Husband, Let Me Touch Your Abs

Chapter 15

Making tofu is a task that requires immense patience. Lu Yao slowly poured the gypsum water he had prepared earlier into the wooden bucket and stirred it. As more gypsum water was added, the originally milky white soy milk gradually formed cotton-like curds.

The curds increased in quantity, gradually forming blocks—this was what became soft tofu.

Soft tofu tasted excellent too, especially when paired with sugar or meat sauce, making it Q-bouncy and smooth—a staple in breakfast shops.

Lu Yao remembered that in his previous life, there was a fierce debate online about sweet versus savory tofu pudding. Being from Jinbei, he had always eaten savory tofu pudding and had never tried the sweet version. Perhaps he could give it a try someday.

There was one last step before the tofu was complete. Lu Yao took out the steamer basket used for making buns, laid two layers of cheesecloth inside, and scooped the curds onto it.

After scooping all the curds from the bucket, the steamer basket was nearly full. As the water slowly drained away, it began to take on the appearance of tofu.

Lu Yao quickly covered it with the cheesecloth, placed two wooden boards on top to press it down, rubbed his sore shoulders, blew out the oil lamp, and went to bed. By morning, they would have tofu!

*

The next morning, before dawn broke, Lu Yao was shaken awake by the two children.

"Bad news! Our soy milk is gone!"

"Sister-in-law, the soy milk is missing!" The children's voices were tinged with tears.

"Don't worry, I turned the soy milk into tofu."

"Tofu?"

Lu Yao hurriedly got dressed, removed the steamer basket from the stove, lifted the wooden board and cheesecloth, and a block of off-white tofu came into view.

"Yes!" Lu Yao clenched his fist in excitement. He had succeeded on his first attempt!

He picked up a pair of chopsticks, took a small piece of tofu, and put it in his mouth. The familiar texture almost brought him to tears—it was exactly the taste he remembered!

"Come and taste the tofu; see if it's good!"

The two children weren't particularly interested in tofu; they still longed for yesterday's sweet, fragrant soy milk.

Zhao Xiaonian picked up her chopsticks and took a small piece of tofu.

"How does it taste?" Zhao Xiaodou swallowed and asked eagerly.

"It's okay... but compared to soy milk, it's not as flavorful."

Zhao Xiaodou also tasted a piece, her eyebrows furrowing instantly, and she pouted, "I still want to drink soy milk."

"Don't worry, once Sister-in-law makes a dish with it, it'll be delicious."

Lu Yao went to the vegetable garden and pulled out a few green onions and a handful of cabbage. He planned to make cabbage tofu soup and green onion tofu salad.

After washing the vegetables, he noticed an old man standing outside the gate. Upon closer inspection, it was his father, Lu Guangsheng.

"Dad, you're here!"

Lu Guangsheng acknowledged him and pushed open the gate, entering the courtyard.

This was only his second visit to the Zhao family. The first time was when the matchmaker introduced them. He saw that Zhao Beichuan was strong, steady, and had clear eyes, immediately approving of him.