Chapter 141 Retreating to Advance
Fang Rui entered the house and went to Madam Yang's side: "Mother, I saw Qiu Liu in the courtyard. I heard from Granny Su that she came to make you some snacks?"
Madam Yang nodded: "Yes."
"You really came to make snacks for you?" Fang Rui still found it hard to believe. "What snacks? Are the snacks made by the chefs in our Prime Minister's residence inferior to these?"
Madam Yang smiled and said, "It's not that our cooks are inferior; it's just that her maid's pastries happen to suit our tastes."
"Then daughter will try some later." Fang Rui glanced out the window. "When I came here, I saw Qiu Liu strolling around leisurely. If you didn't know better, you would think it was her own home. Mother, Qiu Liu is a very strange person. She seems to come from an ordinary background, but I have never seen her suffer a loss. Don't be fooled by her."
What was Qiu Liu planning when she tried to please her mother with some snacks?
Could it be that she wants to marry into the Prime Minister's household?
But his elder brother was already married, and only his second uncle's cousin was still unmarried. If Qiu Liu were to have such an idea, he would have to please his second aunt, not his mother.
I can't figure it out, but he definitely has ill intentions. It seems I'll have to keep a close eye on him every time Qiu Liu visits.
Thinking this, Fang Rui suddenly felt annoyed that she had shot herself in the foot.
At the time, it was she who invited Qiu Liu to her door in order to humiliate him. She said that Qiu Liu was a strange person who never suffered a loss.
Hearing Fang Rui's words, Madam Yang smiled faintly: "Do I need you to remind me, Mother? Why has Rui'er suddenly taken Qiu Liu's name to heart?"
She knew her daughter well; she was proud and aloof, and wouldn't even give a second glance to someone like Qiu Liu, whose family had fallen on hard times.
Madam Yang did not think her daughter's arrogance was a flaw. The daughter of a high-ranking official had the right to be aloof and have high standards. She would only associate with men of similar social standing and would not be so easily swayed by men of unequal social status.
"Isn't it because I saw Su Su suffer at her hands that I had to be careful?" Fang Rui casually shifted the blame to Cheng Su Su, without mentioning the embarrassing incident of being threatened with a hairpin by Qiu Heng.
Madam Yang said calmly, "Miss Cheng is a bit too hasty."
Even with a good background, a good future is unlikely.
As the mother and daughter were talking, Granny Su came in carrying a tray: "Madam, the rice dumplings are ready, please have a taste."
Madam Yang looked at the thin, almost transparent dumplings on the plate, picked one up, dipped it in the sauce, and put it in her mouth. After tasting it carefully, she nodded and said, "This is the taste."
It's the flavor Saburo likes.
The rice noodle rolls they found later weren't bad, but Sanlang didn't like them.
"Let me try it." Fang Rui picked up a rice noodle roll and ate it. Although she thought it tasted good, she didn't understand her mother's decision. "It's not much better than what the cooks in our household make."
Those present were all trusted confidantes, and Madam Yang took the opportunity to instruct her daughter: "These pastries are like women. They are all beauties, some delicate and charming, some elegant and refined, some lively and some quiet. Men just happen to prefer a certain type. Can you say that other women are not good?"
Fang Rui listened thoughtfully and said, "Mother is right. If the man you're considering marrying doesn't like someone like me, then change him to avoid wasting your time."
Mrs. Yang: ?
Granny Su was also taken aback by Fang Rui's words. Fearing she would hear something even more shocking from the young lady, she quickly changed the subject: "Madam, these pastries are fresh out of the oven and taste just right—"
"You personally deliver it to Sanlang. Report back to me how he enjoys it."
"yes."
Granny Su left, and Fang Rui pursed her lips: "So it's for my brother."
Madam Yang glanced at her daughter and said, "Your brother has had no appetite these days. If he can eat a few more bites, we'll be thanking God."
"Mother, don't worry too much, brother will definitely get better soon."
Madam Yang nodded, but her heart was heavy.
Although her son had been frail since childhood, it was rare for him to be bedridden like this year. The old lady even began to look for a woman whose birth chart was compatible with her son's to be his concubine, hoping to dispel his illness.
She only has one son, Sanlang, and she can't even imagine what would happen if something were to happen to him.
After a while, Granny Su came in quickly, looking excited: "Madam, the Third Young Master ate quite a lot, and said he also wants to eat rice dumplings for dinner."
"That's good, that's good." Madam Yang smiled and looked at Granny Su with admiration. "It's all thanks to Granny Su for keeping Sanlang in mind."
"Madam, you flatter me. It is my greatest honor that the Third Young Master enjoys the food."
Madam Yang smiled and said, "Please invite Miss Qiu and her maid over."
Granny Su left the room and soon returned with Qiu Heng and Fang Zhou.
"Madam Yang." Qiu Heng curtsied.
Madam Yang smiled warmly: "Thank you for troubling Miss Qiu today."
As for Fangzhou, Madam Yang did not mention it.
In her view, a servant belongs entirely to her master, and all credit naturally belongs to her master.
“Madam Yang, please don’t be so polite. Consider this an apology for hurting Granny Su.” Qiu Heng looked at Granny Su. “Granny Su’s wounds have already scabbed over and don’t need any more medicine. I’ll just tell Madam Yang that I won’t bother you tomorrow.”
Madam Yang raised an eyebrow.
Sanlang was still looking forward to eating the snacks made by Qiu Liu's maid; how could he not come?
"Miss Qiu Liu, I have a favor to ask."
Qiu Heng looked surprised: "Madam Yang is joking. You are the eldest wife of the Prime Minister's family, and I am just an ordinary girl. How can I help you?"
Madam Yang paused for a moment.
What's wrong with this girl? Doesn't she know it's just polite talk? How is she supposed to continue?
Fortunately, being of Madam Yang's age, she wasn't shy and smiled, saying, "I really like the pastries made by Miss Qiu Liu's maid; I'd like to borrow her for a while—"
Fangzhou's expression changed: "I will only follow the young lady and will not go anywhere else."
Madam Yang frowned and glanced at Fangzhou, thinking to herself that if this were a maid from the Prime Minister's residence, she would have slapped her hard long ago.
She said that it's still inconvenient to use outsiders.
"If Miss Qiu Liu is willing, she will certainly reward you handsomely."
"I've spoiled Fangzhou. When she gets stubborn, no one can control her. It's easy to deal with Madam Yang's fondness for her rice noodle rolls. I'll have her write down the recipe, and your chef can make them just as well."
Having said all that, Madam Yang couldn't say anything more. After Qiu Heng and Fang Zhou took their leave, her face darkened.
Granny Su sneered, "You don't know what's good for you!"
Fang Rui, on the contrary, felt at ease and said with a smile, "Our family's cooks are the best, so it's very convenient to eat whatever we want."
"Let the kitchen try making it," Madam Yang instructed, her opinion not being optimistic.
Although she doesn't cook, she knows that those recipes either require a moderate amount or a small amount. Even with the same recipe, the food tastes different.
On the way back, Fangzhou asked Qiuheng, "If you won't let me stay, how can I come to the Prime Minister's residence often in the future?"
Qiu Heng leaned against the carriage wall and closed her eyes slightly: "Don't worry, Madam Yang will find a way."
Madam Yang, who loves her son dearly, would probably do as she speculates, wouldn't she?
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