Ren Dong was well aware of Nanny Su’s cooking skills—merely making food edible.
Having been sold into servitude since childhood, she had never tasted anything truly exquisite. More importantly, culinary techniques like frying, stir-frying, and deep-frying were still underdeveloped in this era. Stir-frying had only just emerged as a trend, while wealthy households predominantly consumed stewed or steamed dishes. Many seasonings remained unused.
Thus, even though Xi Ning had prepared only simple scallion pancakes, in Ren Dong’s eyes, they were an unparalleled delicacy.
“How could I possess such skill? This was made by the young mistress—so fragrant and crispy. In all my years, I’ve never tasted such delicious pancakes,” Nanny Su remarked, nibbling on the half-piece Xi Ning had shared with her, reluctant to swallow it as she spoke to Ren Dong.
Witnessing her evident enjoyment, Ren Dong couldn’t help but swallow her saliva.
The young maid wore her heart on her sleeve, her thoughts plain on her face. Xi Ning smiled and handed her a piece as well.
“This is called scallion pancake, made with the freshest spring scallions. Try it.”
“Yes!”
Ren Dong hastily wiped her hands on the back of her waistband, accepted the pancake, and popped it into her mouth without regard for its temperature.
The exterior was pan-fried to a golden crisp, releasing a rich, savory aroma with each bite, while the inside remained wonderfully soft. The fragrance of scallion oil and the delicate sweetness of fresh scallions melded seamlessly with the dough, dissolving delightfully on the tongue.
Ren Dong squinted with satisfaction, resembling a contented kitten. “So delicious! The young mistress’s cooking is truly exceptional!”
Their mistress was not only beautiful but also an excellent cook. For Third Master to neglect her in the outer courtyard was nothing short of blindness.
Ren Dong took a fierce bite, as if imagining the pancake were Pei Zhao himself.
Unaware of the young maid’s thoughts, Xi Ning felt genuinely pleased that both women appreciated her culinary skills.
Ren Dong had returned from her outing with two pounds of premium pork belly, perfectly marbled with fat and lean meat. Xi Ning couldn’t bear to consume it all in one meal.
Although the weather had warmed, meat dishes could still be preserved. She instructed Nanny Su to find a hook to hang it up, ensuring greedy stray cats wouldn’t steal it.
In addition to the meat, there were also spring bamboo shoots and shepherd’s purse. Xi Ning set aside the bamboo shoots to prepare a nourishing chicken soup.
Having tasted Xi Ning’s cooking, neither woman objected to her taking charge of the kitchen. However, they insisted on handling the preparatory tasks and tending the fire, leaving Xi Ning solely responsible for cooking the prepared ingredients.
The spring bamboo shoots were crisp and subtly sweet, while the hen was tender and flavorful. With just a dash of soy sauce and salt, the resulting soup was extraordinarily delicious.
The trio of mistress and servants savored each bite of pancake followed by a sip of chicken soup, eating until their bellies were round and sighing with contentment at the prospect of such days.
“If only we could eat meat every day,” Ren Dong mused, slumping in her chair and patting her full stomach with a wistful expression.
Though Nanny Su remained silent, her expression echoed the sentiment.
After tasting the young mistress’s cooking, she realized how unpalatable her own previous efforts had been. No wonder the young mistress had such a small appetite—it was all her fault.
The more Nanny Su dwelled on it, the guiltier she felt, believing she had failed Third Master by not taking proper care of her mistress.
Xi Ning, too, was unusually full. The original host had a very small appetite, not only due to Nanny Su’s mediocre cooking but also because she hailed from Jiangnan, where women prized slenderness—willowy figures and delicate waists were the ideal. The original host had grown as thin as paper, to the point where one feared her waist might snap with a few steps.
Seeing that both women acknowledged her culinary prowess, Xi Ning directly revealed her plans.”We don’t have much silver left, and living off our savings is certainly not sustainable. Although washing clothes for others is a job, it’s too tiring and doesn’t earn much. Both of you have to take care of me daily, and if you take on extra work, I fear your health will suffer in the long run. I’ve been ill for so many days, and you know how much it costs to hire a doctor and buy medicine. We mustn’t lose the greater for the lesser.”
