Chapter 54 Later in the shopping trip, Su Zhihan was carrying a butcher's bag...
Later that evening, Su Zhihan returned home carrying a cleaned catfish. When she saw Jiang Zhenniang, she picked it up to show her: "Mother, look, what a big catfish!"
"Wow, how come it's so big?"
"Since Chang-ge'er is going to participate in the spring imperial examination, Madam Chang-ge'er has sent people to find a lot of fresh seasonal ingredients to help him get some nourishment."
The imperial examinations in spring usually last for three days, during which candidates are not allowed to leave the examination hall, and all their eating, drinking, and relieving themselves are done there. I heard from the people in the second house that the second son failed the imperial examinations that year because he couldn't stand the smell and was physically and mentally exhausted.
"These catfish have been kept for a few days. We've used some, but there are still a few left that we don't know where to put. So, Chef Xu taught us how to divide them up." Su Zhihan smiled. It was the season when all kinds of fish were plump and delicious. Knife fish, shad, and catfish were all common ingredients in the mansion.
However, the masters of the Marquis's mansion were very particular about their food. When it came to seasonal delicacies like catfish, apart from using a few at the beginning to taste them, they only used the fattest and most succulent parts (fish maw), and discarded the rest, which benefited the people in the main kitchen.
While chatting, Su Zhihan and Jiang Zhenniang used hot water to wash the catfish again, brushing off the slime on its body, and then cut it into pieces and put it in a bowl for later use.
Jiang Zhenniang was no longer surprised; she was used to it. She took out a bamboo basket from the house, rummaged through the fabric, and finally asked, "Han'er, are you sure you just want to make a cloth skirt?"
"A cloth skirt will do; nothing else will do." In the past four months, Su Zhihan had grown taller. The skirt that Jiang Zhenniang made for her last winter was too short after only being worn twice, and she eventually gave it to Xiao Hong.
Working in the kitchen, Su Zhihan felt that plain clothes were the most refreshing and easy to wash: "The weather will get hotter later, and cotton clothes absorb sweat and are easy to wash."
Jiang Zhenniang reluctantly agreed: "Alright then."
Su Zhihan glanced at her briefly: "Right now, our main focus is on saving money. Besides the money for redeeming her, we'll need to spend money to buy houses, shops, and people."
It would be no easy task for the mother and daughter to establish themselves in the wealthy capital. To ensure a better future, they needed to save up enough money.
"My mother will make me another set during the New Year."
“Okay.” Jiang Zhenniang bit off the thread in her hand and agreed immediately. Accompanied by the clattering sound of Su Zhihan chopping vegetables, she lowered her head and sewed the dress.
Su Zhihan picked out two bamboo shoots from the bamboo basket. It was the perfect season for eating bamboo shoots. Whenever you strolled around the market, you would often see old men from the countryside who had dug up a basket full of bamboo shoots.
The powerful and wealthy, on the other hand, love the bamboo shoots of Lin'an, whose tips are as white as jade, whose bodies are plump and succulent, and whose taste is fresh, sweet and crisp.
Unfortunately, bamboo shoots grow extremely fast and must be picked as soon as they sprout. Moreover, they will gradually develop a bitter taste after being picked, losing their original sweet flavor.
Of the bamboo transported from Lin'an to the capital, only two or three out of ten were usable; the rest were all too old. Cook Xu selected some that were still usable and processed them into dried bamboo shoots and other items, while the rest were distributed to Su Zhihan and the others.
Su Zhihan also made some into dried bamboo shoots, and the rest into pickled bamboo shoots. As for the two spring bamboo shoots in her hand, she bought them from the market this morning.
Peel off the thin outer skin, then flatten and cut into sections.
Su Zhihan heated oil in a wok, sautéed scallions, ginger, and garlic until fragrant, then added catfish pieces and fried them until both sides were half-cooked. She then poured in hot water and brought it to a boil over high heat for a short while.
As the aroma of fish rises, the snow-white milk soup is also ready.
Su Zhihan skimmed off the foam from the soup, covered the pot, and let it simmer for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. While the fish was simmering, she first cooked the rice, then blanched the bamboo shoots, added them to the fish soup, seasoned with a little salt, sugar, and pepper, and continued to simmer for the time it takes to drink another cup of tea.
Even with the pot lid on, the smell inside kept wafting out. As Jiang Zhenniang sewed, her movements gradually slowed down, and the rumbling in her stomach grew louder.
"How much longer until we can eat?"
"Almost done, almost done." Su Zhihan skillfully flattered Jiang Zhenniang. She lifted the pot lid, adjusted the heat, reduced the broth until it was thick, sprinkled on some chopped green onions, and finally ladled it onto a plate.
The rich aroma of fish wafted out, instantly invading every inch of the house. Not content with just that, the fragrance also seeped out through the cracks in the doors and windows, flooding into the neighboring homes.
"Smell this, it smells so good."
