The Butcher's Little Husband - Chapter 68

The busy day passed quickly. Except for Li Amu, who was still a little upset, everyone else was fine. 

Soon, though, Li Amu let it go. After all, if the New Year wasn’t celebrated well, the whole year would be bad! Whatever happens, they could deal with it after the New Year.

As the saying went, “On the twenty-fifth, grind the tofu.” 

Tian Xiaoman had soaked the beans yesterday, and he and Ayun had agreed that Tian Xiaoman would grind his family’s beans first thing in the morning.

As soon as the sky lightened, Tian Xiaoman woke up Li Wenxuan, urging him to get up and carry the beans. 

Li Wenxuan was reluctant; it was so cold, and he was so warm wrapped up with his husband. He didn’t need to slaughter pigs, so wouldn’t it be better to sleep a little longer? Besides, what difference did it make whether they ground the tofu early or later?

Tian Xiaoman didn’t see it that way. If they wanted to have a good life next year, everything had to start with a good omen.

Li Wenxuan had no choice but to get dressed, and Tian Xiaoman followed suit. “You don’t have to get up. One of us going is enough.”

“No! I promised Ayun I would be the first to grind.”

“Then what’s the difference if I go? I’ll just say you sent me.”

“I also want to drink soy milk…” Tian Xiaoman finally admitted his real reason. He just wanted to drink soy milk and eat tofu pudding. 

Usually, Ayun’s husband ground tofu near the county town, and the villagers didn’t do it because they thought it was too much trouble.

Li Wenxuan shot him a knowing look, then poured out the water warmed on the stove and washed Tian Xiaoman’s face.

Tian Xiaoman laughed and quickly put on his clothes, jumping up with excitement.

Once they were ready, Li Wenxuan carried two buckets, each with half the beans.

“Brother Ayun, I’m here!” Tian Xiaoman called from a distance as he saw the light coming from Ayun’s tofu shop.

When he entered the tofu shop, he saw not only Ayun, but also his husband and two young men. There was also a big, goofy donkey chewing something in its mouth.

“Xiaoman, you’re here, give the beans to him.” Ayun pointed at his husband, then motioned for Tian Xiaoman to sit with him by the fire.

The tofu maker’s surname was Fu, and his name was Fu Chunsheng. Li Wenxuan and he had studied together when they were young, but Fu Chunsheng only studied for a year before stopping.

Fu Chunsheng looked up at Li Wenxuan, smiled at him, then began putting the beans into the millstone, one spoonful at a time. He urged the big, silly donkey to start grinding.

White soy milk flowed out of the millstone and quickly filled a bucket. The two men poured the soy milk into the pot, lit the firewood, and began to cook the soy milk.

After a while, the soy milk boiled, and Tian Xiaoman took out a large earthenware jar from the basket, asking someone to fill it for him. He wasn’t someone who only cared about eating for himself.

After filling the bowl, he told Ayun to fill up if he wanted some, then called for Li Wenxuan. 

The two of them went back with the soy milk first since making tofu wasn’t something done quickly.

On the way back, they met several villagers carrying beans to make tofu. 

Tian Xiaoman greeted them warmly, and Li Wenxuan suddenly realized that Tian Xiaoman seemed to know more people than he did.

It wasn’t his fault, really. He hadn’t been home for all those years. while all these newly married men had settled here during that time. How could he recognize them?

Once they got the soy milk back to the house, Tian Xiaoman asked Li Wenxuan to call everyone for breakfast, then went into the kitchen to quickly make some egg pancakes to eat with the soy milk.

By the time the pancakes were done, the others were awake. Xiaoman lined up the bowls neatly, added a spoonful of sugar to each, and poured in the hot soy milk from the jar.

Le-ge’er, still rubbing his sleepy eyes, climbed up to the table eagerly. He was ready for soy milk and pancakes.

After the family enjoyed their warm and lively breakfast together, everyone went about their own tasks.

Tian Xiaoman and Li Wenxuan kept an eye on the tofu, while Li Amu prepared things in advance for the New Year. 

Li Yiran spread red paper on the table, preparing to write couplets and blessings.

Father Li, a hunter, looked big and strong, but in fact, he was the one cutting the window decorations.

This year was the Year of the Monkey, and next year would be the Year of the Rooster. Father Li was cutting out a big, proud rooster. 

Le-ge’er sat next to him, chin in hand, confused about how a square piece of paper could become a rooster.

Father Li was delighted to see Le-ge’er watching so seriously. His little grandson didn’t usually want to be around him, so seeing his interest made Father Li feel appreciated. He then decided to cut out a lamb for Le-ge’er, since it was his zodiac sign.

Little did he know that Le-ge’er had been planning this, which was why he’d sat there for so long. Once he got the lamb, he ran out to show it to Brother Lin.

By the time Tian Xiaoman and his friends arrived at Ayun’s house, their first bucket of tofu had already been made and was being pressed. The second bucket was still boiling in the pot.

After adding brine to the soy milk, it quickly turned into tofu pudding. Tian Xiaoman, feeling regretful from drinking so much soy milk earlier, patted his full stomach.

A man who resembled Ayun brought over a board with sides and a piece of white gauze in the middle.

He carefully ladled the tofu pudding onto the board, filling it up, then placed another board on top. He stacked the boards together, placing a heavy stone on top to squeeze out the excess water.

While Tian Xiaoman and his friends chatted, the tofu was ready.

Fu Chunsheng took a sharp knife and cut the tofu into several neat pieces. Then, he placed the tofu into the buckets they had brought, filling two large buckets.

Tian Xiaoman counted out twenty coins and handed them to Ayun. In this village, the price was the same for everyone: one plate of tofu for one penny, which was very cheap.

Li Wenxuan lifted the pole again, the buckets swaying on either end, and called to Xiaoman. 

The two of them walked home together, slowly and contentedly, along the crisp winter road.