Madam Xu noticed that all the eyes around her were fixed on her expectantly.
I felt incredibly happy.
She took the knife and slowly cut, but it was really just for show.
The real expert has to be Yan Xia.
After Yan Xia took the knife, she first cut off a large piece and handed it to Old Madam Xu, and then cut off another piece and handed it to Magistrate Xu.
The rest can be left to the servants to cut.
She's not a slave, forced to serve a whole bunch of people; they're not qualified.
"Mmm~ It really tastes good, and it's not too sweet."
Madam Xu's eyes lit up suddenly. She loved sweets, especially pastries. She had tried almost every famous pastry shop in Jiangnan County, but she had never tasted anything so delicious.
No wonder everyone is so into birthday cakes.
Who wouldn't want something good?
Magistrate Xu also praised it.
"It's really delicious, Mom. I'll allow you to eat more of this. It's not too sweet, so it shouldn't be harmful to your health."
Yan Xia picked up the conversation.
"Of course it's fine. It's made with precious ingredients like milk and honey. The color on top is from natural flowers. The filling is all freshly cut and chilled fruit. Eating it will only make you healthier and your skin smoother. How could it have any negative effects? Besides, cakes aren't like pastries. They're less sweet and won't leave you feeling guilty. Don't worry, I wish the old lady would live to be a thousand years old."
Yan Xia's flattery skills are no less than those of the others.
"You're so thoughtful."
Madam Xu nodded gently, her eyes overflowing with satisfaction and affection.
“It is my duty. I have long heard of Madam Xu. I heard that you raised two children on your own and raised such an outstanding Magistrate Xu. You are a role model for us. My children also lost their father at a young age, but I have never remarried. I think that a woman should be faithful to one man until the end. I want to learn from Madam Xu and raise my children like she did.”
You gave me confidence, so last year I tried selling pastries. At first, I just set up a stall, since I didn't have a single tael of silver at the time. Unexpectedly, many people said that my pastries were delicious and in high demand. That's how I made some money, took over a shop, and business has been getting better and better ever since. Madam Xu, you are like Guanyin Bodhisattva, protecting me. I will never forget your great kindness and virtue.
At first, I just wanted my children to have a better life. To be honest, two years ago I was still toiling in the fields for a living. Look at my hands; even with the best care I've taken in these past two years, they're still incredibly rough. You can tell I come from a peasant family. Now that I've met Madam Xu, I can die without regrets. Please accept my bow, Madam Xu.”
Yan Xia's words struck a chord with Old Madam Xu.
She lied without blushing and made a move to kneel down.
Madam Xu stopped eating the cake, put it on the table, and helped Yan Xia up by the arm.
"Don't kneel, don't kneel, get up quickly."
Yan Xia immediately stood up. She didn't want to kneel in the first place; she was just going through the motions.
Madam Xu pulled her to sit down in a chair and continued, "You're right. I have the utmost contempt for women who remarry. What kind of people are they? Prostitutes! You're right. It turns out you're just like me, having suffered so much before. I really pity you, child. I liked you the moment I saw you. From now on, you can come to my house often and talk to me."
"I couldn't be happier! You wouldn't believe it, as soon as my shop started to do a little better, I opened a branch in Jiangnan County. I haven't gone anywhere else yet. I've been dreaming of one day moving my whole family to Jiangnan County, closer to you, my beloved Madam. Then I could die without regrets. The day before yesterday, I heard that it was your birthday, so I made a cake all night long. I didn't sleep for two nights and rushed over from Shuangqiao Town, afraid I'd be late. Luckily, I wasn't late, or I would have been nauseous. I'm happier than if I'd drunk honey when you enjoyed it, Madam!"
Yan Xia's words made her want to vomit.
She tried her best to hold back, forcing a smile.
"You've finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm very happy with what you've eaten. My good child, you've suffered so much. My daughter is far away on the border, and my daughter-in-law is frail and sickly. She often stays in her courtyard and doesn't come out. I'm so bored. From now on, you'll come and keep me company often, okay? Since you haven't slept for two nights, I'll have the maid prepare a guest room for you. Go and get some sleep."
One of Madam Xu's virtues is that she is exceptionally kind to herself.
At this point, Yan Xia had already been categorized as one of her own.
After all, she was an illiterate old woman, and to have someone who admired her so much, even sending her a cake from so far away and being so generous, made her feel incredibly proud.
"No need, no need. I'm so excited to see the old lady, I'm not sleepy at all."
Yan Xia waved her hands repeatedly.
Seeing her insistence, Madam Xu gave up.
After finishing the cake, Magistrate Xu went to handle official business.
Yan Xia accompanied the old lady to watch the play and have a meal.
Seeing that she kept yawning, Madam Xu told her to go back to sleep and that she would come to see her again tomorrow.
Having achieved her goal, Yan Xia took her leave as requested.
As they were leaving the Xu residence, three people approached them.
They look like a family of three.
The woman on the left looks very similar to Magistrate Xu. She has her hair styled in a high bun, adorned with hairpins and hair ornaments that jingle as she walks. She wears a floor-length ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with a light gauze outer garment embroidered with gold over it. A string of white, smooth jade beads hangs from her waist as decoration. Even her shoes are high-quality silk shoes inlaid with jade.
Exuding splendor.
The man in the middle is rather fat and tall. He has a mustache, wears a brown robe, and has a jade pendant with mandarin ducks playing in the water hanging at his waist. When he talks to the woman on his left, his face is full of smiles, so he is probably henpecked.
The man looked at least five years older than the woman, around 40 years old, and he seemed somewhat familiar, but Yan Xia couldn't remember where she had seen his face before.
As for the girl on the right, she should be their daughter.
She is two years younger than Chang Yi.
At most fourteen.
She was of average appearance, but her scarlet dress made her skin look very fair. As the saying goes, fair skin can cover up three flaws, and her beautiful skin made people overlook her ordinary features. The girl was rather thin, especially with the long gauze belt tightly tied around her waist, which moved in the wind, making her waist look slender and delicate.
The girl glanced at Yan Xia sideways, then turned away with disdain.
Her arrogant expression further diminished her appearance.
She was an ugly girl who had been spoiled.
Yan Xia thought to herself.
She brushed past the three men and left the Xu residence, intending to go home and catch up on her sleep.
————
"mother--"
On the other side, in the garden of the Xu family, the woman from the family of three was clinging to Old Madam Xu and acting coquettishly.
"Oh, my darling, Shan'er, you've finally come! I've missed you so much I've cried all my tears." The mother and daughter hadn't seen each other for a long time and were incredibly excited.
This person is Xu Wenyan's younger sister.
Xu Wenshan.
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