Grinning, Maria replied, “Well, she missed out. After all, the canteen's chef used to prepare meals for Michael. Had Michael brought the chef and his proteges to Broome, you wouldn't have the chance to indulge in such culinary delights."

"Mm..." Munching on her meal, all Judy could manage was a muffled snort in response.

Judy savored another slice of the delectable roast goose.

The Sky Group's canteen was privileged to have a chief chef who once held the esteemed title of president within the Gourmet Association in Sheffield.

Such a renowned chef was a luxury only the wealthiest and most influential families could afford, causing a hefty amount of money.

As for the high-end restaurant where Barbara insisted on going, the level of the chef there was probably equivalent to that of this chef's apprentices.

Their conversation meandered through various topics before they finally said their goodbyes.

Isla, off in a shaded corner of the yard, was engrossed in her task.

Beads of perspiration dotted her forehead as she meticulously organized the materials before her.

At first glance, they appeared to be mere branches and foliage.

However, these were, in fact, valuable herbs Maria had procured from Goodwin's apothecary.

Maria tasked Isla with identifying and categorizing various herbs.

Maria's requirements were intricate.

It wasn't just about classifying the medicinal herbs, but also about ranking their quality as top, middle, or low grade.

This chore was more than just a manual task. It aimed to boost Isla's foundational knowledge of medicine.

Witnessing this, Julie felt a pang of concern.

“Darling, aren't you going to take the examination of Pill Alchemist Association in a few days? Why is it that only Isla is putting in the effort here?"

Before Maria could respond, Isla interjected, "It's all right, ma'am.

I genuinely want to work this hard."

Her voice, while not raised, carried a determined tone.

Raised in the Jenkins household, Isla never got the chance to attend school due to Mrs. Jenkins' unique disposition of her.

This fostered in Isla a fervent desire to learn. She resembled a parched sponge, always yearning for the chance to soak up new information.

Maria, with a smile, chimed in, "Mom, the amount of training I've given Isla is merely a fraction of what I endured starting out.

About one-tenth, to be exact.”