The General's Delicious Wife Chapter 016: Shrewd havoc
If according to Xia Yue Chu's character in her previous life, this kind of people would have been chased out from the kitchen long ago.
However, ultimately, this place is not her territory. Beside, Madam Shan has already made her stance, so Xia Yue Chu does not add onto what has been said. She continues teaching the other madam how to pluck off the tiny fish bones from the fish meat.
The rest of the people in the kitchen has been assigned with a chore. Everyone is busy in a orderly manner according to Xia Yue Chu's directions.
Only Zheng Chun Ni, because of her restlessness, has been tasked with the menial things around the kitchen.
Zheng Chun Ni is becoming even more resentful. She believes Xia Yue Chu is looking down on her by using her insignificantly, moving things about, washing the vegetables, blanching stuff and other similar boring work. So she uncontrollably starts to move around the area, thinking to find something for herself to do.
Over here with Xia Yue Chu, she has just started stewing the pickled cabbage with blood sausage, when she hears the sound of something breaking from behind her.
Everyone in the kitchen turn their heads towards where the sound comes from.
Zheng Chun Ni is standing by the door with her face white. On the ground in front of her, there is a mess of broken ceramic shards, a red juice trickling everywhere. There are two flatten wine red pears laying in the middle of the broken pieces.
Honey preserved snow pear is an appetizer in the menu. In the current season, there is no red wine, there is also no fresh pear.
Fortunately, the Cui family has bought preserved pears in sugar syrup and bayberry wine from the South. It is double boiled over the night for this pretty wine red colour to penetrate.
To fill up two plates full, Xia Yue Chu needs at least three pears.
However, there is only one earthen jar of bayberry wine, which is enough to submerge only four preserved pears at the most. So there is only one spare for back up.
To be honest, with Xia Yue Chu's knife work, she does not need to worry about such things, leaving one as back up is merely a precaution.
Never in a million ways has she thought that Zheng Chun Ni will break two of them at once.
Xia Yue Chu's face sinks in the instant. She goes up and picks up the two pears from the ground and washes them clean with water quickly. Then she inspect it carefully.
One of the pears is dropped and flatten on half a side, the other pear is damaged with a horizonal cleft.
The longer Xia Yue Chu sees, the more frustrated she gets. Yelling with much anger, "Who told you to anyhow touch these jars!"
Zheng Chun Ni actually has no knowledge of what the use of this dish is. She has nothing to do just now so she begins looking around. She finds the pot furthest on the side, and inside it there is a jar that nobody has moved before. So out of curiosity, she opens the covered lid of that inner ceramic bowl to look inside.
She picks up two of the pears from the top and sees that it is also pears at the bottom. When she is about to put it back, her elbow is knocked by Madam Shan who comes in to check the progression. As a result, the ceramic bowls drops out of her hand, breaking into pieces, along with the two pears that are dropped and damaged in their appearance.
Initially, Zheng Chun Ni is scared to the point of turning pale, but upon hearing that the one reprimanding her is actually Xia Yue Chu, she rebukes in responds. "What does it got to do with you. The main family has not said anything yet, who needs you to say rubbish here!"
"I am the main chef today, you are the kitchen assistant, what you need to do is to behave honestly and to treat every task I give you seriously. Don't touch what I didn't tell you to touch!"
Xia Yue Chu supresses her own fuming, her expression is colder than the accumulated snow outside that has yet to melt.
Zheng Chun Ni is unconvinced. "You are also just a country bumpkin, how are you any better compared to me? I don't know what kind of method you used to become this main chef, still have the shame to bring your relative along. My mother has been the Cui family's kitchen helper all these years, now because of you, pushing her off the list for the assistant position. We are all from the same village, you think your deeds are appropriate?"
Xia Yue Chu finally understands. Since the morning, Zheng Chun Ni's attitude towards herself, as if her nose isn't a nose and her face isn't a face*. It is all because Madam Sun has taken over her mother's position as the kitchen helper.
For a madam from a village, being a kitchen help for half a day in exchange for thirty copper coins, on top of that a meal is provided, is an extremely good offer.
But being understanding is one thing, it does not mean that Xia Yue Chu will allow other people to behave atrociously in her kitchen.
In her entire life, Xia Yue Chu hates people who ruins and wastes food the most. Furthermore, this is going to spoil her dish today.
Looking at the fruit wine steeped pears that has dropped on the ground, her mind searches through expeditiously for a way to salvage this and says without minding about being polite. "There are not just you and your mother here as kitchen helpers. Why is it not others who are replaced but specifically your mother who is replaced? But since you have so much filial piety, you don't need to work here anymore, you can go back to accompany your mother now!"
Zheng Chun Ni is angered to the point of trembling. No longer caring if this place is appropriate or not appropriate, she spurts forth grabbing Xia Yue Chu's collar and scratches at her hair and face.
