Chapter 34 (2/2)

“Why would I? Sister Jingyi’s is good with her hands!” Sang Wan giggled and she fixed her gaze at the deep-fried golden rectangular pastry that was served on a white porcelain dish. They were each about two inches long and looked very delicate and lovely. It did not take long before the rich aroma began to drift along with the steam and into her nose.

Second s.h.i.+ family’s Young Mistress smiled and invited Sang Wan to have a taste. Sang Wan skillfully used the small chopstick that was in a small silver pouch beside the pastry and had a taste of the pastry before nodding her head with praise, “The outside is crisp and tender, sweet but not too greasy. Amidst that sweetness is also a little bit of sourness. But what’s best of this would be how the fire was controlled just right so that there’s no charred taste. This deep-fried milk custard truly is flavorsome!”

Deep-fried milk custard uses fresh milk that is curdled into cheese. The cheese is carefully cut into smaller pieces before being bathed in flour to form a thin layer covering the cheese. Once done, the cheese is then deep fried until golden brown. Cheese is a staple for the gra.s.sland people but is rarely seen eaten by people from the South.

Without even thinking, Sang Wan recognized it.

Second s.h.i.+ family’s Young Mistress was surprised and she laughed, “It seems Sister Sang Wan has eaten this before! There I thought I was the only one who knew of this and wanted to show off a little!”

Sang Wan shook her head and laughed, “I’ve only seen them in books, but I’ve never eaten them before! Sister Jingyi truly is good with her hands!”

Second s.h.i.+ family’s Young Mistress giggled, “Sister Sang Wan’s feedback is right on point, truly from a literary household. What’s more, I heard that Sister Sang Wan’s culinary skills are also very good; Sister Sang Wan, when will you let me have a taste of it to broaden my vision?”

Sang Wan did not reject with an excuse but smiled and nodded, “If it doesn’t meet your expectations, you mustn’t laugh!” Before marriage, she had learned many main course recipes, making pastries, and cooking porridge and soup. As for those sort of pastries which she saw in the collection of books she had, she had secretly tried making them herself and their end results were not too bad.

“Why would it not? I would even want Sister Sang Wan to give me some cooking lessons!” Second s.h.i.+ family’s Young Mistress spoke. The two looked at each other and smiled.

After sitting for a while longer, Sang Wan then took her leave. Second s.h.i.+ family’s Young Mistress followed her before seeing her off at the gate where they both said their goodbyes.

“Second Young Mistress, why didn’t you raise it up?” Gazing at the back of Sang Wan and her servant as they left, Su Qing softly asked.

Second Young Mistress sighed shook her head, “I just couldn’t! Tell me, how should I even put those to words!”

Second Young Mistress could not help but feel a little sympathetic towards Sang Wan. Such a calm and smart, gentle and generous person; why doesn’t her husband like her? That Gu Fangzi is unkind and sarcastic, and greasy to all, who deserves no consideration for her words!

“But Second Young Mistress, how are you going to explain to Second Old Mistress?” Su Qing could not help but worry.

Second Young Mistress sneered, “I won’t!” If that lady herself did not have the face to do it and push that task onto her shoulders, did she think she was so foolish? In any case, this household felt nothing like home which even she did not wish to stay!

Back in Ning Garden, Nanny Li heard that Sang Wan had returned after meeting with Second s.h.i.+ family’s Young Mistress. She knit her brows and went to find an opportunity to speak with Sang Wan when no one was around, “Young Mistress, I’d advise you to meet with Second Young Mistress less frequently; largely because Old Mistress finds her ominous!”

“Ominous?” Sang Wan asked in surprise.

“Yes,” Nanny Li nodded and continued, “Old Mistress felt that since Second Young Mistress was unable to hold onto Second Young Master, who ran away from home the moment she entered the household, she was seen as an ominous person. Young Mistress, if you’re idle, it’d be best to interact less with her!”

How could she have been blamed? Sure enough, one’s son is always right and the wrong is always on others!

Sang Wan heart was in disapproval and deeply rejected the advice. However, she knew that Nanny Li said so with good intentions and thus nodded, “I understand. In the future, I’ll try to interact less frequently with her. Oh, one more thing, Nanny, there’s something I’d like to ask for your opinion, but I’m afraid that——”

Nanny Li laughed, “Young Mistress, there’s no need to see me as a stranger. If you’ve something to ask, just bring it out! Being able to share part of Young Mistress’s worry is a blessing to this old servant. If not, we can also come up with a solution!”

“Nanny’s right!” Sang Wan smiled and the color on her face returned, “Today, when I went to visit Sister Jingyi, I had this feeling that she seemed to have something to tell me. But since she did not say anything, I did not ask. However, my heart——”

Before Sang Wan was able to finish, Nanny Li clapped her hands and interrupted, “If I may! Second Young Mistress would usually never go about interacting with others. If she had invited you over, then it seems there must be something! Young Mistress, don’t take things too hastily; this old servant will have someone inquire about it!”

“Then, I’ll leave it to Nanny Li!” Sang Wan suddenly felt at ease. With Nanny Li’s position in the household and her seniority, inquiring about matters was an easy task for her.

Nanny Li was no doubt truly quick and efficient in her task. On the same night, she was back with the news.

“This matter is truly difficult to put into words!” Nanny Li’s face was ashen yet angry. “Second Old Master, from G.o.d knows where, had heard of the incident between Liu Ya and the white c.o.c.katoo. As such, he asked for Second Old Mistress to have Young Mistress hand Liu Ya over to him! He also said that Liu Ya would definitely be treated well, and for Young Mistress’s well-being, she shall become his concubine the moment she goes there! But because Second Old Mistress did not have the face to ask Young Mistress, she had Second Young Mistress do it instead! Today, Second Young Mistress asked you over was to discuss this matter! However, she too found it inappropriate to ask and thus did not say anything!”

Hearing so, Sang Wan felt as if her whole body had fallen into a hole during winter; cold and stiff.

At last, what she had tried to prevent still came!

She still remembered the incident that had happened in her past life. On a day when Second Old Master was drunk in the flower garden, he forcefully preyed on Liu Ya who was just pa.s.sing by. After that, Liu Ya could not stop crying. However, what was done was already done and she had to stay by Second Old Master’s side.

But to Second Old Master, Liu Ya was nothing but just a temporary plaything. Had he ever truly fancied her?

As an uncle who forced himself upon a servant of his nephew’s wife was not a glorious thing to do. Second Old Mistress could not let things be and poured dirty water all over Liu Ya and saying that she was shameless for seducing her husband. She even brought that anger up to Sang Wan, complaining to her about how she never disciplined her own servant. As a result, Sang Wan received a long lesson from her mother-in-law and kneeled for a whole night, and as for her punishment, she was confined for three whole months in her chamber.

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