The General's Delicious Wife Chapter 011: Recommending oneself
Xia Yue Chu is carrying a tray of corn kernels, standing outside the window, listening to these words earnestly, and an idea forms in her heart.
Madam Sun has been scolded to the point of drooping her head when she comes out from the room, Xia Yue Chua drags her aside immediately, asking her about Cui family's situation.
According to Madam Sun's intel, the reason why Seng Head village is called by this name has a interesting history to it.
Earlier in the days, there is actually no village here, there is a mountain gatherer from unknown origins who digs up a root of Ginseng and sells it for a good fortune.
This person then pulls in a few helpers and becomes the supervisor. Relying on the Ginseng harvest yearly, his days also become blessed with fortunes.
As his helpers expand in numbers, the people begin building their houses here, and it slowly forms into a village.
Because at those times, majority of the people here are Ginseng gatherers, so coming from here and there, it is generally referred to as Seng Head village.
This Cui family in the village who are having the wedding are the descendants of that early year's supervisor. They are the most well-off family in the village and also the most well respected.
Now that the eldest son of the Cui family is the one in charged of the village, Eldest Cui's little son is especially hard working, he is a scholar who passed the county level imperial exam last year and is studying in the city right now. That is an exclusively honourable status in this village.
"Sister-in-law, why are you asking this?" Madam Sun is puzzled.
"Ni Er's mother, do you want to earn some money?" Xia Yue Chu plans it out in her head. Since it is a banquet, other than the chef they will need helpers too, getting Madam Sun to go together, at least the fertile water does not flow to an outsider's field*.
"Who wouldn't want to earn money, but where do I find that ability?"
"Bring me to the Cui family tomorrow, I have a plan!"
How is Madam Sun Xia Yue Chu's opponent, she is convinced within two to three sentences.
The next day early morning, Madam Sun leads Xia Yue Chu to the Cui's house.
From a long distance away, they can see the yard fence of the Cui family, not mentioning the others, just by looking at the Cui family house, it is completely different to the rest in the village.
Neatly arranged into two rows of tiles and bricks houses, a limestone fence is built to a human's height in the surrounding four directions, the entrance gate is painted with a shiny black polish, there is a gold copper door knock hanging, making an onlooker stops at that sight.
It is all earth clay houses in Seng Head village, the Cui family is definitely considered high in status.
Seeing that they are about to reach the Cui's house, Madam Sun cannot help but relent to the urge to withdraw.
She tugs Xia Yue Chu on her sleeve "Sister-in-law, this, will this work, why don't we just go back…"
"What are you afraid of, the most is that we won't be employed, we won't lose a piece of meat just by trying."
Xia Yue Chu comes up in a few steps, lifts the copper ring and knocks on the door.
A second later, the big gate opens to a seam, a middle age madam who looks about forty of age shows half of her face, she frowns upon seeing Xia Yue Chu and Madam Sun.
"Are you so bored that you will randomly knock on doors!"
"Madam Guo." Madam Sun greets her in a rush and explains in a stammer. "I, I heard you are looking for a chef, my, my sister-in-law wants, wants to try for it."
Madam Guo shows her disdain when she hears this, looking up and down at Xia Yue Chu a few times, making a chain of tsking sound like little chicks, waving her hand which almost hits on her face.
"Our house is preparing for a happy occasion, why is a widow for the living like you coming up to us, go away quickly go away quickly, don't spoil our lady's good fortune to her husband."
Madam Sun explains hastily "Madam Guo please don't misunderstand, my family Big Brother just came back a few days ago."
Xia Yue Chu is more direct, hiding five copper coins in her hand and forcing it into Madam Guo's hands. "Madam, sorry to trouble you for a favour, it's enough to just let me in and try."
Madam Guo feels the coolness in her palms, looking down and seeing the five copper coins, she instantly feels that Xia Yue Chu is smart in her handling, the way she sees her has also turned more agreeable.
