“Look at this pomegranate tree out front it’s grown so well this year, and its blossoms are so large and full!”
As they stepped outside, Cook Chen stared in amazement at the tree standing before their courtyard.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yun Sui wandered around the area, and soon spotted a few mushrooms pushing up through a patch of thick, lush grass.
Their caps had already broken through the soil. Grunting softly, Jiang Yun Sui dug at the earth with her small hands.
Before long, a mushroom cap even wider than her own little face emerged into view.
“Goodness me how did a mushroom grow this big?”
Cook Chen crouched down beside her. “Careful, don’t dig with your bare hands you might hurt yourself. Let me do it.”
She fetched a small hoe and began working the soil gently around the mushroom’s cap. To her surprise, its roots ran deep and spread out quite wide.
“Why, these are premium edible mushrooms!”
A wide, delighted smile spread across Cook Chen’s face. These were a rare delicacy tender, flavorful, and hard to come by in the wild.
“There are more over there!” Jiang Yun Sui pointed eagerly to another spot.
Cook Chen hoed away again, and in the end, they harvested five fine specimens, every one large and plump.
“I’ll take these to Chef Liu,” she said happily. “He’ll give us some silver in exchange, and with that money, I’ll sew you a whole new set of clothes.”
Jiang Yun Sui stared longingly at the mushrooms she really wanted to eat them herself. But seeing how excited Cook Chen was, already talking about what color fabric to buy and what style of dress to make, she sighed inwardly. Never mind, she thought. I’ll just try harder and grow more mushrooms next time.
Cook Chen carefully arranged the mushrooms in a wicker basket and covered them with a cloth.
As they walked toward the Young Lord’s quarters, she fretted nonstop. “Your foot is still hurt, and you’re limping. What if you accidentally bump into the Young Lord and get punished?”
“Yet it wouldn’t look good to ask for time off on only your second day of duty…”
Jiang Yun Sui shook her head firmly. “It’s fine! I can do it!”
Nothing could stop her from going to Ji Yan’an’s place especially not when she had realized one thing: the food served there was the most delicious in the whole estate. And Ji Yan’an ate so very little of it. That meant it was only right for her to step in and help finish it off!
As they walked, two figures came toward them. Jiang Yun Sui immediately tightened her grip on Cook Chen’s hand one of them was the same woman she had tripped the day before.
Aunt Zhou stood blocking their path, her daughter right beside her.
“Cook Chen, you certainly go to great lengths for this little girl,” Aunt Zhou sneered. “But then again, with your husband gone and your own children dead, you must be looking for someone to rely on. Otherwise, when your time comes, there won’t even be anyone left to weep at your grave.”
Cook Chen had served in the Ji household in the northern frontier for three years, and everyone knew her story. That was why Aunt Zhou had struck straight at her most vulnerable point.
Though her temper flared, Cook Chen was not one to be bullied.
“Since Steward Li entrusted her to my care, it is only right that I treat her well,” she replied sharply. “Besides, this child is capable enough only four years old, and already chosen to serve the Young Lord. I heard your daughter also hoped to work in the front courtyard. How is it that she’s still stuck in the kitchen, just chopping vegetables?”
Both Aunt Zhou and her daughter flushed red with rage.
“Hmph! A mere little girl who knows what tricks she used to win the Young Lord’s favor and stay on here,” Aunt Zhou spat. “But don’t get too smug. The younger they are, the more likely they are to stumble and make mistakes. If she slips up, being sent back to the kitchen will be the least of her worries she might even lose her life!”
Even as she spoke, both women looked at Jiang Yun Sui with undisguised envy. The daughter in particular glared at her with such fierce resentment, as if Jiang Yun Sui had stolen the very opportunity meant for her.
Cook Chen handed the basket to Jiang Yun Sui, rolled up her sleeves, and let loose a sharp, scathing tirade at Aunt Zhou.
