Chapter 87

Chapter 87

Upon Lady Rong's departure, Xing Huang eagerly opened the box, letting out a small gasp of admiration. "This is far too beautiful."

Inside were over ten pieces of jewelry, ranging from hairpins to bracelets, earrings, and rings. Xing Huang picked up a golden hairpin and examined it. "It's even made with filigree work."

The hairpin she held was entirely crafted from gold, with its head intricately designed to depict a phoenix spreading its wings in flight. The bird's beak held a tassel made of gold threads.

After holding it in her hand for a moment, Xing Huang turned to Lu Wei's hair, comparing the hairpin against it. She found the perfect spot and inserted it. "Indeed, it looks lovely. When I saw this golden hairpin, I knew it would suit Sister Lu Wei perfectly."

Lu Wei smiled and inquired, "Oh? Are you planning to give this to me?"

Xing Huang pursed her lips and chuckled. "Of course, we all contributed to making the bread. The rewards shouldn't solely benefit me."

Xue Qing chuckled. "Well, then we'll be benefiting from your generosity today."

Gently elbowing her, Xing Huang teased, "Off with you."

Meihong glanced at the box, noticing how delicate and genuine the jewelry was. Each piece must have been worth several tens of silver taels. "This is far too valuable," she said, directing her gaze towards the rings and earrings inside, which, being smaller, were likely less expensive.

Xing Huang took out another gold hairpin intricately crafted into a floral design and held it against Meihong's hair. "Don't refuse. This one doesn't seem to match quite right, though. Your taste is better than mine; you pick something yourself. I plan to give that ring and earrings to Mei'er and the others. You can't have a choice in this."

Meng Die chimed in, "Go on, pick something. We all contributed, so the rewards should be shared too. Am I included?"

Xing Huang smirked. "You've already received the silver, so there won't be any jewelry for you. Speaking of which, just remembering how those matrons and young maids stood guard at the door makes me laugh now. They looked like they were facing an army of monsters. Shouldn't Second Madam reward their dedication?"

Meng Die replied, "I've already given them some money as a reward."

Looking at the box filled with jewelry, Xing Huang said, "Who wouldn't want jewelry? Perhaps Second Madam could craft a few more silver hairpins or bracelets to reward them?"

Meng Die shrugged. "Well, you see, not only did I fail to acquire any jewelry, but I've also ended up spending more silver."

The crowd burst into laughter.

In the end, Meng Die still instructed Nanny Fan to have a set of silver hairpins and bracelets crafted. After giving her instructions, Meng Die deliberately grumbled, "Nanny, tell me, is there such a maid who spends my money day in and day out?"

Nanny Fan chuckled. "Money just remains a figure when it's saved. It truly becomes valuable when spent wisely and should be used accordingly."

Meng Die: ...

The maidservants in the room couldn't help but laugh again.

When Nurse Fan came out, Li'er approached her. "Nurse, I heard that Second Madam is going to have silver jewelry made for Xiao Hong and the other girls, as well as Mother Zhao, right?"

Nurse Fan nodded.

Li'er took out a piece of silver. "Nurse, please make me a silver hairpin too. You can decide on the design. It's for my mother. Usually, the craftsmanship fees are quite expensive, but if we do it together now, it might be a bit cheaper."

Nurse Fan took the silver ingot. "No problem at all."

Mei'er and the others gathered around, each presenting their silver ingots. Nanny Fan's face was beaming with delight. "It's heartwarming that all of you are so filial. Once I've had them crafted, I'll send them over to you."

"Thank you, Nanny."

That evening, when no one was around, Xing Huang confided in Meng Die, "Those people were so obvious. There were exactly nine pieces of jewelry, divided into three price tiers. The finest golden phoenix hairpin is clearly meant for Sister Lu Wei, but they said it was for me. Do they really think I'm stupid?"

Meng Die chuckled. "They're not treating you as a fool. It wouldn't be proper for those merchants to say they're giving gifts to everyone. Since you're in the inner courtyard, there are things better left unsaid. They used your intentions as a cover."

