Chapter 131

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Song Miao had just sat down when she saw a bundle placed before her; that bundle was extremely large, taking up nearly half the table, and she couldn't help but laugh: "Young Master, you're too kind!"

She added: "We open our doors for business, wishing for customers at all times; not to mention I still have quite a bit of money stored here, even without mentioning gold or silver, just speaking of friendship — Young Master has shown me much care before, surely that deserves a steamed bun?"

As she spoke, right in front of Han Li, she took that bundle and said with a smile: "If Young Master dares to give, I dare to unwrap."

Opening it, inside were many things each individually wrapped in thick oil paper.

She picked up first one wrapped into a thick round cake shape.

Just unwrapping it, a distinct sea scent wafted out, yet not fishy; lowering her head, she saw many more oil paper packets, one cake after another, laver sheets the size of plates pressed very tight.

That laver was a very proper purple, clusters of tiny wavy leaflets gathered together.

Song Miao couldn't help but say: "So expensive!"

Han Li found it very hard not to show a smile.

He said: "Actually there's a bit of selfish motive, just too shameless to admit it, so I dare call it an apology gift here — bought all ingredients that keep well, not heavy either, figuring we depart in a couple days; aside from leaving some at home, the rest can be brought along."

He added: "I've hired a cart; at that time they'll all be loaded together; when we reach the place, days will be hard, not necessarily anything good to eat; these can be carried and stored; when Stall Owner Song has spare time, you can more or less treat yourself — if I happen to be there then and get to mooch a bite, even better."

Turns out it was self-serving planning.

Song Miao couldn't help but laugh; looking again at those pretty laver leaf clusters, she didn't feel so awkward anymore, and had already mentally drawn dividing lines on every laver cake — three portions, one surnamed Song, one surnamed Han, and one to be decided later.

Laver is very fresh, delicious any way you cook it, just harvesting and transport are difficult, truly expensive.

Since coming here, her purse has been painfully tight; Song Miao hasn't eaten it for some days; now planning it out, on the surface it seems fairly divided, but she's actually already plotting to embezzle while cooking, secretly tasting extra.

Not yet in her mouth, just thinking of the flavor, when she agreed her ending tone rose.

After counting the laver, she unwrapped the rest; mostly dried goods — dried kelp, dried scallops, dried mushrooms, abalone, dried oysters, lotus seeds, euryale seeds, and so on — plus several lumps of yellow and brown sugar, and a packet of rock sugar.

Song Miao slowly inventoried them, discussing with Han Li how to eat each as she went.

"Kelp makes the freshest, richest soup! If we can get fresh pork bones then, I'll braise pork spine and ribs together, perfect for knocking out the marrow from the spine to eat, soft and tender, lifted by that seafood sweetness, especially fragrant; eat the meat off the ribs, wrap them in kelp soaked in that fresh soup…"

She continued: "If the weather's hot and we tire of that soup, we can still toss it with aged vinegar, soy sauce, cornel, minced garlic, sprinkle some roasted fragrant dried fruit and white sesame; the taste is sour, spicy, good with porridge or rice, or tucked in a flatbread."

"That kelp is already very fresh; once rehydrated, I'll slice it fine — Young Master hasn't seen my knife skills yet, right? Then it'll be sliced so it marinates through and has flavor, and still has a crisp crunch when eaten; how about that?"

For each dish Song Miao described, Han Li nodded; from time to time he seriously interjected, asking why cut this way, why braise that way, why add this seasoning.

Seeing her eyes bright with spirit, smiling radiantly, clearly very satisfied with those ingredients, Han Li's mood rose along with hers — now joy, now delight — only wishing the tableful of things would never finish counting, so he could keep listening to her talk on and on.

He sat in the front hall of the Song Family Eatery, half leaning on the chair back; before him were the table and chairs he'd made, wiped clean; opposite sat such a person, counting one by one the apology gifts he'd sent.

Turmoil, worry, seemed all chased away by these soft murmuring voices.

Like gaining a tiny corner in the clamorous dusty world, pleasant, comfortable, letting body and mind relax.

This place can't help much with the matter itself, but it's like when a person is most irritable in scorching heat, opens a window, a cool breeze blows in from outside, all the insect chirps and bird clamors outside fall completely silent, only wind and leaf sounds remain, making one calm down at once.

After this cool breeze blows, hearing such rustling wind and leaf sounds, catching one's breath, there's strength again to continue on.

Sometimes time is very long, sometimes time passes extremely fast.

In Han Li's view, it seemed like just the blink of an eye before that Stall Owner Song had already finished counting everything in the bundle.

Song Miao put away the ingredients one by one, said thanks with a smile, then said: "When Young Master first arrived, you seemed a bit unsettled; is it that today was too tiring? Why not go back early to rest?"

