Chapter 1792: Chapter 1792: Exceptionally Impressive

However, looking at Little Pingxi’s worried face, slightly reddened eyes, and those sorrowful eyebrows that seemed to hang down, I knew the little guy was truly worried.

Gu Jinli had no choice but to tell him, "Don’t worry, another day we’ll eat tofu. One pound of soybeans can make three pounds of tofu, and the leftover bean dregs can be used to make a few bean dregs cakes. This way, we can make up for the Jade Seedling we’ve lost."

And so, the idea of making and eating tofu today came about.

The soybeans were found by Bai, in the house at Lin Family Slope, enough to fill three rooms, plus a room full of various melons and vegetables, a room of sorghum rice, millet, and white flour, and a few well-cared-for pigs and sheep — all stored by Lin Changshou’s group, now benefiting them.

"Here they come." Little Pingxi responded, after Erqing opened the gate for him. He thanked Erqing and then ran toward Gu Jinli.

Squatting next to Gu Jinli, he pointed to the wooden box weighed down by a big stone and said, "Aunt Gu Er, is that tofu inside? Is it really white? But soybeans are yellow."

Gu Jinli laughed, moved the stone aside, and said, "Don’t blink, watch closely to see if it’s white."

"Mmhmm, I won’t blink." Little Pingxi stared at the box, and when the linen was lifted, a piece of snow-white appeared before his eyes.

His eyes lit up with surprise and delight, saying, "Wow, it’s white, really white, is this tofu? It’s really very white, like snow."

But he doesn’t like snow.

It’s so cold when it snows, without clothes or a blanket, it’s tough to bear.

Gu Jinli nodded, smiling, and said, "Poke it, it’s firmer than snow."

"Can I, can I poke it?" Little Pingxi was stunned; hearing Aunt Gu Er say that White Jade Tofu sold well in He’an Prefecture because wealthy families liked it — what if it broke?

Gu Jinli: "Of course you can poke it, it’s only tofu. And since it’s ours to eat, it’s fine if you break it."

But she taught him: "You can poke your own things, but not random items belonging to others, or you’ll have to pay for it, and people will laugh at you."

"Okay, I understand. Thank you, Aunt Gu Er." Little Pingxi was very happy, poked it twice lightly, and said delightedly, "It’s a bit soft and yet somewhat firm, what a strange thing."

He didn’t break it, which pleased him!

Gu Jinli laughed and beckoned him, "Come, let’s go to the kitchen to make Fried Five-Spice Tofu, it’s really delicious. When we escaped to the south, this was what we sold; your Grandma was very skilled at frying tofu."

"Really? Can I learn?"

"You can learn, but you’re still young. Learning this now might burn your hands."

"I’m not afraid; I want to learn, to make it for Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle, and Aunt."

Gu Jinli paused her steps and finally agreed, "Alright, I’ll teach you today."

Ji Zhenniang and the others had tasted tofu before, though hadn’t eaten it for months. Today they helped Gu Jinli make tofu, and the kitchen was crowded with people from three families, busy cutting tofu, shaping bean dregs cakes, washing pots, pouring oil, frying tofu and bean dregs cakes, bustling with activity.

"Little Pingxi, you’re here! Look at this pot of tofu with egg; doesn’t it smell nice? My mom made it!" Brother Yi pulled Little Pingxi to look at the iron pot of tofu with egg.

Sister Yu, being attentive, saw that Little Pingxi was short and couldn’t reach the stove, and brought a stool for him to step on and look.

"Wow, it smells really good and looks delicious." Little Pingxi looked at the egg in the pot, stunned by how many fried eggs there were — eating this is even more extravagant than eating Jade Seedling!

...

Little Pingxi worked busily in the kitchen for an hour, and after eating a plate of Fried Five-Spice Tofu, Mrs. Han had prepared the food for Little Yan Tai and the others.

There was a basin of tofu with egg, a basin of tofu with cabbage, Fried Five-Spice Tofu and bean dregs cakes, and two buckets of millet porridge, all loaded onto the cart. She said, "Little Pingxi, go take it to your little friends."

"Mom, I’ll go too!" Brother Yi, who had become good friends with Little Pingxi, also clamored to go.

Mrs. Han agreed: "Go, and take good care of Little Pingxi."

"Mmhmm!" Brother Yi responded, increasingly showing the demeanor of a big brother.