Xing Huang also laughed. "But they're certainly willing to invest. Just estimating roughly, these few pieces of jewelry must have cost several hundred taels of silver. Why would they give us such valuable presents?"

Meng Die: "It's just to leave a good impression. If you remember the favor of these accessories and speak a good word for them in the future when I have more valuable items, they might be favored again. Even if you don't praise them, with the bond formed by this gift, they won't lose out by not speaking ill of them."

Xing Huang scoffed. "They sure are calculative."

Meng Die chuckled. "How can one do business without being shrewd? Trading is never easy, with profits and losses always at stake. Besides, those officials overseeing them aren't exactly easy to deal with either."

Xing Huang pondered. "We should have sold the recipe for more. I specially asked Sister Lu Wei today. She said that in our Great Yi Dynasty, there are over six hundred counties. The cost price of a milk-scented bread is sixty wen, while merchants sell it for one hundred wen each. This price is definitely feasible for a shop in a county town. Ordinary folks with some spare cash can occasionally buy one or two for their elderly or children without affecting their livelihood. A shop in a single county can surely earn thirty to forty taels of silver a year. Adding in the potential of opening shops in prefectural cities, earning ten thousand taels in five years would be effortless. If they got two recipes for free, I'd be generous too."

Meng Die couldn't help but laugh.

Having obtained the recipe for the steamed cake, Xing Huang's latest batch turned out even more tender and fluffy. Meng Die praised it nonstop as she savored it.

Meihong discreetly stuck out her tongue; she couldn't tell the difference between cakes made with steamed dough and those made without.

Though the cake issue was resolved, progress on the cream remained sluggish. However, with Meng Die's guidance and Xing Huang's persistent efforts, they managed to create a variety of small desserts, such as cream puddings, Snow White Mochi, Swiss rolls, and towel rolls, within just a few days.

Every time they crafted a new dessert, Meng Die would send her maidservants to distribute samples to everyone.

During one of the daily greetings, Madam Wu couldn't help but comment, "Ever since Butterfly started experimenting with sweets, we've been receiving them regularly. Even Ming'er mentioned yesterday that she's putting on weight."

Fang: "You're reluctant to eat even when I offer it to you?"

Wu, with a pained expression: "Can you really endure getting fat?"

Fang immediately fell silent.

Zhou, throwing aside her handkerchief: "I'm incredibly delighted every time I eat. But at night, after looking at the flesh on my body, I can't help but think that I won't touch a bite if Sister Die sends more food tomorrow. Yet, when Sister Die does send more, I end up eating more joyfully than anyone else."

Haha... Laughter erupted in the room!

Meng Die chuckled with malice, "I've just whipped up a new dessert today. Aunts, do you really want to give it a try or not?"

Madame Wu clutched her forehead in distress, "Yes, we must."

Madame Zhou replied fiercely, "I'll eat it even if it makes me gain more weight."

The laughter in the room was so boisterous that it threatened to lift the roof off.

Lady Hou laughed until she was almost prostrate, "That's not being fat! That's called being blessed with good fortune."

Within a few days, Foster Mother Fan returned with the finished jewelry. Meng Die immediately distributed the accessories. Each of the four serving women and maids received a pair of bracelets and two silver hairpins.

Li'er held up the silver hairpin she had designed as she entered the kitchen. "Sister Mu, does the kitchen have any pork skin? Our Second Lady hasn't had much of an appetite these past couple of days. Yesterday, the doctor said it's due to excessive internal heat and loss of yin fluids. He recommended making pigskin jelly for her."

Mu Youfu's wife promptly replied, "Of course, we always have fresh pork skin available. We can certainly prepare it for Second Lady."

Li'er smiled. "Thank you so much. It's perfect since Sister Xing Huang has been busy lately." As she spoke, Li'er gave Mu Youfu's wife two taels of silver. "Let's start with three days worth."

