Chapter 49 Shortage As soon as Steward Pang stepped out of the second room, he exclaimed how unlucky he was…

As soon as Steward Pang stepped out of the second house, he exclaimed his bad luck. The ingredients needed for the Marquis's residence were not common goods; finding them all was no easy task.

"It really is..." But since Madam Xu had already given the order, Steward Pang had no choice but to swallow his pride and clean up her mess.

He first sent his godson, Shi Cheng, to the goods store to urge them on the current status of the ingredients in the mansion and to inquire where they had been transported. Then he summoned his apprentice and the servant in charge of purchasing, instructing them to inquire at the shops in the city to see if anyone had any leftover stock.

Before long, Shi Cheng returned. He looked unwell and immediately relayed what he had inquired about to Steward Pang: "Father, the shipping company says that at the current speed, it will take at least four or five more days to reach the capital."

"What? Didn't they say it would take another three days when we went back to ask? Why is it getting slower and slower?" Steward Pang's eyes widened, his face ashen. "Did you ask them why the progress is so slow this year?! This is delaying things in our manor."

"Of course my son asked," Shi Cheng said, his face scrunched up. "The shipping company said that in previous years, our manor's boats would be waiting upstream at this time, so they didn't need to prepare any additional boats."

"But after the people from the trading company arrived there this year, they waited for two whole days without seeing any of our manor's ships. Only then did they send someone to inquire, only to find that the manor told them that no ships had been prepared."

"The shipping company said that it's the end of the year and everyone needs to deliver goods, so the local shipping companies' cargo ships have already been fully booked."

"They needed a boat urgently, but couldn't find a suitable empty one, which is why it was delayed for several days."

"The shipping company has instructed the empty ships that have dropped off their cargo here to hurry back. As soon as they arrive, they will transport the cargo here immediately."

"Wait a minute? Our manor's ships?" Steward Pang was taken aback, and subconsciously asked, "I don't recall our manor ever booking cargo ships separately in previous years. Could it be that they're just making up an excuse to fool us?"

Shi Cheng said with a wry smile, "Father, the people at the shipping company said that's the Zhou family's ship..."

Manager Pang's anger froze instantly, and after a long pause, he managed to stammer out a few words: "I see..."

Since the Third Young Master was injured, in just one month, not only did the Second Young Master get promoted by taking advantage of the merits left by the Third Young Master, but the Third Daughter Zhou's power to manage the household was also taken over by the Second Daughter Xu.

Perhaps the old lady and the eldest daughter-in-law initially meant well, wanting the third daughter-in-law, Xu, to be able to focus on taking care of the third son. However, as the second branch of the family grew stronger, the third branch was squeezed into a corner, which eventually made the old people in the mansion start to have doubts and harbor other thoughts.

Even an old man like Steward Pang was like that. He listened to his godson's report and shook his head: "...Third Sister is cutting off the fuel supply at the root of the problem."

Because of her merchant family background, Third Sister was often criticized.

Because she came from a merchant family, Third Sister used money to pave a way for herself and was able to obtain a portion of the management rights from First Sister.

Second Sister only saw Third Sister's past glory, but never considered the effort Third Sister had put in behind the scenes.

"Father, what do we do now?"

“If Second Mistress has not considered things thoroughly, that is her problem. We will do as much as we can.” Steward Pang shook his head. If the sky falls, there will always be someone taller to hold it up. They, as servants, just need to do what they are told: “You go with the purchasing people to the capital to inquire about it.”

Shi Cheng responded and did as Steward Pang instructed.

Just as Steward Pang had previously complained in secret, the Marquis's residence had to have ingredients transported from outside, and ordinary shops in the city could not possibly have them. Only a few top restaurants had a small amount in stock.

From morning till night, the servants managed to gather only a few ingredients. After much trouble, a supplier that provides goods to restaurants said they could help find surplus, expensive ingredients for each restaurant, but the price would be 30% higher than the market price.

Manager Pang reported the matter to Madam Xu, the second wife. Madam Xu, though heartbroken, had no choice but to pay for all the ingredients and give the shipping company another sum of money to rent a cargo ship and deliver the goods.

And so, they managed to gather all the ingredients, albeit with great difficulty.

However, when the ingredients arrived at the mansion, Chef Xu was not satisfied. She complained that the mutton was loose and crumbly, indicating that it was not raised outside the Great Wall but was transported back to the interior to be raised in advance, which greatly reduced the quality of the meat.

The abalone delivered was also different in size from those used in previous years. Originally, they used half-head abalone that were big enough to cover one's face, but now the size is more than one size smaller. In the past, they would have been used as a garnish in soup, not as a main dish.

