Chapter 33: The New House

Zhao Mengcheng had to teach them step by step. Once the general frame of the house was laid out, everything else became clearer.

“This area is the living room. There are two side rooms¹ on each side for living quarters. On one side of the courtyard, we will build a kitchen, and on the other, a warehouse. Behind the house will be the latrine and the bathroom.”

“I understand the side rooms and the warehouse,” the burly man said, knitting his brows in confusion. “Brother, are you really putting the latrine right behind the house? It will reek in the summer.”

In the area around Qingshan Village, everyone used pit latrines. This involved digging a large hole and placing a wooden board over it. You would stand on the board to use the facilities.

Over time, the wooden boards would rot, making every trip to the latrine a nerve-wracking experience. People had actually fallen in before.

Families in better circumstances would bury a large water vat in the pit. This was cleaner, and the vat could collect liquid waste, making it easier to carry to the fields as fertilizer.

The Zhao Family’s original latrine was like that, built near a bamboo grove about ten paces from the house. Not only was it a hassle to reach, but the smell was overwhelming.

Zhao Mengcheng was determined to change this. “Look here. I have buried a drainage pipe under the latrine. When the time comes, a simple flush of water will wash the waste into a nearby pit.”

While it would still need periodic cleaning, this method was clearly much cleaner and more hygienic than the current standard.

If he wanted to, he could even build a biogas digester using the waste pit, but Zhao Mengcheng found the idea of a waste pit too disgusting and abandoned the thought.

Liu Bingkun, listening nearby, was astonished. “Brother, if this idea works, our latrines can be clean from now on.”

The mason did not object anymore, only noting, “It is just that it wastes a lot of water. It will be quite a hassle.”

“As long as it is clean, I do not mind the trouble,” Zhao Mengcheng stated firmly.

Since the owner insisted, the mason did not argue. He pointed to the bathroom next door. “What is a bathroom? Do you really need a separate room just for bathing?”

Zhao Mengcheng pointed to the kitchen. “This part is connected to the kitchen with a fire wall in between. When the kitchen is used for cooking, the room behind it will heat up. That way, we can bathe inside even in winter.”

He had originally planned to add a hot water system, but current technical conditions were not up to the task, so he had to settle for this method.

The mason marveled at the idea. “What a clever method. We do not see many fire walls or heated kangs² in these parts.”

Zhao Mengcheng smiled and asked, “Can it be finished before winter?”

The mason patted his chest in guarantee. “As long as there are enough bricks and tiles, I can have it finished for you in a month.”

He was a man of his word. The next day, he brought his crew to the door and began digging the foundation.

Zhao Mengcheng did not want to demolish the original house, so he simply asked the Village Chief to approve another residential plot not far behind the old one.

This plot was on higher ground and more spacious, though it was a bit secluded, backed by a vast bamboo forest.

Others might find the place too quiet, but Zhao Mengcheng did not mind. In fact, he liked it very much.

The first step in building a house was laying the foundation.

When Zhao Mengcheng went over, he saw a group of men, stripped to the waist, swinging heavy rammers to compact the earth.

This was the method for a rammed earth foundation. During the process, the workers would add crushed stone, lime, and a special local soil.

Seeing Zhao Mengcheng’s interest, the mason explained with a smile, “A foundation hammered like this is solid. It will stay standing for a hundred years without breaking.”

Not only that, but they would also add reed branches to make the foundation even more stable.

Zhao Mengcheng took a walk around. “I have heard that in the south, they use brown sugar, egg whites, and sticky rice³ to build houses. The resulting structures are incredibly sturdy, resistant to water and fire, and remain intact even after a century of wind and rain.”

The mason had clearly heard of this as well. He nodded. “They do that in the south, but only wealthy families can afford it. Brown sugar, eggs, and sticky rice, none of those are cheap.”

The laborers nearby were also surprised. “Rich people are so extravagant, using brown sugar and eggs in the dirt instead of eating them.”

Zhao Mengcheng had only mentioned it in passing. If he actually brought out brown sugar and eggs to build a house, there was no telling what kind of rumors would spread through the village.

“How about I give it a try?” He had his eye on the rammer.

The mason looked at his refined appearance and hesitated. “This work looks easy, but it is exhausting. Do not go throwing out your back.”

“I will be fine.”

Zhao Mengcheng took the rammer and began to swing it. He was clumsy at first, but he adapted instantly, working both quickly and skillfully.

