After one trip to the riverbank, Jiang Huaiyu returned home with her face nearly stiff from forcing polite smiles.
She had turned down three widowers introduced by well-meaning village women, all eager to set her up for a second marriage. As for those probing her past under the guise of concern, she either responded with silence and a faint smile or deftly changed the subject.
She simply couldn't get along with women whose only daily entertainment was gossiping about others. In the end, Jiang Huaiyu chose peace—staying home and focusing on teaching Tangbao how to speak.
Aside from that, she devoted her time to recreating the mouthwatering dishes she remembered, and life passed by comfortably enough. Especially after Tangbao learned to call her "niang"—she had lost all composure and jumped three feet into the air on the spot.
Because of this, she failed to notice that a few unfamiliar faces had begun appearing in the village, quietly gathering information. Fortunately, when she had renovated the house earlier, she had raised the surrounding walls. Even though those people were clearly curious and wanted to investigate further, they were unable to see inside.
The Wang Dazhuang household next door was not so lucky. The entire tofu-making process was observed clearly. However, tofu's most crucial component—gypsum—was the very thing outsiders could never figure out. Without understanding that key point, no amount of anxious guessing would ever yield real tofu.
Until one day, when Jiang Huaiyu delivered prepared gypsum water to the Wang family, she was spotted by a servant from the Yan household.
Not long after, the news that the tofu recipe was actually in Jiang Huaiyu's hands reached Yan Er.
Yan Yang, who delivered the report, hesitated for a moment before adding,
"That widow… she's rather good-looking."
"Hah."
Yan Er was in a fine mood now that the truth had been confirmed. Hearing this, he teased,
"Yan Yang, are you complaining that I sent you to watch over a mere widow? Fine. Tonight we'll go to Baihua Pavilion and cleanse your eyes. Tomorrow, gather everyone and follow me to rescue this poor little widow."
Yan Yang's pockmarked face flushed. He realized Yan Er had misunderstood his meaning, but when he thought of the beauties at Baihua Pavilion, he let out a lecherous chuckle and quickly lowered his head in agreement.
The next day, the sun was already high when Jiang Huaiyu finished cooking. Just as she was about to feed Tangbao his porridge, loud pounding echoed from the courtyard gate.
When she opened the door, she saw Xu Chunhua standing there with a smug look on her face. Behind her were several men dressed like household servants, all standing deferentially behind a sharp-featured man with a narrow face and an air of wealth about him—his eyes openly filled with amazement.
So this little widow truly was beautiful.
Yan Er looked her up and down, his astonishment growing by the second.
After giving birth, she still looked as tender and radiant as a young maiden of sixteen. His throat tightened, heat pooling in his lower abdomen. That tofu recipe—worth a fortune and promising endless profit—he must obtain it.
But such a fresh, alluring beauty… how could he possibly let her go?
Jiang Huaiyu instantly became wary. Yan Er's gaze made her feel physically sick. She subconsciously pulled the door half-closed and asked coldly,
"What business do you have?"
Yan Er shoved aside Xu Chunhua, flicked open his folding fan, and struck what he believed was a dashing pose.
"I heard the county's tofu comes from Wangjia Village. I didn't believe it at first. Who would've thought that such muddy land could bloom twin lotuses—delicious tofu, and a beauty like jade."
"…."
Jiang Huaiyu immediately understood the situation. Her heart sank, but her expression remained calm.
"I've eaten the tofu myself. It is good. But it's made by Brother Wang next door. It has nothing to do with me."
Yan Er snapped his fan shut. He interpreted her denial as fear—surely she was being threatened and dared not speak the truth. His expression turned solemn.
"Do not be afraid, young lady. I am a young master of the Yan family. I've heard the tofu recipe has fallen into the hands of wicked people, and the silver you receive each month is pitifully small. Why not hand the recipe over to me? I own a two-courtyard residence in the county—you may live there. As long as you're in the city, no one will dare trouble you."
Jiang Huaiyu nearly failed to catch her breath. With a sharp bang, she slammed the door shut, ignoring the pounding that followed. She returned inside and scooped Tangbao into her arms.
After being shut out, Yan Er's expression darkened. Without even looking at Xu Chunhua, he spoke with undisguised menace,
"Didn't you say she was forced to hand over the recipe? Then why does she dare treat me like this?"
She had called Jiang Huaiyu a widow earlier—now it was young lady. Xu Chunhua sneered internally but smiled obsequiously on the surface.
"Young Master, you misunderstand. She likely doesn't yet know your great reputation. If you punish the vicious neighbors next door and show her your authority, she'll surely present the tofu recipe with both hands in exchange for your protection."
Yan Er thought it over and found it reasonable. Remembering Jiang Huaiyu's fleeting, breathtaking appearance, a surge of misplaced tenderness rose in his chest. He waved his hand grandly.
"Smash the door next door. Beat anyone you see!"
Though Jiang Huaiyu had retreated inside to think, she listened closely to the sounds outside. Hearing Yan Er's order, she hurriedly placed Tangbao on the bed and rushed out.
The moment she opened the door, boom—Wang Dazhuang's courtyard gate was kicked open by two servants, revealing a startled Zheng Xiaoyue and Wang Dazhuang, who had stopped grinding soybeans mid-motion.
