Chapter 42
When Jiang Yun Zhu woke up the next day, Jiang Cheng had already come back from giving rides and was feeding the mules in the yard with a happy face.
This morning, he earned twenty-five wens.
Though this little money may not be much compared to what Jiang Yun Zhu earned, he felt that Jiang Yun Zhu was right. The prospect of giving rides was very good. Once he makes more money in the future, he will be able to make more money by buying more mules and horses.
At this time, Mrs. Chen had already prepared breakfast, steaming hot hand-rolled noodles.
Jiang Lin and others have gotten up, fed the chickens, and cleaned the courtyard.
Jiang Yun Zhu stood at the door, watching the thriving scene. A smile unconsciously crept on her face.
After the meal, they went to the county to hire a cook.
Now that Jiang Cheng had a mule cart, it went without saying he sent Jiang Yun Zhu there.
The two came to a broker point and were greeted by a middle-aged man who looked a bit gentle.
The man didn't despise Jiang Yun Zhu just because she was a girl, and asked her what she needed.
Jiang Yun Zhu told of her request of hiring one or two cooks. What was special was that her business was in Changshi Village. So the cook had to consider the location. Also, if they sign the contract with the cook, it must be for ten years. If the cook goes back on his word, he will pay her one hundred liang silver and promise not to be a cook within three years.
Her first condition was fine. But the second one, the middle-aged man frowned upon hearing it. This requirement was too harsh. In this case, "Miss, you might as well just buy a cook."
This way the person was hers.
Jiang Yun Zhu wanted to, but wasn't she short of money? A good cook cost at least twenty liang silver and was very sought after. She wanted to try to hire one first. If she couldn't find one, she could only save money to see if she could buy a suitable one in the future.
After the middle-aged man asked, he guessed that Jiang Yun Zhu couldn't afford it. So he asked again, "Can the second condition be relaxed?"
Jiang Yun Zhu shook her head. The cook worked in her place and it was easy to learn her dishes. She didn't want her same dishes to appear in other restaurants in the future. If not, she would prefer not to hire.
"Alright then, I'll ask around Miss." The middle-aged man stood up helplessly. He didn't have much hope for this business.
Two quarters of an hour later, the middle-aged man shook his head as soon as he entered the door. No one wanted to go to a village. What’s more for ten years.
Jiang Yun Zhu wasn't surprised either. She came here today to try her luck.
"I have troubled you." Jiang Yun Zhu said and put a few copper coins on the table. It can be counted as hard work fee. Then she stood up to leave.
At this time, the middle-aged man still didn’t give up, "Wait a minute, there is another person. But he hadn't come to the broker point recently. I don't know if he had found a job or what. If Miss is willing to wait, I have his address here and I'll go ask him."
Jiang Yun Zhu paused. She felt that this matter didn’t have much hope and didn’t actually want to bother him anymore.
"That man lives on Willow Street, not far from here. If Miss goes out of the city, you’ll pass by his house." The middle-aged man said.
Reaching this point, Jiang Yun Zhu could only agree. In the end, the three of them went out of the room together and headed toward Willow Street. If this person wasn't suitable, Jiang Yun Zhu and Jiang Cheng will go directly to the grocery market to buy something and go home.
At a narrow alley, there were two dilapidated wooden doors. The middle-aged man knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" Someone inside spoke up. Then there were footsteps. Soon, the door opened, revealing a pure and delicate face.
Jiang Yun Zhu and the owner of this face were stunned at the same time.
Soon, the owner of the face said excitedly, "Miss, you're here. Come in and have a seat." This person was none other than Mrs. Ruan who set up a wonton stall yesterday.
Jiang Yun Zhu only felt that this world was too small. Why did they meet yesterday and meet again today?
"You know each other?" The middle-aged man asked in surprise.
"Yes, this miss helped me yesterday." Mrs. Ruan pulled Jiang Yun Zhu into the house.
Jiang Yun Zhu looked at the middle-aged man. Could this Mrs. Ruan be the cook he mentioned?
No, it was Mrs. Ruan's husband, Xue Jing, who was looking for a work with the broker point. Xue Jing was originally the cook of Yunhelou in the county, but the owner of Yunhelou wasn't well managed and closed more than a month ago.
Xue Jing wanted to find another job, so he went to the broker point.
It was just that there had never been a suitable one.
Later, he discussed with Mrs. Ruan. How about he do it himself. With his skills, it should be fine.
The rent of shops in the county town was high. They couldn't afford it. So they decided to start by setting up a stall to sell wontons.