Erqing and Mrs. Han’s maid pulled the cart out of the courtyard and placed it at the gate, calling two soldiers to push the cart for Little Pingxi and the others.

When the food was delivered to the house where a group of children lived, they were thrilled but didn’t scramble for the food. You An had taught them not to grab and to queue for their meals, or they would be punished.

The little ones remembered, taking their wooden bowls obediently to queue for the meals, each eating very contentedly.

Wen Rong kept vigil for Wen Qiong, with his share being taken by You An.

Little Pingxi remembered Qin San Lang’s words, seeing the sky darkening, he headed back with Brother Yi to dine with Gu Jinli and the others.

Halfway, he met Niu Wujin, bringing a large group of soldiers’ children back with tofu and bean dregs to make a meal.

"Brother Wujin!" Little Pingxi greeted them from afar.

Niu Wujin, upon seeing him, laughed, "Haha, it’s Little Pingxi! I just regretted not seeing you when I went to Sister-in-law Qin’s place to get tofu. Are you heading to the county? We’ll escort you when you go."

"Great, thank you, Brother Wujin." Little Pingxi and Brother Yi came running, handing Brother Qijin some caramel: "Brother Qijin, for you to eat."

It was given by Aunt Gu Er, but he saved it to give to the soldiers’ kids to build good relations.

Qijin now able to walk, but walked unsteadily, fell after a short distance, liked the hustle and bustle, seen by Wujin taking tofu, wanted to come.

"Sweet!" Qijin took the caramel and stuffed it into his mouth, getting scolded by Wujin, "Just know to eat; quickly thank your Brother Pingxi."

Niu Qijin could still say thank you, softly saying, "Thank you!"

Little Pingxi laughed, imitating adults, patting Qijin’s head, chatted with Niu Wujin for a while, greeted others, and then pulled Brother Yi to go back.

Brother Yi looked at him and then at him again, not understanding when Little Pingxi became acquainted with Brother Wujin and the others?

Hmm, when did Little Pingxi become acquainted with him?

He couldn’t remember, it seemed like they had always played well together.

In the evening, Brother Yi shared his doubts with his parents.

Mrs. Han said, "Little Pingxi is extremely clever, learn more from him, it will benefit you."

Zhang Yan also said, "Your mother is right, that Little Pingxi is unlike any ordinary child."

Having suffered hardships and bullying, living by gauging others’ moods, Little Pingxi has developed through experience, becoming far more adept than average children.

"Okay, Brother Yi understands." Brother Yi liked Little Pingxi, so when his parents told him to learn from Little Pingxi, he was open to it, not feeling embarrassed as an heir of the Earl Mansion learning from an orphan.

The next day, past dawn, the village’s copper gong sounded again.

Clang, clang, clang!

The children, hearing this gong, all got up, dressed, ate breakfast, and assembled by the time it wasn’t yet mid-morning, boarded the carts, brought by Qin San Lang and Company Commander Jin to the county.

Niu Wujin, bringing a group of little kids, came as promised to give them a send-off.

Little Pingxi was delighted, feeling that Brother Wujin didn’t look down on him but truly treated him as a brother. Even when the carts started moving, he waved vigorously towards Niu Wujin and the others, shouting, "Brother Wujin, wait for me to come back!"

Niu Wujin clicked his tongue and said to the kids around him, "See that? Little Pingxi’s been here a short time and is already buddies with me. You all should behave better in the future."

The little kids nodded vigorously: "Mmhmm, Brother Wujin is amazing, we’ll certainly behave better in the future!"

...

Qin San Lang and the others, after staying with Little Pingxi and others for a day in the county, saw the Bian family being escorted to the county.

Bian Zai De, a more vicious character than Tang Zhongzhou, shouted along the way, "I’m innocent, the soldiers are slandering the good registered citizens, I’ve already asked a caravan to go to the Capital to deliver a blood letter to the Jingzhao Governor. Even if the Bian family is killed, the officials in the Capital will seek justice for us!"

General Ge heard this, fury in his eyes, and shouted, "Men, seal this scoundrel’s mouth!"

Then he grabbed Company Commander Tong and asked, "Is what this dog said true? Did he really send a caravan to the Capital with a blood letter petition paper?"

If true, the case in Gaoshui County couldn’t be resolved, and General Xu would be hindered by the Capital!

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