"That smells from Su Jie'er's room, doesn't it?" The maid who spoke was referring to Su Zhihan. "She truly lives up to her reputation as Su Jie'er, she's amazing."
As Su Zhihan established herself in the main kitchen, she was entitled to be addressed as "Miss" or "Madam" by the servants in the mansion who were not as senior as her. However, "Miss" was a term used by the head maids in the courtyard, and Su Zhihan's status was not yet high enough. "Madam" was a term used by older women, and calling her "Han Jie'er" would seem inappropriate.
The servants who were as close as Cao Mama, or the head maid, would call Su Zhihan "Han Jie'er," while others would call her "Su Jie'er" to show their closeness. As for those who were not so close, they would still call her "Su Niangzi."
"No wonder Madam Jiang is so calm."
"That's right! If I had such a capable daughter, I wouldn't be in a hurry either. It would be good for her to rest at home for a few days."
"However," someone mentioned Su Zhihan, which reminded someone else of what happened in the kitchen: "I heard before that Chef Xu intended to take Su Zhihan as her apprentice, but then nothing happened? Did she actually take her in or not?"
"This... I don't know either."
"I don't think I've heard anyone mention it either." The maids who were talking together thought for a moment and realized that they hadn't heard anyone mention it in a long time either.
"Could it be that you're planning to tutor your niece again?"
“That’s common… If I had that skill, I definitely wouldn’t want to teach it to others!” A maidservant agreed, “Besides, there’s a saying: ‘Teaching an apprentice will starve the master…’”
"What are you saying? Sister Su isn't that kind of person."
"How can you say for sure..."
"Hey! You used to eat plenty of good meat from Sister Su, how can you talk like that? I'm going to tell Sister Su later." Upon hearing this, the maid put her hands on her hips.
The maid in front realized she had misspoke and tried to coax her with half a roast chicken, but she still muttered, "I just found it strange..."
Meanwhile, Madam Xu also returned home after finishing her shift. She changed into casual clothes, dried her wet hair with a towel, and stared blankly with a frown.
Seeing this, the maidservant brought forward a cup of hot water. She handed the teacup to the cook, Xu, and said, "Young lady, are you thinking about what Third Miss said again? Third Miss was just talking. With your skills, how could the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion bear to sell you?"
Even wealthy families would rather not have a cook like Xu than keep a top-notch cook.
Madam Xu didn't believe it at first, but she had her reasons for her doubts: "Today, Mama Wu, who serves Madam, told me... that the mansion is going to select a few new cooks."
"A new chef can't compare to the chef's own."
“The problem is that the Second Mistress’s family also sent over a few chefs from the south.” Cook Xu was uneasy and regretted that she had revealed everything the Second Mistress had done in order to get away, which had offended the Second Mistress badly. “Fortunately… although the Second Mistress is in charge of the household, in the end, everything still depends on the First Mistress’s decision.”
However, Chef Xu's attitude had also changed quite a bit: "Later, send a letter home and tell them to send Xia'er and Huan'er over."
"Madam, didn't you take a fancy to that girl named Han'er before?" The maid remembered Su Zhihan. That girl had visited several times since then, each time bringing thoughtful gifts and never forgetting to bring something for herself as well. She seemed to be a clever girl.
Based on Chef Xu's attitude before the New Year, although she said she planned to continue observing before making a decision, the maid had followed Chef Xu for many years and could still tell her young lady's attitude; she was at least five or six points satisfied.
The cook, Xu, was quite helpless about this: "Han'er is a good girl, but she is still young. She can tolerate small things, but she listens to her mother on important matters."
"I've heard rumors in the manor that Han'er's brother seems to be alive. Judging from her mother's demeanor, she probably wants to reunite with her son."
"I've sounded out their intentions."
"Judging from Han'er's words, if her mother wants to reunite with her brother, then she will go too."
Cook Xu had no children, so she took on an apprentice who would inherit her skills and take care of her in her old age. She was afraid that if Han Jie learned her skills and then abandoned her to go with Jiang Zhenniang, where would she find someone?
Originally, Chef Xu looked down on her nieces, but after this incident, she changed her mind and felt that she should be closer to her nieces.
However, she did not place all her hopes on her two nieces. She planned to select two more maids to raise by her side, preferably orphans, so that they could rely on her wholeheartedly in the future.
The maidservant never expected things to turn out so complicatedly. She sighed inwardly. Last time, she saw that although Madam Jiang acted rashly and her daughter had not yet expressed her feelings or made any advances, she had impatiently brought her daughter to visit. But at least she was a kind-hearted mother.
But this time, she actually made such a secret public, ruining her daughter's promising future.
The servants said that Han'er had left the manor with Madam Jiang and was living with her brother. It was not as peaceful as living in the Marquis's manor.
After the elder brother marries and has children, they become a family connected by blood, but it's hard to say what will happen to Jiang Niangzi's daughter in the future.
Poor Han-jie, she ended up with such a muddle-headed mother.