They had it all planned out. Once they earned money, they will open a shop.
But setting up a stall wasn't that simple. Some people could be a good cook, but they may not be a good boss.
Xue Jing was the latter. He had a quick temper and wasn't good at speaking. That’s why he can't win over the guests at all.
Seeing that the business had been lukewarm, he quickly got anxious, caught a chill, and fell ill.
So this resulted in Mrs. Ruan selling wontons for him.
"Thank you, thank you." Hearing that Jiang Yun Zhu was the one who helped Mrs. Ruan's situation yesterday, Xue Jing hurriedly thanked her. Though his complexion wasn’t good, his condition had improved. It was estimated that he will be mostly better after taking the medicine for a few days.
"It's a small matter. If others see it, they will do the same too." Jiang Yun Zhu responded.
Xue Jing disagreed. He knew that most people would choose to remain silent for various reasons when encountering such a situation. Jiang Yun Zhu, a girl who could speak up for justice, was commendable.
As they were chatting, the middle-aged man from the broker point was anxious. He came to facilitate the signing of the contract between the two parties to get paid. So he quickly interrupted and told about Jiang Yun Zhu's desire to hire a cook.
So that's the case. Xue Jing and Mrs. Ruan looked at each other.
"I dropped by to have a look. If you don't want to find a job, I won't force it." Jiang Yun Zhu said. It was really just a helping hand yesterday. She didn’t want to demand payment for the kindness.
"OHow about let Miss see your skills. Then you could talk about the conditions. There is nothing absolute in this world." The middle-aged man thought that there might be a way, so he tried his best to facilitate this matter.
Xue Jing got up and went to the kitchen. He was best at stir-frying. There were ingredients readily available in the kitchen. His knife moved like flying. Then it was stir-frying under a big fire. After a while, a plate of fried cabbage comes out of the pan.
In stir-frying, the most important thing was the heat. It needed to be stir-fried with a strong fire and power, so that the dish would have a taste.
Jiang Yun Zhu watched from the side. She noticed that his cooking skills were very good even though his body was weak. A plan formed in her mind.
After tasting the cabbage, she was sure of what she was thinking.
"How about I cook a dish for you to try." Jiang Yun Zhu said.
After that, she made stir-fried cabbage in the hot iron pan.
She had studied with three cooks in the Anping Hou Mansion. Those cooks were all well-known cooks in Lu Prefecture and even Zhongnan. Later, when she went to the capital, she learned from famous cooks in the capital for a period of time. Her skills had reached the point of perfection.
‘Money weighs down slaves, skills beats those in the same industry’. This sentence wasn't wrong at all. In the eyes of others, Jiang Yun Zhu's cooking was beautiful. Every action was so pleasing to the eye. However, Xue Jing gasped after seeing it.
He studied under a master cook in Lu Prefecture Xiangkelou. He thought that his cooking skills were already very good, but when he saw Jiang Yun Zhu cooking today, he knew what the word gap meant. Jiang Yun Zhu's every step and every fire power was just right.
His eyes were shining brightly. While watching, he was mentally comparing his method, pinpointing where the gap was, and how he could make up for it. He was instantly bewildered.
"Try it." Jiang Yun Zhu said. The fried cabbage was steaming hot.
Xue Jing came to sense like waking from a dream. Then he ignored others and put a piece of cabbage in his mouth first. The beginning was fresh and fragrant. Then followed by the sweet taste of cabbage itself. Refreshing and endless aftertaste.
There was one point in stir-fried cabbage that was difficult to deal with. That was, the leaves of the cabbage were thin, while the outer leaves were thick and watery. If handled badly, the leaves would wilt. However, Jiang Yun Zhu’s plate was called perfect.
"How did you do it?" Xue Jing asked immediately.
Jiang Yun Zhu smiled without saying a word.
Xue Jing immediately realized that he was too abrupt. Even a master wouldn't necessarily teach the student these cooking secrets, let alone a stranger.
Xue Jing's face was flushed. First, he was still ill, and second, he was too excited.
The middle-aged man from the broker point saw hope and said to him, "This miss has two conditions for hiring a cook."
He stated Jiang Yun Zhu's two conditions.
The first one was nothing. The second one… He had asked five cooks just now. Two of them told him to scram, while the other three flatly rejected him. So he was still very nervous when he explained this condition to Xue Jing.
There was no surprise on Xue Jing's face. He understood that Jiang Yun Zhu was afraid that her dishes would be leaked. Suddenly, it came to him. It meant that if he went to cook for Jiang Yun Zhu, she would teach him a few dishes?
