Chapter 164: Chapter 161: We’re Having Braised Pork Tonight

The next day, the tofu boxes stopped dripping water, indicating that the tofu had been pressed into blocks. The stones were removed, the gauze lifted, revealing the solidified tofu, which was cut into palm-sized square blocks with a knife. Clean straw was placed on a winnowing basket in advance.

The tofu was placed on straw to sunbathe, with ten pieces of fresh tofu left aside for making scallion mixed tofu and Mapo tofu to eat. Mrs. Jiang sent three pieces to Aunt Jiao’s house, two pieces to Fourth Aunt’s house, two pieces to Granny Shi, kept three pieces for her own family, and the rest were sun-dried for three days.

Then they were collected into a large basin lined with straw, covered with straw, and placed indoors in a relatively sealed and warm environment to wait for them to grow mold all over. At this point, it will be called stinky tofu. Stinky tofu is cut into small square blocks with a knife and cooked in a pot with green garlic. Just drinking the soup can make your tongue fragrant. The rest is cut into small cubes, continue to sun-dry for a day, and then put into a large basin, add salt, chili, and various spices, and mix thoroughly.

It is placed into an earthen jar. If you want oil-marinated tofu, you can add soybean oil to the jar. To ensure the pickled tofu is tender and more fragrant, cover it with a lid, add water to the jar leaves, and let the jar ferment in a shaded area. In about a month, it can be eaten. Usually, it’s made in the twelfth lunar month, but the southern weather doesn’t fluctuate too much in temperature throughout the year, so it can still taste good this season.

In the blink of an eye, it was the last day of June, which is a day Qingshan Village residents have been looking forward to for a long time. On this day, everyone in the village took a holiday, and villagers sent representatives from each household to gather outside the village committee early.

Aunt Jiao wasn’t left behind and went ahead to call Shen Fanghua to go together.

“Sister-in-law, once the money is distributed, if there’s enough, my family will also tear down the old house and build a brick house like yours.”

Mrs. Jiang hoped for her to succeed: “That’s great, at that time, if you need any help, just let us know, if you don’t have enough money, also let us know.”

Aunt Jiao momentarily felt as if something was blocking her throat. In this era, they weren’t relatives, yet Shen Fanghua voluntarily mentioned lending money, which was a hundred times better than her blood-related eldest sister-in-law.

“Well, I thank you in advance.” But in fact, her family probably wouldn’t need it. At this moment, Aunt Jiao didn’t know that after receiving the money: Alas! She’d only be able to buy cloth to make clothes, building a house? That’s far off!

“What about your family? Once you have the money, are you going to talk to Jian Guo and Jian Jun about marriage?”

Talking about marriage instantly reminded Mrs. Jiang of Hehua, enlarging the shadow in her heart tenfold.

“They’re not in a hurry, let them be, everything follows fate.”

Aunt Jiao immediately became anxious: “Jian Guo and Jian Jun don’t understand these things, it’s up to you as their mother to worry, hurry up, or all the good ones will be picked, leaving only defective ones.”

Though Mrs. Jiang felt Aunt Jiao’s words made sense, she always thought Aunt Jiao was too anxious. She wondered why Aunt Jiao was more anxious than she was, though Jian Guo and Jian Jun were her sons; someone uninformed might even think she was the children’s mother.

It was natural for Aunt Jiao to be anxious, since in rural areas it’s customary to discuss marriages starting from the top down; Zhao Zhao liked Zhenmei, and if Jian Guo and Jian Jun didn’t discuss marriage, when could she finally hold grandchildren?

Soon, everyone arrived; the village committee group and the brick factory manager were also present.

The accountant disclosed the account book. Concerning money matters, those illiterate listened attentively, while literate ones carefully reviewed the circulated account book.

This meeting’s purpose was to distribute money, families joyfully anticipating the money. Some speculated they’d get a dollar, some said fifty cents, others estimated sixty dollars, a range of guesses.

