"Even in simple clothes and with a simple hairpin, her peerless beauty cannot be hidden."
"Rare, truly a rare beauty!"
"Within half an hour, I want to know everything about her!"
Yinbao flattered, "Sure thing. I'll dig out every bit of information about her, even her family tree going back eighteen generations. Just leave it to me!"
Jinbao thought it was inappropriate and advised, "Young master, what if this young lady is already married? Wouldn't that be a laughingstock?"
Guo Lingjia got excited and seemed to have a new idea. He raised his eyebrows and said, "Married? Even better. A married woman is more understanding and sensible."
There was a look of anticipation on his face, and his smile spread.
The maid Xing'er behind him always felt that the young lady looked familiar. She lowered her head and thought for a while. Suddenly, inspiration struck. "I think she looks like Jiaoniang, who used to serve beside the eldest young lady."
"Ah? How come I've never seen her?"
Guo Lingjia was completely blank and had no impression at all.
If she was someone from his elder sister's side, it would be even more troublesome than a married woman.
Guo Lingjia's face darkened. He kicked Yinbao on the butt and said, "What are you standing there for? Go and find out quickly!"
"Okay, okay!" Yinbao scurried away quickly.
On this side, Jiaoniang returned to the Shutong Courtyard. Her former sister Ziyun was standing under the corridor, watching the young maids clean the windows.
When Ziyun saw Jiaoniang suddenly, she was stunned at first, and then greeted her with surprise and joy. "Jiaoniang is back!"
Qi Jiao greeted Ziyun with a smile. "Dear sister, I heard that the eldest young lady is coming back today, so I rushed here to see her. How are you?"
Ziyun waved the young maids away and took Qi Jiao's hand affectionately, leading her into the side room.
Ziyun brewed some tea for her. The two sat on the couch and talked about their recent situations.
Qi Jiao asked her about the Xia family and whether the eldest young lady of the Guo family was doing well.
The Xia family was the husband's family of the eldest young lady of the Guo family. She had married Xia Yi, the son of the salt inspector, and lived in the prefectural city.
The former grand - old master of the Guo family had served in the same court as Lord Xia. The two families were old friends. Xia Yi and the eldest young lady were childhood sweethearts, well - acquainted with each other.
Ziyun, as a dowry maid, had followed the eldest young lady to the Xia family. There was also a look of happiness on her face. "You know, the young master treats our young lady with great respect and love. Lord Xia and his wife will return to the capital to report on their duties after the New Year. They won't be back for a year or two. The young lady doesn't have to serve her in - laws. There are only her and the young master in the mansion, so she'll be much more relaxed."
This was what the two of them said in private. Qi Jiao was really happy for the eldest young lady. She said with a smile, "That's good, that's good."
When it came to Qi Jiao's accidental marriage to the Pei family, Ziyun asked with concern, "How is your husband to you? What's your mother - in - law's temper like? Are your younger brother - in - law and younger sister - in - law difficult to deal with?"
Qi Jiao answered one by one, with a peaceful smile in her eyes. "My mother - in - law and younger siblings are all nice. My husband is very considerate of me."
Hearing this, Ziyun obviously relaxed her brows. She was afraid that Jiaoniang would suffer again in the Pei family.
"The eldest young lady only regrets that she was busy with a hundred things when she was about to get married. Otherwise, she would have gone to teach the Qi family a lesson herself and get justice for you."
Just then, they heard the tinkling of jade pendants outside, and a faint fragrance wafted in. It was the eldest young lady of the Guo family who had returned.
"Ziyun, is Jiaoniang here?"
Ziyun quickly got up, supported the eldest young lady of the Guo family into the room, and took off the shawl on her body. "Yes, she is. Jiaoniang came specially to see you."
Qi Jiao was very familiar with the eldest young lady of the Guo family from her memory.
The eldest young lady of the Guo family was named Hui, with the courtesy name Lingyi. She was only eighteen years old this year, the same age as Qi Jiao.
She turned around. Her eyebrows were beautiful, and her face was full of charm, but she had a noble and elegant bearing.
Qi Jiao knelt down to pay her respects. "Jiaoniang pays respects to the young lady. Long time no see. The young lady is still as beautiful as ever."
Qi Jiao stood smiling beside the half - person - tall vase, looking just the same as when she used to serve by her side.
Guo Lingyi's eyes welled up with tears. She took a few quick steps, pulled Qi Jiao over, and examined her carefully. After confirming that she was okay, she frowned slightly and complained, "I used to think you were a smart and steady girl. How could you fall into the trap of your heartless elder brother and sister - in - law as soon as you got home? You're so heartless. You didn't even come to find me earlier. You made me worry about you for nothing."
Ziyun quickly came up and pulled the two of them to sit down. "Jiaoniang, you don't know. Since the eldest young lady heard the bad news about you, she's been so sad. She regrets letting you leave the mansion so rashly that day."
Qi Jiao looked ashamed. "It's all my fault. You meant well to help me, but instead I made you worry about me and even asked someone to send me silver."
She looked up, her eyes filled with tears, and her gratitude was obvious. "I'll never forget the kindness of the eldest young lady. I was just afraid of causing trouble for you if I came to your door suddenly."
"By the way, I couldn't give you a wedding gift when you got married. I made some snacks for you. They can be stored for a long time. You can take them back to the Xia family and eat them as snacks when you're free."
Qi Jiao picked up a big bamboo food box on the table beside her and lifted the lid. Inside, there were emerald banana leaves and lush bougainvillea. There were two layers, neatly arranged with all kinds of snacks.
It was obviously a well - thought - out work.
Guo Lingyi's eyes lit up. She picked up a salted egg yolk pastry with a handkerchief and took a bite. She only felt the pastry was crispy, glutinous, salty, and sweet in her mouth, with endless aftertaste.
The surprise on her face couldn't be hidden. "When did you learn to make snacks? Ziyun can make a little tea snack, but you used to be in charge of clothes and sewing by my side."
Qi Jiao was a little embarrassed and made an excuse. "These days in the Pei family, I accidentally got a cookbook. I just tried to make some when I was free."
She smiled again. "How do you like them?"
Guo Lingyi nodded repeatedly. "The Xia family spent a lot of money to hire a white - case chef. She has a great reputation. But after I tasted yours, I feel that her signature pastries are not worth mentioning."
Qi Jiao didn't think her cooking skills were top - notch. Even in this era, there were countless great chefs.
These skills couldn't be acquired overnight.
To be a chef in the family of a salt inspector, she must have something extraordinary.
So she modestly said, "You're just having a taste of something new. Everyone has different tastes. I only know a little bit."
But Guo Lingyi kept praising her. She asked Ziyun to taste it too. "Pick some and send them to the main house for mother to taste."
She paused for a moment and then said, "Yilang and father are in the study. Send another portion to them."
Ziyun agreed and went to do it.
Qi Jiao explained to Guo Lingyi how to make and eat milk fans. "... You can eat them raw, dry, deep - fried, or grilled. They're good dishes to go with wine, and they can also be used in cooking with ham and other ingredients. You can also chop them up and make sweet tea to drink."
Guo Lingyi had unconsciously torn and eaten two milk fans. At this time, her eyes looking at Qi Jiao were full of regret. "I really should have kept you. I didn't realize you had such good cooking skills until now."
Qi Jiao couldn't stop laughing. "If the young lady likes them, I'll go to the kitchen and cook some dishes for you. If you want to eat them in the future, just come back often. I'll definitely come into the city to cook for you."
Only then did Guo Lingyi regain her joy. She nodded and let Qi Jiao go to the kitchen.