Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Continue Running!
Translator: 549690339
On the left of the Qiao family’s small courtyard was a vegetable patch, and beside it was a well. By the well stood a simple stove, used by Qiao Changshun to boil medicine.
As the large iron pot was occupied by soy milk, Qiao Xiaomai had to use the small stove to cook the pig’s feet.
She cleaned the pig’s feet, cut them into pieces, then placed them in a pottery jar, added water, and began to heat it over high heat.
After removing the blood from the pig’s feet, she retrieved them and poured the water out of the pottery jar, then filled it again with clean water.
She put the pig’s feet back in, and also added green onions, ginger, and soybeans.
“Dami, come and keep the fire going.” Qiao Xiaomai called Qiao Dami over, “Use a small flame and let it burn for a while.”
Qiao Dami, who had been hovering around Qiao Xiaomai, obediently sat next to the well and tended the fire.
It was already evening by then. The sun was hanging in the west, emitting an orange glow that bathed the little courtyard of the Qiao family in beautiful colors.
After all the chores, Qiao Xiaomai finally took a moment to catch her breath.
It had been quite a tumultuous day.
Thinking back to the incident at noon, she took a stool into the kitchen.
“Dad, 1’11 take the tofu to the Tong family and our ancestral house later. I’ll handle the Tong family, and you go to the ancestral house.”
According to Qiao Dami, Tong Tiehu not only had Tong Sanlang drive the ox cart to chase after her, but he also specifically prohibited people from viewing the noon spectacle.
With such consideration from Tiehu, regardless of his reasons for helping her, she must express the gratitude she owed him.
As for the old yard of the Qiao family, Qiao Qinghe had helped her, and he was an elder. So, the tofu had to be delivered.
However, if she did not go to the old yard, Zhu Cuiying might accuse her of stealing silver. If she did go, there was no telling what Zhu Cuiying might invent. So, it was more appropriate for Qiao Changshun to deliver the tofu to the old yard.
Qiao Changshun agreed to this, saying simply,”Okay.”
After waiting a bit longer, Qiao Xiaomai looked at the bamboo basket and a faint smile appeared on her face.
The tofu was ready!
She moved the stone mill aside, took the wooden board away, and then lifted the gauze cloth.
The pure white tofu had been pressed into the size of the bamboo basket, soft and springy to the touch.
She broke off a small piece and tasted it. The smile on her face broadened.
The taste was good, she could sell tofu to make money now!
It was getting late. She quickly cut two large pieces, “Dad, 1’11 go to the Tong family first. You can bring this piece to the old yard after the soy milk is done.”
Qiao Changshun agreed.
Qiao Xiaomai left the house and went straight to the Tong family, arriving there a quarter of an hour later as the night had completely fallen.
The moon rose, casting a blurred veil over the entire Anping Village.
Qiao Xiaomai was not in the mood to appreciate the moonlight, she knocked on the iron gate of the Tong family.
Footsteps approached, and the familiar voice of Tong Sanlang was also heard, “Who is it?”
“Tong Sanlang, it’s me,” Qiao Xiaomai replied.
Upon hearing her, Tong Sanlang moved faster towards the gate. He opened the iron gate and, in the moonlight, scrutinized Qiao Xiaomai’s face, “What, your grandmother caused trouble again?”
Qiao Xiaomai stammered, “…1… I’m here to deliver tofu.”
She raised the basket in her hand towards Tong Sanlang, “Just like the jelly, this is a new food that I have come up with. I brought some for Grandpa Tong and you to try.”
Tong Sanlang looked inside the basket at the tofu, then reached out his hand.
Qiao Xiaomai, in her hurry, handed the tofu over. This time, she didn’t use a plate; she just put the tofu directly into the basket.
“It tastes good, whether it’s eaten cold, stir-fried, or boiled. They’re made from soybeans,” Qiao Xiaomai explained, then hurried her speech, “You should go back, Tong Sanlang. My dad and Dami are waiting for me at home, I need to go back for dinner.”
Before he could respond, she turned around, grabbed her basket, and ran away..