Chapter 103: The Marvelous Kitchen Chapter 102: Attribution

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

The Cold Food Festival holiday lasted seven days; today he finally returned to work. The moment Zhang Fengzhi arrived at the office, he was as busy as a spinning top and had no time to attend to Cai Xiu's matter, so naturally he still didn't know the specific situation.

But having followed Zhang Facao for a long time, he was very good at reading his superiors' minds. Hearing this, he immediately sensed that something must have gone wrong somewhere, and hurriedly said: "Last time he said he wanted to borrow thirty people. Since he personally guaranteed them, I thought that after all he was one of the Four Sons of Taixue, with a reputation for talent and having received much appreciation and praise from superiors, he should be a capable person, so I helped him open an adjustment summons through our own channel—was there something improper about that?"

Zhang Facao nodded and said: "I didn't think much about it before, but thinking it over carefully now, it was indeed rather rash—don't go through Cai Xiu's hands; you go out yourself, send those students away, be courteous, and don't let them cause any trouble."

He conveyed what the canteen cook had privately leaked at today's meeting, and finally said: "Send them off quickly, don't drag it out."

He also said: "After they leave, this afternoon we'll find some spare time to gather everyone and hold a meeting ourselves—just now that Qin Jie reported to me in front of Prefect Zheng that starting today, the case files for the February gambling crackdown will be handed over in succession. Tell them to be careful in their words and actions below, not to spout nonsense outside. If word leaks and they hit the barrel of a gun, this old face of mine will have nowhere to rest."

Zhang Fengzhi was startled, hurriedly agreed, turned to leave, but was called back again.

"Cai Xiu has been here for a while. What do you think of him?" Zhang Facao hesitated for a moment and asked.

Regardless of his character or conduct, given Cai Xiu's talent, ability, and appearance, entering officialdom in the future was a certainty.

If one day news suddenly spread that this person had caught the eye of some high minister and was recruited as a son-in-law, Zhang Fengzhi would not be surprised at all.

Not wanting to offend him, he said: "Taixue scholars naturally have literary talent. I think his writing is much better than others', and he knows how to handle affairs—only he's a bit too good at handling affairs. Our place is not like others; everything must put caution and prudence first..."

Zhang Facao nodded and said: "I mean the same thing. Since he is good at writing, and the person has already come, and was officially transferred from the prefecture office, it's not good to send him back, nor should we let him struggle elsewhere. Give him some writing tasks to sort out, and just get by."

Afraid his subordinates might misunderstand, he even added: "For the cases sent by the Left and Right Military Patrol Academy this time, don't leak a whisper to outsiders. As for the few new people this year, just have them do other things; don't let them get involved."

His superior was so cautious that Zhang Fengzhi, as his confidant, immediately thought of a way to share his worries.

He said: "Many of the detailed rules and regulations in our office were hastily drafted and used as makeshift. Every year new people come in, or personnel are borrowed, and much time must be taken to train and teach them. Why not let Cai Xiu revise them during his spare time? His talent would have a place to be used, and we would save trouble in the future. Facao, what do you think?"

Zhang Facao naturally clapped his hands in approval.

After Song Miao delivered the jianghua fen and hurriedly returned to Suanzao Alley, she explained the follow-up to everyone, and said: "This person never speaks without confidence. Since he agreed, I think there will be good news within a few days. Everyone, please be patient a little longer."

The others were half-believing, half-doubting, and inevitably asked about this person's background.

But Song Miao said: "This time, besides you, many other students were also borrowed. If I revealed it and others asked, would you explain or not? It's better that no one asks. As long as the final result is good, who helped doesn't matter."

"But we can't let Stall Owner Song owe a favor for us for nothing, can we?"

"Exactly. If it really succeeds and we benefit, shouldn't we thank him? Shouldn't we repay him?"

Xue Gang, being older and more worldly than the others, interjected: "Let's not ask. Right now, everyone in the prefecture office is borrowed, and who doesn't hate Cai Xiu until their teeth itch? Even if we find out the person's name, we can keep it to ourselves, but can we stop others from talking?"

"That Cai is a sinister villain. Once he knows who stepped in and ruined his scheme, who knows what twisted thoughts he might harbor behind the scenes!"

He also said: "Since we want to thank, let's thank Stall Owner Song. In the future, she can help convey our thanks!"

The others thought about it seriously and found it very reasonable, so they stopped asking.

Song Miao also smiled: "In the past, you all always helped me. Now that I finally have a chance to lend a hand, isn't that good?"

"What do you mean 'help'!"

"Exactly! Stall Owner Song has made so much good food for us! Who helped whom!"

By this time it was already late. The group hadn't had time to eat, so they took the sanza fried wraps Song Miao had packed for them. Dawdling, they had to return to the prefecture office with long sighs and short groans, wanting to secretly eat another bowl of jianghua fen, but Xiao Lian sternly refused, only saying: "Sister said it harms the spleen and stomach. You are not allowed to eat more!"