His face turned redder as his heartbeat accelerated unconsciously. Firstly, to be a cook, superb skills were indispensable. Secondly, having one’s own exclusive dishes. Initially, he thought he was great. But now looking at it, he was far behind on the first point. Second point, he didn't even have any.
If he follows Jiang Yun Zhu...
He was about to agree to be Jiang Yun Zhu's cook right away, but he was no longer a youth after all. He had a wife to support and would have children in the future. Can’t let them suffer with him.
"Salary?" Fidgety, he asked Jiang Yun Zhu.
"How much did you pay for a month in Yunhelou?" Jiang Yun Zhu asked.
"Nine coin silver." Xue Jing replied.
Jiang Yun Zhu felt it was around that amount, "I'll give you one liang silver a month. In these ten years, the rise will be according to your performance. The minimum increase will be half a share of the salary every year. After ten years, whether you stay or stay, I won’t intervene.
Also, I could rent a house for you in the village so that you have a place to live. "
Half a share was half of 10%, so five percent. This should be the common standard of modern annual salary increase. As for renting a house, because they were doing lunch and dinner and Changshi Village was far away from the county city, Xue Jing will definitely not be able to go back after dinner.
Houses in the village weren’t expensive. If he comes to work in remote places, they must prepare a place to live.
Afraid that he wouldn’t agree, Jiang Yun Zhu continued, "In the future, maybe I will come to the county to open a store. Then it will be much more convenient for you to follow me."
Actually, even if she didn't say this, Xue Jing already wanted to agree. Now, he turned to Mrs. Ruan.
How could Mrs. Ruan not understand his meaning. So she nodded toward him immediately. In the past two days since she set up a stall, she understood that she and Xue Jing weren’t business material. Jiang Yun Zhu was a good person and had good skills. It was good to follow her.
Mainly, it was safe. No need to think about those miscellaneous things. Though ten years was a chain for Xue Jing, wasn't it also a promise?
Just like that, Xue Jing signed the employment contract in a daze. Ten years. He sold himself for ten years like this. It seemed that he wasn't afraid or worried though. He just wanted to get better soon so that he could watch Jiang Yun Zhu cook.
In fact, Jiang Yun Zhu noticed that Xue Jing was very eager to study and learn. Give him a chance and his future would be limitless.
And she needed someone like him.
She paid the middle-aged man a commission and then made an agreement with Xue Jing. Once he was better, he was to immediately come to Jiang's house to work. Jiang Yun Zhu bought a lot of things in the county town and went home with Jiang Cheng.
This trip to the county city was very successful.
After arriving home, she found that there was a guest at home. It was Mrs. Liu.
Mrs. Liu's eyes were red, but there was a smile on her face.
Seeing Jiang Yun Zhu coming back, she immediately stood up, "Yun Zhu, you're back."
"En, when did Auntie come?" Jiang Yun Zhu smiled back.
"I've just been here for a while. Oh right, come and try on this dress." As Mrs. Liu spoke, she opened a bag beside her, took out a dress from it, and handed it to Jiang Yun Zhu.
It was a thin persimmon-colored dress. The collar and cuffs were covered with snow-white rabbit fur. The dress was embroidered with the pattern of green luan bird. According to Jiang Yun Zhu's taste, she found this dress very beautiful.
"Auntie, what is this?" Jiang Yun Zhu suddenly understood why Mrs. Liu's eyes were so red. She stayed up late to make clothes.
Indeed, when she went back that day, Mrs. Liu was thinking about how to compensate Jiang Yun Zhu. Afterward, she thought of making her a dress.
"It's for you, try it on." Mrs. Liu said.
"How could this do?" Jiang Yun Zhu saw that the clothes were made of very good materials. With Mrs. Liu widow and orphan...
"I've already made it. If you don't wear it, I'll feel even guilty." Mrs. Liu responded.
When she said that, Mrs. Chen also persuaded her. Jiang Yun Zhu could only hold the clothes and go to the back room to change.
After a while, she changed her dress and came out.
The moment the door curtain was lifted, both Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Chen were stunned. They both knew that Jiang Yun Zhu was good-looking. But this beautiful and indescribable person...
"Mother, Auntie Liu, how is it?" Jiang Yun Zhu asked.
Actually, she felt the waist of this dress was a bit too tight. She preferred it to be looser and comfortable. But it was clothes that other people kindly gifted. Better not pick fault least that it makes people’s heart cold.