Aside from the abalone, the water chestnut turtles are also not big enough. Originally, each one weighed three catties, but now they weigh less than two catties each, and the taste of the meat is also greatly reduced.

The other ingredients all had problems.

Cook Xu frowned deeply and went to find Second Madam Xu again. Although Madam Xu readily agreed, she secretly urged Steward Pang to go and inquire at the goods store again.

When cornered, Manager Pang had no other choice: "Reporting to my lady, I have already sent people to inquire at every restaurant in the capital, big and small, but there is really nowhere more to be found."

"How about—" Steward Pang thought for a moment and gestured for the second young lady to ask her family, or perhaps the eldest young lady or the third young lady.

Asking Third Sister would be absolutely out of the question.

When asked, Madam Xu also expressed her reluctance.

After thinking for a while, Madam Xu first sent a message home, hoping to ask her sister-in-law for help. However, her sister-in-law sent word that the ingredients were all in fixed quantities and had been ordered half a month in advance. They couldn't help her now that they needed her help.

Finally, Xu's sister-in-law also told someone to tell Xu that asking her for help was going to great lengths instead of seeking help from her own family. She suggested that if there was a problem, Xu should ask her sister-in-law, Zhou: "Your sister-in-law's family is very capable. The year before last, when our family was short of the best ginseng, we asked your sister-in-law for help."

"That's easy for you to say, but it wasn't her who spoke!" Xu's face fell completely as she instructed the person who had sent her sister-in-law away. She licked her mouth, which was covered in sores from worry, and said to her mother beside her, "...What do you think we should do about this?"

Mama Lu, who was by the side of Madam Xu, the second wife, sighed inwardly. When the second wife first took over the management of the household, she had advised her that since the second wife's family had already benefited and the third husband's life was still uncertain, why should the wife make things difficult for the third wife?

Unfortunately, Xu Shi finally had a chance to show her face, but she ignored everyone's advice and went her own way, causing the second and third branches of the family to break off relations.

Given the current situation, and with the wife's high spirits, it's absolutely impossible for her to ask the Third Sister for help.

After thinking it over, Madam Lu whispered, "Why don't you ask the old lady? If the old lady intervenes, both the eldest and third young ladies should be willing to help, right?"

Then wouldn't everyone know about it?

Xu had finally managed to take control of the household affairs. What if she lost face and had the power taken back? She was unwilling to do so. She turned around, took out some money from her own box, and instead of asking for help from Mama Lu, she called in another maidservant to ask around in the market.

...

"Madam Su, it's been quite a while since you last visited."

"It's almost the end of the year, and there are banquets one after another in the manor. I really don't have a single free moment." Taking advantage of the two days of free time in the manor, Su Zhihan took Jiang Zhenniang to Grandma Chen's house to wish Grandma Chen and her family an early New Year.

"And this is...?"

"This is my mother. Last time we went to see you at the stall, but it was so busy that only Grandpa Hu noticed us." Su Zhihan handed the cured meat, sausages, ham, and crystal sashimi to Xiao Hong and introduced them to the two of them with a smile.

Then she asked about Grandpa Hu's health.

Grandma Chen first greeted Xiao Hong and Jiang Zhenniang, and then answered Su Zhihan's question: "He's much better now. He even had the cabinet remade the other day! Old man, old man!"

After Grandma Chen finished speaking, she shouted loudly.

With a tapping sound, a pair of rough, large hands lifted the thick curtain. Grandpa Hu, leaning on his cane, came out from the inner room. Although he still had some difficulty moving around, his complexion was rosy, and he looked even better than before the Laba Festival.

"Greetings, Madam Su... Greetings, Madam." He greeted Su Zhihan and Jiang Zhenniang with a smile, "You've come all this way, why did you bring so many things?"

His reminder made Grandma Chen notice the matter as well. She quickly turned around and glanced at the various foods Xiao Hong had placed on the table, then gasped, "Oh my! Why did you bring so much food? And it's all very expensive!"

Not to mention the clearly textured cured pork, sausage, and ham, which looked quite valuable, there was also the crystal-clear sashimi. Grandma Chen had seen it at the banquet hosted by Madam Yang next door last time, and a small portion of it cost two strings of cash.

"It's alright, it's all leftovers from the manor," Su Zhihan told Grandma Chen not to worry about it.

She didn't know if the masters of the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion had gotten tired of the food, but the servants below had been eating so much meat that their mouths were sticky, and they had all gained weight.