Mu Youfu's wife demurred. "Pork skin is considered a byproduct; it doesn't count in our kitchen's records."

Li'er: "Preparing this pigskin jelly requires a substantial amount of firewood. Auntie might need to assign someone specifically for that task, which means their original duties will fall on others. This bit of silver can cover the cost of firewood and treat everyone to a cup of tea."

Mu Youfu's family gratefully accepted the money: "Thank you, Second Lady, thank you, Miss Li'er."

Seeing that her sister-in-law was not occupied, Li'er called out, "Sister."

Wu Nainai promptly responded, "Miss, what can I do for you?"

Li'er took out the silver hairpin from her chest: "A few days ago, I received a reward. I asked Nurse Fan to make a silver hairpin for Mother. As I've been busy and won't be going home soon, please take it back to my mother when you return."

Wu Niangzi took the hairpin and said, "Our Miss is so filial. Mother will be overjoyed to receive this."

Li'er smiled brightly. "Then I'll take my leave first."

After she left, someone in the kitchen remarked, "Second Madam is truly generous. Just now, I saw that the earring on Miss Li'er's ear was made of gold, with a pearl hanging from it, round and smooth."

Mu Youfu's wife chuckled. "Second Madam is indeed generous, but Miss Li'er is also skilled at her duties. Otherwise, how could she have received such a reward?"

Another woman chimed in, "Sister speaks the truth. Miss Li'er has become even more beautiful and vivacious. She also appears more composed. It's unknown which fortunate young man will have the luck to marry her in the future."

From the Mu family: "Has Li'er not yet been promised to someone?"

Wu Nai Shi chuckled. "Not yet. The last time Mother mentioned her marriage, she said there's no rush. She's been busy lately. So busy, in fact, that she hasn't had time to come home."

That evening, Wu Nai Shi passed the silver hairpin to Madam Zhao. Overjoyed, Madam Zhao promptly pinned it in her hair, admiring her reflection in the water from every angle. She was utterly pleased. "Our Li'er truly has filial piety."

Wu Miao also chimed in happily, "And talent too. Without talent, how could she earn rewards like this? A silver hairpin on her first try."

Wu Nai Shi smiled. "Our girl has got talent. Today, I noticed those earrings she wore in her ears up close. They were made of gold and exquisitely crafted."

Lady Zhao became even more pleased with herself. "Li'er truly is blessed. Look, she's now adorned in gold and silver."

Second Girl turned and left. Lady Wu subtly rolled her eyes, unable to comprehend how two siblings from the same womb could have such contrasting qualities – one diligent and amiable, the other lazy and overly ambitious.

"Uncle Wu, Auntie Zhao."

Wu Miao emerged. "Peng Boy, why are you here?"

Ma Ping smiled. "Some relatives from our countryside were lucky enough to find a good haul of wild mushrooms yesterday. They sent some to us, and I remembered that Uncle Wu also enjoys them, so I brought a portion for you to savor as well."

Lady Zhao took the basin and transferred the mushrooms into her own: "These mushrooms look exceptionally good."

Wu Miao replied, "You're so thoughtful, still thinking of me. Come, come in. Have dinner with us tonight."

"Uncle Wu, thank you, but no need. The meal at my place is already prepared, waiting for me to join them."

Wu Miao chuckled warmly: "Alright then, I won't insist. Drop by anytime when you're free."

"Sure."

Madam Zhao observed Ma Ping's departing figure and remarked, "That boy isn't bad."

Wu Miao curled her lips. "Don't go spouting nonsense. What's so good about him? Does he think he can have a crush on our Li'er just like that? Don't be foolish for a couple of mushrooms."

Madam Zhao suddenly understood. "I see now. That's why he was so kind to send us mushrooms. He has his eyes on Li'er, huh? Phew, he should first take a good look at himself and see if he has any worth or if his family has any grain in their granary. Li'er can read and works under Second Lady; she's bound to marry an overseer someday."

Wu Miao agreed. "That's right."