Han Li said: "Ran into a little something today, but coming home, eating, sitting together a while, it's already fine now."

He also told her he might depart in a couple days, asking if she'd have any difficulties.

Song Miao replied: "There truly is one thing — Young Master previously said food matters are most critical, need trustworthy people; I've just arrived and also want someone to help keep an eye on things, run errands; doesn't need to be very capable, any age, as long as they're trustworthy."

"Just for the moment, don't know where to find one."

Han Li thought a moment, said: "I'll arrange it for you."

Song Miao asked further: "Young Master previously said you'd give me a batch of manpower; just wondering, are rewards and punishments fully dispatched by me?"

Han Li nodded agreement.

Song Miao said: "With many people and miscellaneous affairs, we can't rely only on verbal restraints; I've had some ideas—how to manage, how to reward and punish, what rules—I already have a general framework; once we're there, I'll make slight revisions and draw up a simple code; when Young Master has time, review it, then implement; if anything is unsuitable, we can adjust it then; I don't know if that's acceptable?"

As she spoke, she gave a brief overview.

When Song Miao talked business her framework was excellent, clear and detailed, unfolding layer by layer; how to manage affairs, people, goods, why manage this way — all summarized first.

Han Li literally couldn't find words.

Though only a few sentences, one could already hear the far-reaching planning within, quite feasible, not mere armchair theory.

Many officials take office and still need to recuperate a while, familiarize themselves, drag their feet, before doing anything.

Not that one can't operate that way.

But given a choice, who wouldn't want to work with someone like Song Miao, rather than that sort?

He'd long known this Stall Owner Song always had a plan in mind, but didn't expect her to be this thorough and clear; he paused, then said: "Entirely up to you."

The two talked a while more; seeing the hour was truly late, Han Li had no choice but to take his leave.

The horse had eaten a meal of oats in the back courtyard, drunk its fill of water, rested half a day; even its tail swishing had more strength now.

Han Li rode the horse back to the Taixue.

Halfway there, seeing the destination not far ahead, a thought stirred; he looked up — sure enough, a first-quarter moon hung high in the sky, and the rain had stopped.

He loosened the reins, slowed the pace, let the horse walk slowly; watching the moonlight, his mind unconsciously recalled the person he'd seen in the eatery just now, the words he'd heard.

With Han Li's memory, naturally not a single detail would be missed.

As he thought on, looking again at the spring moon, compared to before it seemed even more bright and clear.

Returning to the horse stable, he first returned the horse, went to a nearby bookshop and bought half a ream of paper, borrowed brush and ink, wrote a letter, went out to find a runner to help deliver the letter to the official relay station into Lao Min's hands.

Having settled this matter, seeing that the hour was already late, he no longer went to find Chen Fuzi, but returned directly to his dormitory.

Having been away for several days, upon entering the door he saw that the lamps inside were all extinguished, and it was unusually silent.

Han Li lit a lamp, covered the light with his sleeve, and walked lightly to the bed of his dorm-mate, seeing that the bedding was gone; he then turned back to the desk in the room, and indeed saw a letter on top. Opening it, he found it was left by that dorm-mate.

The letter said he had been selected by the teacher and had already gone out on a study tour with him, with no fixed return date, asking Han Li to watch over the bed in the dormitory, allowing someone to stay temporarily but not to occupy it long-term, and that only he was the "proper and serious dorm-mate" who "would absolutely not yield," and so on.

These words had no beginning or end, leaving Han Li somewhat bewildered; looking again at the date of the signature, it happened to be today that he left, so they had just missed each other.

After reading the letter, just as he was about to put it away, he suddenly heard the sound of hurried running outside, coming from far to near.

Not long after, in the dimness, someone leaned against the doorframe and knocked on the open door panel, yet said in a faint voice: "They say righteousness is mostly found among butchers and dog-killers, while faithlessness is all among scholars—Han Zhengyan, you have indeed read well—what a cruel heart!"

Han Li was stunned, actually having already recognized the other's voice, only somewhat surprised, so he raised the oil lamp in his hand and walked closer to look.

Seeing him act this way, the newcomer's tone carried even more resentment, and he angrily said: "You've only been gone a few days, and you don't even recognize my voice?! If it weren't for hearing people in the yamen privately discussing that you were to be transferred to the Du Shui Jian, and that Qin Pan came looking for you, I'm afraid I'd be the last to know this matter after your buttocks were already patted clean?!"

"I invited you to help, and I did my best, enduring labor and resentment, didn't I? I admit that at the start I made some mistakes, and from time to time there were problems needing you to help clean up; if you were dissatisfied, you should have told me early, and I would have corrected them! Now you say leave and just leave, dumping me alone—what do you mean? You look down on me, and have found someone more convenient to use, right?!"

Seeing this person speak sentence after sentence, like setting off firecrackers without stopping, Han Li was also helpless.

