Madam Chen was furious. The way she looked at Jiang Tao made it seem as if fire would shoot from her eyes.
Jiang Ran noticed the anxiety in the eyes of the other members of the Fourth Branch. But the moment they saw Jiang Tao, that anxiety turned into helplessness and resentment.
Everything pointed to one answer:
The person the Fourth Branch had been searching for was Jiang Tao.
Madam Chen didn’t make a scene. She forcibly swallowed the anger in her heart.
Once the family entered the courtyard, Madam Chen grabbed Jiang Tao by the ear and dragged her inside.
Only after they passed through the gate did she say, “Where did you go? Speak! We’ve been looking for you forever. You nearly scared your father and me to death.”
Jiang Tao was a little over a month younger than Jiang Ran. Both girls were thirteen.
She pushed Madam Chen’s hand away.
“Mother, what are you doing? I was right here in the estate. I didn’t go anywhere.”
Madam Chen snapped, “If you were at home, how could I search everywhere and not find a trace of you? Tell me where you went!”
Jiang Tao sighed.
“Where else could I have gone? I stayed in the estate.”
Madam Chen wasn’t blind. If Jiang Tao had really been at home, there was no way she wouldn’t have found her.
“You’re still not talking!”
Madam Chen picked up a wooden board from the ground and raised it to hit her.
Jiang Tao’s two younger brothers rushed over to stop her.
“Mother, what are you doing?”
“Get out of the way!” Madam Chen shouted. “I’m going to beat this unfilial girl to death!”
The board was already close to Jiang Tao’s face.
Jiang Tao shut her eyes tightly.
“Mother! I was out with Third Young Master!”
The board never came down.
Madam Chen threw it aside and grabbed Jiang Tao’s hands, looking her up and down from every angle.
“You went out with Third Young Master? What were you doing with him?”
Her daughter was only thirteen and had not yet come of age.
Being alone with a young man could easily lead to trouble.
Jiang Tao brushed away her mother’s hands.
“Mother, stop looking. Third Young Master was feeling frustrated from studying, so he came to the estate to relax. I just showed him around.”
“You didn’t…” Madam Chen hesitated.
Jiang Tao immediately understood what she meant.
“I didn’t suffer any loss. I’m not stupid.”
She pulled Madam Chen into the room and continued,
“Nothing has been decided yet. How could I let Third Young Master take advantage of me? Besides, he’s gentle and refined. He’s not that kind of person.”
“I simply showed him things he normally never gets to see in the Hou Residence. We flew kites, rode horses, raced across the fields, and even went fishing in the river.”
“Third Young Master enjoyed all of it.”
For the children of farming families, these activities were ordinary parts of life.
But for someone from the Hou Residence, they were rare pleasures—simple and natural experiences.
Third Young Master was sixteen this year.
Rumor had it that his marriage had already been arranged.
Once he finished the imperial examinations, he would marry.
His fiancée came from a family equal in status to the Hou Residence. The match was considered perfect.
Jiang Tao didn’t care about any of that.
It was common for men to have multiple wives and concubines.
Besides, Third Young Master often complained that the rules in the Hou Residence were too strict.
Even his fiancée was a proper noble lady who followed every rule perfectly and seemed devoid of any liveliness.
He genuinely liked someone as bright and spirited as Jiang Tao.
When the time came, Jiang Tao wouldn’t get in the mistress’s way. She would simply live her own life.
As long as Third Young Master liked her and she knew her place, life shouldn’t be difficult.
Jiang Tao knew the situations of her sisters well.
There was no need to mention Jiang Ran. She had never been particularly ambitious and was as honest as Third Aunt.
Jiang Xing had gone to the Hou Residence to work, but Jiang Tao didn’t consider that a good future. She was serving others, after all.
As for Third Sister, she had been spending her days around the stables lately. She hadn’t gone today only because that Steward Chen hadn’t come.
A steward from the Hou Residence sounded impressive.
But most of them were already in their twenties or thirties.
Jiang Tao was only thirteen.
She didn’t think any of those paths suited her.
“Mother, you’ve always treated me well. If I didn’t want to go out because I was afraid of the sun, you let me stay home. Whatever I wanted, you indulged me.”
“If I were ugly, I wouldn’t think about any of this. But since I have a chance, why shouldn’t I try?”
Before today, Madam Chen had only thought her daughter was delicate.
She hated the sun and the wind and was always asking for money to buy rouge and pearl cream.
But Jiang Tao was her only daughter.
She spoke sweetly, was sensible, and whenever she asked for something, Madam Chen’s heart softened and she agreed.
Only now did Madam Chen realize how high her daughter’s ambitions truly were.
She wasn’t like Madam Lin.
Madam Lin had sent Jiang Xing to become a maid for two reasons.
