Transmigration: The Little Chef Calls The Shots
Chapter 1235 - 144 Cicada Wing (Third Watch)

Chapter 1235: 144 Cicada Wing (Third Watch)

"Madam Wu," said Madam Cheng sincerely yet without flattery, "as you have seen, it’s not that the Red Smoke Pavilion wishes to disrespect you, but the longstanding rules have made it difficult for everyone to accept. However, if we can find a solution that satisfies everyone, I hope Madam Wu will grant us this favor." Lady Du found herself unable to refute or find fault with these words and reluctantly nodded in agreement.

Seeing her consent, Madam Cheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief and with a smile turned to Lady Jiang, "Madam Chen, from what I gathered in your earlier words, could it be that you have thought of a perfect solution? Please enlighten us. I am already grateful."

Despite Lady Jiang’s aversion to Lady Du, she was a remarkably astute and smooth operator in public affairs, and naturally understood that Madam Cheng was now aligning herself with Lady Jiang.

Immediately, Lady Jiang smiled and nodded, "Sister Cheng, you are too kind. There’s nothing to thank me for. Let me be frank, our Chen family has recently developed a type of Light Gauze that is quite unique. Among its other qualities, its most notable feature is that it is thin yet not transparent."

After pausing, she looked towards Lady Du with a teasing smile, "Didn’t you just say your daughter is afflicted with a chill and must not catch cold? Well then, I can use our Chen family’s newest Light Gauze to create a Curtain Lattice for your daughter. It will ensure that no breeze passes through, while also allowing your daughter’s face to be seen. Isn’t this a perfect solution?"

Naturally, this was an excellent idea. Upon hearing of this Light Gauze, Madam Cheng’s eyes sparkled with excitement, eager to see such a material for herself. The usual gauze she encountered was thin and transparent, easily torn with a slight tug, and even the highest quality gauze could not prevent the wind from passing through.

It was unexpected that the Chen family could weave a Light Gauze that was thin yet not permeable. It seemed the Chen family truly had skill.

This thought wasn’t unique to Madam Cheng; Lady Du’s complexion changed, betraying both shock and urgency, her concerns focused on her beloved daughter.

"I feel..." she began.

But before Lady Du could finish, Lady Jiang had already cut her off, waving her hand and grinning mischievously, "Madam Wu needn’t rush to thank me. After all, this Curtain Lattice is just to be lent to your daughter to use. As long as it ensures the competition at the Red Smoke Pavilion goes smoothly, I won’t mind parting with my Light Gauze. Servant, bring the item here!"

At her command, a maid quickly walked away.

Before Lady Du could muster a rebuttal, the maid was already hastening back, carrying a tray with a neatly folded piece of Light Gauze that seemed faintly pink.

As the maid drew closer, everyone suddenly realized that the gauze wasn’t pink at all. It was colorless, and the subtle pink hue was actually the color of the clothes the maid wore.

The crowd was astounded to see the color of the clothing show through several layers of the gauze. Looking carefully, one could even make out the pattern embroidered on the maid’s dress—a truly unheard-of quality for Light Gauze!

Madam Chen was extremely pleased with everyone’s reaction. She sought precisely this effect and otherwise wouldn’t have accepted Madam Cheng’s invitation to attend the finale at the Red Smoke Pavilion.

Lifting the Light Gauze from the maid’s tray, Lady Jiang glanced at the now ashen-faced Lady Du and smiled triumphantly, "This is our Chen family’s latest creation, the Light Gauze. It has a very charming name called ’Cicada Wing.’ Without hiding anything from you, this name was thought up by my dear daughter!"

Lady Jiang looked at Chen Leyao, who had already taken her seat in front of her embroidery frame, with undisguised affection and admiration shining in her eyes.

Contrasting with Lady Jiang’s smugness, Lady Du wished she could find a crack in the floor to crawl into. She finally understood why Lady Jiang had deliberately antagonized her and offered a seemingly perfect solution. It was all premeditated: to embarrass her while also promoting their Chen family’s newly-created "Cicada Wing."

Madam Cheng had also come to a realization, It turned out that Lady Jiang treated this competition at the Red Smoke Pavilion as a free promotional venue. Today, under this grand occasion, although the crowd surrounding the stage were ordinary people, seated within the surrounding teahouses and taverns were no shortage of officials and nobles from various households in the Capital city, with a majority being female.

For this kind of thin and delicate veil that was as light as cicada’s wings and opaque, women were the least able to resist its allure.

Madam Cheng glanced deeply at Lady Jiang, admiring her while feeling more wary of this seemingly gentle woman. She felt fortunate that she was not her competitor; otherwise, dealing with someone like her would be tricky.

"How about it, Madam Wu? Hurry and let your daughter change into that light gauze. Look, everyone is too impatient to start the contest, and it wouldn’t be right for your daughter to delay everyone’s time like this, would it? If she doesn’t change, could it be that there is something fishy going on?" Lady Jiang smiled and picked up the veil that was as thin as cicada’s wings, and when she picked it up, everyone realized that this gauze had already been expertly made into a Curtain Lattice.

Lady Du’s mouth twitched uncontrollably, her beautiful eyes aflame with rage as her heart was knotted with anger. Clearly, Jiang Yue’e had come prepared today. Could it be that she had discovered something?

Cheng Haoxuan, who had been smiling at the drama all along, finally chuckled, though not out of happiness. He was reluctant to take over the Red Smoke Pavilion largely because he disliked seeing the intrigues between women - too exhausting! Cooking was the best, where he only had to deal with ingredients and be free from all the worries.

Knowing that it was impossible not to change the Curtain Lattice now, Lady Du cast a seemingly casual glance at the crowd beneath the stage, took a deep breath, and spoke through gritted teeth, "Fine, but my daughter has caught a cold and cannot change out in the open. I hope for Madam Cheng’s understanding, we will change in the room and then come out."

Naturally, even if Wu Hanyu were not under the weather, Madam Cheng would not allow her to change the Curtain Lattice in public.

Lady Jiang had no objections, as long as Wu Hanyu attended the competition. As for who was on the stage right now, she did not care.

As Wu Hanyu, dressed in the Curtain Lattice, left the stage, the whisperings of the onlookers slowly began to wane. However, their discussions had shifted to focus on the Chen family’s gauze.

Lin Yuan curled her lips into a smile, filled with profound meaning.

Xia Zheng glanced at her and asked, "What? Are you interested in that gauze as well?"

"To make an entrance in such a fashion, which woman would not be interested in that gauze?" Tilting her head slightly, Lin Yuan’s eyes twinkled rapidly, revealing a mischievous cuteness that left Xia Zheng with his heart racing.

Indeed, Madam Chen was a formidable figure. Whether or not she had devised the plot, her ability to make Madam Cheng agree to reveal the gauze without any traces was quite the feat.

Moreover, she had even anticipated that there was a problem with the lady on the stage, a testament to her incisive thinking.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, Wu Hanyu, now wearing the transparent Curtain Lattice, made her appearance on the stage, and indeed, as Madam Chen had said, the Curtain Lattice was delicate yet not see-through.

As Wu Hanyu appeared on the stage, Lin Yuan and her companions’ eyes widened in astonishment!

How could it be him?!