Chapter 103: Kindness
Qiu Rongrong was completely amused by her childish and funny words.
After joking around for a bit, Wen Yao asked Qiu Rongrong to have someone take her to the kitchen. What she planned to make was a bit complicated, so it was better to start early.
Before leaving, Wen Yao made another request. “Madam, could you send someone to Jishi Hall to tell my father and the others? I’m afraid they’ll worry if they wait too long.”
Qiu Rongrong nodded. “I will.”
Only then did Wen Yao leave with the servants. Qiu Rongrong watched her until she disappeared from sight, then murmured softly, “Even an outsider can see the heaviness in my heart and tries to cheer me up with playful antics…”
She gave a bitter smile. Yet the man who shared her bed only urged her to be magnanimous, to understand filial piety and family harmony.
Although Qiu Rongrong couldn’t personally watch Wen Yao cook, she had people keeping an eye on the kitchen. When she heard that such a young girl truly had remarkable culinary skills, she was surprised—after all, Wen Yao was only ten.
After noon, someone arrived from the Old Madam’s residence.
It was one of the Old Madam’s personal maids, whom Wen Yao recognized.
After entering, the maid bowed to Qiu Rongrong and said, “Madam, the Old Madam has eaten. Of the four dishes served today, she ate more than half and had an excellent appetite. She sent me to ask where this cook was found and said the cook should stay in the residence from now on.”
Wen Yao had been waiting there for the result. Hearing the first part, she relaxed. Whether the Old Madam truly lacked appetite or had simply wanted to trouble Madam Xie, Wen Yao was confident in her dishes.
One dish was stuffed cabbage with minced meat—tender, juicy, and easy to chew even for someone without teeth.
Another was Four Happiness Meatballs, again meat-based, with her secret sauce. Back at the Agricultural Academy in her previous life, every elderly professor had praised these meatballs as delicious and easy to eat.
For dessert, she made a simple steamed cake—the same one she made at home for Luo Shi and the others—but since the Xie family was wealthy and had many ingredients, she upgraded it into a “perfect” deluxe steamed cake.
Finally, there was a bowl of amomum pork rib soup. The ribs were blanched to remove impurities, simmered with ginger and cooking wine, with fried coix seeds, softened dried tangerine peel, and crushed amomum simmered together for an hour.
Before the dishes were served, Wen Yao specifically told the serving maids to let the Old Madam drink the soup first. It stimulated the appetite, so eating the rest afterward was no surprise.
But the last sentence the maid had said made Wen Yao feel uncomfortable.
She stayed silent. The maid noticed her, paused briefly, then looked away, assuming she had simply been privately invited again as thanks for saving the young master.
Qiu Rongrong’s expression remained calm and unreadable. After a moment, the maid grew impatient and called, “Madam?”
Qiu Rongrong dusted her sleeves casually and said, “That isn’t for me to decide. We must ask the cook herself.”
She turned to Wen Yao. “Miss Wen, would you be willing to stay in the residence?”
Wen Yao raised an eyebrow. She wasn’t foolish.
“Sorry, Madam Xie, I’m afraid I can’t. My family needs me at home.”
Qiu Rongrong glanced at the maid and added, “If you stay, I won’t treat you poorly. Twenty taels of silver per month.”
Twenty taels… She did need the money—but selling her freedom for it wasn’t worth it. There were many ways to earn money.
“Sorry.” Just two words, but Qiu Rongrong understood.
Although surprised, she found it reasonable. Wen Yao was young yet decisive, and her brother was Doctor Jin’s disciple—a background Qiu Rongrong knew well.
“Then forget it,” she said regretfully. “You heard her. She’s unwilling.”
The maid frowned and said, “Madam, the Old Madam rarely regains her appetite. Please consider her health. Only then can the Master focus on teaching the young master.”
Her tone sounded calm, but the threat was obvious.
Qiu Rongrong frowned again, her eyes apologetic and troubled.
Wen Yao sighed. Despite her status, Madam Xie’s hardships were clear.
Thinking of the original story, Xie Anyi would later become wealthy thanks to his maternal family’s support, yet the Xie family would reap the benefits. The Qiu family would rarely be mentioned.
Shaking off her thoughts, Wen Yao said, “But I can come every few days to help improve the Old Madam’s meals.”
The maid still seemed dissatisfied, but Qiu Rongrong gave Wen Yao a grateful look and said coolly, “You heard her. Report back to the Old Madam.”
The maid wanted to argue, but Qiu Rongrong cut her off. “You may leave. I’m tired.”
After she left, Qiu Rongrong relaxed and took Wen Yao’s hand. “Thank you.”
She knew Wen Yao had helped her out of a difficult situation.
Wen Yao raised the five taels of silver and smiled. “Madam already paid me.”
Qiu Rongrong laughed.
After laughing together for a moment, Wen Yao asked casually, “Where is the young master? I haven’t seen him.”