He said: "I was just about to find you to ask, but only because matters were delayed did I come late—the Hua Prefecture embankment has breached, and I am preparing to take up a post at the Du Shui Jian to go help Tongpan Cen Dezhang draw water and repair the embankment. Will you stay at the Capital Prefecture Office, return to your studies, or go with me?"

He added: "Qin Jie is very satisfied with you; if you are willing to stay, he..."

Hearing these words, the person opposite did not wait for Han Li to finish speaking, but flew into a rage and interrupted: "You still ask me to choose?! You still dare to ask me to choose?! If you're not here, what am I staying here for?!"

This person was naturally Kong Fuyang, one of the Four Sons of Taixue.

Han Li was on leave, but he had remained at the Capital Prefecture Office; not knowing where he got the news, he actually came rushing to intercept him.

"The conditions in Hua Prefecture are very harsh..." Han Li briefly explained the situation.

Kong Fuyang frowned and said: "Is it only you in the world who has the heart to serve the people and the court? Only you can endure hardship, but I cannot? Is my blood cold?"

He snorted coldly again and said: "That day you invited me to leave in the middle of the night, and now you want to shake me off—how could there be such an easy thing!"

"I only ask you: in doing anything, one must always use people, right? Since one must use people, who did you originally intend to use?"

Han Li said: "I have already had someone send a transfer order from the Du Shui Jian, and there will be news tomorrow. I originally thought to come back and ask you later; if you are willing to go, take this transfer order, and naturally it will save me much effort. All matters, high and low, can be tossed to you to organize."

"Kong Fuyang." He called out once, paused for a moment, then said seriously, "Thank you!"

Kong Fuyang had been cursing and swearing just now, but at being thanked like this and hearing such an explanation, he inexplicably became shy, and snorted: "If you'd said so earlier, wouldn't it be settled! I don't want your thanks; only that you thank me shows I did a decent job, doesn't it!"

He added: "It's late; I'm leaving first—my luggage is already packed; just call me and we can set off."

He said he would leave and did, but after walking only a few steps, he suddenly turned back and, through the open door, asked from afar: "Zhengyan—besides me, who else from Xuezhong did you transfer to go to Hua Prefecture?"

Han Li raised his eyebrows and said: "Water matters are different from other matters; there is no one else."

Kong Fuyang dryly said "oh," turned back again, walking faster and faster; as he walked, he actually began to skip and hop. After walking a while, seeing that he was finally far away, he finally dared to speak out loud, "hehe hehe" without stopping.

In Suanzao Alley, Song Miao locked the door and counted the silver money she had saved up recently.

Although she had not set up her stall for many days, she had taken several banquet orders, and the money Han Li left here grew day by day. She also cooked meals for the Taixue teachers for several days, especially Chen Fuzi, who was very generous, so she gained considerable profit.

Today she asked Han Li, and he told her to just take it and not worry about it, so Song Miao really did take it.

The profits from her business recently, plus the remuneration Han Li gave her in advance for going out on official business—a very large sum—added together, were already enough to pay off two months of debt with some left over.

After counting the money clearly and packing it separately, she called Cheng Erniang over, pointed to the money bags on the desk, and explained their uses one by one.

"I don't know how long I'll be away this time. First, I'll settle two months of wages for Er Niangzi. If there are miscellaneous affairs at home, there is some reserve money here, all entrusted to you. I have already found quite a few people to help watch over things. If there is trouble, Er Niangzi and Xiao Lian, your own safety is most important; the rest doesn't matter. If you really can't solve it, just find Sun Lizheng or the patrol officers nearby."

"There are still a few days before the originally agreed monthly settlement day. The money is here; I trouble Er Niangzi to help repay on that day. The same in the future; it's best not to repay early—otherwise it becomes a habit, and it will be earlier and earlier each month. One day when you haven't saved enough, it will be trouble, and instead will draw complaints..."

After arranging the household matters at once, she went to sleep early. The next day upon rising, she first went to buy things.

Estimating that they would set off in these two days, Song Miao did not plan to take meal orders tomorrow, for fear that if they left at a moment's notice, they would delay a crowd of people from eating.

Because several teachers had previously mentioned wanting to eat fatty meat, for this last meal before departure, she wanted to fulfill everyone's wish—she bought a lot of pig trotters at once, and also a pack of white kidney beans.

?? I originally wanted to lie flat, but seeing the current vote count, I feel that a monthly volume of three thousand votes is hanging at a position where Xiao Miao jumps up, stretches her hand, and is just one breath short of reaching.

? I really want to fight for some operating funds for her, so I struggled to climb up and beg for votes again.

? If everyone has voted for their favorite book and still has extra monthly votes, can you give one to our Xiao Miao? I will come shamelessly shout again at the end of the month.

? Thank you everyone, thank you thank you!