Not to mention, he is cold and indifferent to people, and his nature is unpredictable.
You Tong had no intention of suffering or tormenting herself, and after much thought, she decided it was best to stay away from it.
So she stayed in her small corner of the South Building, going to Shou'an Hall every day as required. After showing her face there, she rarely went out again, only tending to her small kitchen. As time went by, she gradually got a feel for the personalities of her elder sisters-in-law. The old lady and her aunt, Madam Shen, probably knew that she had been married off only for show, so for more than ten days, they only nodded to each other, neither asking about her in depth nor showing concern, nor scolding or demanding anything. Naturally, her sisters-in-law were only polite in return.
My sister-in-law, Fu Lanyin, is quite interesting—
At the age of thirteen, she was growing taller and taller. She was pampered in the wealthy and noble Fu family, where every meal was a delicacy. She ate a lot and couldn't control her appetite, so she grew up to be slightly plump and had a particularly radiant appearance.
Shou'an Hall often kept pastries and dried fruits on hand for people to chew on. You Tong occasionally couldn't resist taking a few bites, but others rarely touched them. Only Fu Lanyin was so carefree. When she was engrossed in listening to the elders chatting, she would unconsciously take a piece of pastry and slowly nibble on it, like a little squirrel. Once she started eating, she couldn't stop. When everyone left, only her plate was swept clean in a whirlwind.
Occasionally, when he sees You Tong tasting pastries, he will strike up a conversation and ask her if they are delicious.
When two people who love good food meet, it's no wonder that You Tong feels a sense of kinship.
However, this marriage was a mutually beneficial arrangement. Fu Yu didn't like her, and she had no intention of integrating into the household and living with him long-term. So she simply stayed in her corner, living a peaceful life. Once she had a firm foothold, she could return to her old profession and devote herself to cooking. After more than a month, the small kitchen was gradually fully equipped, and everything inside and outside the South Building was going smoothly, except for one thing that was not going well—Su Ruolan.
...
Su Ruolan is the head maid of the South Building.
On the night of You Tong's wedding, Aunt Zhou brought several maids to pay their respects to the new young mistress. At that time, Su Ruolan was quite arrogant and disdainful. You Tong took note of this and later learned that Su Ruolan was originally from the old lady's quarters. Because of her good looks and her diligence and attentiveness, she was specially assigned to serve Fu Yu.
Since they were elders, You Tong intended to keep things peaceful and didn't plan to make a fuss.
Who knew that in the few days since she married into the family, Su Ruolan had gradually become more and more unrestrained.
Initially, it was Chuncao who heard the commotion. While Youtong was bathing, she hesitated for a long time before finally saying that Su Ruolan was gossiping behind Youtong's back, spreading rumors and slander about the capital, ruining Youtong's reputation. Later, Granny Xu also heard it and reminded Youtong to be careful.
Since Fu Yu was not there, and You Tong was new to the place and did not know the details, she only made a few subtle hints.
Su Ruolan not only ignored it and made no attempt to conceal her true intentions, but her true colors were revealed right under her nose!
At this moment, on the slope north of the South Building, the early autumn September sun shone brightly, and the ginkgo trees on the south slope gradually changed color, a mixture of yellow and green. You Tong had prepared braised pork ribs with dried plums and vegetarian goose from Nanjing for lunch, along with a bowl of rich and tempting beef soup. Satisfied with the meal, she came to take a walk on the slope. Because the sky was clear and the air was perfect for gazing into the distance, she climbed to the second floor of the pavilion, and beyond the layers of shadows of the trees, looked at a delicate pagoda in the distance.
She wasn't used to being surrounded by people, so when she went out, she only took Chuncao with her. The two of them sat on the balcony, each lost in thought.
After an unknown amount of time, faint footsteps were heard from below, the door lock clicked softly, and someone entered the small storeroom filled with miscellaneous items.
Immediately, intermittent sounds came from above—
"Is this what the young mistress is looking for?" Su Ruolan's voice asked.
