Song Shi began explaining which ingredients gave the taro balls their different colors and how they were made.
For some reason, as she listened to Song Shi’s unhurried explanation, Qi Jinrui found the sweet soup in his mouth even sweeter and more fragrant.
“Wow, Sister Song is amazing! This is the best sweet soup Yaoyao has ever had. The little balls are so soft and sweet and fragrant!”
With every bite, Qi Chuyao’s eyes lit up. Before she had even finished what was in her mouth, she was urging the maid to feed her another spoonful. Her greedy little face made Princess Consort Li laugh.
She scooped up a golden little ball. It had the delicate fragrance of pumpkin and was mildly sweet without being cloying—perfect for Jinrui. Song Shi had clearly put a great deal of care and effort into it. Princess Consort Li nodded in satisfaction.
“Guanyue, find a suitable place for the two maids who bullied Song Shi this morning.”
“Yes.”
After answering, Guanyue turned to leave. In return for Song Shi preparing her a delicious lunch, she would make sure Biyu found herself a “suitable place.”
“Thank you, Princess Consort.” Song Shi knelt in sincere gratitude.
Though she didn’t know exactly what this so-called suitable place would be, Song Shi knew Biyu and her lackey were in for a miserable time. If she got the chance, she would be sure to kick them while they were down!
“How did they bully you?” Qi Jinrui examined Song Shi but couldn’t see any injuries. If they hadn’t hit her, had they ostracized or insulted her?
“Jinrui, Yaoyao is still here.” Princess Consort Li disapproved.
At the sound of her name, Little Glutton immediately responded.
“Hmm? Grandmother, Yaoyao’s right here!”
She was eating a mung bean cake, then a spoonful of milk taro balls. Clearly, all her attention was on the food; she hadn’t heard a word of what they’d just been saying.
“Grandmother, Uncle Rui, the mung bean cakes are delicious too. You should have some! Otherwise Yaoyao’s going to eat them all up!” Qi Chuyao stuffed the cake in her hand into her mouth, then picked up one in each hand and offered them to the mother and son.
Princess Consort Li accepted with a smile. Qi Jinrui didn’t move. Little Glutton had just licked her fingers, and now she was handling the cakes again. He simply couldn’t bring himself to eat one.
“Go ahead and eat, Yaoyao. Uncle’s full.”
As soon as Qi Jinrui finished speaking, a mung bean cake appeared in front of him. He took a bite without thinking, and only then realized: Was Song Shi deaf? He’d said he was full. He wanted to spit it out, but the moment his tongue touched the soft, fragrant, sweet mung bean filling, he began chewing instead.
The two tea snacks on the table were soon devoured, and Song Shi left, satisfied.
Song Shi came back at the Hour of the Rooster[1]A traditional Chinese two-hour time period, approximately 5:00–7:00 p.m. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717368_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717368_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });, at dinner time, carrying a food box.
She brought three bowls of fish-ball rice noodles. The broth was milky white, topped with a few white fish balls, bright green vegetables, thin slices of pink meat, and hard-boiled eggs cut in half, their yellow yolks sharply contrasting with the whites. There were no side dishes.
Princess Consort Li furrowed her brow. She had never seen such a meager dinner in her life. Had Song Shi already run out of ideas after just one day?
Still, she was only a young cook, Mother. How could she compare with someone from a family of chefs whose craft had been handed down for generations? It seemed she would have to go to the palace and invite an Imperial Chef[2]A cook employed in or recruited from the imperial palace kitchens; this describes service to the court, not a fixed rank in this fictional setting. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717368_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717368_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });. Which one should she ask for this time?
Perhaps she should invite several, so there would be more variety at every meal and Jinrui could choose whatever he liked. Besides, the Prince had written a few days ago that he had found three cooks in Jiangnan whose skills were every bit as good as those of the Imperial Chefs. They would return in half a month.
Princess Consort Li glanced at Song Shi, who was serving her son food. Jinrui seemed to like being fed by her and listening to her speak. In that case, she could have Song Shi attend him personally.
Song Shi, unaware that her position as head chef was in jeopardy, explained, “Princess Consort, Commandery Prince Rui’an, Master Yao[3]A respectful household form of address for young Qi Chuyao, a child of the princely family; it does not mean she is an adult man. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717368_1_3').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717368_1_3', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });, I prepared dessert for you, so I made a smaller dinner.”
At the mention of dessert, Qi Jinrui immediately thought of the milk taro balls and soft mung bean cakes. He reluctantly tried the soup Song Shi brought to his lips. The broth was rich and savory, and the rice noodles were silky and pleasantly chewy. When he bit into a fish ball and its rich juices burst in his mouth, it was a delight. It looked meager, but it tasted pretty good.