Li'er was unaware of the family matters. She was now extremely curious about the function of the pork skin jelly, not only her but Lu Wei and Xing Huang were equally intrigued. Even Meng Die, who had initially proposed the idea, had some curiosity.

The following morning, the kitchen sent over a plate of sliced pork skin jelly, accompanied by various condiments in small bowls and dishes. It was an elegant and meticulous presentation.

Xing Huang took out a chilled cream: "Are we really adding the pork skin jelly to this?"

Meng Die examined it: "Add sugar as usual, but for the pork skin jelly, start with just a little."

Lu Wei also seemed hesitant: "Won't it be too gamey?"

Xing Huang picked up a pair of chopsticks, grabbed a piece of the pork skin jelly, and tasted it carefully: "The kitchen has put effort into it; there's no off-putting flavor at all. I'll give it a try then." With that, she switched to another pair of chopsticks and added a piece of the pork skin jelly to the cream.

Meng Die observed Xing Huang's deft movements, feeling a hint of nervousness. In her dreams, when making cakes, the whipped cream was stabilized with gelatin sheets to help it set firmer. Since there were no gelatin sheets here, Meng Die recalled the pigskin jelly, which also contained ample gelatinous substances. Could it potentially serve the same purpose as gelatin?

In Xing Huang's hands, the cream gradually stiffened, visibly differing from its original soft and airy state.

Xing Huang paused and eagerly tasted it. "It does feel a bit sturdier, but it's still as smooth." She then scooped a small piece for Meng Die.

Meng Die sampled it and found that the consistency was perfect for a mousse cake. Her dream of making a successful cream cake was finally within reach.

"Madame Fan is here."

Meng Die glanced out the window.

Auntie Fan swiftly entered, lifting the curtains aside. "Second Lady."

Meng Die responded, "Why are you here so early today?"

Auntie Fan replied, "I went to bed early last night and woke up promptly this morning, so I thought I'd come and report to Second Lady first. Head Wang says there's a shortage of rooms at the nursery. Should we expand the facility or temporarily cease taking in more orphans? He seeks Second Lady's guidance on this matter."

Xue Qing was astonished. "I remember looking at Second Lady's plans before. There were so many rooms. How could they already be full?"

Nanny Fan nodded. "After two consecutive years of drought, many families can hardly make ends meet. If it weren't for our manor being able to purchase so many girls this year, they might have perished."

Meng Die let out a long sigh. "Expand it then. It's just providing them with food and shelter; it won't cost much silver."

Nanny Fan hesitated but still spoke up, "Headman Wang mentioned that the tutor they originally hired has resigned."

Meng Die replied, "Then hire another one." But she quickly realized something was amiss. Why would Nanny Fan bring it up if it were a normal resignation? "Is there an issue here?"

Nanny Fan's face darkened. "Recently, the infant asylum has only been taking in girls. The tutor said it's inappropriate to educate young girls and resigned, claiming it would demean his scholarly dignity. Headman Wang did plan to find another tutor, but when he mentioned teaching numerous girls, no one was willing to come."

Xing Huang scoffed in exasperation, "Tsk! To not earn money when you have the chance, how foolish."

Xue Qing's gaze fell, "Have you been taking in only girls lately?"

Aunt Fan replied, "Yes, all girls. Even the abandoned infants are female."

Meng Die's face darkened gradually, and she let out a cold laugh, "There are no women's dresses in the classroom, and no male infants in the tower of abandoned children."

The atmosphere in the room froze, and everyone fell silent.

Nanny Fan noticed the displeasure on Meng Die's face and quickly changed the subject. "There's another matter to report to Second Lady. The silkworms in the mulberry grove have started spinning cocoons. After roughly counting the harvest, it turns out that, just as Second Lady predicted, even with the free-range method, we can still collect at least half of the cocoons."

Meng Die was surprised. "That many?"

Nanny Fan chuckled. "Guess why there are so many, Second Lady?"