So young and so insistent on principle. Even if promised two sticks of candied hawthorn as a bribe next time, she wouldn't compromise.

Wang Chang and the others thanked her with their mouths, but in their hearts they didn't hold much hope for that unknown person Song Miao had entrusted.

On the way back to the Capital Prefecture Office, the group discussed and deliberated repeatedly, but couldn't come up with any good solution.

In the end, they had already cursed Cai Xiu's ancestors eighteen generations over, their resentment almost breaking the sky. When they arrived at the prefecture office, entered the Facao Storeroom, and were stopped by Cai Xiu, who was sitting at the door drinking tea, and displeasedly asked "Why did it take so long to come back," they could only swallow their anger and perfunctorily say "The road was far, delays were unavoidable."

The more one curses behind someone's back, the more obsequious one is to their face. Just so. Nothing more than human nature.

That Cai Xiu was just there to take roll call. Seeing everyone present, asking about progress, he naturally left.

After he left, the remaining people naturally cursed him loudly again, complaining nonstop.

Some asked about Wang Chang and the others' situation, some inquired if they had found a way to extricate themselves, and some asked if anyone had found a teacher or xuezheng to truly resign.

Wang Chang and the others had been able to get leave smoothly because many people in this room had helped speak up for them. Otherwise, they might not even have gotten Cai Xiu's agreement. Now being asked, they felt very embarrassed and had to admit the truth: they hadn't dared to go to Taixue to find a teacher, didn't know how to find a teacher, and feared being discovered.

Finally someone said: "But we found Stall Owner Song at Song Ji. She specially asked someone to help, saying the other party agreed outright. In just these two days, it will be, it will be..."

As this person spoke, he was stared at by suspicious eyes from everyone in the room. In fact, he didn't believe it himself, and he couldn't go on speaking.

"What Song Ji? The young lady of the mung bean paste glutinous rice?"

"Who did she ask? Is it some teacher?"

"Stall Owner Song is kind-hearted, but she can't help with this! If it were a small matter, she could go beg in person. I think the teachers and students at our Taixue who have eaten her breakfast would be willing to lend a hand. But this involves both Xuezhong and the prefecture office. It's very delicate. Finding any teacher probably won't work."

"Forget it. At most, we just endure another half month!"

Someone spoke to comfort themselves.

But this comfort was not listened to by anyone.

A student nearby immediately replied: "You say it lightly. These wretched days—I can't endure even one day! I didn't realize before, but now I know how precious going to school and studying is. Now I'm full of energy. Let me go back, and I can study for ten days straight, without sleeping at night!"

As soon as this person finished speaking, they heard faint voices at the door. He hurriedly stopped talking and turned to look.

First Cai Xiu entered the door, then an official in common robes walked in behind him.

Cai Xiu first introduced the official who came in behind him, only saying the visitor's surname was Zhang and held a certain position in the Facao.

The people scatteredly called out "Official Zhang."

Unlike Cai Xiu, who wore a stern face and had a very stiff voice, Official Zhang was all smiles and extremely cordial.

He first asked how many days they had been here, if they were used to it, if the work was tiring, and if they were worried about their studies.

Finally he said: "This time it was this official's negligence. I originally thought borrowing you over had many benefits. Who knew that today a superior happened to learn of it and was furious, saying it was nonsense. You have just been promoted to Shangshe, your studies are urgent. Organizing files is time-consuming and laborious. It's not right to use people this way. If it delays your studies, how can you start over!"

He comforted them with warm words for a long time, admitted his mistake, praised them for doing well, and finally said they could pack up now and prepare to return to Taixue. If they walked fast on the road, they might even catch the meal at Xuezhong's canteen!

"I also wrote a letter to your Xuezheng Meng explaining this matter." Zhang Fengzhi handed the letter to the person nearest him. "After you are promoted to Shangshe and your studies are not so urgent, if the Facao borrows people again in the future, you will definitely be given priority in selection!"

Hearing this Master Zhang say so many words, truly every sentence was reasonable, very considerate.

But though the room was full of people, only scattered voices agreed, until he finished speaking, made an excuse to take his leave, and even had Cai Xiu called away, only then did the others belatedly, in a jumble, follow behind offering thanks.

Once the outsider left, almost everyone's eyes turned to Wang Chang.

"Wang Chang, did Stall Owner Song find you a backdoor?"

"Isn't that too fast?! Who did Song Xiaoniangzi find?"

"Finally we can leave! What stepping-on-dog-shit luck today!"

"Last night I prayed to the moon, and indeed I didn't pray wrong! Ancestors bless us, we got Song Xiaoniangzi to step in—Lao Wang, who exactly helped? We must go thank them!"

Seeing one person after another all staring at him, waiting for a reply, Wang Chang panicked, and hurriedly said: "How would I know!"

While saying this, he again looked left and right, saying: "We went to the Song family together, why are you all watching me?!"

