Seeking recommendations and long reviews, powerless in the middle...

  Come back, everyone!

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  Mei Zi walked into the kitchen courtyard.

  Apart from the kitchen that Zhang's mother and son brought with them, as well as the small kitchen in San Niang's courtyard, all the food for the hundred or so people in the Ju household came from here, and the busy scene was evident. The most skilled person in this courtyard was Liu Pozi, who had served the Madam of the house for over thirty years, and whose ancestors had worked in the imperial kitchen. As a result, although Liu Pozi was loyal to the late Eldest Mistress, that is, San Niang's mother, and had some disagreements with Zhang, her unparalleled culinary skills made Zhang have to swallow his pride.

  The single Liu Pozi took in the orphaned Bai He as her own daughter and taught her all her culinary skills. In return, Bai He treated Liu Pozi with filial piety like her own mother. Now, Bai He's cooking skills are on par with Liu Pozi's, but she still comes over whenever she has time. She says it's to learn new skills, but in reality, she just wants to help the old lady who is over 50 years old.

  No need to enter the kitchen, Mu Zi saw Bai He busy by the well.

  "I thought you had learned some good dishes, but instead you're doing the work of a little servant girl. I'll tell Green Chrysanthemum about this when I get back, she'll definitely say that washing vegetables is not as good as taking her place as a gatekeeper."

  Bai He lifted her head, and the sunlight reflected in the water basin made her face as white as a silver plate, with gentle and quiet features, and a moderate personality. But there was a small black mole at the corner of her mouth, which looked lovely when she smiled.

  "Mei Zi? Come out, who is serving Miss?" Bai He, also a devoted person to Qiu San Niang.

  She was able to get such a loyal and dedicated maid, Qiu San Niang could be considered lucky. However, Mo Zi didn't count herself in. At most, she was just helping Qiu San Niang with her work, earning a monthly salary to do things for others, upholding the professional ethics of "you're good, I'm good".

  "The young lady took the green chrysanthemum and went to Jiu Niang's courtyard, telling me to come over and find you to go back." Mozi replied steadily.

  "Oh." Bai He didn't ask what was going on, and quickly scooped the vegetables into a bamboo basket. She wiped her hands on the white cloth covering her spring dress, picked up the basket, and said as she walked in, "Wait for me for a moment."

  "I'll wait for you outside the hospital." Mozi dislikes this crowded place.

  Baihe went into the kitchen, put down the dishes, picked up a bowl of freshly cooked white porcelain soup, took another orchid-shaped bowl, placed it on a peach wood tray, and walked out of the small door to her mother-in-law's room.

  Liu's wife has been uncomfortable for two days and has been resting at home.

  "Dry mother, I've steamed a bowl of carp clear soup, hurry up and drink it while it's hot. The young lady is calling me, I have to go back first. Originally wanted to help you out, but the young lady is in front of us four maids." Bai He poured out a bowl of tofu white soup, blew warm air on it, and handed it to Dry Mother who was half-reclining, "After the banquet disperses, I'll tell the young lady again, and come take care of you."

  "After lying in bed for two days, I'm much better." The fish soup was delicious and fresh, and the daughter's culinary skills were impressive. Liu Baba felt relieved, "You take care of yourself, devote your heart to taking care of San Gu Niang, don't worry about me."

  Bai He poured another bowl of fish soup and placed it in Gan Niang's hands, "Fish soup is the fastest way to nourish the body and cure illness. You must drink it all up, not a single drop can be left." Towards her mother, the usually calm and composed she also revealed a spoiled little girl-like attitude.

  "Alright, alright." Old Lady Liu could hardly refuse.

  "I'll go and come back." Bai He walked out of the house, called over a little maid, gave her detailed instructions, and only then felt slightly at ease.

  She brought out a three-tiered red lacquer food box from the courtyard, but didn't see any sign of Mozi. Thinking that she couldn't have left without reason, Baihe looked around for a while. Sure enough, in a quiet corner at the foot of a wall, she saw Mozi sitting on a flower stand, with an eight or nine-year-old little girl whispering in her ear.