"It's beautiful." "It's beautiful." Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Chen said one after another.
Mrs. Chen stood up, took Jiang Yun Zhu's hand, and looked up and down. No matter how she looked, she couldn't get enough of it. Was this her daughter? This was her daughter! Her beautiful daughter!
"I felt that the consorts in the palace aren’t as good-looking as Yun Zhu." Mrs. Liu praised. Of course she had never seen the consorts in the palace. But in her heart, the consorts in the palace should be the most beautiful woman in the world, but couldn’t compare to Jiang Yun Zhu.
After hearing this, Mrs. Chen became even happier.
Jiang Yun Zhu was about to say something, but she suddenly sensed something. Looking into the courtyard, she saw Shen Feng Ming and Yang Sheng standing there, looking at her. Neither of them knew when they came back.
Originally, it was just a soft and graceful side profile, with beautiful peaks and unparalleled fairness. When she turned around, a face surrounded by snow-white rabbit fur was revealed.
Jiang Yun Zhu's heart skipped a beat. Because Shen Feng Ming's eyes were too dark at the moment, as if he wanted to swallow her up.
Yang Cheng wanted to pat Shen Feng Ming on the shoulder and say a few words of admiration. He heard that his breathing got heavy. Even like that, he was able to hold it back. He was indeed his forever icy superior.
With him like this, when will he be able to embrace the beauty?
He suddenly had the urge to laugh. So he amusedly spoke, "Certainly prettier than the consorts in the palace."
Jiang Yun Zhu: ... She was lucky enough to meet the consorts in the palace!
Yang Sheng took a few steps forward and said again, "The clothes are pretty, but unfortunately there is no jewelry."
When he said the last sentence, he meaningfully glanced at Shen Feng Ming.
However, Jiang Yun Zhu wanted to quickly end this topic, "I'll go back to the room and change my clothes."
She turned and entered the room.
When she came back, Shen Feng Ming and Yang Sheng were still there. They had already talked about other topics. She happened to have something to ask Yang Sheng, "The sausage is almost ready. It could be eaten after drying for a while. The rest will be made before you go. Or?"
"Make it first. When it's done, I'll send it back immediately." Yang Sheng anxiously responded.
Jiang Yun Zhu didn't mind and decided to start working today.
In fact, these things were only worth twenty liang. While specially sending it all the way back to the capital, the travel expenses were more than it.
Yang Sheng wanted to ask Jiang Yun Zhu something, but he was very worried about how to ask. Suddenly, he remembered how the goddess appeared that day and many people saw it. It made sense for him to see it, right?
So he asked Jiang Yun Zhu, "Before I left last time, I saw the goddess of Xifeng Mountain appear. What do you think was going on?"
Jiang Yun Zhu paused, raised her eyes to look at him, and found that there was no strange expression on his face. She let her raised heart settle back. She didn't expect that matter to be hidden from Qilin Guards. She was just helping the temple gain incense burning. So it should be nothing.
Maybe he was just curious?
Jiang Yun Zhu decided to make it clear, "I saw the appearance of the goddess, but it was too illusory. It reminded me of one thing. I have seen shadow puppetry before and found it very interesting. Later, I discovered when there’s a small hole in the window and one stands behind the window with a glossy and clear object in their hand, the reflection of the candle could be seen.
It felt a bit similar to that one. But I'm just guessing. Maybe it's really a goddess appearing. "
In fact, it was the small hole projecting. The mountain behind Xifeng Mountain had a mirror-like cliff, which was suitable for this.
What goddess appearance? In fact, even the image was very blurred. Far worse than modern projection technology.
She deliberately arranged people to stir up the atmosphere, saying that it was true that the goddess appeared.
When she said that, Yang Sheng immediately became interested and wanted to play around by himself.
At this time, Shen Feng Ming said, "There was a saying in the ‘Mo’s Experience’, #a person of light is like a shot. Those who are below are high, and those who are high are below. The feet cover the below light, therefore the scene is formed on the top. The head covers the top light, so the scenery is formed below. Near and far, there are ends and lights. So it is within past scenery.'”
The translation of this passage not only described the appearance of small hole projection, but summarizes its laws.
Jiang Yun Zhu really didn't expect that Mo Zi had already recorded this. What’s more, Shen Feng Ming knew about it.
Yang Sheng had a pondering expression, "Is that so? Why didn't I know."
"When you were in school, you slept more than you were awake." Shen Feng Ming said.
Yang Sheng: ...