After a dull thud from the clinking of wooden objects, the maid Muxiang chuckled, "This is for grinding medicine; it's not suitable for delicate work."
"Troublesome!" Su Ruolan complained in a low voice, her tone sour. "Such fine shrimp, why do they have to peel and mash them before eating? So delicate! Even the Grand Madam, who was so noble, didn't go through all this trouble. Who does she think she is!" At the end, she let out a heavy, cold laugh, which You Tong could vaguely hear even through the wooden planks of the balcony.
Chuncao naturally heard it too, and her face immediately turned pale with anger at her contempt.
You Tong shook her head, signaling for silence.
Downstairs, Su Ruolan, unaware that she was being overheard, launched into a long, unending tirade: "I'd heard before that she had a bad reputation in the capital, being mean-spirited and arrogant, a real troublemaker. I heard she even tried to kill herself for someone else, bringing shame to the Wei family. Now that she's here, instead of keeping a low profile, she's constantly demanding this and that, really acting like a young mistress!"
She complained without any attempt to hide it. Mu Xiang was silent for a moment, then whispered, "Sister, you should just bear with it."
"What's there to tolerate! She did those shameful things, so I can't say anything about them?"
"Aunt Zhou just said the other day that we should follow the rules and not gossip about our master."
Su Ruolan was clearly quite disdainful. "That's because Aunt Zhou is kind-hearted and willing to show some consideration for the General. But I can't tolerate such a thing! What kind of person is the General? So many young ladies from prominent families in Qizhou admire him. How could she be worthy of him? Let me tell you—the Old Madam and the First Madam don't like her. They only tolerate her nonsense because they are broad-minded!"
As he spoke, as if he was still angry, he threw the thing in his hand on the ground with a soft thud.
Mu Xiang was honest by nature and knew that Su Ruolan had worked at Shou'an Hall, so she didn't dare to say anything for a while.
Su Ruolan simply found a place to sit and let Mu Xiang search diligently. She only embellished the rumors she had heard outside and told them to Mu Xiang. She only locked the door and left after Mu Xiang found the item.
The attic was quiet again. Chuncao was so angry that her face turned white, and Youtong's complexion was not good either.
"You shameless hussy, what do you think you are!" Chuncao, who had been holding back her anger for a long time, finally spat in the direction Su Ruolan had walked away. Turning her head, she saw Youtong with a sullen face and no words, and felt sorry for her. She gently supported her and said, "Young Madam, she needs to be taught a lesson. Otherwise, she will become arrogant and ruin her reputation everywhere."
You Tong nodded, but still stared in the direction of the South Tower, seemingly lost in thought.
She didn't care about the difference between superiors and inferiors, and she didn't mind if Su Ruolan was just being disrespectful. But she absolutely couldn't tolerate Su Ruolan spreading rumors behind people's backs, seizing every opportunity to gossip and slander. She couldn't let Su Ruolan run rampant and make everyone think she was easy to bully.
However, given the current situation, how to handle it requires careful consideration.
To put it bluntly, this is a case of a cunning maid spreading rumors and violating the rules of the Fu family. If it were anyone else, they would be easily punished. However, her position in the Fu family is awkward, and Su Ruolan was assigned from Shou'an Hall. If she is dealt with rashly, Su Ruolan will definitely not accept the punishment. If the matter blows up, it is hard to say how the old lady will deal with her, given her prejudice against her.
If the old lady thinks she's making a mountain out of a molehill and doesn't pursue the matter, then she'll be shooting herself in the foot and losing all her authority.
But if one were to file a complaint with Shou'an Hall and ask them to make a decision... it would seem even more embarrassing.
After much thought, she realized that since she held the title of the young mistress of Nanlou, the crux of the matter actually lay with one person.
You Tong withdrew her gaze, tucked her sleeves into her clothes, and her eyes narrowed slightly. "When will Fu Yu return?"
"I heard it'll be soon, he should be back in September," Chuncao said, her spirits lifting slightly. "Is the young mistress asking him to make the decision?"
