The Tapestries Read Online Free

her married life. Yet she could learn only the principles of those recipes, for her family was too poor to buy the ingredients. But bird's nest soup was not her main dilemma. She was preoccupied with unanswered questions and impossible chores. She looked at the saucepans, cleared her throat, and asked Song, “How many people do I have to cook for?”
    The maid replied, “It all depends. Today, because Master Nguyen and his crew are here, we will prepare food for everyone in the household, plus thirty fishermen. But usually, there are just the five of us. That includes you, the young master, Third Mistress, the gardener, and me. Today the matchmaker is also here.”
    “I was under the impression that there are lots of servants in this house. I saw so many at the riverbank yesterday.”
    Song laughed. “Those are Master Nguyen's crew. They were the ones who orchestrated your wedding yesterday. I am the only servant in this house.”
    “Who usually does the cooking?”
    “Old Che was the cook until yesterday. First Mistress fired her just before the wedding.”
    Ven pushed up her sleeves. She regarded the young maid's ample curves and said, “You are very young and pretty. Why didn't the master marry his son to you?”
    Song's cheek turned as red as the skin of a ripe Chinese plum. “Please, Mistress. Do not joke with me. A chicken cannot grow a peacock tail. I was a widow long before I came to work in this house. My husband was a fisherman who worked for Master Nguyen. He died from dysentery while at sea two years ago this full moon.”
    “I am sorry,” Ven said, feeling foolish. “You look so young. Please forgive me.”
    Song waved her hands in front of her face. “It is quite all right, Mistress,” she said. “Now you must hurry. There isn't much time left. You don't want to upset your in-laws on your first day.”
    “Will you help me make breakfast?” Ven asked.
    Song nodded. “I am the kitchen assistant. Let me soak the bird's nest while you cook the sticky rice.”
    V en added the last threads of shark fin to the sparrow's nest soup just as the time-teller came around for his last trip. Song tasted the soup base and gave her approval. Outside, the sun sent golden rays into the dark kitchen to heat the cool air.
    Song handed Ven a set of china soup bowls that were as thin and delicate as a sheet of paper, and just as white. The dishes nestled into her hand as though designed for it. To Ven's amazement, when she poured the soup into the bowls, they instantly turned a bright shade of jade green. There was no table in the kitchen, so Ven arranged everything on the ground. She placed the bowls gently on an ebony tray, where they glowed against the dull cement floor like four magnificent pieces of jewelry.
    “Be careful when you handle them,” the maid said to her. “They are very expensive. They change color in response to heat. Why don't you take the soup to the main living room and serve the mistresses? I will bring the rest of the breakfast as soon as it is ready. After they dine, we will provide food for the staff.”
    “Where is the main living room?” Ven asked.
    “It is the first and largest room in the house, facing the entrance that we passed earlier this morning,” Song said. “But you are not yet allowed to use the front door. Your astrological sign is in opposition to that of Third Mistress, and Master Nguyen fears you might cause her great harm if you don't take precautions. Follow this path to the back door.”
    Song placed the lids over the exposed soup bowls and pointed to a narrow lane of bricks that led to the rear of the great house. Like magic, the bowl covers also took on the glistening hue of emeralds, as though light shone through them from inside.
    Stepping from the kitchen, Ven was dismayed to see that the path forked into three separate routes. All led into the house, but through different doors. After a moment's hesitation, she drew a deep breath and chose the path that led to