The wheels began to turn, swaying slightly with the bumps in the road.
Taking advantage of the moment, Jiang Qingli pressed her arm a little tighter around Shen Li’s waist.
Fireworks exploded in her heart.
Oh my god! This feeling!
These firm muscles!
Was the old Jiang Qingli an idiot or something?
How could she possibly look down on such a top-tier man?
Did she have eyes on the back of her head?
As Shen Li pedaled, the muscles of his waist and abdomen contracted rhythmically. The heat of his body seeped through the thin layer of clothing, making her cheeks flush.
A light breeze brushed past, and she noticed fine beads of sweat forming on the back of his neck. A few loose strands of hair swayed gently with his movements, glinting with an amber sheen under the sunlight.
As if possessed, she leaned forward and gently pressed her face against that warm patch of skin.
The muscles beneath her hand instantly tensed, like a startled beast.
Jiang Qingli subconsciously wiped the corner of her mouth.
“Jiang Qingli.” Shen Li’s voice carried a dangerous warning from the front.
What was wrong with this woman? Why was she clinging so close to him?
She used to avoid him like the plague, especially when she saw the scar on his face, her disgust always impossible to hide.
So why, today, had he actually seen a trace of surprise in her eyes?
“I feel dizzy!”
Jiang Qingli spoke first, her voice so sweet it could drip honey.
Feeling the bicycle suddenly speed up, she quickly tightened her hold around him, the corners of her lips curling into a sly smile.
The early summer breeze swept past the poplar trees lining the dirt road, their rustling leaves sounding as if they were quietly laughing at this bold act of teasing.
Jiang Qingli buried her face against Shen Li’s back and secretly took a deep breath. Even his sweat smelled good, this man was an absolute jackpot.
“Sit properly.” Shen Li let out a helpless sigh, his back unconsciously straightening.
So she was just carsick.
That made sense. As the young lady of the Jiang family, how could she be used to riding this kind of old-fashioned bicycle?
The wheels rolled over the gravel road and soon entered the courtyard of the Qingshui Tofu Shop.
Reluctantly, Jiang Qingli loosened her grip, but not before sneaking in a light pinch at the man’s lean waist.
After all, this man was her husband now.
Hehe!
Pushing open the courtyard gate, a rich aroma of soybeans mixed with the mellow scent of fermenting rice yeast rushed toward her.
Jiang Qingli took a deep breath, the familiar smell instantly relaxing her expression.
“Brother Wang, how’s the fermentation going?”
Wang Dagou had arrived earlier. Seeing her, he quickly waved her over. “Xiao Jiang, come smell this, it’s even richer than yesterday!”
He lifted the gauze covering the clay jar, revealing tofu blocks that had turned a pale bluish-green. A layer of glossy mucus coated the surface, glistening strangely in the morning light.
Jiang Qingli crouched down, the sunlight filtering through her thick lashes and casting faint shadows across her cheeks.
She gently picked up a piece with bamboo chopsticks. The inside had already developed a soft, honeycomb-like texture, and the translucent mucus stretched into fine strands.
She nodded in satisfaction. “The fermentation is just right. We can deliver it to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative today.”
Hearing this, Yu Weidong eagerly rubbed his hands and hurried over, the cuffs of his army-green shirt still stained with bits of tofu residue.
“Quick, let me taste it!”
The day before yesterday, Wang Dagou had sent him a sample. He had immediately invited all the cooperative staff to try it, and to his surprise, everyone had loved the flavor.
Seeing the usually composed Director Yu acting so comically, Jiang Qingli pressed her lips together in a smile and picked up a trembling piece of tofu with her chopsticks, handing it over. “Be careful, it’s spicy…”
Before she could finish, Yu Weidong had already taken a bite.
After three days of fermentation, this small piece of tofu had completely transformed. It melted in the mouth, rich and fragrant, spicy yet fresh, far more delicious than the semi-finished sample he had tried earlier.
“Amazing! This is absolutely amazing!” Yu Weidong finished it in a few bites, his hands trembling with excitement.
He pulled a crumpled slip of paper from his pocket. “Comrade Xiao Jiang, you have no idea, the day before yesterday when I took the sample to the county Supply and Marketing Cooperative, Secretary Xie happened to be there on an inspection…”
Lowering his voice, he added, “The secretary took one bite and immediately said it should be promoted across the entire county!”
At the time, the Hairy Tofu had only been a half-fermented product. If Secretary Xie saw the fully fermented version now…
Wouldn’t he be even more delighted?
Shen Li looked at the courtyard full of clay jars in disbelief. All of this was Jiang Qingli’s doing?
He had only been gone for a few days. What on earth had happened?
And since when had she become so familiar with Yu Weidong?
This tofu…
Even Secretary Xie, Xie Wenyuan, already knew about it?
No wonder Yu Weidong had rushed to the compound looking for Jiang Qingli earlier today.
Just what had this woman done?
He remembered that she used to hate tofu, finding it bland and tasteless. So why now…
Shen Li’s gaze unconsciously settled on Jiang Qingli.
In the morning light, she was smiling as she adjusted her apron. The tips of her hair shimmered with flecks of gold, and two shallow dimples danced on her cheeks.
Was this woman really Jiang Qingli?
“S-Secretary Xie?”
On the other side, the bamboo ladle in Wang Dagou’s hand clattered to the ground, his dark face filled with shock.
He had never imagined that this small batch of tofu would attract the attention of Secretary Xie Wenyuan.
The honest farmer’s eyes widened, every wrinkle on his tanned face etched with disbelief. His rough fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of his clothes as he stammered, “R-really… Secretary Xie from the county?”
“Of course!”
Yu Weidong straightened his back, as if he himself had been praised. “Secretary Xie said this is ‘an old method used in a new way’ and wants to promote it as a model!”
Hearing this, no one was happier than Wang Dagou. He quickly picked up a piece of Hairy Tofu and offered it to Shen Li. “Assistant Shen, have a taste too! Xiao Jiang says this tofu goes perfectly with corn porridge!”
In his eyes, this small piece of tofu had already become the key to changing his fate.
If they truly earned Secretary Xie’s recognition, perhaps their Qingshui Village tofu workshop could be awarded the title of “model unit.” When that happened…
Looking at the chili-coated piece in his hand, Shen Li hesitated before taking a bite.
In an instant, the rich aroma of soybeans exploded in his mouth. The outer layer’s mild spiciness stimulated his taste buds, while the inside was soft as silk, savory and perfectly balanced.
The flavor reminded him of the bland bowl of corn porridge he ate after work every day. If paired with this…
“Well?” Wang Dagou rubbed his rough fingers together, looking at Shen Li expectantly.
Hearing the question, Jiang Qingli unconsciously tightened her grip on the edge of her apron.
It was just ordinary Hairy Tofu, yet she found herself caring deeply about Shen Li’s opinion.
After all, this was the first time since transmigrating into this era that she had earned recognition through her own skills.
Sunlight filtered through the trees, scattering dappled shadows across the man. She quietly lifted her gaze.
Shen Li’s Adam’s apple bobbed noticeably.
In the morning glow, his sharply defined profile seemed rimmed with gold, even the scar on his face appearing softer.
His throat moved again as he looked at Jiang Qingli, his expression complicated.
Since when has this woman learned such a skill?
“It’s… not bad,” he said quietly, his voice slightly tight as he met her expectant gaze.
Hearing this, Jiang Qingli couldn’t help rolling her eyes inwardly.
This man was really stubborn. His eyes were clearly shining, yet he still spoke so reluctantly.
Just as she was thinking this, a rustling sound came from the corner of the wall.