With the hair on top tied up in a bun and the hair below draped down, once Xiao Changyi finished combing it, An Jing stood up, hugged Xiao Changyi, and looking up with her small face, she said with a smile, "Thank you, husband~"
Xiao Changyi used to dislike when An Jing thanked him. He felt that it made their relationship seem distant, but ever since An Jing explained that her gratitude was a way to express her awareness of his kindness, he no longer rejected it. In fact, now, whenever he heard An Jing thanking him with a smile, he found it quite sweet.
The two had a clear division of labor in the morning. Generally, Xiao Changyi was responsible for working the fields, while An Jing did the laundry and cooking.
After Xiao Changyi washed up, he took a hoe and started working on the vegetable garden in the courtyard.
The day had just begun to dawn, and An Jing, with a beaming smile, glanced at her husband before taking a basin of clothes, planning to go to the river to wash them.
However, she had only made it halfway when she saw Aunt Liu Hua’s son carrying a load of tofu out of Jiuping Village, clearly on this way to sell it in town.
Instantly, An Jing’s eyes lit up. Holding the basin of clothes, she turned back and upon entering the courtyard, set down the wooden tub, then rushed over to Xiao Changyi and happily bounced in his arms.
"Husband, I’ve thought of a way to make money!" An Jing was exceptionally delighted.
Xiao Changyi, who had been wondering how An Jing returned so quickly with the laundry, understood upon hearing her words—An Jing hadn’t actually washed the clothes; she was simply too excited about her money-making idea and had hurried back to share the news, wanting him to share in her joy.
Moved that he was in An Jingxin’s thoughts, Xiao Changyi’s cool lips curved into a smile, "Let’s talk inside."
He never dampened her spirits.
"Mhm." Once inside, An Jing quickly said to Xiao Changyi, "I’ve seen my grandfather make moldy tofu before. We can make and sell moldy tofu."
"Yes, it’s fresh tofu cut into small pieces, left to grow mold, then treated with baijiu, and mixed with seasoning. If you want to preserve it, use ceramic jars."
"Moldy tofu is edible?" Xiao Changyi was somewhat incredulous. Wasn’t that spoiled?
"Yes, and it’s actually quite nutritious—containing amino acids and minerals that the body needs, as well as appetizing, cooling, and seasoning properties."
Xiao Changyi, ignoring the amino acids and minerals that he didn’t understand, guessed that this moldy tofu must be a decent delicacy.
"Furthermore," An Jing added excitedly, "Even if we can’t sell the moldy tofu, we can keep it for ourselves. The longer it’s stored, the more flavorful it becomes, far more nutritious than pickled vegetables. We really can’t lose."
"How many pounds of tofu do you want to buy? I’ll go get it."
Seeing her husband so readily supportive made An Jing even happier. Her eyes curved, "Let’s start with twenty pounds to try."
Twenty pounds would be just right for them to eat slowly at home if they couldn’t sell it.
"Alright, I’ll go to town now and buy it."
"Don’t be in such a rush. I won’t do the laundry now; I’ll cook first. You can go after eating," she didn’t want her husband going to town on an empty stomach.
Tofu was three coins per pound, twenty pounds would cost sixty coins. After breakfast, An Jing handed one hundred coins to Xiao Changyi.
But Xiao Changyi only took sixty coins.
An Jing, however, firmly stuffed the entire amount into Xiao Changyi’s hand, saying, "You should also carry some money."
Ever since their marriage ceremony, he had handed all of his money over to her to manage, leaving none for himself.
While touched, she didn’t want her husband to be entirely without money, which was why she deliberately gave him an extra forty coins today.