After all the Old Master’s son has been served, the ceremony ended. The newlywed didn’t serve the concubines because their low status didn’t give them such courtesy.
Xia You looked at Ye Jiayao and said, “I’ve heard that some families have a rule for the new wife to cook for everyone on her first day in the house. It wasn’t popular in my family, but since Jinxuan’s a good cook, why don’t we try it out.”
Xia Chunyu frowned. Was his mother trying to teach Yaoyao a lesson? He has never heard of this tradition before!
“It’s the first day of Jinxuan’s marriage, you can’t make her work. She can cook you something delicious next time,” the Old Marquis rebutted.
The first young mistress Xia Qiao stifled her smile. When she cooked for the family, Xia You mocked her dishes endlessly.
“If Mother wants to eat my food, I’d be happy to cook for her,” Ye Jiayao said graciously. She wasn’t stupid. She knew that Xia You’s words weren’t praises though it may sound like it. She was trying to embarrass and demean her, but Ye Jiayao doesn’t care. For her, this was an opportunity to win Xia You over.
“Yaoyao…” Xia Chunyu called softly, looking at her anxiously. He knew she wasn’t feeling that great today because of how wild he was last night. She wasn’t in the right shape to do anything today. “I’m sorry I was so rough with you last night.”
“I’ll come with you,” said Xia Chunyu. He wanted to help her and lighten her load as much as possible.
“Chunyu, you stay. I have something I need to discuss with you,” Xia You told him.
Ye Jiayao saw the worry in his eyes so she gave him a reassuring smile. “You know cooking isn’t a chore for me. Just stay here.”
As soon as she left, the Old Lord sent everyone away. When they were all gone, he turned to his wife and demanded, “What are you doing? Are you trying to embarrass Jinxuan?”
“It’s just a meal,” Xia You responded. “What’s the big deal? Didn’t she used to cook for people every day?”
“That was before! Don’t forget, she’s your daughter-in-law now,” said the Old Lord crossly.
Xia You was unapologetic. “Just because she’s my daughter-in-law, doesn’t mean she shouldn’t cook food for me.”
“That’s not what we meant, Mother. You just need to ease up on her,” Chunyu said. His mother was being difficult and he doesn’t understand why since Yaoyao’s a great person. Why does she keep trying to antagonize his wife?
“Silly child. I’m doing this for you! Women want to be spoiled, but you shouldn’t pamper them all the time! If you keep catering to her, she’ll take advantage of you.”
“You’re being too traditional,” the Old Marquis told her.
The Old Lord shook his head in anger and stood up to leave. “I can’t be bothered to argue with you, you’re too tiring.”
“Go talk to your other two little bitches, then,” Xia You yelled at his back.
“Mother, don’t let others hear that!” Xia Chunyu chastised. He was really beginning to be weirded out by his mother’s behavior these past few days.
Xia You said angrily, “Let them hear. Everyone knows about it, there’s no need to hide”
Xia You chose not to say anything. She’s a nice person, eh? I’ll be the judge of that.
Xia Qiao let out a laugh as soon as they left the hall. “It seems like Mother doesn’t like Jinxuan. It’s her first day here and Mother’s already treating her badly. I can’t wait to see what happens next!”
“I don’t care about being the lady of the house. I am just happy to see all that awkwardness. Besides, if Second Brother didn’t get the Helian family to back her up, she’ll just be a chef. What can she do?”
Xia Qiao’s face turned red in anger. “What kind of man counts on a woman to make money? Just you, you lazy oaf. You’re the oldest son of the Jing An Marquis’ residence and yet, you don’t have anything. You have no achievement at all. How dare you call me out?”
Xia Chunli saw the anger in her face and immediately backtracked. “I was only joking! Don’t be offended.”
Xia Chunyu felt unsettled as he headed to the kitchen. There, she saw Yaoyao with an apron, her sleeves rolled up, as she busied herself with cooking. Meanwhile, the house’s regular female cooks were all gathered just watching her.
Ye Jiayao smiled at his ridiculousness. “Oh, stop. Don’t scold them. I told them that I will do everything today to show Mother my sincerity.”
He rushed the female cooks out before asking her worriedly, “Are you sure you can handle it?”
