Chapter 34 Winter Snow. After returning home, Xiuhe told Wu Ma what had happened…

After returning home, Xiuhe told Wu Mama what had happened. She didn't mention that the perfume powder was a gift from Sulan, but only said that she had bought it with her own money, which made Wu Mama feel quite distressed.

She went back into the house to get some paper money, stuffed it into Xiuhe's hand, and told her daughter to buy more for herself: "You should also get along well with the maids in the house, and send them things when you need to, don't be stingy."

Xiuhe Meimei took the money and smiled as she agreed.

When Su Lan came to find her again, she thanked Xiu He for speaking up for her. She handed Xiu He a piece of paper and said, "Thank you for speaking up for me, Sister Xiu He. I will take good care of my godmother and you in the future. This is the money I have saved up. It is not much, but I hope you will not find it too much."

“We’re sisters, why say such things?” Xiuhe said, but her hands didn’t hesitate. She immediately stuffed the paper money into her sleeve and casually told Sulan to bring her a box of face powder when she went outside.

Su Lan smiled and agreed, but her face fell when she left. The jasmine powder was expensive, and she had already used up most of her savings last time. The money she gave Xiu He as a gift was only given by her family because they knew she had recognized Wu Mama as her godmother.

After Wu's mother returned to her original position, Su Lan still had to prepare a banquet... Counting the money in her hand, she had no choice but to turn back to her mother and urge her to ask for some more money.

Once they ask for money, they launch into another long-winded explanation.

Su Lan's mother cursed Xiu He and Wu Mama in her heart, both of them greedy and greedy, but in the end she still felt sorry for her daughter and secretly took money for her.

...

A few days ago, Jiang Zhenniang and Cao Mama were chatting and complaining about the strange weather, which was slow to cool down.

But fate can change in an instant.

Just two days ago it was so hot that people wanted to take off their coats, but the temperature has suddenly dropped, especially tonight when it started to drizzle and became even colder.

Because Su Zhihan hadn't brought an oilcloth and there weren't any extra raincoats in the kitchen, she only took a straw hat and ran home in the winter rain.

Just walking home, her exposed hands were freezing cold, and her coat was soaked with sweat.

As Su Zhihan pushed open the door, a blast of cold air rushed into the room, startling the flames in the stove, causing them to flicker and scatter ashes everywhere.

Jiang Zhenniang, who was poking the stove with a fire poker, coughed twice and poked it a couple more times to prevent the fire from going out again.

Once the fire in the stove had stabilized, she turned to look at Su Zhihan: "Han-jie'er is back... Oh dear! Quick, quick, quick, take off your wet clothes, I'll go get you some."

Jiang Zhenniang was startled when she saw her daughter soaking wet. She stood up and urged her daughter to take off her clothes while she went inside to get a towel and a new coat.

Just then, Su Zhihan took off her wet coat.

Jiang Zhenniang handed the new jacket to her daughter, then covered her head with a thick towel and rubbed it repeatedly until her hair bun was disheveled and a few stray hairs popped out.

She hung Su Zhihan's old coat on the back of the chair, moved it to the mud stove to dry, and then went to the door to look out: "Why is it raining outside? It wasn't raining when I came back."

"That doesn't look like rain, it looks like ice shards."

"Hiss... This temperature." Jiang Zhenniang opened the door a crack and was startled by the cold wind that slipped in, causing her to sneeze.

The cold wind whistled and whistled, like sharp knives and needles, scraping against my face and making it sting.

Jiang Zhenniang quickly closed the door, taught her daughter to get dressed, and then sat down in front of the mud stove to warm herself.

"It looks like it's going to snow."

“I think so too.” Su Zhihan changed into her new jacket, sat in front of the clay stove, and spread her hands close to the warm clay stove.

My hands, which had been freezing cold, gradually started to feel tingly and then became flexible again, while the itching at my knuckles gradually intensified.

"Look how red your hands are, quickly put some lard ointment on them."

"Hmm." Su Zhihan took the lard ointment, took a little and applied it to the chilblains on her knuckles. Ever since the beginning of winter, chilblains had been popping up on her hands one after another. They didn't itch or hurt when they were frozen, but they were really uncomfortable when they were warmed up by the fire.

