Chapter 82: Honeyed Plum Soup
Since the reassignment of duties, Pear Moon and the other two had each been busy with their own tasks.
Due to her simple-mindedness and clumsy speech, Huan Huan had unexpectedly benefited from misfortune and remained in the tea room.
Though she was said to be assisting Xiangyun with odd jobs, in reality, she was the one in charge.
Xiangyun had been sweeping the courtyard for three years and knew nothing besides tending the fire. Brewing tea and making pastries all relied on Huan Huan.
From then on, the variety of pastries was nothing to speak of, but at least they were still edible.
Autumn Abundance spent her days embroidering and making decorative knots, hoping to be selected by the sewing room on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.
After being dismissed from the small tea room, she was furious and cursed Pear Moon for days.
If she had known that exposing Xiafu would lead to such an outcome, she would never have done it!
Not only was the tea room clean and refreshing, but she could also stay close to the ice blocks during the hot summer.
She was always the first to taste the candied fruits, sweets, and chilled drinks that were distributed.
Back in the kitchen courtyard, it was unbearably hot, and she couldn’t even eat her meals.
Pear Moon ignored her, letting her slack off and avoid work.
As the sixth lunar month grew hotter, the afternoon sun became even more scorching.
The heat in the kitchen never dissipated, making it stiflingly unbearable.
Hearing that the Young Master was not at home today, Pear Moon took the Sparrow Tongue Tea cakes to the study to return them to Jade Ink.
The Tranquil Study was quiet and empty, with many light bamboo plants growing in the courtyard. The shade of the bamboo was lush and cool, exuding a refreshing chill.
Jade Ink sat alone under the corridor, taking advantage of the coolness to do her needlework.
Pear Moon expressed her thanks and bowed. Jade Ink accepted the tea cakes and set up a small tea table under the corridor, inviting Pear Moon to have some tea.
On a square tray painted with gold and colorful lacquer were snow-white porcelain cups resembling silver ingots, a ginkgo leaf-shaped tea spoon, and bright red rose-infused tea brewed with a splash of brine.
“This rock sugar rose brine was sent by the small kitchen of Brocade Prosperity Hall. Chilled, it tastes excellent.”
Pear Moon, flushed and overheated, picked up a cup and drank it all in one go.
The rock sugar-preserved rose paste, along with a few ice beads, was sweet, fragrant, delicious, cool, and refreshing.
Jade Ink offered her some fresh fruits.
In addition to juicy plums and red cherries, the fruit platter also included a plate of fresh lychees.
Their color was bright red, the flesh plump, the pits flat and small, and the juice rich and sweet, like honey.
They were even better than those in Phoenix Ripple Courtyard.
Pear Moon ate three or four in a row, her lips tinged with a sweet, lingering fragrance.
Indeed, all the good things were sent here. Even Jade Ink could enjoy such fine fruits.
The lychees in Phoenix Ripple Courtyard were kept in Shen Shi’s Main Chamber. Not to mention the maids, even Granny Zhao couldn’t eat more than two.
“These lychees taste wonderful. Are they from Lingnan?” Pear Moon licked her lips.
Seeing her greedy expression, Jade Ink smiled and peeled another one for her.
“These aren’t from our estate. Eunuch Lu sent them the day before yesterday. These are lychees presented to the palace—how could they not be delicious? There were only two baskets in total. Some were sent to Old Madam’s and Madam Ning’s courtyards, and some were given to the second and third branches of the family. Only these were left. The Duke didn’t want them, so I secretly brought them out for you.”
Feeling embarrassed, Pear Moon ate one more but refused to have any more.
Jade Ink, worried she might get overheated from eating too many, urged her to have some cherries instead.
“The Main Kitchen is selecting apprentices. Have you signed up?” Jade Ink was also paying attention to this matter.
Pear Moon quickly nodded. “I’ve long wanted to learn skills in the Main Kitchen. This is a perfect opportunity.”
“If you’re selected, which cook would you want as your master?”
Pear Moon swallowed a cherry, her face full of confusion. “Naturally, I’d want to be Granny Qin’s apprentice.”
Having often heard her godmother, Madam Liu, tell stories about Granny Qin, Pear Moon knew she was the most skilled.
Jade Ink’s words clearly implied that the selection of maids for the Main Kitchen held additional meaning.
“You’re so focused on being happy that you don’t yet understand the intricacies of this matter.”
As it happened, the midday heat was intense, and the afternoon rest period was long.
Jade Ink fanned herself as she explained to her.
Only the Crane Longevity Hall, Brocade Prosperity Hall, and Phoenix Ripple Courtyard in the estate had their own small kitchens.
The courtyards of the second and third branches were all managed by the Main Kitchen for meals, which was quite inconvenient.
Madam Ning discussed with Granny Qin about building small kitchens for the courtyards of the second and third branches and transferring cooks there to handle the meals.