When Jiang Yun Zhu woke up the next day, Jiang Cheng had already come back from giving rides and was feeding the mules in the yard with a happy face.
This morning, he earned twenty-five wens.
Though this little money may not be much compared to what Jiang Yun Zhu earned, he felt that Jiang Yun Zhu was right. The prospect of giving rides was very good. Once he makes more money in the future, he will be able to make more money by buying more mules and horses.
At this time, Mrs. Chen had already prepared breakfast, steaming hot hand-rolled noodles.
Jiang Lin and others have gotten up, fed the chickens, and cleaned the courtyard.
Jiang Yun Zhu stood at the door, watching the thriving scene. A smile unconsciously crept on her face.
After the meal, they went to the county to hire a cook.
Now that Jiang Cheng had a mule cart, it went without saying he sent Jiang Yun Zhu there.
The two came to a broker point and were greeted by a middle-aged man who looked a bit gentle.
The man didn't despise Jiang Yun Zhu just because she was a girl, and asked her what she needed.
Jiang Yun Zhu told of her request of hiring one or two cooks. What was special was that her business was in Changshi Village. So the cook had to consider the location. Also, if they sign the contract with the cook, it must be for ten years. If the cook goes back on his word, he will pay her one hundred liang silver and promise not to be a cook within three years.
Her first condition was fine. But the second one, the middle-aged man frowned upon hearing it. This requirement was too harsh. In this case, "Miss, you might as well just buy a cook."
This way the person was hers.
Jiang Yun Zhu wanted to, but wasn't she short of money? A good cook cost at least twenty liang silver and was very sought after. She wanted to try to hire one first. If she couldn't find one, she could only save money to see if she could buy a suitable one in the future.
After the middle-aged man asked, he guessed that Jiang Yun Zhu couldn't afford it. So he asked again, "Can the second condition be relaxed?"
Jiang Yun Zhu shook her head. The cook worked in her place and it was easy to learn her dishes. She didn't want her same dishes to appear in other restaurants in the future. If not, she would prefer not to hire.
"Alright then, I'll ask around Miss." The middle-aged man stood up helplessly. He didn't have much hope for this business.
Two quarters of an hour later, the middle-aged man shook his head as soon as he entered the door. No one wanted to go to a village. What’s more for ten years.
Jiang Yun Zhu wasn't surprised either. She came here today to try her luck.
"I have troubled you." Jiang Yun Zhu said and put a few copper coins on the table. It can be counted as hard work fee. Then she stood up to leave.
At this time, the middle-aged man still didn’t give up, "Wait a minute, there is another person. But he hadn't come to the broker point recently. I don't know if he had found a job or what. If Miss is willing to wait, I have his address here and I'll go ask him."
Jiang Yun Zhu paused. She felt that this matter didn’t have much hope and didn’t actually want to bother him anymore.
"That man lives on Willow Street, not far from here. If Miss goes out of the city, you’ll pass by his house." The middle-aged man said.
Reaching this point, Jiang Yun Zhu could only agree. In the end, the three of them went out of the room together and headed toward Willow Street. If this person wasn't suitable, Jiang Yun Zhu and Jiang Cheng will go directly to the grocery market to buy something and go home.
At a narrow alley, there were two dilapidated wooden doors. The middle-aged man knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" Someone inside spoke up. Then there were footsteps. Soon, the door opened, revealing a pure and delicate face.
Jiang Yun Zhu and the owner of this face were stunned at the same time.
Soon, the owner of the face said excitedly, "Miss, you're here. Come in and have a seat." This person was none other than Mrs. Ruan who set up a wonton stall yesterday.
Jiang Yun Zhu only felt that this world was too small. Why did they meet yesterday and meet again today?
"You know each other?" The middle-aged man asked in surprise.
"Yes, this miss helped me yesterday." Mrs. Ruan pulled Jiang Yun Zhu into the house.
Jiang Yun Zhu looked at the middle-aged man. Could this Mrs. Ruan be the cook he mentioned?
No, it was Mrs. Ruan's husband, Xue Jing, who was looking for a work with the broker point. Xue Jing was originally the cook of Yunhelou in the county, but the owner of Yunhelou wasn't well managed and closed more than a month ago.
Xue Jing wanted to find another job, so he went to the broker point.
It was just that there had never been a suitable one.
Later, he discussed with Mrs. Ruan. How about he do it himself. With his skills, it should be fine.
The rent of shops in the county town was high. They couldn't afford it. So they decided to start by setting up a stall to sell wontons.