Xia Yue Chu is not prepared for this but Madam Sun beside her has been on her guard since Zhen Chun Ni has a long standing reputation of being a shrew outside.
Madam Sun catches Zheng Chun Ni's hands that are waving frenetically. Only to feel a sharp pain on the back of her own hand which makes her takes a deep and chilling breath.
Xia Yue Chu focuses her attention on the back of Madam Sun's hand and there she sees three deep bloody red marks.
If the scratches have landed on her face…
Xia Yue Chu is spooked and dares not continue that train of thought.
Her current anger is like a fiery flame at her core. Originally, in consideration that the other party is merely a young girl fourteen or fifteen years of age, chasing her out when she makes a mistake is about as far as it can get. Never has she imagined that this person is so vicious.
Zheng Chun Ni acts as if she is possessed. Ignoring Madam Sun who is blocking her and persists in swinging her arms, trying to get past Madam Sun to hit Xia Yue Chu.
Xia Yue Chu lifts her leg and kicks Zheng Chun Ni in the stomach. Although she did not go flying, the strength used is not light.
Zheng Chun Ni falls onto the ground. Hugging her stomach, crying and rolling around. The scolding coming out of her mouth is also unclean.
Madam Shan is stunned. Finally now her thoughts has returned, quickly directing the other two madams. "Are you dead people, why don't you know to pull them apart."
After saying so, she takes a step over Zheng Chun Ni who is hugging her stomach rolling on the ground and goes to check on Xia Yue Chu if she has any injury.
Seeing that Xia Yue Chu is alright, she sighs in relieve. Then she grabs Madam Sun's hand. "Hurry and rinse it with water, puts on some ointment. Aiyo, her strike is this brutal!"
Xia Yue Chu takes over the firewood that Madam Sun is holding and consoles her. "Ni Er's mother, you can just rest, there is not much remaining to do."
Madam Sun is not willing. She is worried about her wages and is afraid that if she does lesser work, her payment will be deducted.
She haphazardly washes her hand and wipes off on her apron twice, rushing to assure them. "It is just a small wound, it won't affect my chores. I am not any noble ladies, where is it that delicate."
Zheng Chun Ni is still rolling and wailing on the ground, saying that she has internal injury from Xia Yue Chu's kick.
Madam Shan responds after hearing that. "If it's truly internal injury, you still have the strength to call so loudly?"
Madam Guo is sent by Madam Wang to check on the preparation of the dishes. Coming in from the door, she almost steps on Zheng Chun Ni who is rolling on the ground.
"Aiyo, what are you doing!" Madam Guo jumps from the scare, takes two steps back and almost could not balance herself.
Madam Shan serves up the two squashed pears, that are just washed clean, on a plate to show Madam Guo. At the same time, like a chain of fireworks, telling her about everything that has happened from start to end as it is.
When Madam Guo sees those pears, her face contorts tensely. Then seeing Zheng Chun Ni's face again, her temper shoots up to the maximum, she has the urge to go up to her and contributes two more kicks.
"Pei**! You truly treat yourself as someone impressive, if not for seeing that your days are difficult with your family of widow and orphan, your mother with that type of condition, working two hours and taking a four hour rest, who will hire her to do anything? So as it turns out, we spend money to hire people, and it become our fault now, we cannot don't hire? Then do you want to bring your mother over here, the Cui family provides for her retirement and arranges for her funeral?"
That mouth of Madam Guo has no mercy, a few sentences are enough to make Zheng Chun Ni turns green for a moment and turns white in another.
Zheng Chun Ni dares to fight with Xia Yue Chu but dares not argues with Madam Guo.
The Cui family is a well to do family, frequently employing help from the village.
Over the course of one year, adding all up she can make about one tael or more silver, she is still counting on this to save up more dowry for herself!
Madam Guo continues to scold. "Today is the auspicious day where our lady comes home, the people at the front are all arriving, and you actually dare to wreck a havoc at the back kitchen, I think you really don't know your own weight in catties and in taels***!"
Zheng Chun Ni has her face splattered with saliva and spit from her mouth, realizing that Madam Guo is truly furious, suddenly she lost her spirit, how does she dare to continue defying so strong headedly, she admits defeat and apologizes quickly.
"Madam Guo, it is all my bad, I know my mistake, just let me off this one time, I will definitely listen obediently and work…"
Madam Guo rolls her eyes and breaks her speech, leaving not an ounce of sentiment. "Get out of here immediately, there is also no need for you to come anymore in the future!"
.
Translator Notes:
*Her nose isn't a nose and her face isn't a face, meaning that her expression so twisted with unhappiness and anger, her features does not look like what it should be.
**Pei is the sound for spitting.
***Knowing your own weight in catties and in taels, meaning knowing your place, your position, your significance, having that awareness of self.