Chapter 11: Selling Tofu
Yu Juanfang’s gaze fell on Yu Yahong.
Yu Yahong had her own calculations. The family’s current dire situation was, at its core, because they could only scrape a living from the soil. The money from selling tofu might not be much, but it was an income. The only question was how the profits would be divided. It wouldn’t be fair for only the second and third branches to do the work while the fourth branch also got an equal share, would it?
Yu Juanfang thought for a moment, then addressed Old Madam Zhu. “Mother, since First Sister-in-law and Fourth Sister-in-law don’t want to do it, how about this: whoever makes the tofu gets a share of the money. We’ll be using the family’s stove and stone mill, so we’ll give twenty percent of the profits to you as a usage fee. Second Sister-in-law and I will split the remaining eighty percent evenly, forty percent each. What do you think?”
Old Madam Zhu had no objections. Twenty percent was a bit low, but it required no effort or money from her; she could earn it just by sitting back. Yu Yahong also agreed, feeling a thrill of excitement. The work points she earned were always converted to cash and handed over to the matriarch. This money, however, would go directly into her own pocket. It would be hers to control, to spend however she wished.
And so, the tofu plan was settled. The next day, Yu Juanfang had Su Huimin find a way to buy fifteen catties of soybeans from the black market. The black market soybeans were two cents more per catty than at the cooperative, but they didn’t require coupons and the quality was good. Under the cover of night, Yu Juanfang soaked the soybeans in a large vat.
…
When Yu Juanfang woke up at four in the morning, the fog was still thick, and the world was pitch black. The soybeans in the vat had absorbed enough water and were plump and round. She poured them into a large basin, and as she was washing them, she saw her second sister-in-law, Yu Yahong, already up and dressed, carrying water to rinse the stone mill.
The two shared a knowing smile. Just as Yu Juanfang poured the first batch of soybeans into the eye of the mill, she saw Su Juesheng, Tangtang, and the other children come out of the house. “Why are you all up?”
Tangtang held up a flashlight. “Mom, Second Aunt, making tofu is hard work. We might not know how to make it, but we can help grind the beans and tend the fire.”
Yu Juanfang put on a stern face. “We don’t need you. Your second aunt and I can handle this much tofu ourselves. You all go back to sleep.”
“Mom, your work in the fields is much harder than our schoolwork. I’m already well-rested. I’m not sleepy at all.”
“It’s the children’s filial piety. You shouldn’t refuse it,” Yu Yahong added.
Hearing this, Yu Juanfang sighed, but a gratified smile touched her lips. “Alright then. Tangtang, you hold the flashlight. Juesheng, you help grind the beans. Juexiao, you go to the kitchen and start the fire. Juesheng, you go wash the buckets and basins.”
The children set to their assigned tasks in an orderly fashion. With their help, the work went much faster. Just as the first sliver of dawn appeared in the east, the first pot of soy milk was boiled.
After the coagulant was added, the soy milk began to form into fluffy curds. It was then poured into molds and pressed with a heavy weight for an hour. The fifteen catties of soybeans yielded a total of 10 boards of tofu. Each board was 4 catties, for a total of 40 catties.
The two sisters-in-law placed the boards of tofu into two large wicker baskets. They rigged a wooden plank across the bicycle’s rear seat and tied the baskets to either end. With this setup, however, no one could ride on the back.
They discussed it and decided that Yu Juanfang would go to the black market first today to test the waters. Tomorrow, it would be Yu Yahong’s turn.
Tangtang stepped forward, puffing out her chest. “Mom, it’s Saturday, so there’s no school. Take me with you. I can be your helper. I know how to do arithmetic now.”
She was small enough to sit on the bicycle’s front crossbar.
Yu Juanfang considered it. “Alright, Tangtang can come with me.”
…
Yu Juanfang pushed the bicycle onto the main road. Tangtang sat sideways on the crossbar, gripping the handlebars. As Yu Juanfang began to pedal, the bicycle slowly started to move. The cool, damp morning wind on her face was refreshing.
The black market’s hours were irregular, but when security was lax, it was held every three days in a wooded area on the outskirts of town. This was not only a transitional zone between the town and the countryside but also had large fields nearby, allowing for a quick escape if there was a raid. They arrived around six-fifty, and many people were already setting out their goods.
Tangtang helped her mother lift the baskets off the bicycle. Yu Juanfang’s heart was pounding; she had no idea if anyone would buy their tofu.
Around seven o’clock, someone finally approached them.
It was a middle-aged man. “Tofu? How much per catty?”
“Twelve cents a catty,” Yu Juanfang said nervously.
She had based the price on the cost of the beans. Black market goods were usually a few cents more expensive than at the cooperative because they didn’t require coupons. She didn’t know if her price was too high or too low.
