A flicker of displeasure also crossed Mrs. Lu's eyes, yet she still replied with a smile, "Look at what you're saying. Aren't you the most formidable society lady in Rong City? When did it become me?"
The woman in the cheongsam still spoke with a strange tone. "Our Wanrong can't compare to your Lu family's business. Everyone else is losing money this year, only you all are raking it in."
Mrs. Lu continued smiling, "What's all this talk of profit and loss? I don't understand business at all. Besides, it's only just past the halfway point of the year. Isn't it a bit early for you to be talking about losses?"
With that, she made to move further inside.
Unexpectedly, the cheongsam-clad woman turned her gaze onto Xu Yanxia. After looking her over, she asked Mrs. Lu, "Changed assistants? She's not the same one who was with you last time."
Mrs. Lu had no choice but to answer her again, "My assistant is off today. This is a young lady newly arrived at our home, just helping me carry my bag."
The cheongsam woman gave a derisive laugh. "Hiring someone so young and pretty, aren't you afraid your old Mr. Lu might get ideas? I'm just saying, at our age, we can't compete with these young girls. You'd better be careful!"
This comment was rather too unpleasant.
Xu Yanxia couldn't help but frown.
Yet, Mrs. Lu still smiled as she replied, "That sounds like there's a story behind your words? I have full confidence in my husband. What, has your old Mr. Qu been looking elsewhere? You really should keep a closer eye on him then!"
Then, glancing at the other woman's cheongsam, she added meaningfully, "No wonder you're dressed so flamboyantly today. But this style is from two years ago, it's outdated. You should go have a few new ones made."
"......"
The cheongsam woman was left speechless.
Xu Yanxia stifled a laugh. Mrs. Lu was formidable!
...
Today's theme was a Chinese-style salon. Besides chatting and drinking tea, the ladies experienced incense ceremony, flower arranging, and an appreciation of embroidery works.
The hostess, Mrs. He, even wrote several calligraphy pieces on the spot, drawing a chorus of praise—
"Mrs. He's calligraphy is simply superb! So vigorous and powerful, truly profound skill!"
"Of course, Mrs. He is a genuine lady from a distinguished family."
"What distinguished family," Mrs. He demurred with a modest smile. "I only started practicing these past few years after I had more free time. It's nothing presentable, I'm just making a fool of myself!"
This Mrs. He appeared a few years older than the others present, her every gesture exuding elegance.
Although Xu Yanxia wasn't very familiar with high-society circles, she could tell from how warmly everyone treated Mrs. He that her status and background must be quite extraordinary.
After chatting a bit more, it was time for lunch.
Lunch also followed the traditional sequence of a Chinese banquet, starting with dried fruits, pastries, and cold dishes.
The clubhouse thoughtfully prepared a table of food for the assistants of the various society ladies.
The other assistants all went to sit there. Mrs. Lu also said to Xu Yanxia, "Xiao Xu, you go eat over there. I don't need anything here for now."
"Alright."
Xu Yanxia nodded. Before she could leave, her gaze fell on the plate of pastries that had just been served.
Peach shortbread, lotus flower pastry, jujube paste cake, poria cocos cake.
All four were traditional Chinese pastries, exquisitely made, freshly baked, and emitting a sweet fragrance.
She leaned down and added one more thing to Mrs. Lu, "Madam, the peach shortbread contains peach kernels. Please be careful."
Mrs. Lu was allergic to peaches—including the fruit, the fuzz, the juice, and even the kernels. Head Butler Zhang had briefed her on this on her first day of work.
To avoid disturbing others, she deliberately lowered her voice.
Who would have thought, before Mrs. Lu could say anything, that Mrs. Qu in the cheongsam, not far away, laughed out loud—
"Mrs. He is our host today. Are you afraid she'd poison your madam?"
Her voice was sharp and loud, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
To avoid misunderstanding, Mrs. Lu stated plainly, "Don't misunderstand. I'm allergic to peaches. Our Xiao Xu was just reminding me that the peach shortbread contains peach kernels."
Who would have thought the other woman would glance at Xu Yanxia again and say, "Peach shortbread is just called that; it's not made from peaches. It's no use just being pretty, young lady. You should read more books."
Xu Yanxia could hardly hold back. She also addressed the woman, "You're right. Most peach shortbread nowadays indeed doesn't contain peach kernels, but this one does."
Before the cheongsam-clad Mrs. Qu could respond, Mrs. He from the host's seat said to Mrs. Lu, "I reviewed the menu. Today's dishes are all made according to ancient imperial recipes. The peach shortbread does indeed contain peach kernels. Fortunately, your young friend reminded us in time, otherwise my good intentions would have led to trouble."
Then she asked Xu Yanxia curiously, "How did you know? Did you visit the kitchen earlier?"
Xu Yanxia had been with Mrs. Lu since she arrived and didn't even know where the kitchen was. She told the truth, "I smelled it. The ingredients for these pastries are quite good."
Smelled it?
This surprised the others. Some even leaned in to sniff the pastries, asking puzzledly, "Is this child's nose that sharp? I can't smell any peach kernel."
Someone else laughed self-deprecatingly, "Heh, I don't even know what peach kernels smell like."
As for Mrs. Qu in the cheongsam, she wore a look of disbelief and deliberately picked up a lotus flower pastry, asking, "Then can you smell what's in this pastry? It couldn't be lotus flowers, could it?"
Xu Yanxia originally didn't want to engage, but considering she shouldn't let Mrs. Lu lose face, she had to answer again, "Traditional lotus flower pastries use red yeast rice for color, but today's likely uses cherry and tomato juice. Also, the dough contains butter, cane sugar, and milk. As for the filling inside,"
She took the lotus pastry from the other's hand, brought it close to her nose, and said, "It should be freshly made lotus seed paste blended with condensed milk."
"Really? You can even smell the filling?"
"This young lady is amazing!"
The group grew even more astonished, while Mrs. He's face lit up with delight. "It's exactly like the recipe! Mrs. Lu, where did you unearth such talent?"
This...
Mrs. Lu was actually quite surprised herself.
She only knew this girl was introduced by Old Li, that her family ran a restaurant, that she had just graduated from Huazhong Agricultural University, that her cooking suited the family's taste, that she was clever, and quite good-looking...
But this ability to know how a dish is made just by smelling it...
She was only learning of it now.
To be honest, if this girl hadn't been with her all day, she might have also thought Xu Yanxia had just come from the kitchen.
