"Of course I have to check," Shen Weiwan smiled, the tip of her hairpin gleaming coldly in the sunlight. "Doesn't Liu like to treasure rotten rice? I'll show her how many pigs she can buy with the silver she withheld."
When the old housekeeper arrived, he had a stack of account books in his hands, his expression even worse than before. "Young Miss, please take a look. This is the kitchen's purchase account for the past three months. They bought 300 kilograms of pork alone, but there's not a single piece of meat in the maid's quarters."
Shen Weiwan took the account book and saw the following records: 100 kilograms of pork belly were purchased in March and recorded as "for the Second Madam's family"; 80 kilograms of pork ribs were purchased in April and recorded as "for the Second Young Lady's nourishment"; and 120 kilograms of lean meat were purchased in May and recorded as "for the Second Madam's nourishment." It seemed that she, the legitimate daughter, couldn't even drink a sip of the broth; all the meat went to Liu's mother and daughter and her family.
"What a 'remembering the bitterness and thinking of the sweetness'." Shen Weiwan threw the account book on the table, "Old housekeeper, please send these account books to the old lady and say that I thank my aunt for the 'pig food'. By the way, please ask the old lady to see who has eaten these 300 kilograms of pork."
The old housekeeper looked at Shen Weiwan’s cold eyes, remembered the general’s last words before his death, and nodded heavily: “This old slave will go now.”
In Songhe Hall, the old lady looked at the figures in the account book, trembling with anger and smashing the teacup to pieces on the spot. When Liu was called in, she saw the words "Second Madam's family's consumption" in the account book and her face turned as white as paper.
"The second son's family!" The old lady pointed her cane at her nose. "Three hundred kilograms of pork! You let the legitimate daughter's family eat rotten tofu, and your own family eats like pigs?!"
Liu fell to her knees, her jade hairpin falling to the ground. "Mother, I... I was thinking that Wanwan is young and eating too much would hurt her spleen and stomach..."
"Hurts the spleen and stomach?" The old lady grabbed the account book and threw it in her face. "Your nephew from your mother's family eats five pounds of meat in one meal and it doesn't hurt his spleen and stomach? Your daughter eats bird's nest and shark's fin every day and it doesn't hurt her spleen and stomach?!"
Liu was so frightened that she kowtowed profusely, her hair half untied and her jewelry scattered to the floor. The housekeepers standing nearby saw it all clearly, their eyes filled with disdain. From then on, the reputation of "the second wife of the general's mansion treating her daughter like a pig" spread beyond the general's mansion and into the conversations of every household in the capital.
Meanwhile, in Tinglan Courtyard, Chen Weiwan had Chuntao order a whole pig feast. Braised pork, pork ribs and corn soup, and fried liver were spread all over the table. Chuntao picked up a piece of braised pork, the grease swaying at the corner of her mouth. "Miss, your trick is too clever! Now everyone in the mansion knows that the Second Madam is a stingy person, even cutting the rations for the legitimate daughter!"
Chen Weiwan bit her ribs and said vaguely, "This is just the beginning." She thought of tomorrow's Spring Banquet and the "surprise" prepared by Chen Ruoruo. A sneer appeared on the corner of her mouth, "I want to get back what Liu owes me with interest. As for Chen Ruoruo..." She wiped her mouth, a cunning flash in her eyes, "I have already prepared a return gift for her 'surprise'."
The sun was shining brightly outside the window, and the servants of the general's mansion were still whispering in the corner, laughing uncontrollably at the mention of Liu's stinginess. On Shen Weiwan's revenge chessboard, Liu had been defeated. Next, it was Shen Ruorou's turn. That delicate white lotus was about to be pricked by the wild rose thorns at the Spring Banquet, leaving her crying out for help.
Chun Tao looked at the cold light in Shen Weiwan's eyes and couldn't help shuddering: "Miss, are you really going to let the second young lady wear that skirt with wild rose thorns sewn on it tomorrow?"
"What else?" Shen Weiwan raised her eyebrows and picked up a piece of pork ribs and shook it. "She wants to embarrass me, so I naturally have to 'return the favor'. I'm afraid that by then she will be so itchy that she won't even recognize her own mother."
As the master and servant were talking, the old butler hurried in, holding a gilded invitation: "Miss, the Seventh Prince's Palace has sent an invitation to the Spring Banquet, inviting you to visit the Imperial Garden."
Shen Weiwan took the note and traced the words "Seventh Prince Xiao Yu" with her fingertips. She remembered that she had no impression of this name in her previous life, but in this life, she could feel his gaze several times. She curled her lips and smiled: "Got it, reply and tell me that I will be there on time tomorrow."
After the old housekeeper left, Chuntao couldn't help gossiping: "Miss, why does the Seventh Prince always invite you? Could it be..."
“Don’t think too much,” Shen Weiwan put down the post, a hint of amusement flashed in her eyes, “He probably thinks I’m funnier than the clown on the stage.”
Regardless of Xiao Yu's intentions, Shen Weiwan didn't care. She just wanted to prepare for tomorrow's Spring Festival Banquet and let Shen Ruoruo experience what it meant to "ask for a hammer and get a hammer." Liu, Shen Ruoruo, your "surprises" are coming one after another! This kitchen war of words is just an appetizer. The real drama is still waiting.
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