Time Travel: The Noble Family
Chapter 329 - Chapter 329 Chapter 118 Temple Life_4

Chapter 329: Chapter 118: Temple Life_4 Chapter 329: Chapter 118: Temple Life_4 Qiao Lan didn’t respond, simply saying, “Go serve the dishes, it’s already dark.” Qiao Lan felt that night fell earlier in the mountains than in the Capital City.

Hua Lei lit the palm oil lamp and placed it on the table. The dinner was very simple, only four dishes: green vegetable leaves, stir-fried eggplant with green beans, Mapo tofu, and egg drop soup.

Although Nanny Hao’s cooking skills were actually not bad, Hua Lei’s rice was burnt. Hua Lei used to have decent cooking skills in the countryside, but now she was out of practice and had lost control.

Yueying, accustomed to delicacies, couldn’t stomach such food, and she put her chopsticks down after only a few bites. Such food was hardly fit for human consumption. The rice was burnt, and the dishes were bland. Yueying used to think the food in her own courtyard was bad, but now it seemed delicious compared to this.

Yueyao, however, didn’t even frown as she ate slowly and elegantly, as if completely unaware of the burnt rice. In fact, it was Yueying who was too delicate; although the bottom layer of the rice was burnt, the top was not affected. Although the dishes couldn’t compare to a kitchen maid’s, they weren’t inedible. In the mountains, being full was the goal; one couldn’t expect gourmet meals.

Seeing Yueyao’s demeanor was more upsetting for Hua Lei than watching Yueying’s disdainful expression; she felt she had let her mistress down. Next time, she definitely couldn’t burn the food again.

Yueyao chewed and swallowed slowly, yet she finished two bowls of rice. No matter how unpalatable the food, Yueyao would eat two bowls of rice every day, and it was because of this strict habit that her health was so good.

It was a rule that the subordinates could only eat after their master had finished. After Yueyao put down her chopsticks and cleaned her hands, she went back inside, followed by Yueying.

Cai Lan took only a few bites before putting down her chopsticks, saying discontentedly, “Who made this awful food? Is this even edible?” Even pigs wouldn’t eat such a meal.

Hua Lei’s face darkened as she said, “If you don’t want to eat, then don’t eat. No one is begging you to.” She was furious that someone who lifted not a finger to cook dared to complain about her food.

Qiao Lan gave Hua Lei a meaningful look, and seeing Yueyao and Yueying coming out of the room, Hua Lei wisely stopped talking.

Yueyao turned to Cai Lan and said, “I heard from Nanny Hao that not only did you not help with dinner tonight, but you also stood by giving unsolicited advice?” It was because of her hunger that Cai Lan had gone over and said a few words.

Yueying, unaware of the incident, immediately asked, “Cai Lan, what’s this all about?”

Hurriedly, Cai Lan responded, “Miss, I wasn’t interfering, I only commented on their slow progress. Third Young Lady, I didn’t give orders in front of them; they are Third Young Lady’s personal maids and Nanny Hao. I wouldn’t dare to do so.”

Yueyao, not deeming it worthy to argue with Cai Lan, said disdainfully, “Eldest sister, since we didn’t bring any coarse maids or kitchen maids up the mountain, they will now have to do the laundry, cook, carry water, chop wood, and sweep the courtyard.”

Yueying naturally nodded in agreement, as if the idea of her doing such chores was absurd, saying, “Of course, from tomorrow on, they should assist Nanny Hao.”

Yueyao didn’t assign tasks immediately but said to Cai Lan, “Since you find the food distasteful, you’ll take over the kitchen from now on.”

Hua Lei was about to speak against it but was stopped by Qiao Lan squeezing her hand, and she prudently remained silent.

Cai Lan had never done hard labor or cooked before. Of course, not to mention she didn’t know how to do it, she had no intention of being stuck in the kitchen. The kitchen was full of greasy fumes; going there would surely turn her into a yellow-faced woman. How could she preserve her perfect skin and tender white hands?

Seeing that Yueying had no objections and the four maids kept silent, Yueyao then assigned the duties, “Nanny Hao’s cooking is passable; from now on, she takes charge of the kitchen. The four of you will take turns assisting her. As for carrying water, chopping wood, and other menial tasks–that you four will divide among yourselves. Speak up, what will each of you do?” Sweeping the courtyard was a minor matter, but the most grueling tasks were carrying water and chopping wood–generally, too tough for young ladies to endure.