The cook for the second branch was Madam Jin, and the cook for the third branch was called Madam Li.
This time, the Main Kitchen was selecting maids not only for Granny Qin to take as apprentices but also for Madam Jin and Madam Li to take as apprentices.
“Granny Qin will choose two, and Madam Jin and Madam Li will each choose one. The maids chosen by Granny Qin will stay in the Main Kitchen to learn cooking. Those selected by Madam Jin and Madam Li will follow their masters to the small kitchens of the second and third branches.”
Only after hearing Jade Ink’s explanation did Pear Moon understand.
She had seen those two cooks, and each had their own specialties.
Madam Jin excelled at southern cuisine, while Madam Li was best at making lamb dishes.
However, in comparison, Pear Moon still felt that Granny Qin had the greatest skills.
After all, she could even prepare imperial cuisine and had been praised by His Majesty.
“This is getting harder and harder. I thought Granny Qin would take four apprentices, but it turns out she’s only taking two. All the maids who signed up for the competition want to be chosen by Granny Qin.”
Pear Moon took another sip of rose-sweetened tea, feeling increasingly nervous and uneasy.
“That’s not necessarily the case.”
Jade Ink smiled, gently waving a small fan made of Xiangfei bamboo and plain silk.
“Most of the maids who signed up want to curry favor with Madam Jin so they can go to the second branch’s courtyard. Only four or five, like you, want to follow Granny Qin. I haven’t heard of anyone wanting to follow Madam Li.”
This was truly strange. Pear Moon widened her eyes.
Madam Jin’s southern cuisine was indeed good, but she still couldn’t compare to Granny Qin.
When it came to preparing banquet dishes, she also couldn’t match Madam Li, who excelled at lamb dishes.
Madam Jin came from Second Madam’s entourage and wasn’t particularly wealthy, so why would everyone want to curry favor with her?
Seeing Pear Moon’s confusion, Jade Ink chuckled.
“If you’re determined to learn how to make imperial cuisine, there’s no need to dwell on these matters. Just prepare well. A clever girl like you will surely be chosen.”
Since Jade Ink didn’t explain the reason, Pear Moon didn’t ask further.
When she got up to leave, Jade Ink took a lacquered box, filled a plate with lychees and cherries, placed a large block of ice at the bottom, and told her to take it back for her little sisters to enjoy.
Such a large block of ice was a rare and precious item. Pear Moon carried the food box, repeatedly expressing her thanks.
She hurried back to Phoenix Ripple Courtyard in quick steps to make chilled sour plum soup.
Unexpectedly, there was already a pot of sweet mung bean water on the kang table in the small room.
“This was made by Huan Huan. It tastes quite good.”
Autumn Abundance held a small bowl, blew on the osmanthus sugar, and gulped it down in one go.
Seeing the lychees Pear Moon brought back, she didn’t ask whose they were. She peeled one, stuffed it into her mouth, and sweet juice dripped from the corner of her lips.
“Having the two of you serve me is truly a heavenly life!”
After eating several lychees, Autumn Abundance lay down beside the ice basin, planning to take a nap.
This greedy, lazy girl! Pear Moon was so angry her nose twisted. She slapped her fiercely, not allowing her to sleep.
“Don’t slack off these two days. Make a good pair of shoes for me!”
Huan Huan and Pear Moon’s shoes were all made by Autumn Abundance.
Whether she put effort into them depended entirely on her mood.
“Don’t hit me, don’t hit me! What kind of shoes do you want?” Autumn Abundance finally dodged, squinting her eyes to ask.
“Lotus-blue soft satin for the upper, stone-blue cloud-patterned trim, and embroidered with parrots picking peaches.”
Such fine shoes could even be worn by Old Madam, making them quite presentable.
“You’re halfway into the grave, and you want shoes fit for an old immortal?” Autumn Abundance curled her lip.
Pear Moon quickly explained, “I thought since I’m going to become a disciple, I should give Granny Qin some gifts. You can make a pair of shoes for me, and I’ll buy a few yards of good satin and a jar of Jinhua wine. It won’t cost more than a few taels of silver anyway.”
Autumn Abundance agreed impatiently, pulling out a few pieces of soft satin from a chest to show Pear Moon the patterns.
“I’ll do it tomorrow morning while it’s still cool! Now go, go, I need my afternoon nap!” She turned over and closed her eyes to sleep.
Afraid of disturbing her, Pear Moon picked up the ice box, closed the door, and headed to the small kitchen to brew sour plum soup.
The weather was truly sweltering, and everyone in the courtyard was taking their midday rest.
Watching the plum water boiling in the clay pot, Pear Moon’s eyes grew heavy with drowsiness.
Suddenly, someone at the main gate announced, “Quickly go and report the good news to the First Mistress! Grand Secretary Shen has been promoted with an additional title!”