Chapter 125

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Hearing the whole story, Han Li asked, "Where are the others? Why is only you left here?"

Xin Feng said, "I originally intended to keep people here, but I drove them all off to search. What use is staying here? We can't catch that Lv Mao anyway."

As they spoke, a loud "Gu—" sound rang out, like thunder.

Han Li froze, involuntarily lowering his head to look at the source of the sound, only to see Xin Feng blink his big eyes twice, also looking stunned. After a long moment, he seemed to react, and followed suit, lowering his head to look at his own belly.

"It's past noon. Brother Xin, haven't you eaten yet?"

Xin Feng lay crooked on the bed, panting every few words, yet said, "The people up front are busy, no one has time to attend to here. I was thinking of that Lv Mao, and truly had no appetite to eat."

He added, "This morning when they left, they sent over some steamed cakes. At the time I had no appetite at all, but now I'm hungry. Help me pass one over."

Hearing this, Han Li followed his gesture and looked. Sure enough, on a table not far away sat a large sea-bowl of plain congee, and two large steamed cakes.

He brought them to Xin Feng, who wasn't picky at all, and just gnawed at the steamed cake with effort.

The steamed cake was cold, dry and hard. One bite and crumbs scattered down in a rustle, hard as a rock.

Xin Feng had injured ribs after all. Eating this hard cake, he accidentally pulled at the wound, hurting so much he couldn't help crying out. He had no choice but to soak it in the plain congee before eating.

Han Li couldn't bear to watch. Hardening his heart, he took out an oilcloth bundle from the bazi bag he carried, dragged a stool over, and placed it before Xin Feng.

The latter was still dazed, holding half a steamed cake in his mouth, and asked muffled, "What's this?"

Han Li said, "Scallion oil pancake. Eat or not?"

As he spoke, he opened the cloth bundle.

Peeling back the outer two layers, the scallion fragrance burst out from the dried lotus leaves.

Because Lv Mao had escaped, Xin Feng had broken a leg and taken a knife wound. He couldn't chase even if he wanted to. His heart had been anxious and unbearable, and he was truly in pain and listless, with no thought for food. Now seeing Han Li, his heart suddenly settled, his spirits returned, his belly knew hunger, and his nose caught the scent.

The fragrance of cooked scallions and Sichuan pepper is a sweet, cooked aroma, with a tingling numbness, mixed with the fragrant smell of lard pastry. Even cold, it completely tugged at his nostrils, pulling them wide, as if shouting: "Do you smell it? Do you smell it?"

Xin Feng inhaled deeply, again and again.

His nose went sniff-sniff-sniff. He put down the steamed cake, freed his mouth, propped himself up on his hands, and grabbed a scallion oil pancake. Seeing Han Li turn to pour water, he hurriedly asked from behind his back, "Where's this from?"

Even as he asked, he was already stuffing the pancake into his mouth.

The moment it entered his mouth: faint saltiness, rich scallion oil fragrance.

The cold pancake, having been warmed against him for half a day, had long lost its crispness on the surface, but it wasn't cold and hard at all. It was soft, slightly chewy, texture between firm and tender, a bit durable to chew but not hard to chew.

Lard fried into flaky oil brushed through the thin pancake layers, layer by layer. Not a trace of gaminess, only the rich, oily fragrance of scallions.

His teeth just tugged, and the pancake tore into countless strands, thousands of threads, splitting every which way.

As he chewed, wheat aroma rampaged through his mouth.

Xin Feng chewed slowly and carefully, unusually refined. His mouth moved in big motions, then small motions.

Big motions: he was truly starving. Eating the fragrant pancake, he simply couldn't help wanting to shove it all in at once, eat to his heart's content.

Small motions: because during the big motions, he accidentally used too much force, pulled at the wound, and grimaced in pain, forced to slow his movements and speed.

Big mouth, small pancake. Xin Feng ate fast-slow, fast-slow. In no time he'd reached the fourth pancake.

Han Li had only gone to pour himself water. When he returned, he saw the pancakes he had specially saved, intending to keep for dinner, gradually disappearing completely.

His face changed at once. "Eat sparingly. These were brought to give you in exchange for the steamed cakes."

He pushed the steamed cakes over, pushing them before Xin Feng.

Having eaten such fragrant scallion oil pancakes, Xin Feng didn't even glance at the steamed cakes. "Don't care. Let me enjoy this first!"

Starved for half a day, he swallowed them whole. Naturally still not full. He still had the nerve to ask, "Brother Han, any more?"

In your dreams!

"Made by Stall Owner Song. Just these. I only bore to eat half. Had I known the other half would feed you, I wouldn't have left any."

As Han Li spoke, he stood up again.

Xin Feng felt a wave of disappointment. He looked up with a howl. "Where are you going?"

Han Li gave him a helpless look. "You're injured like this, can't move. Can't have you eating steamed cakes and thin congee every day, right?"

He knew that although this was an official relay station, Xin Feng was merely a Censor from the Capital Prefecture Office, with no notable rank. Any random official passing through, and the station staff wouldn't spare him a second glance. So he went out, found a storekeeper, agreed on a price, and arranged for daily meal delivery. He gave the waiter extra money to help fetch water, change clothes, and such.