Tangtang saw the man hesitate and felt a pang of anxiety. She tugged on her shirt and spoke up. “Uncle, the tofu my mom makes is much more delicious than what you can buy elsewhere. It’s all ground from real soybeans on a stone mill, so the texture is incredibly smooth. You’ll know once you try it.”
The man was carrying a briefcase and looked like a cadre who worked in a government office. He looked at Tangtang with amusement. “You’re a sweet-talker, little girl. Doing business at such a young age? Are you in school yet?”
“I’m in the first grade.”
“Alright, then let me test you. If I want to buy one and a half catties of tofu, how much would that be?”
Tangtang hadn’t learned multiplication or division yet, but she knew that half a catty was five liang. She thought for a moment. “One catty of tofu is twelve cents. Half of twelve cents is six cents. So, five liang of tofu is six cents. One and a half catties is twelve cents plus six cents. In total, it’s eighteen cents!”
“What a clever girl!” The man laughed and took out thirty-six cents from his pocket, handing it to Yu Juanfang. “Give me three catties of tofu.”
Yu Juanfang was overjoyed. She quickly used a bamboo knife to cut three large pieces, weighed them on the portable scale she had brought to ensure it was exactly three catties, and then wrapped them in a lotus leaf. “Three catties of tofu. Here you go, sir.”
“I love tofu. If it tastes good, I’ll be back to buy from you again!”
“You bet.”
The first sale went unexpectedly well, and a warm feeling spread through both of them.
The aroma of tea eggs drifted over from a vendor across the way. They had rushed out at dawn without eating breakfast. Smelling the eggs, Tangtang couldn’t help but swallow, and her stomach let out an embarrassing gurgle.
Yu Juanfang clutched the thirty-six cents in her pocket and walked over to the vendor. Seeing this, Tangtang quickly called out, “Mom… I’m not hungry.”
“How much for a tea egg?”
“Ten cents each.”
Yu Juanfang counted out ten cents. “I’ll have one.”
The vendor smiled and used a strainer to fish out a fragrant tea egg from the large pot of dark broth.
Yu Juanfang pressed the warm egg into her daughter’s hand. “Eat it. You’ve been with us for so long and haven’t had a single egg. It’s only out here that you can get a whole one.”
The food purchasing station bought local eggs for fifty cents a catty. Old Madam Zhu couldn’t bear to let the children “waste” them. Plus, with so many kids, there were never enough to go around, so she saved them all to be sold.
Tangtang’s eyes stung when she remembered the egg cost ten cents.
The shell had been soaked a dark brown by the broth and was covered in a fine network of cracks. She peeled it away to reveal the egg white, marbled with enticing dark lines. When she broke it in half, she discovered it was a soft-boiled egg with a jammy yolk.
“Mom, let’s share.”
“Alright, alright.” Yu Juanfang, unable to refuse her, smiled helplessly and took the other half.
Only then did Tangtang take a careful bite. The egg white was firm and springy, the yolk rich and creamy. The savory flavor lingered on her palate.
After finishing her half, Tangtang’s eyes sparkled. “Mom, this egg is so delicious. Do you think so too?”
Yu Juanfang nodded. “It is.”
The method for making tea eggs wasn’t complicated. If it weren’t for the lack of eggs and ingredients at home, she would try making them for the children herself.
At this thought, her old recurring wish surfaced again: if only their third branch could live separately. She thought of her husband’s eighteen-yuan monthly salary. They could buy so many eggs with that. They wouldn’t have to live so frugally, where even half an egg was a luxury.
But there were more important things to do. A new customer had arrived at their tofu stall.
“I’ll take one catty of tofu.”
“Right away! Here you go, one catty. Our tofu is fresh, still warm from being made this morning. The texture is excellent.”
“I want two catties!”
“Coming right up.”
Yu Juanfang was in charge of cutting the tofu, while Tangtang handled the money.
Perhaps because that first sale had gone so well, a steady stream of customers soon followed. By eight o’clock, they had sold out completely.
Yu Juanfang had to rush back for her own work. They tied the empty baskets to the back of the bicycle, and she pedaled home with Tangtang, just as they had come.
It had been pitch black when they left, but now the sky was bright. Tangtang’s sharp eyes spotted a figure at the village entrance.
“Mom, it’s Dad!”
Su Huimin jogged up to them and helped lift the baskets off the bicycle, his face full of guilt. “I was planning to get up and help you this morning, but I overslept. Tomorrow, I promise I won’t oversleep. Those kids didn’t even wake me.”
Yu Juanfang hadn’t planned on waking him anyway. What did a clumsy man like him know about making tofu? And sending him to sell it was out of the question. His status as a teacher was sensitive, and the risk of getting caught was much higher.
But seeing his guilty expression, she couldn’t help but smile. “Well, don’t you oversleep tomorrow morning then.”
“I saved breakfast for you both. Let’s go home and eat.”
Yu Juanfang handed the baskets and the bicycle over to him and ruffled Tangtang’s hair. “Let’s go home.”