I recently bought some 'Yang Jiang Preserved Beans' which came plastic
bag inside a cardboard tube. I have two questions:

1. How are they stored best? Should I leave them in the bag in the
fridge, or should I put them in a jar?

2. How should I use them? I previously used black beans that were
stored in oil and were ready to use. These 'Yang Jiang Preserved
Beans'are harder, so do they require soaking? If so, for how long do I
soak them for?

Thanks.