HCB Chapter 245 Tofu Rice
Chapter 245 Tofu Rice
As soon as she saw Xiuying, she ran over impatiently, at a speed that was astonishing.
She ran and shouted happily: "Sister!"
Xiuying was startled by her sudden action and quickly took a few steps back. An embarrassed look appeared on her face and she said, "You should just call me Aunt Xiuying."
Xiuying frowned, feeling very uncomfortable with Ma Caifeng's address.
Ma Caifeng acted as if she didn't hear anything and continued to say with a smile, "Sister, do you think my dress looks good?" She turned around in front of Xiuying, showing off her new look.
Xiuying sighed helplessly and said, "It looks good, but please stop turning around. I'm feeling dizzy." After that, Xiuying turned her head away and stopped looking at Ma Caifeng and walked towards Mrs. Sun.
Mrs. Sun, Mother Yang and Xiuying were talking in the main room.
Mrs. Sun said to Xiuying seriously, "Xiuying, you have to persuade Qingfeng. Ma Caifeng is not an ideal marriage partner for Qingfeng. Look at her personality. Not only is she lazy and greedy, but she's also crazy all the time. How can she take good care of Qingfeng?"
As Mrs. Sun spoke, she kept shaking her head, her face full of worry.
After hearing this, Xiuying smiled and said, "Don't worry, sister-in-law, Qingfeng has someone he likes, and that person will definitely not be Ma Caifeng." Xiuying's tone was very firm.
Mother Yang listened from the side, stamping her feet anxiously. She said, "Oh, I know everything you said, but I don't know what my son is thinking. He won't tell me anything. It really drives me crazy."
Mother Yang's face was full of anxiety, and she kept twisting the handkerchief in her hands.
Aside, Xiuying's servants were busy preparing tofu rice. Some were washing soybeans, some were preparing the stone mill, and still others were preparing various seasonings and ingredients for cooking. Everyone was busy and happy, each doing their own job.
Wang Daya rolled up her sleeves, tied an apron, stood beside the millstone, and skillfully pushed the handle of the millstone with both hands. The millstone made a "creaking" sound as she pushed it.
The soybeans were ground bit by bit into fine soy milk, which flowed slowly along the edge of the millstone and fell into the bucket prepared below. Beads of sweat oozed from Wang Daya's forehead, but her movements did not slow down at all, but instead became more powerful.
Nearby, Li Dongmei quickly poured the ground soy milk into the pot and began to boil it. Wang Daya, too, was busy preparing the brine for the tofu pudding. Her technique was deft, and her use of seasonings was perfectly balanced; she was clearly a master at making tofu pudding rice.
Soon, the soy milk in the pot began to boil, emitting bursts of rich soy aroma. Wang Daya skillfully poured the brine into the pot and gently stirred it, and the soy milk gradually solidified into fresh and tender tofu pudding.
"Alright, the tofu pudding is done!" Wang Daya shouted, her voice full of pride. The women gathered around, looking at the white, tender tofu pudding, and couldn't help but praise Wang Daya's superb craftsmanship.
The servants deftly arranged the tofu pudding, carefully mixing the various seasonings, and preparing everything perfectly. The tofu pudding was emitting steam, and the colorful and fragrant bowls of seasonings were so delicious that one could hardly resist the sight of it.
Afterwards, the clever Wang Daya quickly ran to the main hall and said respectfully, "Madam, Mrs. Sun, Old Madam, the tofu pudding is ready. Please move to the courtyard to eat."
She bent down slightly, with a flattering smile on her face, and her voice was clear and loud.
In the main hall, Xiuying was chatting animatedly with Mrs. Sun and Mother Yang. Upon hearing Wang Daya's report, Xiuying smiled, stood up, and said, "Let's go try this tofu rice." She reached out and gently adjusted the hem of her skirt, her gesture as graceful as the mistress of a wealthy family.
Mrs. Sun also stood up and responded, "Okay, this aroma makes my stomach growl."
She patted her belly, her face full of anticipation.
Mother Yang also said with a smile, "Come on, come on, don't keep everyone waiting too long." She took small steps and followed Xiuying and Mrs. Sun towards the yard.
In the courtyard, Sun Huahua was already sitting with her sisters Taohua and Shiliu, chattering and laughing. With Awang and Afan added, the table was completely full, with no empty seats left.
The table where Xiuying, Sun's wife, and Yang's parents sat was located at the front of the courtyard, clearly the main table. It was laden with a sumptuous feast, and the aroma of tofu pudding emanated from it. However, there were no extra chairs. Everyone's faces were smiling as they waited for the meal to begin.
Ma Caifeng's eyes darted around, searching for a seat. Suddenly, she saw an empty seat next to Yang's father. Delighted, she was about to scurry over when she saw Yang Qingfeng stride over and plop down. Yang Qingfeng stood tall and straight, his handsome face gleaming even more dazzlingly in the sunlight.
Ma Caifeng had never seen Yang Qingfeng so closely before, and she was stunned when she saw him. She stared at Yang Qingfeng so intently that she couldn't bear to blink, and her heart was beating like a little rabbit.
Yang Qingfeng's sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, high nose bridge, and slightly upturned mouth corners, every one of them fascinated Ma Caifeng. She just stood there blankly, completely forgetting where she was.
Oh my, I, Ma Caifeng, am such a lazy person with such good fortune! Look at Yang Qingfeng, he is a scholar, a handsome man, so many girls are eagerly hoping that he can take a look at them.
But he actually likes me! What does this mean? It means that I, Ma Caifeng, am very charming! And he has such a rich older sister, Xiuying. If I marry him in the future, I will definitely live a life of luxury and wealth.
Those who once looked down on me will now have to look at me differently. Perhaps in the future I can live in the city with Qingfeng, wearing gold and silver, and having maids to serve me when I go out.
Humph, when the time comes, I will definitely show off and let everyone know how well I, Ma Caifeng, am living!
Ma Caifeng was lost in thought, completely immersed in the fantasy of a beautiful life in the future, when someone suddenly slapped her.
She was startled and came back to her senses from her fantasy in an instant. Her face became gloomy and she turned around and was about to get angry.
After seeing that the person coming was her mother Tian Fuping, her anger subsided a little, but she still felt a lot of resentment in her heart.
Tian Fuping pulled Ma Caifeng to sit at the servants' table and pressed the chopsticks into her hand, urging her, "Eat quickly, my girl. The tofu won't taste good if it gets cold."
Tian Fuping's face was full of eagerness, and his eyes were full of desire for food. The tofu pudding was tender and fragrant, and the white rice was white and smooth. He could eat three big bowls by himself.