You Tong smiled but did not answer. She only instructed, "If Su Ruolan is still jumping around like this, just pretend you didn't see her. Just remember what she said and who she was gossiping about. Even if she causes trouble in the South Tower, don't argue with her. As the old lady said, in such a large and prosperous mansion, with so many people and so many opinions, it's inevitable that there will be some discord. We should always prioritize harmony."
Chuncao, fiercely protective of her mistress, exclaimed, "How can that be! If we continue to swallow our anger, she'll only think the young mistress is easy to bully!"
"You said it yourself, she thinks she's easy to bully, not that she's really putting up with it. It's a game of playing hard to get, understand?"
Chuncao didn't understand, but seeing Youtong's confident look, she felt a little relieved and obediently complied.
You Tong also kept one eye open and the other closed, waiting quietly for Fu Yu to return.
The author has something to say: People who love to gossip and spread rumors are everywhere~~ =.=
Crab's little courtyard is full of landmines, muaaa!!
Chapter 8 Temptation
The climate in Qizhou is similar to that of the capital. After the sweltering heat of late summer, the weather gradually cools down, and the lush leaves on the treetops change color from morning to evening. From the initial mix of yellow and green, to the golden foliage and sparse green, and now to a dazzling golden yellow, it seems that in just a few days, when you look up and look into the distance, it is a completely different world.
Outside the South Building, on the north slope, there are many ginkgo and maple trees planted interspersed with a few miscellaneous trees.
At this time of year, the forests are ablaze with color, a sea of red leaves and golden flags, with a gentle rustling sound as the autumn wind passes by.
You Tong loved this scenery and took advantage of the terrain to enjoy it every day. After a night of autumn rain and strong winds at the end of September, most of the leaves fell. The sides of the path, the grass on the slope, and even the pavilions and terraces in the distance were covered with piles of ginkgo and maple leaves. The red and yellow leaves were mixed and varied in shade and intensity, like paint spilled on a painting studio table, or like red threads running on bright yellow brocade, weaving a natural landscape.
You Tong pushed open the door in the early morning, took a breath of the cool and damp autumn breeze, and looked at the colorful flowers on the ground, feeling refreshed and invigorated.
We lingered there, enjoying the scenery, and before we knew it, we had arrived at the Shou'an Hall.
The old lady went to bed late last night and is still having dinner. As she mentioned the sudden rain and strong wind last night, she inevitably talked about the scenery in the garden.
You Tong sat beside them, watching the two elders talk about the autumn scenery inside and outside the city. She listened quietly, thoroughly enjoying the conversation.
Suddenly changing the subject, the old lady brought up her husband, who had disappeared for nearly two months—
"Xiuping is on his way back. He really suffered a lot on this border patrol. Have you prepared everything that needs to be prepared?"
Madam Shen nodded and said, "Your daughter-in-law had it prepared long ago."
"That's good." The old lady responded, but lowered her head and remained silent. Looking from You Tong's perspective, she saw that the corners of her lips were slightly downturned, her drooping eyelids obscured her vision, and although her full head of silver hair was neatly combed, her back was hunched and collapsed, and she looked rather listless.
The atmosphere in the room seemed to cool down temporarily because of her lowered eyes.
The two young mistresses of the eldest branch stopped smiling and remained silent. Even Fu Lanyin, who was usually a glutton, put down a silver twirl in her hand, pursed her lips, and stared at her teacup in a daze. Under the table, a delicate white hand tugged at her sleeve and gently clenched into a small fist.
After a moment of silence, it was Shen who spoke, her smile somewhat forced.
"Xiuping has been traveling for two months. Now that he's back, he'll probably stay a while longer to keep the old lady company."
"Yes." The old lady also noticed that the atmosphere was too somber. She sighed and raised her hand, saying, "After yesterday's rain, the scenery in the backyard must be quite beautiful. You don't need to be so reserved. You can all go home now." Then she said to Madam Shen, "Please sit for a while. We can discuss this matter again in a couple of days."
Upon hearing this, everyone stood up. You Tong let her two sisters-in-law go first. As soon as she looked up after leaving Shou'an Hall, she saw that Fu Lanyin had disappeared.
