Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 74 - 73: Giant Pork Buns

Chapter 74: Chapter 73: Giant Pork Buns
After finishing the work, Ding Wu immediately went to to the housekeeper about Qin Yao’s achievements today and confirmed the benefits he promised her.
The housekeeper looked at Ding Wu suspiciously several times before daring to believe he was telling the truth.
"Sixteen logs a day?"
Ding Wu nodded firmly, "Absolutely true."
"Even more impressive than Big Beard?"
Ding Wu: "Much more impressive than Big Beard!"
Big Beard gave it his all today and only managed to chop six logs, untrimmed ones at that, just a fraction of what Miss Qin managed.
The housekeeper took a deep breath and instructed Ding Wu to inform the cook in the kitchen to make sure to prepare plenty of freshly steamed meat buns for Qin Yao in the morning!
Ding Wu responded loudly, "Alright, I’m on it!"
The housekeeper stood in place for a while to digest the news, organized his thoughts, and headed toward the study in the backyard.
Mr. Ding, dressed in a long-sleeved scholar’s robe, was guiding his son and daughter in copying calligraphy. The housekeeper instructed a servant to announce his arrival and waited outside the door.
Before long, to avoid disturbing his children, Mr. Ding came out, sat at a stone table in the yard, and asked the housekeeper what was the matter.
The housekeeper relayed what Ding Wu had told him and mentioned that the kitchen needed to prepare more food for Qin Yao.
Mrs. Ding had passed away two years ago, and the young lady was still too young, so Mr. Scholar managed all the household affairs himself.
Although the housekeeper had already given instructions to the kitchen to prepare more meals, he thought it best to inform Mr. Ding.
Mr. Scholar, a scholar of the previous dynasty, found his status recognized by the new dynasty, which continued the previous system of imperial examinations while implementing more humane reforms.
As the New Dynasty was in a period of recovery, the Holy Emperor and Empress decided to hold an additional examination each year, providing a great opportunity.
At such a promising time, Mr. Scholar wanted to try again himself, and also wanted his newly fourteen-year-old son Ding Shi to seize the opportunity and gain experience by taking multiple exams.
Ding Shi had just passed the county exam this year, qualifying for the imperial exam, which would take place in May at the Prefecture.
Calculating the time, in half a month, they must set off.
As for himself, he planned to first take his son to the prefecture exam in May, and then proceed to the Capital City for the imperial examination.
Regardless of his plans to go to the Capital later, he definitely wanted to accompany his son for his first imperial exam.
During this period, with no mistress to oversee the household and only leaving his twelve-year-old daughter at home, he couldn’t be at ease.
Moreover, the bandit problem in Kaiyang County wasn’t resolved, and even though there were members of the Ding Clan there, it was still worrisome.
However, at the beginning of this year, one of the bandit leaders had been shot dead by a brave, unnamed warrior, so the bandits should have become more restrained now.
Thinking of these matters, Mr. Scholar was worried but did not show it in front of his children.
The housekeeper, being an old hand in the mansion, knew well of Mr. Scholar’s concerns.
He deliberately brought up Qin Yao’s affair, suggesting, "Sir, how about keeping Miss Qin as the young lady’s personal guard after the logging is done?"
At this moment, he suddenly thought it was fortunate that Qin Yao was a woman.
If she were a man, he wouldn’t dare to let him stay by the young lady’s side.
Mr. Scholar wasn’t surprised by the housekeeper’s recommendation because he was already considering this matter.
"Once Shi’er and I set off, we won’t be back until after the prefecture exam’s results, at least a month, she may not be willing to stay."
The housekeeper said, "What’s difficult about that? Just give her more Silver Coin; wouldn’t a peasant woman be keen?"
"This is to be our lady’s personal guard, the daughter of a scholar’s family. Such a good opportunity can’t be begged for; given to her, she’ll surely be overjoyed."
Mr. Scholar raised his hand to signal the housekeeper to stop, his expression turned serious, "Old Yu, this Miss Qin is no ordinary person, the methods you mentioned may work for ordinary people; for her? Not at all."
