Xi Shi was a beautiful woman presented by Gou Jian, King of Yue, to Fu Cha, King of Wu in the Spring and Autumn Period, and later regarded her as another name for beauty. Also known as Xizi. There are many sources of tofu beauty, one of which is Yang Er's sister-in-law in Lu Xun's Hometown. Calling Sister-in-law Yang Er "Tofu Beauty" seems to be praising her young beauty and pointing out her identity as "the owner of a tofu shop", but it actually has a deep meaning. Southerners usually refer to teasing, insulting and indecent assault as "eating tofu".

The woman called "Tofu Beauty", whether a country girl or a county official's wife, has no necessary or direct relationship with this thing. "Tofu Beauty" is actually used to address a certain type of women, and the "Tofu Beauty" contains some figurative meanings.