Taking the opportunity, Guan Xiyue proposed a condition:
“You can have the recipe, but return my contract of sale to me. I’m not going to be a concubine anymore.”
Wan Shi was shocked.
“That absolutely won’t do! You’re the lucky star of our family. We’ve never mistreated you. Besides, aren’t you quite fond of Zhengye? I’m still counting on you to bear children and expand the Zhou family line.”
Just then, Yu Shi came to pay her respects. Pretending not to know that Guan Xiyue had been summoned to the main courtyard, she was actually there to gauge her in-laws’ attitude.
She wanted to know what made Guan Yiniang so valued besides being the “lucky star” brought in to ward off misfortune.
Guan Xiyue curled her lips and complained in front of Yu Shi:
“Lucky star? In the Zhou family I can’t even get enough food to eat. Is this how you treat your lucky star? Aren’t you afraid of losing your good fortune?”
Yu Shi reacted quickly and immediately admitted fault.
She explained that Guan Yiniang had offended her parents-in-law yesterday, so the lack of food had merely been a minor punishment.
Wan Shi put on a benevolent act.
“You are both daughters-in-law of the Zhou family. One wife, one concubine—you are both our right and left hands. There mustn’t be any internal conflict.”
Yu Shi lowered her eyes obediently and nodded.
Guan Xiyue could not be bothered with such talk.
“Let me eat my fill first.”
Wan Shi immediately ordered food to be served.
More than a dozen dishes were brought out. Since arriving from the twenty-first century, Guan Xiyue had finally enjoyed a meal that left her completely satisfied.
After she had eaten and drunk her fill, Wan Shi assumed the recipe was within reach and resumed persuading her.
“Xiyue, a woman should regard her husband as her heaven. Men hold up the sky for women, and women shouldn’t drag them down.”
Seeing the curiosity in Yu Shi’s eyes, Guan Xiyue suddenly felt like teasing her.
“Madam is absolutely right! In that case, Eldest Young Madam should hand over her dowry to the Zhou family.”
Yu Shi blurted out reflexively:
“How is that possible?”
Seeing the displeasure on Wan Shi’s face, she hurried to correct herself.
“Why would the family want my little dowry? It’s only enough to buy some cosmetics and personal necessities.”
Guan Xiyue smiled leisurely.
“Exactly. Why would the family want my little property either?”
Yu Shi’s contempt was written plainly across her face.
“What dowry could you possibly have? You’re nothing but a concubine bought by the Zhou family for twenty taels of silver. A dowry? Please. Judging by how poor your family was—so poor they probably shared a single pair of trousers—how could they afford a dowry for you?”
Guan Xiyue spread her hands.
“Then why are Master Zhou and Madam Zhou so concerned about the little things that belong to me?”
Seeing Wan Shi on the verge of anger, Guan Xiyue quickly soothed her.
“Madam needn’t worry. Selling the recipe may have been my oversight, but just wait and see—their braised pork won’t stay popular for long. They’ll soon run out of ingredients.”
Yu Shi’s eyes widened.
Braised pork!
She had naturally heard the rumors.
Dongkang Restaurant had introduced a new dish, and she had even sent servants to buy some. It was indeed delicious, unlike any meat dish she had tasted before.
She had never imagined that the recipe had been sold by the seemingly insignificant Guan Yiniang.
Thinking of the enormous profits the dish could generate over time, she immediately became furious.
“You shameless woman! That’s betraying your masters! You gave away the family’s property to outsiders for nothing!”
Her words struck directly at Wan Shi’s heart.
At the same time, Guan Xiyue once again witnessed just how shameless these people could be.
What astonishing double standards!
She had thought Yu Shi might sympathize with her a little. After all, when it came to private property and dowries, their interests should have aligned.
Yet Yu Shi fiercely protected her own dowry while clearly regarding Guan Xiyue’s personal property as belonging to the Zhou family.
The tragic reality was that a lowly concubine like her was indeed considered part of the household’s property.
Until she left the Zhou family, she had no choice but to rely on them.
Guan Xiyue softened her tone.
“I already taught the recipe to Old Wang in the kitchen. The only reason he can’t make it is because there are no ingredients left. If you don’t believe me, ask him. Dongkang Restaurant’s supply will run out soon as well, so Madam and Master needn’t worry.”
Leaving the main courtyard together, Yu Shi found herself increasingly wary after learning about the recipe.
This concubine was truly irritating.
She had entered the household carrying the title of “lucky star.” Fortunately, she was plain-looking.
Originally, Yu Shi had thought she could simply ignore her.
Who would have guessed she would come up with some valuable recipe?
She was like a piece of tofu dropped into ashes—too delicate to blow clean, yet impossible to strike.
The feeling that Guan Xiyue could not be easily controlled made Yu Shi extremely frustrated.
Fortunately, the woman dressed in gaudy colors every day. She was plump, with a round face like a pancake.
Though her skin was fair, anyone looking at her would notice her double chin first.
Not the slightest romantic thought could arise.
Naturally, Guan Xiyue understood exactly what Yu Shi was thinking from the look of disgust in her eyes.
She did not care.
They were all merely passing figures in her life—stepping stones.
She silently repeated those words to herself.
“Eldest Young Madam, how much is my monthly allowance? And where do I collect it?”
Guan Xiyue suddenly asked.
Startled, Yu Shi looked even more disdainful.
“You gave your precious recipe away to outsiders, yet now you remember to ask for your allowance? Originally you received eight hundred copper coins a month. Not anymore. You repeatedly angered Madam and Master and showed filial disrespect. Your allowance for the next three months is confiscated.”
Guan Xiyue had never really expected to get any money from the Zhou family.
She had only been curious about the salary of a concubine.
Only eight hundred copper coins?
That was barely enough to eat braised pork at Dongkang Restaurant two or three times.
Tsk, tsk.
Exploitative capitalists indeed.
Just as Guan Xiyue had predicted, Dongkang Restaurant’s braised pork became wildly popular—but only for three days.
After three days, they ran out of star anise.
The Zhou family finally felt somewhat better.
Still, even with only three days of business, the restaurant had made a fortune.
The four members of the Zhou family unanimously concluded that Guan Xiyue was an “ungrateful, white-eyed wolf.”
Meanwhile, Guan Xiyue lay sprawled across her bed without any concern for appearances, thinking only about how to leave the Zhou family.
She possessed a contract of sale and could be sold at any time.
The household registration system of this era was extremely strict.
As a registered servant, escape was virtually impossible. Running away was a crime.
Even if she somehow succeeded, she could not travel freely. She would need travel permits and official documents.
No matter where she went, she had to possess legal registration proving her identity.
In Xiaoyun’s eyes, Guan Xiyue had already flown from a mountain nest into a golden nest.
She truly could not understand why Guan Yiniang refused to curry favor with Master and Madam.
If Guan Xiyue gained status, Xiaoyun would benefit as well.
Seeing Guan Xiyue’s complete lack of ambition, Xiaoyun became increasingly lazy herself.
Fortunately, in every household there were always people who loved gossip.
From the maids and older servants, Guan Xiyue learned that Wan Shi planned to visit a Daoist temple in a few days to donate incense money, pray for peace and prosperity for the family, and fulfill a previous vow.
She immediately realized that this was a golden opportunity.