Bai Ruozhu found Wu Wanqing’s laughter somewhat grating, which mentally agitated her. However, she was not the type to lose her temper easily. Taking a quiet deep breath, she replied towards Wu Wanqing with a smile, "Indeed, nothing much."
The two women then walked together into the Kitchen. Wu Wanqing ordered the kitchen maid to prepare a few dishes she wanted to eat and then said, "Miss Bai also wishes to prepare a few dishes, please provide her with whatever assistance she requires."
The kitchen maid quickly agreed but covertly glanced at Bai Ruozhu with a disdainful expression. She probably considered the kitchen her territory and viewed Bai Ruozhu as an intruder.
Bai Ruozhu observed this but chose not to argue with the kitchen maid. After all, she was just there to make a few dishes, why bother about the attitudes of the people in the Wu Residence?
Once she had given her orders, Wu Wanqing excused herself and left, as a lady of her class would never sully her hands with kitchen chores, lest she became the subject of mockery.
Ignoring the gazes of the onlookers, Bai Ruozhu didn’t seek any help. She quickly picked out some vegetables and started washing and cutting them. The kitchen maid who was observing her snorted, thinking Bai Ruozhu some common woman as no lady of a noble house would dirty her hands with kitchen chores.
But once Bai Ruozhu started cutting the vegetables, the kitchen maid noticed her proficient technique. She couldn’t help but observe more closely and was astonished to see Bai Ruozhu multitasking efficiently. In a blink of an eye, Bai Ruozhu had used three stoves simultaneously and managed to finish the dishes!
Bai Ruozhu had made three dishes, a soup, and prepared a dim sum. The smell was pleasing, and the dishes looked appetizing, however, the taste was yet to be tested. The kitchen maid was unwilling to concede but these dishes were beyond her reach.
Without paying heed to others, Bai Ruozhu found a food box. She placed the dishes inside one by one and prepared to leave.
"Wait a moment!" the kitchen maid called out.
Bai Ruozhu turned around, assuming that out of face saving, the kitchen maid was having someone else help her carry the food box.
"You can’t use that food box. It is frequently used by the Young Master." the kitchen maid said confidently.
Bai Ruozhu coldly shot her a glance, noticing the hubris in the Wu Residence where even a kitchen maid dared to challenge her. Setting the food box down, she asked, "So which food box can I use?"
The kitchen maid sneered, "Didn’t you know to bring your own box when you came to labor?"
"Which eye of yours saw me laboring here? I refuse to believe that your Young Master lacks even a food box. Alright then, I will just leave the dishes here, and have the Third Master come and collect them himself," Bai Ruozhu said before heading out, revealing her authority.
"As a guest, even if I cannot command a conversation, I refuse to believe that the Third Master will look at the face of a mere kitchen maid." she retorted before exiting.
The kitchen maid turned extremely pale, conflicted about whether her actions would bring disaster to her. Besides, she had not received any particular instructions from the Miss to show deference to Bai Ruozhu due to her status as a guest.
The kitchen wasn’t just manned by a single kitchen maid. There were other staff as well. As Bai Ruozhu approached the door, she loudly declared, "Whoever can carry this food box to the yard of the Third Master can receive this reward of five taels of silver."
As she spoke, she jingled the silver coins in front of everyone.
The peasant woman who had been washing the vegetables came the closest. She quickly rushed forward to pick up the food box, saying excitedly, "Miss, let me carry the box for you. I can’t let you do this sort of work."
Bai Ruozhu turned to smile at the kitchen maid, then leisurely walked away.
Bittered by her actions, the kitchen maid cursed, "Li San’s Wife, don’t you think about setting foot in the kitchen anymore! We don’t need another master in this mansion!"
The woman referred to as Li San’s wife turned around and retorted, "No matter how many masters dwell in this mansion, it’s not your place to decide. Maybe after a while, it will be time to replace the head kitchen maid!" she walked even faster to catch up with Bai Ruozhu and held the food box more firmly in her hands.
Bai Ruozhu found this amusing and gave Li San’s wife another look. This woman was somewhat cunning.
Once in Jiang Yichun’s yard, Bai Ruozhu handed over five taels of silver to Li San’s wife. After expressing her gratitude, she stood politely on the side and asked, "Miss, do you have any other orders?"
Bai Ruozhu smiled and replied, "No, you can get back to your work."
However, Li San’s wife was somewhat hesitant to leave, as she knew that if she returned to the kitchen now, she would be reprimanded by the head kitchen maid.
A crying sound could be heard from the room. Bai Ruozhu rushed inside. The little guy must be hungry by now.
"You go first and start eating. I’ll join you shortly," Bai Ruozhu gestured towards the outside, indicating him not to linger and watch.
Jiang Yichun, who had been sleeping for a while, woke up cheered up. He smiled bashfully at Bai Ruozhu, before obediently heading out. As he stepped out, he noticed a woman he didn’t recognize in the yard. Unlike his gentle demeanor with Bai Ruozhu, he scared Li San’s wife with a single glare.
Li San’s wife quickly helped to move the food box into the main hall. She had heard a child crying and realized that Bai Ruozhu was the Third Master’s wife. Fortunately, she was observant enough to take the right stand.
Of course, the five taels of silver she rewarded was surely the sweetest fruit of her decision!
Jiang Yichun glanced at Li San’s wife and asked, "Are you from the Kitchen? how come I have never seen you before?"
Li San’s wife hurriedly explained the incident in the kitchen, subtly showing her position with her tone.
Jiang Yichun’s face hardened. He had not expected that his woman had been wronged in the kitchen. She was preparing food for him yet she had to tolerate ill treatment.
Summoning his guard, who was present in his yard, he ordered coldly, "Change the head kitchen maid and auction her off after she receives twenty beatings."
Bai Ruozhu, who was inside the room, heard everything clearly. A smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. She didn’t want to stoop to the level of a kitchen maid from someone else’s residence, but if her man didn’t retaliate after her face had been slapped, that would mean he didn’t care about her.
When Bai Ruozhu finished feeding Dengdeng, Li San’s wife had already left, with the food laid out on the table. Jiang Yichun held Dengdeng for her and said, "Hurry up and have your meal, you have worked hard."
Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but laugh, "This is nothing compared to my agricultural background, unlike those delicate young misses."
Holding Dengdeng in one arm, Jiang Yichun used his other hand to serve Bai Ruozhu a piece of ’Three-Cup Chicken’ and said, "I won’t let you do these things once we get married. All these tasks will be done by the servants and you can just cook when you feel like it, but you must not tire yourself."
Upon hearing about their marriage, Bai Ruozhu’s heart fluttered with sweetness. However, she quickly remembered Wu Wanqing’s words and felt a discomfort in her heart, similar to what one would feel when their mouth was stuffed with cotton.
"Your Junior Sister told me that you had lost memory of some period and that you had other women in your life. What exactly happened? I don’t believe others, I just want to hear your side of the story." Bai Ruozhu looked at him and said.