The housekeeper was a bit surprised, was she something special?
Realizing his earlier words didn’t hit the mark with Mr. Scholar, he tentatively asked, "I hope you’ll guide me, Sir."
Images of meeting Qin Yao the previous day flickered in Mr. Scholar’s mind.
"Old Yu, have you ever seen fear, flattery, or ingratiation in her eyes?"
Without waiting for the housekeeper’s response, he continued, "She didn’t even regard me, this old man."
"A person like that couldn’t come from Liu Family Village. I heard she fled here from elsewhere when her family was destroyed — surely not a simple person before disaster struck either."
"Such peculiar people often have their quirks. Talking money with her would seem vulgar, surely offending her."
The housekeeper also felt troubled, "If money doesn’t work and she’s not intimidated by your authority, what can we do?"
Mr. Scholar looked up at the sky, "Let’s try talking money first."
The housekeeper: "..." It’s hard to judge!
The next day.
Qin Yao arrived at Ding Mansion to clock in on time.
The cook, smiling kindly, waved her over, pointing to the side room.
Inside, on a low table, two steaming baskets emitted a tempting aroma.
Qin Yao pointed to herself, and the cook nodded with a smile, "Go in and eat, eight large meat buns, they’ll taste bad once cold."
Even she felt a little envious saying it.
Clearly, Ding Wu said four large meat buns would suffice yesterday, but this morning, the housekeeper came by again, instructing her to make four more in case Miss Qin didn’t have enough to eat.
Not enough to eat?
Eight large buns could fill four people, let alone one person feeling not full!
The cook complained in her heart but followed orders to make two baskets of meat buns.
When Qin Yao lifted the lid, the sight of four plump, large meat buns filled her eyes with joyful radiance, almost making her exclaim like Si Niang.
Large meat buns, her first time seeing them since crossing through!
Taking a big bite, the fragrance exploded on her tongue, and she was enveloped in happiness, so profoundly moving it almost brought tears.
After eating three, Qin Yao suddenly remembered something.
Picking up the remaining one, she turned to hand it to Shunzi, who was drooling at the door with a bowl of millet porridge.
"Sister-in-law, is this for me?" Shunzi asked delightedly.
Qin Yao nodded, and only then did Shunzi happily accept it, grinning, "Following Brother San I never even had white bread, but just two days with Sister-in-law, and I’m eating meat buns."
The implication being, Qin Yao was more capable than Liu Ji.
Qin Yao raised an eyebrow, "Eat up, then work hard today, there’ll be more meat buns tomorrow."
The cook twitched at the corner of her mouth, these meat buns weren’t always available, she must have misunderstood something.
But the housekeeper gave a meaningful look: Let that misunderstanding continue!
The cook nodded her understanding and asked Qin Yao if she planned to take the remaining basket away.
Qin Yao intended to, and asked the cook to keep it for her to take home after work so her family could try them.
The cook glanced at the twitch on the housekeeper’s face, acknowledged with an "oh," and agreed to keep it for her.
In the evening, Qin Yao brought the meat buns home, delighting Da Lang and his siblings beyond measure.
"Such big meat buns!" Sanlang said, gesturing with his little hands, as large as two of his fists.
Si Niang stood on tiptoe to peer at the stove, swallowing, "Smells delicious~"
Second Lang, anxious, paced back and forth, "Dad, is it hot yet?"
Da Lang restrained his gaze from the pot, walking to Qin Yao, who was washing her face nearby.
"Auntie, today dad tilled the vegetable plot and cleared three portions of wasteland behind the house to plant more vegetables."
So can he get a portion of the bun? Da Lang looked at her expectantly.
Qin Yao ruffled the young boy’s hair and instructed the kitchen, "Divide four meat buns into six portions, one each."
Liu Ji was ecstatic, "Don’t worry, my lady, I assure even sharing!"
Da Lang, with reddened ears, tidied his ruffled hair and ran into the kitchen.
Looking back to see Qin Yao following, his large eyes glittered like stars in the night sky.