Speaking of which, Jiang Zhenniang didn't get frostbite this year, which is all thanks to her going to San Niangzi's courtyard to look after the cats and raise the birds.

Thanks to the cats, Jiang Zhenniang spent her days working in the cat room. The cat room not only contained the cats' toys and food, but also high-end carpets purchased from the Western Regions, and a charcoal brazier filled with the finest red snail charcoal.

This red snail charcoal is a precious item that Tongzhou presented to the imperial court as tribute. However, in the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion, this precious item is only used in the cat's room.

As for the charcoal used in the master's room, it was even better than the red snail charcoal. This kind of charcoal required adding various spices and powders to the charcoal dust before shaping it. When burning, it would emit a faint fragrance from the stove, without the slightest smell of charcoal fire.

Jiang Zhenniang was shocked and told Su Zhihan about it, praising the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion for its prosperity and wealth, and for being deeply favored by the emperor.

Su Zhihan listened, speechless. A royal item meant for the emperor had become a pet in the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion. The elaborate preparation and extravagant use of the incense charcoal reminded her of the Phoenix Charcoal used by Yang Guozhong when he held immense power.

She instructed Jiang Zhenniang to keep it a secret and not to tell anyone, while her eagerness to leave the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion grew even stronger.

Su Zhihan pondered in her heart while her hands continued to move, even rubbing her earlobes as she did so.

Jiang Zhenniang carried a pot of water and put it on the clay stove to boil, preparing to make some hot water for her daughter to soak her feet: "The weather this year is really strange."

"It was hot earlier, and now it's suddenly so cold."

"Once the water boils, you can soak your feet in it. Now, I'll go heat up the kang (heated brick bed) so it'll be warmer when we lie down," Jiang Zhenniang said, getting up to go outside to heat the kang.

“Let’s take turns soaking, and then we can go together when we’re done.” Su Zhihan listened to the whistling wind and reached out to pull Jiang Zhenniang’s hand: “If the two of us do it together, it’ll be faster.”

After the two of them had soaked their feet until they were warm, and put on thick cotton shoes, they went outside to heat the kang (a heated brick bed).

As soon as she stepped out the door, Jiang Zhenniang exclaimed in surprise.

Su Zhihan looked up and saw that the light rain had stopped, leaving only clumps of snowflakes fluttering down, adorning the sky and earth, and soon a thin layer of ice crystals accumulated on the eaves and treetops.

"It's snowing—"

Su Zhihan and Jiang Zhenniang had no time to admire the snowy scenery; they simply wrapped themselves tightly in their clothes and hurried to heat up the kang (a heated brick bed).

Back inside, Jiang Zhenniang warmed herself by the fire and then used her palms to gently cover Su Zhihan's ears. The mother and daughter brushed their teeth and washed their faces with the remaining hot water before quickly getting into bed.

The kang (heated brick bed) was warm and cozy after being heated.

After lying down for only a short while, Su Zhihan couldn't help but let out a big yawn. She and Jiang Zhenniang listened to the wind outside and fell asleep without realizing it.

The next day, Su Zhihan woke up to the creaking of the window. She pulled the blanket up to try to block out the noise, but as she rolled over, she realized that the bed beneath her was already cold. Reluctantly, she sat up.

At the same time, Jiang Zhenniang got up and went to the outer room to light the stove. Once the room was warmer, she opened the door to go out and check the weather.

When it was opened, Jiang Zhenniang was startled.

Hearing Jiang Zhenniang's exclamation, Su Zhihan also put on her coat and came out to take a look. She was stunned by the vast expanse of white before her: "How can there be so much snow!?"

Overnight, the snow accumulated to knee height, and there is still no sign of it stopping.

A cold wind rushed in through the crack in the door, and the biting chill made Jiang Zhenniang and Su Zhihan shiver at the same time.

Jiang Zhenniang reacted quickly, slamming the door shut and pushing Su Zhihan back into the inner room: "Be careful not to catch a cold, go and put on more clothes—wear the padded vest I made for you last time too!"

Su Zhihan wore a cotton shirt underneath a padded vest. After breakfast, before going to work, she put on a fine cotton-padded jacket provided by the manor, then an oilcloth, and new cotton shoes, making her look like a ball.

"Let's go." Jiang Zhenniang locked the door, took her daughter's hand, and walked together into the mansion.

