The smoke was so thick that the villagers mistook it for the Yun family's house catching fire, and they rushed over to help.
"Alas, it hasn't rained these past few days, and the firewood stacks at home are very dry. A fire is unavoidable!"
"Yes, the old Yun family has many people. If anyone smokes carelessly, a single ember can set the house ablaze..."
"Then what are you waiting for? Hurry home, grab your water buckets, and help put out the fire!"
"..."
The villagers chattered, some carrying water buckets, others with shoulder poles, and some with wooden clubs, swarming into the Yun family courtyard.
But upon entering, they discovered that the Yun family was actually making barbecue.
A young girl was seen sitting in front of the grill, fanning it desperately. Perhaps the charcoal quality was poor, or the heat wasn't controlled well, causing the lamb skewers on the rack to emit thick smoke.
Some of the meat skewers were already burnt to a crisp.
Old Man Yun stomped his feet in anger, "Oh my, girl, if you don't know how to grill, just say so! Why are you wasting the lamb? Move aside, move aside, meat isn't grilled like this!"
With that, Old Man Yun lifted Zhao Xiaojie and began to salvage the lamb skewers.
Seeing this, Xiao Xinling glared at Zhao Xiaojie, "I thought you were a barbecue expert, but I didn't expect you to be so useless. You've disappointed me greatly, hmph!"
Zhao Xiaojie: "..."
I just wanted to impress the masters, who knew I'd burn the meat.
Little Xi Tian waved her small hands, driving away the thick smoke in front of her. Her little face was almost blackened by the smoke.
She felt that Sister Xiaojie still had potential. At least she dared to think and act, which was better than those lazy, greedy, and gluttonous people.
The barbecue ended in a mess, and the lamb in the cellar was also ruined. Helplessly, Madam Gu had to cook herself, steaming two curtains of sweet triangular buns and simmering a large pot of radish soup.
Zhao Xiaojie followed Madam Gu like a shadow, asking questions, "Auntie, do I put in the scallions first or the salt? And, the oil in the pot is so hot, won't pouring water on it cause an explosion?"
Madam Gu: "..."
This girl is a bit slow.
"Just watch how I do it. If you can't learn, find a notebook and write it down. Practice makes perfect, and you'll get it slowly!" Madam Gu said calmly.
She was truly afraid that this girl would set the kitchen on fire, which would be troublesome if everything was reduced to ashes.
Zhao Xiaojie's eyes lit up upon hearing this, "Wow, Auntie is so experienced! Okay, I'll go find a notebook now!"
"Let's eat first!" Madam Gu sighed.
Scholar Jiang stood by the window, glancing towards the kitchen, and said in surprise, "Laifu, the old Yun family is considered a respectable family. Why did they hire such an incompetent maid?"
Laifu stood by the dining table, serving Scholar Jiang a bowl of radish soup and placing various pickled vegetables on the table. "Your Excellency Scholar Jiang, you may not know, but this maid was hired by His Highness Prince Ming, no, by Young Master Xiao. The old Yun family didn't want to offend Young Master Xiao, so they kept the girl..."
Alas, sometimes being too concerned with appearances isn't a good thing.
"Hmph, that maid is clumsy, rude, and uncivilized. She really should learn some etiquette!" Scholar Jiang snorted coldly.
Laifu: "..."
Sir, is your occupational disease acting up again? Why do you always want to teach people manners when you see someone uncouth?
The next morning, Zhao Xiaojie woke up early and was busy in the kitchen. By the time the Yun family members got up one by one, her breakfast was ready.
"Auntie, look, how are these steamed buns? I also simmered a pot of potato soup!"
Zhao Xiaojie was extremely happy and dragged Madam Gu into the kitchen, babbling incessantly.
Madam Gu glanced at the steamed buns and almost fainted. A curtain of steamed buns had bloomed and deformed, looking very unappetizing, and likely difficult to swallow.
Madam Gu then tasted the potato soup. It was incredibly salty, so salty that she doubted her life.
"How is it, Auntie? The taste, the taste is okay?" Zhao Xiaojie asked expectantly.
Madam Gu put down the spoon and glanced at her, "Xiaojie, what did you do before?"
If she were a farm girl, by her age, she would have come of age, or even been married, how could she not know how to cook?
Zhao Xiaojie lowered her head and fiddled with her fingers, "I... I used to herd cattle on the grassland!"
Madam Gu: "..."
She didn't know what to say.
Yesterday was the imperial examination, and the results would only be released three days later. Yun Jinshan was bored at the academy and returned to the village to visit his little aunt.
"Second nephew, how was the exam?" Little Xi Tian sat on the hillside, a lollipop in her mouth.
Yun Jinshan scratched his head, "It was... just like that. Anyway, I was the last one to leave the examination hall. I checked the papers six or seven times, so... so there shouldn't be any problems!"
Whether it was good or bad, no one could say for sure. Even Yun Jinshan himself didn't know how he did, so he was very uncertain.
Upon hearing this, Little Xi Tian opened her small satchel and handed Yun Jinshan a lollipop. "My parents said that if second nephew doesn't pass the scholar exam, they'll let you continue studying at the academy. As long as you study diligently, you'll pass one day..."
Yun Jinshan felt very guilty upon hearing this.
If he were as outstanding in character and studies as his elder brother, and as intelligent and motivated, his grandfather and grandmother wouldn't have to worry and get upset.
"Little... Little Aunt!" Yun Jinshan touched the lollipop in his hand and lowered his head, "Can I help you raise cattle?"
Little Xi Tian: "???"
What was that? Help her raise cattle?
Her dozen or so cows were usually taken care of by Uncle Sun and second brother, and they were very healthy. Why would she need Jinshan to come and help her toil?
"Little Aunt, what I mean is, let every household in the village help us raise cattle. After they've grown, we'll buy them back and sell them to people in other villages. I'll be responsible for distributing the calves to each household and contacting sales channels. This way, the villagers can also earn money, and I'll have something to do..." Yun Jinshan said with a smile.
Little Xi Tian listened, staring at Yun Jinshan, somewhat incredulously.
Second nephew's idea was indeed very good. Establishing a cattle-raising cooperative would help the villagers of Dashui Village get out of poverty and become prosperous, and she could also earn a lot of money.
"Second nephew, your idea is very forward-thinking!" Little Xi Tian patted Yun Jinshan's shoulder, her eyes full of admiration.
Yun Jinshan chuckled foolishly, "Little Aunt, I'm just talking nonsense. You, you shouldn't take it seriously!"
Actually, this idea just popped into his head. Whether it would work or not depended on Little Aunt's opinion.
"No, no, no, it's a great idea!"
Little Xi Tian agreed wholeheartedly but still had a hint of concern, "But, but I'm afraid Father and Mother won't agree!"
"Why?" Yun Jinshan asked in surprise.