Qiao Lan conducted herself gracefully, “You two choose first,” giving the choice to Cai Lan and her companion.

Cai Lan’s complexion had turned the color of soy sauce. To think they had to haul water and chop firewood–was there anything more horrendous than this? Cai Lan looked at her own hands, as white and tender as scallions, and pondered for a while before saying, “We’ll haul water.” Compared to chopping wood, she’d rather haul water. Carrying water might press down on her shoulders, but chopping firewood could ruin her hands.

Hua Lei thought chopping wood was a headache too, but since Qiao Lan had courteously yielded the choice, it would be impolite to go back on it now, so she replied, “In that case, we’ll take chopping firewood.”

Yueyao glanced at Cai Lan and said, “Since you have already made your choice, I won’t say much else. Just remember, don’t look for excuses if you can’t get the work done later.” Yueyao’s statement was a direct warning to Cai Lan, seeing that this maid was someone accustomed to comfort and not to hardship.

Cai Lan quickly lowered her head. No matter how discontent she was inside, she didn’t dare say anything.

Yueying thought this arrangement was very good. Although she felt that this kind of heavy labor wasn’t fitting for a Personal Maid, there was no one else to do it, and certainly it couldn’t be her, she said, “Since the Third Young Lady has made the arrangements, let’s go ahead with that!”

Once Yueying had spoken, the matter was settled.

After dinner, as it had already gotten dark, Yueyao didn’t go out. She just walked around the small courtyard to aid digestion, and then returned to her room to practice her calligraphy.

The kerosene lamp’s light was too dim; Yueyao was unwilling to use it. It was fine for dining, but for practicing calligraphy and reading, she absolutely couldn’t use a kerosene lamp. She asked Hua Lei to light some candles instead.

Hua Lei truly admired her mistress for even remembering to bring candles. At Lian Mansion, Yueyao used two candles every day as the light from a single candle was too dim. Yueyao didn’t mind the expense of candles. This time, Hua Lei naturally also lit two candles.

Once Yueyao settled down to practice her calligraphy, Hua Lei pulled Qiao Lan back to the outer room and said, “Why did we let them choose hauling water and we take chopping wood? Where do we have the strength to chop wood?” With their meager strength, they couldn’t possibly manage it.

Qiao Lan chuckled softly, “The wood is delivered by the temple. Tomorrow, we’ll go and plead with the temple’s steward. If they can send over the chopped firewood, that’ll be that.” If all else fails, they could just pay them. It was definitely not feasible for them to chop the wood themselves.

Hua Lei clapped her hands, “That’s a brilliant idea. That will surely infuriate them.” Hua Lei hadn’t even considered what they would do in case the monks from the temple refused to help.

Hua Lei and Qiao Lan went to help in the kitchen, but Nanny Hao didn’t let them, saying, “Don’t get involved with these greasy things; it will damage your hands.” Washing rice, cooking, and cleaning vegetables were fine, but constantly being exposed to salt water would surely make the hands less pleasant to look at. Nanny Hao had been with Hua Lei and Qiao Lan for quite some time and genuinely cared for them. As for herself, at her age, she was unconcerned with these matters.

Hua Lei and Qiao Lan obediently returned to their room with nothing to do, so they took their needlework to Yueyao’s room and began sewing.

Nanny Hao walked over and saw the three of them each busy with their own activities by candlelight, and felt a sense of harmony. Unconsciously, her own heart settled. Although life on the mountain was tiring and difficult, her heart felt more at peace.

The reason Hua Lei and Qiao Lan and the others adapted so quickly without any complaints was that they had been mentally prepared for this. It was different for Cai Qing and Cai Lan; neither of them was prepared at all. Cai Qing was somewhat better, as she tried hard to adapt despite being unaccustomed to the work, while Cai Lan simply couldn’t handle it. She had never been through such hardships in her life.

After having her evening meal, Yueying wanted nothing more than to sleep–today had been truly exhausting.

Cai Lan went to the kitchen to fetch hot water for Yueying. Once Yueying had settled in for the night, she too fetched some water to wash up. After finishing, they all climbed into bed, worn out, and fell asleep as soon as they lay down.