In a year of natural disasters, the young woman had billions of resources to build a paradise.

Jiang Ranran's ankle was broken, and even though she was dizzy, her face was covered in cold sweat.

The tears still lingering in the corners of her eyes made her face appear even more pitiful and delicate.

Manager Wu stared at her carefully for a while. Judging from her appearance alone, it wasn't a bad deal for him to spend twenty taels.

And although she used Jiang Mianmian's Eight Treasures Powder, she was not a head chef, but she was still quite capable as a kitchen helper.

He remembered what the waiter had found out. "Miss Jiang, can you keep your word? If I detain her, what if the Jiang family comes looking for her..."

"Does the Jiang family intend to evade compensation for the losses she caused?"

Jiang Mianmian laughed and said, "Even if it goes to the authorities, you're still in the right. Manager Wu, you've made a mistake, haven't you?"

Manager Wu slapped his forehead, "Isn't that exactly it?"

"But she's an innocent girl, so we at Ruyi Pavilion can't do anything too outrageous."

Jiang Mianmian said meaningfully, "It's just that the roads are slippery in the rain, and the old doctor rarely makes house calls. Her foot problem will probably be delayed."

As long as Ruyilou remains open, it needs a good reputation.

But he was unwilling to ask Manager Wu to spend more money to treat Jiang Ranran's illness.

After thinking about the two sisters and the Jiang family again, he understood Jiang Mianmian's meaning.

He immediately agreed and then told the waiter to lead Jiang Mianmian to the upper room, saying, "I'll have someone send wine, dishes, and hot water up there later."

"No need for wine and food, but some hot water is fine. Have this girl bring it to me."

Jiang Mianmian pointed.

It was Qingrui, the maid who had just served Lin Xianghe the water bowl.

Qingrui was staring blankly at Jiang Ranran on the ground.

She was pushed and only then did she come to her senses. "Yes, this servant will go and boil water right away."

I hurried off, feeling both nervous and scared.

She hadn't expected her words to come true. Jiang Ranran was indeed despicable, but now her leg was definitely crippled, and with Manager Wu's youngest son... who knows what might happen in the future? It was truly a tragic situation.

Jiang Ranran's older sister is clearly more capable than her. She stopped that woman from drinking water earlier, and now she specifically asked her to bring her water. Could it be that she has already seen through everything? Then... will her ankle be broken too?!

Qingrui wanted to cry. Compared to her life, suffering a little grievance and being scolded didn't seem like much.

She frantically boiled water, then called two old women to help carry it. She knocked on the door, "Miss Jiang, I've brought you hot water."

"come in."

As soon as I opened the door, a rich aroma wafted out.

Qingrui's words caught in her throat, and she blurted out, "It smells so good!"

It's sweet and sour, with a meaty aroma. It's not pork, not chicken, and it doesn't have any fishy or gamey smell. Could it be...?

Qingrui's pupils contracted slightly. "You're stewing beef?"

That's not something the average person can afford!

"You have a sharp nose. Come in quickly, or I'll spill my hot water."

Jiang Mianmian invited her in.

He lifted the lid of the self-heating hot pot and started eating.

Qingrui directed the old woman to put hot water into the bath room and prepare bath soap, towels, and so on.

The old women had all left, but she was still slowly walking around, looking back every few steps.

There was a cylindrical box on the table, steaming hot, and the aroma was coming from it.

She watched as Miss Jiang picked up a thin slice of meat, which was stained with red broth.

With a pursed lip, the slice of meat vanished.

Then there was another long, slippery-looking thing.

"Gudong."

Qingrui swallowed hard and paused for a moment by the door.

Finally, he turned around and pretended to close the door.

The movements were extremely slow.

Jiang Mianmian couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, come in and close the door. I have something to ask you."

"Yes! This servant is coming right away!"

"boom."

Qingrui deftly closed the door and quickly waited at the table.

Before I came, I was worried that I would get beaten up, but look at Jiang, she is so gentle, how could I hit her?

Moreover, Jiang Ranran's popularity at the restaurant was entirely due to the Eight Treasures Powder she made!

No wonder they can make such a delicious 'beef hot pot'!

"This is called a self-heating hot pot. Tell me in detail what Jiang Ranran has been doing at the restaurant these past few days, and how she threatened you just now. Tell me everything. I'll give you five boxes of the simplified version and five bags of compressed biscuits, how about that?"

Jiang Mianmian pushed the things she had prepared in advance off the table.

These are all made of edible kraft paper, so there's no need to worry about contamination. For a simple hot pot, just tear open the paper, pour the food into the pot, and heat it up.

One can fill your stomach, and the other can satisfy your cravings; they will be of great use during times of famine.

Qingrui didn't quite understand, but the aroma in the room captivated her.

Moreover, Miss Jiang could tell at a glance that she was being threatened, and her eyes even turned a little red.

She immediately started complaining, "Ever since she came..."

It clearly explained how Jiang Ranran abused her power and how she usually smeared Jiang Mianmian.

It's nothing more than how good the Jiang family is, how Jiang Mianmian has become so depraved, and how she now frequently beats and scolds her own brother and mother.

“This morning, Young Master Wu threw a huge tantrum and even said he was going to kick me out.”

Qingrui felt a surge of relief. "Jiang Ranran said that if I helped her, she would plead for me and take all the blame herself. If I didn't help her, she would not only kick me out but also make the young master take me in. You don't know, that young master..."

At this point, she suddenly changed her mind, lowering her voice, "Anyway, he's not a good person!"

Do you know what kind of drugs were put in that water?

Jiang Mianmian asked.

"She said it was croton powder, which would cause diarrhea, and perhaps the woman would recover faster."

Qingrui sounded somewhat guilty.

Having worked in the kitchen for so many years, she certainly knew that croton powder was slightly yellow, but the water clearly had no odor and was not stained with any other color.

Jiang Mianmian didn't press further. "You said your name is Qingrui? Are you engaged?"

Qingrui blushed slightly, but still nodded.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Mianmian asked again, "Your surname is Li?"

"How do you know?"

Qingrui was surprised.

Jiang Mianmian remembered this girl; in her previous life, Jiang Ranran was also very popular at Ruyi Tower.

One time when he came back, he boasted to her that Young Master Wu had taken a fancy to a girl in the kitchen, but the girl dared to refuse him. She helped him out and made it happen, bringing back two bags of fine rice.

A few days later, a man surnamed Li came looking for Jiang Ranran and started yelling and threatening to kill her. He was beaten half to death by the three Jiang brothers and thrown out.