She Only Cares About Cultivation
Chapter 269: 【268】Tasty and Pretty Fisherman 119 (2 more updates)

Chapter 269: 【268】Tasty and Pretty Fisherman 119 (2 more updates)

In their idle chat last night, she had already learned that the old man’s surname was Wang, and he was the only one in the village capable of making tofu, a skill his ancestors had relied on for their livelihood for generations. However, neither his son nor his daughter had shown any interest in it; perhaps they had eaten enough tofu, or perhaps they thought tofu making was too arduous. In any case, no one wanted to return home to help their parents or continue the craft.

The couple had sold tofu to fund their son’s education, who became a Scholar but repeatedly failed his exams and eventually gave up, married, and became a teacher at a private school.

In his memory, making tofu was an extremely arduous task. Although studying was also hard, at least it didn’t involve physical labor; therefore, she never considered inheriting the craft, let alone intending for her own son to sell tofu.

Since no one would inherit the craft, the old couple, despite their age, had to continue waking up early and working till dark making tofu. It wasn’t that they lacked money—their children did send them money—but when people came to buy tofu, they couldn’t just say they wouldn’t make it anymore. Once they started, they kept at it till this age.

If you said they weren’t tired, that would be impossible. But by now, they hadn’t thought of any other effective solution.

The lighting was poor last night, and she couldn’t see the family’s situation clearly. This morning, upon waking and observing, she thought this family seemed well-off. Although they lived in a mud-brick house, the main house had two rooms, with one room on each side. There were no other livestock or vegetable gardens in the yard, just a donkey shed and a mill for making tofu, which at first glance was clean and tidy. Upon reflection, those who made tofu didn’t seem to be lazy.

Seeing how hard the old couple worked, Xiao Yu had a bold idea, but she still wanted to understand their situation first.

"Grandma, Grandpa, how much is a pound of tofu?"

"Six copper coins." (The two copper coins price in the small fishing village was too cheap; it has been changed to four copper coins)

The fishing village planted more soybeans, which were cheaper, especially since it was sold within their own village.

"Grandpa, may I ask a question I probably shouldn’t—how much do you earn after deducting the cost of making tofu?"

It was a bit presumptuous to ask this, but somehow, Xiao Yu had a persuasive charm, and besides, she was just passing by and posed no competition to them. Such a question surely had its reasons.

"About four or five copper coins?"

Grandpa Wang didn’t hesitate and promptly told Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu stroked her chin and thought for a while before looking thoughtfully at the old couple.

"Grandpa, is your tofu workshop a tradition passed only to sons and not daughters?"

Grandpa Wang smiled bitterly, "What passing to sons or daughters? My son just has no interest in it at all. I thought about letting my daughter learn, but she dislikes it too, even forbidding her husband from discussing it, saying making tofu is too arduous. It’s better to work in the fields, at least not having to get up at the break of dawn. As long as they’re my offspring, it doesn’t matter who learns, does it? But even so, no one wants to learn. I just worry that after I die, this craft will vanish, which would be a great pity, since within ten villages, Wang Family’s tofu is the tastiest."

The old man’s confidence was apparent in his expression. After listening, Xiao Yu nodded her head.

"Grandpa Wang, your tofu being delicious is well recognized. Have you considered taking on an apprentice?"

Grandpa Wang immediately understood Xiao Yu’s implication, "Young man, you mean to suggest I pass on this craft?"