Chapter 26: Chicken Wingtip Soup
Pear Moon winced in pain from the pinch, crying out “Aiyo!”
She knew Angelica Orchid was angry that she had exposed her scheme last night, causing the Young Master to dislike her, and was now taking revenge under the guise of duty.
This Chicken Wingtip Soup was a common everyday dish, and Pear Moon naturally knew how to make it.
But in the small kitchen, whenever Shen Shi wanted soup or dishes, it was always Aunt Cao who personally prepared them.
She couldn’t overstep her authority, so she quickly turned to look.
Aunt Cao, seeing Angelica Orchid disrespect her by dragging Pear Moon to make the soup, was so angry she felt smoke rising from her head.
“I am the supervisor of the small kitchen, and Xiao Yue is a kitchen hand—only I can order her around. You’re just a maid too, who gave you the right to put on airs in the kitchen? You think you can decide who does what? Are you the mistress?”
Angelica Orchid glared and scolded, “I have the young lady’s favor and will soon be half a mistress, unlike you lowly servants! In this courtyard, besides the young lady, it’s me who matters. If you don’t listen to me, I’ll just tell the young lady!”
Seeing Angelica Orchid’s arrogance and knowing she was favored by Shen Shi and would soon become a chamber maid, everyone stopped Aunt Cao and urged Pear Moon to quickly make the soup.
Pear Moon stood with her hands at her sides, having been waiting for just such an order. She hurried to the chicken coop, caught two young chicks, fetched a knife from the kitchen, and slaughtered them.
For the Chicken Wingtip Soup, only the tender meat from the chicks’ gizzards was used. The meat was swiftly chopped into fine shreds, then mixed with sour bamboo shoots, scallions, and coriander, seasoned with various peppers and soy sauce, and finally simmered into a clear, pure broth.
Angelica Orchid made a huge fuss in the kitchen, gathering all the women from the small kitchen, along with many maids and older women from the main courtyard—who wouldn’t come to watch the commotion?
A large crowd swarmed around, packing the kitchen so tightly that even the courtyard outside was filled, all staring wide-eyed.
Pear Moon had never made it herself but had watched Aunt Cao prepare it several times. The ingredients and spices were already deeply familiar to her.
Slaughtering the chickens, plucking the feathers, deboning, and chopping the meat—her movements were clean and efficient, needing no help from anyone else. With just one person and one knife, she completed the task.
The Chicken Wingtip Soup simmered on the stove for a short while, filling the entire room and courtyard with an enticing aroma, savory and delicious enough to whet anyone’s appetite.
Everyone craned their necks to look, wishing they could taste it sooner.
Aunt Cao squeezed to the front, originally full of resentment, but upon seeing how well the Chicken Wingtip Soup turned out, her expression softened considerably. She took a small stool and sat down, instructing, “Watch the heat, don’t let it overcook.”
Pear Moon understood her meaning and quickly agreed, her small face flushed as she fanned the flames.
At such a young age, she could already single-handedly manage the stove and make soup, earning cheers from the skilled kitchen women. Even those who usually looked down on her secretly gasped in surprise.
Soon, the Chicken Wingtip Soup was ready, fragrant and steaming, ladled into two bowls and brought out on a red-lacquered tray.
Angelica Orchid didn’t even glance at it, picking up one bowl and splashing it onto the ground.
Fortunately, Pear Moon dodged quickly, narrowly avoiding being splashed.
Angelica Orchid stamped her foot and shrieked, “Just now you said it was bland and tasteless, but now it’s bitter and salty! You little wretch, asking for a beating! Making me serve this to the young lady—I think you have ill intentions, planning to make me take the blame for you?”
With one bowl already spilled, Pear Moon hurriedly stepped back, holding the tray.
An older woman quickly stopped Angelica Orchid, took the remaining bowl, and said to Pear Moon, “Since Miss Lan says it’s no good, you’d better make another bowl properly. The young lady hasn’t eaten all day and needs something she likes.”
Pear Moon stood silently with her sleeves tucked, then turned and went back to the kitchen. She slaughtered another chicken, chopped vegetables, carefully mixed the spices, and made another bowl of fragrant, sour, and spicy Chicken Wingtip Soup.
This time when it was brought out again, everyone in the courtyard nodded at the mere scent. Several matrons, fearing such delicacies would be wasted, took the bowls and packed them into food containers before Angelica Orchid could even reach out.