"Who are you people?! Are you insane, kicking down our door? Is there no law anymore?!" Zheng Xiaoyue screamed.
Yan Er caught sight of Jiang Huaiyu approaching from the corner of his eye and immediately signaled his men to stop. With righteous indignation, he declared,
"You two dare bully the helpless widow and child next door? I am here to uphold justice—how dare you still shout!"
Jiang Huaiyu stared at him in disbelief. She had expected brute force, not this absurd performance of moral righteousness.
Which asylum did this lunatic escape from?
Zheng Xiaoyue and Wang Dazhuang were equally baffled. Seeing Jiang Huaiyu, they hurriedly called out,
"Yuniang, what's going on?"
Stepping past Yan Er's group, Jiang Huaiyu quietly said beside Zheng Xiaoyue,
"I don't know them. They're probably here for the tofu recipe—or Xu Chunhua is stirring trouble again."
Yan Er caught a whiff of fragrance as Jiang Huaiyu passed by and instantly felt intoxicated. But seeing how naturally she interacted with Zheng Xiaoyue, without the slightest distance, made him hesitate.
Xu Chunhua panicked inwardly and hurried to patch things up, whispering,
"Second Young Master, I think the young lady simply doesn't know who you are yet. Forced by circumstances, she has no choice but to bow her head."
Sure enough, Yan Er's muddled, lust-driven thoughts shifted immediately.
In his eyes, Jiang Huaiyu's anger and cold expression became silent endurance. Zheng Xiaoyue's comforting gestures turned into fear that Jiang Huaiyu might hand over the recipe, prompting her to coax and pressure her instead.
If not for his desire to gain both wealth and woman, Yan Er would have already dragged the Wang couple to the authorities.
"Young lady, do not fear. Hand over the tofu recipe to me, and I guarantee no one will trouble you. The Yan family still carries weight in Qingyang County," Yan Er stepped forward, greedily scanning her from head to toe.
"Hand it to you?"
Jiang Huaiyu laughed in anger. "So you mean to take my things without paying even a single tael of silver?"
And you as well, Yan Er thought to himself, though he didn't say it aloud. He nodded matter-of-factly.
"Do not worry. If I sell the tofu, you'll naturally receive a share of the profits."
Jiang Huaiyu raised a brow.
"How much of a share?"
"One-tenth."
Yan Er raised a finger and even wagged it, smiling confidently.
Jiang Huaiyu laughed instead of raging. Pointing at the gate, she snapped,
"Get out. Right now. I don't need your protection, and stop looking at me with those disgusting eyes. The tofu recipe is mine—so what? Who I do business with is my choice. If you dare disturb us again, I'll report you to the authorities!"
After being berated mercilessly, Yan Er's expression turned ugly. He glanced once at the burly Wang Dazhuang, then turned and left without another word.
Even Xu Chunhua was caught off guard. Staring at Jiang Huaiyu's furious gaze, she subconsciously followed them out.
The moment she stepped outside, Yan Er's palm struck her face with a sharp smack, leaving her seeing stars.
"Wretch! You dared treat me like a fool?"
Yan Er ground his teeth. Only now did he realize that the tale of a widow oppressed by vicious neighbors was a lie—this lowly woman had merely used him to vent her grudges.
If not for the tofu recipe truly being in Jiang Huaiyu's hands, the violent rage in his chest would have been fully vented on Xu Chunhua.
Had he not feared drawing the attention of other powerful merchants and nobles if matters escalated, he would have seized both the woman and the recipe on the spot.
Thinking of how he'd been played by a peasant woman—and how his siblings would mock him if they found out—Yan Er kicked Xu Chunhua again in disgust. Her two children watched from the doorway, unmoved, as their mother was beaten.
Yan Er sneered coldly, climbed into his carriage at the village entrance, and returned home, contemplating what methods he could use to obtain both the tofu recipe and the woman.
As his desires piled higher and higher, countless dark schemes formed in his mind.
Xu Chunhua only struggled back to her feet after they left. Dusting herself off and baring her teeth in pain, she merely snorted. Casting a resentful glance at the shattered wooden door of the Wang household, she finally revealed a satisfied smile.
"Heh. Silver in hand—two hits are worth it."
Doing something so harmful and selfish, she felt not the slightest guilt. Patting off her clothes, she returned home and resumed beating and scolding her children.
The atmosphere in the Wang household, however, was heavy.
Wang Dazhuang fumed,
"I'll go speak to the clan elder. If that man dares step into the village again, we'll beat him out!"
Zheng Xiaoyue pinched him hard and scolded,
"And give them an excuse to talk? Haven't there already been plenty of people asking about the tofu recipe? Do you want Yuniang to hand it over?"
Wang Dazhuang fell silent.
What worried Jiang Huaiyu wasn't that. Recalling Yan Er's gaze, she knew she wasn't being narcissistic—he likely wanted more than just the tofu recipe.
She had never once considered remarriage. How could she ever be willing to submit to a man like that?
She didn't know much about the Yan family, but judging from the number of servants Yan Er had brought today, they clearly held real power in the county.