After hearing the shop assistant's words, Jiang Yuwei finally understood why Manager Li had been acting so strangely today. It was Ge's Paper Shop's doing again. Did they really see her as a thorn in their side? She would make them understand that if they messed with Jiang Yuwei, they would have kicked a hornet's nest.
Jiang Yuwei thanked the shop assistant and urged Ning Huaizhi to hurry to the Xu residence. Manager Li had wasted too much of her time, and if they didn't hurry, they might not have time to cook lunch.
Ning Daya looked at the truckload of papers with a worried expression:
"Sister Yuwei, you said that Ge's Paper Shop has been targeting us like this. What are we going to do in the future? Does this mean we won't be able to sell any of our paper?"
Jiang Yuwei waved her hand and said:
"It doesn't matter. Paper isn't food, it won't spoil. We can just sell it slowly, there'll always be a way."
Jiang Yuwei was racking her brains trying to figure out what to do with the papers when Ning Huaizhi had already driven the oxcart to the gate of the Xu residence. Steward Zhang was pacing anxiously back and forth at the gate with his hands behind his back. He looked up and saw Jiang Yuwei, and quickly stepped forward to say:
"Yuwei, why are you only arriving at this hour? Hurry up and go to the kitchen to prepare the dishes."
Jiang Yuwei nodded and was about to leave with Ning Daya when Steward Zhang called her back:
"Yuwei, why do you have so much paper in your car?"
Jiang Yuwei turned around and smiled:
"To be honest, Steward Zhang, I have a paper mill at home, and we make all this paper ourselves."
Manager Zhang nodded, stepped forward, and reached out to touch the paper:
"Yuwei, your paper is very well made. How much is it per ream? I want to buy some, as we don't have enough paper for today's poetry gathering."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuwei's eyes lit up, and she quickly waved her hand, saying:
"I won't sell this paper; I'll sponsor all the paper for today's poetry gathering!"
Manager Zhang looked up in confusion and asked:
"sponsor?"
Jiang Yuwei smiled and handed ten reams of Yuwei paper to Steward Zhang:
"Manager Zhang, this paper is called Yuwei paper. Please take it in for them to use. I won't accept payment, but if they ask about it, please inform those scholars that the paper is called Yuwei paper."
Manager Zhang understood Jiang Yuwei's meaning and nodded with a smile:
"Okay, I understand. Don't worry, Yuwei, I will explain the matter of you delivering the paper to our second young master."
Jiang Yuwei enjoyed talking to intelligent people like Steward Zhang. Seemingly remembering something, she quickly returned to the oxcart and retrieved a piece of gold-flecked paper and a piece of floral paper, handing them to Steward Zhang.
"Manager Zhang, there is one more thing I need to trouble you with. My gold powder paper and floral paper are very unique and one of a kind. Only our family's paper mill can make this kind of paper. So I would like to ask you to tell the second young master to ask the first and second place winners of today's poetry gathering to write their poems on these two pieces of paper respectively."
Manager Zhang bowed his head, took the paper from Jiang Yuwei, examined it carefully, and nodded repeatedly.
"Excellent, excellent paper! It's truly unique. I'll go tell the second young master right away; he'll definitely love it!"
Steward Zhang took the paper and went into the mansion to find the second young master. Jiang Yuwei took Ning Daya to the kitchen of the Xu mansion.
As soon as Jiang Yuwei entered the door, she was met with Granny Li's reluctant face:
"We really can't understand what Steward Zhang is thinking. He has a cook in his own house, but he insists on hiring some random people from outside to cook for his distinguished guests."
Jiang Yuwei glanced at Granny Li sideways, then walked past her, saying indifferently:
"If you can't figure it out, then don't think about it. What could your pig brain possibly figure out?"
Just as Granny Li was about to start cursing, Sun Zhaodi, who had followed behind her, shoved her aside with her buttocks:
"A good dog doesn't block the way. Don't cause any more trouble today. If you delay serving the food, see how I complain to Madam. If you think you didn't get a beating last time, then go ahead and cause more trouble!"
Old Lady Li wanted to argue back, but when she thought about how the lady had punished her last time, she felt that her bottom still hurt. So she had no choice but to grit her teeth and swallow her anger, spitting hard on the ground before going about her business.
Seeing that she had driven away Granny Li, Sun Zhaodi, as if seeking credit, shoved Ning Daya, who was following behind Jiang Yuwei, aside:
"Sister Yuwei, don't be afraid of that old woman Li. She's just a paper tiger who's all bark and no bite. With me watching her, she can't cause any trouble!"
Jiang Yuwei glanced back at Sun Zhaodi, nodded slightly, and then ignored her.
Seeing this, Sun Zhaodi quickly moved closer to Jiang Yuwei and said with a smile:
"Sister Yuwei, Manager Zhang has assigned me to help you again today. Just tell me what tasks you need."
Jiang Yuwei looked at Sun Zhaodi and said calmly:
"Wash the vegetables first, then come and start the fire. Be quick."
Manager Zhang had specifically instructed Jiang Yuwei that since there would be many people today, she had prepared twenty dishes: spicy crayfish, pounded pepper and preserved egg, flavored eggplant, candied sweet potato, sweet and sour pork, honey-glazed chicken wings, Longjing shrimp, braised lion's head meatballs, stir-fried pork slices, Kung Pao chicken, spicy chicken, braised fish, steamed cabbage rolls, cold bean sprouts, cold shredded vegetables, tiger skin chicken feet, spicy pig's trotters, steamed egg with minced meat, tomato and dumpling soup, and a grand slam of tofu pudding.
Some of the ingredients for the dishes were prepared and brought by Jiang Yuwei from home, while Ning Daya could help with the preparation of other dishes. Sun Zhaodi was also observant and did her best to help. So, although there were quite a few dishes to prepare this time, the three of them worked together and finished quickly. This time, Jiang Yuwei was afraid that something might go wrong while serving the dishes, so she simply stayed in the kitchen and let Ning Daya and Sun Zhaodi be in charge of serving the dishes.
Jiang Yuwei finally breathed a sigh of relief after watching all the dishes being served.
At this moment, Manager Zhang also arrived at the kitchen:
"Yuwei, you've worked so hard today. I see you've prepared many new dishes, and our Madam is very pleased with them. Come with me to the front hall and wait until the guests have finished their meal before you collect your reward. If you have the chance, you can also introduce your Yuwei paper. Several scholars asked me about the origin of that paper today, and I explained it to them all."
Jiang Yuwei was deeply moved to see that Manager Zhang had truly taken her words to heart, and thanked him repeatedly.
"Thank you very much, Steward Zhang. Yuwei will never forget your kindness today. Please feel free to ask me for anything in the future."
Manager Zhang waved his hand and smiled:
"It's nothing, just a small favor. The second young master really liked the Yuwei paper you sent today, and I praised it too. In fact, I should thank you. I only ask that if my master wants to try your cooking again in the future, please don't refuse when I invite you."
Jiang Yuwei smiled and said:
"It is my honor to be appreciated by such a distinguished person, and I will certainly not refuse."
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