After the arranged marriage, she farms and survives under the tutelage of the villainous boss.

Perhaps because of their great fame these past few days, and the news of their secret recipe yesterday, people have nothing to gossip about Jiang Zhiyun and her mother-in-law today.

It's strange, because she initially thought Jiang Zhiyun had figured out the recipe herself, and she was very hostile towards her. Now that she's just revealed a closely guarded secret, she's become much more respectful towards her.

Although Zhang didn't understand the intricacies of the situation, following Yunniang at least kept her calm. She just needed to focus on doing her job well.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law set up their stall, and then people started coming in one after another.

Fewer people were eating noodles at first, since not everyone eats noodles every day. But Jiang Zhiyun's braised pork attracted quite a few people.

Braised pig's head meat tastes good and is cheaper than regular meat. It's mainly for people who work in Shikanchang or in wealthy households. They bring some white rice and eat it with braised pork to make do for a meal.

So Jiang Zhiyun's stall remained as popular as ever.

Those other cooked food vendors who were originally waiting for Jiang Zhiyun to go out of business, how come their business is still so good after waiting for so long?

They tried making noodles, but it didn't work. They heard there was a secret recipe, so they gave up. As for other foods, they tried quite a few, but none of them sold.

The main reason is that the combined cost of all of them is higher, so we can't afford to make a profit at a loss, right?

So these past few days, many people have been keeping an eye on Jiang Zhiyun, all wanting to see when Jiang Zhiyun will go bankrupt.

The stalls were still packed with people today, so they started to worry.

However, Jiang Zhiyun was unaware of all this. She was still busy working with Zhang Shi, who was now able to make delicious mushroom noodle soup, which was a great improvement.

When there were fewer customers at noon, Yunniang and Zhang each made a bowl and ate it while sitting at the small table.

Zhang was almost finished with her bowl when she noticed an old woman in tattered clothes standing in front of their stall, her eyes filled with indifference.

Watching Zhang slurp the noodles so fast, I wanted to eat but couldn't, so I just watched with my eyes and moved my mouth along with hers.

At first, Zhang didn't notice, but then she deliberately slowed down and realized the old woman was following her. Zhang got a little angry and immediately stood up, saying, "You old woman, why do you keep copying me?"

Seeing her stand up, the old lady quickly ran over, picked up Zhang's bowl, and ate the rest in no time.

She had only eaten a small half bowl and wasn't full yet. Then she looked at Jiang Zhiyun and asked, "Is there any more?"

Jiang Zhiyun smiled, recalling what Aunt Wang had described as a ragged old woman who shamelessly snatched food. Now it seemed that this must be the woman.

There was still some in the pot. Judging from the old lady's rather proud personality, it was only out of necessity that she had to stoop down to do these things.

Jiang Zhiyun filled her bowl to the brim, and she ate quickly, but still maintained elegance and ritual while eating.

Jiang Zhiyun found it strange that this poor old lady was so polite.

Zhang Shi didn't notice any of this and moved closer to Yun Niang, saying, "This person doesn't look like a good person. In these days, people are starving to death everywhere. I was kind-hearted before, and when we were fleeing the famine, I gave all my dry food to women with children."

"But what I got in return wasn't kindness, but rather being beaten if I didn't give it to them."

Speaking of these things, Zhang felt a pang of heartache.

Although she was weak-willed and had always been bullied, she was no longer as naive as she was when she was a princess.

Before Jiang Zhiyun could speak, the old woman said, "That's because you're stupid. You're bullied because you're incompetent. It has nothing to do with kindness."

Zhang was also a little angry: "You... our Yunniang treats you so well, and you still slander me? I am better than you, at least I have food and clothing now."

"Hmph." The old lady snorted coldly, "I told you that you gave all your food to others and kept nothing for yourself. You don't understand people's hearts at all. I could forgive you then, but you still don't understand now."

"I am not a bad person, and I disdain being a bad person."

Her every move exuded the air of a matriarch, but unfortunately, she was dressed in tattered clothes.

Jiang Zhiyun smiled and said, "Grandma, it's not too much to wash the dishes after you've finished eating, is it?"

"Of course." She raised her head proudly, looking at Zhang with some disdain.

After washing her, he didn't give Yunniang any money, but he left her an old hairpin: "Keep this, consider it my meal money."

"Isn't my daughter-in-law's cooking delicious? Look at you, you're very satisfied with the meal!" Zhang Shi just didn't like looking at this old woman; she couldn't stand her no matter what.

"It's alright, I can still eat it." The old woman leaned on her cane, her legs seemingly having some difficulty walking.

Aunt Wang, who was standing to the side, couldn't stand it anymore: "Yunniang, I told you that this old woman doesn't know what's good for her, didn't I? Today she said that your mushroom noodle soup was so-so, but the other day when she ate my food, she actually said that it was extremely bad!"

"How could I possibly know? I had no idea. You have nothing, and you're still not satisfied with just eating and drinking for free?"

Listening to Aunt Wang's words, Jiang Zhiyun glanced at the old hairpin in her hand. Aunt Wang hadn't mentioned the old woman giving her the things, nor had she eaten them for free, which meant that these things had been used as collateral.

But the people at the market accepted the gifts without remembering her kindness, because the gifts she gave were not cheap; in fact, they were quite valuable. Yunniang had seen good things before in her previous life.

She didn't say much. She simply returned the things the old lady had given her, saying, "No need for this, consider it my treat today."

"No need." Although the old lady had no money left, she remained firm.

Jiang Zhiyun didn't insist and accepted the gift.

Then, watching the old lady walk away, she kept trying to remember who the old lady was.

Could he just be an ordinary person passing by?

At this moment, Jiang Zhiyun asked, "Mother-in-law, do you know if any mothers in official circles have gone missing or had an accident?"

"I noticed this old lady isn't from around here, and her manners are very refined. Were you aware of her etiquette?"

After thinking about it carefully, Zhang said, "Yes, she does seem very polite. The old ladies here don't behave like this."

"As a former princess, I hosted many banquets in Bianjing. I knew almost all the noble families and their wives. If someone's matriarch went missing, it would be a big deal. I have never heard of such a thing, so it shouldn't be true."

Then Zhang remembered something and burst out laughing:

"However, there is one person who is impossible for me to talk about, and I will tell you about him."

"There is only one person who has disappeared, or rather, has never appeared, and that is my mother-in-law, the Emperor's mother, the Empress Dowager. She disappeared when the Emperor ascended the throne. At that time, I had not yet married Shuheng's father, so this matter is quite significant."