Chapter 134

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Bidding farewell to Cheng Erniang and Xiao Lian at home, Song Miao climbed into the carriage.

The carriage interior was quite large, already piled with a fair amount of luggage; though not cramped, it could not be called spacious either.

Han Li told her, "Our party has many people and horses; we will rendezvous outside the city a bit later. When we rest mid-journey, we'll see if we can switch you to a more comfortable spot."

It was a journey to begin with, and she had taken money to do a job, so Song Miao naturally had no such fussiness. She smiled and said, "Inside there are only me and Da Bing, two people. The luggage isn't dirty or smelly. No need to switch again; this is just fine."

She also asked how many people were traveling together in total, and whether she needed to manage food and drink on the road herself.

Han Li answered, "We travel a day's journey. By the time we reach the lodging point, who knows what hour it will be; there won't be time to cook."

He added, "I've already told them to bring their own dry rations for today, so never mind for now. If there are tea houses or shops further down the road, just buy something to make do. Only if there really is nothing will I ask you to take charge."

He gave a simple rundown of the fellow travelers' situation.

After a while, there will also be Acting Water Supervisor Cheng of the Department of Water Affairs leading a number of artisans and materials to Hua Prefecture, but this departing group is the first batch, led by Han Li.

This party totals seventeen people. Aside from Kong Fuyang, whom Song Miao knows, the rest were all found by Lao Min: thirteen students, two literati, and two retainers borrowed from friends and old acquaintances.

If the Six Liu Ta He is a blazing stove, drawing the gaze of court and countryside alike, then Hua Prefecture is a frozen stove just dug out of an ice cellar.

Although the Hua Prefecture river dike has collapsed, causing countless disasters with unpredictable consequences, for many people it is still some distance away, not before their eyes.

Of course, this place is the upper reaches, extremely important, and cannot be ignored. Otherwise, following the current trend, if no restraint is imposed, come the summer flood season the floodwaters might well surge toward the Capital.

But if the Six Liu Ta He is properly dredged, none of this is a problem — there will naturally be diversion channels.

It merely makes the common people of Hua Prefecture suffer; not that many people, funds, or materials are allocated there.

But there's no help for it.

Where are there commoners who don't suffer? If not suffering here, they suffer there.

River repair is hard labor to begin with. Even if merit is certain in the end, if the merit is small, few are willing to go. How much more so for a place like Hua Prefecture that no one cares about — even if they pull off a miracle, what does it matter?

Very likely they'll toil away and finish it, only for the flood season to arrive and the embankments and dams to be washed out again directly.

These seventeen people, in terms of numbers, are merely a fraction compared to the hundreds Cai Xiu leads.

They are merely ordinary students summoned from academies; not a single one is from the Taixue. Several even only hesitantly agreed after hearing that Han Li was leading this time and that Kong Fuyang was among them — even so, it has already cost Lao Min several decades of his old reputation and connections.

Upon hearing this, Song Miao had a fair idea. She asked a few more questions about the itinerary, then spoke no further and sat back in the carriage.

The driver drove the carriage, while Han Li accompanied on foot.

By now the sky was already late. With much standing water on the road, detours were unavoidable. By the time they reached the city outskirts and met up with the rest, it was nearly the Si hour (9–11 AM).

Han Li had not exaggerated. The party was indeed quite large: eight mule carts, two carriages, and even a hired escort squad to guard the vehicles and horses.

Everyone met, exchanged brief introductions, and then set off again.

The Capital Region's two circuits had seen days of rain. The city suffered greatly; the official roads were even worse.

At this time the water had not receded. The roads were submerged in standing water. The drivers could only steel themselves and drive on.

Song Miao sat in the carriage body, shaking and jolting. Especially when a wheel accidentally rolled over a deep pit hidden under the water, invisible to the eye — "Bang!" — that one jolt nearly shook her brains out.

After a few such jolts, she turned her head and saw Da Bing's face somewhat pale, lips somewhat purple. Song Miao told him, "If you feel unwell, say so early. Don't force yourself to endure it. If you want to vomit, don't hold it in."

She then fished out a pill from the medicine she carried, handed it to him, and said, "It treats dizziness and vomiting. Swallow it and sleep a bit; you'll be fine."

Da Bing hurriedly shrank back and said, "Young Lady, don't make such a big joke. Where would medicine be needed! I'll just endure a bit — this medicine probably costs more than ten of me!"

These words were naturally far too exaggerated, yet the joke carried utter seriousness.

As he spoke, he retched, braced on the carriage window and stuck his head out, vomiting for a long while, but only brought up some clear saliva. When he sat back, he was completely listless, looking like he wanted to vomit but couldn't.

Song Miao sighed inwardly, forced the pill into his hand, passed him the water pouch, and said, "Didn't Young Master Han instruct you to be my helper? My people are all precious — right now you drag your feet even taking a pill. Later when I assign you tasks, won't you be even less willing to listen?"

Speaking, she asked, "Which bundle is your bedding packed in?"

Once she clarified, she took out the bedding he had brought, helped pad it under the seat so he would sit more comfortably.