Xi Ning’s words were reasonable and well-founded, silencing the two who had wanted to argue further.
She continued, “I’m not skilled at much else, but I can cook decently. Although we’re in the northern part of the city, the streets here are bustling with people coming and going. Selling food should attract some business. I’m thinking of setting up a stall on the street and starting a small trade.”
“Miss, how can this be! You are Third Master Pei’s mistress. If Third Master finds out you’re out in public showing your face, he’ll surely be displeased!”
Nanny Su hadn’t expected Xi Ning’s money-making idea to be this. While society nowadays isn’t overly strict toward women, and many women in the neighborhood run businesses, Xi Ning is different.
Their young lady is Pei Sanlang’s woman, and even as a mistress, it’s improper for her to show her face in public.
Moreover, what Nanny Su didn’t say was that deep down, she still hoped that one day Third Master would bring the young lady into the mansion. If she were to run a business outside, her reputation would be ruined.
“That’s right, Miss. If you need money, Nanny Su and I will earn it. At worst, we can still go to the Duke’s residence to find Third Master. You’re his woman—how could he refuse to provide for you?”
Ren Dong never thought their young lady was extravagant with money. Such a beautiful woman ought to wear pretty clothes and adorn herself with lovely jewelry. In the past, the concubine she served would coax the master into spending money with just a little coquetry. How unlike Third Master, who seems to have forgotten his own mistress.
Xi Ning wanted to start her own business precisely to avoid any entanglement with Pei Zhao. She wished Pei Zhao would forget about her entirely.
“Have you forgotten what Third Master said before he left? He told me not to go looking for him unless necessary. You both know his temperament. If I squander all the silver and then go to him asking for more, he’ll surely think I’m a vain and wasteful woman, and he’ll likely grow to despise me.”
Xi Ning knew she couldn’t dispel their concerns, so she approached the matter from Pei Zhao’s perspective.
Both of them hoped she would win Pei Zhao’s favor and certainly wouldn’t want to see him grow to dislike her.
Sure enough, upon hearing Xi Ning’s words, their attitudes softened.
“Then, Miss, you just focus on cooking. Ren Dong and I will handle the selling.”
“Alright.”
Wonton noodles emphasize freshness, aroma, and flavor. Wontons, savory broth, and thin noodles are placed in the same bowl, allowing their individual flavors to blend perfectly.
Xi Ning had Nanny Su buy a basket of river shrimp. She minced pork into filling, added tender shepherd’s purse that seemed to drip with water, and wrapped shrimp balls inside as well.
The wonton wrappers were as thin as cicada wings yet resilient. After filling them, she pinched the edges into pleats, creating delicate shapes like flowers. Nanny Su and Ren Dong watched in amazement, praising their young lady’s ingenuity.
The thin noodles were long and springy. When kneading the dough, she used only eggs and no water, resulting in noodles with exceptional chewiness.
For the broth, Xi Ning used chicken soup. Authentic wonton noodle broth is simmered slowly with fish, shrimp, and pork bones, but given their tight budget, she kept things simple.
Still, the old chicken broth simmered for a full day and night was no worse than bone broth. The soup base was clear and flavorful. When the wontons were boiled in it, their wrappers gradually turned translucent, revealing the pink meat, red shrimp, and green vegetables inside. Even without smelling it, the appearance alone was enough to make one’s mouth water.”Sister, give me a bowl, extra scallions!”
“Me too!”
Nanny Su’s stall was set up at the entrance of the alley. Though there were many passersby, small stalls were also plentiful. Both she and Ren Dong were setting up shop for the first time. Though they trusted their young lady’s cooking skills, they couldn’t help but feel anxious.
As soon as the wonton noodles hit the pot, the aroma wafted far and wide. Passersby who had been hesitating over what to eat were immediately drawn in.
A crowd soon gathered in front of the stall. Nanny Su and Ren Dong worked together, bustling about, and the prepared wonton noodles sold out in less than an hour.