First, Jiang Xing herself was willing.
Second, Madam Lin hoped her daughter could earn money to help support the family.
But how could becoming a maid be a good future?
Once your name was entered into the servant registry, buying back your freedom would be difficult.
If you made a mistake, you could be beaten and scolded.
What was so good about that?
The First Branch had even rushed to divide the family, afraid the other branches might benefit from them.
Madam Chen fell silent.
If Jiang Tao could truly marry into the Hou Residence, even as a concubine, it would still be an incredible rise in status for the Jiang family.
It would certainly be better than marrying an ordinary man as his wife.
She would never have to worry about food or clothing.
If she gave birth to a son or daughter, she could receive a considerable share of wealth as well.
At last, Madam Chen silently approved.
“Whatever you do, be careful.”
“You must not make a single mistake.”
“What’s hardest to get is always the most valuable.”
“You absolutely cannot have any physical intimacy with him.”
“You also need to test Third Young Master’s true feelings.”
“Don’t assume he likes you just because he flies kites and rides horses with you.”
“A man’s heart follows his money.”
“Weren’t your grandmother and grandfather always biased toward the First Branch and Jiang Chuanbao? Isn’t it because all the money ends up in their hands? The other sons seem born only to work like beasts of burden.”
Madam Chen warned her two sons not to tell anyone about this matter.
Then she repeatedly instructed Jiang Tao that she could not return so late again in the future.
What would people think if they saw her?
Jiang Tao didn’t seem concerned.
“But doesn’t Third Sister go out all the time too?”
Madam Chen replied,
“Just listen to me. Would I ever harm you?”
“Third Young Master is the son of the Hou Residence.”
“If you stay out too late with him, people will only think you’re lacking in propriety.”
The houses of the different branches were far apart, and conversations inside could not be heard outside.
Jiang Ran didn’t spend much thought on the matter.
At most, she sighed a little after seeing the Fourth Branch searching for someone.
Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt truly treated Jiang Tao very well.
Feelings couldn’t be forced.
Jiang Ran quickly stopped thinking about it.
She planned to open her stall tomorrow.
The young ladies from the Hou Residence would still be staying at the estate the next day.
She had heard they would return the day after that.
This visit would last three days.
Cooking for Sixth Young Lady earned money, but Jiang Ran valued her stall business more.
Even though she didn’t make much each day, business was steadily improving.
It had long-term potential.
If she missed two days, there might be two or three more rice noodle stalls by the time she returned.
Earlier that day, she had asked Jiang Song to buy extra meat while he was out.
She would prepare it tomorrow morning.
The weather was still cool enough for the meat to keep overnight.
If it became any warmer, it would probably spoil before morning.
She wondered whether she might be able to rent a small house by then.
The next morning was bright and sunny.
Jiang Ran went directly to her stall.
Zhao Daniang had already saved a spot for her.
“I figured you didn’t come yesterday morning, so your meat was probably bought the day before.”
While setting things up, Jiang Ran replied,
“Yesterday morning the weather had already cleared up. I asked my brother to buy it.”
Zhao Daniang nodded.
“That’s right. The rain eased up here yesterday morning too.”
She didn’t mention that she had returned to sell after the weather cleared.
Jiang Ran lived at the estate and couldn’t come anyway.
Bringing it up would only make her anxious.
Even though Zhao Daniang didn’t say it aloud, Jiang Ran had already guessed.
She needed to work harder and rent a house sooner.
She had asked Zhao Daniang about rental prices before.
A single room without a courtyard cost anywhere from five hundred wen to one guan.
A slightly larger place cost between two and five guan.
Jiang Ran was already this old. Once Jiang Song came to the city, the brother and sister couldn’t continue sharing one room.
They would need something larger.
There also had to be a kitchen.
That would cost even more.
Buying a house was impossible.
Renting wasn’t bad.
When she’d asked before, Zhao Daniang had even told her that many officials couldn’t afford to buy homes and rented instead.
However, renting required going through a broker.
Just like modern agencies, there were intermediary fees.
Rent was paid monthly, and there was also a security deposit, usually equal to one to three months’ rent.
Altogether, Jiang Ran had less than two guan.
She also needed to commission an iron pot.
At the very least, she would need to save three or four guan before she could rent a place.
If things became impossible, she could always cry to Jiang Song.
She knew he was cautious and still had money saved.
Probably around four guan.
The problem was that rent had to be paid every month.
Jiang Song might not agree.
Even if he did, Jiang Ran had her own concerns.
She wouldn’t commit to renting a house until her business became truly stable.
As she thought about these things, she quickly washed the bowls and chopsticks and prepared the rice batter.
Soon, the first customer arrived.
“What would you like to eat, sir?” Jiang Ran asked.
The man hesitated.
He looked at the stall and then at the price board.
