"How do you sell this tofu, Auntie?" Song Qiu asked the price.
When the woman saw her asking about the price, she hurriedly said: "It's the same price, one penny per catty, my family's price is quite sufficient, and it's not adulterated at all."
As he said that, he came closer to Song Qiu and added in a low voice, "Unlike the old couple opposite, they are fake! Otherwise, why would his tofu be sold so fast?"
After saying that, he pulled back his neck and said with a smile: "Girl, look at my tofu, how white and tender it is! How many kilograms do you want? Auntie sees that you are in love with me. If you want more, I will give you half a kilogram!"
What the old couple said was true. It was not the first time that Song Qiu had come to this market. However, it was the first time that the two of them had met each other in this market.
"Bring me a five-pound one. Auntie sees that I like you, and I think you look familiar to me. Where is Auntie from?"
It cost five kilograms. Although it was not much, it was still quite a lot. The woman was happy and asked the man to pretend to be on the scale, while chatting with Song Qiu.
My mother’s family is from Liujia Village, not far from the town!”
"It turns out that my aunt's natal family is from Liujia Village! Then do you know someone named Liu Dajiao? My aunt's natal family is from Liujia Village." Song Qiu asked curiously.
When the woman heard this, she immediately clapped her hands and said, "Oh, I'm sorry, we are all acquaintances! Do you think this Liu Dajia is my maternal cousin? What's wrong, girl, it turns out you are from Sheung Shui Village? You recognize my cousin!"
"
When Song Qiu heard this, he was 100% sure that this woman was the Liu Dajiao mentioned by the two women who were gossiping outside the town earlier. It would be great to marry her cousin who sells tofu at her husband's house in the town.
Therefore, the person who saw "her" going in and out of some hidden fence must be this cousin.
There were only three tofu sellers in the town. She also looked at the woman's face and saw that she talked a lot. When she came to ask, she found that she had found the right person.
"Yes, yes, I'm from Xiashui Village. I often hear Aunt Bigfoot talk about how her cousin married in the town and how promising she is. One aunt even said she was bragging. I saw her today, but
I know what Aunt Bigfoot said is true. Look at Auntie’s business. There are only three tofu sellers in this town. Isn’t it amazing!"
"By the way, I heard from Aunt Bigfoot that where does your husband's family live? Is it Lishan Lane or Yunshan Lane?"
The eighteen lanes in the residential area of Panshi Town are also divided into upper, middle and lower classes. The most wealthy area is Huaishan Lane.
The most common residential areas are those in Lishan Lane.
It's not surprising that she just mentioned two of them.
The woman looked envious when she heard the compliment in her words, and she felt quite satisfied in her heart.
Although her husband's family is a tofu seller, and the small yard passed down from her ancestors is only a little bigger, it is nothing in the town, just a poor family living in the town, but at least she is married in the town.
, back to her natal family, she always felt that she was superior to her sisters in her natal family.
Seeing the little girl's envy, the woman only regarded her as a country girl. She had never seen the world and didn't think she would know that the eighteen alleys in this town were divided into good and bad.
He said, "Hey! It's Huangkou Alley, not far behind the market."
"Oh! Huangkou Lane! Yes, yes, Aunt Bigfoot seems to be talking about Huangkou Lane. I have a bad memory, so I misremembered it."
Song Qiu said, looking far away in the direction the woman was pointing, and said with envy: "It's really lively to live in this town. I heard from my aunt from the same village who often comes to the town that there are a lot of lively things in the town.
! The people in the town are the first to know about the lively banquet held for the pavilion director’s fiftieth birthday and the wonderful operas performed in the theater! It’s not like in our village, where the information is not available, and all the people in the town want to know.
I’ve heard of it a long time ago!”
"Here, five pounds of tofu, my aunt has packed it for you." The woman handed the tofu over. Seeing that Song Qiu didn't carry a basket or anything, she took a small basket and loaded it for her, while saying: "
This little basket was originally made by my family to sell. Seeing that you are not an outsider, my aunt agreed to give it to you."
"Isn't this town? There are a lot of lively things! After all, our Panshi Town is also the largest town in the entire Dongling County. Every day, there are ships going south and north, and the ships at the two piers are not interrupted! Isn't that lively?"
"This town is full of excitement all day long. I'm used to it!" There was a proud look on his face.
Song Qiu took the basket, touched five cents and handed it over. His face sounded even more envious, "It would be great if I could marry in the town like my aunt. I am the liveliest person!"
The woman took the money and saw that the little girl was cleanly dressed and well-born. She probably had a good family background, but she had heard from her cousin that there were several well-off families in Sheungshui Village.
It's not difficult for this girl to marry in the town. Many families in the town are not as good as in the village.
The boy from the Cai family next door to her is getting older, and his mother is anxious to find him a wife, and she also wants to find a good-looking one.
The Cai family has some foundation, so the matchmaker's money is pretty good. If she finds a daughter-in-law for her, then the matchmaker's money will be hers.
The woman's heart was hot and her mind was spinning rapidly.
"Girl, it's so lively! Isn't that simple? We are not outsiders either. When Auntie closes the stall later, Auntie will take you to the lively places in town to play around! We will stay at Auntie's house for lunch at noon, but
Don't be polite to auntie, auntie is the most hospitable. You are from the same village as my cousin, so you are just like my niece!"
Song Qiu saw that the woman suddenly changed her subject and became so enthusiastic that she wanted to entertain her and invite her to her home for dinner. With such enthusiasm, she did not miss the calculation in her eyes.
She bet that this woman had something in mind and was planning to get something out of her, which was why she was like this.
It just so happened that she also wanted to inquire about something, so she just took advantage of the situation.
"Why are you so embarrassed? My aunt is so polite and enthusiastic, I'm really embarrassed!"
The woman waved her hand, "Where is it! As I said, we are not outsiders, you're welcome! Just wait! I'll be here soon!"
Song Qiu nodded, obediently stood behind the tofu stall, and waited.
The woman was eager to earn money from the Cai family's matchmaker, but it was hard for her to fly.
Seeing that no one came to buy tofu for a long time, I thought about the two of them. Is there any day when the tofu was not sold out until mid-afternoon?
She couldn't wait until mid-afternoon today, and she didn't want Song Qiu to see that the business of her tofu stall was so bad, lest she go back to the village and tell others about it.
Immediately, she winked at the man and said, "My eldest niece is waiting here, but it's cold. Master, you can guard the stall. I'll take my niece for a walk first. You can go home and have a meal later!"
Her man had always been afraid of her, and he would not dare to say anything bad, so he quickly agreed.
The woman took off her apron, clapped her hands, and went outside with Song Qiu in her arms, "Okay! Auntie will take you for a walk first!"
Song Qiu nodded happily and followed the others.
Seeing that this little girl was so obedient and easy to fool, the woman became even more determined to get some points from the matchmaker's money.
Passing by the lotus root stall, Du Chuanfu saw his girl being held on the arm of a sharp-faced woman who was not easy to deal with. He subconsciously thought that his girl was being held hostage or something, so he rushed out to save her.
Song Qiu gave him a quick wink, and then he stopped and watched the person walk over.