The large portions of meat and fish prepared for lunch and dinner were left untouched, with no one taking any of them to satisfy their cravings. Instead, the most popular dishes were refreshing and appetizing vegetarian options such as pickled radish, garlic spinach, shrimp and vegetable soup, and shredded chicken stewed with sauerkraut.

"Fish and meat... all left uneaten?" Grandma Chen was stunned and speechless, unable to imagine that such a place existed in the world.

However, since Su Zhihan had already said so, Grandma Chen no longer refused and happily accepted it.

Grandpa Hu was quite embarrassed, and said with a red face, "Do Madam Su and Madam have anything else to do? Why don't you stay for a simple meal?"

Su Zhihan shook her head: "The manor is busy. I only have time for this moment. I have to go back to the kitchen later."

Grandpa Hu was slightly disappointed, and Grandma Chen also felt it was inappropriate. She nudged Grandpa Hu with her elbow and interjected, "Old man, you're confused. We didn't prepare in advance, how can we invite Madam Su to stay for dinner?"

"Madam Su, you've been busy before the New Year, so how about after? Why don't you come to our house for a get-together on the third day of the New Year? We'll prepare a feast for you!"

"And the recipe you left last time, Xiaohong has already learned it." Before Su Zhihan could refuse again, Grandma Chen added, "The other day, that child said that when Madam Su comes over, she will make it for you to see."

Su Zhihan thought about it and this time she didn't refuse.

As Jiang Zhenniang watched her daughter talking with Grandma Chen and her family of three, she felt both gratified and regretful. She was gratified that her daughter was doing well in her absence, but she regretted that she had been so busy with household affairs that she had missed her daughter's growth.

After finalizing the arrangements with Grandma Chen, Su Zhihan took Jiang Zhenniang out the door. They had other important business to attend to today. They were going to the market to buy door gods, peach wood charms for warding off evil, lucky donkeys for wealth, and deer and horses for turning back, as well as some food and charcoal for the New Year.

The mother and daughter walked through the city streets. Compared to their impoverished days when they first arrived in the capital, when they could only afford to buy a few snacks to tide them over during holidays, their pockets were now full, and they were not stingy at all when buying things. They quickly picked up large and small bags.

They didn't even glance at any meat dishes.

Not only was Su Zhihan tired of the meat, but Jiang Zhenniang was also generally fed up with it. Seeing the crowds thronging the butcher shop and noticing the significantly higher meat prices compared to before, she couldn't help but say, "If you ask me, the leftover meat from the household should be taken outside and sold..."

“The household will certainly find it disgraceful.”

"That's true, or perhaps distributing porridge or something would be fine?"

“If our Marquis of Zhongyong’s mansion does it, will other mansions do it too?” Su Zhihan shook her head and glanced at the butcher shop again: “Human flesh shops raise prices to increase revenue during the New Year. If the Marquis’s mansion throws the leftover mutton and pork into the market, the people will be happy, but the merchants will probably hate them.”

After Su Zhihan said that, Jiang Zhenniang thought about it and realized it made sense. She couldn't help but sigh, "It's such a waste that we don't need them in the mansion and just let them spoil and be thrown away."

Su Zhihan nodded, recalling what she had overheard during the gossip: "Last time I told Pearl that the gift she gave me was too expensive, and I wanted to return some of it to her."

"Do you know what Pearl said?"

"It is said that the socks used by Chang Ge'er were made of silk and Wu silk, and were only worn once. Once they got dirty, they were simply thrown away."

"Wow." Jiang Zhenniang gasped.

"In addition, the clothes of the eldest and second young ladies are often only worn once or twice before being given to the maids and servants."

Pearl said this to reassure Su Zhihan, as their Marquis Zhongyong's mansion had more than enough of these things, and they had plenty of money.

Su Zhihan felt uneasy listening to this.

Jiang Zhenniang felt a pang of sadness as she listened: "When I was a child... the mansion wasn't like this when the old Marquis was alive."

Su Zhihan smiled and said, "That's ancient history."

Extravagance is becoming increasingly popular, with every household taking pride in flaunting their wealth. It wasn't that the Marquis of Zhongyong's family started it, but they haven't fallen behind either.

Su Zhihan and Jiang Zhenniang chatted idly, and in the middle of the conversation, they stopped at the stall next door and ordered a bowl of clear soup pancakes to tide them over.

As they were drinking, Jiang Zhenniang caught a glimpse of a figure out of the corner of her eye. She leaned forward to look, examined the figure carefully for a moment, and then asked Su Zhihan, "Look, doesn't that person look like Mother Miao?"

"Mama Miao, who is it?"