Chapter 125: Dried Tofu

Today, Zhang Fan and his group arrived at the chief's house, but instead of going straight to the infirmary to register as usual, they went directly to the kitchen. As soon as the three entered the kitchen, they saw Wei Er already starting to wash the pot.

Zhang Fan hurriedly called out to Wei Er: "Uncle, we haven't ground the beans yet; isn't it a bit early to wash the pot?"

Wei Er thought for a moment, then understood. He quickly put down what he was holding and walked over.

"Well, it does seem a bit early, but what should we do first?"

Wei Er finished asking, and before Zhang Fan could answer, Fei Er ran over and hugged him excitedly, saying: "So that means Am, you also want to make tofu with us? That's great!"

Wei Er returned the hug, gently saying: "Yes, Fei Er, my child, Am will also join your team! And also, your Uncle Di Er! We've been eager to do this!"

Zhang Fan had already been surprised that Di Er brought them straight to the kitchen, and hearing Wei Er's words left him so astonished his jaw almost dropped; but he struggled to keep his composure, not wanting to act foolish.

"Then, Uncle Wei Er, what about the small animals? We're all making tofu, so there'll be no one to look after them!"

Regarding Zhang Fan's worry, Wei Er showed no concern at all, smiling and saying: "Don't worry about that; Uncle Fei Ji will help us watch the small animals!"

Wei Er had just finished speaking when everyone heard Fei Ji's voice coming from the backyard.

"You don't need to worry; I happen to have nothing to attend to today, so I'll act as the tribal medic and look after them. You just need to focus on making delicious tofu!"

From the words of Chief Fei Ji, Zhang Fan almost saw a huge male lion with wings, drooling over a pair of white, tender tofu, the saliva dripping from the corner of its mouth to the ground.

After deciding to make tofu together, Zhang Fan assigned tasks: Fei Er would add the beans, Wei Er and Di Er would handle the fire, and Zhang Fan would be responsible for filtering and setting the tofu.

With the work assigned, everyone sprang into action! First they jointly cleaned the stone mill, then helped Fei Er grind the beans for a while. Of course, while helping, Zhang Fan also didn't forget to explain things to Di Er and Wei Er.

After grinding enough beans to fill a bucket, Zhang Fan led Wei Er and Di Er to move to another spot. Upon entering the kitchen, Zhang Fan took out the tools he had brought, first setting up the rack and cheesecloth, then pouring the soy milk in to filter.

Zhang Fan saw that the two had watched enough, so he let them try it themselves. Once they had mastered it, Fei Er's side had also finished grinding the beans. Because this batch was larger, they had soaked a total of four large tubs of beans.

Thus they divided the filtered soy milk into two pots, with Wei Er and Di Er each sitting by a pot to start the fire. When the soy milk in the pots boiled, Zhang Fan took out two clean ladles and that bottle of gypsum powder.

Zhang Fan first used a bit more gypsum powder than before to set the first pot of tofu, then used the usual amount to set the second pot. Seeing the first pot of tofu was ready, he quickly took out the wooden board and strips from his bag.

The three saw Zhang Fan take out the board and strips, not knowing what they were for, glanced at each other, about to ask. Zhang Fan himself began to explain. After hearing his brief explanation, they also understood.

"So, Fan Fan, you want to shape the tofu into something else! I really want to see how it's done; I'd love to learn!" Fei Er, the big foodie, said excitedly, drooling, after hearing Zhang Fan's words.

Wei Er and Di Er also listened, smiling and nodding repeatedly.

In response, Zhang Fan could only reluctantly agree! Indeed, foodies aren't just a thing on Earth; look at the Heaven Lion Tribe now—it's become a world of foodies! Step outside, grab anyone at random, and you'll get a handful of foodies!

Zhang Fan had never imagined that, without him bringing so many novel and unheard-of delicacies to the Heaven Lion Tribe people, they might still be stuck in insufficient food and fearing the cold season. He also never thought that, precisely because of his arrival, the tribe would surpass surrounding tribes by leaps and bounds in such a short time.

Zhang Fan had already lifted the first pot of tofu out; Wei Er and Di Er checked the weather and began busying themselves cooking rice. Zhang Fan looked at the tofu he had just pressed, saw it wasn't fully set, and pressed another stone on top.

After finishing those tasks, the two brothers Wei Er and Di Er quickly let the two youngsters who had been busy all morning rest. Zhang Fan and Fei Er also didn't decline; after thanking the two elders, they walked hand in hand to the hall to rest.

After resting enough, Zhang Fan and Fei Er returned to the kitchen to prepare the seasoning; fortunately, there was still plenty left from yesterday's preparation, so the two didn't spend much time and finished all the prep work.

When Ba Ke Er and company returned, it was already noon; Zhang Fan's group, after having prepared lunch, went back to the hall to wait. Seeing everyone had returned, they hurriedly rose to go greet them.

