For dinner, Mu Shuangshuang was preparing a combination of at and vegetables.
A duck soup with eight treasures, and the rest were more common dishes: braised ribs, braised pork, along with so shrimp and a few greens.
Except for the eight treasures duck soup which needed ti to stew, the other dishes were done effortlessly by Mu Shuangshuang.
By the ti she finished a table full of dishes, Taohua hadn’t finished stewing a chicken soup.
She stayed by the stove the whole ti, not nodding off, and of course, not speaking to Mu Shuangshuang.
The only thing was after Mu Shuangshuang finished the dishes, she drooled a bit, her eyes occasionally falling on the completed dishes.
Perhaps she was tempted by the aroma!
Seeing this, Mu Shuangshuang knew the little maid wasn’t that hard to get along with, so she said, "Little girl, would you like to taste the flavor of these braised ribs?"
Taohua shook her head continuously, "No, I’m not hungry!"
"It’s okay, I’m not from the mansion, don’t know about any rules or not, just consider it helping taste the dish!"
Mu Shuangshuang handed the chopsticks to the little maid.
Under Mu Shuangshuang’s repeated invitations, Taohua bravely took the chopsticks.
She picked up a piece of rib, and once she tasted it, she couldn’t stop.
Originally ant to taste, she suddenly ate half a bowl.
Her little mouth was also covered in greasy shine.
Suddenly noticing half of the ribs were gone from the bowl, her face blushed with crimson.
"I’m sorry, sister, I... I... these ribs are too delicious, I forgot myself for a mont!" Taohua was about to cry.
"It’s okay, they were ant for you to eat!" Mu Shuangshuang said.
"Really ant for to eat?" Taohua found it hard to believe!
After all, she hadn’t seen the person in front of her, only knew she was a guest of the eldest son!
"Yes! It’s my first ti here, also unsure if what I made suits Mr. Zheng and the lady’s taste, now with you helping taste, I’m much more at ease!" Mu Shuangshuang said while patting her chest.
After hearing Mu Shuangshuang, Taohua finally showed a gracious smile.
"You’re really nice!" she said.
Mu Shuangshuang also smiled along and then asked, "Are you stewing chicken soup? I see you’ve been standing in the kitchen for quite a while!"
"Yes, it’s for Aunt Jiaojiao!"
To outsiders, Ruan Xiao Jiao wasn’t qualified to be called a lady.
"Why not stew with a crockpot, if chicken soup is stewed in a crockpot, not only does it beco tender, but the aroma is all contained inside!"
Mu Shuangshuang pointed at the hearth.
The crockpot she referred to was the small kind that fits inside the hearth.
"Ah... really? I didn’t know! I’ll look for one, see if there’s a crockpot in the kitchen!"
"No need to look, I couldn’t find one earlier!" Mu Shuangshuang said.
She intended to stew the soup with a crockpot initially, it would be faster, and the soup would taste better!
Unfortunately, she couldn’t find one!
"Next ti you check at the market, don’t buy a big one, a small one can hold quite a bit!" Mu Shuangshuang suggested.
Mu Shuangshuang shared what she knew with Taohua, and Taohua repeatedly thanked her.
Mu Shuangshuang looked at the ti, knowing the al was almost done, she said, "I’ll go call them for dinner, you... still waiting?"
"I’m ready as well!" Taohua nodded.
Mu Shuangshuang was responsible for making dinner, then a maid ca to serve the al and dishes.
Unexpectedly, Zheng Zhi actually called over the County Magistrate.
With the County Magistrate present, naturally the County Magistrate’s wife was also there.
He tasted a bit of Mu Shuangshuang’s dishes and uncharacteristically called over the other concubines from the backyard.
Which inevitably led to seeing Ruan Xiao Jiao.
Mu Shuangshuang didn’t mind, as for Ruan Xiao Jiao, we don’t know if she’d be apprehensive for having done sothing against her conscience.
Clearly, Mu Shuangshuang was overthinking; Ruan Xiao Jiao didn’t have a deep impression of her.
Especially back when Mu Shuangshuang was living in the third branch, she stayed at the Old Mu Family and was often with Mu Dade.
At the dining table, everyone was courteous.
Yu Dahai, Huang Da, and Huang Er dared not to make a sound.
Zheng Zhi didn’t speak, but the County Magistrate, after eating Mu Shuangshuang’s dishes, began asking Mu Shuangshuang so questions.
"Miss Shuangshuang? I heard Zhi’er say you have a restaurant, the dishes there are very novel, and particularly delicious, may I ask if the recipe is yours?"
Mu Shuangshuang shook her head, "Not entirely, our restaurant chef is quite skilled!"
Mu Shuangshuang’s words added a touch of surprise in the County Magistrate’s eyes.
Because he thought when asking this, any other person would nod to make a good impression.
This girl, at such a young age, doesn’t seek praise!
"Your dishes are indeed good, especially the duck soup, the taste of the broth is remarkably rich, many restaurant chefs can’t compare!"
Praised by the County Magistrate, Mu Shuangshuang still maintained an appearance of poise.
Yu Dahai observed all this and increasingly felt his initial choice was right!
A person like this is bound to have good prospects!
"By the way, Miss Shuangshuang, where are you from?" the County Magistrate’s wife suddenly asked.
Mu Shuangshuang instinctively glanced at Ruan Xiao Jiao, then replied steadily, "Qingshan Town..."
Before Mu Shuangshuang could finish, Huang Er chid in, "Er Gui Village, my brother Huang Da and I are from Tie Dao Village! I don’t know where Brother Yu is from!"
At this mont, Mu Shuangshuang really wanted to give Huang Er an award.
She was worried about not having the opportunity for Ruan Xiao Jiao to know she was from the Old Mu Family, and then he gave her a miraculous assist!
Upon hearing Huang Er’s words, Ruan Xiao Jiao’s gaze seed glued to Mu Shuangshuang.
After a while, she finally realized Mu Shuangshuang was from the Old Mu Family!
Her complexion suddenly turned pale!
Beside her, the County Magistrate’s wife chid in, "I rember Xiao Jiao is from Er Gui Village, does this girl recognize you? If you’ve t, it surely counts as fate!"
Ruan Xiao Jiao naturally shook her head, "I don’t know her, I’ve been married here for over ten years now, this girl looks young, perhaps wasn’t even born then!"
The County Magistrate’s wife thought about it and agreed!
"But after all, from the sa village, Xiao Jiao, later chat with Miss Shuangshuang!"
"Yes, ma’am!" Ruan Xiao Jiao replied.
But in her heart, she was indeed unwilling.
This girl was from the third branch, and the third branch is Mu Dade’s enemy!
Should she do sothing to vent for Da De?
Her thoughts wandered far; when Ruan Xiao Jiao ca back to her senses, she found everyone was looking at her!
"What’s wrong? Why are you looking at ?" Ruan Xiao Jiao breathed heavily!
"Xiao Jiao, what’s the matter with you, the master called you several tis and even served you food, yet you didn’t say thank you!"
So concubines began to reproach Ruan Xiao Jiao. Ruan Xiao Jiao looked up and saw a warm smile.
She hurriedly said, "Master, I..."
"Never mind, it’s not a problem, quickly eat your al! Later, still need to take Miss Shuangshuang to stroll around the garden!"
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