Chapter 1117: Chapter 1116: Serving Dishes
Therefore, with a thought, I straightforwardly said, “What the big girl said reminded , in the coming year, I will be getting married. While I am a girl, everything at ho goes smoothly, and the family accommodates in every way. But once I step out of this door, things can’t be like that anymore, and I must serve my parents-in-law well. Now, there are only a few months left, and it is just the right ti to see if the big girl is prepared or not?”
“Let’s not talk about anything else for now; serving als to your parents-in-law, among others, is sothing that feels shallow when only spoken of. Starting today, big girl, let’s use us to practice your skills. It will be useful for you to beco more proficient.”
After speaking, without waiting for anyone to respond, I ordered, “Bring chopsticks for the big girl.”
The maids hurriedly stuffed the chopsticks into Song Chongqi’s hands, who was still dumbfounded.
Song Chongqi still foolishly looked at Lady Gao.
Lady Gao looked at Song Chongqi with great affection: “Big girl, start! Today, start with , and try serving your two sisters-in-law and two younger sisters. In the future, you will also have to serve your parents-in-law and sister-in-law when you are married. If you can’t even master this, we dare not send you off to be married.”
Hearing this, Song Chongqi gritted her teeth and stood up, only to hear Song Chongxiu’s low laughter, which was like a slap on her face, making her both ashad and furious.
But Lady Gao’s words still echoed in her ears, so she had to endure it, her face turning red, and stiffly walked to Lady Gao’s side to serve her dishes.
After all, she had been taught by a Sister; despite her reluctance, Song Chongqi did a decent job when she really started.
After she served two dishes for Lady Gao, Lady Gao smiled and said, “Alright, it’s good to have the intention. I have your maternal aunts serving here, so just focus on serving your sisters-in-law and sisters with dishes.”
In the Duke’s Mansion, even the favored concubines have to serve the wife, but Lady Gao, being gentle and generous by nature, rarely lets the concubines serve her. Even at family banquets, she either allows several concubines to have a separate table or to eat alone in their own courtyard.
It was rare like today, that all five concubines, except for Maternal Aunt Hou and Maternal Aunt Dong, who were punished for speaking insensitively in the morning and not present, stood obediently behind Lady Gao, serving her as she washed and ate.
Song Chongqi had often seen her own concubine serving her mother very submissively, so she was used to it and didn’t think much of it.
But when it was her turn, to serve dishes to Wang Yongzhu and her two sisters, her face fell, feeling that the eyes of everyone in the room ridiculed her.
She thought about leaving, but upon looking at the smiling eyes of her mother Lady Gao, and then saw her concubine behind her, making a desperate gesture like killing a chicken, she ultimately lacked the courage.
Forcing herself forward despite humiliation, she was to serve Wang Yongzhu first according to order.
Standing beside Wang Yongzhu, Song Chongqi squeezed her words out through her teeth: “Sister-in-law, what do you like to eat?”
Wang Yongzhu smiled and pointed to the dish furthest from her, “I think that dish looks good; would you kindly get it for , big girl?”
Song Chongqi saw that the dish was so far away that even standing there she couldn’t reach it. This was obviously making things difficult! She was so angry she almost cried.
anwhile, Song Chongxiu deliberately smiled sweetly at Wang Yongzhu: “Sister-in-law, you have the sa taste as ; I also love that Jade Belt Shrimp dish the most.”
Then, she specially pointed out the dish away from Wang Yongzhu, introducing: “Sister-in-law, these dishes are not bad too. This Buddha’s Hand Guanyin Lotus has a mild taste, and that Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is also rich and flavorful…”
Wang Yongzhu raised an eyebrow, finding it interesting. This morning Song Chongxiu and Song Chongjuan were sitting quietly on the side, not saying a word except for greetings. How co now they seed intentionally making small talk?
Then she noticed the rapid breathing of Song Chongqi standing beside her. Turning her head slightly, she saw Song Chongqi glaring at Song Chongxiu several tis, and looking at Song Chongxiu’s face with a smug “I’m doing it on purpose; what can you do about it” expression.
Imdiately she understood that there was discord between the sisters.
She mischievously joined Song Chongxiu in taking turns in making things difficult for Song Chongqi.
None present were fools; everyone saw that this was a deliberate difficulty for Song Chongqi. But Song Chongqi usually got along poorly with her siblings; even her own brother didn’t speak for her and others were even less inclined to voice any concern, pretending to be naive instead.
Maternal Aunt Yuan felt sorry, but this was not her place to speak, and she was not bold enough to dare, so she could only express forlorn looks to her daughter, urging her to endure it.
A al, in this bizarre atmosphere, was sohow completed.
Everyone ate with a bit of stomachache, barely managed until tea was brought up, and after sitting a while longer, hearing Song Hong’s talk of brotherly love and harmony among the family, they felt even worse, and all got up to leave.
Song Hong happened to need to discuss sothing with Lady Gao, so he nodded, signaling everyone to disperse.
Instantly, everyone in the room scattered like birds and beasts.
Song Chongjin held Wang Yongzhu’s hand, and the two slowly walked back to their courtyard, with only Gu Yu following behind, holding several boxes which were gifts from the Old Duchess as a eting present.
Returning to the courtyard, the servants who had been intimidated by Wang Yongzhu’s deanor all ca out to greet and kowtow to Song Chongjin.
Song Chongjin just waved them away, letting them leave, and the two entered the main house where it was warm, filled with the aroma of noodles. Rounding the screen, they found Old Granny Zhang sitting cross-legged on the kang, with a large bowl of noodles on the table, accompanied by several small dishes, enjoying her al.
Song Chongjin’s face fell: “Mother, you just have this for lunch? Has no one delivered lunch?” He turned to go out and find soone.
Old Granny Zhang quickly stopped him: “They did send, a whole fancy set of dishes, but I didn’t recognize them, and I was afraid to eat them. So I had Sister-in-law Ding make a bowl of noodles with so chili, paired with our homade mushroom sauce, and it’s truly satisfying.” Finishing, she slurped a mouthful of noodles.
Watching made Wang Yongzhu hungry, back at the main courtyard, no one was easy to deal with, eating with them was a real appetite killer, and not eating still made her feel full.
Slling the aroma of noodles, only then did she realize she was hungry.
“These noodles sll so good; I want to eat so too. Brother Song, do you want so? I, for one, am not full!” Wang Yongzhu turned to Song Chongjin.
Song Chongjin touched his belly; he wasn’t full either. The family banquet consisted of fancy but pointless dishes that looked abundant and served no purpose, more practical would be a bowl of noodles with a few buns.
“Make more noodles, add so chili, and pour in more vinegar.”
Gu Yu listened and hurried out to inform Old Madam Ding.
Old Madam Ding was in the forr tea room busy; the whole table of dishes delivered from the main courtyard, which the old granny hadn’t touched, were all rewarded to them.
She, along with Old Granny Wu and Gu Yu, couldn’t finish them, and were discussing with Old Granny Wu whether to share so with the others in the courtyard for so good favor.
On hearing Gu Yu said the master and madam were not full and wanted to eat noodles.
She set aside everything at once and washed her hands to boil water for the noodles, added chili oil, fragrant vinegar, poached two eggs, sprinkled green onions, and served it up.
Song Chongjin ate three bowls in one go before putting down the chopsticks.
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