Chapter 271 - Looking For A Shop?
The girl held it for a long time before stopping excitedly. In fact, in Ye Lulu's opinion, she had not taken too much. This appetite was very similar to that of her old classmates at home.
However, she did not know that the daughters from noble families ate very little… This was already a lot.
After handing the bamboo basket to Ye Lulu, the girl was still unsatisfied. She even wanted to see how Ye Lulu would cook the ingredients she had picked.
As soon as the ingredients were handed to Ye Lulu, the secret guard immediately stared at her like an eagle, monitoring her every move.
It was true that one had to pay close attention when cooking food, in case the stall at the docks does something to it and something happens after the young miss eats it.
All the maidservants looked at Ye Lulu's stall, and even the woman looked over.
The people beside them were so afraid that they did not dare to move.
Even Guan Chixi did not dare to say anything. On the other hand, Ye Lulu looked calm and was not nervous at all.
As usual, she picked up the vegetables with the long wooden chopsticks and placed them in the pot.
As soon as she picked up the long wooden chopsticks, the maidservant who had just spoken stepped forward and stopped Ye Lulu. "Huh?!"
Ye Lulu stopped.
The maidservant said to Ye Lulu, "Change into a new pair of wooden chopsticks. This pair of chopsticks has been cooked for all the commoners. How can you use it for our young miss?"
Ye Lulu looked up at her.
The maidservant added, "Although our young miss has already decided to eat the food from your stall, you can't be so careless. It's too much. At the very least, you have to change this pair of wooden chopsticks into a special pair for our young miss, right?"
Ye Lulu tossed the wooden chopsticks.
The atmosphere became tense.
Ye Lulu retracted her expression. Her face was calm and expressionless, but there was a hint of coldness. She looked at the maidservant and said, "I'm not selling anymore."
Everyone was stunned.
The maidservant was also deeply stunned, as if she had not expected this at all.
However, Ye Lulu didn't look at her in the next second. She turned to the woman and said to her in neither cold nor indifferent voice, "When Madam goes out, do maidservants always speak? Could it be that maidservants make the decisions?"
The atmosphere became tense again.
The maidservant was deeply stunned, and her expression instantly became very fierce. It was unknown if she was angry or terrified, but she quickly looked at the woman. The woman was slightly stunned, as if she hadn't expected a commoner woman like Ye Lulu to dare speak to her in such a manner. However, she immediately said, "Of course not. Rongrong, you're talking too much."
The maidservant's expression instantly became very ugly, but she could not suppress her fear of her master. She lowered her head and immediately apologized.
If this wasn't outside, she would have to kneel down and beg for forgiveness.
That woman was reprimanding Rongrong for overstepping her boundaries.
However, it was not about the wooden chopsticks.
Ye Lulu's expression remained calm as she said to the woman, "Also, Madam, as your maidservant said, our family is operating just a small stall. We really can't be so particular. This Malatang was cooked from the bottom of a large pot of soup. If you want to be particular, the bottom of the soup is also shared, then what should we do?"
"Besides, even if it's wooden chopsticks, our family doesn't have any new ones. If you want to use special bowls and chopsticks, Madam, you can bring them here yourself. Isn't that better?"
She really thought so. If these nobles were so noble and particular, why didn't they bring their own tools with them?! They could have just used their own from the beginning.
"Also, this maidservant just now even despised the ingredients in our stall. It's like this. I'm from the mountains, and everything was picked from the mountains and planted by my family. If Madam doesn't like it, bring your own ingredients to my pot for me to cook. That would be the best."
Everyone, including the surrounding crowd, was shocked by Ye Lulu.
She could be said to be crazily throwing sarcasm at that maidservant's face, mocking her neither in a sinister nor positive manner.
However, the problem was that the maidservant belonged to this Madam. When officials and nobles were outside, the servants at home represented their face. Although Ye Lulu was only mocking a maidservant, this… also represented her status as the Madam.
Did Ye Lulu not understand… or was she too bold?
She actually dared to say such things.
The woman was obviously shocked and looked a little panicked. However, her personality did not seem to be domineering and she was very amiable. She did not punish Ye Lulu for talking to her like this. Instead, she hesitated for a moment and said softly:
"We have bowls and chopsticks on the boat. I'll let the maidservant bring them over. Long wooden chopsticks… We have them on the boat as well. Sorry to trouble the shopkeeper, but the ingredients… aren't the ones from farming families in the mountains fresher? There's no need to change them. We can use yours."
