"What's wrong? What did the superior say to you again?" Jin Yue picked up a piece of braised pork from the pot, blew on it a few times, and put it in her mouth.
Zhang Meng held a ladle, stirring the almost-ready braised pork, and replied: "The superior said seeing me makes her unhappy."
Jin Yue chewed on the braised pork, speaking indistinctly: "I don't know what's wrong with the superior. Weren't you two closest before? She used to save all the good food for you, we were all so jealous of you. But now, I feel you're too pitiful."
Zhang Meng sighed.
Jin Yue suddenly remembered something and looked scared: "It couldn't be that the superior is jealous of your big breasts, could it?"
"Cough cough..." Zhang Meng was so startled she choked on her saliva, "W-w-what nonsense are you talking about?"
"It's not nonsense. Three months ago, didn't she walk in on you bathing? After that, she avoided you for a few days. It seems it was around that time she started being cold towards you."
Although Zhang Meng didn't believe that the highly respected superior would be jealous of her breasts, to be on the safe side, she decided to bind her chest as much as possible in the future.
After all, her breasts were indeed large, and every time she went out on patrol, there would always be a few bold men secretly staring at her chest.
At dawn, Zhang Meng had finished preparing breakfast. All along, it had been her job to call the superior for breakfast. Even after the superior started disliking her, she hadn't let anyone else take over this task.
However, now that the superior had clearly stated that seeing Zhang Meng made her unhappy, Zhang Meng asked Jin Yue to call her instead.
Zhang Meng didn't eat with everyone else. She just took a few steamed buns and went out on patrol.
It was still early, and the streets weren't very busy. Zhang Meng patrolled several streets and found nothing unusual.
Soon, it was broad daylight, and the second batch of patrol officers came out. It was time for Zhang Meng to end her shift, but instead of rushing back to the government office, she went to the west side of the city.
She would return to the mountain every few days, hoping to encounter Yang Qing.
The bamboo house on the mountain was still empty as usual. Zhang Meng was a bit disappointed. She cleaned up a bit and then went down the mountain.
Zhang Meng rested for a while at the long pavilion at the foot of the mountain. Suddenly, she noticed a jade green pendant under the stone bench.
She picked it up and saw that the back of the pendant was carved with a small character "茶" (tea).
Zhang Meng remembered the scene of a man called Xu Lu Cha bidding a reluctant farewell to a woman that day, and realized this must be Young Master Xu's pendant.
Xu Residence.
Water flowed gently, red flowers carpeted the ground, and on a swing entwined with green vines sat a tall man. His light green clothes fluttered in the wind, and his black hair traced beautiful patterns.
Xu Lu Cha's slender fingers gently twirled the smooth black hair hanging over his chest, his thick eyelashes trembling slightly.
"Zi Yi, is that Qian woman still in the mansion?"
Zi Yi was carrying a small basket, picking flower petals. Hearing this, he replied: "Miss Qian still refuses to leave. She's still pestering the master, wanting to propose marriage."
Xu Lu Cha sneered: "She's really a toad lusting after swan's flesh."
His snow-white feet touched the ground as he stood up from the swing.
"Zi Yi, go leak some news to Miss Qin. Tell her I'm being pestered relentlessly by that Qian woman. Make it sound serious."
Zi Yi nodded: "Yes, young master."
Zhang Meng arrived at the Xu residence and was about to call out to the gate guard when she saw a handsome young man in purple clothes walking out from inside.
Zhang Meng recognized him as Young Master Xu's servant and quickly called out to stop him.
"Hello, you're called Zi Yi, right? This should be your young master's pendant. Please help me return it to him." Zhang Meng smiled, handing the pendant in her hand to him.
Zhang Meng was quite good-looking to begin with, and her smile was bright and warm. The handsome servant's cheeks turned slightly red as he lowered his head and thanked her: "Thank you, miss. Zi Yi will pass it to the young master."
Although the sun in the sky had already started to set in the west, it was still scorching hot. Zhang Meng left the Xu residence, bought some vegetables at the market, and then pushed the vegetable cart back to the government office.
Jin Yue had been waiting for her early at the gate of the government office. As soon as she saw her return, she hurried to help push the cart back to the kitchen.
"Why are you back so late today? Did you go to the west side of the city again?"
Zhang Meng nodded: "Later, help me wash the vegetables. I came back a bit late, I'm afraid I won't be able to prepare dinner in time."
Zhang Meng was cooking when suddenly she heard a commotion outside. Jin Yue burst in excitedly.
"Zhang Meng, let me tell you, someone has come to beat the drum and cry for justice! There's a good show to watch!"
Zhang Meng's hand holding the rice spoon paused, and she turned around: "Crying for what justice?"
"The Qian family and the Qin family are at each other's throats! Miss Qian and Miss Qin got into a fight, and they're both quite badly hurt. Their mothers have come to ask the superior for justice."
Hearing this, Zhang Meng wanted nothing more than to throw down the rice spoon in her hand and run out to watch the excitement.
The reason she didn't resign despite being so exploited by Zhong Huo was that she was particularly addicted to investigating and judging cases.
"Wait!" Jin Yue hurriedly stopped Zhang Meng's eager footsteps, "You stay here and cook obediently, don't give the superior a reason to scold you. I'll go gather information."
After saying this, Jin Yue ran out.
Zhang Meng could only continue cooking honestly.
Two hours later, Zhang Meng and several other kitchen ladies, including Zhang Niang, had finished preparing all the dishes, set up the tables and chairs, bowls and chopsticks, and placed all the dishes on the tables.
Making sure she had completed everything, Zhang Meng hurriedly rushed to the court.
However, disappointingly, the trial had already ended.
In the vast court, only Zhong Huo sat on the bench, massaging her temples with a very headache-stricken expression.
Seeing the superior, Zhang Meng's face involuntarily stiffened for a moment, and she quickly retreated, preparing to escape.
However, her movements were not light enough, and Zhong Huo spotted her at a glance.
☆,