Zuo Lanzhi ultimately didn't have the nerve to stay any longer. Using the excuse of the chilly spring rain, she went back to get a new coat and left.
Xiao Yunying took a deep breath, trying not to laugh out loud.
Looking at her, Luo Sheng suddenly said, "Is it that funny?"
Xiao Yunying said, "I didn't expect you to be so good at roasting people. Miss Zuo looked like she was about to cry."
Luo Sheng had never heard the word "怼" before, but he could guess its general meaning.
"I'm telling the truth."
Xiao Yunying curled her lips, wanting to tease him: "Yes, yes, you're telling the truth, but she is, after all, a girl, and a girl who likes you. You should give her some face and be more tactful."
Luo Sheng's expression turned serious: "Why do you think she likes me?"
Xiao Yunying gave Luo Xin a different piece of paper: "Can't you see how obvious it is? You don't actually think she came here just to relax, do you? Isn't it all for you?"
Luo Sheng said thoughtfully, "Is that so?"
Xiao Yunying said definitively, "She has nothing but you in her heart and eyes, there's no mistake."
Luo Sheng said, "Then we should let her leave even more."
Xiao Yunying opened the brocade box on the table, took out the jade bracelet and looked at it: "After all, she was brought by your mother, so don't be too forceful, lest you hurt the relationship between your mother and her friend. As long as she behaves herself, I can let her stay for a while because of these gifts."
Luo Sheng glanced at the jade bracelet: "It's just a jade bracelet. If you like it, I can buy it for you."
Xiao Yunying put the bracelet back into the brocade box: "No need. Zuo Lanzhi is right. I do all kinds of work all day long and can't wear this fragile jade bracelet."
Luo Yong pondered, "Jade bracelets are fragile, so what about other things?"
In the afternoon, Xiao Yunying used the ingredients available at home to make several novel desserts for Madam Luo, as well as for Granny Chang and the two maids.
Mrs. Luo, who has a sweet tooth, ate the smooth ginger milk curd and said, "Your cooking skills have improved a lot in the past two years."
She remembered that the girl was known in the village for never lifting a finger; apart from being good at embroidery, she couldn't do anything else.
Xiao Yunying used bamboo tongs to distribute freshly fried milk from the pan to the plates of the group: "I'm a glutton, and I'm always thinking about things when I'm bored. I never thought I could actually come up with some food."
Granny Chang smiled and said, "It's also because the young mistress is so clever."
Xiao Yunying pretended not to hear the change in how Chang Mama addressed her, but Zuo Lanzhi cared. Wasn't Chang Mama's attitude exactly what Madam Luo meant?
She put down her bowl and said, "I heard that Miss Xiao comes from an ordinary family. How could she have so many ingredients to think about when to cook? Wouldn't you feel bad if a little bit of this was wasted?"
Xiao Yunying put a piece of fried milk on Yinzhu's plate, but not on Zuo Lanzhi's, and then put the plate down.
"It was a last resort. I developed an eye disease from doing embroidery to support my children, so I had to find another way to earn some money. As a woman, besides embroidery, all I could do was research new foods."
There were failures, but they weren't exactly wasteful; everything was edible. Luckily, I was fortunate enough to invent many new dishes, which allowed me to slowly save money and provide a stable life for my children.
These words moved Madam Luo deeply: "You've worked hard these past two years."
She had her identity restored some time ago and had sent people to investigate this area, so she naturally knew what kind of hardship Xiao Yunying and the children had endured before.
As for the fact that she had hit the children, Madam Luo felt uncomfortable hearing about it, but she had married a military general and had seen how her son was trained by his father since he was a child, so she felt that it was nothing for a boy to be beaten a few times.
Besides, she asked several children, and they all spoke highly of their stepmother, without saying a single bad word about her.
On this point alone, Madam Luo felt that although her daughter-in-law came from a humble background and was a bit rude, she was otherwise quite good.
Xiao Yunying smiled slightly: "Look at me, why am I saying all this? It's all in the past. Madam Luo, please eat first. I'll go to the kitchen to see if the steamed cake is ready."
She glanced at Zuo Lanzhi's unpleasant expression out of the corner of her eye, and then entered the kitchen in a cheerful mood.
Little brat, trying to play the green tea trick on me? Your level is way too low.
She took the steamed cake out of the teacup with a bamboo stick, thought for a moment and didn't dare to squeeze on the cream, so she put it directly on a plate and brought it out.
Place the plate on the table: "The carrot cake is fresh out of the oven; it's best eaten while it's still warm."
Granny Chang said, "These pastries smell sweet and look soft."
Xiao Yunying took off her sleeves: "It's raining outside, so it's not good to go out. When the rain stops, I'll use the oven in the yard to make some pastries for Madam Luo to try."
Madam Luo smiled and said, "You're very thoughtful."
As she spoke, she picked up two more pieces of fried milk.
Seeing that she really liked the desserts she made, Xiao Yunying said to Granny Chang, "Granny, if you have time someday, I'll teach you how to make a few desserts, so that if Madam Luo wants to eat them in the future, Granny can make them."
Granny Chang placed a piece of steamed cake on Madam Luo's plate and said with a smile, "You can only learn a few kinds by now. When the young mistress returns to the capital with you, if you want to eat it, the young mistress can just make it for you."
Xiao Yunying was taken aback by these words and looked at Luo Sheng, who had been quietly eating dessert.
I will not go back to the capital with them to settle down. I don't know if there is any room for negotiation on this matter.
Luo Sheng put down the plate and said, "Mother, eat less, don't eat anything that will cause indigestion."
Madam Luo glanced at the two of them with suspicion, sensing that the atmosphere was off, but she didn't ask anything. She only said, "These pastries are so small. I only ate a few pieces. How could I have indigestion? Mind your own business and eat yours."
Because it was made for Madam Luo, Xiao Yunying made it smaller and more delicate than usual.
Hearing Madam Luo's somewhat childish words, she couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Madam Luo likes desserts. I'll make you some other things tomorrow. I can also make savory snacks. I wonder if Madam Luo would like them?"
Madam Luo looked on with anticipation: "The food you make can't be bad."
Luo Xin said proudly, "My mother makes the best food. When the rain stops, I'll have her bake those egg tarts for Grandma to try. They're so delicious."
"Okay, Grandmother will remember."
Seeing their harmonious scene, Zuo Lanzhi wore a forced smile, but felt resentful inside. She tore at her handkerchief under the table with both hands.
They're truly despicable; all they know how to do is use these tricks to please others.
It's just making desserts. When she returns home, I'll definitely have my mother find several famous pastry chefs. I don't believe they can't outdo this peasant girl.
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