Chapter 460: Chapter 457: Can’t Let Her Miss Out on Delicious Food

The weather changes unpredictably, the shifts between cloudy and clear are hard to determine.

The copper chimes at the eaves tinkled and paused, echoing three nights of fine rain. In a corner of the courtyard, a full trellis of roses silently climbed over the roof tiles.

There was a crisp sound of an abacus being clicked, as Ning Suxuan checked the accounts made by Yu Tingwan.

Yu Tingwan sat opposite her, twirling a brush in her hand, sighing, "I’ve been under a lot of pressure lately."

Ning Suxuan said lightly, "The Governor’s wife is famous for being a wicked mother-in-law. Earlier this year, she got a daughter-in-law she didn’t like, hence she sets rules daily, not to mention demanding respect at morning and evening, she even intentionally mistreats her."

Her hands didn’t slow down.

"The new daughter-in-law is trembling with fear in front of her, not daring to speak loudly."

Ning Suxuan: "And you?"

Yu Tingwan placed her hands politely on her knees, speaking softly, "I’m also trembling, afraid of making mistakes in the accounts."

Ning Suxuan asked directly, "Last time you carelessly made a mistake in the accounts, I wanted to use the ruler on you, but you ran faster than anyone, and then turned back smiling. Do you remember what you provocatively said?"

Yu Tingwan blinked, answering honestly.

"Mother-in-law, come chase me."

The room fell into dead silence.

But she quickly explained.

"How did I provoke?"

"I had good intentions. Running can also build strength and is good for your health, mother-in-law."

It’s true for her benefit.

And truly infuriating!

Ning Suxuan: "Later, I wanted to scold you. What did you do then?"

She pitter-pattered back, very considerately poured Ning Suxuan a cup of water.

Yu Tingwan: "I was afraid you’d get thirsty from scolding."

She couldn’t help but sincerely sigh, "Truly envious of you, having such a considerate daughter-in-law."

Ning Suxuan: ...

Really.

She raised Wei Zhao too harshly; outsiders envied how the Princely Heir of the Duke Shun Mansion was so diligent, needing no one to worry, eventually, retribution came.

Her makeup was still delicate, but her eyebrows and eyes had lost a bit of sternness, her gaze was now softer: "Did I give you pressure?"

"Nothing else to say, across the street from the Marquis Ning Mansion, the Hu Family, as soon as the original wife of the Young Master Hu passed away, he was eager to remarry. The new wife was his long-favored cousin, the biological niece of his mother, Mrs. Hu. Very close, but three years have passed, still no offspring, not mentioning the husband’s complaints, even the mother-in-law has changed her face."

Ning Suxuan: "Wasn’t it me, could it be Gui Zhi giving you pressure? But he mentioned to me, he is not in a hurry to have children."

As long as the Ying Family continues to hold power, the Duke Shun Mansion cannot have good news.

Yu Tingwan was rarely choked: ...

The current Ning Suxuan really talks too much.

—Squeak.

The umbrella dripped with water, handed by Nanny Ru to a maidservant outside the door, carrying a body of moisture, she pushed the door and entered.

"This rain, no telling when it will stop."

Nanny Ru: "Last year, the Yao Yellow Peony planted in the garden was delicate, doesn’t tolerate stagnant water easily rots, I’m afraid it’s hard to keep alive."

She carried a plate of washed cherries, each one plump and full.

"A few days ago, the Fifth Prince Consort sent cherries to the Imperial Palace, naturally not as good as those grown in our farm, Young Madam try them, these just came from below, not only big but also very fresh, only a pity that few cherries are ripe, just barely picked six baskets, the other varieties are still sour, will have to wait some more time."

"Wait till July or August, when the weather is hottest, then served ice-cold with lychee drink, that’s when they taste best."

Saying this, she placed them on the table.

All were cleaned.

Then she asked Ning Suxuan.

"This batch of cherries, same as before, divided among the various mansions?"

Yu Tingwan hadn’t tried them yet, picked one and popped it into her mouth.

Juicy.

Three parts sour, seven parts sweet.

Very different in texture from the fruit usually eaten.

Her eyes lit up.

Especially after calculating, rarity increases value, at market price, one cherry is worth half a pound of pork for her.

Ning Suxuan is not a person who craves gastronomic pleasures.

In the past, when Wei Zhao was on the border, she would only keep a small half-basket, send one basket to her natal family, another to the Marchioness Zhongyong, the rest would be rushed by the Wei Family Army to the Wei Family in Yiling. To honor the Wei Family elders on behalf of Wei Fengxing. The elders would keep some, the rest would be distributed among the Wei Family juniors.

But now.

She stopped, watching Yu Tingwan spit out several seeds in no time.

Clearly, she liked them.

Ning Suxuan: "The same arrangement."

Nanny Ru was about to respond.

Ning Suxuan: "Tell the manor to send a few plates over at intervals."

This is not something that can be stored well.

Must be eaten fresh.

Though troublesome.

It’s not a big deal.

Can’t short her daughter-in-law’s taste buds.

"Yes."

Nanny Ru replied with a smile, about to leave to attend to the matter.

Yu Tingwan called her back.

"I heard from Mother-in-law, you recently had a grandson? That is a joyous event, I’ll make a longevity lock, wishing him health, you must accept it."

Nanny Ru’s son managed a cloth shop under the Wei Family in Jiangnan.

Both her daughter-in-law and grandson are also in Jiangnan.

Nanny Ru grinned happily, not putting on a shy or refusing expression.

"Yes, thank you, Young Madam."

She is fortunate, though her husband died early, but following Madam, her son was also valued by Madam, getting a good position that others long for.

Madam also said, after some more years of experience, her son would be transferred to a shop in the Capital.

Thus, mother and son could reunite.

Mentioning her son and grandson, Nanny Ru was delighted.

However...

"My son gets bouts of old cold leg during rainy days. The old servant casually overheard the boy delivering cherries mention, it has rained heavily in Jiangnan for two days. He jokingly said, if it continues like this, many parts of Da Jin might encounter flooding."

As a mother, how can she not worry.

A casual word, not knowing which part, made Yu Tingwan think of something, her breath slightly paused.

"Where are those boys?"

"The old servant saw them exhausted from traveling day and night, so I took the liberty of asking the kitchen to prepare some food for them. They are eating right now, and intended to let them stay in the servants’ quarters for the night, they can leave tomorrow."

Yu Tingwan stood up, propped open a half-carved window, seeing a layer of vague mist hovering over the bluestone path in the courtyard.

As fine as silk threads.

The drizzle fell on the stone steps silently, quietly deepening the shade of that verdant green.

Her eyes became pale.

"Have them come to see me when they finish eating, I need to ask something."

Nanny Ru was surprised.

She looked at Ning Suxuan.

Ning Suxuan nodded.

Nanny Ru: "Yes."

After she left, in no more than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, three young boys came quickly.

They all looked quite young.

Yu Tingwan stepped outside.

"Greetings to the Young Madam."

They all knelt to pay respects. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Yu Tingwan had them stand.

"The estate is in the west, Jiangnan is in the east, how do you know it rained heavily in Jiangnan? And why do you say there might be floods in many areas?"

The boys looked at each other.

Quickly, the one in the middle respectfully said, "Not only does heavy rain lower the sweetness, but the fruit easily cracks. They must be picked when ripe, they’ll rot in the rain. Not to mention the boat transport to the Capital, ten to twenty percent is lost. Young Madam may not know, apart from the estate, the largest cherry orchard is in Jiangnan.

"So we pay extra attention to these matters."