Chapter 8: Dongting Spring Dumplings

The Main Kitchen only accepted first, second, and third-rank maids, not coarse maids.

Granny Qin made it clear: if a coarse maid wanted to be promoted to third-rank, it had to be approved by Phoenix Ripple Courtyard. The Main Kitchen had no say in the matter.

“It’s easy enough to get in,” she said. “Once Phoenix Ripple Courtyard promotes her to third-rank and the steward’s office records her name, the Main Kitchen can transfer her on equal footing.”

Madam Liu was utterly confused and took a long time to figure it out.

Granny Qin also explained that not only the Main Kitchen but also the Embroidery Room and the courtyards of Old Madam and Madam Ning did not accept coarse maids.

That was the rule a couple of years ago. Old Madam, seeing that coarse maids received no monthly allowance, couldn’t bear it and simply promoted all coarse maids in the masters’ courtyards and duty rooms to third-rank.

Though this wasn’t a major issue, Phoenix Ripple Courtyard stubbornly refused, finding it too troublesome.

Now, in the main branch of Ningguo Mansion, only Phoenix Ripple Courtyard still had a few coarse maids left.

Madam Liu sat on the steps, counting on her fingers as she recounted everything to Pear Moon.

The more Pear Moon listened, the colder her heart grew.

For a coarse maid to transfer to another courtyard, she had to be promoted to third-rank. If Phoenix Ripple Courtyard refused to promote her, she would be trapped there forever.

Wasn’t this like tying a noose, one loop tightening into another, trapping her right back where she started?

Madam Liu was at a loss and could only advise her not to worry.

Pear Moon thought about the affairs of Phoenix Ripple Courtyard over the past few years, feeling as if cold water had been poured over her head.

“Mother, keep the Eggplant Preserve and duck feet to enjoy with wine.”

Madam Liu refused to take them, but Pear Moon insisted she keep them.

She only brought back the shredded radish and pickled cucumbers, all the excitement from her arrival gone.

These coarse maids like them—some were selected from the estate’s farms, others were sent by human traffickers.

They entered the mansion at five or six years old, were trained for two years, and then assigned to menial labor.

The mansion provided them with meals and coarse clothing, not even bothering with a monthly allowance.

At twenty, they would be sent to the farms to be married off, breeding more little servants to increase the population.

It was only Old Madam, in her old age and kindness, unwilling to mistreat coarse maids, who promoted them all.

But Phoenix Ripple Courtyard didn’t care. Shen Shi had plenty of maids brought from her maternal family.

Pear Moon weighed the situation in her mind. Shen Shi didn’t want coarse maids to gain favor and also intended to keep them suppressed.

Three years ago, when Shen Shi married into the family, Old Madam and Madam Ning placed great importance on her, selecting the best from all quarters to serve her.

First, second, and third-rank maids went without saying—even the coarse maids were chosen for their looks and good temperament.

Pear Moon was outstanding in appearance and skilled at preparing soups; Huan Huan was plump and likable, utterly loyal; Autumn Abundance was nimble and cleverly ingratiating; the other little ones were all as fresh and tender as spring onions.

But after Shen Shi arrived, she only allowed maids from her maternal family to serve her closely, treating the maids from her husband’s family as nothing.

Moreover, taking advantage of Young Master’s absence and claiming she had no need for them, she dismissed all the Ningguo Mansion maids from the main courtyard and study.

For a new bride to act this way so soon would draw criticism in other households.

But since she had been separated from her husband right after the wedding, Old Madam and Madam Ning had always pitied and doted on her.

Shen Shi, fearing gossip in the mansion, kept a few coarse maids for appearances.

But she still found Pear Moon and the others too mischievous, banishing them all to menial work in the kitchen and utility yards, forbidding them from entering the rooms.

From then on, there was only one path: to strive for third-rank within Phoenix Ripple Courtyard.

The difficulties of this went without saying—Pear Moon’s head ached just thinking about it.

No matter what, she had to climb her way up!

She cheered herself on.

The small kitchen had already begun preparing lunch.

Pear Moon hurried back to her room, put away the food box and hidden silver packet, and took off her new floral-patterned jacket.

Returning to fetch water and wash vegetables, she saw Huan Huan frantically tending two stoves, while Autumn Abundance was nowhere to be seen, likely slacking off somewhere.

Lunch passed without incident, except that the cook aunt made an exception and let Pear Moon prepare Dongting Spring Dumplings.

Pear Moon’s delicate hands and clever mind were evident in her fine pastries, something the kitchen matron had long noticed.

After having the pastry mistress guide her through a few rounds, all of which turned out well, this time she was allowed to work alone.