They had it all planned out. Once they earned money, they will open a shop.
But setting up a stall wasn't that simple. Some people could be a good cook, but they may not be a good boss.
Xue Jing was the latter. He had a quick temper and wasn't good at speaking. That’s why he can't win over the guests at all.
Seeing that the business had been lukewarm, he quickly got anxious, caught a chill, and fell ill.
So this resulted in Mrs. Ruan selling wontons for him.
"Thank you, thank you." Hearing that Jiang Yun Zhu was the one who helped Mrs. Ruan's situation yesterday, Xue Jing hurriedly thanked her. Though his complexion wasn’t good, his condition had improved. It was estimated that he will be mostly better after taking the medicine for a few days.
"It's a small matter. If others see it, they will do the same too." Jiang Yun Zhu responded.
Xue Jing disagreed. He knew that most people would choose to remain silent for various reasons when encountering such a situation. Jiang Yun Zhu, a girl who could speak up for justice, was commendable.
As they were chatting, the middle-aged man from the broker point was anxious. He came to facilitate the signing of the contract between the two parties to get paid. So he quickly interrupted and told about Jiang Yun Zhu's desire to hire a cook.
So that's the case. Xue Jing and Mrs. Ruan looked at each other.
"I dropped by to have a look. If you don't want to find a job, I won't force it." Jiang Yun Zhu said. It was really just a helping hand yesterday. She didn’t want to demand payment for the kindness.
"OHow about let Miss see your skills. Then you could talk about the conditions. There is nothing absolute in this world." The middle-aged man thought that there might be a way, so he tried his best to facilitate this matter.
Xue Jing got up and went to the kitchen. He was best at stir-frying. There were ingredients readily available in the kitchen. His knife moved like flying. Then it was stir-frying under a big fire. After a while, a plate of fried cabbage comes out of the pan.
In stir-frying, the most important thing was the heat. It needed to be stir-fried with a strong fire and power, so that the dish would have a taste.
Jiang Yun Zhu watched from the side. She noticed that his cooking skills were very good even though his body was weak. A plan formed in her mind.
After tasting the cabbage, she was sure of what she was thinking.
"How about I cook a dish for you to try." Jiang Yun Zhu said.
After that, she made stir-fried cabbage in the hot iron pan.
She had studied with three cooks in the Anping Hou Mansion. Those cooks were all well-known cooks in Lu Prefecture and even Zhongnan. Later, when she went to the capital, she learned from famous cooks in the capital for a period of time. Her skills had reached the point of perfection.
‘Money weighs down slaves, skills beats those in the same industry’. This sentence wasn't wrong at all. In the eyes of others, Jiang Yun Zhu's cooking was beautiful. Every action was so pleasing to the eye. However, Xue Jing gasped after seeing it.
He studied under a master cook in Lu Prefecture Xiangkelou. He thought that his cooking skills were already very good, but when he saw Jiang Yun Zhu cooking today, he knew what the word gap meant. Jiang Yun Zhu's every step and every fire power was just right.
His eyes were shining brightly. While watching, he was mentally comparing his method, pinpointing where the gap was, and how he could make up for it. He was instantly bewildered.
"Try it." Jiang Yun Zhu said. The fried cabbage was steaming hot.
Xue Jing came to sense like waking from a dream. Then he ignored others and put a piece of cabbage in his mouth first. The beginning was fresh and fragrant. Then followed by the sweet taste of cabbage itself. Refreshing and endless aftertaste.
There was one point in stir-fried cabbage that was difficult to deal with. That was, the leaves of the cabbage were thin, while the outer leaves were thick and watery. If handled badly, the leaves would wilt. However, Jiang Yun Zhu’s plate was called perfect.
"How did you do it?" Xue Jing asked immediately.
Jiang Yun Zhu smiled without saying a word.
Xue Jing immediately realized that he was too abrupt. Even a master wouldn't necessarily teach the student these cooking secrets, let alone a stranger.
Xue Jing's face was flushed. First, he was still ill, and second, he was too excited.
The middle-aged man from the broker point saw hope and said to him, "This miss has two conditions for hiring a cook."
He stated Jiang Yun Zhu's two conditions.
The first one was nothing. The second one… He had asked five cooks just now. Two of them told him to scram, while the other three flatly rejected him. So he was still very nervous when he explained this condition to Xue Jing.
There was no surprise on Xue Jing's face. He understood that Jiang Yun Zhu was afraid that her dishes would be leaked. Suddenly, it came to him. It meant that if he went to cook for Jiang Yun Zhu, she would teach him a few dishes?
