After the settlement in Chapter 39, Xu's mother finally learned that Su Zhihan had specifically given it to...

Later, Xu Mama learned that Su Zhihan was the head cook who prepared food for the maids and servants. She breathed a sigh of relief, then paused for a moment, thinking to herself: Jiang Zhenniang's overreaction had made her forget about the head cook.

Whose twelve or thirteen-year-old girl is the head cook?

Mrs. Xu felt conflicted, and suddenly remembered...

That evening, Madam Xu specially sent someone to the main kitchen to fetch two dishes to try. The maid who brought the food box into the room was still surprised by this. She put the food box on the table and took out the dishes, saying, "I only found out that the cook has changed when I went to the main kitchen today."

"Mom, can you guess who it was?"

"I guarantee you'll never imagine this!"

“It’s Madam Jiang’s daughter…” Madam Xu answered subconsciously as she listened to the maid’s murmur, but her eyes were drawn to the two dishes.

As soon as the food box was opened, a delicious aroma wafted out.

Mrs. Xu couldn't help but swallow, looking at the three dishes in front of her with suspicion and uncertainty.

"Mom, do you know?"

"I just saw it, and I thought I was seeing things!"

"Madam Xu is truly audacious, daring to let a girl of such a young age..."

"Have you just eaten?"

"Yes," the maid nodded, and then proceeded to introduce the three dishes: "Originally, Mother told me to just try two, but after eating them, I thought all three were quite good. This one is braised pork with tofu skin, and the taste of the pork... oh! Absolutely delicious! This one is tofu wrapped in egg, which is so good poured over rice. There's also a stir-fried cabbage dish, which is nice if you get tired of eating the same thing..."

"Then go back to work." Madam Xu shooed the chattering maid out of the house after she had finished eating, and only then did she calm down to think about the three dishes in front of her.

She first looked at the braised pork with dried bean curd. The pieces of pork, with alternating layers of fat and lean meat, were a bright, glossy brown. As she got closer, she could smell the rich, salty aroma that made her mouth water.

Mrs. Xu picked up a piece, put it in her mouth and savored it. The ribs that Han Jie used were so tender that the lean meat would easily separate from the bone with just a little bit of force from the teeth. The aroma of the meat and the savory sauce burst out between her lips and teeth almost simultaneously, filling her entire mouth in the blink of an eye.

Even the bones inside are stewed until they are tender and soft, making them easy to chew and allowing you to extract even more flavor.

Madam Xu's expression was complicated as she stared intently at the dishes in her bowl. As the maidservant of the Third Mistress, she had not only eaten at various official banquets, but also tasted the cooking of several top chefs in the capital and even the local areas, and had seen countless meat dishes that were even more delicious than this braised pork with tofu skin.

But... how old is the cook, and how old is Han Jie'er who made these dishes? Xu Mama's eyelids trembled, and after a long while she calmed down and tasted the other two dishes.

...

Turning back, Xu Mama informed Zheng Mama, who then relayed the message to Third Sister. Third Sister had only mentioned it on a whim, and upon hearing that Jiang Zhenniang's daughter was not skilled in needlework and preferred kitchen matters, she didn't bring it up again, only casually saying, "When Fourth Miss chooses a kitchen lady, we'll have that girl give it a try."

Mrs. Zheng smiled and agreed, and the matter was over.

Su Zhihan didn't learn about the suggestion that Third Sister had mentioned until the next day. As she was taking the pig's trotters that Granny Xu had brought, she first put them on the stove to singe off the remaining pig hair, and then scrubbed them clean again. She exclaimed in surprise, "You want me to work in Third Sister's courtyard?"

"Yes." Jiang Zhenniang took out a half-finished piece of silk cloth from the bamboo basket, carefully measured the size, and began to work on it seriously.

"Mother, you refused outright? I thought you would at least come back and ask me."

"Didn't you say last time that you didn't want to go into the Second Miss's courtyard anymore?" Jiang Zhenniang paused, asking in surprise.

“But you also said last time that you wanted to teach me how to go into Third Sister’s courtyard with you,” Su Zhihan replied.

Having just heard Jiang Zhenniang mention this matter, Su Zhihan was worried that her mother would agree directly, but unexpectedly, Jiang Zhenniang refused outright.

Su Zhihan breathed a sigh of relief, but was still somewhat puzzled. Unexpectedly, as soon as she finished speaking, she heard Jiang Zhenniang's laughter: "If I were to teach you to work in the kitchen, I would come back and tell you, but Third Sister wants to teach you to be a needlework maid..."

Jiang Zhenniang couldn't help but laugh again: "With your skills, you'd be laughed at if you went in."

Su Zhihan blushed and immediately fell silent.

When she first transmigrated, she wanted to help her family earn money, so she started spinning a spinning wheel despite Jiang Zhenniang's objections... In the end, it just goes to show that professional things should be done by professionals.