The mother and daughter parted ways at the intersection as usual. Su Zhihan walked through the thick snow, listening to the crunching sound, and watching the servants who had started sweeping the ground early in the morning, as she walked into the large kitchen.

Perhaps due to the sudden heavy snow, the entire household was so busy that few servants went to the main kitchen to eat throughout the noon.

Seeing that she had some free time, Madam Cao asked Madam Xu a question and then had someone bring in a table, after which she called out to her.

Before long, the cooks and cooks in the kitchen gathered together. They put out the extra food they had made, heated up the wine and prepared drinks. It was a rare occasion for everyone to get together. They ate the food, chatted, and the atmosphere was exceptionally harmonious.

This was the first time such a thing had happened since Su Zhihan entered the manor.

The butcher was a dark-skinned, tall, and robust woman. She, along with the soup cook who specialized in soups, the cake cook who specialized in steamed buns and dumplings, and the seafood cook who specialized in seafood and fish, were the people who truly belonged to Madam Xu and were specifically responsible for preparing banquets for the household.

The butcher glanced at Su Zhihan and laughed, "Why is Han-jie drinking so much? Is your alcohol tolerance low? If it is, you should practice. Today we're drinking plum wine made by Madam Xu herself, it's absolutely delicious!"

When Su Zhihan heard that it was made by Madam Xu, she was eager to try it. However, before she could even reach for the wine pot, pour herself a cup, and take a sip to taste it, she was arrested on the spot by Mama Cao.

"Madam Lin, please don't tease Han'er."

“This girl has a really low alcohol tolerance.” Cao Mama pulled Su Zhihan’s hand back, first confiscating the wine cup in front of her, then moving the brown sugar ginger and jujube tea in front of her, and finally complaining to the butcher: “Her mother said she got drunk after drinking just a small cup. If she drinks more, it will be terrible if she misses work.”

Upon hearing this, the butcher abandoned his plan to let Su Zhihan taste it. She shook her head and smiled, "That won't do. Sister Han, you still need to work on your drinking capacity."

"We cooks can't do without alcohol."

"Not to mention the pickled crabs and drunken shrimp we make in the fall, those all require alcohol to make. And many of the meat dishes we make on a regular basis also use alcohol." The meat chef knew that Su Zhihan had been thinking about lamb dishes recently. Since they were not on the same competitive path as Su Zhihan, they were happy to say a few words.

A hint of displeasure flashed in Wu's eyes, but she dared not utter a sound. She exchanged glances with Su Lan, wondering whether she should go and ask Xiu He what had happened.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside. A maid rushed in, glanced around the kitchen, and ran quickly to Mama Zhang's side: "Mama Zhang, Mama Zhang! You must be there! Something's happened to Xiu'er!"

Mrs. Zhang suddenly stood up, her expression changing drastically.

Seeing the servant's panicked appearance, Madam Xu did not stop her. Instead, she told Zhang Mama to be careful of the slippery road and told her to hurry up and go take a look.

After Zhang Mama left, a series of questioning voices rose in the large kitchen. Seeing that Su Zhihan did not recognize Xiu'er, Yinghong, who was sitting to the side, quietly introduced her: "Xiu'er is Zhang Mama's daughter. She works in the Second Miss's courtyard and doesn't usually come to the kitchen."

When Yinghong mentioned it, Su Zhihan remembered. When she first arrived at the main kitchen, Yinghong had told her that the daughters of Mama Zhang and Mama Wu had both made a name for themselves, which was why they had taken in kitchen maids one after the other, intending to take on apprentices and pass on their skills.

Yinghong knew nothing more.

There was a lot of chatter in the kitchen. Some people were guessing the best, while others were guessing the worst. They were all wondering what could have happened to Xiu-jie that made the servants rush to look for her.

It took almost two hours for Zhang's mother to leave.

Seeing that Su Zhihan, Cao Mama, and the others were preparing food for the servants, and that Zhang Mama was nowhere to be seen, Cook Xu began to grumble to herself. She sent someone to the Third Miss's courtyard to inquire, only to learn a shocking truth.

"They said it was freezing cold and the road was slippery, so the third young lady fell off the sedan chair! The eldest lady was furious, and chaos ensued inside and outside the courtyard."

