Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 325 - 5: Gourmet Map

Old Madam Song, after hearing the reply from Zhao Youshen’s family, finally felt at ease. She asked the maid to bring a pair of red gold bracelets as a reward for her and invited her to have tea.

The Heir’s wife looked at the courtyard full of boxes and sighed in her heart: No wonder Grandmother favors Susu, always thinking of her when it comes to good things.

Now it seems that it’s clearly the master and servant who think about each other. Not to mention the local specialties that Susu sent back along the way to the Northwest, even the Mid-Autumn Festival gifts included things to eat, wear, play, and use.

Actually, Susu is still too modest. Some of the items she sent, even the Heir’s wife couldn’t help but say "rare items."

Old Madam looked at the gift list. Although she didn’t care about what Susu sent her, seeing things that were appealing, her heart was naturally very happy.

It wasn’t just because of those items, but because it proved she hadn’t misjudged the person, leaving those who thought she was biased speechless.

She was indeed biased, but who wouldn’t love someone as lovable as Susu!

Old Madam said to her granddaughter-in-law and granddaughter, "Just take what Susu gave you back with you, to save me from having someone deliver it to you.

I see Susu also sent four pairs of bear paws. Have someone soak a pair. You can come over in the evening to eat and have them prepare a dish called ’Pearl in the Palm,’ and make red braised bear paws since Sixth Miss loves it."

Now, only Sixth Miss is left by Old Madam’s side, and since she is away from her parents, she naturally shows more affection towards her.

The Heir’s wife laughed and said, "I also have some broad-bellied fish sent from my natal home, plus two dragon pairs rewarded from the palace, monkey heads from the south, let’s create a rare feast of mountain, sea, bird, and plant delicacies!"

Sixth Miss clapped along and laughed, "Let’s write to Sister Su and make her envious!"

Now that the Song Family has entered the fourth generation, the titles in the mansion have changed as well.

Old Madam has become Grand Dowager, the Heir’s wife is referred to as Grandma at home, and the newly married Second Young Madam is naturally Second Granny.

This Second Granny is the legitimate granddaughter of Lady Xue, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites; her father, though from a poor family, was the top scholar in the eighteenth year of the late Emperor’s reign, married the legitimate daughter of the Xue Family, and has always held a position outside. Now he is a Fourth Rank Magistrate.

Not to mention the Shun’an Earl Mansion, the Second Master is merely a Seventh Rank official, and the Second Young Master is still an illegitimate child with such a Legitimate Mother, making his position elevated by the Second Young Master in terms of status.

However, Lady Xue and Old Madam Song had a good relationship. Having met several sons of the Song Family, aside from the Heir, among those of similar age, the Second Young Master was considered the most steady.

Now he is a Scholar, even though he doesn’t plan to take further exams or hold positions, sheltering under the Shun’an Earl Mansion is quite beneficial.

The son-in-law is a practical man, who this time returned to the capital and also sought an assignment outside, moreover to Yunnan, so the daughter must accompany him. His granddaughter, at fourteen, after much deliberation, Lady Xue decided to keep her.

After observing for another two years, she handpicked the Song Family’s Second Young Master. Being straightforward, she mentioned a word or two through the Eldest Madam of the Duke Zhen’s Mansion to Old Madam Song, letting the two young ones meet, resulting in mutual happiness.

The engagement was decided last August, and this May, she was married off to the Shun’an Earl Mansion with a grand bridal procession.

Though Second Granny is the eldest son’s wife of the Second Wife, the Song Family divides property but not families, with the capable Heir’s wife as the elder sister-in-law, she only needs to manage her small courtyard well.

Being naturally cheerful and innocent, she immediately gained favor with Old Madam, not to mention that Second Madam was always used to feigned aloofness, so it was best for everyone to act as if the other didn’t exist.

Though she had married into the Song Family after Susu had gone to the Northwest, they had met several times before.

Despite being cheerful and innocent, she was not foolish. Seeing the Heir’s wife prepare festival gifts for Susu, she also picked out a box of local specialties sent by her parents far away in Yunnan, which indeed pleased Old Madam, who privately gave her a box of East Pearls the size of dragon eyes.

Upon hearing her sister-in-law’s jest, she took the hand of the Grand Dowager and said, "Since sister-in-law prepared a four-course rare feast, I have nothing good, so I’ll put together four fruit dishes. Sixth Sister shouldn’t bother writing, instead, draw a gourmet map and tell Susu it’s not that we’re stingy and won’t give her anything to eat, it’s just that the distance doesn’t preserve them well, let her have a visual feast!"

These words silenced the room, before breaking into laughter. Sixth Miss clapped and cheered, and the Grand Dowager lightly patted her granddaughter-in-law.

"Lucky that Susu thinks of you, when you got married she was away, yet from such a far distance, she designed a set of jewelry for you. Now you tease her like this, be careful next time she might not think of you with good things."

Second Granny replied, "Susu isn’t that petty. Besides, even if she doesn’t think of me, she would think of Grandmother. Anything Grandmother gets, would she forget us? Look, we’re eating bear paws today!"

The Heir’s wife shook her head smiling, "Now I understand what a routine is, it seems Second Sister-in-law is waiting for Grandmother!" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Old Madam Song laughed, "From now on, I won’t believe anyone who says she’s naive."

The room full of women laughed and chatted, truly a rare festivity since Susu and Third Miss, Fourth Miss got married.

Nanny Qin watched her master’s joy and wished Susu could write every day.

Though she knew it was wishful thinking, knowing Susu was doing well, her master could be at ease.

After the granddaughter-in-law and granddaughter left, Old Madam put on her reading glasses and took out Susu’s letter for another careful read.

Nanny Qin brought over a cup of Snow Lotus Honey Water, "Master, soothe your throat, this is newly sent by Susu. We always knew Tianshan Snow Lotus was precious, but never imagined there was such a thing as Snow Lotus Honey."

Old Madam took it, sighed, "This must also be extremely precious, imagine how cold the Tianshan Snow Lotus grows, surely no one puts bees there, this has to be wild honey. That child got it and couldn’t bear to use it herself, yet sent it to me eagerly, wouldn’t you say I’m right to favor her!"

Old Madam Song, truly knowledgeable, recognizing the gift’s worth, spared Susu’s heartfelt generosity.

Old Madam flipped through the gift list, "There are only two jars, I’ll keep one. The other, along with what Susu prepared for the Lady and Princess, will be set aside to be brought to the palace on Mid-Autumn."

"There are also a few jars of chrysanthemum honey, another rarity. Keep one and have some warm water each day, then deliver four jars with Susu’s Mid-Autumn gifts for Princess Changlong, the Grand Princess Consort Gong, and the Eldest Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion."

Nanny Qin smiled, "Such precious things, only you would be willing. You should drink it all. An old servant also got a box of things prepared by Susu. Knowing I have a bowel knot problem, she sent eight jars of honey, though not as good as this wild honey, it’s still genuinely good!"

Old Madam’s face showed pride, "Our Susu is thoughtful everywhere, no wonder you cherish her dearly."

Old Madam was actually quite worried about Susu, with turbulence looming in the Northwest. Not mentioning the army needed time to reach the Tartar Royal Capital to support the Sixth Prince’s ascension.

Hearing from her sons and eldest grandson, she knew that the Tartar’s Sixth Prince was a difficult character.

Thankfully, there was still time for Changhong to hand the White Tiger Seal to Susu. Old Madam Song only hoped Susu truly heeded her words.