  Bai He originally wanted to walk over, but found that the little girl was An Pozhen's granddaughter Xiaohua, so she stood still on the spot.

  I don't know what method Zimo used to win her over, but Xiaoyu often came to report news from the main courtyard.

  At first, when Mozi mentioned it to his daughter, Baihe didn't take it seriously, thinking that a little girl could be of no use.

  Mozi said, Xiaohua's grandparents were the trusted advisors of Zhangshi Mu Zi, and her parents were also in charge of the actual power in the government. She was just an 8 or 9-year-old little girl, who would pay attention to where she played?

  At this time, Xiaohua finished speaking, her eyes staring at Mozi with a hint of mischief, and stretched out her small hand.

  Mozhi pulled something out of her sleeve and placed it in Xiaohua's palm.

  Bai He was wondering what it was, but saw that thing suddenly fly up. Under the sunlight, a black-gold fluttering butterfly, flapped its beautiful wings. Couldn't figure out how the living creature was hidden in the dark purple sleeves, and when she looked again, the butterfly stopped on Xiao Hua's hand. As if what she had just seen was just an illusion.

  Xiao Hua let out a soft cry and gently lifted the butterfly's wing tip with both hands, her nose almost touching it.

  Then, what did Mozi say?

  Xiao Hua nodded repeatedly and carefully put the butterfly into her sleeve before skipping away.

  Mei Zi stood up, raised her eyes and saw Bai He's focused and distracted expression, slightly furrowing her brow. Children are innocent and won't think of complicated things from a moving butterfly, but she didn't want others to see it.

  "What's wrong?" At this time, after making up his mind, he walked closer to Bai He and asked.

  Bai He pulled up Mo Zi's sleeve, raised it high to take a look inside, "Let me see, what else do you have hidden in there? A little rabbit? A little bird? You actually produced a live butterfly."

  The purple-robed man's vigilance was relaxed due to Bai He's rare cleverness, and he shook his sleeves, "Get out. Tomorrow, I'll go find a rabbit to catch small birds and put them in your sleeve, let's see how you dance with joy."

  "But I saw you pinch out a butterfly from your sleeve, and its wings opened." Bai He was really bewildered.

  "Two thin pieces of wood clamped together, colored like a butterfly, teasing the little flower. You have to stand far away to see it as a real butterfly." Mei Zi said simply. In fact, she had carved the cedar into paper-thin wooden slices, using modern splicing techniques and utilizing the principle of axial rotation, making the light model flutter its wings in the wind. How could it not be mistaken for the real thing?

  "Made of wood?" Bai He suddenly realized, thinking that he was indeed standing far away, and it was also reasonable to take it as real. "So you're not only good at carpentry, but also painting."

  "That's called coloring, what painting skills are needed? The embroidery of green chrysanthemum is really good. Last time she embroidered butterflies on a handkerchief and attracted real butterflies." Her left hand became more and more dexterous, every small thing she made was lifelike, from withered wood to realistic, even she herself was surprised by the effect. If she had spent her whole life beside Qiu San Niang who ran a silk fabric and tea shop, as mentioned before, she wouldn't have been of much use. But for some reason, she naturally let out a sigh of relief.

  These days are not the best. The family is at odds with each other, calculating and scheming, with no distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children. Due to the masters' debauchery, there are many unscrupulous servants and maids in the mansion, following the trend, each vying for attention. It's gotten to the point where Mozi has to rack her brains to keep a low profile, avoiding trouble and staying out of sight. Fortunately, there is Qiu San Niang. This young mistress of the Qiu family is at the center of attention, drawing all the suspicious gazes, allowing her to fully put into practice the theory that the most dangerous place is also the safest.

  "Not really. The young lady praised her, and she was already beautiful." Bai He called Mozi to turn around and walk away without noticing, "The young lady asked me to come back, but it's for tonight's banquet? The kitchen is busy beyond measure. My mother-in-law is ill, yet more than half of the dishes still need her personal touch. There's a table full of vegetarian dishes, apart from her, who has the skill to prepare them?"

  Purple ink heart moved: Are all noble people vegetarian?