The mason could not help but praise him. “You have got a knack for this. If you ever stop selling tofu, you could make a living building houses.”

“My brother has plenty of ways to make money. He does not need to build houses for others,” joked Liu Bingkun, who had come to help.

The mason agreed. The flood had just passed, and many families were worrying about their food supply for the end of the year. Anyone who could afford to build a house at a time like this certainly had deep pockets.

Even his own family had been caught off guard by the flood, which was why he had hurriedly come out to take on work.

After trying it out, Zhao Mengcheng realized that ramming earth was indeed strenuous labor. He smiled and said, “If everyone packs the foundation tight, there will be meat for lunch.”

In Qingshan Village, hiring people for labor usually included providing a meal.

Upon hearing this, the laborers cheered. “We will make sure it is packed tight as a drum!”

Zhao Mengcheng counted the heads. Besides the hired mason and laborers, Liu Bingkun, Wang Ming, and others from the village had also come to help. The construction site was a bustling scene.

He decided to buy ten pounds of meat and stewed it in a massive pot with radishes, tofu, and sauerkraut.

Auntie Wang came over to help. Seeing the ingredients, she felt a bit of heartache for his wallet. “When people work for others, they are lucky to see a few scraps of meat. You are being too generous.”

“The first day of laying the foundation takes a lot of energy. If they eat well, the foundation will be solid.” Zhao Mengcheng did not plan to eat like this every day, otherwise people would truly take him for a fool.

By noon, Zhao Mengcheng arrived at the site carrying the large pot, with the three children following behind holding rice basins.

There was no need to bring bowls or chopsticks; the workers brought their own. Otherwise, with so many people, the host would not be able to provide enough.

“Time to eat! After we eat, we will get back to work,” the mason called out loudly when he saw there was actually meat.

He patted Zhao Mengcheng’s shoulder. “No wonder Kun is always praising you. You are a truly decent man. Do not worry, after eating this meal, if there is ever a problem with the house, just come find me.”

Zhao Mengcheng wanted exactly that effect. “Then I will leave the house in your hands. I am counting on it lasting a hundred years.”

Zhao Chun and Zhao Mao held ladles. As the workers lined up, the two boys served them. One scoop of rice, one scoop of meat. They could have more rice, but the meat and vegetables were limited.

Zhao Chun was in charge of the stew. He looked very serious, making sure every bowl had a similar portion and included vegetables, meat, and tofu.

Zhao Mao was much more relaxed. Since they could always add more rice, and manual laborers never stopped after just one bowl, he kept the rice flowing.

The bowls the workers brought were exceptionally large, bigger than the largest bowls in their own home. Sometimes Zhao Mao would scoop three times and still not fill one.

The boy was curious and decided he would ask his father later why their bowls were so much bigger than the ones at home.

Zhao Xin could not help much, so she tugged on Zhao Mengcheng’s sleeve and looked curiously at the foundation.

The mason’s gaze fell on the three children, and he suddenly asked, “Are these the golden children⁴ from the story of the White Dragon saving the children?”

Zhao Mengcheng shook his head with a smile. “It is just a play. You should not take it seriously.”

“Hah, if others do not believe it, I certainly do. Kun said he saw them with his own eyes, a hundred-meter-long divine dragon who saved you from the water.”

The mason was quite talkative and continued, “Now the Wan Family has met with disaster. Lord Huang is truly a righteous official.”

He added, “No wonder you are so strong. It is all heaven’s blessing. These three children look like they will be successful, they have such intelligent faces.”

Zhao Mengcheng did not know whether to laugh or cry. The side effect of the “White Dragon Saves the Children” story was that the villagers looked at him and his sons as if they were immortals. Some people even snuck over to burn incense outside his door in the middle of the night.

With meat, vegetables, and plenty of rice, the workers were even more willing to put in the effort after the meal.

Zhao Mengcheng finally felt at ease. He left with the pots and the children, intending to return and help with the work later.

On the way back, Zhao Mao asked, “Dad, why are their rice bowls so big? They are much bigger than ours.”

Zhao Mengcheng explained, “They go out to work. In some places, they are only allowed one bowl of rice, or if they finish one and go back for more, the food might be gone. To avoid that, they bring especially large bowls.”

“So that is why,” Zhao Mao nodded.