"Oh dear!" Cook Xu exclaimed in surprise upon hearing this, and hurriedly asked how the Third Miss was. The maid shook her head: "Don't worry, Madam Xu, Zhao Mama in the courtyard said that the Third Miss is very lucky and has survived unharmed."

Only then did Chef Xu feel relieved, and she changed the subject back: "Then why did you send Zhang Mama? Could it be... that Xiu'er is injured?"

"Yes," the maid replied respectfully. "It is said that Sister Hongxiu fell to the ground while protecting the Third Miss, hitting her head on a roadside stone, and she hasn't woken up yet..."

"This, this... thank God." Cook Xu immediately understood why Mama Zhang hadn't returned, and her feelings were very complicated.

"Madam has sent someone to fetch a doctor and has also asked Zhang Mama to stay with her." The maid explained the situation carefully. "Zhao Mama said that Zhang Mama is probably not able to return to the main kitchen for the next few days, and asked Madam to find someone else to do the work."

As soon as the maid finished speaking, everyone in the kitchen turned their gaze to Su Zhihan and Mama Wu.

The former looked shocked, his mouth slightly agape, seemingly still reeling from this unexpected disaster, while the latter's eyes were also filled with shock. He covered his mouth with a handkerchief, squeezing out two tears: "How could Sister Xiu have run into such a thing?"

Wu's mother tried her best to cover it up and finally managed to suppress the upturned corners of her mouth.

You should know that Zhang Mama was in charge of preparing food for first- and second-class maids and servants, and often had to cook mutton dishes, which was not something a little girl like Han Jie'er could handle.

Thinking of this, Madam Wu almost burst out laughing. If she had known there would be such a happy event, why would she have argued with that Han girl? She should have just stood by and watched, waiting for Madam Cao to argue with her.

Mother Wu looked at Cook Xu with hopeful eyes, only to see Cook Xu frown and say in a deep voice, "For the next few days, Han'er will temporarily take over Mother Zhang's work."

"If there's anything you don't understand, just come and ask me."

"Yes." Su Zhihan snapped out of her reverie and quickly replied, thinking to herself that she should go back and buy some things, and visit Madam Xu and Mama Zhang's houses separately.

"Let's do it this way..."

"Wait!" Madam Wu interrupted before Chef Xu could finish speaking. She pointed at Su Zhihan in disbelief, "Madam Xu, how can she be in charge of Madam Zhang's work? It should be me, it should be me who is in charge!"

Su Zhihan remained silent, but she already knew the answer in her heart.

Cook Xu glanced at Mama Wu indifferently and said coldly, "Mama Wu, you are Han'er's assistant cook now."

At the same time, Su Zhihan lowered her eyes and recalled everyone's descriptions—Cook Xu was very particular about rules, and since she had been promoted to head cook, she would be the only one to take over when Mama Zhang had to leave.

"But...but..." Mother Wu's face turned pale. She had been working with Chef Xu for several years and had long understood what Chef Xu meant.

However, Wu's mother couldn't stand it any longer. She had been waiting for this opportunity for years, so why should Han'er get it as soon as she arrived?!

In an instant, she regretted causing trouble and losing her job, and resented the inflexible cook, Xu, for not getting any benefits from working for her for so many years.

Furious, Mrs. Wu insisted on one thing: "But she, but she, but Han'er can't even cook mutton! What right does she have to be the head cook?!"

Of course, Chef Xu knew about this. She originally wanted to wait until Su Zhihan came to ask before teaching the two to reconcile and work together again. After all, Xiu'er had made such a great contribution, and the eldest madam had kept Zhang Mama behind, so she probably wouldn't be returning to the main kitchen in the future.

At that time, we will teach Wu Mama to take over Zhang Mama's position, and then teach Han Jie'er to continue learning as a third-class kitchen cook for a few more years.

However, Wu Mama's loud and boisterous behavior annoyed Cook Xu. Just as she was about to reprimand her, Su Zhihan, noticing Cook Xu's impatience, stepped forward and said, "Wu Mama is right, my mutton dishes are indeed not very good."

"It's good that you know."

“However, I’ve also gained some insights recently.” Su Zhihan changed the subject and said directly, “Why don’t we have a competition?”

"What?"

“Each of us will use a stove to cook this for Madam Xu to try.”