The next morning, Gu Ting casually made up an excuse and took a bag of pastries to his aunt's house.
On his day off, he didn't even use a carriage to go out. Upon seeing this, Zijuan hurriedly went to inform her mistress.
"Madam, I have delivered the green silk ribbon you asked me to give you to the Third Young Mistress at Moyuan Courtyard."
When I arrived, I ran into the Third Young Master, who said he was going horseback riding with his colleagues in the suburbs. He's probably already left the manor by now.
Madam Zheng gave a cold laugh and ordered, "Have Jinxi take two men with him."
Two large willow trees stand at the entrance of Willow Lane, and the narrow, long lane inside is paved with bluestone slabs.
A few moss sparsely grows in the chipped blue brick wall. After passing three houses with wooden eaves and gray tiles, the fourth house is Gu Ting's uncle's house.
An old woman sitting at the entrance of the alley looked at Gu Ting curiously. After asking him, she learned that he was visiting relatives and let him in.
After replying impatiently, Gu Ting strode towards the Yang family home. He had never been here since birth and only found it by following the address given to him by Aunt Yang.
But his uncle was always showing off to the neighbors that he had a nephew from a noble family.
So many nosy old ladies came over, fanning themselves with palm-leaf fans, to see this nephew of the Marquis's family.
The Yang family's house looked no different from the other houses on the street; it was "dilapidated".
Inside, however, it was very clean and tidy. The firewood was neatly piled in the corner of the west wall, next to a vegetable garden. There was a stone mill and a stone table in the yard.
When Uncle Yang heard that Gu Ting had arrived, he was extremely excited and struggled to get up, cursing at Jiang Lanling as he did so.
"You wretch, help me up! Didn't you hear Brother Ting is here?"
Jiang Lanling glanced at him, turned and went out. Reaching the door, she said in a harsh voice,
"What kind of lapdog has come to my house! I'll never leave a shameless scoundrel like you! Get out of here, get out of here!"
After saying that, he slammed the door shut with a loud bang.
Under the mocking gazes of the elderly women and grandmothers who had come to watch the spectacle, Gu Ting's face turned purple.
It was too embarrassing; he felt he couldn't even stand there, let alone go inside to see his uncle, so he had no choice but to leave.
When they got home, Aunt Yang saw how useless he was and felt a little resentful.
There was no other way; I didn't want to entrust the task to other servants, so I had to send Granny Zhou to deliver the message herself.
Jiang Lanling's matter remains unresolved, preventing her from sleeping or eating in peace.
……………………………………………………
After Wang Yan arrived at Qu Liushang, she was no longer just a little maid who only served tea; she had to work in the main kitchen with Aunt Sun.
However, there are only two cooks in the main kitchen. Aunt Xia, who prepared a whole table of food yesterday, is one of them.
Xiaodeng is her daughter, and she is now in charge of the tea supply for the owner of this villa.
However, unlike Wang Yan who prepared various teas for everyone, she only served hot water. Each master of the house had their maids brew the tea themselves.
There were no other reasons than two: firstly, the only place on the estate with hot water was the main kitchen; secondly, there wasn't much tea on the estate, and she hadn't learned the steps involved in preparing tea.
She didn't know what kind of water to use with which tea, what temperature to use, or how many times to brew it.
However, when Wang Yan tasted the lotus-scented tea made by the other party, she was immediately amazed by how delicious it was.
I hurriedly asked how to make it, took a whole lotus bud, put some green tea leaves inside the flower core and tied it up.
After one night, pour out the green tea and brew it with slightly cooled hot water.
With its delicate and lingering fragrance, the first thing you notice when you pick up the cup is the subtle aroma of lotus blossoms, followed by a sweet aftertaste. Enjoying a cup of this tea on a summer's day is truly fitting.
Last night, Aunt Xia prepared a meal, but the Madam and the Second Master didn't eat much of it, so she was a little uneasy today.
"Sister Sun, why don't you help draft the menu? What are the preferences of the old master, the madam, and the young master and young lady? I'd like to help you out."
Aunt Xia remained calm and showed no intention of arguing with Aunt Sun.
After all, they'll only be here for a few months and won't threaten my position.
Moreover, by cultivating a good relationship with Granny Sun and finding out the master's preferences, one might be able to squeeze out more money and get some rewards during these few months.
Grandma Sun was very satisfied with her sensible nature; a cooperative relationship without any conflicts was the best possible outcome.
The two of them worked together to prepare a nourishing and refreshing meal. Lady Hou ate two pieces of plum goose and drank a bowl of perilla porridge.
Then he saw Qingqian bring out freshly made plum and yam cakes. After tasting them, he praised them and gave both cooks a reward.
When Qingqian went to deliver the reward money, Rongnan, the second steward of the villa, happened to come to deliver lotus seeds and lotus pods that would be needed the next day.
His eyes flickered when he saw the two purses Qingqian brought over.
In the capital, Granny Zhou took four kinds of fruit with her during her vacation and went to Willow Lane.
She was much more cunning than that idiot Gu Ting; she deliberately went to the Yang family's house while Jiang Lanling was out buying groceries.
I pushed the door latch; it wasn't locked. Nowadays, people rarely go back to their homes when they go out.
Uncle Yang then explained to the neighbors who had come with him that Granny Zhou was sent by his younger sister to visit.
After Zhou Mama went in, she put the four kinds of fruit she was carrying on the table and conveyed Aunt Yang's meaning word by word without missing a single detail.
Uncle Yang felt a chill run down his spine. "If it weren't for my reluctance to deal with her, it would be because Lingniang is the one who keeps all the household accounts."
Granny Zhou scoffed, "What are you saying, Uncle?"
When you delivered the accounts to the government two years ago, didn't you say that after Jiang discovered what kind of "business" you were doing, she refused to help with the records anymore and almost took the previous accounts to the authorities?
It was our second master who sent people to collect the accounts you tore up. You were furious at the time and were cursing the Jiang family.
This old servant is standing right here!
Uncle Yang was speechless, his lips trembling as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.
Granny Zhou glanced at him and said, "It was only after Aunt Yang went through a lot of trouble that you were able to get this job, Master.
Please be aware that if anything goes wrong, not only will the concubine not be spared, but even the Second Master will not forgive you!
Be quick and efficient, and clean it up properly. Don't let your aunt worry anymore.
Uncle Yang grew increasingly frightened as he listened; what if the anger spilled over onto him? That would be terrible.
With a determined look, she said, "Don't worry, Granny. My daughter will be getting married soon. At that time, Madam Jiang will be so exhausted that she might fall ill and die!"
Granny Zhou raised the corner of her mouth slightly, nodded in satisfaction, and swaggered back home.
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