Tofu Skin Buns

Among the many delicacies in *Dream of the Red Chamber*, why did the discerning Qingwen favor the seemingly ordinary tofu skin buns?

This dish of tofu skin buns is a lingering, unforgettable "unresolved" dish in *Dream of the Red Chamber*. Its specialness lies not only in its deliciousness but also in the small story it evokes about favoritism and regret.

📖 Story: The "Unresolved Regret" of a Dish of Buns

This story comes from Chapter 8 of *Dream of the Red Chamber*.

Baoyu's Favoritism: One day, Baoyu was having breakfast at the Ningguo Mansion when he saw a dish of tofu skin buns. Immediately remembering that Qingwen loved them, he told You Shi to save them for himself for dinner and sent them to Qingwen.

Qingwen's Mistake: Qingwen immediately recognized Baoyu's intention. However, she had just finished eating and wasn't hungry, so she put the buns away.

Granny Li's "Interception": Unexpectedly, Baoyu's wet nurse, Granny Li, saw the buns while passing by and, taking advantage of her status, simply took them to feed her grandson.

Baoyu's Anger: When Baoyu returned and found the buns missing, coupled with the fact that Granny Li had drunk his beloved maple dew tea earlier, he finally flew into a rage and almost drove his wet nurse away.

In the end, Qingwen didn't get to eat these buns either, becoming a regrettable regret in the book.