Once everyone had gathered, they all sat around the hall's dining table and began to eat.

After lunch, the dish-washer was once again surrounded by Lei Ya and Fei Ji.

At noon, since the tofu wasn't set yet and there were no other important matters, Wei Er had everyone go home for a nap; of course, there would be things to do in the afternoon. So everyone said their goodbyes and left.

Zhang Fan and the Ba Ke Er couple, upon arriving home, immediately went to flip over each piece of the soybeans that had been drying all morning. Once all the soybean pieces were properly turned, they then went to wash up and nap.

The midday sun was just right; although it was the end of the harvest season, when sunlight shone into the room it still made people feel drowsy. Zhang Fan originally had no trace of sleepiness, having slept enough already, but……

When Ba Ke Er's hand began to mischief on him, in order to escape reality he pretended to be asleep, but he didn't realize that his pretending turned real, and he actually fell asleep.

Ba Ke Er, feeling Zhang Fan's breathing gradually steady, chuckled softly, slowly withdrew his hand, lay quietly beside Zhang Fan, tightly embraced him, gradually closed his eyes, and fell asleep together with Zhang Fan.

In the afternoon, Zhang Fan and company arrived at the chief's house and immediately went to the kitchen to inspect the tofu pressed at noon. Besides Zhang Fan, the 'one who understands,' everyone was curious about what shape the originally soft, delicate tofu would take.

Thus, when Zhang Fan lifted the first wooden board, everyone couldn't help but hold their breath and widen their eyes! Upon seeing the pressed tofu block, they couldn't help but exclaim in wonder!

"I never expected that! So tofu, when pressed with boards and strips, turns out like this! It looks as solid as a stone used to build a house! I just don't know if it will still be as soft as bean curd."

Looking at the large, square, white and tender tofu block before him, Fei Ji couldn't help but be the first to speak.

Zhang Fan heard Fei Ji's words, smiled slightly, and said: "Uncle Fei Ji, this tofu block! It only looks solid on the surface; actually, its nature hasn't changed—its inside is still soft."

Saying that, Zhang Fan reached out and poked the tofu block; with a bit of force, his finger went right in, and white, tender bean curd bubbled up around the hole.

Seeing this, Fei Er also couldn't resist the urge to poke; he reached out and poked it, and indeed found what Zhang Fan said was true: only the outer skin is relatively hard, while the interior texture is just a bit firmer than ordinary bean curd, but overall it's still soft.

Zhang Fan saw Fei Er's poking seemed unable to stop, so he quickly reached out and slapped Fei Er's hand to call a halt!

"Enough, Fei Er; this tofu is for eating! You're wasting food like that—really okay?"

Upon hearing Zhang Fan say that, Fei Er seemed to just realize, stuck out his tongue, reluctantly withdrew his hand that had been poking the tofu randomly; everyone seeing Fei Er like that couldn't help but laugh.

Especially Wei Er, who laughed the hardest; while laughing he pointed at Fei Er and Zhang Fan, saying: "Hahaha… I think when it comes to food, only Fan Fan can rein in Fei Er! Everyone, quickly look at Fei Er's state! Aiyo~! I find it so funny! Hahahaha… I can't anymore, my stomach hurts from laughing!"

Speaking, Wei Er also exaggeratedly withdrew his hand pointing at Zhang Fan and Fei Er, tightly covering his own stomach.

Fei Er, hearing his Uncle Am say that about him, felt a bit unhappy, but there was nothing to be done! After all, Am was stating the fact! Even if it weren't entirely true, he could only accept it! No way! Who let us be a well-mannered good baby since childhood!

The remaining blocks of tofu, Zhang Fan also lifted and saw they were pressed well, so he set his mind at ease. But looking at the block that had been poked ruined, Zhang Fan began to worry again.

Only that block of tofu, except for a few spots where Zhang Fan stopped in time and thus saved it from Fei Er's clutches, the rest of the large area was quickly turning into chunks of tofu residue!

After thinking it over, Zhang Fan had no choice but to cut the relatively intact pieces of tofu one by one, toss them into the oil pot to fry into tofu puffs. As for the leftover tofu scraps, Zhang Fan also mixed them with some seasoning and tossed them cold, giving everyone snacks.

Later, Zhang Fan also cut a whole block of tofu into square chunks, set up in the kitchen the grill normally used for skewering meat, then together with everyone placed the tofu chunks on it to bake, and while baking he brushed layer after layer of soy sauce onto their surface.

Only when the soy sauce on a whole block of tofu was completely baked dry did a piece of tofu jerky count as done. For the rest of the whole afternoon, Zhang Fan and his wife and Fei Er and his wife were in the kitchen baking tofu jerky, while the matters of the small animals and the infirmary naturally fell to Wei Er and his wife and Di Er and his wife.