With a turning of her eyeballs, considering that she only needs to go in and inform, it does not take her much effort at all, then telling Xia Yue Chu. "Alright, you wait here, I will go in and ask for you, but, I cannot guarantee if you can make it or not."
"That is natural, we are grateful enough that Madam can go in and ask." Xia Yue Chu returns with a smile.
Madam Guo slams the gate shut with a bang, blocking out the two people outside the door.
Not far from them, there are a few madams digging for little garlic sprouts in the ground. They stop the work on their hands as soon as seeing Xia Yue Chu knocking on the door. Gossiping and waiting to be entertained.
"Why did Da Zhuang's wife knock on the Cui family's door?"
"Could it be that Da Zhuang cannot make it anymore, coming to the Cui family to buy Ginseng?"
"As if, that old Xue family is poor to their last coins, still buy Ginseng, don't even know if they can afford to buy a radish."
"Who said so, two days ago, I went down the mountain to the market and I saw Madam Sheng secretly went to a store to weigh out some silver, polished shinny white silver, it was a big piece too!"
"Aiyo, cannot be!"
…
Although Xia Yue Chu is not interested, but this conversation is carried by the wind into her ears.
Over there the discussion is getting heated, the big gates open once again, Madam Guo appears looking accomplished.
"Come on in, I have said a lot and Old Sir finally agrees to let you try."
Madam Guo says as she leads Xia Yue Chu and Madam Sun towards the kitchen at the back.
"Many thanks Madam Guo, it's all thanks to you today!" Xia Yue Chu smiles sweetly and speaks sweetly, Madam Guo is in a good mood within two to three sentences.
"I am also not afraid to tell you, tomorrow our lady will be back for the newlywed's returning banquet, because of that the family is all jittery. We have tested out a few chefs today but Old Sir is not satisfied with any of them, the family is even more urgent than ever. If you can make Old Sir nod his head, it's also my good luck!"
The ridicule is obvious in Madam Guo's eyes but having taken from one shortens her hands**. It is only pretty words and lip services right now.
"If you can take on this job, other than one hundred copper coins of wages, you might even get tips. Lunch at noon will be provided. This kind of good thing you won't be able to find it even with a lantern anywhere else in this village!"
"If its like this, surely we won't forgot the benefits for you Madam." Xia Yue Chu says so but she is not too happy in her heart. The head chef who is in charged of a returning feast is only one hundred copper coins, who are they treating as a fool?
Madam Guo hears that and becomes more sincere in her smile, giving her a heads up. "This time for the lady's wedding banquet, other than the big chef, the family has also hired kitchen helpers, Madam Shan is famous in the city, she is overseeing all the work in the kitchen for these three days. I'm bringing you to meet her."
Madam Guo reaches the kitchen but does not enter, calling from the outside "Madam Shan."
A madam around thirty years of age comes out from the kitchen upon hearing someone calling her. She is wearing a grey based flower patterned jacket, an apron tightly around her waist, and both of her big wide sleeves have been gathered back and tied up to her upper arm, looking clean and neat.
Madam Guo introduces in a friendly manner. "This one is here to test her cooking skills, can you help to oversee this?"
"Hello Madam Shan, my name is Xia Yue Chu, this is my younger sister-in-law." Xia Yue Chu greets her politely.
Madam Shan gauges Xia Yue Chu for a moment and does not bother hiding her despise at all, ignoring her totally and turns to Madam Guo. "Madam, don't take offense from what I'm saying, even for a critical disease, we would at least seek a doctor out right? Here the family is preparing for a returning banquet, not some roadside street tent, it is not a job for just anyone."
Madam Guo smiles in responds. "I too have no other choices, Old Sir said to let her in for a test, we can only trouble Madam you now."
Madam Shan understands that it is the main family's decision, not saying anymore, swipes a look at Xia Yue Chu coldly. "Follow me in then!"
.
Translator Notes:
*The fertile water does not flow to an outsider's field, meaning leaving the good things to an insider.
**Taking from one shortens one's hands, meaning accepting a bribe has restricted and restrained the one who takes it.
Translated by Yellow. Aug 2022.