Next, Li Xiang handled the remaining jelled tofu. After a while, the jelled tofu was no longer as fine and delicate, starting to feel more like "silken tofu." However, it wasn’t "firm" enough yet, making it inconvenient to store or cook with.

He took the same large filter bag from before, washed it clean, and placed it in a hand-woven circular bamboo basket. He set the basket on a rack with a bucket underneath. Using a large ladle, he transferred the "silken tofu" from the basin into the filter bag, tied it tightly, and finally, brought over the millstone used earlier for grinding soybeans to press down on top of it.

He didn’t need to do much after that, just check on it after a while.

If it couldn’t all be pressed at once, he could do it in two batches.

Once the water was pressed out, the tofu would truly become firm tofu, which could be braised, used in soup, or made into delicious tofu balls.

Next, he dealt with the okara.

Okara was good stuff, too. If the family raised pigs, it could be used as feed. Of course, people could eat it as well.

From a nutritional standpoint, eating okara can lower blood cholesterol levels and reduce insulin dependency for diabetics. Its richness in dietary fiber also helps prevent colon cancer and aids in weight loss. In modern society, okara is considered a new health food source.

But, the stuff really didn’t taste good.

It had to be processed using special methods, for example, by making "fermented okara," which, like "fermented tofu," was made by shaping it into cakes or blocks and allowing it to undergo solid-state fermentation. But "fermented tofu (moldy tofu)" is made from tofu blocks, while fermented okara is made from okara.

Alternatively, it could be mixed with cornmeal to make okara porridge, or used in scrambled eggs with okara, okara pancakes, stewed fish with fermented okara, and so on.

Li Xiang’s family didn’t raise pigs at the moment, so he planned to stir-fry the okara, form it into balls, and ferment it to feed the dogs.

However, when feeding it to the dogs, he could only add a small amount each time, for fear they wouldn’t be able to digest it. In fact, people couldn’t eat too much of it either. It could cause abdominal pain and bloating and induce acute gout, as it was high in purines.

The stir-fried okara was quite fragrant. After it cooled down a bit, he would firmly press it into balls by hand, place them in a bamboo winnowing basket lined with clean straw, cover them with another layer of straw, and put them in the storage room to "ferment." Once they were covered in fluffy white mold, they would be ready to eat.

The bacterial culture involved was mainly Mucor from the straw.

With the heavy snow and low temperatures, the fermentation process would take a bit longer.

After the white mold appeared, some parts might turn a pale reddish-yellow, which was normal. But if there was any "black mold" mixed in, he had to be careful. That was most likely Aspergillus niger, which was not a good thing.

Some species of Aspergillus niger secrete aflatoxins, a Group 1 carcinogen, so it was best to throw it away.

Granny Li Xiang was experienced in making "fermented okara." With her keeping an eye on it, Li Xiang was at ease.

He could also try using a portion of the pressed firm tofu to make fermented tofu. The workload wasn’t heavy, so he could just let Granny Li Xiang handle it. She enjoyed keeping busy anyway; if she didn’t have some work to do, she’d feel restless all day.

"Brother, can you film a video for me?" Jiang Cai’Er said.

Li Xiang politely refused. "Didn’t Teacher Huang say we’re not supposed to film videos?"

"Oh, come on. If I record it but don’t post it, the teacher will never know. I learned a new song recently. I think it sounds really nice, and it’s perfect for this snowy scene. Just film it, please? Pretty please? Brother Xiang~"

"Fine, fine, I’ll film it! You’re giving me goosebumps!" Li Xiang couldn’t take it anymore.

"Hee hee, you’re the best, Brother!"

Jiang Cai’Er led Li Xiang into an area of untouched white snow. She spun around a few times, looked around, and suddenly said, "Filming like this might look a little plain. How about this, Brother: you go get a shovel and toss snow behind me. Toss it high and make it fine, just as a background. Just don’t get it on my head. As for filming, we can ask Granny to do it, or use a tripod."

Li Xiang said, "Let’s have Granny do it, then." A tripod was static, after all, whereas Granny had picked up some camera movement and filming techniques from helping with the short skits before. Plus, they could have her stand on a shoveled spot so she wouldn’t fall.

