldn't even spare a glance at his own flesh and blood. He drove me and my child out of the house."
Her fingers brushed her eyes. Her delicate skin flushed red at once, and when she looked back up, her eyes were misty with tears.
"Now I'm alone in a foreign place, with a child to raise. I must have a way to earn money. But I'm just a weak woman. Even if this tofu recipe is worth a fortune, if I sell it myself, I might be forced to hand over the secret after only one day."
She looked at Zheng Xiaoyue earnestly. "It's only because I met people like you—especially someone as kind as you—that I dare to hope. If you and Brother Wang are willing to help me, we can split the earnings evenly."
Zheng Xiaoyue had always been soft-hearted. And when she thought about it carefully—if they sold just a hundred pieces of tofu a day, that was already one hundred copper coins.
Save up a few taels, open a tofu shop in the county town, and they could earn at least one tael a day. Her son could attend a private school. Her daughter could wear new clothes.
Her husband wouldn't have to work himself to exhaustion anymore. She herself could finally live with some ease.
With such an opportunity laid before her, Zheng Xiaoyue nearly agreed on the spot—but reason pulled her back. She glanced at her husband.
Though usually quiet, Wang Dazhuang felt his blood stir. Jiang Huaiyu's words sounded like gold falling from the sky.
He had once traveled as far as the capital, yet even there he had never heard of tofu, let alone seen it.
That was why he understood clearly what kind of waves this small white block could stir up.
They said the bold might feast while the timid starved. For the sake of his wife and two children, he had to take this gamble.
After a moment's thought, Wang Dazhuang shook his head.
Just as the two women's expressions changed—thinking he was about to refuse—he spoke:
"Of the money we earn, Miss Jiang takes eight parts. My wife and I take two. That's the rule. We won't take more."
Looking at Wang Dazhuang's dark but resolute face, Jiang Huaiyu couldn't help but marvel at her good fortune.
She smiled calmly, didn't refuse, but instead proposed something else.
"How about this," she said. "I'll take only three parts. The remaining four parts will be set aside to open a shop and hire workers later."
Without question, this suggestion made Zheng Xiaoyue and her husband even more satisfied.
They were honest and kind—but not foolish. Jiang Huaiyu's proposal reassured them. It showed she wasn't someone who would slaughter the chicken for a few eggs.
A business like tofu—something no one else was making—would be best sold from a dedicated shop in the county town.
After a full morning of work and discussion, the partnership was settled. Wang Dazhuang solemnly insisted that Jiang Huaiyu accompany him to the village head's house to draft a formal contract.
It wasn't because he feared she might cheat them—but because he wanted her to have protection as well.
Amused yet helpless, Jiang Huaiyu wrote the contract herself. Under the couple's "just as expected" yet respectful gazes, she pressed her fingerprint onto the document.
The agreement was sealed.
As she left the Wang household, Jiang Huaiyu could already hear neighbors drawn by the lingering aroma of tofu, asking around about who was cooking something so fragrant.
Though her body ached all over, her eyes shone brightly with joy, without a trace of fatigue.
Outside the wall, Xu Chunhua had been crouching so long her legs went numb. She stood up stiffly, baring her teeth as she stretched.
She couldn't understand where Jiang Huaiyu got the confidence to sell tofu for one copper coin a piece—nor how tofu was even made in the first place.
Determined, she planned to replicate the process herself once she got home. With weeds and leaves stuck all over her clothes, Xu Chunhua slunk back.
With Wang Dazhuang handling the public side—hawking tofu from village to village—and Zheng Xiaoyue making tofu at home, Jiang Huaiyu only needed to control the preparation of the gypsum water.
Before long, she'd be living the carefree life of a small landlady. Just thinking about it felt sweet.
Lying by the bed, Jiang Huaiyu teased Tangbao. Before the little one could puff his cheeks in protest, she smiled with crescent eyes and murmured—whether he understood or not—
"Your mama's going to become the Tofu Queen very soon. Once we earn enough, we'll buy a house with a courtyard in the county town and send you to school. Life back then was always rushed… Maybe coming here was meant to teach me how to enjoy living. If that's the case, I'll conquer the world with tofu alone. A simple life isn't bad at all."
Because of Zheng Xiaoyue and her husband's honesty and kindness, Jiang Huaiyu let down her guard against the greed of the powerful.
She believed that as long as she didn't make any further waves, tofu alone wouldn't attract unwanted attention.