That's strange.
Fu Yu's return from his border patrol should have been a joyous occasion, but he seemed preoccupied.
It's not good to ask Aunt Zhou about this, but if we don't find out the reason, and since it involves Fu Yu, it's unsettling.
After thinking for a moment, You Tong returned to the South Tower and summoned Chuncao and Xia Sao, the cook who had come with her as part of her dowry, to instruct her on the dishes to be prepared for the day.
...
The small kitchen in the south building had been idle for too long and was covered in a thick layer of dust. It took You Tong several days to clean it thoroughly and to prepare all the necessary cooking utensils and commonly used spices and seasonings.
Stepping inside now, the room is clean and bright, exceptionally tidy.
After the autumn wind, the crabs were itching to be caught, and a basket of them, full of roe and fat, was delivered from outside.
Aunt Xia is a seasoned cook with excellent culinary skills, especially in making simple home-style dishes. Even if You Tong can describe the recipe and the dish's color, aroma, and flavor, Aunt Xia can figure it out and make it. While it may not be the absolute best, it will still be about 70-80% delicious.
From last December to now, over the past six months, it has become You Tong's right-hand man in making delicious food.
After You Tong gave instructions on the dishes, Aunt Xia picked out a few crabs from the basket and had someone clean them and soak them in wine. Then she took fresh crucian carp, cleaned them, and prepared wine, sesame oil, scallions, peppers, sauces, and other ingredients. When the oil in the pot was hot, she stir-fried the fish until it filled the house with aroma, then added broth and simmered it slowly until it was cooked through.
She was quick and efficient; while making crispy fish, she also had someone chop radish shreds and add two eggs to the batter.
The fire in the stove was burning brightly, and the oil in the pot next door was heated to about 50% of its maximum temperature. She took a large ladle, scooped some batter into it, added shredded radish, poured more batter over it, and slowly fried it in the hot oil. Although the radish was unassuming, after being fried in hot oil and coated with egg batter, it slowly began to release a fragrant aroma, in no way inferior to the meat pie.
You Tong stood outside the courtyard gate, watching the figure gradually approaching in the distance, and frequently turned back to wink at Chun Cao.
Chuncao understood what she meant. As soon as Xia's first radish pancake came out of the pan, she immediately put it on a porcelain plate and took it out to her.
Outside, the sky was clear and the air was fresh. A few dozen steps away from the South Tower, Fu Lanyin, who was admiring the ginkgo and red maple trees, faintly smelled a strange yet alluring fragrance. She couldn't suppress her desire to appreciate the scenery, and her eyes darted around. Hesitantly, she climbed over the low hill and looked towards the South Tower.
Upon closer inspection, they saw You Tong standing on a small lacquered stool outside the fence, looking at the plate in front of her with a drooling expression.
The fragrance became much stronger after she climbed over the low hill.
—Clearly, the fragrance comes from the South Building.
Although Fu Lanyin was not one to gossip, she had heard some rumors circulating in the capital. Before Fu Yucheng's marriage, the old lady had summoned her and given her a stern warning, reminding her not to follow Wei Shi's example. Therefore, although she was curious about You Tong, she dared not get close to her even though You Tong had been married for over a month.
At this moment, my steps falter.
Born into a wealthy family, she had tasted most delicacies and could even occasionally identify dishes by their aroma. But what was wafting into her nose now was quite unfamiliar. She knew it was something fried, but she didn't know what it was. Looking at Wei Shi in the distance, eagerly anticipating the taste, it seemed... to be quite delicious.
Fu Lanyin unconsciously swallowed, thinking of her grandmother's instructions, and tried her best to turn away.
However, as if led by the nose, her feet couldn't help but move two steps towards the south building.
Seeing this struggle, You Tong couldn't help but smile.
Like Jiang Taigong fishing, those who are willing will take the bait. She had no bad intentions, and since Fu Lanyin wasn't too resistant to her, there was no need to hold back.
He then took the radish cake that Chuncao had just handed him, stood up, and walked over there.