Chapter 303

Jiang Xiaoxiao soon returned with a set of clean clothes.

Seeing the lotus-colored Ruqun, Jiang Xuelian couldn't help but widen her eyes. Th-this was for her to wear?

Jiang Xiaoxiao put down the Ruqun and left, "Sister Xuelian, I'm going out first. Come out to eat when you're dressed."

The door closed.

Jiang Xuelian was the only one left in the room.

She stood blankly in place.

For a long time, she hesitantly reached out to touch the brand-new lotus-colored Ruqun; it was fine cotton cloth, satin material, and it felt very soft and comfortable to the touch...

When Jiang Xiaoxiao returned to the kitchen, Jiang Wei was boiling the winter melon soup, and the air was full of fragrance.

The big fat fish on the cutting board had already been scaled, seasoned, and marinated, and was ready to go into the pot.

Jiang Xiaoxiao nimbly came to the stove, threw a few pieces of dry firewood into the stove, and said, "Mother, did anything happen at our soap workshop?"

Jiang Wei said with a calm expression: "I reckon the Sun family wants to bribe the workers at the soap workshop to obtain the soap formula."

Jiang Xiaoxiao snorted: "They certainly have many tricks."

If they can't buy it, they want to use these dirty methods to get the formula.

However, she didn't care if the formula was stolen by the Sun family.

Anyway, the core of the soap formula was in the hands of the two of them, mother and daughter; even if they knew the production steps, what could they do?

Without those few key things, soap simply couldn't be made.

It's just that...

She was afraid that if the Sun family couldn't get the soap formula they wanted, they might do something harmful to the soap workshop out of shame and anger.

Sigh, when it comes down to it, it's all because her family is small and weak, which made those people have bad intentions. If her family had a prominent backer, the Sun family wouldn't dare to take action against her family so easily.

"Don't worry, soldiers come to block, water comes to cover; no matter what tricks the Sun family has, I will find a way to deal with them."

The mother and daughter chatted back and forth, and before long, Jiang Xuelian had also changed her clothes and returned to the kitchen.

As soon as she entered, Jiang Wei glanced at her and said: "This dress looks quite good on you."

Jiang Xuelian immediately lowered her head shyly, her hands nervously clasped together.

It was her first time wearing such good material, and she didn't know what she looked like in this dress, but if Madam Jiang said it looked good, then it really must look good...

Jiang Xiaoxiao also smiled from the side: "That's right, Mother, your lotus-colored Ruqun looks so good on Sister Xuelian, it makes her look much prettier."

"What? This is Madam Jiang's dress?!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xuelian became anxious and reached out to untie her belt, "I-how can I wear Madam Jiang's dress? I must take it off quickly; it would be bad if I ruined it..."

"Don't." Jiang Xiaoxiao hurriedly stopped her, "Although this is my mother's dress, she has never worn it before. It's new and has been sitting in the wardrobe without anyone wearing it. Just wear it well; don't be afraid of ruining it."

Jiang Xuelian paused and asked suspiciously: "Wh-why doesn't Madam Jiang wear it?"

Clearly the material is so good...

"Because I don't like it." Jiang Wei said calmly.

This lotus color is too pink and tender; as someone who has lived two lifetimes, her mental age is also older, and she completely cannot accept this color.

At that time, Qiulian Niang made many clothes for her family in one go. Originally, this piece of lotus-colored material was meant as a thank-you gift for Qiulian Niang, who had always liked these pink and tender colors.

But in the end, Qiulian Niang was too embarrassed to accept it, so she made this Ruqun for Jiang Wei.

Since it was already made, Jiang Wei couldn't refuse, so it had been sitting in the wardrobe.

"In any case, just wear it well. My mother has plenty of clothes; one set doesn't matter." Jiang Xiaoxiao smiled and comforted her, "When you save up enough wages later, you can go to town and buy yourself a few new sets."

Jiang Xuelian, who was originally still struggling with this Ruqun, immediately reacted upon hearing the word "wages." She had come to the Jiang family to be a servant, so how could she just sit idle?

She rushed to Jiang Wei's side in one step, took the spatula from her hand, and said: "Madam Jiang, let me help you. Is this fish to be stir-fried?"

Jiang Wei glanced at the nervous Jiang Xuelian, but didn't stop her. Instead, she stood to the side and began to direct: "Fry it in the pan first; fry it until the fish body is golden yellow before taking it out, and drain the oil..."

Every time Jiang Wei said something, Jiang Xuelian followed nimbly, very serious and diligent.

Finally, when the big fat fish was taken out, it had shrunk by a large margin from being fried.

There was still oil left at the bottom of the pan. Jiang Xuelian followed Jiang Wei's instructions, added scallions, ginger, and garlic to stir-fry, then put the fried big fat fish into the pan, and added salt, cooking wine, soy sauce, vinegar, and other seasonings in order... finally, she turned the heat to low and cooked it until the sauce thickened.

The delicious sweet and sour fish was then finished.

When the sweet and sour fish was served on the table, Jiang Xuelian was still staring blankly at the bottles and jars on the stove.

Just like when she was in the vegetable field, some of the seasonings placed there were ones she recognized, but most were ones she had never seen before.

Those seasonings she hadn't seen before smelled very fragrant and had many uses; adding just a little bit when stir-frying or making soup would produce a lot of deliciousness.

Especially that red sauce; Madam Jiang said it was chili sauce. When stir-frying the eggplant just now, it was because that chili sauce was added that the eggplant tasted so good.

And those powders called pepper and cumin; Madam Jiang said they were used when roasting meat, and sprinkling a little could make the food taste better...

Jiang Xuelian couldn't help but recall the roasted rabbit meat she had eaten on the road; so that was because these seasonings were added.

She couldn't help but feel curious, and at the same time, she secretly made up her mind: Madam Jiang's family has so many treasures; she must protect these things well and absolutely not let outsiders take them away!

After such a long time of busying themselves, the few of them were finally able to sit at the table and start enjoying the food.

Cabbage stewed with pork, stir-fried eggplant, sweet and sour fish, and Jiang Xiaoxiao's favorite winter melon soup... all filled the table.

Jiang Xiaoxiao took a few bites, and immediately narrowed her eyes in delight at the deliciousness.

Home-cooked meals are still the best...

Over in Xuzhou, although the food wasn't bad and there were many expensive delicacies, it always lacked a certain flavor.

The reason for this was the scarcity of seasonings in this era.

If the seasonings in this era were more abundant, then the deliciousness of many foods could be taken to the next level.

Her mother's space didn't lack seasonings; there was whatever they wanted to eat. Maybe they should open a restaurant in the future...

Jiang Xiaoxiao was eating the delicious food, her thoughts drifting away again.

Jiang Xuelian beside her was also won over by this table of delicious food, eating so well she couldn't stop.

Originally, she had stubbornly refused to sit at the table, feeling that she was a servant of the Jiang family and how could she sit at the table to eat with her masters.

But in the end, she was frightened by a light sentence from Jiang Wei and sat directly at the table, not daring to say another word.