Chapter 29 Stir-fried Hawthorn Berries Su Zhihan picked up the pot, examined it carefully, and confirmed…
Su Zhihan picked up the pot and examined it carefully. When she confirmed that there was an extra crack on the earthenware pot, she was immediately heartbroken.
Although earthenware pots are not as valuable as iron pots, they are still quite expensive. One of this size costs three hundred coins.
Even though her family had gradually accumulated savings, Su Zhihan, who didn't want to spend money to buy a new pot, carried the earthenware pot she had been leading the way into the house with tears in her eyes.
Hearing her daughter's cries of pain from inside the room, Jiang Zhenniang peeked out but dared not speak. She had gone to bed late last night and completely forgotten that the pot was still outside.
Fortunately, Su Zhihan didn't grieve for long before getting busy again. Before the earthenware pot leaked, she quickly scooped out the bright red hawthorn berries one by one and put them into a large porcelain bowl.
After the large porcelain bowl was filled, there was still quite a bit left in the pot.
Su Zhihan then took out a stack of small porcelain bowls, scooped out a bowl and brought it to Jiang Zhenniang: "Mother, have a bowl after you wash up."
"The rest... I'll pack them separately. Can you give these to Mama Xu to try? Last time you said the weather was dry and cold, and Mama Xu had a sore throat and poor appetite. These stir-fried hawthorns are just right."
Su Zhihan worked quickly, dividing the remaining hawthorns into two large portions. One portion was left for Jiang Zhenniang to keep or to share with others, while the other portion was intended to be taken to the main kitchen for distribution.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhenniang walked to the table and saw three or four bright red hawthorns in a white porcelain bowl, with thick pink juice dripping onto them and slowly cascading to the sides.
The sweet and sour aroma was not as strong as it was when it was stewed yesterday; it had become faint, like a feather fluttering in front of the nose, making one's heart itch with its fragrance.
Jiang Zhenniang suppressed her excitement and went to wash up first. After finishing everything, she returned to the table, picked up a soup spoon, scooped up a spoonful, and eagerly put it into her mouth.
Stewed hawthorn berries are soft and delicate, melting in your mouth. The broth and pulp flow on your tongue, and the sweet and sour taste stimulates your taste buds, making you very hungry.
Jiang Zhenniang ate three pieces and still wasn't satisfied. Later that morning, she ate an extra meat pie for breakfast, which was different from her usual breakfast.
She took the cotton shoes she had made a couple of days ago and the food box with her to go to her shift. When she arrived at Third Sister's courtyard, she first took her things to the back room, where Xu Mama lived.
"Aunt Xu, are you there?"
"Zhenniang? Come in." As the voices came from inside the house, Jiang Zhenniang pushed open the door and entered.
The room in front of me was not spacious, and I could see the whole room at a glance. There was a wooden bed with a light brown curtain hanging on it, several chests and a table beside it. On the table, besides a bronze mirror, cosmetics, bath beans and hair oil, there were also two plates of pastries, a pot of tea and a fine candle.
In addition, there was a charcoal brazier in the corner of the room, which contained high-quality fine charcoal. The room was filled with a faint floral fragrance instead of the smell of burning charcoal.
You should know that only the head maids serving in the house can afford to live in a room with four people in a bunk bed. As for the second and third-class maids serving in the courtyard, they either go home to live or can only sleep in a large communal room.
Those who could occupy a room by themselves were all the housekeepers who were highly favored by their masters.
Jiang Zhenniang's gaze naturally fell on Xu Mama, who was leaning against the bed. Seeing that she looked listless, she hurriedly asked, "How is Mama's health? Has a doctor been called to take a look?"
"Don't worry, Third Sister is kind-hearted. She has already asked a doctor to come and see me. It's just a minor illness that often occurs in autumn and winter."
Looking at the things Jiang Zhenniang was carrying, Xu Mama's smile became more genuine: "Zhenniang, didn't I tell you already that you should save up more money for yourself? Why are you bringing things again?"
“It doesn’t cost much; it’s a gift from my daughter and me to you.” Jiang Zhenniang smiled, put the cotton shoes aside, opened the food box, and ladled out a bowl of stir-fried hawthorn: “Han’er heard that you have a poor appetite and are not feeling well, so she specially made this and asked me to bring it to you to try.”