Not to mention Jiang Zhenniang, even Su Zhihan herself didn't understand. How could her hands, which were so relaxed and smooth when cooking, become so dull when it came to needles and thread? All the suffering she had endured in her past life and this life, without ever cutting her hand, was now being made up for with those spindles and needles.

"I... I didn't know she was a needlework maid." Su Zhihan shook off the jumbled memories and chopped the pig's trotter in half with a bang.

Next, she put the pig's trotters in cold water, added scallions, ginger, garlic, and rice wine to blanch them, and then, holding a ladle, skimmed off the foam that rose to the surface: "...How could she be a needlework maid? At least she should be in the small kitchen, right?"

"It was just a spur-of-the-moment decision by Third Sister." Jiang Zhenniang paused in her actions as she spoke. She stood up, rummaged through her purse, and took out a string of copper coins. "Perhaps it was because Mother did a good job that Third Sister noticed it?"

“Oh no. Mother Zheng even gave me a reward today, saying it was a gift from Third Sister, praising me for taking good care of the cat.”

"Our mother is amazing!" Su Zhihan changed the strainer, took out the blanched pig trotters one by one, washed them in warm water, and then placed them on the rack to drain.

Immediately afterwards, she wiped her hands on her apron, stepped forward to take the copper coin from Jiang Zhenniang, and then gave her mother a big kiss on the cheek: "I'll reward you with a big pig's trotter later!"

Jiang Zhenniang rested her chin on her hand and watched with a smile as her daughter carried the copper coins into the house, knowing that she had hidden the coins in the box again.

When she first returned to the Marquis's mansion, she might have been tempted and then sent her daughter to the Third Mistress's courtyard. It wasn't so that her daughter would become a concubine or wet nurse, but rather that the work in the courtyard was easier and more respectable than in the main kitchen, and the monthly pay and rewards were also higher.

But things are different now. Take the last time the kitchen maids came to celebrate for Han Jie'er. All the maids who came brought gifts, and the most generous one was Pearl. In addition to the two bolts of silk, a box of face powder, a box of bath beans, and two jugs of wine that she gave in front of others, she also gave ten strings of cash in private.

Although the others were not as generous as Pearl, they still gave generous gifts. Among them was a maid named Sulan, who, despite being an ordinary maid, gave an exceptionally large amount. In addition to a bolt of silk and a box of face powder, she also gave two strings of cash.

Including the others, the banquet alone brought in a total of twenty-two strings of cash, as well as many gifts.

That day, Jiang Zhenniang went from being shocked to numb, and even when Han Jie'er told her that her monthly allowance had increased, she didn't react much.

Seeing her daughter's bright future and growing wealth, Jiang Zhenniang lost her initial anxiety and became quite lazy.

There are good and bad things about living in a courtyard.

Since our daughter is so capable, let her work well in the kitchen. With her skills, she'll never have to worry about finding a job in the future.

Jiang Zhenniang picked up the silk cloth again and continued sewing, still wondering how much money her daughter had saved.

She had previously thought that Han Jie'er was a greedy person, and she wasn't wrong. Han Jie'er was reluctant to spend money, and unlike the maids in the house, she didn't love new clothes or jewelry. She only loved to save all her money.

There might be forty strings of cash inside?

No, no, no, maybe fifty strings of cash?

Just as Jiang Zhenniang was speculating, Su Zhihan inside the house was also carefully counting the money. After deducting the money that had been left with Grandma Chen, there were still 73 strings and 721 coins left in the box.

The numbers before her were beyond what Su Zhihan had ever dared to dream of after her transmigration. However, there was still a huge gap between them and her desired goal. Su Zhihan stroked the thick stack of paper money for a long while before carefully putting it back into the box.

I still need to work hard to earn money later.

Besides making money, Su Zhihan also had to consider how to persuade Jiang Zhenniang and find a reason to leave the Marquis's mansion smoothly.

Redeeming a slave from a household can be simple, but it can also be difficult. For a slave to be redeemed, the master must provide a contract of indenture and a letter of consent. Then, the slave must be registered with the government to have their slave status revoked and be returned to civilian status.

Many servants aren't unable to save money, but rather they get stuck on the clause about the employer providing a contract and consent form. Usually, employers are unwilling to let go of skilled servants, while those who aren't skilled are reluctant to leave.

According to what Su Zhihan had secretly inquired about, going back through the Marquis's mansion, those who had been expelled from the mansion (usually their indentures were still in the mansion's hands, but they were allowed to go out and make a living), were either the master's concubines or foster mothers, or were released out of favor.

Not a single one of them managed to redeem themselves and leave the manor.

Yinghong even told her, "Previously, the eldest daughter's wet nurse found a scholar as a husband for her daughter, and they had already agreed with the eldest daughter to allow her to leave the mansion."

"After hearing about what happened to your family..."

"They say they're discussing breaking off the engagement with the other family, but they're not happy about it, and it's making quite a scene."

