Chapter 10

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

That student, questioned atop the head by Song Miao, didn't even care what exactly was in that so-called set of breakfast, and just nodded like a chick pecking rice.

Song Miao gave a few simple instructions.

The other party agreed immediately, and relying on his large build, easily squeezed out of the crowd, stood to one side, and shouted: "Those who ordered things yesterday, line up over here!"

With a clatter, five or six people stepped forward at once.

That student stood behind the cart, opened the small steamer Song Miao pointed to, inside were stacked full, all lotus leaf wraps packed with glutinous rice in advance.

He asked everyone's ordered portions, helped deliver them one by one, and collected money.

On the other side, Song Miao's movements were originally fast, now even more so, three moves and two cuts, she scooped rice so fast her hands nearly left afterimages.

It didn't take long before the scene restored order.

Taking advantage of a gap, Song Miao swiftly wrapped two Huang Bobo in lotus leaves, took a large portion of ready-made glutinous rice, and a bamboo tube drink, handed them over saying: "Many thanks for the help, now there are fewer people, I can manage — Young Master, go to class, delayed you this long, truly sorry."

That student hurriedly waved his hand, saying: "How could I accept this!"

Speaking, he counted out the exact amount from his money pouch, tossed it into Song Miao's money basket, hugged all those things, and ran off.

Song Miao couldn't stop him in time, had to let it go for now, planning to thank him properly later.

She had clearly prepared nearly double the amount today, yet sold even faster, the queue at the back, though not growing longer, was practically as if it hadn't moved at all.

Some people didn't even know what was sold here — a student queued up to the front, saw the steamer basket, then exclaimed in surprise: "Wow, so your family sells glutinous rice!"

He happily bought two large portions of glutinous rice and left, also taking two Huang Bobo.

Song Miao had originally worried the Huang Bobo would have no buyers, unexpectedly they also sold out clean early on.

Waiting until everything was sold out, she finally let out a breath, leaned against the cart to rest a while, looked down, saw the steamer baskets and big pot all empty, for a moment only felt tired yet satisfied, just preparing to pack up, then discovered she hadn't even had time to hang the signboard, couldn't help but laugh too.

She finished packing, was just about to leave, but heard someone behind call her: "That young lady, please stay a moment."

She turned to look, it was precisely that student who had helped her earlier, so she smiled and replied: "Today troubled Young Master, haven't yet asked your name, another day I shall surely repay, but wonder what guidance you have?"

That student then came to his senses, hurriedly stood still and returned a salute, then said: "This humble one's surname is Cheng, childhood name Zijian."

Turned out it was precisely Cheng Zijian, who yesterday had his beloved rice snatched by a classmate.

Song Miao also said: "This girl's surname is Song, the daughter of the Song Family Eatery inside Suanzao Alley."

Cheng Zijian pricked up his ears listening to the end, stepped forward a few paces, rather embarrassedly said: "That yellow steamed cake Young Lady sold today — is it called Huang Bobo? Don't know which place's food it is?"

Song Miao replied: "It is Northwest cuisine, however Capital tastes differ quite a bit from Guanzhong, so I altered the method somewhat, it's not authentic Huang Bobo — did Young Master eat and find something wrong?"

Cheng Zijian hurriedly waved his hand, saying: "No, no such thing!"

Then asked: "Will there be Huang Bobo tomorrow? If so, I'd like to order four, plus two portions of glutinous rice, two portions of Chenpi Mung Bean Drink."

Song Miao was stunned a moment, answered: "This stuff is truly rather troublesome, today was also a coincidence, tomorrow likely won't make it — if Young Master likes it, when free another day, I'll definitely reserve a few for you, how about that?"

Hearing the words "another day", Cheng Zijian's face couldn't help showing some disappointment.

Song Miao observed his expression, then asked again: "Is there some difficulty?"

Cheng Zijian hesitated a moment, said: "Not really, just tomorrow I have a matter to trouble a classmate, can't go empty-handed, heard he's from Guanzhong, coincidentally ate this Huang Bobo today, found it quite suitable, so wanted to pre-order a few."

He hesitated: "Song Xiaoniangzi, if I give twenty more wen, wonder if..."

Song Miao shook her head: "This isn't a money issue — Capital has many Northwest people, but very few sell Huang Bobo, not that no one wants to buy, just that making it is truly time-consuming and laborious, yet profit is meager, so everyone is unwilling to sell."

But Song Miao wants to do long-term business here, has other plans, wants to borrow strength, will have many occasions to ask favors in future, naturally wants to get on good terms with students.

Moreover these two days' contact, her impression of Cheng Zijian is very good, feels this person is worth befriending.

She thought a bit, making Huang Bobo is just troublesome, no major problem, so said: "Alright, since Young Master needs it, preparing some more is no trouble — this order I'll take."

Cheng Zijian's face instantly flushed red, said: "How could that do, better I give Young Lady more..."

He wanted to offer a higher number, but purse was ashamed, truly couldn't offer a large sum, a moment even more embarrassed.

Instead Song Miao's heart suddenly moved, said: "No need to give more, these Huang Bobo just count as my gift to Young Master..."

"That won't do!"

"Not a free gift either." Song Miao said, "I have one matter, want to entrust Young Master to help — wonder if you know anyone who has 'Wei Xing Tong'? If so, could you borrow it for me to use a few days?"

Just borrowing a book, Cheng Zijian felt not difficult, immediately agreed, then said: "I don't have it on hand, but those upper-class students often litigate paper lawsuits with the Court of Judicial Review and the Department of Criminal Justice, they must have it, the one I'm going to find tomorrow happens to be an upper-class student, let me see if I can conveniently borrow it!"

A few Huang Bobo solved a big problem, both sides very happy.

But just taking a few Huang Bobo, a bit of glutinous rice and two tubes of drink to give someone, plus asking for help borrowing a book — this is a deal that saves two strings of cash — Song Miao always felt this gift was still a bit too thin.

Returned home, she first soaked the various beans needed for tomorrow, tidied up all items, then went out again to purchase.

Weather warmed, pedestrians increased.

Porters selling wild vegetables on street side.

Song Miao went forward to look, turned out to be two baskets of wild scallions.

Early spring wild scallions, price naturally not cheap.

Only she saw those scallions emerald green and lovely, still carrying dew, very fresh, and thought of tomorrow's Cheng Zijian gift matter.

Knowing that person is from Guanzhong, thinking her books mostly still need to land here, she wanted to exert more effort, at this time picked a handful of small scallions, passed a meat shop, bought a piece of mutton leg and a piece of Mei Tou meat, also bought some miscellaneous condiments along the way.

Returned home, she first prepared what should be prepared, then fell asleep head down.

One sleep woke, outside the night watch sound just fell, precisely Yin Hour, Song Miao then climbed up, washed up, packed everything one by one.

Though she has many things to make today, last night already prepared all ingredients that could be prepared in advance, so quite confident, not long before glutinous rice made and steamed, replenished all condiments, then went to arrange Cheng Zijian's gift.