Xiang Wei heard from the maids below that the hairy crabs had been delivered, so she imdiately went to check them out. Yueyao followed shortly after.
Mingzhu had been in Suzhou for over five years and was quite familiar with hairy crabs, having eaten them frequently. However, without the need for explanation, Xiang Wei picked one up, weighed it, and said, "I heard that if the crab’s belly button protrudes, it generally ans it’s full of roe and fat."
The two servants carrying the basket said, "Miss, rest assured, each hairy crab in this basket has been carefully selected, there won’t be any inferior goods." Anyone would be afraid to deceive the magistrate’s residence.
Mingzhu laughed and said, "Today we’ll have a complete crab feast, with stead crabs, crispy fried crabs with salt and pepper, flaky pastry hairy crabs, and crabs stead with Shaoxing wine...."
Xiang Wei welcod the idea eagerly, but Yueyao had reservations: "Crabs are cooling in nature and shouldn’t be eaten excessively. Especially Kexin shouldn’t eat too much." Eating a few is fine, but indulging every day would not be wise.
Mingzhu waved her hand and said, "You always have so many rules. Fine, don’t eat too much then! Later, I’ll ask the kitchen to prepare so other dishes for you."
At lunchti, Mingzhu instructed soone to bring wine, saying, "Coincidentally, the grape wine I brewed can be drunk now, let’s have a little to liven things up."
Yueyao didn’t object, but Xiang Wei mocked, "You? Can you even brew grape wine? Don’t let it be undrinkable!"
It turned out that Xiang Wei was wrong; the grape wine Mingzhu brewed tasted quite good.
Seeing Xiang Wei asking her for the recipe to brew grape wine, Mingzhu said triumphantly, "I won’t give it. I learned it after much effort, so how could I teach you so easily?"
Xiang Wei asked in a cold tone, "Really not letting learn?"
Mingzhu shivered; this woman wouldn’t stop until she got what she wanted. If not now, she’d surely find a sneaky way later.
This crab feast left Xiang Wei feeling a bit stuffed, "Sigh, with such delicious food here, I don’t even want to go back to the Capital City. Life is just too blessed now."
Yueyao said to Kexin by her side, "Don’t overeat, it’s not good for your health. Be sure not to learn from her." A woman in her thirties acting like a child, really makes one’s head ache.
Mingzhu was overjoyed. She always suffered losses in front of Xiang Wei, but Xiang Wei was always scolded into silence by Yueyao, truly a case of one thing subdues another.
After the al, the group went to the back garden for a stroll. When they reached the pavilion, they saw its ornants were exquisite, with lifelike figures and flowers.
Yueyao sighed, "I’ve always heard that Suzhou Gardens are unmatched in the world, and even such a small residence is decorated so exquisitely, those famous gardens must be even more breathtaking."
Mingzhu nodded and said, "The houses here are truly intricately built, much more beautiful than those in the Capital City." Mingzhu had seen most of the beautiful scenery in Suzhou.
Yueyao said, "You can’t compare them like that, Suzhou Gardens are renowned for their intricacy, whereas Capital City’s houses are grand and imposing. Each has its own charm, none is better or worse."
While the group was talking, two people approached from afar. The lady in the front was wearing a light pink dress with a white gauze robe over it, showcasing her graceful figure. Around her neck was a purple crystal, which glowed slightly, highlighting her skin as white as snow.
Yueyao examined the lady closely; she wasn’t tall, had long eyebrows and thin eyes, an oval face, soft as willow, a typical Jiangnan lady.
Upon seeing her, Mingzhu’s expression turned unpleasant.
Xiang Wei whispered in Yueyao’s ear like a mosquito, "She’s the concubine Niu Yanghui took in, surnad Gao, nad Chutong. Everyone in the residence calls her Maternal Aunt Bai."
Yueyao’s expression didn’t change, she picked an orange from the plate, peeled it, shared half with Kexin, then ate a segnt herself, saying, "Mingzhu, this orange is very sweet. Are there more? If so, I’d like to send so to my teacher to taste, and send so hairy crabs as well."
Mingzhu gave a slight bitter smile and said, "There are so left. If you want to send them, have soone deliver them tomorrow." Mingzhu knew Yueyao was very busy with the art exhibition, so she hadn’t ntioned Niu Yanghui taking a concubine. Seeing Yueyao’s calm deanor now, she assud Yueyao didn’t know the one coming was the concubine.
Madam Gao stepped in front of them and bowed slightly, "Madam An, Madam Lian, greetings."
Yueyao smiled softly. Won were typically referred to by their husband’s surna, like she was called Lady An outside; but a few exceptional won were known by their maiden nas, generally because they excelled in so field and were widely acclaid. Madam Gao calling Yueyao by her surna was a subtle complint. From this small form of address, one could see this woman was quite astute.
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