I was a queen in ancient times, no, a maid!

The lunch reward was quite effective. Sujuan and Xianglian tried even harder to seduce Lu Zhaowen.

Zhao Rulan was relieved as she only had to protect the fetus.

As for the pastry shop, she mentioned it to Cheng Yu and if it was to be done, she would arrange for Cheng Yu to do it.

Madam Li has poor wrist strength. This problem existed even before Zhao Rulan became pregnant. At that time, Madam Li wanted to keep it a secret, but later, when the pain became unbearable, she took the initiative to tell the eldest lady.

She personally asked the lady to put her on the farm.

Everyone knows that once you go to Zhuangzi, there will be no future.

Now Zhao Rulan did not let Madam Li retreat and go to the farm easily, also for Cheng Yu's sake. Madam Li is now Cheng Yu's master.

She said today that she would let Cheng Yu open the pastry shop and asked Madam Li to come along because of Cheng Yu's relationship.

After lunch, Cheng Yu went downstairs.

Dingxiang and Xiangling were still serving.

Only after finishing the work in the eldest lady's room did Cheng Yu feel at ease to eat. Madam Li had eaten early and went back to her residence as she had nothing else to do.

Cheng Yu took two duck necks from the braised dish he had made, wrapped them in oil paper, and sent them to Madam Li.

"...I think I'm really old and confused. I don't know who is far away and who is close. I have served her for so many years, but now I love the disciple I took in outside."

"Tell me, Ping'er, am I miserable?"

When Cheng Yu arrived, he happened to see Ping'er eating melon seeds and standing on the corridor outside the next door, chatting and talking nonsense with the maid hired by the neighbor's house.

She didn't care and just opened the door and walked in.

"master."

"Yu'er, why are you here?"

Madam Li was mending clothes, which looked like winter cotton-padded clothes. She probably had presbyopia and could not see accurately, so she could not sew the clothes properly.

Cheng Yu put down the stew.

"I specially sent you two pieces of the stewed meat I made yesterday. I wanted to give them to you in the kitchen, but when I came back from the mistress' room, you were gone."

As Cheng Yu spoke, she took up the needle and thread.

"This cotton coat looks a bit old. Do you need any more clothes? If so, I can make you a new one."

The serious Madam Li's expression warmed up a little.

"It's not worth it. When I'm working, I work in the kitchen. When I'm not working, I go back to the house. I'm not like those old women who work outside. They wear fancy clothes and just want to be warm in the winter."

Cheng Yu had good eyesight and helped Madam Li thread the needle.

"Master, the lady talked to me today. I didn't tell you because there were too many people in the kitchen this morning. The lady wants to open a pastry shop. She said that you can make some pastry. When the time comes, you and I will teach two pastry cooks."

Madam Li hesitated for a moment and said, "It must be the cakes you made that gave Madam an idea. You have done your best for Madam, but I'm afraid that you are so outstanding, can you leave in the future?"

"How did you know?"

Only Dingxiang knew that she wanted to leave the mansion and be free.

"I heard you talking to Ding Xiang that day. I knew you didn't want to stay in the inner house and be a slave for the rest of your life."

"Master, I have thought about leaving, but it's just a thought. Can I leave just because I want to?"

Speaking of this, Cheng Yu smiled bitterly.

Madam Li analyzed the situation with her and said that the more outstanding Cheng Yu was, the more likely her master would not let her leave easily.

But Madam Li also agreed. As long as it was arranged by the eldest lady, she would definitely work with Cheng Yu to do a good job in running the pastry shop.

After saying this, when Cheng Yu was about to leave, he suddenly asked about Li Niang's maid Ping'er.

Since you know her character, why don't you sell her out?

Madam Li said that if she sold Ping'er, she would have nowhere to go as a servant. The most likely scenario was that she would be sold to a brothel, and that would mean she would have no way to make a living.

It turned out that Madam Li did not sell Ping'er in order not to ruin her.

"Don't worry about my affairs here, just serve the lady well."

"I understand, Master. You should tell me, if she really went too far, it's okay to sell her and buy another one that's more suitable."

***

A day later, the next morning, when the food delivery man Zhang came, he not only returned the wooden barrel that contained the stewed food to Cheng Yu, but also told her that it was selling very well and he could make twice as much.

At this hour, Mother Wang had not arrived yet, so Zhang, the delivery man, had plenty of time to talk to Cheng Yu.

"You wrote that duck necks are two cents each, so I mentioned four cents each. If you buy a lot, you can get three for ten cents. Chicken heads are easy to sell, three cents per pound. Chicken heads are the best seller and they sell out quickly."

“Not many people eat duck intestines, but they were all sold out in the end. I found that this is a good pairing with wine. The more you chew, the more delicious it becomes.”

As Zhang the food delivery man said this, he handed a bag of silver to Cheng Yu. It was quite heavy, but it was all copper coins.

"This is the money from the sale of the stewed pork this time, a total of 260 coins."

"It's quite a lot. I promised you that I'll let you take 20% and I'll give you the money."

Cheng Yu felt that no matter what happened, it had to be discussed in advance.

She had previously told Zhang, the food delivery man, that she would give him 20% interest. This was mainly because Zhang Yuanjie helped her collect these odds and ends and was also responsible for selling them. The cost of the ingredients and condiments was considered hers.