Meng Die replied, "Isn't it obvious? They must have put effort into it. As for the specifics, I couldn't possibly guess."

Seeing Meng Die's smile return, the atmosphere in the room brightened again. Nanny Fan said with a grin, "Anyone but a fool could have guessed that the method Second Lady proposed for raising the silkworms was meant to help those women regain their strength. Grateful for Second Lady's kindness, they're not ungrateful wolves; each one of them has given their all."

"They begged Headman Wang to build a thatched cottage near the mulberry forest, guarding it day and night. Anything that could harm the silkworms within their sight was promptly removed. How could there not be a plentiful remainder of silkworms?"

Meng Die commented, "Isn't it unsafe to build a cottage on the mountain?"

Nanny Fan replied, "We've thoroughly patrolled our village's mountains, and there are no large predators. Only small animals reside there. At least four people stay in the cottage at all times, and Headman Wang has equipped them with iron hooks. Regular inspections are conducted for added safety. There's absolutely nothing to worry about."

Meng Die looked at Xue Qing and said, "With the silk now available, you can start researching how to make the blanket."

Xue Qing smiled. "Some time ago, I asked Nanny Fan to buy me some tasar silk. I wove a handkerchief with it. I'll go fetch it."

Xing Huang suddenly understood, "So that's why she's been secretly weaving handkerchiefs these days. I was wondering why I haven't seen her much lately."

Meng Die: "Do we have a loom in this courtyard?"

Lu Wei smiled. "In our courtyard, we might not have it, but the Marquis residence does. It would be effortless for Xue Qing to weave a piece of silk there."

Meng Die: "How come I wasn't aware of this?"

Lu Wei: "That area is usually used for weaving linen and cotton fabrics. There are only a few looms, and no permanent weavers. Mostly, anyone in the estate who wishes to use them is free to do so."

Meng Die nodded in understanding. Turning to Mother Fan, she said, "Please make a note of those teachers who have resigned or refused our invitation. We won't seek their services again in the future, and they shouldn't even bother coming to us. As for the teachers, if eight taels of silver aren't enough, we'll offer ten, and if that's not sufficient, we'll go up to fifteen. I refuse to believe we can't find someone."

Mother Fan chuckled. "Of course we will, there are still many who are less fortunate."

Lu Wei snorted. "Exactly. Not everyone is Tao Yuanming. Even if they were, they should consider their social status first. Trying to emulate his pride in not bending for mere five bushels of rice might just end up with them starving first."

Xue Qing entered, lifting the curtain, and handed a handkerchief to Meng Die. Her eyes lit up as she held it in her hands. The silk felt cool and smooth, but not quite as delicate as mulberry silk; it would be inadequate for clothing the elite. However, it would surely be appreciated by moderately wealthy families during the summer.

The handkerchief was a deep sapphire blue, with intricate fretwork patterns in each corner, and a dark crimson 'fu' character (blessing) in the center. The combination of colors was bold, yet due to their richness and saturation, they clashed elegantly, giving off an air of solemn dignity.

Meng Die handed the handkerchief to Lu Wei: "Isn't it said that this material is hard to dye? How did you manage to achieve this color?"

Xue Qing chuckled. "It's difficult to dye light and vibrant hues, because the fabric itself has a dark base. But with rich, deep colors, there's no such issue. I experimented, and any bold shade seems to work just fine."

Meng Die beamed with joy. "That's fantastic! Rugs made from this are mostly used on the floor, so a darker shade is actually more suitable."

Xue Qing nodded. "I thought the same. Moreover, perhaps due to its thicker threads, I've noticed that this mulberry silk has better breathability than regular silk. I'm planning to blend it with regular silk to see if I can create a smoother, more refined silk that's even cooler to wear in the summer."

Meng Die enthusiastically endorsed the idea: "Good girl, your thinking is excellent."

Xue Qing: "We'll need to commission a specialized loom. The ones in the estate are mainly for weaving linen and cotton; they won't quite do for silk."

