Chapter 136

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

For this pot of simmered rice, before cooking she brushed a layer of lard on the bottom of the pot, and when it was nearly done she drizzled a circle of oil around the edge into the pot, swirling it so the bottom was seared over high heat once; the two-pronged attack made the oil poured in explode into that layer of scorched, fragrant rice crust one grain thick.

The rice crust soaked up the oil fragrance, the rice itself had flavor, every ingredient had been stir-fried in oil, fragrant and aromatic; if eaten on ordinary days, eating too much would actually be a bit greasy, but today a group of people had been busy from morning till night all day, all physical labor, and at this moment what they wanted to eat was heavy oil and heavy salt.

Lu Wenming regretted it to death, regretting that he hadn't chewed a few more bites just now but had swallowed whole, so that Carrot and Scallion, the two surnamed Hu, and Cured Meat and Cured Sausage, the two surnamed La, had finally failed to decide a winner.

Rarely having a chance to act as judge, he actually privately leaned more toward those surnamed La, and was very willing to give them another chance.

After all, meat surnamed La was tougher, had a stronger flavor, and more backbone; even if it was meat, if meat were compared to people, meat with backbone deserved a bit of favoritism, just like himself—besides, if not chewed long enough, the wonderful cured flavor within could not be fully squeezed out.

He hurriedly scooped another mouthful of rice, but he was truly hungry and couldn't help chewing a few bites before swallowing it down; as he swallowed, he inwardly condemned himself that such good rice could not be eaten carefully, savored carefully, and what was the difference from wanton destruction?

Eating this time, he felt that the scallion and carrot were exceptionally sweet and fragrant, and there was also a bit of oil fragrance and rice fragrance from the cured flavor, which seemed even more likely to win.

—No wonder gentlemen ordinarily loved to summon those door guests with sweet mouths who did things by pushing and shoving, slippery and hard to pin down, to keep them company!

Eating cured flavor requires more chewing, but eating soft things like carrot and scallion without bones only needs a few casual chews to taste the sweetness.

As this judge, he leaned left one moment and right the next, very wanting to be fair and just, truly finding it difficult, chewing nonstop in his mouth, and his mind also not stopping.

Just as he was thinking, he heard several "bang" and "clang" sounds by his ear, followed by several more; looking up, he saw the students eating around him had all rudely stood up, scrambling to go add more rice.

He almost choked on a mouthful, and no longer cared about wanton destruction or fair judgment; he hurriedly swallowed a few mouthfuls and went to add another serving himself.

Only when the granary is full does one know propriety; after eating dry rations for three days, everyone was starving out of their minds; with rice, meat, and vegetables, at first they still yielded to each other a bit, but as they ate, their eyes held only the fragrant food, and their movements were all urgent.

Several large pots of messy cured flavor simmered rice were soon eaten clean.

Only then did everyone remember to look at that soup.

Some students came from poor homes and rarely saw seafood; unable to help themselves, they asked, "What is that soup?"

Lu Wenming had seen more, but still clicked his tongue and said, "It's seaweed! Leader Han spent a lot of money!"

Everyone hurried to ladle soup.

The egg flower was very tender; entering the mouth it was like the finest silk, clinging to the tongue and sliding down by itself, like cloud fluff, almost without presence, yet truly existing.

Seaweed was similarly soft and tender; if you tried hard to find it, you could taste it, slightly chewy, but if you were even a little careless, it would carry a bit of seafood's fresh sweetness down into your belly along with the egg flower soup.

With shrimp skin and seaweed, this soup naturally wouldn't be bland, but its freshness was light, its saltiness was light, the sweetness of seafood and egg flower was faintly visible, and there was the slight pungency of Sichuan pepper and a bit of sesame oil flavor; everything was very light, very clear.

After eating cured flavor, the mouth had the arrogant residue of cured flavor; brought by this soup, it was as if the mouth was cleaned in one go, comfortable and clean.

Those who hadn't eaten enough now fixed their eyes on the steamed buns beside them.

The large steamed buns fresh from the oven were very lively, carrying full wheat fragrance; on the table were also several plates of stir-fried rape, the rape flowers chopped fine, stir-fried with plenty of evodia, very spicy, just right to go with the buns.