But after the account book was disclosed, they learned the brick factory had revenue of eight thousand dollars this month, yet labor costs were nearly eight hundred dollars, coal expenses amounted to two hundred dollars, tool expenses totaled eleven hundred dollars, and outside debts were thirty-seven hundred dollars. This was thanks to Qingshan Village’s benefactor, Yan Jinzhi, who not only drew the design plan for free but also helped to connect with the best materials at cost price, enabling the village to build the brick factory successfully. Repaying debts was a rightful duty; they were already privileged that Yan Jinzhi’s reputation allowed creditors to defer payment.

Therefore, the villagers had no objections when the village chief said debts should be repaid first.

After deducting all expenses, the final balance left for this month was two thousand two hundred and eight dollars.

“Fellow villagers, I know life is hard for everyone, but I assure you, it’s temporary. With our hard work and diligence, our days will surely become better and better. This month, we will distribute the money by households to ease daily life, but starting next month, we’ll have some major expenses, such as building a school. Children are the future for each family and for Qingshan Village as well.

Is there anyone who wants their children to grow up to be as capable as Mr. Yan?”

Everyone unanimously raised their hands; from afar, Jiang Mingyue’s mouth twitched watching them, she could only say: The wish is beautiful! Keep it up!

In any case, her elder brother’s heartfelt emotional speech laid the groundwork for future profits from the brick factory to be used for rebuilding. Various factories would gradually emerge; it would naturally require initial investment, and it was essentially a precaution to prevent villagers from being caught off guard.

All along, Jiang Mingyue had been waiting for people from the old residence, and today only Wu Cuilan’s couple came over. Tsk! Her second uncle was most active only when money is distributed.

Finally, distribution occurred per household, each family received twenty dollars. With one command, all family representatives surged forward eagerly; their families didn’t have a single dollar left.

The village security team immediately stepped out to maintain order.

“Line up properly; anyone who dares squeeze again will be sent to the back. Remember the grain distribution incident at the drying yard?”

At this moment, there was a dispute at the front; Jiang Mingyue looked over—it was Wu Cuilan and his spouse, because they wanted to take away the twenty dollars from their eldest uncle’s household.

Fortunately, she had predicted this scenario, and had previously communicated with Shu Wenquan.

Shu Wenquan: “Sorry, cannot take on behalf.”

Jiang Zhenghui immediately became unhappy: “Why can’t it be on behalf? I’m his younger brother, what’s the issue? Do I have to bring my mother here for it? My mother is his biological mother, that’s entirely reasonable and justifiable.”

Shu Wenquan: “No way! You have already separated household records; the village has it documented. Grandma Jiang lives with the second household and belongs to them.”

Jiang Zhenghui was so enraged by Shu Wenquan’s rigid words that he kicked over the distribution table, inciting public anger, prompting the security team to swiftly restrain him.

Jiang Jian Country: “Comrade Jiang Zhenghui, please adhere to the rules, and do not disrupt others’ money collection.”

Other villagers chipped in with various remarks, lastly bringing Jiang Zhenghui public embarrassment.

The twenty dollars for the eldest uncle’s household were naturally collected; Xiao Ran handed them over to Jiang Mingyue.

“Sister, can we have braised pork for dinner tonight?”

Jiang Mingyue chuckled; perhaps this kid has an obsession with braised pork?

“Yes, but there’s no meat. I’ll head to the city to buy meat later.”

“Great! Great! I’ll have braised pork for dinner!” Such simple joy in a child; just a meal of braised pork made him happy enough to spin in circles and flaunt it to his friends.

However, today’s boasting seemed to face setbacks.

Xiao Cheng: “My dad will buy meat for me too, and we’ll have braised pork then.”

Gouwa commented: “Buying meat requires meat tickets; the village only distributed money, not feasible for buying meat.”

Xiao Meng passed on new information: “It is possible to buy. Brother Jian Guo brought back lots of tickets; if needed, you can pay to exchange them at the village committee. Truly, my mom exchanged cloth coupons to make new clothes for the whole family.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep