Chapter 11 V2 : The Past She Cannot Avoid (2/2)

Seeing her actions, Servant Jian and the two ‘culprits’ felt even more ashamed. Clenching her teeth, Servant Jian spoke generously. “Young Mistress, these two servants could not stay out of trouble at such an important occasion. However Young Mistress would like to punish them, please instruct and this old servant will carry it out unconditionally!”

Deep down, Servant Jian screamed about her unluckiness. The only way to ease Sang Wan’s mind would be to give her the reins. That way, not only would it provide Sang Wan with an opportunity to let off some steam and feel better, it would also save herself from Sang Wan’s anger.

“Oh? You’ll do as I say unconditionally?” Sang Wan raised her eyebrow and smiled faintly at Servant Jian.

Servant Jian’s heart began to beat loudly and she suddenly felt a little regretful of what she had just said. However, since the words had already left her mouth, she had to bite the bullet and she nodded without a choice. “Yes, Young Mistress, this old servant will do so unconditionally!”

Sang Wan smirked and spoke to the two frightened servants who were kneeling on the ground. “The two of you can relax now! I can see that you’re both honest servants, and since this is nothing but a small accident, I shall not punish the two of you!”

The two servants were bewildered and gazed at each other as if they had heard wrongly.

The kitchen staff and Servant Jian heaved a big sigh of relief. With a big grin, Servant Jian laughed. “Why are both of you still kneeling? Stand up quickly, or are you waiting for Young Mistress to help you up?” With that, she turned to Sang Wan and smiled, “Thank you, Young Mistress, for your kindness! Our Young Mistress is truly big-hearted!”

“Thank you, Young Mistress, for your kindness!” The two knocked into each other’s head while climbing onto their feet and laughed as if waking up from a nightmare.

Sang Wan’s gaze returned to Servant Jian and she smiled. “They may be able to get off the hook, but being the head of the kitchen, that shouldn’t be the case for you. Am I right?”

“Young Mistress, that…” Servant Jian’s relieved heart tightened once again. Her eyes widened as she stared at Sang Wan and a bitter taste gathered in her mouth.

Just what was the meaning of this? Never had there been anyone who let a sinning maidservant off but punished the overseer! The kitchen staff, and the two servants who had been spared, stared at Sang Wan in disbelief.

Sang Wan smiled, “As for the punishment, it’s very simple. You’ve been working in the kitchen for many years, am I right?” Seeing Servant Jian nod, she went on, “Then in the future, I would like to have you teach me how to cook some of the other dishes. As a daughter-in-law, I ought to respect and serve both my mother-in-law and my husband well. For that, Servant Jian, will you teach me?”

“Āiyō, Young Mistress!” The moment Lady Jian heard her punishment, her expression relaxed and she patted her chest. With a smile, she laughed, “Young Mistress, your joke went a little too far; it almost scared this old servant to death! Of course I will. Any time Young Mistress comes to the kitchen, this old servant is willing to teach! As for Young Master and Old Mistress’s preferences and tastes, this old servant knows them like the back of my hand!”

“Young Mistress truly is filial!”

“Yes! Very virtuous!”

After the bad fright, the atmosphere loosened up and everyone could not help but started laughing.

Sang Wan followed and laughed before she waved her hand and spoke, “Enough. Everyone, please return to your work! It is almost time for the dishes to be served. Servant Jian, please oversee the distribution!”

“Rest assured, Young Mistress!” Servant Jian laughed.

Sang Wan smiled and nodded. After today’s incident, at the very least no one would dare to use any underhanded methods today, and even if that person was determined to do so, an opportunity would be hard to come by.

The table was set and the twelve dishes, together with a soup, were served neatly onto the table. In a corner sat Wang Shi, Shi Fengju, Shi Lian, and Gu Fangzi; the Second Shi family members were not present. Shi Fengju’s younger brother, Shi Fenghua, who studied in Yuanchang Academy, had returned for two days and had gone back to the academy after yesterday’s tea ceremony.

Sang Wan stood beside Wang Shi. She held a clean pair of silver-clad chopsticks in one hand and a white plate in the other; she was ready to attend to her mother-in-law. The two dishes that she had personally prepared were placed directly in front of Wang Shi.

Wang Shi had already caught wind that Gu Fangzi had told her daughter-in-law that she liked winter melon soup. But after glancing across the table, she did not see any winter melon soup. Because of that, she felt a little displeased.

To deliberately not make her favorite dish even though Sang Wan knew what it was. Just what was the meaning of this?

Originally, Sang Wan had planned to find a suitable time for her to justify her actions. However, upon seeing Wang Shi’s displeased expression, she cast that idea aside. Seizing the opportunity was of importance!

“Mother, your daughter-in-law had originally prepared the steamed mandarin fish and your favorite winter melon soup! However, because of a careless maidservant, the winter melon soup was knocked over! For that, it is my fault for not being careful! As such, this daughter-in-law has hurriedly prepared a bean curd with Chinese mahogany dish. Why don’t Mother have a taste to see whether the dish is to your liking?”

“Bean curd with Chinese mahogany?” Wang Shi’s attention was suddenly piqued. Glancing at the plate next to the steamed mandarin fish, she smiled. “Oh, is this it? Hēhē, from where did you get Chinese mahogany shoots in this season? But now that you’ve aroused my tastebuds, I’m starting to yearn for some bean curd with Chinese mahogany!”

“Mother, have a taste!” Seeing the big grin on Wang Shi’s face and that Wang Shi did not mention about the winter melon soup, Sang Wan understood that she had successfully overcome an ordeal. As she conversed, she carefully placed the pair of chopsticks on top of Wang Shi’s plate.

Wang Shi turned her head slightly to have a look at her daughter-in-law before smiling and picking up the chopsticks to have a taste of the dish. As she chewed, her eyes suddenly glistened and she nodded. “Not bad! Not bad! A bean curd with Chinese mahogany dish! Come, the lot of you, have a taste and tell me whether the taste is right!”

Once Wang Shi was elated, none dared to kill off that happiness in her. Tasting the dish with their chopsticks, they smiled and nodded.

“This sure is a mystery! Where did the mahogany shoots come from? Sang Wan, why don’t you explain to us how you made it?” Wang Shi asked teasingly.