Da Bing held the pill in a daze for a long while, not knowing what he thought of, a foolish blank look. When he came to his senses, he saw Song Miao already padding the bedding for him. He hurriedly swallowed the pill with a mouthful of water and rushed over to snatch the work.

The medicine was indeed effective. Not long after taking it, he slumped in the corner and fell asleep. When he woke from a nap, his eyes were bright again, his speech had vigor. One moment he wanted to open the carriage window for Song Miao, the next block the headwind blowing in from outside, the next tell jokes to amuse her — busy beyond measure.

He bustled through all that, still not done, and carefully said, "This time coming to run errands for Young Lady Song, I'm truly both happy and scared."

Song Miao naturally asked what he was scared of.

Da Bing honestly said, "Scared of being sent back — although I've been an apprentice in the yamen for nearly two years, aside from chopping filling, washing and cutting vegetables, tending fire, and wrapping steamed buns, I don't really know the rest. I only figured out kneading and working dough on my own, but even that I can only do on a small board; once the prep table gets big, I can't handle it..."

"I can really work, and I can endure hardship. Young Lady just use me. Whatever there is, have me run errands, have me do it. Even if I don't eat or drink, I'll do it well!"

He added, "Young Lady must know my former master... is no longer working in the yamen. Now several new public kitchen chefs have come in, each bringing their own apprentices. They only have me do sweeping, washing, and cutting. I couldn't learn anything before; now I can learn even less."

"Hearing that Young Master Han came looking for me, and that it was to be Young Lady Song's assistant, I nearly jumped for joy! Young Lady is kind, and teaches for real — I really don't want to wash and cut vegetables all my life. I can't always rely on Uncle and Aunt to support me..."

Song Miao chatted with him a few sentences, then got a rough idea of this man's circumstances.

Da Bing's surname is Liu. His original big name was Liu Bing. It is said that in the year of his birth, his hometown suffered waterlogging; floodwaters rose to a man's height. His mother, to survive, climbed to high ground hugging her pregnant belly. Her food and water ran out, but the water had not receded, and her labor began.

She starved for half a day, had no strength to give birth. In the end, it was thanks to an old woman hiding from the flood who spared half a steamed bun from her own mouth to feed her, that she managed to deliver the child.

Liu Bing got his name because of this.

Later the Liu family had another son and a daughter. Liu Bing's younger brother didn't survive. The sister survived, but their birth mother fell ill and died.

Seeing the family destitute, the pot bottom visible, new grain not yet harvested, Liu's father gritted his teeth and sent the daughter to the county to his sister's family. The son was older, already six. So he had someone help write a letter, entrusting someone to take it to the Capital to find his own elder brother.

Liu Zayi's days were not easy either, but it was his own nephew after all, so he took him in. First he had someone help change his name — big name "Liu Bing" — then entrusted someone to arrange for him to enter the prefectural yamen's rear kitchen as an apprentice, only hoping he could learn a trade. Not asking that he'd support the family in the future; just being able to feed himself would be no small feat.

But who knew luck would be this bad.

The master he originally followed didn't teach anything, fine. He endured, endured for a few years; by stealing lessons he could pick up some, his hands and feet became practiced. Once he went out, he could always find a teahouse or wine shop to slowly learn more.

But he couldn't withstand several public kitchen chefs being bribed by Steward Liao. In the end they lost their positions, and it made Da Bing a "official of the previous dynasty," unwelcome. Staying wasn't right, leaving wasn't right.

"You work quickly, learn fast, and are willing to learn — you'll surely have a bright future." Song Miao praised him.

Dabing, hearing this, was so delighted he scratched his ears and cheeks, saying: "Many thanks, Young Lady, for thinking highly of me! If I truly make something of myself, I'll bring my sister back to raise in my own home, buy a few more plots of land for my father to farm, so he never goes without grain again — and for Uncle and Auntie……"

He counted them off one by one, looking for all the world as if he had already made something of himself.

With Dabing in the same carriage chatting idly, this stretch of the journey was not so dull.

By afternoon, taking advantage of a break in the rain, the convoy found a spot where the water was shallower and stopped to rest.

Knowing everyone had brought their own food and water, and having received Han Li's instructions, Song Miao did not interfere further; but she was a cook after all, and had earlier bought some pickled vegetables and fermented pickles — though not of her own making, they were still something to eat — so she had Dabing take some to the front and distribute them to everyone.

Dabing was gone a while, then returned saying: "Young Master Han and Young Master Kong have both gone ahead to scout the road; the others received them and all gave their thanks."

Then in a low voice: "Only a few people, eating and complaining at the same time, lots of grumbling — saying Young Master Han brought them to this godforsaken place, and didn't know to wait a few more days for the water to recede before setting out; saying we don't even send a bite of meat, stingy as can be, foisting off stuff beggars wouldn't eat; saying the leadership this time is wrong, Young Master Han's qualifications are too shallow; and saying Young Lady……"

As he spoke on, originally indignant, he suddenly fell silent.

Song Miao frowned at this and asked: "Do you still remember who said these things?"

