Chapter 17

Chapter 17

“My, this pomegranate tree in front of our courtyard is growing so well this year. The flowers are blooming so large.”

As they were heading out, Cook Chen looked at the pomegranate tree in front of the courtyard with a face full of wonder.

Jiang Yunsui circled the area and quickly found several mushrooms in a spot where the grass was particularly lush.

Their caps had pushed through the soil, and Jiang Yunsui used her small hands to dig them out with a huff.

A mushroom cap larger than Jiang Yunsui’s little face appeared before her eyes.

“Oh my, how did such a big mushroom grow here?”

Cook Chen also squatted down. “Stop digging with your hands, you’ll hurt yourself. Let me do it.”

Cook Chen went to find a small hoe and began digging around the mushroom cap.

To her surprise, the mushroom grew quite deep and had a very thick stem.

“It’s a Delicious Mushroom.”

The smile on Cook Chen’s face was unstoppable.

This was good stuff-delicious to eat and a rare wild delicacy.

“There are more over there,” Jiang Yunsui pointed to another spot.

Cook Chen took the small hoe and started digging vigorously. In the end, they got a total of five mushrooms.

And every single one was quite large.

“I’ll take these Delicious Mushrooms to Chef Liu. I can trade them for some silver and make you a new set of clothes when the time comes.”

Jiang Yunsui watched eagerly; she wanted to eat them.

Seeing Cook Chen so enthusiastic-even going as far as describing what color fabric she would buy and what style of clothes she would make-Jiang Yunsui gave up on the idea.

Forget it, forget it. She would just work harder and grow a few more mushrooms later.

Cook Chen carefully packed the Delicious Mushrooms into a basket and covered them with a cloth.

As she escorted Jiang Yunsui to her shift, she couldn’t stop worrying.

“Your foot is still injured, and you’re not walking properly. What if you bump into the Young Master and get punished?”

“But it’s only your second day on duty. It would be really bad to ask for leave now.”

Jiang Yunsui shook her head. “It’s okay, I can do it!”

No one could stop her from going to Ji Yan’an’s place to scavenge for food.

She had realized that the food Ji Yan’an ate was the tastiest.

Yet, he happened to eat the least.

So, she had to go and help him out.

As they were walking, two people approached them from the opposite direction.

Jiang Yunsui gripped Cook Chen’s hand tightly because one of them was the person she had tripped yesterday.

Aunt Zhou and her daughter blocked their path.

“Cook Chen, you certainly are devoted to this little girl.”

“I suppose it makes sense. After all, your husband is dead, and your son and daughter are dead too. You have to find someone to rely on, otherwise, I’m afraid there won’t even be anyone to weep at your grave when you die.”

Cook Chen had been at the Ji Mansion in Mobei for three years, and many people in the manor knew about her situation.

Because of this, Aunt Zhou went straight for her throat the moment she spoke.

Although Cook Chen was angry, she was not someone to be trifled with.

“Since Steward Li entrusted her to my care, I will naturally treat her well. Besides, this little girl is capable; she’s only four and already able to serve by the Young Master’s side. I heard your daughter also wanted to go to the Front Courtyard? How is it that she’s still just a maid helping to chop vegetables in the kitchen?”

Aunt Zhou and the girl beside her turned red with rage.

“Heh, a mere slip of a girl. Who knows what tricks she used to get the Young Master to keep her. But don’t get too ahead of yourself. The younger a person is, the easier it is for things to go wrong. If she makes a mistake and gets sent back, that would be the best-case scenario. Let’s just hope she doesn’t lose her little life!”

Despite their words, the two of them still looked at Jiang Yunsui with eyes full of envy.

Especially the daughter; she looked at Jiang Yunsui with pure hostility, as if Jiang Yunsui had stolen her opportunity to serve in the Front Courtyard.
Cook Chen handed the basket to Jiang Yunsui, rolled up her sleeves, and unleashed a torrent of abuse at Aunt Zhou.

“Pah! A dog’s mouth really can’t spit out ivory! Just because your own daughter is useless, you start cursing my Suisui? So what if your nephew works in the Front Courtyard? You’ve certainly let it go to your head, haven’t you?

“If he’s really so capable, why hasn’t he managed to get your daughter into the Front Courtyard yet? You walk around every day with your nose in the air, acting as if everyone in the Ji Mansion reports to you.

“I earned my position as a cook because the Steward recognized my skills. You’re just constantly eyeing what belongs to others.

“And look at that daughter of yours, slathering her face in powder every single day. Who is she trying to seduce with those flirtatious looks? And she still wants to be a cook? As if no one knows what she’s really up to…”

Cook Chen was usually a kind-hearted person; no one had ever seen her scold someone like this before.

Not only was Jiang Yunsui stunned as she clutched the basket, but the passing servants and patrolling guards were also rooted to the spot in shock.

Aunt Zhou and her daughter turned pale with rage.

The reason Cook Chen was so furious, aside from years of built-up resentment, was that they had crossed her ultimate line by cursing Jiang Yunsui with death.

The thing she feared most in this life was the death of those close to her.

Her husband, son, and daughter had all died because of the war; it was her recurring nightmare.

Now that Jiang Yunsui was by her side, even though they had only known each other for a few days, she already treated the sweet little girl as her own child.

Hearing Aunt Zhou curse her to die made her snap instantly.

Jiang Yunsui also tried her best to straighten her small back, her large eyes glaring at them with fury.

Bad people! They bullied Aunt Chen yesterday, and today they came to bully both her and Aunt Chen again.

Jiang Yunsui decided that when she had some time off, she would stalk this family. If she saw them doing anything bad, she would come back and tell Aunt Chen.

After Cook Chen had finished venting her anger, she took the basket from Jiang Yunsui’s hands and led her away by the hand.

“Stop right there…”

“What? Do you want to start a fight here? Let me tell you, if Suisui is late for her shift, I’ll have a long talk with Nanny Zhou about this.”

Aunt Zhou stopped in her tracks upon hearing this, her triangular eyes practically spitting fire.

But she truly was afraid.

For a moment, the expression on her face was quite a sight to behold.

Cook Chen held her head high, gave a huff, and walked away with pride.

Jiang Yunsui glanced back a few times and mimicked her, lifting her small chin to put on a haughty little look.

However, she forgot that her foot still hurt. As soon as she stepped down, her little face contorted.

“Wuuu… it hurts.”

Cook Chen quickly knelt down. “Oh dear, be careful with that foot!”

She then picked her up and hurried toward the Front Courtyard, worried she really might be late.

She nagged and gave instructions all the way there.

Jiang Yunsui knew she meant well and nodded repeatedly.

In reality, she didn’t take much of it in.

Trying to remember so many words was a bit of an information overload for the Little Mushroom’s brain.

After Cook Chen left, Jiang Yunsui limped along on her own to find Nanny Zhou.

Fortunately, she found her easily today.

“Nanny Zhou, I’ve come for my shift.”

She tugged at Nanny Zhou’s sleeve.

“What happened to your foot?”

Seeing the way Jiang Yunsui was walking, Nanny Zhou asked out of concern.

Jiang Yunsui’s little face fell, her cheeks puffing out indignantly.

“Someone was bullying Aunt Chen, so I got angry. I tried to trip her, but I tripped myself instead.”

Nanny Zhou: “…”

“Jiang Yunsui, now that you’re here, why are you standing outside? Get in here.”

Ji Yan’an’s irritable voice drifted out from inside the room.

Jiang Yunsui shrunk her neck, not really wanting to go in.