Su Wan’ning remembered that in her previous life, she had not really wanted to stay at an inn either.
But she had always followed the rules. Knowing that relay stations only accommodated government officials and travelers carrying official travel permits, she had never brought it up.
Later, a relay station worker had come to the inn looking for a cook for a nobleman, offering a high price. Although she had wanted to earn some silver, she figured that a nobleman who was so particular about food while traveling would probably be difficult to serve. If her cooking did not suit his taste, she might end up causing trouble instead. So she had put the thought aside.
She had followed the rules. She had believed that being cautious and keeping a low profile would keep her safe.
In the end, her hand tendons had been severed, and she had died without even a complete body.
So this time, she might as well take a gamble. Perhaps she could even win the protection of a nobleman!
Besides, every moment she delayed meant one less chance to survive.
Just then, a sharp slap rang out from inside the relay station, followed by lowered voices.
Before long, a relay station worker came running out with a bright red handprint across his face.
It was none other than the same worker who had come looking for a cook in her previous life!
Although the worker had been slapped, there was no anger on his face. Instead, he looked extremely frightened. He hurried straight toward the inn.
“Madam Su, let’s go inside quickly.”
Escort Leader Zhao stepped sideways, blocking Su Wan’ning’s view.
But Su Wan’ning had already made up her mind. She raised her voice and said, “I’m a cook from the Imperial Food Bureau, after all. There’s no way I’m staying at this inn! I don’t care, Escort Leader Zhao. You have to find a way. I want to stay at the relay station. I want something good to eat. Can’t you see how thin I’ve gotten?”
The relay worker stopped in his tracks and looked around Escort Leader Zhao at her.
“You’re a cook from the Imperial Food Bureau?”
“Madam Su!”
Escort Leader Zhao frowned at Su Wan’ning and shook his head, signaling for her not to meddle.
Su Wan’ning ignored him completely. She immediately searched through her bundle and took out her certificate of release from service.
“Yes. I was fortunate enough to receive permission to leave the palace and return home. But the food and drink along the way have been terrible. Now that I finally have a chance to rest, I thought I could at least make something to fill my stomach. But just look at that inn…”
She knitted her brows in distress and let out a heavy sigh.
The relay worker examined the document several times. A smile gradually appeared on his face.
“Well, what a coincidence. Our relay station happens to be looking for a cook. If you can satisfy the noble guest, there’ll be a reward of ten taels of silver. I can even make an exception and find Madam Su a shared room for the night. This is a great opportunity, so you’d better perform well.”
“Then thank you in advance, Big Brother.”
Su Wan’ning immediately agreed.
Of course, she understood the condition hidden in his words.
But this was exactly the opportunity she wanted, and she trusted her own cooking skills!
“Madam Su! How can you stay somewhere separately from us? What if something happens?”
Escort Leader Zhao became anxious and stepped in front of Su Wan’ning.
“The relay station is much safer than an inn.”
At the very least, those bandits would not dare barge into a relay station so easily!
Su Wan’ning smiled, though there was no warmth in her eyes.
“I’ll come find you first thing tomorrow morning. Go get some rest, Escort Leader Zhao.”
“But…”
Escort Leader Zhao refused to move and was about to say something else.
Su Wan’ning cut him off directly, her voice turning cold.
“What? Are you planning to interfere with your employer now, Escort Leader Zhao? If you keep this up, I’ll find another escort agency.”
The relay worker understood their relationship immediately. He grabbed Escort Leader Zhao and pulled him aside.
“You’re just some escort. How dare you stick your nose into everything? Move along!”
“You!”
Escort Leader Zhao’s face turned livid, but he was unwilling to argue with the relay worker. He could only glare at Su Wan’ning and say irritably, “I’m only doing this for your own good! If Madam Lin hadn’t instructed me to protect you, I wouldn’t bother meddling!”
“So you mean my money was wasted? You only listen to her and not me?”
Su Wan’ning looked at him coldly.
“No, no, no. If you want to go, then go.”
Escort Leader Zhao awkwardly stepped aside and ultimately said nothing more.