But no matter how good the food you make is, if you don’t have a channel to sell it, you won’t make any money.

We can hope that the servants in Lan Garden can earn some money, but they can't buy things every day.

When working in the palace, you have food and drinks. It's okay to buy some once in a while to satisfy your cravings. How can you spend your own money to buy them every day?

Especially for those who have to hand over the money they earn, those whose families need money, or those whose family members are servants in the mansion, strict control is exercised.

I don’t have any money, how can I buy food every day?

If you want to make money, you still have to rely on outsiders.

But I didn’t expect that all the braised pork was sold out on the first day.

She was also worried that some people would not even bother to eat these duck and chicken offal.

"Business seems to be good. Do you think I can do more?"

Cheng Yu said to Zhang Yuanjie while counting the money.

Zhang Yuanjie said, "Miss Yu'er, I told you, since I'm doing you a favor, I won't charge you any interest. Besides, my sister ate two of your duck necks and three of your chicken heads."

Cheng Yu chuckled, "If she likes to eat, then give her some. But I said I would give you the interest, and you can't be left out. You've been busy collecting these ingredients, and you've also been selling them on behalf of others. You have to earn your hard work fee."

"This time it's 260 coins, I'll give you coins, and next time when there's more, I'll still give it to you at % interest."

Cheng Yu said this and handed him a string of money.

"Why don't you accept it? If you don't want it, then I won't do this business anymore."

"Don't stop making it. The stewed pork you make is delicious, and the steamed buns made by my sister are also very popular."

Zhang Yuanjie still took the money.

But he also knew in his heart that the reason why Cheng Yu was so clear with him was that he didn't want to have any unclear relationship with him.

It seems that Miss Yu'er looks down on him as a food delivery boy.

Zhang Yuanjie felt uncomfortable and bitter.

Mother Wang came over and called him several times, but he didn't respond. He put the dishes down. Mother Wang said she would collect the bill from him later, and he said, let's pick it up together tomorrow.

Mother Wang then looked at Cheng Yu, who looked very happy.

Cheng Yu is in a good mood because she has made money.

Based on this income, it’s not a lot to earn a day, only two hundred coins.

This month, there are six taels.

Leaving aside the cost of the ingredients, duck and chicken offal actually don’t cost much. Most of the time you just pay a few cents and they’ll all be given to you at once.

Of course, these were what Zhang, the delivery man, said to her.

It's just that those things are a bit time-consuming to process.

Her labor cost is not high, and Cheng Yu is willing to do this even if she can earn more money by spending more money.

"Yu'er, what did you say to Zhang, the food delivery man? Look, he left in a daze."

"What did I say to him? He delivered the food and I received it. Isn't this to prepare breakfast for the lady?"

Mother Wang's gossipy face came online, "I see that the way the delivery man Zhang looks at you is not right, he must have taken a fancy to you."

Cheng Yu said with a serious face, "Mother Wang talks to Zhang the vegetable deliveryman every day and smiles from ear to ear. Could it be that he is attracted to you too?"

Mother Wang curled her lips while smiling.

He whispered, with sharp tongue.

Cheng Yu put the wooden barrel in the corner. There was quite a bit of money there, so she would have to find an excuse to go out and put the money in the warehouse.

The pit system has been very busy these days.

I've been busy upgrading her warehouse and doing infrastructure construction. It really changes every day. Yesterday it looked like the foundation was just being built, but today the walls have been built, and it will probably be topped off in a few days.

I don't know whether I should spend money on this renovation.

It's okay to spend some money, but you can't take advantage of her.

When Cheng Yu went out to get something, he threw the money into the warehouse.

Before the eldest lady had her meals, she would ask the maid to ask what was prepared for the day and what would be cooked for breakfast and dinner. If there was something the eldest lady didn't want to eat, she could avoid it at the table.

But later, after eating the meals cooked by Cheng Yu, the lady gave full authority over her meals to Cheng Yu.

A piece of beef was delivered this morning, which was rare. Seeing that it was beef brisket, Cheng Yu planned to stew beef brisket with potatoes at noon.

Beef is rare and I only ate it twice throughout the year.

There are not many cattle grown specifically for human consumption in Kyoto, so even if one is slaughtered, many people will make reservations in advance.

A few days ago, Cheng Yu mentioned this beef to Zhang, the delivery man, and asked the butcher to get some for him, and also mentioned the price, hoping for a good price.

The shanks were all gone, but the brisket was good too.

It is also very delicious after stewing.

I sliced ​​some beef and made beef-filled rice rolls in the morning.

Cooked five-grain porridge.

The five-grain porridge contains diced taro, diced pumpkin, yam, corn, wheat kernels, etc. Being called five-grain porridge does not mean there are only five kinds of ingredients, it just represents some cereals and potatoes from the five grains.

I steamed a basket of eight soup dumplings, the size of walnuts, with thin skin and large fillings, and they were crystal clear.

I steamed six more shrimp dumplings. In each dumpling, besides chopped meat filling, there was also a medium-sized shrimp.

While she was getting ready, Xiangling happened to bring two maids to carry hot water for the mistress.

"Today, the lady said she was hungry when she woke up. Yu'er, please serve the meal over early."

"Okay, everything is ready, it will be quick."