Crossing Over to Yamada Love

After the old Marquis led his men away, only Wang Shi, Mo Changhe, and Mo Lan remained sitting there. Mo Lan immediately relaxed, and Xia Yu hurriedly stepped forward to massage Mo Lan's shoulders, as she was exhausted today.

"My dear girl, there's nothing I can do to help. You've really had a hard time," Wang said, looking at her granddaughter with heartache.

"Yes, Lan'er, it's all my fault for being useless. I've made you, a girl, worry about all this." Mo Changhe's eyes also showed heartache. He was happy that his daughter was capable, but he also felt useless for tiring her out.

"Grandma, Daddy, it's nothing, it's nothing. Lanlan isn't tired at all." After saying that, Mo Lan deliberately straightened her back, which made the two of them feel both sorry for her and amused.

A few days later, Wang Mingda and the Xue brothers found their head chef and second chef. There were six head chefs and ten second chefs, hired separately by each family. Once everyone was in place, Mo Lan began preparations, leaving the manor every day.

The second chef was in charge of chopping and preparing the vegetables. They had hired skilled cooks, some even capable of carving. Mo Lan was very satisfied with their work; she herself couldn't carve. Now that they had such skills, the dishes could be prepared even more exquisitely.

The head chefs are the same; they all have cooking skills, but not all of them are master chefs. It seems that the first requirement for both companies is that the people they hire are loyal and reliable.

Mo Lan had already prepared the menu, listing all the dishes in great detail. She started by teaching the second chef how to cut vegetables, and then told Granny Bai how to do the simpler ones.

Once you understand one thing, you understand everything. These teachers all had a solid foundation, and what Mo Lan taught wasn't too difficult, so they all learned very quickly.

After teaching how to cut vegetables, they began processing them. Mo Lan divided the vegetables into two groups to teach, one group consisting of three master chefs. These three master chefs learned from Mo Lan, who personally demonstrated and explained as she went. She also encouraged them to ask questions if they didn't understand anything.

She taught them for a day, then sent them home to practice and master the techniques. She then moved on to a second group, this time teaching them new dishes. In other words, the two groups of chefs learned different recipes. When the time came, they each cooked their own dishes; this was fast, ensured they didn't disturb each other, and also guaranteed that in case of any unforeseen circumstances, the recipes wouldn't all be leaked.

These past few days, Mo Lan has been neglecting everything except teaching cooking. She's been picked up from the manor early every morning and doesn't return until dark. She's exhausted every day, much more so than when she cooks herself; her body is tired, and her throat is even more so. She drinks rock sugar chrysanthemum tea every time she gets back. Fortunately, after what happened at Lan Courtyard last time, no one has been gossiping about Mo Lan leaving the manor every day. It seems the last incident had a significant effect; otherwise, Mo Lan would probably be talked about to death by now.

After being busy for half a month, Mo Lan finally breathed a sigh of relief. She had taught almost everything she knew. She had almost emptied her own knowledge. As for other dishes, she would deal with them when the time came. There were some dishes she couldn't teach because she didn't have the ingredients. The chefs had also mostly stepped in, and their dishes looked quite decent and tasted good. With a few more days of practice, they might even be able to cook better than Mo Lan.

Mo Lan, enjoying a rare day of leisure, was drinking tea and chatting with Wang Shi. The two women lamented about how Erlang had done in the autumn examinations and how things were at home, both feeling homesick. They planned to speak with the Marquis in three to five days to prepare for their return to Shangchang.

"Grandma, I'll go shopping with you tomorrow. You haven't left the manor since we arrived. Let's see what nice things we have and buy some to take back to Shangchang."

As soon as Mo Lan finished speaking, before Wang Shi could reply, a maid came to report that the Second Master had arrived.

Madam Wang hurriedly said "Please come in," and led Mo Lan out to greet her.

Mo Lan frowned slightly. Her second great-uncle had arrived? He shouldn't be here at this hour. Was something wrong?

After welcoming the Second Master into the house, Qiu Hong served tea. The Second Master picked up the teacup but didn't bring it to his lips. He glanced at the maids and old women on either side. Mo Lan understood and gave a signal. Old Woman Bai hurriedly led everyone away. She personally stood guard outside, preventing anyone from approaching.

Wang felt that her brother must have something to say, but he sat for a while without saying a word. Helpless, she had to take the initiative to ask, "Brother, is there something you need?"

Upon hearing Wang's words, the second master opened his mouth several times, but managed not to utter a sound. Clearly, he was reluctant to speak.

Mo Lan was afraid that the Second Master would hesitate to speak up because of her presence, so she stood up and said softly, "Maybe I should go down too."

"Lanlan, you stay here. This matter also concerns you." The Second Master said, asking Molan to stay.

"Is it related to Lanlan? Brother, you have something to say, what's there to hide between us siblings?" Wang Shi was getting anxious seeing her brother's expression.

Seeing his sister's anxiety, the second master also put aside his own concerns and said, "Lanzhi, don't be anxious, stay calm. Let me tell you, he's here. He's in the front yard, and your brother is having tea with him right now."

The second master's words were disjointed and incoherent, leaving Wang Shi and Mo Lan stunned and unable to process what he meant. Who was this? And why were they being so mysterious?

