Chapter 24.’ Chapter 22, Delivering Food 1
Translator: 549690339
“Mother, has Father been very busy lately? I haven’t seen much of him,” Daohua asked.
Madam Li put down the account book in her hand and said with gravity, “The Imperial Court sent Prince Rui to provide disaster relief, and your father certainly has to be busy.”
Daohua was puzzled, “But isn’t the disaster in Linyi County not serious?” The busier places should be those severely affected areas, right?
Sighing, Madam Li said, “It’s precisely because it’s not serious that your father is busy, busy taking care of those homeless refugees. According to Butler Sun the refugees assigned to Linyi County have been arriving one after another these days. Your father has been so busy these past two days that his feet barely touch the ground, having his meals at the County Governor’s Office upfront and only returning to the back courtyard to sleep at night.” Daohua was slightly astonished, “It seems that Father is quite diligent and caring for the people.”
Hearing this, a hint of pride appeared on Madam Li’s face, “The Yan Family is a family of scholars and farmers, and your father understands the suffering and difficulties of the people below. Ever since he took office, he has always taken the common folks’ issues to heart.”
“Linyi County is the third county your father has been in charge of; in the previous two counties, when your father left, many people came to see him off, and each time, mother could receive several cartloads of fruits and vegetables.”
At these words, Daohua was truly surprised, “With Father being so caring for the people, how come my grandmother and I encountered a Government Official who was beating someone when we arrived?”
The smile on Madam Li’s face faded slightly, “Which place doesn’t have a few bad apples? Your father has already punished those Government Officials, and if such harm to the people happens again, they will be immediately given thirty heavy beatings and expelled from the County Governor’s Office.”
At this moment, Daohua’s impression of her father improved significantly. “Mother, if Father is so good, why hasn’t he been promoted?” Daohua voiced her inner question.
Madam Li sighed, “The ways of the officialdom are not so straightforward Although your father is a good official, he doesn’t have any patrons above him, and our family doesn’t have enough silver to grease the wheels. So he has remained a County Magistrate term after term.”
“This time, your father is working so hard also in hopes of achieving some political merits, to see whether there is a chance for promotion, or at least to hope that this assessment will assign him to a better county town.”
Daohua: “Father is going to be assessed?”
Madam Li nodded, “AU officials undergo a minor assessment every year and a major assessment every three years. Those with outstanding achievements can be promoted. Linyi County isn’t wealthy, and although your father has worked diligently, he hasn’t achieved anything remarkable.”
“For this assessment, your father said that unless someone speaks up for him or he has outstanding achievements, the chance for promotion isn’t high.” Daohua propped her cheeks with her hands, “Does our family really not have any connections?”
Madam Li’s eyes dropped, “There are some connections. Your fourth uncle is already a fourth-grade official in Beijing and is said to have some friendship with the Magistrate of Zhongzhou, but our family hasn’t had dealings with them for some years.”
Daohua sat up straight, surprised, “Why?” Fourth uncle, that relationship definitely counts as very close.
Madam Li’s expression darkened, “Your fourth uncle’s family probably feels that your father’s generation will just keep circulating in the position of County Magistrate and that there’s no value in maintaining close ties. These years, your aunt has also rarely contacted our family.”
Daohua nodded.
She knew about this; she had heard her grandmother talk about it many times, each time with a look of melancholy.
“Can’t we take the initiative to contact my aunt?”
Upon hearing this, Madam Li touched Daohua’s head and sighed, “Silly child, you don’t understand. A woman’s days in her husband’s family will be difficult if her natal family doesn’t back her up.”
Your uncle’s family has clearly shown disdain for ours. If we were to disturb your aunt now, her life would become even harder.”
“Three years ago, your aunt wrote to your father, telling him that your uncle had taken a noble concubine, and the tone between the lines was very sorrowful. Unfortunately, our family was not in a position to support her.” “When your aunt needed us, we couldn’t help her, so now, how can we have the face to seek her out?”
Daohua didn’t know how to reply and after a while, she asked, “Grandmother doesn’t know about this, does she?”
Madam Li shook her head, “Your father didn’t dare to tell the old lady, fearing it would upset her too much.”
Subsequently, both mother and daughter fell silent.
Suddenly, Daohua asked with a smile, “Mother, may I visit the front courtyard of the County Governor’s Office?” She was very curious to see how ancient people worked and also wanted to supplement her father’s health with the grains she grew in her space, and perhaps to strengthen their bond as well. Madam Li was puzzled, “That’s where your father works; what are you going there for?”
Daohua: “Didn’t you say that dad has been eating in the front yard these days? I’m going to bring him some food.”
Madam Li thought for a moment and felt that this could bring father and daughter closer, so she agreed, but she admonished, “It’s fine to deliver food, but don’t interfere with others’ work, understand?”
Daohua immediately nodded, “Mother, I know how to act properly; you can rest assured.”
Madam Li smiled, then turned her head to Ping Tong, “Keep an eye on the eldest girl; don’t let her wander off.”
Ping Tong promised with a smile, “Rest assured, Madam, I will take good care of the eldest girl.”
Soon after, Daohua got busy.
County Governor’s Office kitchen.
The maidens and nannies stood up to greet Daohua with hurried courtesies when they saw her coming.
“Eldest girl, what brings you here?” Kitchen manager Nanny Ren said obsequiously.
‘ I want to bring dad some food; I’m here to see what I can make.” Daohua wandered around the kitchen, carefully inspecting the available ingredients. Nanny Ren’s expression froze, “Do you plan to cook personally, eldest girl?” Daohua nodded. Seeing Nanny Ren’s apparent discomfort, she smiled and said “Nanny Ren, I won’t mess up the kitchen; I’m just here to make a soup.” She knew her own culinary skills. She dared to offer food solely because the ingredients from her space tasted better than those outside.
Hearing this, Nanny Ren finally breathed a sigh of relief and then began to lavish praise on Daohua with the other maidens for her filial piety.
At that moment, Ping Tong came over with a small bag of white flour, “Miss, here’s the white flour you asked for.”
Daohua nodded and gestured for her to put it aside.
This white flour was from her space. When still at the Yan Family village she had mixed the white flour with other grains and had her uncle bring it over.
After she arrived, she took the white flour to her room.
Ping Tong asked with a smile, “What are you planning to make, miss?” Daohua sorted through the ingredients, picked some green onions, a few eggs, and that was it: “Soup with dough bits!”
Pmg Tong:”…” She really shouldn’t have had any expectations.
Seeing her dismayed expression, Daohua promptly said, “What’s with that look? The soup with dough bits I make is very tasty; didn’t everyone say it was good last time?”
Ping Tong nodded outwardly but thought to herself.
That was just everyone being polite, not wanting to hurt your feelings.
Of course, she thought so because she had never tried it.
Daohua ignored what others might think and began instructing the maidens to boil water. Then, under the stunned gaze of the onlookers, she poured the beaten egg into the flour, stirred it briefly, and as soon as the water boiled, she poured it directly into the boiling water.
Nanny Ren, Ping Tong, and others:…
It was their first time seeing such a rough method of making soup.
Daohua implied, with space, comes the privilege to be wilful!