Zhao Chun was full of excitement. “Dad, I want to help later too. I am very strong. If I work more, we can move into the new house sooner.”

Zhao Mengcheng did not stop him. He did not want to raise children who were lazy and physically weak.

With many people helping and Zhao Mengcheng willing to spend money, the bricks and tiles were ready, and the food was good. The house was built quickly.

In less than half a month, the house had taken shape.

Knowing that Zhao Mengcheng was building a new house, the Village Chief specifically brought out a piece of elm wood he had been saving, offering it to be used as a roof beam⁵.

Zhao Mengcheng was reluctant to accept at first. “Uncle, keep such good wood for yourself. You can use it when you build a new house for Kun later. I can just buy a beam myself.”

“A roof beam is hard to come by. Where would you even buy one on such short notice? Besides, the prices are high right now.”

The Old Village Chief remained insistent. “No matter how good the wood is, it’s meant to be used by people. Just find a good piece of timber later and pay me back then.”

“Speaking of which, your father helped me find this beam back when he was still around. So many years have passed in the blink of an eye. If your father knew about this in the afterlife, he would surely be happy.”

Liu Bingkun added, “Who knows how long it will be before I get married and build a house. Brother, you take it and use it first.”

The Old Village Chief spoke even more firmly, “Take it, or I’ll think you don’t see me as your uncle.”

Seeing that they truly wanted to give it, Zhao Mengcheng finally accepted.

The Old Village Chief’s timber solved Zhao Mengcheng’s urgent need. While ordinary wood was easy to find, a proper roof beam was rare. Once the beam was raised, the entire framework of the house was in place.

However, Zhao Mengcheng had many specific requirements. The bricklayers often had to ask for clarification while they worked, so the pace actually slowed down once the frame was up.

Fortunately, the bricklayers promised that even at a slower pace, they would finish before the first frost. Only then did Zhao Mengcheng feel at ease.

Before the house was even finished, the Cao Family arrived at his door.

After the floodwaters receded, every household in Shanghe Village suffered some losses, but they quickly resumed the tofu business to start earning money again.

Now, the village entrance had returned to its bustling state. Because the surrounding villages had also been affected by the disaster, the common folk were more than willing to come and sell tofu to earn enough to get by.

As the weather turned cold, tofu could be kept for two or three days without spoiling. Some people even traveled a thousand miles to Fengzhou to sell tofu.

They formed small groups, traveling directly by boat and carrying hundreds or even thousands of pieces of tofu at a time. The profits were actually quite good.

The Dried Tofu, Fermented Tofu, and Bean Skin⁶ from the Zhao Family were also very popular. These items lasted even longer. If it weren’t for the insufficient supply, the wholesalers would have bought everything in one go.

When the Cao Family arrived by ox cart, they were greeted by the sight of the incredibly lively market at the village entrance.

Father Cao gaped in surprise. “We haven’t come to the wrong place, have we? Is this really Shanghe Village? Why is it so crowded?”

It wasn’t much different from the city.

Cao Da had already looked into things and explained, “Brother Zhao’s family sells tofu. Previously, Wan San wanted to forcibly buy his Tofu Secret Recipe, which is why he went after him.”

“I knew he sold tofu, but I didn’t expect his business to be this large,” Mother Cao remarked with emotion.

Cao Er smiled. “This Zhao Mengcheng is a capable man.”

Cao Da turned back and said, “I heard that after Brother Zhao became successful, he didn’t forget his fellow villagers. He taught them the Tofu Secret Recipe. Now, many families in Shanghe Village are making and selling tofu. Instead, his own family stopped selling regular tofu and switched to selling Dried Tofu and Bean Skin.”

“Mother, don’t you love eating Fermented Tofu? That’s made by his family.”

Mother Cao realized, “So it’s his family. No wonder the Wan Family targeted them.”

At the mention of the Wan Family, every member of the Cao Family showed a look of utter disgust.

Cao Wumei poked her head out curiously. “Are we at the benefactor’s house yet?”

“It’s just up ahead.” There was only one ox cart, so the Cao men all walked while only the mother and daughter rode.

Soon, the ox cart arrived at the Zhao Family’s door, just as someone from the city was arriving to pick up goods.

“I say, Brother Zhao, I’ve never seen anyone do business like you. Bean Skin is selling so well right now, you should make more. Yet you only make a set amount every day, not even enough for my single shop to sell.”

