Nanny Wang still looked a bit guilty at first, but the moment Qin Rong mentioned going to the magistrate, she immediately straightened her back, pounded her chest, and said loudly, “Go ahead and report it! I dare you! I happen to be the magistrate’s wet nurse!”

Out of the corner of her eye, Qin Rong noticed the magistrate’s wife frowning even more deeply, her dissatisfaction evident.

Qin Rong understood the situation and smiled. “Even the emperor must be punished for breaking the law, just like a commoner. You may be the magistrate’s wet nurse, but spreading rumors and stirring trouble is still a crime. Magistrate Wang has always been a good official. Tarnishing his reputation like this is truly senseless. I don’t think I’m the one you’re really targeting.”

Nanny Wang had never read any books and was not very bright, so she couldn’t understand the deeper meaning in Qin Rong’s words.

She sneered, “You’re just a troublemaker!”

At that, the magistrate’s wife could no longer stay silent and snapped, “Enough!”

Nanny Wang was shocked that her lady would embarrass her like this. “Madam, she’s a troublemaker. Don’t listen to her nonsense! I was your husband’s wet nurse, I’d never do anything to harm your family.”

The magistrate’s wife remained stern. “Granny Wang, I’ve always treated you with respect out of gratitude for you nursing my husband. But that doesn’t give you the right to behave like this. You were paid for that role, and some things require self-reflection—have you grown too greedy? Are you trying to take more than you deserve?”

“Madam, you’ve misunderstood me! Everything I do is for the Wang family! Back in the day—” Nanny Wang, who had managed affairs in the Wang household for decades, couldn’t bear being humiliated by a stepwife in public.

Naturally, she began to act out.

“Shut your mouth! What, do you want me to slap you in public to make you stop bringing up how you nursed my husband? If you keep causing trouble, don’t blame me for being rude,” the magistrate’s wife cut her off coldly.

Granny Wang finally quieted down and dared not say another word.

Only then did the magistrate’s wife turn to Qin Rong with a slight smile and say, “My son Shige is quite picky and rarely eats outside. Could I have a portion of your food too? Before I got married, I also loved eating street snacks.”

As she spoke, she signaled to her maid Ziju to hand over the silver that hadn’t been paid yet.

Qin Rong took the silver with a smile. “Of course, I’ll prepare it right away.”

Qin Rong moved swiftly and gracefully.

The magistrate’s wife watched her with rapt attention as she spread out the spring roll wrappers, cracked eggs, brushed sauce, and pressed the fried dough sticks.

Before long, the smell made her stomach rumble.

Young Master Shige also stared without blinking, then quietly swallowed his saliva.

That scallion pancake earlier had been so delicious…

Sensing something, the magistrate’s wife smiled and said, “Miss, make another scallion pancake too.”

Qin Rong looked up slightly and nodded with a smile.

It was the magistrate’s wife’s first time eating scallion pancake, and she was delighted by the flavor.

She glanced at Shige and smiled. “Shige, since we’ve shared this pancake, do you think you could tell Mother why you ran away from home?”

Shige’s smile vanished. He quietly put down his pancake and turned his head away.

The magistrate’s wife sighed inwardly.

Shige wasn’t her biological child; he was the son of her husband’s first wife, who had died shortly after giving birth due to poor health.

Not long after she married into the Wang family, her husband brought Shige home.

Unfortunately, her mother-in-law didn’t trust her and soon assigned Granny Wang to raise the child instead.

As time passed, Shige grew more and more withdrawn.

Qin Rong thought for a moment, then served two bowls of snow pear and white fungus soup. “What a coincidence—these are the last two bowls. Please try it, see if you like it.”

The magistrate’s wife sipped the soup with graceful elegance.

Surprisingly, Shige mimicked her movements exactly.

He took a spoonful of soup, and his mind filled with joy.

Even his ears perked up—so delicious!

The magistrate’s wife had the same expression, which made Qin Rong chuckle.

The magistrate’s wife looked at her and asked, “Young lady, what are you laughing at?”

Qin Rong smiled. “Perhaps it’s subtle influence—you and your son have the exact same expression. No wonder you’re his mother!”

The magistrate’s wife laughed. “Naturally. Shige is my first child. When I first married into the family, I didn’t know a thing. My husband was always busy with county affairs, and it was Shige who kept me company and gave me comfort.”

Though Shige was holding his bowl of soup, his ears turned red.

“Young lady, your snow pear and white fungus soup is truly delicious. Very different from what I’ve had before,” the magistrate’s wife said, her expression relaxing.

Shige’s ears perked up again.

He wanted to know—why was this soup so much better than others?

Qin Rong replied with a smile, “The ingredients I use are nothing special, and the taste should be about the same. Perhaps it’s because I didn’t add anything unnecessary and preserved the food’s original flavor. Of course, the key to this soup is the timing. Start with high heat, then let it cool and simmer it again. That brings out a richer taste—but it does take a bit more effort.”

The magistrate’s wife was momentarily taken aback. Being a smart woman, she understood that Qin Rong was speaking metaphorically. What a clever girl.

Her gaze became even more appreciative. “Miss, what is your name?”

“I’m Qin Rong.”

“Then I’ll call you Sister Rong, is that all right?” the magistrate’s wife said with a smile.

Qin Rong didn’t dare object and nodded.

The magistrate’s wife smiled warmly. “The food you make is truly delicious. I’ll bring Shige to visit often from now on.”

As she spoke, she took Shige’s hand and asked gently, “Would you like that?”

Shige’s ears instantly turned red.

He lowered his head and softly said, “Mother, I’d like that.”

The magistrate’s wife happily patted his head.

Just then, Shige bit his lip and whispered, “Mother… I thought now that you have new babies, you wouldn’t want me anymore…”

At last, the magistrate’s wife understood what had caused the misunderstanding.

Of course—a child like Shige wouldn’t understand these things.

It must have been Nanny Wang’s doing.

She gave the old woman a sharp glare, then smiled and held Shige’s hand.

“Shige, I told you, you’re my first child. How could I ever not want you? On the contrary, even if I have more children later, you’ll always be my most beloved. You’ll be their role model. So don’t run off on your own again. I’d be so worried. What if someone kidnapped you? I’d never forgive myself.”

Shige realized his mistake and lowered his head in shame.

The magistrate’s wife was overjoyed to have finally opened her heart to Shige.

As she was leaving, she took off the jade bracelet on her wrist. “Sister Rong, I really like you, and I must thank you today. Please accept this bracelet.”

Qin Rong tried to decline, but the magistrate’s wife stopped her. “Sister Rong, this is not a reward.”

Seeing the warmth in her eyes, Qin Rong accepted the bracelet with thanks.