Chapter 78 - Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Either Beating or Scolding (1/2)
Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Either Beating or Scolding
Translator: 549690339
“Yes, she just left for home, and I even let her take that box of cakes with her. I don’t know how happy she must be, letting the nephews try something new. Speaking of which, I really owe you one, Fourth younger sibling. Such fine cakes certainly aren’t cheap, and you just gave them to me,” Mrs. Liu said, her smile widening when talking about her nephews from her mother’s family, much more joyful than when she mentioned Han Baofu from the second branch of the Han Family. It was clear that her relationship with her mother’s family was good; otherwise, Mrs. Liu would not have allowed her eldest sister-in-law from her mother’s family to take the cakes with her.
“It’s just a box of cakes, not worth much. It’s good that your sister-in-law likes them.” As for the cakes, Su Wenyue preferred to eat the ones she made herself. It was only because the Han Family hadn’t yet split the household, and it was inconvenient to do anything, that she had bought several boxes from the county town, but even then, the taste was just mediocre.
In her previous life, with her culinary skills, apart from what she made herself, only the pastries from the biggest cake shop in Chang’an City, Gourmet Vegetarian Restaurant, met her standards. The truth was that most of the truly good pastry chefs were employed in large mansions. Back then, as a concubine, Su Wenyue rarely had the chance to visit other mansions, not to mention truly prestigious households, which looked down on a concubine of her low status. It would be disrespectful to the host if such a person was brought along.
Nevertheless, to humor her, since he knew she liked those treats, sometimes he would specifically bring back some pastries. After she tasted and analyzed them, she could make most of them, and sometimes even improve the taste. He ate them with delight, and sometimes she even suspected that he brought the pastries just to satisfy his own cravings.
What mattered was not the reason. In her previous life, she learned so many things just to please him, not only to survive better but also as a distraction from the loneliness in the large and deserted mansion. It could even be seen as a pastime; otherwise, she feared she might go mad from regret and solitude.
“Fourth Daughter-in-law, Fourth Daughter-in-law, what are you thinking about, so engrossed?” Mrs. Liu said after speaking for a long time before realizing Su Wenyue had been lost in thought.
“Oh, it’s nothing, just remembered something for a moment. Sister-in-law, you came to see me for something, right?” Su Wenyue saw that Mrs. Liu was beating around the bush with flattery and praise, which bored her, and she preferred to be forthright and have Mrs. Liu get to the point. That way, she could focus on her embroidery in peace. Besides, she was feeling rather down at the moment and didn’t have the patience to listen to Mrs. Liu’s rambling.
“Ah, well, Fourth Daughter-in-law, I do indeed have a favor to ask you, but I’m not quite sure how to approach it.” Upon hearing Su Wenyue’s words, a rare look of difficulty appeared on Mrs. Liu’s face, the consistent requests from her eldest sister-in-law putting her in a bind.
“We are sisters-in-law; there’s nothing we can’t talk about. Sister-in-law, just be direct with me. I’ll do my best to help if I can, and if I can’t, I hope you’ll understand,” Su Wenyue said, seeing Mrs. Liu’s troubled expression and uncertain what the issue might be, preferring to get things clear up front.