“Bah! Nothing but filth comes out of your mouth! Your own daughter lacks the skill to get ahead, yet you dare to curse my Yun Sui? Just because your nephew works in the front courtyard, you’ve grown so full of yourself, haven’t you?
If you really had any pull, why hasn’t he gotten your daughter a position there too? You strut around like you own the place, with your nose stuck so high in the air anyone would think you run the entire Ji household!
I earned my post as cook through my own hard work and the respect of the stewards, not by scheming after what belongs to others. And as for your daughter she slathers on rouge and powder every day, flaunting herself like some temptress. Who does she think she’s trying to impress? She claims she wants to be a cook, but everyone can see right through her true intentions…”
Cook Chen was usually gentle and easygoing; no one had ever seen her unleash such a harsh tongue.
Jiang Yun Sui, clutching the basket, stood frozen in shock. Even the passing servants and patrolling guards stopped in their tracks, wide-eyed and stunned.
Aunt Zhou and her daughter turned ashen-faced, their complexions twisted with rage and embarrassment.
Cook Chen’s anger had been building for a long time, but what truly pushed her over the edge was their cruel wish for harm to befall Jiang Yun Sui crossing the one line she would never tolerate.
All her life, her greatest fear had been losing the people she loved. Her husband, her son, and her daughter had all perished in the wars; that pain still haunted her like a nightmare.
Now, Jiang Yun Sui had come into her life. Though they had only known each other a few days, she had already grown to see this sweet, well-behaved little girl as her own child. Hearing Aunt Zhou wish death upon her was more than she could bear.
Jiang Yun Sui, too, straightened her small back as tall as she could and glared fiercely at the pair with her big eyes.
Nasty people! They bullied Aunt Chen yesterday, and today they’re bullying both of us again!
She made up her mind: once she had some free time, she would keep an eye on this family. Whenever she caught them doing something wrong, she would run straight back and tell Aunt Chen.
After letting out all her frustration, Cook Chen took the basket back from Jiang Yun Sui, grasped her hand, and turned to leave.
“Stop right there ”
“Or what? Do you want to start a fight right here?” Cook Chen challenged. “Just remember if Yun Sui is late for her duties, I will have a long, proper talk with Granny Zhou about this incident.”
At that, Aunt Zhou froze in her tracks. Her eyes narrowed into slits, blazing with fury, but she did not dare to press further. Her face shifted through a whole range of ugly expressions before she fell silent.
Cook Chen lifted her chin and marched off with a huff, carrying herself with proud dignity.
Jiang Yun Sui watched her for a moment, then tried to copy her throwing her own small chin up high, trying to look just as haughty. But she forgot all about her sore foot, and the moment she put weight on it, her little face scrunched up in agony.
“Waaah… it hurts…”
Cook Chen quickly knelt down. “Oh dear! Step lightly on that foot, won’t you?”
She picked her up and hurried toward the front quarters, determined not to let her be late. Along the way, she gave her a steady stream of advice and reminders.
Jiang Yun Sui nodded repeatedly, knowing it was all meant for her own good but in truth, she barely took half of it in. Her little mushroom spirit brain could only hold so much information at once.
When they arrived, Cook Chen left her, and Jiang Yun Sui hobbled along slowly until she found Granny Zhou.
Thankfully, it didn’t take long to locate her.
“Granny Zhou, I’ve come for my duties.” She tugged gently at the woman’s sleeve.
“What happened to your foot?” Granny Zhou asked with concern, noticing how she limped.
Jiang Yun Sui’s face fell, and her cheeks puffed out with indignation.
“Someone was being mean to Aunt Chen, so I got angry and stuck out my foot to trip her. But I tripped myself instead, and now my foot hurts.”
Granny Zhou stared at her, lost for words.
“Jiang Yun Sui! If you’re already here, why are you loitering outside? Get in here this instant!”
Ji Yan’an’s sharp, impatient voice rang out from inside the room.
Jiang Yun Sui shrank back, her shoulders hunched she really did not feel like going in.