Spring dumplings were a seasonal treat for spring, but the Dongting Spring Dumplings Pear Moon made followed a new recipe adapted by Ningguo Mansion.

Glutinous rice flour mixed with regular rice flour, honey, white sugar, mugwort juice blended with citrus leaf juice, kneaded into a pale green dough. Stippled with dark green herb bits, pinched into coin-sized balls, each dumpling sandwiched between a citrus leaf.

The key was adding citrus leaf juice to the mugwort juice, and using citrus leaves to enhance the aroma.

Because citrus leaves were used, the steamed dough carried a faint orange fragrance. By Dongting Lake were large orange groves, and it was said the lakeside was filled with the scent of citrus, hence the name Dongting Spring Dumplings.

This pastry wasn’t particularly difficult; the crucial part was ensuring the herb juice was tender, not aged. A basket of citrus leaves had to be selected for uniform size and color. Only the tender tips of mugwort were chosen, with less than two taels usable from a whole jin.

When pounding the juice, fine cloth couldn’t be used to filter it repeatedly—too many passes would make the juice too fine. The dough needed a bit of herb residue for accent, or it would lose its natural charm.

Making this was a meticulous task, and Pear Moon, fully absorbed, forgot all about the morning’s troubles.

When they came out of the steamer, a fresh fragrance wafted forth, the color neither too light nor too dark—the timing was just right.

The kitchen matron praised her a couple of times and sent Pear Moon off to eat.

These Dongting Green Dumplings were to be delivered to Madam Ning’s courtyard.

Having heard her son had a headache this morning, Madam Ning was terribly worried and had sent someone to inquire three times already.

The Young Master had ordered Dongting Green Dumplings to be made and sent to his mother, as a gesture of filial piety.

Jade Ink personally came to fetch the food box and deliver it.

Pear Moon carried her rice bowl back to the room and saw Autumn Abundance lying on the kang in her clothes.

Who knew when she had returned? All she did was laze around all day.

“Are you eating or not?!”

Impatient, Pear Moon set down her bowl and went to shake her.

Autumn Abundance was wearing a water-red jacket and half-new dark satin shoes.

Her usually treasured clothes were crumpled and full of wrinkles.

What had upset her like this?

At the head of the kang was a plain silk bundle, along with two scraps of satin, patterned just like Sister Cai Wen’s pouch.

“Did you go to the Embroidery Room?”

Remembering how Autumn Abundance had fawned over Cai Wen yesterday, Pear Moon suddenly understood.

This little minx wanted to get into the Embroidery Room and must have gone to Cai Wen for information.

Looking at her wilted-eggplant appearance, she must have been turned away.

“I made sugar-coated shredded radish and raincoat-style sour and spicy cucumber.”

Everyone had their own ideas, but the truth was they couldn’t leave Phoenix Ripple Courtyard.

Just then, Huan Huan returned, carefree as ever, and scooped a large helping of sugar-coated radish shreds.

“Xiao Yue’s sugar-coated radish is the best!”

“Best my foot!”

Autumn Abundance sprang up like a carp leaping, her eyes swollen like rotten peaches.

“Others work as maids and get polished rice and stewed meat every meal! What sin did we commit to only deserve rotten radishes and cucumbers? Am I missing fingers compared to anyone? Why won’t the Embroidery Room take me? Why are we only fit for rough work, and even the Embroidery Room looks down on us coarse maids? Waaah…”

She burst into loud sobs, sitting on the kang and stomping her feet.

Autumn Abundance was skilled at needlework and could even make decorative knots; the Embroidery Room truly was a good position.

It seemed she had been held back by her status—once mentioned as a coarse maid, she was rejected.

Pear Moon felt uneasy, pursing her lips without a word, but Huan Huan was displeased.

“What’s wrong with the small kitchen? You still want to climb higher?”

“Me climb higher?”

Autumn Abundance yanked out Pear Moon’s pouch.

“Doesn’t Xiao Yue want to leave too? Carrying boxes and scurrying around to curry favor with the stewards?”

Pear Moon flushed instantly: “I went to see my mother!”

“Pah! Where did the braised duck feet and Eggplant Preserve go? What were you doing cutting radish shreds for no reason? Sneaking up at night to count your money—you think I don’t know?”

Autumn Abundance’s eyes were red as a rabbit’s, her nose also red from sniffling.

“Who wants to eat your leftover radish?”

“Eat it or don’t! I don’t care for your shabby tassels either!”

Pear Moon was so angry that, seeing the new tassel on the pouch, she tore it off and threw it onto the kang.

A handful of chopsticks scattered on the floor, and Huan Huan’s plump face flushed even redder:

“You two were planning to leave without telling me?”