The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 727 - 726 Misunderstanding Due to a Freak Combination of Factors

Chapter 727: Chapter 726 Misunderstanding Due to a Freak Combination of Factors

Though she spoke so modestly, in reality, these two bundles of chives, along with a bundle of shepherd’s purse, were not cheap at this time of year.

Just these two types of seasonal vegetables were enough to cover the cost of vegetables for an ordinary family for half a month.

If she hadn’t arranged a special order with someone, how could it have been her turn to get them?

But what was a little bit of silver when it came to ensuring her own son could eat comfortably?

Of course, there was also the intention of intimidating Scholar Song’s rural mother-in-law a bit.

After all, she might have been with the Gu Family for several generations but, speaking openly, she was still of servile status; her own son and Scholar Song were classmates, and Scholar Song’s mother-in-law was an elder of the other party.

Lady Li had heard from her son about how formidable Old Madam Zhang was—formidable against others, which was pleasing to hear, but rather annoying if it was turned against oneself.

Therefore, she thought about putting Old Granny Zhang in her place a little; it would be better for everyone to be polite and respectful to each other.

Old Granny Zhang, although well-versed in the ways of the world, was ultimately limited by her background. In her eyes, these chives were not as good as those grown in Qilidun; as for shepherd’s purse, she didn’t fancy it much either. When the time came, Qili Slope was full of it everywhere.

There was so much that people couldn’t eat it all, and it was used to feed the pigs!

This showed how stingy the city people were, considering two bundles of chives and one bundle of shepherd’s purse as gifts worthy of a visit. Wasn’t the countryside better, where you could bring a couple of eggs and half a bag of brown sugar, which were more substantial?

With such meager gifts, Lady Li spoke politely, yet her tone and gaze revealed that she thought her visiting gift was quite valuable.

Old Granny Zhang felt pity in her heart: it seemed that the Capital City wasn’t as great as the plays or what others had said. Look, even the kitchen maids from the Capital City had not seen much of the world, considering wild vegetables used to feed pigs in the countryside as treasures.

At that moment, the little unease and inferiority she had felt immediately evaporated.

Right away, she held her head a bit higher, and her confidence grew.

As for Lady Li, upon seeing these two fine items, which would usually require some refusal wherever they were sent, claiming that such a visiting gift was too precious, weren’t there supposed to be a few polite words exchanged?

Yet, watching Old Granny Zhang accept them so casually, with just a glance and nonchalantly setting them aside, left Lady Li stunned, feeling that Scholar Song’s mother-in-law was somewhat inscrutable.

Instantly, any little scheming in her heart ceased, and the chin she had been holding up cautiously retracted.

Through an amusing turn of events, the atmosphere became harmonious for a moment.

Old Granny Zhang went inside to pour a glass of water for Lady Li and brought out a stool for her to sit on.

They exchanged a few pleasantries.

Lady Li, a kitchen maid who was swift with her hands, had drunk a couple of sips of tea and then offered to help pick the vegetables, making sure to compliment Old Granny Zhang in the process.

With her help, the vegetables were quickly picked clean.

Lady Li used the skills that once won over the steward’s wife in the kitchen, leaving Old Granny Zhang smiling ear to ear, and before long, they were calling each other "big sister" and "sister."

It was only after a while that Lady Li brought up her purpose for coming, to learn how to make chive boxes.

Old Granny Zhang was very generous, "What’s that worth? Since you brought chives today, let’s just make them at my place!"

With that, they picked and washed the chives and shepherd’s purse and went into the kitchen to get busy.

Old Granny Zhang had planned to make them once for Lady Li to watch, but Lady Li stopped her, "Big sister, just tell me how to do it, and I’ll make them!"

Old Granny Zhang didn’t decline, and shared with Lady Li the method her daughter had taught her the night before.

Since her own family was observing mourning, they could only eat vegetarian, so adding an egg was the limit.

The Gu Family had no such concerns, so the fillings they could add were much more varied—things like shiitake mushrooms, meat, and shrimp were all possible.

Being an experienced kitchen maid, Lady Li understood everything after Old Granny Zhang finished explaining.

First, the vermicelli was soaked in hot water until soft, and then the dough was quickly and skillfully mixed. While the dough was resting, the eggs were stir-fried to completion, and the vermicelli, now ready, was chopped up. The chives and shepherd’s purse were chopped as well and mixed separately with the eggs to form the filling.

Then, once the dough had risen, one person rolled out the skins, and another wrapped them, working in perfect harmony.

Then they were put into the pan.

The first one was a slight failure, with a bit burnt.

Lady Li quickly adjusted, and in no time, she fried a plate full of fragrant chive and shepherd’s purse pockets.

The rest, if fried and then left to cool, would not taste good, so they simply covered them with cloth and would fry them when it was time to eat.

The two tasted them, and Lady Li couldn’t help but give a thumbs-up.

She didn’t expect such a simple and unassuming dish to be so delicious.

She didn’t expect this so-called country granny to have such skills; she shouldn’t be underestimated.

Suddenly, her attitude towards Old Granny Zhang became even more respectful.

Although Old Granny Zhang didn’t understand why Lady Li’s attitude had been somewhat standoffish at first when entering the door, as soon as she came in, Lady Li’s demeanor improved a lot.

But she didn’t dwell on it much. Lady Li spoke pleasantly and behaved insightfully, with proper measure. It seemed they could become closer in the future.

As for Wang Yongzhu, upon arriving at Riches Dye Workshop, Ninth Master Lee and Shopkeeper Wu were already waiting there.

When they saw Wang Yongzhu arrive, they quickly welcomed her inside.

Yesterday, they had scouted several dyers from Jing County, hiring them at a high price.

These dyers had been ready at the workshop since early morning.

Wang Yongzhu was not shy, and upon entering the workshop, she first asked for a large pot to heat water, then had someone bring out a bolt of fabric to test. Indeed, after boiling the fabric in the pot for a while, the water turned red.

Wang Yongzhu observed the ratio between water and fabric, then added a few more bolts of fabric until the redness faded. Only after that did she toss in a tightly sewn cloth bag.

The bag was filled with powdered madder root and alum.

As the bag thrashed about in the water, it was visibly changing the water’s color, turning it redder and deeper.

The fabric emerging above the water’s surface also soaked up the color, gradually and significantly changing.

Seeing the color was about right, Wang Yongzhu hurriedly asked to have the fire withdrawn from under the pot, "Just like that, let the fabric stay in the pot overnight. Come morning, we’ll take it out to air dry."

"It should be dry by the afternoon; I’ll come back to check on it tomorrow. First, it will be rinsed twice, and if the color doesn’t fade, it will be a success!"

Everyone looked at the fabric in the pot and nodded in agreement.

Ninth Master Lee instructed his people to watch over the pot carefully, not letting anyone approach it easily.

Having given these instructions, Wang Yongzhu was about to leave.

Yang the Mute had been watching the whole time and now pulled out a stick, making his way toward the pot.

He was firmly stopped by the dyers brought by Ninth Master Lee: "What are you doing? If you ruin the fabric, what will we do?"

Seeing this scene, Ninth Master Lee and Shopkeeper Wu’s faces darkened instantly.

Wang Yongzhu hurriedly said, "No matter, stirring more can make the dye more even."

Then she asked Yang the Mute, "Uncle Yang, what is it?"

Yang the Mute gestured and groaned for a while until Wang Yongzhu understood: "Are you saying you want to retrieve the cloth bag I threw in?"