Wang Dagou was bent over, loading baskets of tofu onto his ox cart one after another.
Sweat rolled down his dark face, glistening under the sunlight.
Suddenly, as he turned around, one of the bamboo baskets lost its balance and was about to crash onto the ground.
In that split second, a sturdy figure shot forward like a cannonball.
“Bang!”
Jiang Qingli used her round body to catch the basket firmly, looking exactly like a human shock absorber.
“Phew…”
She let out a long breath. It seemed all this extra weight hadn’t gone to waste. At critical moments, it could even serve as an airbag.
“Goodness, thank goodness for you!”
Wang Dagou wiped away his sweat. When he looked up and realized that the person who had helped him was Jiang Qingli, Shen Xiaohua’s sister-in-law from yesterday, surprise filled his face.
She could actually be this kind-hearted?
Jiang Qingli steadied the basket and brushed the dust from her clothes. Her gaze casually swept across the tofu baskets on the cart before she asked,
“Brother Wang, are all these tofu blocks meant for today’s delivery to the supply and marketing cooperative?”
The moment she asked, Wang Dagou’s already weary expression became even more dejected.
“Don’t even mention it. None of this tofu can be delivered today. I still don’t know how I’m supposed to explain this to Director Yu from the cooperative…”
He had originally planned to throw away the spoiled tofu and then personally apologize to Director Yu.
If he failed to fulfill the delivery this time, there was no telling whether Director Yu would revoke his supplier qualifications.
The more Wang Dagou thought about it, the more miserable he felt, and he let out another heavy sigh.
“Ah…”
Following his gaze, Jiang Qingli noticed several bamboo baskets sitting in the corner, covered with thin layers of gauze cloth.
Curious, she walked over and lifted one corner.
A sour, fermented smell immediately rushed toward her.
The tofu inside was covered with white mold, as though it had been dusted with a thin layer of snow. The originally neat tofu blocks had become mottled and uneven.
“It’s all my fault. I got back too late yesterday and didn’t pack them in time. The weather’s been getting hotter lately. I never expected the tofu would mold after just one night…”
Wang Dagou squatted beside the baskets, staring at the ruined tofu with a face full of sorrow. His voice was slightly choked with emotion.
The novel had mentioned that after Wang Dagou’s wife died during childbirth, he had raised his son Wang Jun alone, supporting them by supplying tofu to the cooperative.
Every month on the twenty-fifth, Yu Weiguo, Director Yu of the supply and marketing cooperative, would bring inspectors to check the goods. Only qualified tofu would be accepted into storage and distributed to cooperative members through ration coupons.
If he failed to deliver, not only would he lose this month’s work points, he might also lose his supplier status altogether.
Thinking of this, Jiang Qingli crouched down as well and picked up a piece of tofu for closer inspection.
Under the sunlight, the mold seemed to shimmer with a peculiar luster. When she brought it closer, she detected a surprisingly distinctive aroma.
Suddenly, she remembered a food program she had once seen on television.
Hairy Tofu.
It was famous for its unique fragrance and texture, with the saying that tasting Hairy Tofu meant experiencing a different kind of life.
Although historical records contained many references to Hairy Tofu, this was still a world inside a novel. Judging by Wang Dagou’s reaction, he clearly knew nothing about it.
At once, Jiang Qingli’s eyes lit up.
“Brother Wang, I have an idea!”
Wang Dagou never expected Jiang Qingli to come up with any useful solution.
Could she be trying to mooch some free tofu?
Suspicion immediately surfaced in his eyes.
“This tofu is already spoiled like this. What kind of solution could there be? Don’t make fun of your big brother here.”
“I’m serious!”
Jiang Qingli explained earnestly, “I once read that this kind of mold-covered tofu can be turned into a preserved delicacy. We can sterilize it with strong liquor, then cure it with salt and chili. Not only will it have a unique flavor, but it can also be stored for a long time.”
Seeing that Wang Dagou was still hesitant, she continued,
“If we succeed, we might even be able to present it to the cooperative as a new product. Doesn’t Director Yu always talk about diversifying the supply of side dishes?”
Product variety in this era was extremely limited, and there were no modern refrigeration systems.
As the weather grew hotter, fruits and vegetables would spoil quickly.
If Hairy Tofu could be successfully produced, perhaps she might even discover a new way to make money.
After all, opportunities had to be created.
Upon hearing Jiang Qingli’s explanation, Wang Dagou’s eyes suddenly brightened.
Director Yu often dragged him to meetings and lectures, so he wasn’t completely unfamiliar with new ideas and experimentation.
Besides, people said Jiang Qingli had once been the daughter of a wealthy capitalist family in Shanghai. The books she had read probably outnumbered the meals he had eaten.
And judging by how she had treated Shen Xiaohua’s injuries yesterday, she didn’t seem like someone who spoke empty words.
Thinking of that, hope appeared in his eyes, only to dim again a moment later.
“But… would the cooperative really accept something that smells this bad? What if people get stomachaches from eating it?”
Fear of failure was only natural.
Life was already difficult enough for everyone.
Jiang Qingli continued to encourage him.
“If we don’t try, how will we know? It’s still better than throwing all this tofu away, isn’t it?”
“Brother Wang, do you have any liquor and seasonings here? Let’s start right now!”
Looking at the bright-eyed young woman before him, Wang Dagou suddenly felt warmth rise in his chest.
She was right.
If they didn’t try, they would never know.
Besides, all this tofu was already spoiled. Even if they failed, the outcome would be no different from now.
It would all end up in the trash anyway.
He nodded firmly and headed toward the house.
“I do! There’s still half a jar of sorghum liquor left from last year. The salt and chili are on the stove.”
As they spoke, the ringing of a bicycle bell sounded from the distance.
Jiang Qingli looked up and saw a middle-aged man in a blue cadre uniform riding toward them.
The leather briefcase hanging from his handlebars was especially eye-catching under the sunlight.
“Oh no!”
Wang Dagou’s face instantly turned deathly pale.
“It’s Director Yu from the supply and marketing cooperative! He must be here to inspect the goods…”
The moment she saw Wang Dagou’s expression, Jiang Qingli understood how serious the situation was.
Normally, Director Yu didn’t arrive until the afternoon.
For some reason, he had come early today.
Her eyes quickly swept across the courtyard.
The baskets of moldy tofu were still piled against the wall, while the ox cart carried less than half the required amount of good tofu.
There was no way they could meet the cooperative’s quota.
“Brother Wang, don’t panic.”
Lowering her voice, she spoke rapidly.
“Go greet Director Yu first and try to keep him occupied. I’ll move these moldy tofu baskets into the backyard.”
Wang Dagou’s hands trembled uncontrollably.
“B-but we’re short by too much. Even if we hide them…”
“Trust me!”
Jiang Qingli gave him a firm push.
“Just tell him today’s production fell short and that you’ll deliver the remainder this afternoon. I promise I’ll have the Hairy Tofu ready by then!”
The bicycle bell drew closer and closer.
Taking a deep breath, Wang Dagou forced himself to calm down and headed toward the entrance.
Meanwhile, Jiang Qingli sprang into action.
She swiftly stacked the baskets of moldy tofu together and was just about to carry them into the backyard when a loud voice rang out from the gate.
“Old Wang, why isn’t the cart loaded yet today?”