Hearing this, Xu's mother felt very relieved. Jiang Zhenniang's daughter was working in the kitchen, how could she know that she was sick and uncomfortable? It must have been Jiang Zhenniang who mentioned it frequently at home, which made the child remember it.
At her level, what matters is sincerity. Not necessarily the kind of sincerity that's entirely for her benefit, but rather the sincerity that's willing to put effort into her.
This time, Xu Mama was no longer just concerned about Jiang Zhenniang because of San Niangzi's instructions; she truly kept her in her heart.
Don't be fooled by the phrase "keep it in mind." There are countless head housekeepers who serve by Third Sister's side and have their own rooms, and many are willing to curry favor with Xu Mama. However, she probably only keeps a handful of them in her heart.
Mrs. Xu sat up with a smile and took the white porcelain bowl and soup spoon handed to her by Jiang Zhenniang. She carefully examined the brightly colored and sweetly fragrant stir-fried hawthorns, and then took a bite with a smile.
In a warm and cozy room, taking a bite of chilled, sweet and sour stir-fried hawthorn berries is a wonderful experience.
Jiang Zhenniang then took out the cotton shoes she had made and showed them to Xu Mama. The shoes were made of silk with embroidered auspicious peach patterns, and were lined with cotton, making them very warm.
Mrs. Xu got up and tried it on. The size was just right, and it didn't make her feet look fat. After walking a few steps, she felt her feet were sweating, which showed that the materials were solid and the care was taken.
Xu Mama, who already had a growing fondness for Jiang Zhenniang, was even happier. She first handed a plate of pastries to Jiang Zhenniang, and then got up to rummage through the trunk for fabric to give to Jiang Zhenniang.
"My dear mother, please lie down. This is a token of our affection. We feel so embarrassed that you're giving us this." Seeing this, Jiang Zhenniang quickly stopped Xu's mother, secretly thinking that she just wanted to get closer to Xu's mother.
It would have been fine if they had given away roasted hawthorns and cotton shoes, and received some snacks, but to also receive a bolt of fine fabric makes it seem like they've gotten a good deal.
When Xu Mama saw that she didn't want it, she didn't open the chest anymore. She only told Jiang Zhenniang not to slack off and to do her job well. She also told her to tell Han Jie'er to learn the skills in the kitchen and not to rush to find a way out: "Your daughter is three years older than the fourth girl, which is just the right age."
"Let her learn the skills in the main kitchen for three years."
"Once Fourth Miss is engaged, the age will be just right when choosing a husband. At that time, you will have face in front of your wife, and Han'er will have confidence when going to the young lady's room. You will definitely have a bright future."
Xu Mama was partly giving Jiang Zhenniang directions, and partly remembering what San Niangzi had said. San Niangzi didn't get along well with either the first or second wives, and was intentionally using Jiang Zhenniang as a pawn to gain some benefits.
If Jiang Zhenniang and Han Jie'er are not capable, they will probably be disliked by the first and second wives and forgotten by the third wife. Their lives will likely be difficult.
If both are capable and can work in the third wife's household, the third wife will likely take care of them, either keeping them or having them serve as the fourth wife's maidservant—both are good options.
Seeing Jiang Zhenniang's thoughtful expression, Xu Mama didn't say anything more, only telling her to go to the pet room early so that Third Sister wouldn't be unable to find her.
Just as Jiang Zhenniang was talking to Xu Mama, Su Zhihan also came to the main kitchen. She was fully prepared for Wu Mama to make things difficult for her, but when the person arrived, she found that Wu Mama was not as arrogant and domineering as before. Instead, she looked pale, with dark circles under her eyes, and seemed dazed.
Could it be that she didn't sleep well last night because of the kitchen matters? Su Zhihan glanced at Wu Mama and, following the work habits she had learned from Qiuyue yesterday, instructed Wu Mama to prepare the dishes.
She watched from the side, originally worried that Wu's mother would secretly comply, but to her surprise, Wu's mother obediently completed everything without showing the slightest intention to go against Su Zhihan.
Not to mention Su Zhihan's surprise, even Granny Zhang turned around to look at Granny Wu several times. Granny Cao was even more shocked, pulling Cao Daya and Yinghong aside and saying, "How strange! Has Granny Wu taken the wrong medicine?"
