Ancient Foodie Survival Guide Chapter 14
Tled by Serena Love
Unedited
Chapter 14: Tofu Pudding
The sweet or savory controversy is one of the most famous online wars. In the matter of eating, foodies will never give in. The sweet and savory party has been fighting for several years and has not been able to make a conclusion.
Savory tofu pudding, sprinkled with chopped green onion and mustard greens, topped with spicy sauce, and served with a crispy and fluffy steaming dough stick, which is enough to make people happy enough to have the illusion that "today is also a good day".
Sweet tofu pudding is more likely to attract people who are addicted to sweetness. The soft and hot tofu pudding is topped with sugary sauce and melts in the mouth with a refreshing bean aroma. It can be served as a staple food or a dessert.
At this time, brown sugar has appeared, made from sugar cane, natural raw material, mellow and sweet. "Compendium of Materia Medica" once recorded that brown sugar "condensed like stone, scattered like sand. Granulated sugar is warm in nature, soothing the spleen and soothing the liver" which has medicinal value.
Jiang Shuyao made both, only to see which one fits the taste of the old madam.
The old madam ate the uninspiring breakfast. Although she hasn't seen the two bowls of tofu, she feels awkward and uncomfortable eating it.
Xu-shi is standing next to serve the old madam for breakfast, naturally, there is no need to worry about someone spotting her peeking at the sweet tofu pudding — the white, tender and trembling bean curd is topped with brown sugar. It looks smoother than tofu, not sure how it tastes...
Xu-shi is thinking about the taste of sugary sauce and hot bean curd which looks more tender than tofu.
As a filial daughter-in-law who served her mother-in-law for many years, she naturally saw the old madam's uncomfortableness, but she would not talk too much, let alone help Jiang Shuyao to please the old lady.
She glanced at the sweet tofu pudding, thinking that it would not taste good when it is cold.
The two thought about different things, and suddenly one person rushed into the house.
"Mother!" Xie Pei's voice came first before she arrived.
She rushed in and found that the old madam is still eating breakfast. She salute perfunctorily and leaned in with a smile.
The old madam spoiled her and said helplessly, "Why do you get up so early today?"
"Mother, have you forgotten? I'm going out to play polo with He Wanyao and the others today."
"You, you." The old lady poked her forehead, "I haven't seen you not sleepy before."
Xie Pei shrank her head, dodging her mother, "I'm just here to tell you, I'm going out right away."
"What's the rush, have you eaten breakfast?" The old madam saw through Xie Pei that she was just got up, guessing that she was going to eat some pastry on the road to cushion the stomach.
"No..." Xie Pei replied reluctantly. She knew that her mother definitely would not let her go without breakfast.
Sure enough, as soon as her voice fell, the old madam ordered people to set up a meal.
Xie Pei is in a hurry. There is no time to wait for the maids to go back and forth to the kitchen to prepare meals. She saw two bowls of tofu pudding on the table and said, "I'll just eat this. What is this? I haven't seen it before."
Xu-shi and the old lady are stunned, no one answered.
Seeing this, Xie Pei hesitated and said, "Can this be eaten?" The old lady looked embarrassed and said, "It's not that..."
"Then that's it." Xie Pei is not particular about eating. Anyway, she has to drink a bowl of porridge. This is also a bowl, it's all the same.
She took the savory tofu pudding and put it in front of her, smelling the novelty, and said, "Is this stewed tofu?"
The old madam said, "Something like that."
Xie Pei took a spoonful of tofu pudding and put it in her mouth, the tip of her tongue was burnt suddenly. She opened her mouth subconsciously to breathe, but then she is remembering her manners, and quickly closed it.
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The piping hot tofu pudding is extremely tender and smooth, before she chewed, it slides down the throat, all the way to the stomach.
Xie Pei was stunned, still left with the savory aftertaste of the sauce in her mouth, but it felt like she hasn't eaten anything.
When she looked up, she saw that the old madam and Xu-shi are looking at her again, and she was very puzzled. What happened to them today is weird.
She doesn't like to use her head, so she asks, "This... isn't it eaten this way?"
Xu-shi shook her head and asked abruptly, "How does it taste?"
Xie Pei doesn't care, and took another spoonful while blowing. It took a few times before it was cool enough to be sent to her mouth.
Now she finally tasted it, hot, tender, and slippery. This was her first impression. It turns out that tofu can also be made so tender, it is like water, it melts in the mouth and can be swallowed without chewing.
The simple taste of the sauce does not conceal the original refreshing soy aroma, it is both delicious and not too salty. It is suitable for early morning consumption.
"It's delicious." She nodded, stirred the tofu pudding, and finished eating. Her stomach is warm and her whole body is comfortable. Obviously, she didn't feel hungry, but now she ate satisfyingly.
After she finished eating, she wiped her mouth: "The cook who made this in the kitchen, send a reward."
The old madam choked.
Xu-shi knew the temper of her sister-in-law, so naturally, she doesn't want to make an unpleasant answer.
So both of them are silent.
Seeing that it's not good to stay silent like this, the nanny who is standing next to Xu-shi straighten up and replied, "Replying to the fourth lady, the third lady made it."
Third lady?
Xie Pei was stunned, who?
She blinked, and reacted after a few seconds, her voice suddenly became sharp, "Jiang Shuyao made this?!"