This really couldn't be blamed on the others—Cheng Zijian wasn't there, everyone knew Wang Chang was fairly familiar with that Song Miao, if not him then who?

And at this moment Xue Gang finally reacted, explaining his earlier words once more, finally saying: "Hurry and pack up your things, other matters can wait, be careful that dragging it out leads to long nights and many dreams!"

So the whole room was once again in a flurry, everyone stuffing those volumes back into box cages and onto shelves, clutching their valuables, as if wild dogs were chasing behind them.

Some people hadn't even finished putting on their shoes, but hurriedly shuffled out of the government office.

On the road everyone guessed once, guessed the teacher, guessed the xuezheng, even guessed that Deng Jijiu—though they immediately overturned such reasoning themselves, but guessing back and forth, not a single person guessed right.

Leaving aside Wang Chang and the others being in high spirits, wishing they could sing loudly all the way back to Taixue, on the other side, facing a pile of regulations and details before him, Cai Xiu was cursing the whole families of Zhang Fengzhi and Zhang Facao in his belly.

He was naturally intelligent, and could naturally see that Zhang Fengzhi being so anxious must have some other inside story.

But no matter what, the person he had found with great hardship, and for whom he had exhausted his heart power to make arrangements, seeing that as long as they waited there would be a harvest, was overturned by just a few casual words from someone—how could he bear it?

That Zhang Fengzhi didn't even have the slightest intention of consulting him, almost using a tone of notification.

It was because he had no power!

This person facing a superior official, how could he dare to do this?!

Right now he even casually threw a pile of useless trivial tasks over.

He had plenty of literary gatherings outside not to attend, chances to make a name not to take, and ran here to write what guidance, details, and regulations for a few borrowed personnel and newly appointed officials?

Was he too full to eat?!

Cai Xiu tossed his brush onto the desk, stood up, and walked straight out of the Capital Prefecture Office.

—He was here to stand out, not to be a stepping stone for others.

A tree moved dies, a person moved lives.

This place won't work, the Zhang surnamed won't employ people, the Zhang surnamed only squeezes others, couldn't he change places?

Cai Xiu threw down the brush in his hand; at the back office, Han Li saw Kong Fuyang enter the door, and also followed by placing the brush in his hand onto a brush rack to the side.

"Huai Prefecture Riverway Canteen Zheng Yan Seal, you're looking for me?" Kong Fuyang, as soon as he entered, yawned, hurriedly wiped the tears mixed with eye gunk, "I'm exhausted to death, we still have a few days before we can rise up, right?"

"Sit first." Han Li pointed to the chair beside him, "Wrap up your work at hand, someone will come to take over shortly."

Kong Fuyang was startled, as if someone had slapped him twice, besides shock and anger, he was only stunned, and hurriedly said: "Where did my work have an error? I only complained a sentence, but never said I was unwilling to do it!"

Han Li laughed and said: "Even a mule isn't as self-aware as you—it's not an error, since you came, there have been few mistakes, you've followed up on matters well, and done the work well, saving me a lot of heart power."

Hearing this sentence, Kong Fuyang couldn't help but puff out his chest, his face turned red, then felt this reaction was really unpromising, and hurriedly said: "Don't say that, it makes me feel embarrassed!"

He then asked: "Then why did you have someone else come to take over my work?"

Han Li didn't explain first, but said: "The Gambling House Case is seven or eight parts full; as for the Lantern Festival missing persons side, we still have to wait for Censor Xin's search to return, and wait for the victim's whereabouts, but the case details have already been settled—you followed both these cases from beginning to end, so you can be considered familiar, right?"

Kong Fuyang honestly nodded.

Han Li then pushed a thick stack of official documents on the desk over, saying: "These are the materials I organized earlier; take them back and read them carefully. For these few days, don't worry about other matters, just do one thing: write a summary of these two cases."

Kong Fuyang flipped through that pile of materials, and his whole person still looked bewildered.

Han Li said: "Be serious, write well. In a few days, Judge Qin will follow Prefect Zheng into the palace for an audience to report the case details—I've spoken with Official Qin; this time this memorial report, though submitted in the name of the Capital Prefecture Office, will have your name added as the drafter at the end."

"This! How can this be?! You do how much work, achieve how much effect, and what am I?! This thing should be written by you, and your name should be signed!" Kong Fuyang, though subconsciously refusing, but as soon as the words of refusal left his mouth, his heart thumped thumped, and his eyes unconsciously widened.

The name reaches the Emperor!

This is different from ordinary writing; it is true practical writing, best able to display talent.

Who wouldn't be moved?

How many officials want an opportunity and cannot get it, and besides, he is only a student!

"It's just a signature, maybe not useful, but the better you write, the greater the chance of being seen." Han Li said, "I have some infamy in the Capital, but you are different; having studied abroad for too long, when you receive your official rank you will inevitably suffer losses—since this opportunity has been given, don't chatter, just write."