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

The only person who would call her "uncle" is Su Wanning!

Once his identity was confirmed, Lin Mao was completely distraught. Su Wan Ning had already arrived, but there was still no news of Zhao the镖头 (bodyguard/escort). Something must have happened to him on the way!

Lin Mao was filled with trepidation, but he still put on an excited expression, as if he were seeing a relative for the first time. "Wan Ning! You've finally come to rescue Uncle! Quick, take Uncle home!"

"Uncle, look at my right hand..."

Su Wan Ning stopped, slowly raised her right arm, and her voice gradually choked with sobs, "I left the palace to return home, and the journey was fraught with hardship. I barely made it home alive, without taking a single moment's rest, and now I have to come and save you. How could someone as careful as you have caused such a disaster? I... I really..."

In just a few words, she expressed her exhaustion, helplessness, and disappointment in her uncle.

The onlookers all pointed and whispered about Lin Mao.

Lin Mao's face turned completely red.

However, he was no longer panicked. His hand was broken, but he was sure he had the silver notes. Li would bring the money to redeem him! Let that brat say whatever she wanted! When he got back, he had plenty of ways to deal with her!

Cui Niu was so eager to save lives that he didn't think there was anything wrong with bringing Su Niangzi along.

But now that she knew she had traveled a long way, Lin Lao Er and his wife were asking for her money and to save her life. This was a bit shameless. She immediately felt disgusted with the two of them and reconsidered her words before finally speaking.

"Madam Su, those hams are badly moldy and not easy to deal with. Don't be reckless just to save your uncle. He's in his prime and won't die easily even if he goes to the mine."

Lin Mao: "...!"

No, aren't we good brothers?

Feng Shi, the warehouse manager in charge, frowned upon hearing this. "I sent you to deliver a message, what are you doing bringing a young woman along?"

"Manager Feng, Madam Su comes from the Imperial Kitchen, so let's just try anything, even if it's a last resort."

The original phrase "well-informed" was changed; Cui Niu didn't want Su Wan Ning to take responsibility.

"Come, Madam Su, come with me quickly."

Feng Shi's eyes lit up, and he quickly led the way, saying, "All the moldy hams are here."

Lifting the curtain, a slice of ham was placed on the ground.

The white salt frost on the surface has melted, and grayish-white patches have appeared on the watermark. On the cut surface, you can see that the flesh under the skin has begun to turn gray and dark.

Su Wanning squatted down and pressed it a few times, making the putrid and sour smell even stronger.

This level of dampness indicates the ingredients have been exposed to moisture for at least two or three days. Logically, such valuable ingredients should be checked daily; even mold should be detected quickly, and emergency measures should be taken to prevent this situation.

Looking inside, there were indeed quite a few hams, all covered with varying shades of grayish-white mold.

However, the one that wasn't cut open is more serious.

"They're all the same stuff, my lady, don't go any further in, or you'll get some bad luck."

When the two servants saw that she wanted to get closer, they reached out and stopped her, and they also covered their mouths and noses with wet cloths.

"it is good."

Su Wanning withdrew.

She had confirmed that the hams had a problem, but it wasn't just mold. This matter wasn't as simple as it seemed on the surface, and she couldn't get involved. Once she achieved her goal, she would leave immediately.

"How is it?"

Feng Shi was very anxious, "Is there anything else that can be used?"

"Manager Feng, these hams are indeed severely moldy and difficult to handle."

Su Wanning secretly observed Feng Shi's expression. "However, I know a method that, although time-consuming, labor-intensive, and water-intensive, can preserve most of the slightly moldy ham and not affect its edibility."

"you say."

Feng Shi immediately pressed for more information.

If it's just a slight mold, you can repeatedly wash it with hot water containing licorice and honeysuckle, then apply a layer of coarse salt and let it air dry for three days. If it has already started to smell bad, you'll have to cut off at least half an inch of the flesh. Even if you manage to clean it up, it can only be used to make soup.

Everyone was astonished. They certainly wouldn't throw away things that were broken, but they also wouldn't waste water, salt, and herbs like that. They could just wash them and eat them.

Feng Shi hesitated for a moment, then waved his hand and refused.

"Forget it, we're not afraid of the trouble, but we're worried about food safety issues that could affect the birthday banquet. It's better to destroy them all."

"You're right."

Su Wan Ning smiled and walked up to Lin Mao. "So, what do you plan to do about my uncle?"

Everyone was taken aback.

This young lady has quite the nerve; is she trying to plead for Lin Lao Er?

Cui Niu quickly whispered to her, "Madam Su, your uncle has done something wrong and must accept the punishment."

"Either you lose money, or you go to the mines to make money. What do you want?"

Feng Shi's face also darkened.

"You misunderstand. I didn't say I wouldn't compensate, but 150 taels is too much. I just checked. Four of them are severely rotten and must be destroyed, seven can be kept halfway after processing, and the remaining nineteen are only slightly moldy."

Su Wanning remained calm and composed. "Based on this calculation, the loss of the ham is no more than fifty taels."

"Ha, Madam Su, you've calculated things very meticulously. However, you forgot that there will be expenses if we need to dispose of those hams."

Feng Shi smiled insincerely.

"Manager Feng, please don't worry. The cost of treating the slightly moldy hams is 200 cash for water, herbs, and coarse salt, 100 cash for labor, plus some hidden costs, about 500 cash per ham. The total for the nineteen hams is less than 10 taels, so let's just say 10 taels. In addition, my uncle will compensate your family 10 taels for his negligence, making a total of 70 taels. That's the most I can do."

Su Wanning was clear-headed and wouldn't budge an inch. "It was your decision not to deal with it, so you should bear the loss from its complete destruction, instead of making my uncle the scapegoat."

Feng Shi's heart tightened, and his eyes turned unusually cold.

Others initially thought Su Wan Ning was reckless, but now they felt she was right. She could have handled it herself, but she insisted on destroying it, so why should Lin Maoquan have to pay for it all?

But they forgot that if Lin Mao hadn't neglected his duties, none of these things would have happened.

"I'll pay it back; I'm sure I can scrape together seventy taels!"

Lin Mao quickly made a promise.

"Gather the money by tonight, or I'll sell you to the mines!"

Feng Shi finally spoke.

This is it, only seventy taels!

Lin Mao was overjoyed and craned his neck to look towards the door, thinking, "My wife will definitely bring money!"

Once Li and Zhao, the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort), meet, she'll get that brat's silver, and she'll be fine. Who would have thought that this brat would save her eighty taels of silver with just a few words!

What surprised him even more was that Su Wanning spoke again.

She seemed relieved, her tone full of concern for her uncle, "But Manager Feng, mining is a life-or-death situation. We haven't even made back the money yet, and my uncle might lose his life! If we can't raise seventy taels, could you please be lenient and give us a few more days or offer some other punishment as compensation?"

Feng Shi was completely enraged. He had already cut off half of his money, and now he dared to ask him to be lenient?

She really treats her uncle like her own father, going to such lengths for him? Other punishments, you say? Fine, I'll grant your wish!

"Alright, I'll give him twenty lashes first, as punishment for his negligence in guarding the place. If he doesn't pay back seventy taels later, I'll add another lash for every tael short!"

"No! Don't!"

Lin Maotian has already collapsed. He was only forced to kneel as punishment earlier, so why is he being whipped now?

"I'll be beaten to death! Wan Ning, please beg Manager Feng! Hurry! I've already promised to pay ten taels in compensation for my dereliction of duty! Why are you still hitting me!"

Su Wan Ning ignored him and only bowed to Feng Shi.

"As long as we can avoid going to the mine... you can do whatever you want with us, we won't say a word."