The board was so large that it blocked most of the stall.
Only Jiang Ran’s face and neck were visible.
None of her actual cooking process could be seen.
“I’ll have a bowl of lard mixed noodles.”
Jiang Ran strained the noodles, boiled them, and added seasonings to the bowl.
Once the noodles were cooked, she transferred them into the bowl and sprinkled chopped scallions on top.
Then she handed it to the customer.
Instead of taking it, he asked,
“What exactly do you put in this?”
Jiang Ran replied,
“My secret seasoning. And noodles, of course.”
The man asked,
“Lard mixed noodles should contain lard, right? How do you strain the noodles? How much water do you mix into the rice batter?”
Jiang Ran blinked.
The confusion on her face hadn’t faded, but she immediately understood what was happening.
This man wasn’t here to eat.
He was here to steal her recipe.
She had noticed long ago that every type of food on this street had several vendors selling it.
Jiang Ran didn’t mind others selling soup noodles or mixed noodles.
The street was large. She couldn’t stop people from doing business.
But coming to her stall to learn her methods before opening a competing stall?
That was a different matter.
Jiang Ran smiled and played dumb.
“Lard mixed noodles contain lard.”
“The noodles are strained with a strainer.”
“The rice batter contains rice.”
“The mixed noodles cost three wen. If you like them, come back next time.”
The man felt as if Jiang Ran wasn’t understanding a word he said.
But customers were already waiting behind him.
He reluctantly paid, picked up his bowl, and went behind the stall to eat.
Without the price board blocking his view, he could actually see more from behind than from the front.
Zhao Daniang glanced back and nudged Jiang Ran’s arm.
“Xiao Ran, over there.”
As she spoke, she gave Jiang Ran a meaningful look.
Jiang Ran glanced behind her and shifted her position slightly.
Once she moved, the man’s view was blocked again.
Her business was good.
Many customers came to buy mixed noodles and soup noodles.
As more bowls were cooked and more customers gathered, Jiang Ran disappeared completely behind the crowd.
Even after finishing his meal, the man still refused to leave.
One customer finally became annoyed.
“If you’re done eating, then go. Why are you still occupying the stool?”
The man stood up and tried to keep looking.
Another customer who was standing nearby said,
“The place is already cramped enough. You’ve finished eating, so why aren’t you leaving?”
Zhao Daniang added,
“Who knows? Maybe he’s here to secretly learn someone else’s craft.”
The man’s face instantly turned bright red.
He hurried away in embarrassment.
After he disappeared from sight, Jiang Ran thanked Zhao Daniang.
Zhao Daniang waved it off.
“It’s nothing.”
Then she added,
“The shameless nerve of him, coming here to ask questions like that.”
Jiang Ran laughed.
“Exactly. He was one step away from sticking his head into the pot.”
Zhao Daniang burst out laughing.
“Back to business, back to business!”
Customers came one after another.
That morning, Jiang Ran served sixteen customers.
Even the spicy-food addict showed up.
But apart from that first special occasion, he still had to pay two wen whenever he wanted extra noodles.
The man had already come six days in a row.
Every time, he ordered one bowl of soup noodles, one spoonful of vinegar, and three spoonfuls of chili oil.
Jiang Ran had memorized it all.
Today, he hadn’t even opened his mouth before she had already started cooking his noodles.
Business was good in the morning.
When the crowd finally thinned out, Jiang Ran fetched water to wash bowls and took the opportunity to eat breakfast.
Jiang Song always prepared breakfast for her.
Sometimes it was eggs, sometimes steamed buns, sometimes baked cakes.
He rotated them regularly.
Occasionally, Zhao Daniang would feed her sugar cakes.
Every now and then, Jiang Ran cooked herself a bowl of mixed noodles.
By now, it was already past the Chen hour.
Even when they rested, it was only for about half an hour.
Soon they would be busy again.
Business was excellent today.
Before long, both women had completely forgotten about the man who came to steal recipes.
After a full day of work, their throats were dry and their arms ached.
As usual, Jiang Ran sold everything until afternoon.
Once she sold out, she packed up.
Zhao Daniang intended to stay longer, so Jiang Ran left her cart at Zhao Daniang’s house, returned to the street to buy meat and bones, and only then headed back to the estate with tired steps.
The next day was sunny again.
Jiang Song said the planting would be finished in another two or three days.
After that, he would go to Bianjing with Jiang Ran.
Jiang Ran was in an excellent mood.
But when she arrived at the stall, Zhao Daniang looked troubled.
While setting up, Jiang Ran asked,
“Auntie, what’s wrong?”
Zhao Daniang frowned deeply.
“There’s another sugar cake stall on the street now. What am I supposed to do?”
She had worried herself so much that a fever blister had already appeared on her lower lip.