Dabing replied: "I remember — two older ones, three students, sitting in two separate carriages……"

Song Miao had long since received Han Li's instructions, knowing these people were a mixed bag, needing careful screening and assignment later, and had asked her to help observe more.

Taking their money and sharing such a bond, she could not help but play the despised informant; she asked in detail about a few people's appearances and which carriages they rode in, then said: "Next time we send food, don't give them any."

As she said this, thinking she would go report them tonight, she actually felt a kind of guilty pleasure.

Even on the first day the journey was not smooth; midway they were blocked by standing water several times, but fortunately ahead someone had laid floating logs or built floating bridges, so they managed to struggle through.

That day it was nearly the hour of Hai before everyone found lodging; they hastily washed up and each went to sleep, and the next morning before daybreak they set off again.

The second day's road was even worse; in several places the fully loaded mule carts had their wheels sink into the water, and in the end it took a crowd of people pushing to get them out.

That night, having failed to reach the planned spot and missed the lodging point, fortunately Han Li had scouted the road early, and they ended up borrowing shelter in a village.

The escort guards and cart drivers were fine, but seeing the students and retainers growing increasingly impatient, Song Miao sought out Han Li and asked: "Everyone is truly exhausted from the journey; if tomorrow's road is still this difficult, why don't I go ahead with you to scout, and prepare some food at the destination, so we don't have to gnaw on dry rations every day?"

Han Li shook his head and said: "No rush, let's wait a bit more."

He added: "Rest assured, I know what I'm doing — the days in Hua Prefecture will be even harder; if they can't endure even this, there's nothing more to say."

As a result, the next day halfway there, the convoy ahead and pedestrians stretched in an unbroken line, all stuck on the road — a small tributary had changed course, smashing straight through the official road, the current fierce, impassable to man or horse.

Asking ahead, they were told people were being organized to build a floating bridge where the current slowed, and it would take at least half a day before it was passable.

Han Li simply called all the students, literati, and retainers together, had them bring tools, and sent them to the riverbank to record water conservancy data.

When the group returned, the road was still not clear, but many of them were soaked through, and quite a few were caked in yellow mud.

That night there was no official relay station either; again they stayed in villagers' homes.

By early the next morning, having received word that the road ahead was blocked with no telling when it would be repaired and passable, Han Li mustered everyone again, preparing to go to the riverbank for water gauge measurements.

After being notified, a retainer in the convoy led two literati and three or four students running over to find Han Li.

"……The road was hard enough already; at a troublesome time like this, you still want us to record water conservancy data — it's not even the embankment and dam being repaired this time, what's there to record? Young Master Han, are you really just messing with us for fun??"

Han Li said: "It has a use — didn't I explain before, to divert water we must compare how much water several tributaries can hold……"

The retainer listened impatiently and said: "Young Master Han, your demands are too many; pardon my limited ability, I really can't do this. To be honest, I was entrusted by a superior to come help handle official documents, draft plans and memorials — not to do this kind of coarse labor. You treat people like mules, so I can only take my leave!"

As he spoke, he looked toward the people he had brought.

The ones behind followed up; the two literati were more righteous and bold, only saying they were old and in poor health, unable to endure such toil; the several students looked rather embarrassed, stammering that they couldn't do these things and wanted to resign and return to the Capital, asking Han Li to be understanding.

Han Li did not stop them; he immediately assembled all personnel for this trip, had the few state their reasons for leaving in front of everyone, then had them write resignation letters, sign, and affix their seals; only then did he tell the rest: "Anyone else who can't endure this hardship may also take this chance to return to the Capital with them — traveling together is at least safer."

He added: "Surely Lao Min made it clear when inviting you all that it would be very hard; before departure I also sent letters to everyone explaining what this trip entails, and spelled out the difficulties — the road's hardship is barely one or two tenths; once we reach the place, food, lodging, travel, the environment will only be worse, and one careless moment could endanger your lives."

"If you truly cannot bear it, there's no need to force yourselves."

Then everyone looked at each other, and for a moment no one spoke, and no one moved.

After a good while, two more students stepped forward and wrote resignation letters.

Han Li personally prepared food and water for them, selected an empty carriage, and had the driver take them back to the Capital.

After seeing them off, he returned to find Song Miao and said: "Troubling you, Stall Owner Song; if it's convenient tonight, could you help prepare some food?"

And he reported the headcount.

Song Miao nodded in agreement, but couldn't help adding: "Actually…… Young Master is so short-handed; if I had attended to the meals earlier, perhaps everyone's days would be easier to endure, and there wouldn't be so many complaints."

Han Li did not hide it from her, speaking frankly: "I did it on purpose."

Though recording water conservancy data was hard, for everyone it was not entirely without gain.

He led them in the work, and organized the teacher's old notes into texts, teaching them hand in hand; just last night some students returned and kept asking along the way about parts they didn't understand, and some even asked if they could go again.

But not everyone felt this was a good thing.

He naturally would not force them.

Han Li said: "Use people only if suitable; not same-path people, sooner or later they'll leave — better they leave early, saves me effort, saves me food."