Zuo Lanzhi didn't want to argue with Xiao Yunying over this small amount of money, and although she felt it wasn't worth it, she could only hold back.
She could tell that this woman wouldn't indulge her. Since she didn't know when Madam Luo would arrive, she couldn't argue with her, lest she lose her composure.
If someone happens to catch you in such a state, it would be a huge loss.
Xiao Yunying went into the kitchen. Encouraged by the silver, she made eight more meat pies and brought them over along with congee with preserved egg and lean pork and side dishes.
"Miss Zuo, please enjoy your meal. Let me know if you need anything else."
Zuo Lanzhi glared at her: "We each have a hundred taels of silver for food, and this is all you give us?!"
For the sake of the money, Xiao Yunying explained in a kind tone, "I am just an ordinary peasant woman, and all I can cook are simple home-cooked meals. If Miss Zuo does not want to eat these, she will have to take a carriage into the city to eat at a restaurant."
Yinyu laid out the food for Zuo Lanzhi and advised, "Miss, the countryside is not like our mansion. You can try it first. If you don't like it, we can discuss hiring a chef from the city when Madam Luo arrives."
Zuo Lanzhi reluctantly agreed: "Alright, I'll try it first."
She didn't eat dinner last night, so she's definitely a bit hungry now.
Seeing that she had started eating, Xiao Yunying returned to her seat and continued eating.
Whether that rich young lady can eat it or not is none of my business.
Since we've already eaten, we have to pay the money.
Zuo Lanzhi first picked up a meat pie with her chopsticks and took a bite. She was surprised by the crispy outer skin, and then she was amazed by the juicy meat filling inside.
She glanced at Xiao Yunying, who was drinking porridge, and was surprised to find that this peasant girl was quite a good cook.
Perhaps because she was very hungry, Zuo Lanzhi didn't say anything to find fault. She ate two meat pies, drank a bowl of porridge, and ate most of the two side dishes before putting down her chopsticks.
"The rest is yours. Sit over there and eat."
The two maids bowed before taking the remaining food to eat on the side.
Xiao Yunying, who was clearing away the dishes, shook her head helplessly when she saw this scene. No matter how many times she saw it, she couldn't stand it.
However, she didn't say much. After tidying up the table, she took out her brush, ink, paper, and inkstone and began to draw some blueprints.
Zuo Lanzhi saw that one of them was writing and drawing, another was doing embroidery, and a little girl was teasing a civet cat. No one paid attention to her presence.
She suddenly spoke up: "Hey, I'm thirsty."
Without looking up, Xiao Yunying said, "Yunwan, please pour them some water."
Zuo Lanzhi then said, "I want to drink tea."
Xiao Yunying continued drawing: "No, only water. Take it or leave it."
"What a poor family, they don't even have tea."
Yinyu hurriedly advised, "Miss, we brought our own tea. I'll brew some for you when the luggage arrives. For now, just make do with what we have."
Xiao Yunying was in the middle of a train of thought and didn't want to be easily interrupted, so she didn't bother with Zuo Lanzhi and didn't respond to her.
Madam Chen had given her a shop before, and she only found out yesterday when she was talking to Chen Yuancheng that the shop was the teahouse located slightly to the left opposite Huiweilou.
The teahouse was slightly smaller than Huiweilou, but it was still a solid three-story building.
The teahouse was too ordinary, so Xiao Yunying and Chen Yuancheng discussed it and decided to renovate it to sell her homemade desserts.
She got back late yesterday and hadn't had time to go to the teahouse yet. She couldn't design the interior, so she just drew some sample counters and tables and chairs.
Then he focused intently on writing down all the recipes for desserts and pastries he knew.
Xiao Yunying was busy until almost noon when she heard the sound of horses' hooves at the door. She was still writing down the recipes for the pastries.
To welcome Luo Sheng's mother, she didn't close the gate; upon hearing the noise, she put down her brush and got up.
Zuo Lanzhi was faster; she lifted her skirt and ran out.
Xiao Yunying was bumped by her, frowned slightly, said nothing, and walked slowly to the door, just in time to see Luo Sheng dismounting from his horse.
Zuo Lanzhi rushed over immediately: "Brother Luo Sheng."
Luo Sheng's expression froze, and he took a step to the side to avoid the newcomer.
Zuo Lanzhi nearly fell off her horse and hurriedly stopped, asking, "Brother Luo Sheng, was the journey tiring?"
"It's not hard work."
Luo Sheng replied, his gaze sweeping over Xiao Yunying standing at the door. Seeing her looking at him and Zuo Lanzhi with a playful expression, he felt a little puzzled.
However, he didn't think too much about it, handed the reins to Wan Jun, and went to the carriage behind.
She told the driver to put down the footstool: "Mother, we've arrived."
The carriage curtain was lifted, and an older nanny got off the carriage first, then helped a woman dressed in fine clothes down.
Xiao Yunying was quite at a loss, after all, she had never seen such a scene in her two lifetimes.
This is also her nominal mother-in-law. How should she treat her?
Luo Sheng glanced at Xiao Yunying, who was slowly approaching him, a faint look of sorrow on her delicate face.
It seems like they're struggling with something.
When Madam Luo got out of the car, she first looked at the girl behind her son.
Then he looked at another girl behind him.
Confused, he wondered who these two girls were and where Xiao Yunying had gone.
Seeing the doubt in his mother's eyes, Luo Sheng said, "Mother, this is Yun Ying, and that is Yun Ying's younger sister."
He then said to Xiao Yunying, "Yunying, this is my mother."
The content and tone were dry, but at least they introduced the topic.
Xiao Yunying bowed and said, "Greetings, Madam Luo."
Those around were somewhat surprised by this form of address; the nominal young mistress was not changing her way of addressing her as "mother"!
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