He also had the storekeeper help find a laundry woman to come wash and dry clothes. Considered Xin Feng simply settled.

With matters here settled, he waited until the search party returned that night. Only then did he separately learn the situation from the team leaders.

Since Han Li had not come on official orders, he didn't fight to take over the case. He only helped organize the division of labor using the map. Seeing manpower was insufficient, he took Xin Feng's deployment order and went to the Bai Ma County Yamen to demand yamen runners and patrol soldiers.

Earlier when the others went, the County Magistrate excused himself as busy, only telling subordinates to cope, giving few men. But Han Li's fierce reputation preceded him. Bai Ma County is only half a day from the Capital. How could they not know this evil star's usual conduct, his ruthless brush?

Most crucially, this time Lv Mao had already left traces. The situation differed from before. They couldn't shirk. They hurriedly handed over the men, only hoping to send the man and the case away quickly.

Thus the parties split into teams, searching up and down the river for the thief — not to be mentioned further.

In a blink, two days passed.

In Suanzao Alley, although Han Li delayed returning to the Capital, the banquet hosted by Chen Fuzi's money to treat Cheng Zijian and the other professors was imminent.

Two tables were booked. Among them, seven Masters, fourteen students.

Song Miao had long drafted a menu and sent it to Cheng Zijian. The latter wasn't the one paying, so he didn't dare finalize it. He could only go tremblingly to find Chen Fuzi.

Result: the day before the banquet, despite the bad weather, Chen Fuzi still came in the rain.

Upon arrival, he asked Song Miao about each dish's specific flavor and cooking method, one by one.

Watching dish after dish get finalized, only the last main dish remained. Chen Fuzi, while wiping rain from his beard with a handkerchief, asked, "Last time I heard Zheng Yan mention by chance that he ate a Pomelo Peel Stuffing at your place, and also a Bamboo Shoot Stuffing. Whichever of these two dishes, can you make it?"

Where would there be pomelo peel now?

Song Miao had no choice but to explain to him, and said: "It has rained heavily these past few days. I went to look around the various markets, and proper dishes are hardly for sale anywhere; bamboo shoots are even harder to find. I fear this time they truly cannot be had."

Seeing that Chen Fuzi looked very disappointed, she said: "Actually, I have prepared quite a few field snails here. If you want to try stuffed dishes, why not have me make stuffed field snails? This dish tastes quite good; it is made by scrubbing and washing the field snails, digging out the snail meat and rinsing it clean, then mincing it together with shiitake mushrooms, mint, and pork..."

Though she only briefly mentioned a few steps of the method, Chen Fuzi could not wait to hear it all, and hurriedly nodded, saying: "It sounds delicious just hearing it; why isn't it on the menu?"

Song Miao said: "This is home cooking, but it isn't quite suitable for proper banquets. I originally thought that when Cheng Gongzi hosted Young Master Han, I would serve it to the two of them as the main dish..."

"How can Zheng Yan have such a good main dish, but I cannot?" Chen Fuzi suddenly became anxious, as if he had been treated extremely unfairly.

Song Miao smiled and said: "You are an honored guest, sir, and eat proper banquet dishes, while Young Master Han only eats a home-cooked meal, so naturally there aren't so many formalities."

"Stuffed snails are not for eating, but for slurping; the way of eating them is not very elegant. You just think about it: when the dish is served, a whole table of people slurping at snail shells—wouldn't you be afraid of losing face? I fear that after eating just one, you'd be too embarrassed to take a second."

The more Chen Fuzi listened, the brighter his eyes became, and he said: "Being embarrassed is good! They care about face when they eat, so they'll eat less; I don't care about face, so I'll eat more!"

"Let them eat their chicken, duck, fish, and meat; I'll eat my stuffed snails—this dish is just right for me. Though I don't have good teeth, I still have the strength to suck a field snail. Song Xiaoniangzi, when the time comes, you serve the dish, and place it right in front of me!"

He spoke with a perfectly serious expression, but Song Miao couldn't help but laugh, and finally could only agree in one breath.

After settling the menu, Chen Fuzi again reached into his pouch and pulled out a string of cash, placing it on the table, saying: "This is a little supplement for the young lady."

Song Miao hurriedly declined, saying: "Sir, have you forgotten? You already gave before—treating these two tables was more than enough, and I still have plenty of profit to make."

Chen Fuzi shook his head and said: "Before was before; I didn't know before that there has been so much rain lately. A few days ago I sent someone to the street to ask about the prices of rice, flour, vegetables, and meat—everything has skyrocketed. You're just a child, cooking for twenty-some people, so much trouble, and for stuffed dishes, you have to scrub, dig, and mince—you deserve it."

Song Miao said: "There are two more people at home helping me, so it's not one person doing it all."

Chen Fuzi said: "I am this old—don't I count as an elder? Just take it, don't keep chattering on and on!"

Seeing that he was very insistent, Song Miao honestly accepted it, and thanked him again.

