Daddy, Mommy Ran Away - Chapter 152 - The Taste of Home

“No objections,” the two little boys chimed in unison, their voices sweet and clear.

“Alright, let’s go,” An Ruoxi exclaimed, raising her hand in excitement. At that moment, she felt like she was back in her playful childhood days.

“Charge!” The three little ones dashed off, their laughter ringing like bells on the ancient cobblestones.

Suddenly, Xuanhan stopped, his little brows furrowing slightly. “Mommy, why does it smell funny?”

“No, it smells great! Mmm, so good!” An Xiaobei stretched her neck, sniffing eagerly at the distant aroma of Stinky Tofu.

“Mommy, this tofu smells bad, can we eat it?” Xuanhan was curious but cautious, wondering if eating something called Stinky Tofu might upset his stomach.

“Does Xuanhan not like it?” An Ruoxi bent down, her gaze gentle as she looked at him. She had come to see him as her own son. People often said he resembled her, which was comforting; it meant he wouldn’t doubt she was his real mommy.

“No,” Xuanhan’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment and a hint of timidity, regretting his comment about the smell for fear of upsetting his mommy.

“Stinky Tofu is really delicious. Though it might smell a bit off, I promise you’ll like it once you try it. If you don’t, I’ll take you to eat something else, okay?” Raised in luxury, Xuanhan was used to gourmet meals and hadn’t encountered such street food, unlike Xiaobao and Xiaobei who had grown up with her, accustomed to these snacks. But she believed children should play innocently and occasionally enjoy these little treats.

“Okay.” Xuanhan nodded, charmed by his mommy’s gentle demeanor.

They chose a clean wooden table, complete with round stools, and settled down after placing their luggage. “Boss, four servings of Stinky Tofu, large portions, please.”

The elderly vendor chuckled at Xuanhan’s adorable inquiry, wiping his hands with a cloth as he explained, “Haha, young lad, Stinky Tofu isn’t made from spoiled tofu. It has quite a history. Legend has it that during the eighth year of Emperor Kangxi¹‘s reign in the Qing Dynasty, Wang Zhihe from Anhui failed his exams and stayed in Beijing, unable to return home due to lack of funds. He began making tofu at the Anhui Guild Hall. One summer, leftover tofu quickly spoiled. Reluctant to waste it, he pondered a solution, cutting the tofu into small pieces, drying them, and salting them in a jar. He then focused on his studies, forgetting about the tofu. When autumn arrived, he resumed his tofu business and remembered the jar. Opening it, he was greeted by a pungent odor but found the tofu had turned gray-blue. Tasting it, he discovered a rich aroma beneath the smell. Though not a delicacy, it was intriguing. Thus, Stinky Tofu was born and became famous worldwide, attracting foreigners who came specifically to taste it.”

“That’s fascinating! I’ll try some too,” Xuanhan said, his mouth watering at the thought.

“Alright, just a moment,” the vendor, a man in his fifties with graying temples, swiftly prepared four servings of Stinky Tofu, garnished with shredded cucumber and seaweed.

“Mmm, smells amazing,” Xiaobei remarked, her mouth watering as she eagerly grabbed a piece with her hand, savoring it with delight. “So good!”

“Here, use chopsticks,” An Xiaobao said, handing them over with a slight frown.

“Thanks, brother,” Xiaobei beamed, her eyes crinkling into crescents.

“Dig in, this is Stinky Tofu, a local specialty. It won’t taste as good if it gets cold,” An Ruoxi said, comforted by the familiar aroma.

“Mommy, it’s delicious! When will daddy come to see us? We should bring him here to try it,” Xiaobei looked up at An Ruoxi, her eyes bright with anticipation.

An Ruoxi turned and noticed a familiar face at the stall-a woman with a basket of bamboo shoots. The voice and face struck a chord, and she excitedly approached. “Aunt Yang!”

“Young lady, who are you?” Aunt Yang’s weathered face showed a hint of confusion as she scrutinized An Ruoxi. Suddenly, her eyes lit up with recognition, her voice catching with emotion.

“It’s me, Ruoxi, Aunt Yang.”

“Oh my, it’s really you, Ruoxi! You’re back! I thought you’d forgotten all about me,” Aunt Yang’s face was a mix of joy and surprise.

“How could I forget? Aunt Yang always cared for me,” An Ruoxi felt tears welling up, hugging her tightly.

“Good, you’re back, all grown up,” Aunt Yang patted her back gently, her voice warm and comforting. Then she noticed the children peeking from behind An Ruoxi’s legs, their eyes wide and curious. “Ruoxi, are these your kids? They look so alike. Are they triplets?”

“Yes, they’re mine. Say hello to Grandmother,” An Ruoxi urged.

The three little ones chirped sweetly, bringing a smile to Aunt Yang’s face, sweeter than honey. “Such adorable kids.”

Straightening up, Aunt Yang beamed. “I can’t believe Ruoxi’s married and has such big kids now. I remember joking with your mom about you marrying into my family when you were little. You’ve grown up so fast, and your husband must be a wonderful man to have such lovely children.”

The laughter suddenly ceased as Aunt Yang looked around. “Ruoxi, where’s your husband? Why isn’t he here with the kids?”

An Ruoxi paused, a pang in her heart, before replying, “He’s busy with work, so I brought the kids back first.”

Sensing something, Aunt Yang sighed softly but didn’t press further. Then she smiled warmly, “Come on, let’s head home. I’ll cook something delicious for you all.”

“Alright.”

Footnote:

1. Kangxi(康熙):The fourth emperor of the Qing Dynasty in China, who reigned from 1661 to 1722, known for his long and prosperous rule and efforts to stabilize and expand the empire.