Shi Yulin was extremely disappointed, her little mouth pouting as she whimpered, almost breaking into tears. Shi Yuzhen quickly pulled her aside and gently coaxed her in a low voice.
"Madam, this servant is useless!" Mrs. Gui finally found an outlet for the frustration that had been building inside her, and, with hyperbolic emotion, she said: "When this servant arrived at the kitchen, nearly everyone had already left, with only two sisters-in-law still tidying up. They were in a hurry to go home, claiming that they had already delivered the evening meal, and refused to cook again, no matter what. Thinking about it, this servant realized it's difficult for them too—who wouldn't want to rush home to rest in such cold weather? So I didn't persist and went straight to Ningyuan's young master and his wife. Ningyuan has its own small kitchen, and I was sure his wife would not refuse to help with such a small favor!"
