Xiao Qi Niang was a little different today. She wore a honey-colored cross-collar jacket embroidered with a full pattern of entwined vines, and a yellow-ochre horse-face skirt. She looked much more spirited than usual. As soon as Li Man'er entered the room, she noticed the iris hairpin Xiao Qi Niang wore on her head. The craftsmanship was exquisite and it looked very valuable.
It was strange, she had dressed up so suddenly, even put on makeup. Most importantly, she had specially invited her over for a meal, with a hint of showing off. It was a bit peculiar.
"Miss Li, you've kept me waiting. Please sit down quickly."
Li Man'er took off her cloak and handed it to Liu Ya. She looked at the food laid out before her and then at the resplendent Xiao Qi Niang, completely bewildered and unable to understand.
"Are you not busy today, Miss Xiao? How do you have time to invite me to eat, and for... breakfast?"
Xiao Qi Niang didn't answer but made a gesture to invite Li Man'er to sit opposite her.
Li Man'er didn't stand on ceremony and sat down directly. She boldly sized up the dishes on the table and said sarcastically, "Miss Xiao Qi, is this what you call the poverty of Mobei? I eat coarse grains every day in the small courtyard, while Miss Xiao Qi is accompanied by delicacies every day. Isn't that too unkind?"
"Miss Li, you are slandering me. The food I eat daily is no different from yours."
Li Man'er was deeply engrossed in her role and snorted heavily, "Who knows if that's true or not."
"Whether it's true or not doesn't matter, as you can't go around verifying it anyway. Instead of wasting your energy on petty squabbles, why not try these dishes?"
Li Man'er said, "That's true." She picked up her chopsticks, took a slice of fish sashimi as thin as cicada's wings, and dipped it in the sauce beside it to taste.
"How is it?"
"Miss Xiao Qi is truly generous. To be able to eat such delicious fish sashimi in a place like Mobei is truly remarkable." Li Man'er pointed at the sauce and then said, "This is a condiment from Pu He Ju in the capital. You actually managed to get it here."
Xiao Qi Niang smiled proudly. "Miss Li, try this stir-fried ham with pickled bamboo shoots."
The ham looked excellent, its color glossy and rosy, with clear textures and distinct muscle fibers. The aroma of the ham was rich, and the pickled bamboo shoots were crisp and refreshing. The two complemented each other, comparable to the finest cuisine.
It would be even better with a glass of white wine.
"Delicious!" Li Man'er didn't spare her praise. "But to eat such things first thing in the morning is indeed a bit extravagant."
She deliberately gazed at Xiao Qi Niang with a bold look, examining her from head to toe. "Tsk tsk, your attire today, Miss Qi..."
"It doesn't look good?"
"It looks good," Li Man'er replied. "However, I've heard that men's and women's tastes are different."
Xiao Qi Niang frowned. "What do you mean by that?"
Li Man'er picked up another piece of sashimi, dipped it in the sauce, and put it in her mouth. After swallowing, she said, "For example, a charming young married woman might be seen as a beauty in a man's eyes, but women might find her too flirtatious and somewhat indecent."
Xiao Qi Niang seemed taken aback that Li Man'er would say such things to her. She froze. Her maid, Xing'er, was also very displeased, feeling that Li Man'er's words were implicitly referring to her mistress and calling her indecent.
Li Man'er guessed that Xiao Qi Niang was probably going to see her beloved. That's why she prepared the dishes and dressed up so grandly, all to win a smile from her beloved.
Uh, something doesn't seem right, but whatever.
"Miss Xiao Qi asked me to taste the dishes and asked me if your outfit looked good. Is there some distinguished guest coming?"
Xiao Qi Niang naturally wouldn't say much, and said faintly, "I heard that the Ning family is incredibly wealthy. Although Miss Li has been orphaned since childhood, the Ning family has doted on you and cherished you in every way. They give you the best to eat and use, surpassing even the young ladies of the capital's noble families."
Those words.
"Miss Qi, you are mistaken."
Xiao Qi Niang narrowed her eyes slightly. Did Li Man'er intend to deny it?
"I am from the Iron Gallant Marquis's mansion, the legitimate daughter of the Iron Gallant Marquis's mansion, and a young lady of the capital's noble families!" Li Man'er cast a triumphant glance at Xiao Qi Niang. "Miss Xiao Qi, you have been living in Mobei for a long time, so you probably don't understand the lineage of the capital's noble families. There's a lot of knowledge involved here. I'll tell you in detail when I have time."
Xiao Qi Niang felt a surge of resentment straight to the top of her head, wishing she could just go over and strangle the other woman. She had been well-read since childhood, started managing accounts at seven, and helped with household affairs. She was skilled in zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, needlework, and embroidery. Although she couldn't be considered a famously talented woman, she shouldn't be called ignorant by Li Man'er.
Xiao Qi Niang was considered a person of cultivation and forcibly swallowed her anger.
Xing'er, however, couldn't bear to see her mistress wronged. She immediately raised her head and said, "Your maid heard that the young lady has caused a lot of trouble in the capital and even chased after the young duke of the Duke of Rong's mansion. Miss Li doesn't even understand the basic decency and shame of a woman. What right does she have to criticize our young lady?"
Liu Ya stood nearby and immediately glared when she heard this. "What did you say?"
Xing'er, not to be outdone, glared back immediately.
Liu Ya could see that Xing'er knew martial arts, but she didn't take her clumsy moves seriously at all.
"What are you looking at? Be careful, or I'll gouge your eyes out."
"How dare you!?" Xing'er retorted, "What do you think this place is? This is the Xiao family, not your Iron Gallant Marquis's mansion." The implication was that in the Xiao family, dragons had to coil and tigers had to crouch.
The two maids had clearly fallen out and were on the verge of a physical fight, but strangely, their mistresses remained as if uninvolved, as if they were just spectators.
Xiao Qi Niang observed Li Man'er and saw that she was eating happily and didn't seem to care at all. She couldn't help but curse the blind people in the capital again. Li Man'er was clearly a person with great foresight, yet they called her a useless fool. Who was the real fool?
"Miss Li, my maid insulted you, and you're not angry?"
See, you can't hold back any longer. You're still too young.
Li Man'er put down her chopsticks and smiled cheerfully. "A person who is about to die, why should I bother with her?"
"What do you mean!" Xiao Qi Niang's eyes immediately widened. Li Man'er was too bold. Being in the Xiao family, like a prisoner, she dared to say such things.
Li Man'er looked at Xing'er and saw her look of disdain, as if she thought she was putting on an act. She then gave Xing'er a deep look.
Xing'er hadn't paid much attention at first. To show she wasn't afraid of Li Man'er, she even gave Li Man'er a provocative glance.
"If you want to live, come over and kowtow to me now, and I will forgive you. It's still not too late."
Xing'er couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this. "Miss, are you having a hallucination? What nonsense are you talking about?"
Liu Ya glared at Xiao Qi Niang. "Miss Qi, my young lady is, after all, the legitimate daughter of the Marquis's mansion. How can the servants be so arrogant? You are the hostess, shouldn't you manage them?"