LGSLAW : Chapter 25 – Tofu Pudding

A few days after the village assembly, Miao He had to deliver vegetables again, so he chose this day to go to town with Yang Dalang to transfer the land deed.

That day, they first delivered the vegetables, then went to the medical clinic to deliver a gift on behalf of Second Aunt Yang. Dr. Ji was delighted with the tomatoes they brought and even offered to check Yang Dalang’s injuries again. This time, the conclusion was even better than before; simple tasks like chopping wood and hoeing were no longer a problem. However, it was still best to wait a little longer before going hunting.

Hearing this good news, Miao He was genuinely happy and a bit embarrassed, thinking back to their recent playful activity. Fortunately, they hadn’t caused Yang Dalang further injury. Afterward, the two headed straight to the government office.

Miao He had prepared a small purse with a few coins inside, just in case they encountered any difficulties. However, the Liang family had been considerate. When they presented the land deed, the land official stroked his beard and said, “We’ve been waiting for you. Liang Yuanwai already informed us early on.”

Hearing this, Miao He breathed a sigh of relief. After all, commoners usually couldn’t fight against officials.

Miao He didn’t aspire to fame or official positions. Even if he had advanced knowledge that could serve as a shortcut, maintaining a position would consume a lot of his energy. With the magic soil, he could live better than most people, and he was content with that. Besides, they were about to have land! Their life would only get better.

So, when they walked out of the government office, Yang Dalang was officially the owner of three pieces of land.

Of the three pieces, two were fields outside the town. When the Liang family delivered the deed, they had already informed the tenants about the change of ownership, so Yang Dalang didn’t need to do anything extra. The tenants would naturally bring the rent when the time came.

As for the mountainous land in the southwest of the Miao family village, since it had been unused, Yang Dalang needed to take the officially stamped document to the village chief to notify him. Only then could they use this land without being mistaken for occupying it unlawfully.

Having completed the most uncertain step, Miao He felt a weight lifted off his shoulders and couldn’t help but want to celebrate with a good meal.

“The village chief mentioned tofu pudding, so why don’t we try it at Dahe Restaurant?” Miao He suggested enthusiastically.

Yang Dalang naturally agreed.

Dahe Restaurant was located in the bustling central street of the town. The decoration was dazzling and festive, resembling a modern wedding banquet venue. Its rival, Yangshui Teahouse, was located in a quieter area, not because it couldn’t afford the prime location, but because it offered a scenic view of the canal, providing a tranquil and elegant atmosphere.

When the two entered Dahe Restaurant, it was bustling with guests. The waiter enthusiastically welcomed them and led them to a table. Fortunately, it wasn’t mealtime, so there were still seats available. Miao He and Yang Dalang sat down and ordered both the sweet and savory versions of tofu pudding.

A bowl wasn’t cheap, costing eight coins, almost the price of half a chicken. Although it contained sugar or oil, it was still quite expensive for something made entirely of soybeans, with no meat at all.

While waiting for the food, Miao He curiously observed the surroundings. He blinked and said, “It seems tofu pudding is really popular. Almost every table has it.”

Yang Dalang, observing more closely, added, “Nothing else.”

Miao He optimistically said, “Maybe it’s because it’s not mealtime.”

Before long, the tofu pudding arrived.

The sweet version was served with ginger syrup, while the savory version was seasoned with soy sauce, sesame oil, and scallions.

Miao He, who preferred sweet flavors, took a sip of the sweet tofu pudding first. The soft texture was nice, but the soybean flavor was a bit weak, with a hint of beany taste. The syrup was thin and didn’t meet his expectations. He then tasted Yang Dalang’s savory bowl, which had a strong enough flavor, but the seasoning overpowered the tofu pudding itself, lacking balance. The only commendable aspect was the novel texture.

Smacking his lips in slight disappointment, Miao He whispered to Yang Dalang, “I make better tofu pudding. I’ll make it for you someday.” In his past life, he had also found store-bought tofu pudding bland and had made his own with the magic soil. If they could get brine from the harbor down the river, it should be doable.

“Okay. I’ll wait,” Yang Dalang replied, scooping another spoonful of savory tofu pudding for Miao He.

Miao He smiled and took a bite. Just then, the voices from the neighboring private room grew louder.

Miao He and Yang Dalang were sitting in the cheapest part of the hall, close to the private rooms. These private rooms were designed like mezzanines, requiring a few steps to climb up to the street-view rooms. These rooms charged a tea fee and catered to wealthy families.

Due to this design, if people in the higher-up rooms spoke louder, the guests sitting below in the hall could easily hear them.

“I thought it would be great, but it’s just okay. Soft and mushy, no flavor. What’s so great about it?” A young master in a green silk robe, with a jade piece hanging from his waist, complained as he walked out of the private room. He had a spirited look, around fourteen or fifteen years old, with the boldness of youth.

Several people around him, who seemed to come from good families and were eager to please the young master, quickly agreed. One of them said, “That’s because Young Master Xu has refined tastes. We recommended it just for novelty. If this place doesn’t satisfy you, there’s always Yangshui Teahouse! Their food is truly impeccable, and they’ve recently introduced a special feature that surely won’t disappoint you!”

“Hopefully,” Young Master Xu frowned, “Let’s go quickly.”

“Sure, sure, Young Master Xu, please!”

The group followed Young Master Xu’s lead, some going to pay the bill, others guiding him out. With such a commotion, the waiter who had been walking around the restaurant noticed them. Seeing their lavish attire, he didn’t dare approach them himself and quickly called the manager to handle the situation.

“This young master, it seems there’s been a misunderstanding with our dishes. Please allow me to explain,” Manager Zhang of Dahe Restaurant said, approaching the group with a pleasant expression.

