Chapter 7: Sour Soup Dumplings

The rain stopped in the early morning, but the sky remained gloomy and overcast.

Pear Moon rose early to prepare the sour soup, grinning as she stood by the dough board wrapping meat dumplings.

She wouldn’t even get to eat them herself, yet she worked with such delight that Autumn Abundance and Huan Huan couldn’t understand her.

But Pear Moon didn’t care—she was simply happy in her heart.

The lamb filling was lightly seasoned with fragrant scallions and spring chives, wrapped in dough and pinched shut, forming little pouches like lotus-leaf-edged sachets.

The head cook, seeing her diligence and care, couldn’t help but nod in approval.

Just as everyone was bustling with activity, Granny He suddenly arrived, leaning on her cane with an imposing air.

This Granny He was Shen Shi’s sewing matron and also the grandmother of Angelica Orchid and Fragrant Grass.

Given her age, she should have retired home to rest, but she couldn’t bear to leave.

“What have you prepared this morning? The kitchen is so careless—yesterday the masters went hungry all day!”

Shen Shi refused to eat, but instead of admitting it was due to a marital quarrel, she blamed the food for being unsatisfactory.

Relying on her seniority to throw her weight around and bark orders was truly detestable.

Though she held some status, her advanced age meant she would eventually have to leave, and the kitchen staff had grown impatient with her.

The more sincere among them would simply say, “The masters’ meals are prepared with great care, so you need not worry, Elder.”

The sharper-tongued ones muttered behind her back, “That old hag, clinging to her position without doing any real work.”

Last night’s fuss over leftovers was stirred up by Granny He and Angelica Orchid.

Naturally, the head cook was in no mood to humor her.

“We’re about to serve the meal, Elder. Please step aside so you don’t get scalded!”

On the table stood a row of carved food boxes, containing four types of porridge, two kinds of soup, six varieties of pastries, and eight exquisite side dishes, all kept warm with hot water, sealed, and placed inside.

The presentation, aroma, and flavor were impeccable—truly beyond reproach.

Yet Granny He squinted with her presbyopic eyes and grumbled, “Such shabby fare, and you dare place it on the masters’ dining table? Don’t think my eyes deceive me—this oily red lumpy soup is fit only for porters!”

Pear Moon secretly rolled her eyes.

“This is sour soup dumplings, meant to dispel dampness and stimulate the appetite. It’s been rainy and cold these past two days, so this helps clear the dampness from the rain.”

The serving maid explained helplessly.

“Unacceptable! Our young lady is precious and noble!”

As Granny He continued to ramble, the head cook instructed the others to pack the food boxes and serve the meal.

“If anyone asks about the missing bowl of soup, just say Granny He kept it.”

“What do you mean I kept it? It’s your kitchen’s carelessness, serving such lowly food!”

Everyone went about their tasks, leaving the old woman to grumble alone until she finally worked herself into a rage and stomped off, thumping her cane.

The sour soup was meticulously simmered with lamb bones, and the meat dumplings were carefully shaped.

This soup dumpling dish was also prepared in the Main Kitchen, and both Old Madam and Madam Ning had eaten it before, which left Pear Moon feeling displeased.

“Don’t make this again next time. You all can have it,” the head cook instructed.

Oh? What a fortunate turn of events!

Glancing at Huan Huan and Autumn Abundance, the three greedy kittens exchanged knowing smiles.

After serving breakfast in the Main Chamber, Jade Ink arrived leisurely.

The Young Lord had drunk too much last night and woke up slightly later this morning.

The head cook prepared hangover soup and urged the serving maids to quickly pack the food boxes.

“The Young Master said breakfast for the Tranquil Study need not be extravagant—just one porridge and two pastries will suffice.”

He was easy to please, and the head cook felt relieved.

Since there was no fixed provision for the study in the first place, less trouble was just fine.

“Is there sour soup meat dumplings? The Young Master was caught in the cold rain and just mentioned a slight headache.” Jade Ink caught a whiff of the tangy aroma and raised a hand to instruct, “This will do.”

A large bowl was served piping hot, accompanied by two kinds of pastries.

Pear Moon specially added a small dish of purple ginger to the side dishes, also meant to dispel cold and ward off illness.

Jade Ink nodded in approval, poking Pear Moon’s cheek with her fingertip.

After breakfast was served, a message arrived from the Tranquil Study.

The Young Master ate a bowl while it was hot, not only breaking a sweat but also finding his headache much relieved.

He specifically rewarded two strings of cash for the kitchen servants to add dishes to their midday meal, delighting everyone.

