Help! The Frosty Noble's Son Is in Love With Me!-Chapter 301: The Empress Dowager’s Attendant Matron

Chapter 301: Chapter 301: The Empress Dowager’s Attendant Matron

Let’s talk about the Pei Mansion. The Third House was not impressed by the dumplings sent by the Young Lady Pei. Who hasn’t eaten dumplings before? Send such things? They simply gave them to the servants.

As a result, the two servants each took a bite, and their eyes lit up, "What are these dumplings made of? How are they so deliciously sweet?"

Another maid was also captivated by the deliciousness of the dumplings, wishing she could eat more, unwilling to speak for fear of wasting time.

The aroma of the dumplings spread everywhere, even the Third Madam in her room could smell it, "What is it that smells so fragrant in the kitchen?"

The nanny went out to check, and upon returning, said, "Madam, it is the aroma of the dumplings sent by the First House. Two maids are eating with great relish below the wall, and it seems really good."

The Third Madam originally disdained them, but the enticing aroma made her want to taste one, yet she couldn’t bring herself to ask. The nanny, providing a graceful way out, suggested, "I’d like to taste them myself. How about grabbing a couple to try?"

So she went, and when she got to the dumplings, as she peeled back the leaves, the aroma hit her nose. The translucent dumplings made her mouth water at first sight. Taking a bite...

What a delightful taste!

The Third Madam quickly finished, only to find there were no more, "Are there any left?"

The nanny ran out to check, only to find the two maids had already finished them off, and she immediately cursed, "You wretched things, eating the master’s things, slap their mouths for me!"

Over at the Second House, Ren Hua had tasted Qu Fulan’s homemade delicacies before, which were beyond words, knowing she had sent dumplings deliberately, she eagerly began to eat.

Since they were made for tasting, each was small enough to be finished in two bites.

Ren Hua ended up eating three or four in one go, still wanting more.

Dumplings are usually sent in numbers of seven or eight as a gesture; sending more than ten or twenty elsewhere would cost too much in manpower and resources, and the taste wouldn’t be as refined.

Ren Hua had three to four by herself and could eat no more, needing to leave some for her mother-in-law, yet she still felt she hadn’t had enough.

"If you really like them, you could have the servants make some," Pei Yuan suggested.

Ren Hua shook her head, "No one’s as good at it as my sister-in-law."

Pei Yuan, not convinced, tried one and indeed was surprised, "I’ll ask my brother for more later."

Ren Hua hurriedly stopped him, "No, with such a taste, I’m sure my sister-in-law personally participated in making the seasonings. How much could she make? It’s a token gesture, how could you shamelessly go asking for more, even if you do, I would be too embarrassed to eat it."

Only then did Pei Yuan let it go.

When it comes to something that even Pei Yuan is satisfied with, Princess Qing and the others naturally had no complaints.

At first, Miss Zhou and Tao Wan disdainfully thought of eating them, but when everyone had one and ate with gusto in front of them, the fragrance was so tantalizing that even someone with a strong will would be tempted to take a bite.

So they couldn’t help but find an excuse to try one, and after a bite, they were instantly convinced.

"I’ve never had such delicious dumplings before, are you sure they’re homemade and not bought outside?"

"There you go rambling, if there were such delicious dumplings in the Capital City, they would be famous by now."

"Sister has such skills, it’s truly amazing, it’s so delicious."

Tao Wan and Miss Zhou were so enamored by the taste that they couldn’t speak. Seeing that there was only one left in the basket, they hurriedly finished what they were eating and reached out to grab it.

Their hands collided.

Tao Wan looked up and met Miss Zhou’s eyes, neither willing to concede.

"I finished eating first."

"I touched it first."

Princess Qing saw this and couldn’t help but say, "Neither of you is allowed to snatch it; these dumplings were sent for the victors. It’s lucky enough to enjoy just one, and Miss Yuan has only had one, so the last one is for her."

Can such delicious food be easily let go?

Neither wanted to concede, but alas, upon the princess’s command, they had to give up.

"You all were competing to eat just now, and yet accused the gift of being inadequate? Now, everything else combined cannot compare to this one bite," Princess Qing laughed.

Both Miss Zhou and Tao Wan blushed.

They didn’t mean to be so disappointing, they just couldn’t help it.

They now truly experienced what it meant to not have enough.

Although they wanted to ask Qu Fulan if there were any more at home, they were too embarrassed to do so. If they had started with good relations, asking wouldn’t have been a problem; now they just couldn’t bring themselves to ask.

"Sister, with such culinary skills, why not consider opening a shop? You need not run it yourself, just provide the recipe for others to make, I’m sure it would be a booming business," suggested Princess Qing.

Everyone there had family businesses, involved in various industries, so discussing such topics wasn’t seen as an issue.

Though some girls hadn’t married yet, they needed to manage their dowries in the future.

This raises a contradiction: pure merchants are looked down upon for their lowly status, yet these affluent families also have large businesses to run. The same business has distinct levels of respect.

To be precise, they call it managing an industry, not doing business; the term business sounds too common.

"I’m busy managing household affairs every day and have little time to delve into other things. However, the Pei Family has several businesses like ’Flower Garden Ode’ restaurant, ’Burning Immortal Grass Milk Tea,’ ’Coffee Shop,’ all owned by them. To be frank, I learned my cooking skills from the chefs in these places, to honor my parents-in-law and serve the old lady."

Qu Fulan didn’t mention that she runs these businesses herself, as spreading such news would be risky. Knowing everything might make one appear like a monster.

"I’ve heard of these places; they’re reputed in the Capital City for their great taste. It’s a shame I never found the time to visit, but now having tried my sister’s cooking, knowing she learned from those chefs, I’m sure the food at Pei Mansion’s establishments isn’t bad. I’ll make a point to try them out later."

There it is, another round of advertising.

After all, why else make dumplings? Business people inevitably link everything to business.

Everyone gave gifts and then proceeded to do something to satisfy everyone.

There were live singing, harp playing, and painting displays, all garnering unanimous approval.

When it was Qu Fulan’s turn, she performed a show that left everyone completely flabbergasted.

It was nothing else but a magic trick; three cups, three eggs, and how the three eggs ended up in one cup right under everyone’s noses.

Qu Fulan practiced at home for a long time, carefully selecting smaller eggs for ease.

Anyone who’s seen the allure of a magic trick knows there’s hardly anyone not amazed. Even someone wanting to find fault couldn’t.

After the dragon boat race ended, first, the Emperor and Empress Dowager left, followed by other nobles.

While assisting the Empress Dowager into the carriage, the nanny inadvertently turned around and saw a silhouette in the distance, feeling an inexplicable familiarity as if she had seen it before. But before she could take a closer look, the person boarded a carriage and disappeared.

"Whose lady is that?"

Married women all wear their hair up, different from unmarried girls.

"Nanny, that’s the second young madam of the Pei Family, the wife of Heir Pei."

The nanny made a sound of acknowledgment. She had heard of Heir Pei’s wife, being a cousin of the Pei Family, and realized it was indeed her poor eyesight playing tricks on her.