The matriarch gave the order, and the entire family immediately got up to prepare for departure. They were all going to watch Lin Mai and Cui Qiao make spicy fermented tofu. Mingzhe, Wen Kai, and Wen Qi also wanted to tag along.
The matriarch waved her hand generously, saying, "Go, go, all of you! It's rare for everyone to have free time today, so let's accompany the children. Everyone go and join the fun."
Chen Lan was almost speechless! She felt utterly bewildered. What was so interesting about making fermented tofu that the entire family, young and old, had to go? It wasn't like watching a movie, television, or a performance.
However, she reconsidered. Mingzhe and the other children were confined to this mountain valley every day with little entertainment. Their lives consisted of doing chores and reading.
It was unlike modern times, where every home had a television and computer, allowing children to watch anything they wanted and providing them with plenty of entertainment.
She thought it would be good to prepare a football and badminton rackets for them to play sports.
With this thought, Chen Lan said nothing more. The whole family, young and old, set off to watch Lin Mai and Cui Qiao make spicy fermented tofu.
The matriarch deliberately lagged behind, letting the others go ahead. Chen Lan, carrying Jia Hui, walked at the very front and was the first to leave the room. Her mother followed, and then Mingzhe, Wen Kai, and Wen Qi exited.
Seeing everyone else leave and the matriarch still in the room, Jia Yao became anxious. He opened his mouth and let out another word, "Go," while squirming in the matriarch's arms, wanting to get out.
The matriarch happily said, "Go, go, go, let's go. Jia Yao! Grandma's good boy, can't you say more than one word?"
As she spoke, she walked outside. Jia Yao stopped squirming and wrapped his arms around the matriarch's neck, a good and obedient child.
They walked and chatted. The weather in Changbai Mountain this September was truly excellent, much better than in previous years. The autumn sky was clear and refreshing, with high clouds and a vast blue expanse. It was sunny almost every day.
As the family walked along the dirt path in the valley, looking at the red leaves, green trees, blue sky, and white clouds, they felt refreshed and invigorated, as if they were in a painting.
When Chen Lan and her group arrived, Lin Mai and Cui Qiao had just finished the preliminary preparations.
They had clearly divided their tasks. Cui Qiao and Mingwei sterilized the steamers by repeatedly scalding them with boiling water from the large pot. Then, they spread a sterilized coarse white cloth on the steamers and carefully placed the dried tofu cubes on the cloth, leaving adequate space between each cube. Finally, they evenly sprinkled the fermented bean curd starter, covered them with lids, and then covered the steamers with an old quilt to await fermentation.
Lin Mai and Hu Yuzhen were preparing the seasonings for the "spicy fermented tofu."
Lin Mai asked Hu Yuzhen to clean and heat the pot. Then, she slowly stir-fried a large bowl of coarse red chili powder in the pot over low heat until it was fragrant.
A faint spicy aroma began to fill the air. Chen Lan, worried the children might choke on the spiciness, suggested they leave, saying it was too strong and irritating.
Jia Hui, however, was not happy. She eagerly pointed her chubby finger at the large pot where Lin Mai was stir-frying the seasonings and said one word: "Watch."
Chen Lan had no choice but to step back a few paces. Jia Hui still wasn't satisfied and pointed at the pot again, saying only "Watch." Chen Lan had to return to her original position to let her continue watching.
After stir-frying for about three minutes, they added a fine chili powder, twice the amount of the coarse chili powder, followed by the prepared Sichuan peppercorn powder.
At this point, Lin Mai explained, "Those who like the taste of Sichuan peppercorns can add a little more; it's up to you, but not too much."
"And those who like the taste of five-spice powder can add some five-spice powder as well; this is also optional."
Then, Lin Mai stir-fried all the seasonings together until they were evenly mixed, stir-frying for another three minutes. By this time, the seasonings had developed a strong aroma, and the chili had begun to slightly char.
A rich, spicy aroma permeated the air, a fragrance that traveled ten miles. It was so fragrant! First, Jia Hui sneezed, choked by the spice, and then everyone started sneezing one after another. They quickly moved away from the area, going far off.
Chen Lan quickly held Jia Hui, wiping her nose, and said, "Jia Hui, let's go! See, your brothers and uncles have all left."
Saying this, she prepared to carry Jia Hui away. The aroma was indeed wonderful, but it was too spicy. Jia Hui was still reluctant to leave, sneezing continuously with a runny nose, and still wanted to watch, pointing at the large pot and saying only, "Watch."
Lin Mai and Cui Qiao then scooped the stir-fried seasonings out of the pot and put them into a covered container.
At this moment, seeing that there was nothing left in the pot, little Jia Hui finally had her fill of watching. She stopped looking at the big pot, sneezed, stretched out her chubby little hands, opened them, and said one word: "Finished."
Chen Lan smiled wryly. Was this the highest realm of a foodie, to be satisfied by just watching from afar when they couldn't taste it?
Sigh! The thoughts of a foodie were truly hard to understand!
Having seen all there was to see, everyone turned and prepared to stroll around casually.
Chen Lan suggested, "Matriarch, Mother, let's go play in the pavilion in the courtyard.
The grass in the courtyard has already grown about an inch long. We can spread carpets on the lawn, and we won't have to hold the two little ones all the time. Jia Hui and Jia Yao can crawl and play on the carpet. Mingzhe, Wen Kai, and Wen Qi can go swing or play ball. The rest of us women can relax in the pavilion and chat. Wouldn't that be nice?"
The matriarch immediately agreed, saying, "I heard Xiangxi mention it before, saying how grand and beautiful the pavilion here is. I was thinking that if it's as good as he said, we'll build one in our yard too after the harvest when everyone has free time. Everyone has been busy lately, and I forgot about it! Come on, let's go see it today?"
Thus, the entire family, old and young, turned back. As they reached the side of the pavilion in the courtyard, the matriarch exclaimed, "It's truly wonderful. Xiao Lan, what were you thinking? This style and color of pavilion, it's truly grand and beautiful."
Chen Lan touched her nose and said, "No, I didn't think much about it. I just did it casually; I just liked it. I didn't expect you, Matriarch, to like it so much."
The matriarch immediately expressed, "I like it, how could I not? In a few days, when they are all done with their busy tasks, we'll build one in our yard too."
After a few days of fermentation, the tofu was finally ready. The matriarch specifically came to inform Chen Lan to bring Jia Hui and Jia Yao to see it. Chen Lan was amused, knowing she had to go. She couldn't refuse. As soon as Jia Yao heard the matriarch mention going out, he started fussing to go out, pointing his chubby little hands outside and saying, "Go."
By the time Chen Lan, with her children in tow, arrived, Lin Mai and Cui Qiao had already begun.
Lin Mai and Cui Qiao each took a piece of fermented tofu. They rolled it in a bowl of white liquor for sterilization, and then rolled it in the previously stir-fried spicy five-spice seasoning, ensuring each side of the tofu was coated with the spicy marinade.
Finally, they stacked it neatly in a clean large jar and placed the jar in a cool, shaded place. Lin Mai said, "After about ten days to half a month, it will be ready to eat!"
The matriarch said, "Fermented tofu is a good thing. When your mouth feels bland, eating a piece will stimulate your appetite and go well with rice."
Her mother said, "I've heard that fermented tofu is rich in zinc and B vitamins. Regular consumption not only supplements vitamin B12 but also helps prevent senile dementia. The protein content in fermented tofu is twice that of regular tofu and is easily digested and absorbed."
Chen Lan thought, indeed. Fermented tofu has the effect of strengthening the spleen and stomach, increasing appetite, and aiding digestion.