Chapter 38: Renting the Inn’s Kitchen

Chapter 38: Renting the Inn's Kitchen

After discussing, Third Sister-in-law handed the silver to Zhou Laoba.

According to He Zhiran's plan, she intended for everyone to squeeze into a ten-person room so they could look out for each other.

If any danger arose, she and Mo Jiuye would be able to protect them promptly.

Unexpectedly, Third Sister-in-law took the initiative.

Since Mother-in-law and Third Sister-in-law had already settled everything, and Mo Jiuye didn't object, Zhiran didn't intend to intervene either.

It was just sharing a room with Mo Jiuye—nothing too significant. If push came to shove, she could always sleep on the floor.

Peng Wang accepted the silver from Third Sister-in-law and looked at the other families.

"Are there any more who wish to book rooms?"

Of course, they wanted rooms. Who would willingly stay in the sheds outside? It made little difference from being outdoors.

Unfortunately, her pockets were emptier than her face, and she couldn't afford the room fee.

Seizing the opportunity, He Zhiran approached her second sister-in-law and discreetly handed her a tael of silver.

"Second Sister-in-law, please book a room for the Xie family!"

Holding the seemingly insignificant but suddenly weighty tael of silver, she replied, "I'll express our gratitude to Ninth Brother on behalf of Father and Mother."

At this moment, she didn't decline He Zhiran's offer, as it was something the Xie family desperately needed right now.

Despite the large size of the Xie family, squeezing together would still be better than staying outside.

This wasn't because He Zhiran was stingy.

After all, the conflict between the Xie and Mo families had yet to be fully resolved, and she didn't see the need to support others financially.

If the Xie family genuinely befriended the Mo family in the future, she would teach them skills to earn their own silver, ensuring they could have a more comfortable life.

The Xie family's acquisition of a ten-person residence has stirred a great deal of envy in the Fang household.

They all knew that the Xie family had a daughter who was the daughter-in-law of the Mo family, and it was with the Mo family's silver that she had facilitated the booking of this room.

Regrettably, the tension between their Fang family and the Mo family has yet to subside. It leaves them unable to find the words to ask for a loan of silver.

He Zhiran possessed exceptional observational skills, and in the blink of an eye, she noticed the conflicted expressions on the Fang family members' faces.

Recalling the ring Lady Zhao used to switch the fish today, it would easily be worth several hundred taels.

She didn't wish to be someone who took advantage of others' misfortune either. After some deliberation, she discreetly slipped a small silver coin to Madam Zhao.

Now, the Mo, Xie, and Fang families all had their own quarters.

Only the He and Li families were left.

Not only did they now harbor hatred towards the Mo family, but they also held grudges against the Xie and Fang families...

Zhou Laoba was efficient. After securing rooms with the silver given by the families, his sisters-in-law promptly carried Mo Jiuye inside.

It had to be said that these officials were skilled at extracting every bit of profit.

The five taels of silver for each room resulted in accommodations that appeared gloomy and damp. Under normal circumstances, one might be able to secure a night's stay for a mere hundred or eighty copper coins, provided no picky guests were encountered, or else they would surely find fault with the place.

However, He Zhiran understood that circumstances change, and despite the disappointing condition of the room, it was better than nothing. She swiftly arranged the bedding for Mo Jiuye, helping him lie down to rest before leaving the room.

Although everyone had enjoyed roasted fish for lunch, after an afternoon of travel, they were all famished by now. With the chance to rest in an inn, she was determined to take advantage of the available amenities.

The room allocated for Lady Mo and the other ladies was a pitiable sight. The stench of mold inside the room was one thing, but there was only a long, communal bed with filthy pillows shining from grime and several threadbare blankets whose original colors were barely discernible.

Lady Mo, known for her adaptability, couldn't help but remind her daughters-in-law and daughter, seeing their furrowed brows.

"Considering we spent last night in the wilderness, we should all be grateful for this place," she said.

"Mother, we understand and won't complain," they replied.

When He Zhiran arrived at the room where the ten of them were staying, she saw Old Lady Mo lecturing them. Although her intention was to arrange dinner for everyone, she thought it necessary to consult with the elders and seek her sisters-in-law's assistance.

"Mother, I plan to talk to the innkeeper and ask if we could use their kitchen to prepare dinner for everyone."

At the mention of dinner, the sisters-in-law's eyes lit up.

The eldest sister-in-law, who was skilled in cooking, promptly offered her help. "Younger Sister-in-law Ninth Brother, I can assist in the kitchen."

The fifth sister-in-law followed suit. "I can help too."

The others, despite their lack of culinary skills, eagerly volunteered to lend a hand as well.

Observing this harmonious family, He Zhiran couldn't help but feel grateful for her stroke of luck.

Though she had inexplicably found herself transported to this alien world, facing an arduous exile stretching through countless days and nights, the love she had gained from these new family members was a significant consolation.

"Sisters, this is just an idea of mine. I still need to discuss it with the shop owner; we'll see if it's feasible or not. Besides, our situation is unique – we can't afford lavish feasts. Two extra pairs of hands would be more than enough."

Upon hearing He Zhiran's words, everyone's gaze shifted to the eldest sister and fifth sister, both known for their culinary skills. They knew they should avoid causing chaos in the kitchen.

With her goal achieved, He Zhiran went out to seek the shopkeeper's approval. Of course, before doing so, she needed to inform the officials about her plan.

Directly seeking out Peng Wang, He Zhiran knew he had tasted her roasted fish and likely appreciated her cooking skills.

Moreover, the Mo family wouldn't cook without including the officers in their meal preparations.

Thus, Peng Wang agreed without hesitation; it was not his concern how he would communicate this to the owner.

With Peng Wang's permission, He Zhiran went to find the innkeeper.

Money could smooth the way, and despite being convicts, the allure of silver was irresistible even to the owner.

Accepting He Zhiran's bribe of three taels of silver, the owner declared that she could use anything in the kitchen as she pleased.

With matters settled, He Zhiran didn't immediately call her two sisters-in-law to help but went to the kitchen alone first.

Surveying the kitchen, she confirmed that there was white rice and flour, along with common vegetables like scallions, cabbage, and carrots.

Seeing that the kitchen only had lard and salt for seasoning, He Zhiran promptly retrieved some spices like Five-Spice Powder and star anise from her space based on the original owner's memory.

She also took out some vegetables available in this era: cucumbers, eggs, string beans, and a chunk of pork belly.

With numerous guests dining, the kitchen's fridge couldn't store an abundance of ingredients. She waited for them to regenerate before retrieving them in batches.

Moreover, she also poured some of the plant oil from her space into a kitchen bowl, along with a moderate amount of white sugar.

As for the broccoli, green beans, tomatoes, and the like in the fridge, He Zhiran didn't take them out even if she was craving them. She hadn't figured out how to explain the origin of these foods yet.

After preparing everything, she went to call her sisters-in-law for assistance.

Upon arrival, the two sisters-in-law glanced at the ingredients with delight shining in their eyes.

"Sister-in-law Ninth Brother, this inn is really good, providing such a variety of vegetables."

"Yes, and there's meat too!"

While chatting, the sisters-in-law started deftly washing and chopping the vegetables.