She wanted to keep an eye on Han Jie'er, but she didn't expect that Granny Wu was completely different from usual, so honest that it was unbelievable.
Meanwhile, Qiuyue was relieved to see that her mother was sober and had directly instructed her to send gifts and give money. Reassured, she obediently began preparing the dishes according to the usual procedure.
Standing beside her, Su Lan quietly frowned, working alongside Qiu Yue while glancing at Wu Mama out of the corner of her eye, not believing that Wu Mama would admit defeat so easily.
Su Zhihan was also puzzled, but she knew that Wu Mama must be uncomfortable. After seeing that Wu Mama was in a daze but not careless in her work, she turned her attention to checking the work in Qiuyue and Sulan's hands.
Finally, she opened the ledger and examined it carefully. Yesterday, Cao Mama had told her that the head cook not only had to manage the cooking, but also the corresponding income and expenses, all of which had to be listed in the ledger for the household to check.
Su Zhihan ran a restaurant in her previous life, so she knew all about these things. In addition, she often traveled around the city and knew the prices of all kinds of ingredients.
Therefore, she noticed something amiss after only a few glances. Not to mention the huge price fluctuations of spices and ingredients, making it difficult to immediately identify the problem, the prices of charcoal and firewood used in the kitchen alone varied considerably.
Su Zhihan pretended not to understand, glanced at the ledger a few times, then put it away and took a new book to record the entries. If Wu Mama really dared to be greedy, she probably didn't take all of it; a portion was probably given to Madam Xu. And since she worked in the main kitchen, she would inevitably have to deal with Madam Xu in the future.
If she offends someone, how will she get things done in the future?
Su Zhihan regained her composure and began to seriously consider her future work.
After a little planning, she discovered that as a third-class maidservant and head cook, she had much less work to do than before.
The maids and servants had low incomes, so they were all very frugal, and most of them ate in the main kitchen. Even though Granny Cao cooked a stew with flatbread and coarse rice, the workload of preparing three meals a day was not to be underestimated.
Third-class maids and servants not only received double the monthly salary and bonuses, but also received an extra monthly food allowance compared to the lower-ranking servants. They would often choose to order meals with the other maids and servants in the courtyard and would also return home for dinner in the evening.
There are only about thirty or forty people who come to the main kitchen to eat every day. To avoid people coming in unexpectedly and not getting a meal, the kitchen usually makes extra. For example, Mrs. Wu used to make fifty servings.
Most importantly, although Madam Xu replaced Su Zhihan in charge, she did not remove the original staff. With Wu Mama, Qiuyue, Sulan, and two young maids helping with the work, Su Zhihan could remain idle without much problem.
If it were anyone else, they might actually be hit by such sweet talk and be happy to hand over all the work to Aunt Wu and the others, while they themselves can relax and act like managers.
Su Zhihan, however, did not think things could be so simple. After thinking it over, she did not change the various rules left by Wu's mother and continued to do things as before.
If there is any difference, it is that the third-class maids who used to come and ask Cao Mama and Su Zhihan for a bowl of dishes to try now look happy. In the past, they had to pay Su Zhihan to help them cook, and sometimes they would even get glares from Wu Mama.
Now that Su Zhihan is in charge of the meals and Wu Mama has become her assistant, they not only feel indignant for Wu Mama, but also offer their congratulations.
Some people even named the dishes, wanting to teach Su Zhihan how to cook them in the future.
Su Zhihan took the list and wrote it all down, planning to work on the menu later. However, she also made it clear beforehand that if the dishes the person suggested were too expensive to make, she couldn't be blamed.
The group of third-class maids and servants didn't care and readily agreed with smiles. They showered her with compliments, which made Su Lan, who was standing nearby, frown. The dishes that Madam Wu didn't like to cook were mostly things that Madam Wu controlled, and she would only cook them if they paid for them. Only Han Jie'er didn't know anything and was completely fooled by them.
Neither she nor Qiuyue knew how to cook those dishes.
Han Jie'er only knew how to make a few snacks and pastries, and the dishes she used to make at the makeshift stove were all rustic country dishes.
She was told that even though Han Jie'er was in charge, she was so flattered that she would probably have to ask Wu Mama for help in a few days.
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