The maidservant secretly felt indignant on Su Zhihan's behalf, while Jiang Zhenniang sneezed several times in a row. She wiped her face with a handkerchief, rubbed her nose, and finally straightened her clothes.
"Are you wearing too little clothing?"
“It’s so hot today.” Jiang Zhenniang didn’t think she was dressed too lightly. Last winter was as cold as this spring. But she had only muttered a word when she received a death stare from her daughter. Jiang Zhenniang quickly picked up the jacket that was lying next to her and put it on: “Okay, okay, I’ll wear it, I’ll wear it.”
Su Zhihan was finally satisfied. She served Jiang Zhenniang a bowl of rice, picked up a few pieces of plump catfish, scooped up a few spoonfuls of soup, and put them all into Jiang Zhenniang's bowl.
Jiang Zhenniang breathed a sigh of relief after escaping a disaster. She picked up a piece of fish and put it in her mouth. As soon as it entered her mouth, her eyes widened in surprise.
Fresh, fragrant, rich, and full-bodied!
The fresh aroma of catfish wafted up in waves, rushing straight to the top of the head through the nasal cavity and forcefully assaulting the taste buds.
That's not all. The catfish meat is as tender as cream, and you don't even need to chew it. Just sucking it in, or pressing your lips together, melts the catfish meat in your mouth instantly, with a smooth and tender texture that is so wonderful that it makes Jiang Zhenniang's heart tremble.
She tasted such delicious food for the first time and couldn't stop eating, shoveling rice into her mouth one chopstick after another.
The fish is plump and the bamboo shoots are sweet and refreshing. The broth mixed with rice is as rich and creamy as milk.
As Jiang Zhenniang ate bite by bite, the aroma of the fish blossomed on her tongue, and the warm broth flowed down her throat into her stomach, then surged into her limbs and bones...
Jiang Zhenniang reluctantly swallowed the fish in her mouth, and couldn't wait to praise, "What a delicious taste! Did you learn this exquisite dish from Chef Xu?"
When Su Zhihan first arrived at the Marquis's residence, she only picked dishes that were oily and heavy on soy sauce. These dishes were indeed not very presentable and looked like the kind of food served in a street restaurant.
She told the people in the household that she learned it from outside, and told Jiang Zhenniang that she had secretly learned it. Now that she had been in the main kitchen for a long time, she could also show off a few skills in front of Jiang Zhenniang: "Yes."
Jiang Zhenniang received an affirmative answer and felt regretful: "Sigh... If you stay in the manor, you can learn cooking skills. If you can learn all of Chef Xu's skills, you can become a head cook in a restaurant."
"Mother, if I really want to learn, will the manor let me leave? Even if I were to be redeemed, the price would be three to five times higher."
Su Zhihan glanced at Jiang Zhenniang, fearing that she might have changed her mind now, and said helplessly, "I don't even dare to show this skill in the kitchen, for fear that if it falls into the master's eyes, I won't be able to leave with Mother in the future."
Jiang Zhenniang immediately came to her senses: "...That's true."
Selling oneself is easy, but redeeming oneself is difficult. If skilled maids and servants can fetch high prices, why bother teaching them to redeem themselves?
Of course, the Marquis of Zhongyong's family also had to save face. Like the powerful and wealthy families in the capital, they would not easily sell out their people unless they were in dire straits or had committed a serious crime.
But I'm afraid they might secretly take them away and sell them.
Having learned from the example of Steward Pang's family being sold, Jiang Zhenniang's initial regret vanished instantly. She filled another bowl with rice and ate heartily with the braised catfish with bamboo shoots in white sauce. In between bites, she chatted with Su Zhihan about matters concerning the manor, and finally, she brought up the matter of future work.
Even though the stalls outside were profitable, the high price of redeeming her was still a burden. In addition, Jiang Zhenniang wanted to save some money to rent a nice house outside, so she was reluctant to stay at home and not work.
"I guess we can't go to the hospital..."
"Why don't we go back to the laundry room? But there are too many people working there..." Jiang Zhenniang knew the situation in the mansion. The laundry room manager, who used to be the most obsequious, became more shrewd and had more people trying to curry favor with him.
"Or perhaps you could go to the garden to tend to the flowers and plants?"
"Mother," Su Zhihan smiled, "You'll come with me to the main kitchen tomorrow."
"Me, cook? That would be embarrassing for you!"
“No, I want you to go out with the purchasing team to see and learn.” Su Zhihan knew that opening a restaurant was not as easy as it sounded.
Putting everything else aside, finding a source of goods is a huge problem. Whether it's finding a source of goods or maintaining a good relationship with the merchants who provide them, it's good that Jiang Zhenniang has some free time to learn about it.
"Go along with the purchasing... Can I manage?"
“Why not?” Su Zhihan thought Jiang Zhenniang was eloquent and sociable, making her particularly suitable for this task: “She will be very useful when we open a shop in the future.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhenniang was immediately intrigued. She asked a few more questions and only made up her mind after hearing that her daughter had already made arrangements. The next day, she took her things and went to find someone to buy them.
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