Zhao Mengcheng smiled as he saw Shopkeeper Wang out. “Didn’t I tell you first as soon as we had a new product? Brother Wang, you should be satisfied.”

“These Tofu Puffs⁷ are indeed good. Bean Skin is best served cold, but since the weather is getting chilly, it’s not very warming. These Tofu Puffs can be added to soup.”

Shopkeeper Wang knew when to quit and left with a chuckle.

Only then did Zhao Mengcheng notice the Cao Family waiting to the side. “Brother Cao.”

Cao Da laughed heartily and gave a deep, respectful bow. “Brother Zhao, thank you for saving our lives. If not for you, I’m afraid my little sister would have… you saved our entire family.”

Father Cao led his other sons in bowing one after another, their faces full of gratitude.

Mother Cao also pulled her daughter off the cart and told her to kowtow to Zhao Mengcheng. “If not for this Uncle Zhao, you might not have come back this time.”

Cao Wumei tilted her head. “I remember this uncle. That day, he kicked the roof of the carriage flying with just one foot.”

After being cared for at home for a few days, the little girl had regained her usual lively and clever nature. She knelt down and gave three loud kowtows⁸. “Thank you, Uncle, for saving my life.”

“Quickly, get up. There’s no need for this.” Zhao Mengcheng stopped one, but then another knelt down.

Cao Da smiled. “We should have come sooner, but Wu Mei was startled and didn’t dare to leave the house. We were afraid of frightening her, so we waited until now to come.”

As he spoke, he ordered his younger brothers to bring the gifts. The men of the Cao Family were all tall and sturdy. Carrying the items, they marched inside with an air that looked like bandits entering a city.

Next door, Uncle Wang and Auntie Wang heard the noise and came out to look. They almost called for help before they were stopped.

“Uncle, Auntie, these are my friends. It’s fine,” Zhao Mengcheng quickly explained.

Uncle Wang pulled him aside and asked, “Where did you get such fierce-looking friends? Are they decent people?”

“They are the butchers who sell meat in our town.” Zhao Mengcheng had to explain clearly, fearing they might actually go call for help.

Uncle Wang felt relieved upon hearing this, though he still looked a bit envious. “So it’s them. No wonder they’re all so broad and sturdy.”

Father Cao heard him and shouted with a smile, “Mengcheng saved my daughter. In the future, if you come to my meat shop to buy meat, I’ll give you a discount.”

Uncle Wang didn’t know whether to nod or shake his head.

When Zhao Mengcheng stepped inside, he saw that the gifts brought by the Cao Family filled half the courtyard.

The three little ones had just woken up and were still holding their breakfast bowls, staring at the scene in a daze.

“Uncle Cao, Brother Cao, I accept your thanks, but there’s really no need for the gifts.” Zhao Mengcheng felt he didn’t deserve them, as he had acted out of a personal grudge from the start.

If Wan San hadn’t troubled him repeatedly, he might have even forgotten this plot point from the novel.

His gaze fell on Cao Wumei, and Zhao Mengcheng sighed inwardly. It was fortunate that his actions had happened to save the lives of several young girls.

Father Cao insisted, “It’s necessary, it’s necessary. These things aren’t worth much. They aren’t nearly as important as my little darling.”

Mother Cao even began to wipe away tears. “It’s a blessing she was found. Otherwise, I would never have gotten over this for the rest of my life.”

“Mother, I’m fine. Don’t cry.” Cao Wumei stood on her tiptoes to wipe her mother’s tears.

The mother and daughter hugged each other and cried again, remembering those days of fear and anxiety.

Zhao Mengcheng had no choice but to comfort them. “It’s good that everything is fine now. Have you eaten? Why don’t you come in and have a bite?”

Cao Da was about to decline when he saw that Cao Wumei had stopped crying. She looked up and asked, “What are we eating?”

Zhao Chun held his bowl and looked at her. “We’re having soy milk. There’s salty soy milk⁹ and sweet soy milk. Father also made fried eggs and steamed rice cakes.”

As he spoke, Zhao Mao and Zhao Xin were slurping their drinks beside him. The sound made everyone’s stomachs start to rumble.

Cao Wumei licked her lips. “I want to try some.”

The little girl was clearly very pampered and wasn’t shy even in a stranger’s house, answering quite frankly.

Cao Da didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. They had come to offer thanks; how could they eat at someone else’s house?