Su Wan’ning could not help feeling disappointed by how well he was able to endure it. If she could provoke him into arguing with her, she could use that as an excuse to replace him.
For the rest of the journey, it would be safest and most reliable to hire another escort agency to accompany her.
What a pity.
Escort Leader Zhao watched the two of them enter the relay station, a sinister look appearing in his eyes.
The Lin family had told him that this young lady was soft-tempered and easy to manipulate.
It had all been a lie!
Look at how spoiled she was. Just because she wanted better food and a better place to stay, she had shamelessly thrown herself at the relay station. Wasn’t she afraid of being beaten to death and dragged back out?
Hah. If that really happened, it would save him the trouble of doing it himself.
Su Wan’ning and the relay worker entered the station.
They had not even reached the kitchen when a woman dressed in green came rushing toward them.
The relay worker immediately plastered a smile across his face.
“Miss Qingfang, this is the cook I found. She’s…”
“How dare you bring some random girl back here?”
Before he could finish, Qingfang shouted sharply, “You idiot! The master hasn’t had a proper meal in three days, and you still dare to fob me off with this? Go find someone else right now! If you can’t find one, I’ll skin you alive!”
Su Wan’ning’s entire body tensed.
This was the very woman who had just been arguing with the relay worker—and had slapped him!
She hurriedly took off her bundle and pulled out her certificate of release, along with a packet wrapped in oiled paper.
“Sister, I was originally a cook in the Imperial Food Bureau. This is my certificate.”
She then opened the oiled paper, revealing amber-colored peng sugar inside.
“I made this peng sugar specially before leaving the palace. Would you like to try some, Sister? If you have fresh milk, just add one or two pieces. It makes a mildly sweet, appetizing drink that the palace ladies are very fond of.”
She spoke clearly and confidently, carrying herself with calm grace.
Only then did Qingfang take a proper look at her.
She examined the document again. It really was as Su Wan’ning had claimed—she had indeed come from the Imperial Food Bureau.
Then she looked at the peng sugar.
Its interior was finely porous, and its caramelized fragrance was enticing.
It looked simple enough, but making it required precise control over the proportions and heat.
This girl really did have some skill.
“All right. You can give it a try.”
Su Wan’ning respectfully bowed, immediately changing the way she addressed her.
“Thank you, Sister Qingfang!”
She had to seize this opportunity firmly!
The three of them entered the kitchen.
The ingredients available at the relay station had already been laid out on the cutting board.
Red and green carrots, cucumbers, lettuce stems, pumpkin, winter melon, and other vegetables. There was half a basket of eggs, two slabs of pork, and several fish in a basin.
They were all very ordinary ingredients. But with a drought currently ravaging the region, having this much food at a relay station was already quite good.
After thinking for a moment, Su Wan’ning had an idea.
“Scrambled eggs with elm seeds, fried fish cakes, braised pork with preserved mustard greens, and shredded vegetables with a spicy dressing. For the staple, brown rice. And perhaps a bowl of sweet mung bean porridge?”
The relay worker secretly nodded.
There was a good balance of meat and vegetables, with salty, sweet, fragrant, and spicy flavors all covered.
Not bad!
Qingfang could not find anything wrong with the menu either, so she nodded in agreement.
“Then, Big Brother, could you please go into the courtyard and pick some more elm seeds?”
Su Wan’ning immediately got to work.
“Sure thing! If Madam Su hadn’t mentioned it, I really wouldn’t have noticed.”
The men working at the relay station were all rough fellows. Normally, they just ate whatever was available, as long as it filled their stomachs.
At Su Wan’ning’s suggestion, the relay worker suddenly remembered the elm-seed steamed buns his mother used to make at home. His mouth began watering, and he grabbed a bamboo basket and ran outside.
Su Wan’ning took two jars from her bundle, one large and one small.
The large jar contained preserved mustard greens she had made herself. She soaked some in warm water with rice wine and a little rock sugar.
The small jar contained something precious she had carefully protected throughout the journey. Originally, she had planned to bring it home as a gift for Madam Li.
In her previous life, her bundle had been stolen, so Madam Li had never gotten to taste it.
In this life, Madam Li was even less deserving of it.