That Angelica Orchid had come looking for trouble, intending to splash this bowl of scalding soup over Pear Moon to vent her anger.
Yet she truly hadn’t expected this soup to be so exquisite in color and flavor that once tasted, it couldn’t be spat out—and ultimately wasn’t thrown.
After finishing the soup, Pear Moon stood in the kitchen without speaking, while Aunt Cao also sneered in silence.
Still unsatisfied, Angelica Orchid had someone carry the food container, kicked the kitchen threshold, and hurled another round of insults before being dragged away by the crowd.
Only after everyone had finally dispersed did Autumn Abundance and Huan Huan dare show themselves, quickly pulling Pear Moon back to their room.
Autumn Abundance then scolded her: “I told you to go out less these past few days, yet you insisted on pushing forward. Angelica Orchid and Fragrant Grass hate you to death, and even the eldest young mistress can’t stand the sight of you. Are you rushing forward to ask for a beating?”
Pear Moon pursed her lips and smiled softly, whispering to her: “Just now when Angelica Orchid was making a scene, I saw Granny Zhou accompanying Steward Sun Cai’s wife from Brocade Prosperity Hall, standing right at the corner gate watching. When Madam Ning rewarded us with fabric, she meant to remind the eldest young mistress to be more lenient in managing her subordinates. Angelica Orchid just had to act recklessly at this very moment—why shouldn’t Madam Ning know about it? They don’t beat the diligent or the lazy, only the blind—let’s see how much longer she can keep up her arrogance!”
Pear Moon had deliberately stepped forward earlier precisely so Steward Sun Cai’s wife and Granny Zhou could witness Angelica Orchid’s arrogance firsthand and understand Shen Shi’s character as well.
Though Angelica Orchid demanding she make Chicken Wingtip Soup was indeed an unexpected delight—right before all the servants of Phoenix Ripple Courtyard, Pear Moon showcased her culinary skills, winning face for the maids who originated from Ningguo Mansion.
She believed it wouldn’t be long before Madam Ning at Brocade Prosperity Hall heard about these events.
After distributing the reward money, Steward Sun Cai’s wife didn’t return immediately but instead went to Tranquil Study.
Early that morning, the Young Master had taken Jade Ink out, leaving only Granny Zhou minding the study.
They had just sat down for tea when noisy commotion arose from Phoenix Ripple Courtyard—Granny Zhou knew trouble was brewing again.
The two stopped chatting and walked together to the corner gate, where they witnessed the earlier spectacle.
Steward Sun Cai’s wife and Granny Zhou were old acquaintances. Pointing at Angelica Orchid, she hurriedly asked: “That young wife in the soft satin skirt and jacket—is that Angelica Orchid? Why is she dressed and adorned like some concubine?”
Granny Zhou shook her head and sighed: “That vixen is indeed Angelica Orchid! My dear sister, you wouldn’t know—I left the mansion for three years and only upon returning discovered that Phoenix Ripple Courtyard has become a den of demons and monsters! Everyone used to say how virtuous the eldest young mistress was, but seeing the company she keeps reveals her true character. And this very Angelica Orchid—she even wants to promote her to become the Young Master’s chamber maid. Which eye of the Young Master could possibly fancy her?”
Steward Sun Cai’s wife couldn’t help but feel astonished.
Over these past three years, Phoenix Ripple Courtyard had been under Shen Shi’s management, and she seldom visited, so she only recognized a few names among Shen Shi’s dowry maids. She absolutely never imagined that Shen Shi’s personal first-rank maid could be so wildly insolent.
Upon returning to Brocade Prosperity Hall, Steward Sun Cai’s wife waited until Madam Ning had finished handling the household affairs and, seizing the moment when no outsiders were present, recounted everything she had witnessed at Phoenix Ripple Courtyard in full detail.
“In these three years, Madam Ning has not delved deeply into the affairs of Phoenix Ripple Courtyard, yet she does not know that it has truly become like a den of nine-tailed fox spirits. It is not that this old servant seeks to blame the young mistress—she is, after all, young and has not experienced major matters of right and wrong. Relying solely on the instigations of those beneath her is no way to manage things. The young mistress is the legitimate wife of the Young Master, and before long, she will inherit the title of Lady of the Ningguo Duke. How can things go on like this for long!”
Upon hearing this, Madam Ning’s expression grew even darker: “Since the old Duke passed away, my energy has grown increasingly short, and I had no idea she was such a creature!”