Zhao Mengcheng had already brought out the soy milk. These days, he was too lazy to grind the beans himself, so he bought it from the neighbors.

“It’s all homemade. Sit down and have a taste,” he invited.

The Cao Family members sat down one by one, only then realizing how incredibly rich the Zhao Family’s breakfast was.

On the table, there were not only fried eggs and steamed rice cakes, but also crispy fried dough stick¹⁰ pieces, chopped pickles, and even a dish of sugar and soy sauce.

Zhao Mengcheng picked up his own bowl, added a spoonful of pickles and a spoonful of fried dough sticks, then poured some soy sauce over it.

“I prefer the salty flavor. If you like it sweet, just add sugar.”

Cao Wumei couldn’t wait to add a spoonful of sugar. After one sip, her eyes narrowed in delight. “This is better than the stuff in town.”

“Of course it is. These beans were carefully selected. Grandpa Wang and Grandma Wang are very meticulous with their work. There’s not a single bit of grit in it. It’s delicious. My father says it’s called silky smooth,” Zhao Xin said, staring curiously at the new girl.

Cao Wumei took another sip and nodded vigorously. “It really is delicious.”

“Do you want an egg? Fried eggs are best with a little soy sauce,” Zhao Xin asked.

Cao Wumei hesitated slightly, knowing that eggs were quite expensive. “If I eat it, will you still have one?”

“I can share half with you. Anyway, I get to eat an egg every day,” Zhao Xin said with a smile. she cut her egg into two halves, and they each ate a piece.

Cao Wumei took a bite and nodded hard. “The egg is delicious too.”

Zhao Xin leaned close to her ear and whispered, “I’ll tell you a secret. I raised these chickens myself, so the eggs they lay are better than anyone else’s.”

“You can raise chickens? You’re so amazing,” Cao Wumei praised her sincerely.

The two little girls quickly began playing together. Once they finished eating, Zhao Xin wanted to take her to see her treasures.

Mother Cao didn’t stop them; she even gave her daughter an encouraging look.

Ever since that incident, her normally lively and active daughter had suddenly become very quiet. She didn’t like going out to play and would occasionally daze off and cry.

Mother Cao saw this and felt anxious, but seeing her daughter playing so well with the Zhao Family’s young daughter made her heart fill with joy.

She wiped away her tears of emotion, only to turn around and see her wooden-headed husband and four wooden-headed sons had finished every scrap of the Zhao Family’s breakfast. Even the soy milk bucket was empty!

Mother Cao’s anger flared, and she reached out to give her husband a sharp pinch.

“What are you doing? What are you doing?” Father Cao cried out aggrievedly while gulping down the last of the soy milk.

Mother Cao scolded him, “How can you eat so much? Didn’t you eat before we came?”

Father Cao finally realized what he had done and gave a sheepish laugh, not daring to say another word.

Cao Da also realized that his family had somehow eaten the entire breakfast, leaving even the pickle plate empty.

He felt extremely embarrassed, and just as he was about to speak, he let out a loud burp.

Zhao Mengcheng did not mind at all. He even asked, “Are you full? If not, I can get more soy milk and Tofu Pudding.”

His own house was out, but he could go next door to buy more.

Cao Da waved his hands hurriedly, “No, no, we are truly full.”

The four brothers all blushed. They had never heard of someone coming to offer thanks and then eating the host’s house clean.

Zhao Chun did not notice their embarrassment and said proudly, “Our food is delicious, isn’t it? Everyone says our food is great, and even the pickles are better than anyone else’s. My dad made it all.”

Once his embarrassment passed, Cao Da spoke frankly, “Brother Zhao, I didn’t expect you to not only be peerless in wisdom and courage, but to also have such skill.”

“It’s just simple home cooking,” Zhao Mengcheng said modestly. It was not that his skills were so exceptional, but rather that under the influence of his Mental Power, the quality of the fruits and vegetables produced by his family was superior.

Cao Da laughed loudly, “Don’t be so modest. Even Lord Huang wanted to recruit you as a Sub-official Clerk, though it’s a pity your ambitions lie elsewhere.”

Zhao Mengcheng was a bit surprised, but then he remembered there were Yamen Runners present that day, so it was not strange for the word to get out.

Cao Da added, “We came today not just to thank you in person, but also to tell you something so you can be completely at ease.”