The madam sent a maidservant to board the ship to get the utensils. When Ye Lulu heard this, she didn't say anything and just nodded.
The nobles didn't want to share tools. As long as she brought them herself, it wouldn't be a problem. She could just go and get them.
However, if she were to be picky and look down on her like that maidservant, she would laugh and not serve her.
The woman's reply could be considered a slap to the maidservant's face.
At the very least, the woman was not angry and did not blame Ye Lulu. Instead, she followed Ye Lulu's words and said that her ingredients were fresh and natural and there was no need to change them.
She rejected the maidservant's criticism of Ye Lulu's ingredients.
Ye Lulu no longer used her eyes to look at the maidservant's expression. To be honest, she was a commoner. The maidservant was a servant who had been sold to this family. Her status as a maidservant was not even higher than hers.
Why was she barking?
The maidservant returned quickly and brought back a full set of tools. Ye Lulu didn't say much and picked up a pair of long chopsticks. Good heavens, they were all made of silver. Looking at the woman's formation, she must have gold and jade. Did she bring silver over to test if there was poison?
Ye Lulu was amused.
She took the long silver chopsticks and finally placed the ingredients picked by the girl into the pot. The girl was about to die from anxiety from the words just now.
Therefore, it was really troublesome to entertain such officials and nobles. It was not like many novels, which depicted a sense of superiority and satisfaction.
This woman could be considered to have a good temper and was very reasonable.
When she encountered other domineering, high and mighty people, she felt even more troubled.
Everyone present could see that Ye Lulu had placed the ingredients picked by the girl into the pot. Her movements were not special at all and were exactly the same as before.
What surprised the woman was that Ye Lulu was very fast. She quickly scalded the vegetables and took out all the ingredients after a short while. She placed them into the silver bowl.
Then, she scooped up a spoonful of the soup ingredients in the pot… Ye Lulu looked at the girl and only scooped half a spoonful of the spicy soup, which soaked through the ingredients.
Following that, she took out a new small silver bowl. She went to the pot beside her, simmering with the original soup, and scooped out a bowl of pork bone soup with the silver spoon.
This was a complete bowl of pork bone soup. It was milky white in color and extremely mellow.
Moreover, in ancient times, everyone was honest. The bottom of the soup was not mixed with water. It was boiled for a night. It was mellow and rich. Needless to say, children drank it very well. It nourished their bones and nutrition.
Ye Lulu closed the lid of the pot and looked forward. She asked, "Our stall doesn't have tables and chairs yet… Everyone is either doing takeouts or standing while eating. Madam…"
The woman said, "Leave it to the maidservants. We'll get takeout."
Ye Lulu looked again and saw that the silver bowl had a silver lid. The maidservant was holding it.
Sure.
They were indeed nobles.
Ye Lulu nodded and was about to give the silver bowl to the maidservant when the girl beside her suddenly said, "No, I want to eat here!"
The girl was anxious to try the dishes she had picked out and placed into the basket.
She had already waited for a long time. Why did she have to do takeouts before eating? Why did her mother and the rest talk so much? She couldn't wait anymore.
The woman was about to leave when she heard the girl's voice. She paused in surprise.
A moment later.
The maidservants returned to the ship and brought down a set of tables and chairs.
Ye Lulu raised her eyebrows. Sure.
It was indeed good to have money. They could play as they pleased.
The secret guard carried the girl over to the chair and sat down. Another two maidservants went forward to receive the pork bone soup and Malatang. Ye Lulu handed them over obediently. Coincidentally, she did not need to bring them over.
The woman also sat down at the table.
Ye Lulu looked at her and asked, "Madam, do you want to order something to try?"
The woman was stunned by this question. She hesitated for a moment and said, "The food here smells very fragrant, but I don't dare to eat too much these days. I restrain my diet a little…"
Ye Lulu understood. It turned out that she was losing weight!
She smiled. "Madam, you don't have to worry. Isn't this just right? You can choose any ingredients you want. Most of the ingredients I have here are vegetables. Eating vegetables will only make your body lighter, your skin color better, and your body healthier. It won't affect your figure either. If you're also keen, Madam, you can try some."