She was busy making clothes, rewarding jewelry, writing letters, sending handkerchiefs, etc... She almost forgot about this person.
The old madam didn't reprimand her for being unruly, as she called her sister-in-law's name directly, but just explained, "This is indeed your sister-in-law's breakfast." In her heart, she doesn't quite believe that Jiang Shuyao made it personally.
"There is no free lunch in the world. Why did she send breakfast for? Is there no cook in the main kitchen, or is it special for her to eat this bowl, isn't it just tofu?" Xie Pei felt ashamed. She actually ate the breakfast served by Jiang Shuyao and praised it. Now she has eaten it, she can't vomit it out. It's really shameful.
The empty porcelain bowl is still in front of her, she couldn't say more ugly things. her lips opened and closed, she stood up abruptly, and said muffledly, "I'm going first. Mother, you eat slowly."
She ran away blushing, leaving Xu-shi and the old madam with embarrassment.
The meal was really unpleasant, and the old madam lost her appetite and waved her hand for people to remove the food.
Xu-shi didn't need to stay here anymore, she salute and retired.
After leaving the hall, Xu-shi frowned slightly and looking at the back of the maid who had taken the meal away. The food used by the old lady will naturally go into the bucket, but the bowl of bean curd is probably going to the maid of the main kitchen.
Xu-shi thought about that bowl of sweet tofu pudding, secretly thinking that it's a pity.
...
Xie Xun had lunch with his colleagues in the East Palace. He ate the meal absent-mindedly. A mouthful of shredded chicken made him thought of last night's chicken wings, and a mouthful of rice made him recalled last night's fried noodles.
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The taste of these dishes is a bit weak, and the finest dishes are not flavourful, it is better to eat at home.
After Lin Cheng finished eating his share, he looked up and saw that Xie Xun has more than half of his meal left. He asked with concern, "Bo Yuan, are there something on your mind?"
Xie Xun returned to his senses, shook his head, put down his chopsticks, and said, "It's just that I have a bad appetite. That's it."
Lin Cheng showed an understanding expression on his face and patted his shoulder sympathetically.
Xie Xun is the outstanding young talent of his peers. The third in the imperial examination. He is both good for civil and military officers, with a tranquil and beautiful appearance, deserving of his reputation of "number one gentlemen in history". Which young man in the capital does not regard him as a role model?
But such a gentleman married such a woman. It's really... Lin Cheng has seen Jiang Shuyao before. This woman has a weird dress and a vulgar manner. There is nothing in her whole body that can be worthy of Xie Xun.
Thinking of Xie Xun has married for more than a month, he has to face such a wife every day, probably he will be suffering every day.
He suggested, "After today's duty, we could invite friends to the Zuixiao Building for a few drinks, what do you think?"
Xie Xun raised his eyebrows and shook his head, "Another day, there is something at home today, I need to go back soon." Today Jiang-shi said that she would have dinner with him, cough... Since he has agreed, there is no reason to let others wait.
Lin Cheng nodded, stopped talking, and patted Xie Xun's shoulder again.
Xie Xun was put in a weird spot. He watched Lin Cheng leave, and then look back and glanced at his shoulder, without understanding what was going on.
After work, Xie Xun said goodbye to his colleagues and rode home. When he arrived at the gate of Duke Xie's mansion, seeing that the sky was still early, he thought for a while, didn't get off the horse, and took a few laps before returning to the gate of the mansion.
After dismounting, he walked slowly to the backyard. Halfway through, he met his oldest nephew, Xie Ye.
"Third uncle, you have eaten dinner so early?" When did Xie Ye see his handsome third uncle strolling by, he was surprised.
Xie Xun's cold face became a little bit colder. He glanced at Xie Ye, returning to a normal pace and drifting away gracefully.
Xie Xun was angry.
Not angry with Xie Ye, but with himself.
What is his guilty conscience for? What he has done in this life that is not dignified, isn't he just came back earlier than usual? Why is he delaying, afraid that Jiang-shi thinks that he is so eager for her meal?
When he arrived at the courtyard, Xie Xun has already reflected on his thoughts, and his expression was natural and calm. As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he smelled a strong fragrance.
Look, it's not too early to come home, dinner is already prepared.
The fragrance filled the entire yard. A greedy little maid put down the work in her hand and ran near the small kitchen to probe her head. Seeing Xie Xun coming from the courtyard gate, she was so frightened that she disappeared immediately.
Xie Xun is starting to feel uncomfortable again. Now Jiang-shi should be in the small kitchen. Should he go directly to the east wing to wait, or should he go to see her in the small kitchen?
He stood in the middle of the yard thinking.
There is a strong fragrance in the courtyard, and a little maidservant jumped and ran far away. The maidservant on the corridor could not be seen. As the night falls, the sunset glow is like a tulle, hazy and gorgeous, coating the eaves and treetops with a warm color.
Thinking of listening to the bamboo courtyard in a deserted and orderly way before, Xie Xun was a little at a loss.
It turns out that the days after getting married are like this, sunset, dinner, and the world is like fireworks.
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[T/N: Below videos, Sweet vs Savory Tofu Pudding, which one is better?]
Savory Tofu Pudding: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOMvhBtDVQI
Sweet Tofu Pudding: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sg1cydxKs8
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