Dessert was double-skin milk pudding[4]Known in Chinese as shuangpi nai, a delicate milk-based dessert associated especially with the Shunde area of Guangdong. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717368_1_4').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717368_1_4', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); with red pomelo. In Shi State, red pomelo was called tribute pomelo; it was a tribute to the court and only members of the imperial family could eat it.
The glistening, translucent pale-red pomelo flesh covered the pudding underneath, so the three of them assumed the dessert was simply tribute pomelo.
Qi Chuyao pouted, clearly dissatisfied. She wanted milk taro balls!
Song Shi scooped up a spoonful. Half of it was pure white and half pale red, and the set milk trembled slightly. Its rich milky fragrance wafted into Qi Jinrui’s nose.
“Would Commandery Prince Rui’an like to try a bite?”
As Song Shi moved, the pudding wobbled even more, as if it would melt away if he didn’t eat it quickly.
In the end, it melted in Qi Jinrui’s mouth. The rich, sweet milk mellowed the pomelo’s slight tartness, and the fragrance of both milk and fruit lingered.
“Wow, it’s so good! Sister Song is amazing!” Qi Chuyao clapped her little hands and took big bites.
Princess Consort Li had finished a bowl of rice noodles and tried a bite of dessert. She made no comment. The mother and child were easy enough to please, but she had already made up her mind; she would still go to the palace first thing tomorrow morning.
After seeing Qi Jinrui eat and drink his fill, Song Shi, exhausted and ready to go back to bed, was stopped again.
It was an unfamiliar young maid.
“Chef Shi, my mistress, Xuanling, wishes to see you.”
Xuanling?
Oh, Biyu’s elder sister, one of Prince Li’s concubines[5]Women recognized as secondary partners in a high-status household, usually without the standing of the principal wife; their rights and positions varied by era. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717368_1_5').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717368_1_5', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });.
There was no way Song Shi was going. What if Xuanling killed her the moment they met? Song Shi didn’t have a third life to spare.
The young maid panicked when Song Shi walked around her and started to leave. She hurried after her. “My mistress said that if Head Chef Song is willing to spare Biyu, she—she’ll serve you hand and foot.”
Song Shi sneered. Biyu had not only taken the original owner’s life, she had nearly taken hers too. How could she possibly spare her? Not killing Biyu with her own hands was already the last of her mercy. Besides, she was still alive, wasn’t she? How could anyone say Song Shi was sparing her life?
“Chef Shi, Sister Biyu is alive, but…”
When Song Shi heard that Biyu had been beaten and sent to a farmstead to become the second wife of a short-tempered widower in his sixties, she laughed aloud. Her lackey hadn’t fared much better: she had been betrothed to a middle-aged gambler who lived in utter poverty.
As for their circumstances, Song Shi was sorry, but she couldn’t bring herself to feel the slightest sympathy.
Guanyue had done a fine job!
“Chef Shi, Sister Biyu was just too impulsive, but you’re fine, aren’t you? Could I ask you to plead with the Princess Consort to revoke her order?” The young maid dropped to her knees with a thud.
Fine?
Song Shi’s smile turned even colder.
“You’ve heard the news quickly.” Guanyue’s sudden appearance startled the young maid. She scrambled to her feet and bolted outside.
She acted as if Guanyue were some kind of monster.
“I was just coming to tell you, but since you already know…”
“Sister Guanyue, come on. I’ll make you a late-night snack!” Song Shi wasn’t afraid of Guanyue just because the young maid was. She grabbed her and headed straight for the small kitchen.
As head chef, Song Shi was entitled to make herself a late-night snack.
Guanyue’s feelings were complicated as she ate fried rice noodles that even the Princess Consort and Commandery Prince Rui’an had never tasted. So she told Song Shi what the Princess Consort had planned.
The Princess Consort was going to the palace tomorrow to ask for an Imperial Chef!?
It was like a bolt from the blue!
Did that mean Song Shi would probably—possibly—be out of a job tomorrow?
Song Shi nearly burst into tears. Hadn’t the Princess Consort enjoyed every meal today?
“Being His Highness’s personal maid would be a promotion. Why do you look so miserable?” Guanyue asked, puzzled, as she took a bite of the fried rice noodles in her bowl. The more she ate, the more delicious they seemed. She would have to eat plenty tonight; she was afraid she wouldn’t get to have them again.
Song Shi didn’t want to be a personal maid. If she couldn’t make delicious food and eat it, what was the point of being alive?
When she learned that the Princess Consort wouldn’t go to the palace until after breakfast the next morning, Song Shi finally relaxed.
Tomorrow’s breakfast was her chance to secure her position as head chef!
References[+]