Young Master Xu didn’t stop. “No need. We’re leaving.”

But Manager Zhang couldn’t let him go. Many eyes in the hall were on this young master now!

If these people had been plainly dressed, he would have already scolded them for causing trouble. But this group was adorned in gold and jade, requiring the highest level of courtesy.

Manager Zhang had no choice but to bow and block their path again.

“Young master might not know, but the tofu pudding you just had is a precious recipe found in ancient books, unique in the world! Its flavor is delicate, subtle, and enduring, with a silky smooth texture meant to be savored slowly. That’s why our seasoning is lighter than usual, seeking a balance,” Manager Zhang confidently explained.

Young Master Xu raised an eyebrow and bluntly said, “You’re basically saying I don’t know how to appreciate it. But if I don’t like it, I don’t like it. If someone else likes it, they can continue eating. Even if you block my way, I still won’t like it. Are you saying people can’t leave your restaurant without praising the food?”

The usual persuasive speech hit a wall. Manager Zhang broke into a sweat. “No, no, of course not. I just hope the young master doesn’t misunderstand our waitstaff. The tofu pudding truly tastes like this. It’s written in the ancient books, and it’s unique—”

Young Master Xu impatiently interrupted, “Just because it’s in an ancient book doesn’t mean it’s good. Maybe it’s rare now because it’s tasteless, and people stopped eating it! Novelty is one thing, but I only like eating what I find tasty. It’s that simple!”

Manager Zhang was stunned, unable to respond. “This…this can’t be right…”

He didn’t notice that more diners were now looking at their bowls of bland tofu pudding with a complex expression, wondering if they had come to taste the fame of the ancient book or to eat something delicious.

One of Young Master Xu’s companions, who probably lived in the town and was a regular customer, noticed things weren’t going well and signaled the others to usher the young master out. He then turned to Manager Zhang and said soothingly, “This young master from the capital just speaks his mind. No need to worry, Manager Zhang. As Young Master Xu said, everyone has different tastes, liking sweet or savory. It’s no big deal.”

The words were gentle, but the meaning hadn’t changed! Manager Zhang forced a bitter smile.

Indeed, everyone has different tastes. Could he really force everyone to say it was good? Having been publicly criticized, Manager Zhang could only swallow his pride. Distracted, he didn’t notice the strange atmosphere in the restaurant.

Miao He, who had witnessed the whole scene, couldn’t help but sigh. Whether in ancient or modern times, the quality of something would be recognized over time.

According to Miao Jue’s speech at the village assembly, the tofu pudding recipe was controlled by his family. In other words, the tofu pudding sold by the village workshop should be the real deal. Hopefully, the village workshop could maintain the quality and keep these customers for a long time.

But this wasn’t Miao He’s concern. With his grudge against Miao Yuan’s family, he had no intention of cooperating with the village’s plan to sell soybeans to them. He quickly put the matter out of his mind.

Later, he and Yang Dalang went to the seed shop again. This time they bought seeds for rice, wheat, and corn. With an extra plot of magic soil, they could grow their staple foods, making their diet healthier and saving money!

While Miao He and Yang Dalang were happily shopping in town, Young Master Xu still had more scenes to play.

After leaving Dahe Restaurant, feeling unsatisfied, the group of young masters decided to go to Yangshui Teahouse. Recently, to compete with Dahe Restaurant’s tofu pudding, Yangshui Teahouse introduced a new feature: drawing lots for a special dish!

The special dish wasn’t anything too luxurious, just an extra side dish. However, the randomly appearing dishes were all exceptionally exquisite and delicious, such as stir-fried three vegetables, stuffed eggplant, or the most popular plum-pickled tomatoes!

According to Yangshui Teahouse’s explanation, since such high-quality dishes were limited and couldn’t be supplied regularly, they made it a lottery. If the bill for the day exceeded three taels of silver, customers could draw for a chance to win the special dish. Those who won felt a unique sense of luck and surprise. In other words, while Dahe Restaurant’s tofu pudding relied on novelty, Yangshui Teahouse’s special dish relied on luck! Strategy versus strategy, and Yangshui Teahouse’s move had gradually recaptured some of its business.

When Young Master Xu heard this, he wasn’t initially interested. “Another gimmick? Can’t they offer something substantial?” Young Master Xu, if placed in modern times, would likely be considered a discerning foodie.

His friends tried to reassure him, “No, no, this time you definitely won’t be disappointed! And Yangshui Teahouse’s food has always been the best in town!”

“Fine, fine, I’m hungry anyway,” Young Master Xu relented, having missed lunch during their outing. It was well past meal time.

Seeing Young Master Xu’s lack of interest, one of his companions signaled another to go find the teahouse manager.

“Manager Jin, don’t say I didn’t warn you. If we don’t get a special dish today, you’ll know that opportunity only favors those with insight! Got it?”

Manager Jin’s eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly. Special dishes could indeed be manipulated when necessary.

So, after ordering enough dishes to reach three taels of silver, a box filled with “red tickets” was brought out! Unsurprisingly, Young Master Xu’s luck was great today, and he drew the most coveted dish: plum-pickled tomatoes!

As the sweet and sour tomatoes, infused with the fragrance of plums, slid down his throat, bursting with juice, Young Master Xu’s eyes lit up. He slammed the table and exclaimed, “Good! Truly excellent! When my older brother travels south next time, I’ll make sure he visits this teahouse!”

The accompanying young masters were all excited!

What did this mean? It meant that the head of the Xu family, who had royal merchant qualifications, might visit Miaoshui Town! And if he were willing to visit, wouldn’t that open up opportunities to promote their key products nationwide!? 

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