This realization sent a chill through Su Wan’ning’s entire body.
She had thought she had found someone to protect her, only to discover that she had actually walked straight into the hands of the executioners who would leave her corpse without even a trace of peace…
“Cook Su?”
Someone nudged her.
Su Wan’ning looked up and met Qingfang’s puzzled gaze.
“Cook Su, Miss is asking you. Our Old Ancestor’s birthday is coming up. Would you help Miss come up with a few dishes?”
“I…”
Su Wan’ning’s throat tightened, and the pain of the blood and broken bones from her previous life seemed to surge through her body again.
“Hurry, hurry! Qingfang, pay her first!”
The young lady assumed that Su Wan’ning was unwilling and hurriedly urged Qingfang. Her stomach was also growling terribly. The table full of ordinary, greasy food that she had just complained about suddenly looked incredibly tempting.
She stopped paying attention to them and picked up her bowl, immediately digging into the rice.
“Mmm! The elm-seed scrambled eggs are so tender! The shredded vegetables are spicy, chewy, and crisp! Delicious!”
“Oh? The fish cakes are a little like fish tofu, so springy! And why isn’t the braised pork greasy at all?”
At the mention of food, Su Wan’ning gradually regained her composure. She lowered her eyes and answered, “I lightly salted the preserved mustard greens, then added some dried orange-peel powder.”
“No wonder! You’re really good at experimenting with food.”
The young lady ate happily, while Qingfang was delighted. She took two banknotes from her purse.
“Cook Su, don’t worry. As long as you cook properly and satisfy both Miss and Old Ancestor, you’ll definitely be rewarded.”
“Twenty taels?”
Su Wan’ning deliberately looked slightly surprised.
“We’re all heading back to Qingshan County anyway. Come with us and take care of Miss’s meals along the way. The extra ten taels will be your wages for these few days.”
A county-town restaurant would only charge a few strings of coins for an entire banquet.
She would not even have to provide the ingredients. All she needed to do was take care of one young lady while also traveling under their protection. Qingfang did not believe Su Wan’ning would refuse.
Still, she added, “Once we reach Qingshan County, I’ll arrange for someone to escort you back to your village. We’ll come pick you up three days before the birthday banquet.”
“No. Five days in advance.”
The young lady calculated the dates and looked at Su Wan’ning.
“We need to decide what dishes to make ahead of time. You should still have, hmm… seven or eight days to rest, right?”
“Yes. Then thank you, Miss, and thank you, Sister Qingfang.”
With things having progressed this far, Su Wan’ning had no opportunity to refuse.
Of course, she had never intended to refuse in the first place.
Just then, another woman dressed in black entered carrying a bucket of fresh milk.
Qingfang introduced her to Su Wan’ning. The woman was called Xuancao, and Qingfang also explained some of Miss Xu’s dietary restrictions and other taboos.
Su Wan’ning took the initiative to ask about both of their preferences.
Since she had chosen to travel with them, she needed to build a good relationship with the two senior maids. She could not simply focus on Miss Xu alone.
This gesture made Qingfang even more satisfied.
After leaving the room, Su Wan’ning’s face was already stiff from smiling.
She had originally only wanted to avoid the disaster tonight.
She had never expected to gain an unexpected advantage as well.
That Old Ancestor’s birthday banquet…
If she made even the slightest mistake, she might end up suffering the same miserable fate as in her previous life.
Being falsely accused, being whipped to death, that bone-deep, heart-wrenching pain—
She never wanted to experience it again.
Then she would have to venture into this den of wolves and tigers, uncover the truth behind what happened in her previous life, and settle every single debt with them, principal and interest alike!
But for now, what mattered most was ensuring her own safety.
Miss Xu was only the first layer of protection.
She needed more.
She would make use of everything she could!
Su Wan’ning slowly calmed herself and bowed to the relay worker.
“I also have to thank you, Big Brother Li. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have had the chance to travel with a noble guest. By the way, is there anything you particularly like to eat? I’ll prepare it right away.”
“Haha, no need to be so formal. If you don’t mind, Madam Su, just call me Brother Li from now on.”
Li San’s smile was even brighter than before.
“We only have those ingredients. Cook Su, just make whatever you think is suitable. We’re not picky.”
“All right, Brother Li.”
There were only five people stationed at the relay station in total, and Su Wan’ning now had a clear idea of what she was working with.
She entered the kitchen and began preparing.
Half an hour later, the stone table in the courtyard was completely covered with food.
“Are these really the same things we normally eat?”
The station chief’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.
He had only known that a cook had arrived.
He had never imagined she would be this skilled!
The stone table used to be covered with huge chunks of winter melon and pumpkin, steamed until they were mushy. Eggs were simply boiled without any care. Carrots and cucumbers were usually wiped twice on someone’s clothes before being shoved straight into their mouths.
They were a bunch of rough men, and with famine raging everywhere, having anything to eat was already something to be grateful for.
But now…
There were fluffy, soft elm-seed steamed buns; glossy, oil-rich braised winter melon; brightly colored spicy stir-fried red and green carrots; fragrant scrambled eggs with lettuce stems; and a large basin of milky-white fish soup!
He eagerly grabbed a steamed bun.
The refreshing, slightly sweet fragrance of elm seeds mingled with the hearty aroma of freshly made dough, rushing straight into his face.
He opened his mouth, ready to take a huge bite.
The next moment, the relay station’s door was violently pounded.
“Bang! Bang! Bang bang bang!”
“Madam Su! Are you all right, Madam Su?”
“Come out quickly! Everyone is waiting for you to come back!”
The station chief had already learned what had happened, and now his meal had been interrupted again. Anger began boiling inside him.
“Is this guy sick in the head? Come on. We’ll all go out and send him packing!”
Su Wan’ning hurriedly put down the soup ladle and spoke apologetically.
“I’ll go myself. Escort Leader Zhao has a bad temper. I’m afraid he might…”
Her unfinished sentence only made the station chief even angrier.
“Am I supposed to be afraid of him?”
He slammed his palm onto the stone table and stood up, heading straight outside.
The others reluctantly glanced at the food on the table before following him.
Li San quietly reminded Su Wan’ning, “That Escort Leader Zhao seems suspicious. Why else would he have tried to stop you earlier? And now he insists on seeing you again? Keep your guard up. This is a good chance to make it clear that you’re traveling separately from him.”
“By the way, does he still have your luggage or anything like that?”
“No, he doesn’t. Thank you for reminding me, Brother Li.”
Su Wan’ning sincerely thanked him.
She only had one bundle of personal belongings, but what she carried inside was already enough.
The group arrived at the entrance of the relay station.
Escort Leader Zhao had been waiting impatiently for quite some time.
When he saw Su Wan’ning standing perfectly well at the back of the group, surprise flashed through his eyes.
“Madam Su, you’re all right? The noble guest… agreed to eat what you cooked?”
“Madam Su is an excellent cook. What could possibly happen to her?”
The station chief was already irritated from having his meal interrupted and was in no mood to be polite.
“If you have something to say, say it quickly. If not, get lost!”
“You!”
Escort Leader Zhao was furious, but ultimately said nothing.
He simply looked toward Su Wan’ning.
“Madam Su, we already arranged rooms for everyone at the inn. You should come back with me. That way, we can set out early tomorrow.”
“Thank you for going to the trouble, Escort Leader Zhao, but you can cancel the room.”
Su Wan’ning smiled gently.
“And I won’t be traveling with your escort team tomorrow either. There’s no need to return my money. Perhaps we can work together again in the future.”
“What? Say that again.”
The smile on Escort Leader Zhao’s face finally disappeared, replaced by a dark, sinister expression.