After thinking it through, aside from wishing for Tangbao's safe and healthy growth, her ambitions could be summed up in four words:
No great aspirations.
Wang Dazhuang and his wife were both hardworking people. Now that success or failure was fully tied to them, they worked with vigor and precision.
Zheng Xiaoyue made tofu at home. Jiang Huaiyu assisted. The finished tofu was then carried out by Wang Dazhuang, who went door to door selling it.
As expected, the very first board of tofu was sold out before he even left Wang Village.
When Wang Dazhuang returned, the excitement was plain even on his dark face.
"Twenty copper coins!" he said excitedly. "Just like that—we earned twenty coins!"
Zheng Xiaoyue gasped. "It really sells that well? I was worried people wouldn't buy what they'd never seen before."
Wang Dazhuang scratched his head. "It's thanks to Miss Jiang's idea. I brought a bowl of dipping sauce and shouted 'free samples.' One small piece per person. Even Scholar Liu came over out of curiosity. After tasting it, he praised it nonstop and bought two pieces right away."
In the Great Yun Kingdom, scholars held high status. Scholar Liu's position in Wang Village was even more prestigious.
If even a learned man praised it, how could ordinary villagers not buy at least one piece to try? What if their children became smarter after eating it?
Once they grew familiar with the process, tofu production became faster and faster. Wang Dazhuang sold from morning until night.
After just two days, the name "tofu" spread throughout the countryside. Even restaurants in the county town began asking whether any tofu dishes were available.
When people showed doubt or confusion, those who had tasted tofu would adopt a refined expression and begin praising its silky texture and versatile cooking methods.
The listeners might scoff outwardly—but curiosity inevitably took root.
What exactly was this tofu?
They all came from the same villages—why had others eaten it while they hadn't even seen it?
Under Jiang Huaiyu's careful guidance, a wave of hunger marketing swept through the entire county.
On a morning when dawn had barely broken, Wang Dazhuang loaded his shoulder pole: five boards of tofu on one side, and on the other, a small vat of tofu pudding that took a full-grown man to hug.
The donkey cart creaked as he headed toward the county town.
Standing at the courtyard gate, Jiang Huaiyu remained calm. Seeing Zheng Xiaoyue's nervous expression, she smiled.
"Don't worry, Sister," she said. "Let's continue making the afternoon batch."
"Yes!" Zheng Xiaoyue nodded. In her heart, she thought that even if tofu didn't sell well in town, they could always sell it in nearby villages.
Her tension eased, and she returned to work.
Soon, the tofu set firmly in the wooden molds. Jiang Huaiyu wiped her hands and placed the little tiger-head hat Xianghe had made onto Tangbao's head.
Tangbao's skin was fair and soft. His round, grape-like eyes sparkled brightly. His soft baby hair was hidden beneath the hat.
He seemed unaccustomed to wearing it—but seeing his mother's delighted smile, he grinned too, revealing two tiny rice-grain teeth.
Ridiculous. And unbearably cute.
So cute it made Jiang Huaiyu's heart tremble.
Just as she was playing with him, a knock sounded at the gate.
With Zheng Xiaoyue busy grinding beans, Jiang Huaiyu carried Tangbao to open the door—and was greeted by Xu Chunhua's smile, tinged with awkwardness.
Before stepping inside, Xu Chunhua's eyes darted around the courtyard. Then she smiled brightly.
"So that's why you haven't come by lately, dear. You've been busy helping them, huh? Is it that tofu everyone's been talking about?"
Suppressing her discomfort, Jiang Huaiyu cleared her throat. "Sister Wang couldn't manage alone. I just came to help, with the child."
"Oh…" Xu Chunhua replied absentmindedly, craning her neck to spy on Zheng Xiaoyue.
Jiang Huaiyu frowned. "Auntie, is there something you need?"
Xu Chunhua stiffened, then lowered her voice. "I've got relatives in the county town. They have connections with taverns and restaurants. Everyone says this tofu is a rare novelty—shame it's being sold by that ruffian Wang Dazhuang.
"I knew the moment I saw you that you were clever. This tofu must be your idea. Wang Dazhuang has a bad reputation, you know. Otherwise, why would something so rare still be sold for just one copper coin a piece?
"My relatives told me—if I sold it, they'd pay three coins per piece! Think about it. That's triple the price."
After living next to the Wang family for so many years, Xu Chunhua knew their background all too well.
This unheard-of tofu could only have come from Jiang Huaiyu's hands.