“What is it?” Zhao Mengcheng asked curiously.

Cao Da laughed, “The Wan Family saw they had caused a huge mess and couldn’t stay in town anymore. They’ve secretly moved the whole family to Fengzhou.”

“What?”

Zhao Mengcheng was extremely surprised. He remembered the novel mentioning that when the Wan Family was destroyed, only the Shanghe Town branch escaped because of their remote location.

It was only after the three Zhao siblings reached high positions that they found the Wan Family to take revenge.

A nerve in Zhao Mengcheng’s brain twitched. If he remembered correctly, the Third Prince’s future true love was from the Wan Family, specifically the branch from Shanghe Town.

Seeing his expression was off, Cao Da asked strangely, “Isn’t this a good thing? You won’t have to worry about them looking for trouble anymore.”

Zhao Mengcheng smiled, “It is indeed a good thing. I’m just worried those remaining two little girls won’t be found.”

“Sigh, that’s true. We can only count on Lord Huang now,” Cao Da sighed.

Everyone present knew that the two girls who were sent away had gone to Fengzhou long ago, and no one knew where they had been taken by now.

Lord Huang dared to challenge the Shanghe Town Wan Family because this branch was insignificant and not worth mentioning.

The Wan Family in Fengzhou Prefecture, however, was a behemoth that could not be easily shaken.

After chatting for a bit, seeing people constantly coming to buy Dried Tofu and bean curd skin¹¹, the Cao Family felt bad about continuing to disturb them and stood up to leave.

Cao Wumei had already become best friends with Zhao Xin. She was reluctant to leave and begged her mother to let her come back to play.

Mother Cao naturally agreed. Before leaving, she insisted on buying a pile of Dried Tofu and bean curd skin. She bought more than a regular vendor would, saying she would share it with friends and family.

Zhao Mengcheng saw them to the village entrance. Cao Da pulled him aside and whispered a warning, “The flood happened at a bad time, and the autumn harvest everywhere has been affected. You should prepare early.”

Zhao Mengcheng’s heart skipped a beat as he suddenly remembered the plot in the book where the three little ones were sold.

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Translator’s Notes

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1. side rooms: Refers to ‘Xiangfang’ (wing rooms). In traditional Chinese courtyard architecture (Siheyuan), these rooms flank the central courtyard on the east and west. They are traditionally occupied by children or guests, ranking lower in hierarchy than the main north-facing house. ↩
2. heated kangs: A traditional sleeping platform made of bricks or clay, common in Northern China. The interior is hollow and connected to a stove, allowing heat to circulate inside the bed to keep sleepers warm during harsh winters. ↩
3. brown sugar, egg whites, and sticky rice: A reference to ‘sticky rice mortar,’ a real historical invention used in ancient China (including the Great Wall). This organic composite was incredibly strong, water-resistant, and durable, though expensive to produce. ↩
4. golden children: Refers to “Golden Boys” (Jintong), often depicted alongside “Jade Girls” as attendants to deities in folklore. Describing children this way implies they look auspicious, precious, and divinely adorable. ↩
5. roof beam: In traditional Chinese timber-frame architecture, the main ridge beam is the most critical structural component. It is culturally significant, representing the “spine” of the house, and its installation is often accompanied by a special ceremony. ↩
6. Bean Skin: Doupi. A food product made from the skin that forms on the surface of boiling soy milk. It is harvested, dried, and known for its chewy texture. ↩
7. Tofu Puffs: Doufupao. Tofu cubes that have been deep-fried until they are puffy and airy inside, making them excellent for absorbing soups and broths. ↩
8. three loud kowtows: Xiangtou (sounding kowtows). A gesture where the forehead strikes the ground audibly. It signifies the highest level of sincerity and gratitude, often reserved for life-saving grace or ancestors. ↩
9. salty soy milk: A traditional savory breakfast dish, distinct from the sweet version. Hot soy milk is typically curdled with vinegar or soy sauce and topped with pickled vegetables, dried shrimp, and chili oil. ↩
10. fried dough stick: Youtiao (Chinese cruller). A long, deep-fried dough strip. It is a quintessential breakfast staple in China, traditionally dipped in soy milk or eaten with congee. ↩
11. bean curd skin: Doupi (or Yuba). A food product made from the nutrient-rich film that forms on the surface of boiling soy milk, distinct from the solid blocks of dried tofu. ↩