The woman's eyes changed and she looked at Ye Lulu with a warmer gaze. "From what you're saying, you know a lot about food?"
Her words were obscure. The more noble a person was, the more inappropriate it was for them to say anything about losing weight in public. This was because this concerned her figure. She could not talk about her body in front of everyone.
Therefore, the woman was talking about food. Ye Lulu understood that she was talking about losing weight.
Ye Lulu smiled and said, "I cook and know a little more about all kinds of ingredients. Besides, as a woman, who doesn't care about these things? Madam, you can't tell, right? I just gave birth. It hasn't even been a year, but I'm already completely recovered."
The woman was surprised and straightened her body. Her gaze became a little more focused as she chatted with Ye Lulu with interest. "You actually just gave birth? I really couldn't tell! You really recuperated in less than a year? There are many women by my side. Their bodies suffered losses in a few years…"
Moreover, Ye Lulu had completely recuperated and looked extremely healthy. Her figure had also returned to being thin. Her figure was slim and graceful, but she was not plump at all!
This was what the woman wanted.
It was even more so for the delicate madams. Although there were many servants, their bodies were weak to begin with, not to mention that everything was meticulously planned.
Ye Lulu nodded and said, "My babies aren't even a year old. I have to eat enough food to nourish my body and not lose out. However, as long as I eat more vegetables, especially the greener ones, I don't have to retreat when I feel that my body can't handle it. I'll muster my courage and move around more. I'll naturally control myself well."
"Babies? You gave birth to more than one?" the woman asked curiously.
Ye Lulu smiled. "More than one."
"Twins? How lucky…" The woman revealed a rare look of envy. There were many women in the circle of nobles who liked the thought of having twins.
Since ancient times, giving birth to two babies at once was a symbol of many blessings. Even officials and rich people liked having twins.
Ye Lulu did not elaborate that she had three, not two. However, there were too many people here. Ye Lulu did not want to say more and only smiled mysteriously.
"Is it alright to eat vegetables?" The woman asked Ye Lulu, "I can eat any vegetable? Why is that…"
Ye Lulu said, "Actually, it doesn't matter to eat meat sometimes, especially fish meat. It has nutrition to nourish the body. Sweet food is more important… For example, pastries with a lot of sugar, rice, and noodles with all kinds of sugar and ingredients… These are especially important. You must eat less."
Indeed, women only started to chat when talking about topics that concerned women!
The woman with an extraordinary status became much more passionate in her attitude toward Ye Lulu. She looked at Ye Lulu with bright eyes and said, "Is that true? If what you said is true, I'll eat fewer pastries in the future. I don't really like pastries, but there are too many in the mansion…"
Ye Lulu smiled but did not say anything. In fact, the woman's figure was considered thin, but from her expression, Ye Lulu guessed that it was because she was too tall. She was about 1.7 meters tall, a few centimeters taller than Ye Lulu.
If she was tall, it was very easy for her to look strong with a little weight, so the woman was especially concerned about her figure.
At this point, the woman stood up and went to the wooden cart. She looked over and said, "Then I'll order some vegetables as well…"
The woman stretched out her slender hand. This soft hand was really smooth. With such fingers, holding the food on the wooden cart, it did seem a little out of place.
The woman took two skewers of mushrooms. She probably liked them when she heard that mushrooms were picked from the mountains. She also took tofu and radish. Ye Lulu reminded her, "Among the staple food, vermicelli and the like are the lightest. Rice and noodles are the heaviest. Fishballs are made from fish meat. You can eat more fish meat as well. It's good for your skin…"
The terms 'light' and 'heavy' meant skinny and fat. When their gazes met, the woman immediately understood and smiled at Ye Lulu.
Needless to say, this exchange of looks immediately pulled the distance between the two of them closer. The woman's attitude toward Ye Lulu became much more natural!
After hearing Ye Lulu's words, the woman took the vermicelli and fishballs. Then, she was almost done. Originally, noble women did not eat much.
Ye Lulu quickly made another bowl of Malatang. This time, it was even faster. The maidservant brought the silver bowl to the table.
Beside the table, the newly scooped pork bone soup was left to cool for a while.. It was just nice enough to enter her mouth now.