His face turned redder as his heartbeat accelerated unconsciously. Firstly, to be a cook, superb skills were indispensable. Secondly, having one’s own exclusive dishes. Initially, he thought he was great. But now looking at it, he was far behind on the first point. Second point, he didn't even have any.
If he follows Jiang Yun Zhu...
He was about to agree to be Jiang Yun Zhu's cook right away, but he was no longer a youth after all. He had a wife to support and would have children in the future. Can’t let them suffer with him.
"Salary?" Fidgety, he asked Jiang Yun Zhu.
"How much did you pay for a month in Yunhelou?" Jiang Yun Zhu asked.
"Nine coin silver." Xue Jing replied.
Jiang Yun Zhu felt it was around that amount, "I'll give you one liang silver a month. In these ten years, the rise will be according to your performance. The minimum increase will be half a share of the salary every year. After ten years, whether you stay or stay, I won’t intervene.
Also, I could rent a house for you in the village so that you have a place to live. "
Half a share was half of 10%, so five percent. This should be the common standard of modern annual salary increase. As for renting a house, because they were doing lunch and dinner and Changshi Village was far away from the county city, Xue Jing will definitely not be able to go back after dinner.
Houses in the village weren’t expensive. If he comes to work in remote places, they must prepare a place to live.
Afraid that he wouldn’t agree, Jiang Yun Zhu continued, "In the future, maybe I will come to the county to open a store. Then it will be much more convenient for you to follow me."
Actually, even if she didn't say this, Xue Jing already wanted to agree. Now, he turned to Mrs. Ruan.
How could Mrs. Ruan not understand his meaning. So she nodded toward him immediately. In the past two days since she set up a stall, she understood that she and Xue Jing weren’t business material. Jiang Yun Zhu was a good person and had good skills. It was good to follow her.
Mainly, it was safe. No need to think about those miscellaneous things. Though ten years was a chain for Xue Jing, wasn't it also a promise?
Just like that, Xue Jing signed the employment contract in a daze. Ten years. He sold himself for ten years like this. It seemed that he wasn't afraid or worried though. He just wanted to get better soon so that he could watch Jiang Yun Zhu cook.
In fact, Jiang Yun Zhu noticed that Xue Jing was very eager to study and learn. Give him a chance and his future would be limitless.
And she needed someone like him.
She paid the middle-aged man a commission and then made an agreement with Xue Jing. Once he was better, he was to immediately come to Jiang's house to work. Jiang Yun Zhu bought a lot of things in the county town and went home with Jiang Cheng.
This trip to the county city was very successful.
After arriving home, she found that there was a guest at home. It was Mrs. Liu.
Mrs. Liu's eyes were red, but there was a smile on her face.
Seeing Jiang Yun Zhu coming back, she immediately stood up, "Yun Zhu, you're back."
"En, when did Auntie come?" Jiang Yun Zhu smiled back.
"I've just been here for a while. Oh right, come and try on this dress." As Mrs. Liu spoke, she opened a bag beside her, took out a dress from it, and handed it to Jiang Yun Zhu.
It was a thin persimmon-colored dress. The collar and cuffs were covered with snow-white rabbit fur. The dress was embroidered with the pattern of green luan bird. According to Jiang Yun Zhu's taste, she found this dress very beautiful.
"Auntie, what is this?" Jiang Yun Zhu suddenly understood why Mrs. Liu's eyes were so red. She stayed up late to make clothes.
Indeed, when she went back that day, Mrs. Liu was thinking about how to compensate Jiang Yun Zhu. Afterward, she thought of making her a dress.
"It's for you, try it on." Mrs. Liu said.
"How could this do?" Jiang Yun Zhu saw that the clothes were made of very good materials. With Mrs. Liu widow and orphan...
"I've already made it. If you don't wear it, I'll feel even guilty." Mrs. Liu responded.
When she said that, Mrs. Chen also persuaded her. Jiang Yun Zhu could only hold the clothes and go to the back room to change.
After a while, she changed her dress and came out.
The moment the door curtain was lifted, both Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Chen were stunned. They both knew that Jiang Yun Zhu was good-looking. But this beautiful and indescribable person...
"Mother, Auntie Liu, how is it?" Jiang Yun Zhu asked.
Actually, she felt the waist of this dress was a bit too tight. She preferred it to be looser and comfortable. But it was clothes that other people kindly gifted. Better not pick fault least that it makes people’s heart cold.