Mammy Fan promptly replied, "I'll go buy the loom right away. I'll have it delivered to you by tomorrow morning at the latest. I'll get two different models so you can choose which one suits you better."

Xue Qing pondered for a moment. "There's no need to get one for linen. It's too rough. Let's get three each for cotton and silk."

Meng Die: "Three of them?"

Xue Qing smiled. "Ying'er and Tao'er are also skilled at weaving, and they have nimble hands. Each of them can have their own loom. Perhaps working together will spark more creative ideas."

Meng Die: "Indeed, among three people, there is always someone to learn from, and unity is strength." Turning to Nurse Fan, she continued, "Let's buy four of each item. Three will be for Xue Qing, Tao'er, and Ying'er, while the fourth will serve as a backup for anyone who wishes to try it out."

Nurse Fan replied, "That's a good plan. I'll make a note of it."

After giving her instructions, Meng Die hastily finished her breakfast and rushed to the Jingcu Pavilion. Despite her haste, she still arrived late. Upon entering, Madam Wen asked, "Why are you late today? I was just about to send someone to check on you. Are you feeling unwell?"

Meng Die smiled. "No, no, it's just that Xing Huang has created a new delicacy. I got caught up in trying it out and lost track of time."

Madam Jin raised an eyebrow. "Another new dish? I want some too."

Meng Die: "I'll send them over to you this afternoon as a light tea treat."

Wen Shi: "Very well."

In the afternoon, Meng Die delivered a few petite cream cakes to both Wen Shi and Jin Shi. Both ladies praised them incessantly. If not for Meng Die's repeated reminder not to overindulge, Xie Ge'er and Can Jiejie would have made them their dinner.

The next morning, during the customary greetings, before Jin Shi could mention the cream cakes, Wu Shi beat her to it: "Butterfly, I've heard from others that you sold your bread recipe?"

The merchants had inquired with Manager Rong if they could publicize the fact that they had purchased the bread recipe from Meng Die. Acting on Meng Die's instructions, Manager Rong gave them the green light. Consequently, these thirteen merchants promptly spread the news, effectively using Meng Die's reputation to give the bread an initial promotional boost.

Meng Die nodded. "Operating a shop sounds good but isn't necessarily reputable. It's better to sell it for convenience."

Wu: "These breads taste delicious. I heard you sold them for ten thousand silver taels?"

Meng Die replied candidly, "I collected ten thousand from each of the thirteen merchants."

Wu couldn't help but gasp.

Madam Hou chuckled. "Ten thousand per merchant means thirteen times that amount. It seems Miss Die has made a fortune. Alright, let's all enjoy bread for dinner tonight." She turned to Meng Die, "I won't be compensating for the ingredients." Then she addressed everyone, "Let's treat ourselves to a feast today."

Lady Jin chuckled. "Grandmother, wouldn't it be too easy on her just to let her step out of the bakery?"

Lady Wen echoed, "Indeed."

Madam Hou asked, "Are there more things you're hiding from us?"

Lady Jin chuckled again. "Yesterday, Xing Huang, Second Sister-in-law's maid, made another sweet treat called cream cake. It was absolutely delicious. I don't want bread; I want cream cake."

Xige also chimed in, "I want cream cake too."

Miss Càn clapped along and said, "I want a cream cake too."

Lady Hou chuckled heartily. "Seems like it's really delicious. Alright, alright, I'll have your second aunt make some for you."

Meng Die smiled brightly. "Absolutely no problem. I'll also prepare a cream pudding."

Madam Ning suggested, "Then stock up on the ingredients. I'll be visiting Princess Dachang's residence the day after tomorrow. Since it's a fresh delicacy, I can bring some along with me."

Princess Dachang had invited Madam Ning over, implying that Li Lang's marriage was practically settled. Meng Die nodded repeatedly in agreement.

On one side, Meng Die was being "exploited by the wealthy." On the other hand, Li Ai was also experiencing the same "exploitation."