“She handled the rabbit with such skill, especially the skinning. The pelt came off in one complete piece, without a trace of meat left on it or any damage to the skin.”
Zhou Qinghao asked himself—even if he were to dress a rabbit, he could do it to that standard, but his speed would definitely not match Jiang Tingting’s.
Don’t forget, he was a young general who had fought on the battlefield for years. And Jiang Tingting?
A village girl—how could she have such “handiwork”?
Could it be that Jiang Tingting was an assassin meticulously trained by the imperial court?
But then, an assassin… would she expose herself so carelessly?
Zhou Qinghao truly couldn’t see through this woman named Jiang Tingting.
Zhou’s father let out a cold snort: “The imperial court won’t easily let us father and son go.”
“Your mother and brother have been marked.” Zhou’s father instructed, “Don’t tip them off. Wait for an opportunity, then take your mother and brother away.”
Zhou Qinghao nodded, agreeing with his father’s approach.
Now that his mother had the court’s lackeys around her, he and his father had to be extremely cautious.
Fortunately, they had both disguised themselves, and their refugee identities were solid. As long as they were careful, they wouldn’t be exposed.
“Sister-in-law, the rabbit is washed.” Zhou Qingrui’s voice came from next door.
Zhou Qinghao gritted his teeth in frustration: “Qingrui, that foolish boy—how has he not suspected Jiang Tingting’s identity?”
Zhou’s father shook his head: “Your brother has seen too little of the world. It’s normal for him to lack a bit of vigilance. Your mother might be observing her. After all, if she really is sent by the court, it wouldn’t be good for your mother to refuse outright.”
Zhou’s father trusted his own wife.
Perhaps his wife had already noticed Jiang Tingting’s flaws and was secretly maneuvering around her.
“Regardless, for now, Mother and the others can have a full meal.” Zhou Qinghao sniffed the air, catching the tantalizing aroma of meat from next door. A complex smile spread across his face—both bitter and relieved.
He hadn’t expected his mother and brother to have become so thin.
It seemed this exile had truly put them through hell.
Jiang Tingting, that dog of the court—he’d treat her as if the court had sent her to serve his mother and brother. When the time came to take his mother away, he’d snap that dog’s neck.
A ruthless killing intent flickered in Zhou Qinghao’s eyes.
The food Jiang Tingting cooked was simply too fragrant. Even back when his mother was in the marquis’s mansion, the head chef’s dishes weren’t this enticing.
Zhou Qingrui swallowed hard and whispered, “Mother, sister-in-law’s cooking smells amazing.”
Zhou’s mother agreed: “Your sister-in-law is capable. We must cherish this blessing.”
Zhou Qingrui nodded, taking the lesson to heart.
“Mother, Qingrui, the food is ready.” Jiang Tingting called from the kitchen. Zhou Qingrui immediately got up and went over to help carry the dishes.
Fragrant white rice, crisp greens, a large basin of spicy rabbit dices, and a small bowl of egg drop soup—truly enough to make anyone’s mouth water.
Such a fine meal—Zhou’s mother and Zhou Qingrui hadn’t had anything like it in a very, very long time.
“Mother, Qingrui, try my cooking.” Jiang Tingting said with a beaming smile.
“Alright, alright.” Zhou’s mother responded repeatedly, picking up a piece of rabbit and putting it in her mouth. Instantly, her eyes lit up.
This time she could be certain—it wasn’t just her imagination from going so long without good food. Jiang Tingting’s culinary skill truly surpassed even their marquis’s mansion head chef.
“Delicious, absolutely delicious.” Zhou’s mother said excitedly.
Seeing that Zhou’s mother enjoyed her cooking, Jiang Tingting smiled happily: “Mother, if you like it, eat as much as you want.”
Every time she transmigrated into a mission world, she gave her all to learn new skills.
Cooking was just one of her many abilities.
Speaking of cooking, Jiang Tingting couldn’t help but think of a certain someone. Knowing she loved pastries, he had trained himself into a pastry master.
There wasn’t a single Chinese or Western pastry he couldn’t make.
What she was doing now for Zhou’s mother—what was that compared to it?
He had been so good to her, and now that he was gone, she would make sure Zhou’s mother and Zhou Qingrui lived in utter happiness.
That way, he could rest easy.
Jiang Tingting pressed her lips into a smile: “Mother, Qingrui, eat up.”
“Alright.” Zhou’s mother agreed and began eating.
Zhou Qingrui curiously picked up a piece with his chopsticks. He wanted to see if his sister-in-law’s cooking was really that good, or if his mother was exaggerating.
The moment the rabbit entered his mouth, Zhou Qingrui felt his mother had lied.
She hadn’t fully captured just how sublime this rabbit was!
It was absolutely incredible!
So delicious that he could swallow his own tongue—so fragrant.
Zhou Qingrui and Zhou’s mother feasted heartily. Watching them eat with such joy, Jiang Tingting felt a warm sweetness in her heart.
“Sister…” A faint voice came from beyond the wicker fence.
Zhou’s mother and Zhou Qingrui paused their chopsticks and looked over.
A flicker of cold mockery passed through Jiang Tingting’s eyes, but she remained composed, urging Zhou’s mother and the others: “Mother, keep eating. That’s my younger sister. I’ll go have a word with her and be right back.”
“Go on.” Zhou’s mother said, but she still kept a watchful eye on Jiang Tingting as she walked away.
She had met Jiang Tingting’s younger sister before—delicate and frail, very good at putting on airs. During her time in the capital, she had seen plenty of such lowly concubines and daughters of concubines who couldn’t hold their own in polite society.
Jiang Tingting didn’t open the courtyard gate but walked over to the wicker fence and asked, “Is something the matter?”
Jiang Zhenniang clutched at the hem of her clothes, her eyes rimmed with red as she said, “Sister, please come home and take a look. Mother and Grandmother are fighting, Little Brother is crying, and Father is feeling awful…”
“What good would it do if I went back?” Jiang Tingting asked curiously. “If Mother and Grandmother are fighting, it’s only because Mother can’t sell me to the matchmaker for silver to send Daniu to school.”
“Daniu is crying, Father is upset—when it comes down to it, it’s all about money. When I married, I didn’t bring a single coin of dowry, not even a tattered set of clothes. What could I do if I went back?”
Jiang Zhenniang bit her lip anxiously: “Sister, I heard that your husband’s family gave Grandmother five taels of silver as a betrothal gift. Look, the money for Daniu’s schooling isn’t much—could you ask your mother-in-law to pay his tuition in advance?”
Jiang Tingting smiled.
Jiang Zhenniang hadn’t changed one bit.
She still loved playing the pitiful victim, being generous with other people’s money.
In her past life, she had been fooled by Jiang Zhenniang time and again. But having gone through so many worlds, she had long forgotten what the word “soft-hearted” meant. How could she fall for Jiang Zhenniang’s tricks again?
“Zhenniang, I know you’re a filial girl. You see Mother and Grandmother arguing, Daniu crying, and Father feeling miserable, and you can’t stand it, right? You don’t want everyone to be upset, do you?” Jiang Tingting asked, sounding moved.
Jiang Zhenniang nodded vigorously: “Yes, sister. I’ve run out of options. If I had any way, I’d want to earn silver too, but…”
Jiang Zhenniang sniffled: “I’ve never been good at work since I was little, and I’m not as capable as you, sister. I can’t earn silver, and I can’t help the family. I, I… I’m just useless.”
With that, Jiang Zhenniang burst into sobs.
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