After Chen Fuzi saw that she had taken the money, he then smiled and asked: "It's neither early nor late now—do you have anything to eat here? Let me buy some to take back, to nibble on?"

He added: "Last time I heard that Zheng Yan's place has Meat gan, but I can't chew Meat gan. Is there anything else?"

Song Miao was stunned, and said: "Sir, what would you like to eat? I'll make a dish fresh for you."

Chen Fuzi shook his head and said: "I don't want you to make something fresh. If you have some, I'll take some along; if not, then forget it."

Song Miao searched around the stove for a while, and finally said: "There are only seven or eight red bean rolls left in the pot, but they are leftovers from this morning, I fear..."

Chen Fuzi was very happy, saying: "No fear, no fear! These red bean rolls look delicious at a glance, and I can chew them!"

They were indeed wrapped in dried lotus leaves, rolled into a bundle to take away, and he wanted to give money again.

Song Miao refused to accept it no matter what, and quickly saw him out.

Chen Fuzi held a bundle of red bean rolls, so proud that his steps bounced as he walked. After only a few steps, he suddenly seemed to remember something, turned back, and asked: "By the way, about that matter of finding the old records of the buying bid you mentioned last time—has it been settled?"

Song Miao shook her head and said: "Perhaps Lao Min is too busy and hasn't had time to spare yet."

When they had eaten at Jinming Pool before, after the meal, Chen Fuzi had called on Lao Min, who had agreed in one breath to inquire for Song Miao.

Listening to his tone that day, it should have been a very simple matter, but up to now there had been no news.

Hearing this, Chen Fuzi's expression became quite unpleasant.

He thought for a moment and said: "I'll go back and ask him. If he has no time, I'll find someone else for you."

Song Miao hurriedly said: "Thank you for your trouble, sir, but in a few days I might have to take on an outside job, and I may not even be in the Capital anymore..."

Knowing that Han Li and this Chen Fuzi were closely connected, she had nothing to hide; besides, this matter couldn't be hidden anyway. So she briefly mentioned it, lightly bringing up that Han Li wanted to hire her to follow him out of the Capital.

Chen Fuzi praised: "I only thought the young lady had good cooking skills, but I didn't expect she also had such talent for organizing and managing."

He stood at the doorway, sincerely praising Song Miao. Being older, his eyes saw far rather than near. Just as he finished praising, a glance caught sight of a character carved into the lower right leg of the wooden table inside the room.

Chen Fuzi glanced at it, suddenly stopped, hurriedly rubbed his eyelids, then stared at it for a few moments before asking: "I seem to be seeing things—this table and chairs weren't here last time I came. Who did you have make them?"

Song Miao honestly explained that it was because Han Li knew the food shop would be hosting a banquet for Taixue teachers and students these past two days, especially since Chen Fuzi was among them. He feared there would be no place for everyone to sit, so out of kindness he came to help, and in two and a half days made many tables and chairs.

Chen Fuzi had first been rubbing his eyes, but after hearing this, he was rubbing his ears.

He knew his own junior brother—there was care and concern, but when had he become so meticulous, starting to worry about whether this old fool had tables and chairs to sit on when eating?

Chen Fuzi held the red bean rolls, entered the food shop gate again, walked around the tables and chairs, and then went to study the character "Song" carved into the table leg with a carving knife.

Though it was carved with a knife, the strokes were distinct, the turns sharp and lofty, and the flow of the carving was not inferior to writing with a brush in the slightest.

He said: "I didn't expect he still had this skill."

After a long while, he raised his head again, looked at Song Miao, and smiled: "I originally planned to come eat tomorrow and write a screen or a central hall piece for the young lady's food shop as a favor—do you still want one?"

Song Miao had long known Chen Fuzi's reputation and was naturally overjoyed. She hurriedly said: "Thank you for your kindness, sir. Such fine ink treasure is hard to come by; how could we not want it!"

Seeing her like this, Chen Fuzi was very pleased. He stroked his beard and, with the air of kindly offering a suggestion, said: "Next time you see Zheng Yan, ask him to write one for you too. His calligraphy is worth far more than mine!"

Song Miao had no suspicion and simply agreed.

Chen Fuzi then really left.

He tucked the red bean rolls under his arm, wearing a pair of boots on his feet, walking away happily, splashing through water all the way, yet muttering to himself.

"You little brat, wait until I catch you! You wouldn't write a screen of one southern pearl per character, said it was troublesome, said others had ulterior motives, but you made tables and chairs with great joy, even busying yourself carving characters! Now you don't find it troublesome!"

"All for a mouthful of food! Hah, all for a mouthful of food?"

?? Thank you to Yunshui Mofu for gifting me the Peach Blossom Fan^_^, thank you to Han Shan Hui, book friend, kelp, and Green Cola for gifting me Peace Talismans: ）

? Thank you to Book City Fu Ruan Ruan and My Cat Is Named Egg Egg for gifting me one Codeword Tool each=3=, thank you to Zuo Zuo You You and KyokuKin for gifting me one Small Gift each: ）

? Thank you to Xiaoxiang Feifei a for gifting me one Peace Talisman^_^