"It's beautiful." "It's beautiful." Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Chen said one after another.
Mrs. Chen stood up, took Jiang Yun Zhu's hand, and looked up and down. No matter how she looked, she couldn't get enough of it. Was this her daughter? This was her daughter! Her beautiful daughter!
"I felt that the consorts in the palace aren’t as good-looking as Yun Zhu." Mrs. Liu praised. Of course she had never seen the consorts in the palace. But in her heart, the consorts in the palace should be the most beautiful woman in the world, but couldn’t compare to Jiang Yun Zhu.
After hearing this, Mrs. Chen became even happier.
Jiang Yun Zhu was about to say something, but she suddenly sensed something. Looking into the courtyard, she saw Shen Feng Ming and Yang Sheng standing there, looking at her. Neither of them knew when they came back.
Originally, it was just a soft and graceful side profile, with beautiful peaks and unparalleled fairness. When she turned around, a face surrounded by snow-white rabbit fur was revealed.
Jiang Yun Zhu's heart skipped a beat. Because Shen Feng Ming's eyes were too dark at the moment, as if he wanted to swallow her up.
Yang Cheng wanted to pat Shen Feng Ming on the shoulder and say a few words of admiration. He heard that his breathing got heavy. Even like that, he was able to hold it back. He was indeed his forever icy superior.
With him like this, when will he be able to embrace the beauty?
He suddenly had the urge to laugh. So he amusedly spoke, "Certainly prettier than the consorts in the palace."
Jiang Yun Zhu: ... She was lucky enough to meet the consorts in the palace!
Yang Sheng took a few steps forward and said again, "The clothes are pretty, but unfortunately there is no jewelry."
When he said the last sentence, he meaningfully glanced at Shen Feng Ming.
However, Jiang Yun Zhu wanted to quickly end this topic, "I'll go back to the room and change my clothes."
She turned and entered the room.
When she came back, Shen Feng Ming and Yang Sheng were still there. They had already talked about other topics. She happened to have something to ask Yang Sheng, "The sausage is almost ready. It could be eaten after drying for a while. The rest will be made before you go. Or?"
"Make it first. When it's done, I'll send it back immediately." Yang Sheng anxiously responded.
Jiang Yun Zhu didn't mind and decided to start working today.
In fact, these things were only worth twenty liang. While specially sending it all the way back to the capital, the travel expenses were more than it.
Yang Sheng wanted to ask Jiang Yun Zhu something, but he was very worried about how to ask. Suddenly, he remembered how the goddess appeared that day and many people saw it. It made sense for him to see it, right?
So he asked Jiang Yun Zhu, "Before I left last time, I saw the goddess of Xifeng Mountain appear. What do you think was going on?"
Jiang Yun Zhu paused, raised her eyes to look at him, and found that there was no strange expression on his face. She let her raised heart settle back. She didn't expect that matter to be hidden from Qilin Guards. She was just helping the temple gain incense burning. So it should be nothing.
Maybe he was just curious?
Jiang Yun Zhu decided to make it clear, "I saw the appearance of the goddess, but it was too illusory. It reminded me of one thing. I have seen shadow puppetry before and found it very interesting. Later, I discovered when there’s a small hole in the window and one stands behind the window with a glossy and clear object in their hand, the reflection of the candle could be seen.
It felt a bit similar to that one. But I'm just guessing. Maybe it's really a goddess appearing. "
In fact, it was the small hole projecting. The mountain behind Xifeng Mountain had a mirror-like cliff, which was suitable for this.
What goddess appearance? In fact, even the image was very blurred. Far worse than modern projection technology.
She deliberately arranged people to stir up the atmosphere, saying that it was true that the goddess appeared.
When she said that, Yang Sheng immediately became interested and wanted to play around by himself.
At this time, Shen Feng Ming said, "There was a saying in the ‘Mo’s Experience’, #a person of light is like a shot. Those who are below are high, and those who are high are below. The feet cover the below light, therefore the scene is formed on the top. The head covers the top light, so the scenery is formed below. Near and far, there are ends and lights. So it is within past scenery.'”
The translation of this passage not only described the appearance of small hole projection, but summarizes its laws.
Jiang Yun Zhu really didn't expect that Mo Zi had already recorded this. What’s more, Shen Feng Ming knew about it.
Yang Sheng had a pondering expression, "Is that so? Why didn't I know."
"When you were in school, you slept more than you were awake." Shen Feng Ming said.
Yang Sheng: ...
LOL! The downside of having school friends as work friends!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chapter!
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