The Tofu Queen: A Modern Woman's Ancient Kingdom Journey

The scent of Jiang Huaiyu's cooking continued to waft into the neighboring households, stirring mixed reactions.

At Aunt Xu's house, the younger children said nothing but kept swallowing their saliva. Aunt Xu's expression twisted as she glared at her older son and daughter. "Pathetic! Like starving ghosts, aren't you? Don't you know the food from next door is filthy? Eat it, and your stomach and mouth will rot!"

Her tone softened instantly as she turned to her youngest son, Tiger. "Tiger, just wait! Mama will make you boiled eggs. Eggs are the best, aren't they?"

"Yes, yes!" Tiger cheered, eagerly nodding.

Meanwhile, in Zheng Xiaoyue's household, her husband Wang Dazhuang sniffed the air appreciatively. "Did the new neighbor turn out to be a chef or something?"

"What chef? Just a poor little widow," Zheng Xiaoyue said dismissively, but she couldn't hide her curiosity. "Her cooking smells amazing, though. I'm going to ask her how she made it. All she bought yesterday was some cabbage and pork, but it smells divine."

Jiang Huaiyu, unaware of the neighborhood chatter, finally sat down to enjoy her first proper meal after ensuring Tangbao was full and happy. After the meal, she cleaned up, put Tangbao to sleep, and headed to the courtyard. Using a hoe, she began loosening the soil beside the chicken coop to create a small vegetable patch.

As she worked, Jiang Huaiyu pondered how to earn her first income. The options she considered—opening a teahouse or selling recipes—required significant startup capital. Without connections or resources, these ventures would likely end with her being cheated out of everything.

She sighed wistfully. "Novel protagonists have it so easy—recite a few poems, and they become legends."

Her thoughts shifted to simpler ideas. What about handmade soap or bath beans?

Excitement lit her eyes. Bath products were rare luxuries in this era. Even the wealthy only used scented water, which masked odors temporarily but didn't clean effectively. Given the humid climate of the southern regions, lice and dirt were common problems even in aristocratic households.

However, her enthusiasm quickly faded. Soap required pig fat, while bath beans needed various herbs and soap pods. Both were costly, and soap took time to cure before use. Neither option was feasible in her current situation.

"Never mind. I'll check out the market first and see what's possible," she decided.

Two days later, Jiang Huaiyu joined Zheng Xiaoyue and Aunt Xu for a trip to the county market.

The market was a hub of activity, with villagers from surrounding areas coming to trade goods. Before heading out, Jiang Huaiyu applied a thin layer of soot to her face to dull her striking beauty, wary of attracting the attention of unsavory characters.

She carried Tangbao on her back and followed Zheng Xiaoyue, who brought along eggs to sell and some fishing nets her daughter had made to trade at a fabric shop.

"Trust me," Zheng Xiaoyue whispered. "If you want good chicks, we'll go to Liu Laosan. His chicks are the healthiest. But don't talk to him yourself—he's a sly one. The moment he hears you're new, he'll charge you double."

Jiang Huaiyu smiled. "I trust you, Sister Xiaoyue. With you negotiating, I'm in good hands."

At Liu Laosan's stall, Zheng Xiaoyue's sharp bargaining skills came into play. After a heated exchange, she managed to secure six healthy hens for eight coins each, plus a rooster and a chicken cage for free.

Grumbling, Liu Laosan loaded the chicks into the cage. "Sister-in-law Wang, you're bleeding me dry here! I swear, next time I won't budge on the price. Your husband's a lucky man to have you—he probably doesn't even realize it!"

"Stop flattering me, you sly fox," Zheng Xiaoyue retorted, flashing a triumphant grin. "Next time, I'll bring you a matchmaker. A decent girl for an honest man like you!"

Liu Laosan laughed it off, waving them away.

Carrying the cage of chicks, Jiang Huaiyu couldn't help but admire Zheng Xiaoyue's negotiation skills. However, her trip to the market wasn't solely for buying chickens—she had something else in mind.

The market was bustling with stalls selling everything from fresh produce to steamed buns, dumplings, and spring rolls. For more elaborate dishes, one had to visit a tavern.

As they strolled through the market, Jiang Huaiyu spotted Aunt Xu scolding her daughter.

The little girl sobbed, gasping between cries. "Mama, can't we eat rice? Eating beans all the time makes me fart, and nobody wants to play with me!"

Embarrassed by the onlookers, Aunt Xu lashed out, slapping the girl several times. "Who told you to eat beans with cold water? You don't eat properly, and now you blame the beans? And rice? You don't even know how to weave a proper fishing net!"

Jiang Huaiyu sighed, pitying the child. Though tempted to intervene, she knew it was better not to meddle in Aunt Xu's affairs.

"They're not worth your time," Zheng Xiaoyue said with disdain. "That woman's brainless—always beating her older children while treating the youngest like a king."

Jiang Huaiyu nodded but paused, her gaze lingering on the bags of yellow soybeans nearby. Most families used soybeans as cheap filler food or animal feed due to their bland taste and tendency to cause bloating.

Wait!

Her thoughts raced. Soybeans! Could I make tofu here?

Grabbing Zheng Xiaoyue's arm, Jiang Huaiyu asked excitedly, "Do you know if anyone sells tofu in this county?"

"Tofu?" Zheng Xiaoyue echoed, confused. "What's that? Something to eat? Or use?"

"It's food!" Jiang Huaiyu grinned. "Come, let's buy some soybeans. I'll show you."

Tofu didn't exist in this world. In her original timeline, it was invented during China's Han Dynasty by Liu An, a prince experimenting with alchemy. But without a Han Dynasty here—and without the cultural trends that led to tofu's creation—it had never been discovered.

Soybeans were incredibly cheap—just three coins for a large sack. Most people considered them unappetizing unless desperate. Jiang Huaiyu bought two sacks, her mind already buzzing with ideas.

On the bumpy donkey cart ride back, Jiang Huaiyu ignored Aunt Xu's occasional glances and focused on planning her tofu-making process. Tofu wasn't the only product she could make—there was sweet and savory soy pudding, dried tofu, and even tofu skin.

The profit potential was enormous. A single bag of soybeans could yield a large batch of tofu. If she sold it for just one coin per bowl, she could easily earn over 100 coins per batch.

In just ten days, she could save up an entire silver tael!

A tael might seem small, but it was enough to sustain a family of four for over a month.