My whole family sucked my blood; after being reborn, the little cook went on a killing spree.

Xu Lingxi was about to go and ask for clarification when Su Wanning stopped her.

If you do something sneaky, you'll never admit it unless you catch them red-handed; they'll just accuse you of slander.

It would be better to report this to the patriarch. Feng Shi, a mere steward, wouldn't dare to be so bold without someone backing him up. For Xu Lingxi, this is a hot potato, but for the patriarch, it's a good opportunity to purge the Li family.

So, Xu Lingxi went back to the manor to find the ancestor, while Su Wanning went back to the shop to start researching several new dishes.

There are only four days left until the birthday banquet.

She had to arrive at the estate two days in advance, but this time she didn't plan to bring Su Tang with her. Instead, she would pay the price of two tables of food to have Old Zhao stay there and take care of Su Tang.

This wasn't a visit for fun; even if the host welcomed her, she couldn't bring a half-grown child along.

In addition, we also need to arrange the medicinal meals for Mu Xun and Meng Lingshu.

So busy was she that she couldn't think of anything else. A child ran up to her to tell her about Lin Jiabao's latest whereabouts.

Lin Jiabao actually took the initiative to go and return the money to Xiong Qi!

Where did he get such a large sum of money?

In any case, it must have come from an illegitimate source.

Putting him out of her mind for the time being, Su Wan Ning spent two days studying the cream cake that Xu Ling Xi had mentioned.

The main body is a soft and fluffy steamed cake, filled with various fresh fruits and jams, which are relatively easy to make. The most difficult part is the 'cream'.

Su Wanning thought that cream and ghee-fried abalone were very similar.

Whip fresh milk, add honey, roll parchment paper into a tube, trim the tip, and squeeze it out to create different shapes.

Pure white in color, like snow or frost, squeezed into a spiral shape.

Hence the name "Grewed Abalone".

Su Wan Ning then used sappanwood slices to boil out a date-red juice. This juice has a very light flavor and is a commonly used coloring agent for making desserts. After filtering, it is mixed with ghee and abalone to make pink cream.

There's also yellow cream with pumpkin juice, green cream with mugwort water, and dark cream with black bean water.

Having confirmed that this method was feasible, Su Wan Ning boiled more coloring juice, turning it into a thick paste, and stored it in small jars so that it could be used directly when she arrived at the estate. She also prepared the jam in advance.

Su Wanning tried making a cream cake.

It's only the size of a palm, and its structure is built up layer by layer as Xu Lingxi described.

First, the cake base is layered, then a small amount of cream is spread on top, followed by a layer of plum jam. Then, the cake base, cream, and apricot jam are added. Finally, a thin layer of cake base is placed on top and smoothed with light yellow cream. Half of the cake is sprinkled with pink peach pulp, and the other half is decorated with small characters.

May the pine and crane symbolize longevity.

"So ugly."

Su Wan Ning laughed as she watched, cut off a small piece to taste, and gave the rest to Su Tang.

Su Tang was reluctant to eat it. "It looks so beautiful! So much milk, sugar, and fruit were used. This piece must cost several taels of silver! One bite and hundreds of coins are gone!"

"Eat."

Su Wan Ning looked at her with doting eyes, "Eat as much as you want."

The child's injuries have almost healed, but she said she couldn't remember which prefecture or county her home was in, clearly indicating that she didn't want to go back.

Su Wan Ning didn't force her. Every time she saw Su Tang, it was like seeing herself in her past life. It was just a child; she could still afford to raise him.

When the household registration is established, Su Tang will be added directly to her household registration.

Just as they were pondering this, the two suddenly heard a noise in the backyard.

Su Wanning pulled Su Tang behind her and grabbed a rolling pin with her other hand. "You wait inside, I'll go check on things."

"it is good."

Su Tang responded softly.

However, he didn't look too nervous; instead, he displayed a composure beyond that of an ordinary child.

There was another sound in the courtyard, like a very soft inhale.

Su Wan Ning didn't rush out. She peeked through the crack in the door and saw a dark figure hanging against the wall, neither up nor down, flailing its arms and legs in a panic.

Judging from his appearance, he doesn't seem to know martial arts.

Feeling a little more at ease, she suddenly pushed open the door and rushed in to start hitting him, yelling, "Where did this little thief come from! Doing these petty thefts, I'll teach you a lesson today!"

The dark figure hurriedly covered its face with its hands, trying to climb up again, but was hit several more times.

But with the moonlight clear, Su Wan Ning could see who it was. She gripped him even tighter and shouted for Su Tang to hurry to the yamen and call the yamen messenger to catch the thief!

"good!"

Su Tang flung open the back door with a whoosh. Some neighbors, having heard the commotion, ran out to check. "Is there a thief? Is Madam Su alright?"

For the past few days, Su Wanning has been giving out mung bean soup for free every night. The earlier you arrive, the more you get, and the neighbors are the biggest beneficiaries.

Therefore, they are particularly enthusiastic at this time.

"I'm fine. It was the thief who was climbing over the wall in the middle of the night and tripped and fell!"

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Su Wanning kicked the man a few times and dragged him by the hair toward the door.

The man, who had been covering his face, couldn't help but scream when he pulled his hair.

"Ouch! Let go!"

Seeing that it was just one person, the neighbor wasn't afraid anymore. Then, hearing the voice, he said with disdain and sarcasm, "An old woman, she really has no shame!"

The shadowy figure finally couldn't hold back any longer, struggling to break free and revealing its face. "If you keep talking nonsense, I'll report you to the authorities for defamation!"

"aunt?"

Su Wan Ning couldn't pretend not to know her anymore, so she put on a very shocked expression and asked, "What are you doing climbing over my wall so late at night?"

After saying that, she pulled Su Tang back, "Oh dear, it's a good thing you didn't go to the yamen, otherwise your aunt would have suffered."

"You still know I'm your aunt! How could you be so cruel!"

Li felt a throbbing pain in her scalp, her eyes filled with a mixture of jealousy and resentment.

Although Jiabao managed to pay off the debts, those fields, clothes, and jewelry were gone forever! All of this was because of that despicable woman in front of him!

How come she wasn't killed by Chief Escort Zhao?!

Thinking of this, Li was startled. She couldn't kill her; she had important business to attend to today.

Li's expression changed drastically as she started crying, "You brat, you haven't come home for days! Do you know how worried your uncle and I were?"

"So you came today because you're worried about me?"

Su Wan Ning looked puzzled. "Then why didn't you come in through the main gate?"

"I...I..."

Li choked.

The neighbors scoffed, "Yeah, what decent person doesn't use the front door? Don't be fooled, Madam Su. If they really cared about you, why didn't they come when the shop was being repaired a few days ago? They were nowhere to be seen while they were working. Now that the shop's finished, they're here. I bet they're not concerned about you at all; they're after your stuff!"

"If you keep spouting nonsense, I'll tear your mouth apart!"

Li was furious when her thoughts were exposed. She had no idea that Su Wan Ning had opened a shop a few days ago!

She thought that bitch had gone to Miss Xu's place, but who knew that she would do such a big thing after only a few days. "Wan Ning, we are family. I just thought it was too late and I didn't want to bother you."

"So you used a VPN?"

Su Wan Ning's eyes were still full of doubt.

The neighbor's eyes showed complete disbelief in this nonsense.

Li gritted her teeth, "I didn't climb over the wall, I just wanted to take a look, who would have thought I'd fall!"

She clutched her leg, "Ouch, I'm sure I've broken my leg. Hurry up and help your aunt inside to check on her injury. We can have a heart-to-heart talk."