Ye Jiayao laughed awkwardly. “I’ve done so many tables of dishes in Heavenly Residence before and I didn’t see you worrying about me then.”
He lowered his head, feeling embarrassed. “I did worry.”
“Whatever. Stop interrupting my work.” Ye Jiayao pushed him away, grabbed the soy sauce, and poured it over the beef she just cut. She then put a bit of alcohol, sugar, salt, and a spoon of cornstarch to mix with it.
“Are you angry?” Xia Chunyu asked as he walked around her.
“What should I be angry about?” she asked calmly. “Your mother just doesn’t like that you and your father kept protecting me. She feels that the son she raised is being taken by someone else. It doesn’t help that her husband was not on the same page as her. I can understand where she’s coming from. Plus, I am not exactly the daughter-in-law that she expected nor wanted. Not to mention, Princess Liu Li would be joining the family next month and she cannot exactly set rules for a princess. I am the only person she can take her emotions out on. Stop worrying, it’s not a big deal. I’m here to help in any way that I can.”
Xia Chunyu was once again amazed at how gracious and understanding his wife is. “Yaoyao, you are incredible. Your understanding and patience are really remarkable.”
“I just know how the woman’s mind works.” She then said, “Ay, call someone back here. I need someone to start the fire.”
“Right away!” he obliged happily.
Dinner time.
To impress as much of the family as she can, Ye Jiayao asked the cooks about their preferences on food. She learned that the Old Lord spent most of his time up in the north and loved to eat northern dishes. Unfortunately, when the cooks tried to recreate some of it, he didn’t like it. So for him, Ye Jiayao made a typical northern pot of pork, pork stew noodle, and a pot of mushroom soup.
The Madame was from Hangzhou, and Hangzhou cuisine also belonged to Huaiyang cuisine. For her, Ye Jiayao made sweet and sour pork ribs, west lake sour fish, and fragrant fish with eggplant.
She already knew what Chunyu and Chunfeng liked so she was able to whip that up without any help. She also prepared a sweet silky apple for the little one.
The Old Lord looked at the spread of exquisite dishes in front of him and licked his lips, his mood instantly lifted.
“Jinxuan, you did a great job! You even prepared northern food!” the Old Marquis exclaimed with a pleased laugh.
“Thank you for the compliments, Father. Have you tried it? Are they authentic?” Ye Jiayao chose to serve the Old Lord because Xia Qiao was already standing next to the Xia You and has already started to serve her.
He tasted a piece and gave her a thumbs-up. “They are! You are even better than the northern chefs, Jinxuan!”
“Father, don’t praise her so much or she will make you meat wrap every day,” Xia Chunyu teased.
“Pshh!” Ye Jiayao waved his words away dismissively. “I have more dishes up my sleeves.”
“What is this? Why is it so silky?” Little Chunguo asked, eyeing the apple in confusion.
Ye Jiayao rushed to help him. “I made this especially for you. It’s called silky apple and the longer the silk is drawn, the smarter you are.”
Chunguo’s eyes widened with amazement and he did his best to pull the apple up. Chunfeng saw his younger brother’s struggle and decided to try it too to tease him.
“Second Sister made this for me, you can’t have it,” Chunguo complained.
“You can’t finish this all by yourself! Share some with me!” Chunfeng said.
Xia You scolded, “You’re eating. Behave.”
“Let them be,” the Old Marquis said. “They’re having fun and we haven’t been this happy in a long time.”
“Mother, I made west lake sour fish, sweet and sour ribs, and this fish-flavored pork especially for you,” Ye Jiayao told Xia You.
Xia Qiao went to get the sweet and sour pork ribs but Xia You’s cold voice stopped her. “I don’t like to eat meat.”
Ye Jiayao bit her lip to refrain from saying something. The cooks literally just said that meat was your favorite!
Xia Chunyu personally took a piece of fish to his mother and said, “Here, Mother. I know west lake sour fish is your favorite.”
Xia You could not refuse what her son got for her so she lazily picked the chopsticks up and tasted it. She did her best to hide her surprise at how delicious it was. She hasn’t had authentic west lake sour fish in so many years! She really wanted to eat more, but she couldn’t let everyone see that.
She reluctantly put her chopsticks down and said indifferently, “It’s not bad.”