So Li Xiang went to get the shovel. He might not be good at other things, but when it came to manual labor, he was second to none. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Granny Li Xiang came to film, and Third Granny tagged along to watch the fun.

Jiang Cai’Er began to sing and dance. Because the focus was on singing and she was in the snow, her dance moves were simple and gentle, with a touch of classical dance style.

"The courtyard pears have bloomed and faded for another year, standing in the quiet night, moonlight spills on empty stairs, in dreams, pipes and flutes play old melodies, waking, tears stain a rouged face..."

Her ethereal, melodious, and soul-stirring voice, combined with her graceful dancing, made Li Xiang’s eyes light up as he stood behind her, tossing snow. He realized it was the song "Spring Courtyard Snow."

Li Xiang was strong. He’d scoop up a large shovelful of snow and toss it high into the air. Fine snowflakes would flutter down, creating a fantastic background.

Whenever a large flurry of snow was tossed up and drifted down, Jiang Cai’Er would match it with a specific hand gesture or dance move. It was a pity she was wearing a thin down jacket instead of flowing water sleeves and cloud-like robes; otherwise, the effect would have been even better.

"My heart is not a stone that can be turned, nor a mat that can be rolled, I gaze into the void, the depths of love, an unsolvable riddle..."

When the operatic-style vocals began, it was even more stunning. After they finished filming, even Third Granny clapped and cheered.

Third Granny thought for a moment, then couldn’t help but say, "In Wang Family Village, my eldest daughter’s neighbor has a girl who’s a flight attendant. I hear the pay is quite good, and she’s a real beauty. We should have Xiang’Er go meet her during the New Year. I just don’t know if she’ll be back for the holidays."

"A flight attendant? Oh, that would be wonderful." Granny Li Xiang beamed upon hearing this. ’Flight attendants are usually pretty,’ she thought. ’My Xiang’Er is so handsome, he deserves someone beautiful.’

Jiang Cai’Er jolted. She lost all interest in singing more. Originally, she had wanted to do another song. She quickly ran over and asked, "Third Granny, Third Granny, what’s this about a flight attendant?"

Granny Li Xiang laughed and said, "Your Third Granny wants to find a flight attendant to be your Brother Xiang’Er’s wife!"

Jiang Cai’Er’s brow furrowed. "Why a flight attendant all of a sudden? Besides, times have changed. Being a flight attendant, HMPH, isn’t that prestigious anymore!"

Her cheeks puffed out in anger. ’Flight attendants are probably so promiscuous,’ she thought. ’Someone who messes around, how could she possibly be worthy of my Brother Xiang’Er?’

Third Granny asked, puzzled, "Weren’t you just singing about dating three flight attendants? That Li Qingxiao fellow in your song can date three of them, so why can’t your Brother Xiang’Er find a flight attendant for a wife?"

"Who’s dating three flight attendants?" Jiang Cai’Er was dumbfounded. "When did I sing that?"

"Li Qingxiao. My cousin," Li Xiang said, walking over with the shovel, unable to hold back his laughter.

"Huh?" Jiang Cai’Er processed this, waving her hands dismissively. "This song is no good, no good at all. I’ll sing a different one." ’My Mandarin is perfectly standard, isn’t it?’ she thought. ’How could she possibly have heard ’Li Qingxiao dating three flight attendants’ from that?’

Granny Li Xiang asked in surprise, "When did you get a cousin named Li Qingxiao? How come I don’t know about it?"

Li Xiang said, "...I was just kidding, don’t take it seriously, Grandma. Besides, my cousins probably don’t have the last name Li anyway."

Jiang Cai’Er sang another song, "Feng Chen’s Accommodation." "Crossed the bridges, walked the paths, roamed through bustling streets; A jar of wine, three hearty laughs, living a life carefree..." This one was simple, easy to understand, and had a cute style. She was determined to make Third Granny and the others forget all about that "dating flight attendants" business.

Then, she scurried back inside to do her homework. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got.