Chapter 81: The Master and his Lady
Lu Jiao kept some inside the pot to let it boil for longer. Then, she scooped out a bowl of soy milk for the four little ones and Xie Yunjin. As for everyone else, she only allowed them to try a sip. The remainder of the soy milk will be made into tofu by adding gypsum. If everyone got a bowl of soy milk, there wouldn’t be enough to make tofu.
As for the actual process of making tofu, Lu Jiao only taught that to Lady Tian. She also taught her what gypsum was.
The finished mixture was placed inside the container Lu Jiao made to be pressed.
The Lu family surrounded the containers and refused to leave. They wanted to be the first to witness whether or not this thing will turn into tofu.
If successful, the Lu family was going to be craftsmen in the future. Their family will never be as poor as before.
The brothers were very happy.
Lu Jiao took the soymilk to give to Xie Yunjin to try.
“This is soy milk. It’s good for your health. Come, try some.”
The quadruplets who just tried their share of soy milk ran inside and started to blabber to Xie Yunjin.
“Daddy, it’s really yummy. Drink it.”
“It’s aromatic and sweet.”
“Mommy said for lunch, we can eat tofu, which is made from this.”
Xie Yunjin took the bowl and asked Lu Jiao, “Did you drink some?”
Lu Jiao nodded, “I did.”
She only took two sips. She wasn’t that interested in soy milk as she’s had plenty in her previous life.
Xie Yunjin didn’t say much and started to drink the soy milk. The first gulp brightened his eyes. This tasted great. Very delicious.
After he drank, a circle of white foam formed around Xie Yunjin’s lips. Lu Jiao laughed. This man was looking like a cat who just stole food.
Xie Yunjin found this strange, “What are you laughing at?”
The First Born was eager to answer, “Daddy, you have something on your lips. Here.”
Xie Yunjin wiped himself and felt the soy milk. So Lu Jiao was laughing at him.
He glanced at her almost angrily but that only made Lu Jiao laugh harder. She turned her head around and asked, “Didn’t your daddy look like a kitty who just stole food?”
Xie Yunjin’s face turned dark and he stared at Lu Jiao coldly.
Lu Jiao got up to leave. Behind her, Xie Yunjin hissed, “Get a piece of cloth and wipe my hand.”
Lu Jiao grunted and ignored him. The four little ones went to comfort their old father.
“Daddy, you didn’t look like a cat who stole food. Mommy was wrong. You looked more like an old man with a white mustache.”
“No, you look more like a dog with a stripe of white fur.”
On the bed, Xie Yunjin’s face dropped. Those metaphors were worse than a stealing cat.
Outside the room, Lu Jiao heard the discussion and couldn’t help but laugh.
Inside the yard, the Lu family continued to stare at the containers. Lu Jiao checked the time and felt that it was ready.
She said to Lu Gui, “Take off the rock. The tofu should be formed.”
Lu Gui happily took away the rock that pressed onto the tofu, then threw away the plank used to separate the rock from the container. Below, he saw the delicious and fresh-looking tofu.
The Lu family all laughed, “We made tofu. This is so great.”
Lu Jiao went into the kitchen to grab a knife, and then divided the tofu into a few pieces. She observed and then nodded in satisfaction, “Hmm, not bad. For your lunch, I’ll pan fry some, braise some, and stir fry some with vegetables.”
There were so many good dishes that could be made with tofu. Mapo tofu, for example, would be amazing to eat. Since she didn’t have all the ingredients needed for that, she had to go with a few simpler recipes.
The Lu family, however, was overjoyed.
Other than the few tofu dishes, Lu Jiao also made some sweet and sour ribs, as well as pork hock with beans.
Since she still only had one pan, it took her a long time to cook everything.
She didn’t even have enough bowls and chopsticks and had to borrow some from the Second Grandma. Lu Jiao decided to go into town tomorrow and stock up the kitchen.
In the afternoon, the first and second Lu brothers were ready to take their mom home.
Lady Tian, however, didn’t leave. She stared at her sons and daughters-in-law and said, “Tomorrow, Jiaojiao is going into town to talk to Dr. Qi. If things go as expected, surgery will happen in two days. There won’t be anyone here to take care of the four little ones so I cannot leave right now. I will return after your brother-in-law has surgery.”
The two brothers didn’t argue and bid farewells to Lu Jiao and Xie Yunjin.
Lu Jiao stopped them and handed them a few pieces of paper. There were drawings of the equipment needed to make tofu, “Ask dad to buy a stone mill and some cheese cloths to use as a filter. Then, buy some wooden boxes that can be used to contain the tofu while it’s being shaped. Get some buckets as well. I’ve drawn all of those things here. Take these and do as I have said. By the time mom is back, you’ll be ready to make tofu.”
The brothers nodded and smiled, “Okay, we will go prepare right away.”
The brothers’ wives also waved at Lu Jiao, “Sister, go back, there’s no need to walk us out. Remember to visit.”
Lu Jiao gestured for the quadruplets to say bye to everyone.
The four little ones waved their little hands, “Uncle, aunty, goodbye. Come back soon for playdates.”
The first aunt’s heart itched at the sight of those four. She promised herself to beat up her son once she went back home. His son was older than them but behaved so much more poorly.
In the afternoon, Lu Jiao took the time to make the children pajamas. They were easy to make. All she had to do was to make a simple sleeveless pullover. For the bottom, she made some plain pants.
Lady Tian had never seen clothes like this and found them very intriguing. She stayed with Lu Jiao to make the clothes inside the west bedroom.
The Third and Fourth Born refused to leave and watched on the side. The First Born spent time with his dad while the Second Born continued to practice fighting in the yard. The two puppies excitedly circled around his feet.
The entire home appeared peaceful and tranquil.
This continued until Xie Xiaobao ran inside and shouted, “Third aunty, you have guests.”
Lu Jiao’s head hurt. Who was it now?
She got up to greet the guests and found an oxcart outside the trellis. There were two elders sitting on the cart.
Lu Jiao didn’t recognize them and wondered if they were at the wrong address. Despite this, she asked warmly, “You are…?”
The way these two stared at Lu Jiao was rather strange. It took a long time for the elder man to speak.
“I am Master Chen from the Town of Qili. I was Xie Yunjin’s teacher. I heard he was. .h.i.t by a horse carriage so I am here to visit him.”
Lu Jiao searched her memory. This Master Chen was the teacher who told Xie Laogen Xie Yunjin had talent and urged him to send Xie Yunjin to school.
Xie Yunjin was very much indebted to this man. That thought deepened the genuine grin on Lu Jiao’s face.
“Ah, it’s Master Chen and Lady Chen, please come in.”
The two shot her another look and entered without another word.
Lu Jiao felt like they looked at her weirdly but she couldn’t figure out why they would.
Inside the east bedroom, Xie Yunjin was thrilled to see Master Chen and struggled to get out of bed.
Master Chen stared at him for a few seconds before he walked to him and stopped him, “It’s alright. Since it’s not convenient, you don’t need to get up.”