Suddenly, Wang realized what was happening. She stood up abruptly, her body trembling, and asked in a trembling voice, "Second Brother, you...you mean him?"

Seeing her grandmother's excitement, Mo Lan realized that the person the Second Master was talking about was Chen Xuewen. He had actually come to visit in person. What was the matter?

"Lanzhi, don't get agitated. You've only been feeling better for a few days, you can't rush things. Your health is the most important thing." The second master advised Wang Shi. He knew that as soon as he opened his mouth, his sister would react this way, which was why he hesitated for a long time before finally speaking up.

Mo Lan quickly stepped forward to support Wang Shi, helping her sit down and patting her back.

"Alright, I'm not in a hurry. Second brother, tell me, how dare that old scoundrel show his face here? What does he want?" Wang asked her brother after calming down.

Seeing that Madam Wang had calmed down, the second master said in a low voice, "Our two families have always been enemies. Although my elder brother and he serve in the same court over the years, they never visit each other. When he came today, my elder brother didn't want him to come in, but he said he had important matters to discuss. He said that if my elder brother didn't see him, he would go to the Emperor for help. My elder brother had no choice but to let him in. After he came in, he talked about Lan's marriage."

At this point, Madam Wang swept the teacup off the table and angrily said, "Don't even think about it! He can't do anything about it. As long as I'm alive, he can forget about making a move on Lan'er."

"Grandma, don't worry, Uncle won't agree either. Your health is important, don't get angry. Let Uncle finish what he has to say." Mo Lan hurriedly helped Wang Shi calm down. She understood her grandmother. Anyone who had their engagement broken off by their childhood sweetheart, ruining their father and their own life, would end up like Wang Shi.

"Yes, Lanzhi, that's what my elder brother said too. But he said he wasn't asking for a wife for himself; he wanted to marry Lan'er as his eldest daughter-in-law. He said he came to visit in person to show his sincerity, and if my elder brother didn't agree, he would ask the Emperor to grant them a marriage."

The second master's eyes flashed coldly as he spoke, clearly displeased with the other party's attempt to coerce the Emperor into granting a marriage. In their youth, Chen Xuewen and his brother had a good relationship; back then, they treated him like their brother-in-law and took good care of him. But he had killed their father, harmed their sister, and brought such misery upon their family—how could the two brothers not hate him!

"You old thief, why didn't you get struck by lightning? Why didn't you get torn to pieces?" Wang stood up and cursed bitterly, her face full of pain, clearly hating Chen Xuewen to the extreme.

Neither the second master nor Mo Lan uttered a sound, letting Wang Shi scold and vent her anger, not wanting her to become ill from holding it in.

After cursing for a while, Wang calmed down and said with a stern face, "We beg His Majesty to grant us a marriage. But His Majesty can't force us, can he? We won't agree! I will never let Lan'er enter the Chen family, I will never let Lan'er be associated with that Chen guy." As Wang said this in a deep voice, she suddenly seemed to remember something and asked in a low voice, "Second brother, didn't you say you were dealing with that old scoundrel? Why haven't we heard anything from him yet?"

The second master's eyes darkened slightly. He knew that his sister hated that person too much and was anxiously waiting for him to be brought to justice. But he was helpless. He said softly, "The matter was almost settled, but news suddenly came from the palace that Consort Chen is pregnant with the emperor's child. With her pregnant, we have to postpone this matter. Otherwise, if anything happens to the child, we can't bear the blame."

Upon hearing this, Madam Wang slumped into her chair, as if all her strength had vanished. No wonder there had been no news; the concubine sent to the palace by the Chen family was pregnant. At this time, anyone who dared to retaliate against the Chen family would be asking for trouble. She couldn't risk the lives of everyone in the Wang family because of hatred.

Mo Lan was disheartened; she hadn't realized that a concubine's pregnancy could have such a significant impact. If that meant she couldn't deal with Chen Xuewen right now, what was she to do?

"Grandpa, what did it say at the beginning?" Mo Lan asked on behalf of her grandmother.

"Your great-uncle refused. Grand Secretary Chen said that if he was not allowed to go to the palace, he would ask the emperor to grant the marriage. For a time, the situation was deadlocked. Later, Grand Secretary Chen said that if he could not ask for the emperor's decree, he would like to see Lanzhi. If he could see your grandmother, he would no longer mention the matter of you marrying into the Chen family." The second master told the truth.

The situation was at a standstill. Logically, they didn't want Chen Xuewen to see their sister, but if he went to ask the Emperor for a marriage decree, and if the Emperor found out about Mo Lan's companions and learned that she was Wang Shi's granddaughter, and that Wang Shi was the sister their mother had been searching for for many years, then to compensate their sister, the Emperor might actually grant the marriage and bestow this honor. If they wanted to refuse at that time, it would be disobeying the Emperor's decree, and they would be in a passive position.

So the second master went to the Orchid Courtyard to ask his sister what she thought, whether she would see him or not.

Upon hearing this, Wang immediately sat up straight and spat, "Bah! Who wants to see him? He's a heartless old scoundrel. How dare he show his face to me? I won't see him. Tell him to get lost!"