Tasting
Zhou Dalang agreed.
Xiao Qian then grabbed a child and pulled them out, saying, "It's time for class. Be careful, or the teacher will punish you."
The mill was not far from the school, and they arrived in just a few moments. As they emerged from the crowd and turned a corner, they saw Master Zhuang standing at the intersection, looking in their direction.
Xiao Qian quickly led the two children forward and apologized, "Master Zhuang, these two children have caused you trouble."
Master Zhuang smiled and said, "It's nothing." It's also time for class. "Why is it so lively over there?"
Xiao Qian smiled and replied, "Isn't the winter solstice approaching?" The people in the village are preparing snacks for the children.
Master Zhuang nodded in agreement.
The Winter Solstice break was also observed by the school, lasting for three days.
Before the end of the school day, Master Zhuang announced the good news, and everyone was overjoyed.
Man Bao was also very happy and was already whispering to Bai Shanbao about where to go for the three days.
When the children were about to leave, Master Zhuang, however, took the two children to the courtyard. Man Bao spoke first, "Master, we have completed the assignments you gave us."
"Good," Master Zhuang nodded. "So, I have decided to give you some more assignments for the next three days."
This time, the holiday was too short, and they had just returned to school after the last break. Master Zhuang was always strict; therefore, despite knowing that the students were restless, he did not cancel the break.
Master Zhuang understood the importance of balancing work and rest. The assignments he gave during the holidays were not particularly extensive, but there were some exceptions for Bai Shanbao and Man Bao. This time, Master Zhuang assigned them two additional texts to memorize.
These were two texts they had not read before, and Master Zhuang asked them to memorize them. "I will check when the break is over."
The two children could only agree and took their assignments before leaving.
As they walked together, Man Bao invited Bai Shanbao, "My family is going to make tofu." "Do you want to come and see?"
Bai Shanbao didn't understand, "What's so interesting about making tofu?" "I want to go catch loaches."
"No, both sides of the river have been thoroughly searched by my fourth brother and the others," Man Bao said. "We have to wait until next year." Otherwise, if we catch them now, there won't be any left to eat next year. Aren't you curious about how beans are turned into tofu?
Bai Shanbao wasn't curious, but he still followed Man Bao to the Zhou family to take a look.
It was said that the Zhou family was making tofu, so Mrs. Liu specially sent Rong Yi to teach Xiao Qian how to make tofu.
When they arrived, the tofu had already been made and was placed on a table in the courtyard. The object was covered with a layer of gauze and pressed with a water bucket.
Man Bao curiously approached to take a look, and Xiao Qian lifted a layer of gauze for her to see, smiling, "Thanks to Rong Yi's help, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to make it."
After saying that, she turned to Bai Shanbao and said, "When you go back later, take some with you and taste our tofu tonight."
Man Bao, seeing that it was white, took a piece and ate it when no one was looking. Just then, she saw Bai Shanbao looking at her...
Man Bao discreetly spat out the tofu and, noticing Bai Shanbao's gaze, whispered, "It's not safe to eat raw tofu."
Bai Shanbao: ...Isn't that obvious?
The tofu made by the Zhou family was very successful, and there was a large quantity of it.
Before, Man Bao had not mentioned how much tofu could be made from a pound of beans. Xiao Qian estimated that she had soaked five pounds of beans, assuming they would be able to consume them all at home. Who knew they could make so much tofu.
Xiao Qian estimated that there were about forty pounds of tofu.
She poked the tofu to check its firmness, then proceeded to cut it with a knife.
Standing under the eaves, Xiao Qian nodded and said, "Set aside two bowls, one to be sent to the Bai family and one to the village chief's house." The rest, pack some to take to Master Zhuang.
She looked at the time and said to Zhou Sirlang, "Master Zhuang is probably going to the city today. You should take over now."
Zhou Sirlang agreed. Because he was afraid the tofu would break, he used dried lotus leaves from home to line the bottom of the basket before putting the tofu in.
After Xiao Qian had set aside what needed to be sent, she said, "The rest will be left until tomorrow." When you go back to your mother's house, take some with you to let the family taste it.
Xiao Qian and the others were happy to hear this news and agreed.
Man Bao ran to Xiao Qian and asked, "Mother, can I also go to Uncle's house tomorrow?"
Xiao Qian smiled and said, "Your older brothers can go." Will you stay at home with your mother?
Man Bao pouted and was not very happy. "I haven't been to my uncle's house to play for a long time."
Xiao Qian patted her on the head and smiled, "There will be guests at home tomorrow, so mother can't leave."
Unless Xiao Qian went back to her family on her own, Man Bao usually did not visit her own family. It was usually Zhou Dalang and Xiao Qian who took a few of the younger ones back, and it was the same during the New Year.
When Man Bao heard that there would be guests at home, she immediately perked up and asked curiously, "Who is it?"
"Among the important guests, there is a beautiful girl." "Tomorrow, you can help your mother see if you like her."
Man Bao was quick-witted and immediately thought of the teasing that Zhou Sirlang had received in the morning. Her eyes lit up. "Oh, I see." It's nice to see Fourth Brother, isn't it?
Xiao Qian smiled and didn't say anything.
Indeed, it was for Zhou Sirlang.
Before Zhou Sirlang enlisted in the military, Xiao Qian had already consulted a matchmaker, but the matchmaker had not responded. She also knew that it was probably because people in the surrounding villages had heard about Lao Si's gambling, so they were not willing.
It wasn't until the house was completed that the matchmaker arrived. She brought two candidates, but Xiao Qian was not satisfied without seeing them; therefore, she refused to meet them.
It was probably because the candidates proposed by the matchmaker were not very good.
Although Xiao Qian didn't usually go out much, she couldn't remain unaware of the affairs of several villages. With so many sons growing up one after another, it was inevitable that they would be married off. When Zhou Dalang first mentioned marriage, she had visited several villages nearby.
She knew how many girls each family had, their family background, and their reputation. Despite not going out much in recent years due to her poor health, there were still people who came to visit. With Xiao Qian, Xiao Qian, and Feng Shi, the matchmaker couldn't deceive her with unsuitable matches.
This time, she finally agreed to meet because she wanted to see the girl's family and also because she wanted the two children to meet.
Man Bao couldn't keep it to herself and immediately went to find Zhou Sirlang, telling him to dress nicely the next day. She even assisted Zhou Sirlang in taking the new clothes that Zhou Wulang had made the previous year. "Wu Ge, I'll give them back to you after Si Ge meets the pretty girl."
Zhou Wulang didn't mind much, but he looked at Zhou Sirlang with suspicion and asked, "Can you fit into them?"