Pear Moon divided the leftover meat dumplings, added noodles to the sour soup, and they all ate together.

The lamb soup was tangy and spicy, the dumpling skins thin with generous filling, and the noodles delightfully chewy—Pear Moon ate without pausing for breath.

“You little imp!” The kitchen matron, holding the reward money, flicked her on the forehead.

Just some shabby sour soup dumplings, and the Young Master gave a reward. The Main Chamber felt their pride wounded and was somewhat angry.

When Granny He heard that the soup lumps had been served to the Son-in-law by Jade Ink, she was so furious she bit her gums until they bled.

The old woman hobbled over to Shen Shi on her cane, saying the Young Master must have been bewitched by Jade Ink to eat such coarse fare.

The Young Lord hadn’t entered the Main Chamber again last night, and Shen Shi was already upset. Granny He’s nagging made her burst into tears on the spot.

It took Granny Zhao quite some time to soothe her before finally ushering Granny He out.

After finishing her morning duties, Pear Moon quietly returned to her room, put on new clothes, packed all her belongings into a pouch, picked up a box of dishes, and headed to the Main Kitchen to find her godmother.

Madam Liu was washing vegetables in the courtyard when she saw Pear Moon carrying something. She hurriedly wiped her hands on her apron and beckoned her over.

The injury on her face had improved a lot, though it was still somewhat red.

Madam Liu, being cautious, scolded her a few times, telling her not to argue with anyone.

“If you see someone who’s stubborn and difficult, you turn and run. Understand?”

Pear Moon pouted: “What if I can’t outrun them?”

“You stubborn girl!”

Seeing her talk back, Madam Liu raised her hand as if to hit her, and Pear Moon ducked, shrinking her neck.

Madam Liu’s son was the same age as Pear Moon but had died at four or five.

Having Pear Moon call her “Mother” was a comfort to her heart.

Her husband, Old Liu, worked in the stables tending horses. He had followed the old Duke to the border regions and received a reward, so he no longer had to work.

Whenever he had a bit of money, he spent it on food, drink, gambling, and women. His wife and daughter served in the mansion, and whatever money they earned went to supporting his habits.

Every family has its own troubles.

Seeing the box Pear Moon was carrying, Madam Liu pointed and asked what it was for.

The contents of the box were carefully prepared by Pear Moon.

Two meat dishes: Marinated Duck Feet and Chicken Oil Eggplant Preserve.

Two vegetable dishes: Shredded Radish with Sugar, and Pickled Cucumber in “Straw Raincoat” Style.

The duck feet and eggplant preserve were made long ago, while the radish and cucumber were sliced this morning.

Even if the Main Kitchen wasn’t holding a test, she still wanted to show off her skills.

Pulling Madam Liu close to whisper, she mentioned her wish to transfer to another courtyard.

Madam Liu frowned: “Granny Qin in the Main Kitchen seems friendly, but she’s obsessed with money. For every maid brought in, she demands ten taels of silver.”

“I have seven taels! Mother, could you ask? I’ll make up the remaining three taels later?”

Pear Moon tugged at her sleeve, pleading, but Madam Liu lowered her head without speaking.

She had also come from the Main Kitchen and knew that although it was hard work, there were benefits.

First, there was no worry about food and drink. As the saying goes, “A cook who doesn’t steal won’t harvest grain.” In wealthy households, the kitchen was the last place to be mistreated—starve anyone but the cooks.

Moreover, one could learn skills. In the capital, aside from the Imperial Kitchen, the Main Kitchen of Ningguo Mansion was likely second to none.

Learning just a few dishes would ensure no worries about marriage in the future. With care and skill, supporting a family wouldn’t be difficult.

Working in the Main Kitchen was tough, but that hardship was worth enduring.

Looking at Pear Moon’s reddened half-face, Madam Liu took the food box and turned to find Granny Qin.

Pear Moon stood in the courtyard, anxiously waiting.

The Marinated Duck Feet and Chicken Oil Eggplant Preserve were made with leftover ingredients. Though the ingredients weren’t valuable, the spices and steps were correct.

The radish shreds were as fine as hair, and the pickled cucumber was stretched like tassels. She was confident her knife skills were no worse than those of the head cook in the small kitchen.

Her legs were sore from standing when Madam Liu finally emerged from the house.

She still held the food box in her hand, and Pear Moon’s heart tightened.

“Mother! How did it go?”

Madam Liu remained silent, and Pear Moon stamped her foot in frustration:

“Was the silver not enough? I still have a pair of gold hairpins!”

Only then did Madam Liu sigh: “Granny Qin says even with silver, it won’t work. You can’t enter the Main Kitchen.”