To gain favor with the household, one must climb the ranks and gain favor with the master. Gaining favor with the master signifies a deeper connection with the Marquis of Zhongyong's household, demonstrates one's abilities, and makes the master reluctant to let you go.

Another one is getting married...

Just thinking about it sent chills down Su Zhihan's spine. To hand over her life and fortune to another man? She wasn't crazy!

Su Zhihan's thoughts raced, and a thing she had once felt powerless to change resurfaced in her mind. She put the box back in its place, got up and went outside. As if nothing had happened, she heated a pan and poured in oil. Once the oil was hot, she added various spices and stir-fried them evenly. Then she added all the pig's trotters into the pan.

She needs to think about that matter again.

In any case, given the current weather, it's impossible to do it now; we'll have to wait until spring.

Su Zhihan put aside her worries and focused on continuing the production.

Once the pig's trotters have browned and become fragrant, she transfers all the trotters and broth from the pot to an earthenware pot, where they will simmer for two or three hours.

During this time, she also prepared other food.

From noon to evening, the Jiang family's house was filled with a rich aroma, and anyone who passed by had to take a deep breath. Not to mention Wang Pozi, who lived next door, could smell the aroma as she went in and out.

Wang's wife lifted the curtain and looked towards the Jiang family's house, following the scent. After learning from others that Han'er had become the head cook, she hated Wang's wife even more.

If she hadn't deliberately mocked the Jiang family mother and daughter, the relationship between the two families wouldn't have become so strained. Perhaps she would have already asked them for help and gone inside to do things.

Now, her family is almost a laughing stock.

What bothered Wang's wife the most was another matter. Ever since the winter weather got colder and colder, Wang's mother, who couldn't handle the laundry work, had repeatedly asked her to take over the job.

But Wang's wife was unwilling. She pretended not to know, saying she was afraid of messing things up and that she had to take care of the child. She completely ignored what Wang's mother was saying. Anyone who went to the laundry room to do laundry at this time would really be a fool.

She would wait until after the New Year to ask the mansion for work. But before that, Wang's wife felt she had to think of a way to at least ease the tension between the two families.

Just then, Wang's wife saw Su Zhihan come out, holding an oil-paper umbrella in one hand and carrying a food box in the other, walking away. She didn't know where she was going.

Su Zhihan hurried along the way to the gatehouse, calling out from afar, "Aunt Xu, I've brought the dishes you ordered."

She handed the food box to Granny Xu and opened the lid to show her: "You ordered braised pig's trotters, braised chicken feet, and a dish of pig's ear cake."

The first two were requested by Granny Xu, while the last one was added by Su Zhihan after asking Granny Xu's son about the number of guests.

As soon as the lid of the food box was lifted, an enticing aroma wafted out. Granny Xu, inhaling the fragrance, stared wide-eyed, and it took her a moment to hear what Su Zhihan said.

She was both surprised and delighted. As she took the food box, she apologized, "How could I let you bring it to me? Please leave it inside, I'll come and get it later..."

"It's nothing, just a few steps away."

"I originally wanted to carry it to your home, but who knew... hey, I didn't know where you lived, so I quickly brought it to the gatehouse."

"Oh dear, look at me, so forgetful..." Granny Xu was about to scold herself for not telling Su Zhihan the address when she came to her senses and slapped her mouth. Sweating profusely, she pulled her purse from her belt, didn't even look at the amount inside, and stuffed it straight into Su Zhihan's hand: "Sister Han, don't think it's too little, this is all I have..."

"Why give me money? You already gave me some." Su Zhihan pushed the money bag back into Granny Xu's hand, and before she could say anything more, she urged, "It's getting late, you should take it home quickly and keep it warm in the clay stove, then it will taste good when you take it out."

After saying that, Su Zhihan went home.

Granny Xu was both surprised and annoyed. Watching Su Zhihan's departing figure, she hurriedly closed the lid and rushed home.

Over there, Xu Pozi's son, Ershun, was waiting.

His wife cooked two vegetarian dishes, warmed the wine pot in lukewarm water, wiped her hands, and walked to the door, looking around with barely concealed worry: "Why hasn't the food Mother ordered arrived yet? Could it be delayed because of the snow?"

"Mom said it was ordered at home, not from outside."

"Not from outside? Then whose cooking is it from the main kitchen? Should we go ask Mother so we can get it sooner?"

Er Shun's wife was afraid of delaying things, so she had to persuade Er Shun to invite the steward and his brothers to drink together, hoping to get a chance to work at the front. If she missed this opportunity, she didn't know how long she would have to wait in the future.

“…Then I’ll go ask. Oh! Coming right now.” Just as Ershun was about to leave, he saw Granny Xu rushing over. She stuffed the food box into her son’s hands, only instructing her son and daughter-in-law to treat the guests well, and then hurried back to the gatehouse to do her work.

Er Shun and his wife carried the food box into the house. As soon as they opened it and took a sniff, they both froze in surprise.