Because it was chopped fine, this spicy stir-fried rape flower was especially flavorful; its own clear sweetness was suppressed by the heavy spiciness, but after swallowing, the vegetable sweetness slowly came back as an aftertaste in the mouth.

Using the bun to eat up even the bit of soup juice at the bottom of the plate, Lu Wenming, after swallowing the last bite, was so comfortable that he unconsciously stretched out his legs and relaxed his shoulders.

A room full of people rubbed their bellies, kicked their legs, and some had eaten so full they couldn't help standing up and walking back and forth a few steps.

Someone let out a sigh: "This is what human life should be!"

Many echoed in agreement.

Everyone finally freed their mouths to discuss where in the simmered rice was most delicious; some loved the rice crust, saying it was wonderfully fragrant; some said they liked cured meat; some said cured sausage was the most delicious; and others insisted on waving the flag for scallion, saying it was especially good at absorbing flavor, and besides, it was sweet just right, and so on.

Others said that seaweed egg flower soup, because it was their first time eating seaweed, they now knew what this taste was like, quite special; it was good to drink, but too expensive, and they absolutely couldn't bear to buy it themselves, and so on.

Seeing a group of people chatting animatedly, Lu Wenming, also rubbing his belly, suddenly reacted and spoke up: "Did any of you see Leader Han? How come it seems he didn't come to eat?"

Suddenly the whole room fell silent for a moment.

Someone recalled: "Just now Leader Han said to let us go back first; he said he and Kong Fuyang would be a little later."

"Not good, it seems we didn't leave rice for them?!"

A group of people suddenly changed color, and the atmosphere became a bit tense all at once.

Lu Wenming hurriedly looked for Song Miao and asked whether there was still time to prepare some more food.

Song Miao asked: "Is it that some people haven't eaten enough? It's best to add more, how much?"

After learning it was for Han Li and Kong Fuyang, she said: "It's fine, I have rice left here—if anyone hasn't eaten enough, tell me, there's still extra."

Hearing "there's still extra," Lu Wenming couldn't help but grow the dog's gall to scrounge food and drink; the sentence "I haven't eaten enough either" had already reached his throat, but was hard-swallowed back by a full burp.

Everyone had been busy outside all day; knowing Han Li and the other had rice to eat, everyone relaxed, knowing the road ahead was not passable, and tomorrow they would probably continue to go measure; they each went back first to prepare to rest early.

This time, just as everyone returned to their lodgings, the landlords one after another sent up hot water—also "instructed by Song Xiaoniangzi," "soaking feet is fine, wiping the body is also fine, all usable."

Hot water in the village was naturally not easy to get; although they didn't need to buy firewood like in Jingcheng, drawing water, carrying water, chopping firewood, splitting firewood, tending the stove, boiling water—all were manual labor.

One could guess it cost money to have such a good thing.

After a busy day, coming back to eat such a wonderful full meal, soaking feet in hot water, wiping the body with a hot cloth; as soon as clothes were taken off, the landlord they were borrowing from collected them, saying they would help wash and dry them; it truly soothed much of the day's hard work.

Life in the world is nothing but clothing, food, lodging, and travel.

Although it was bitter and tiring, if they could always have treatment like today, it wasn't that they couldn't endure a bit more—they could endure even more.

Lu Wenming soaked his feet; when he went out to pour out the waste water, he heard two people talking in the next room.

"You finally tidied up in the morning; why have you spread out your luggage again?"

"Hey! Aren't we going to measure tomorrow anyway? We'll be staying another day regardless; I have some things pressed underneath, and I need to spread them out to take them out and use them."

"The day before yesterday you said you wanted to resign and return to the Capital, but I didn't see you resign; yesterday they left, and you didn't follow them; tonight, you're thinking of going to measure again—are you going or not in the end?"

"Let's see first, let's see first, no hurry! The whole road is flooded anyway; I've come all the way here; today that Han Li was teaching the surveying ruler method, only taught half of it, and I haven't figured it out yet; I'll talk about it after I figure it out!"

He also said: "Besides, didn't Song Xiaoniangzi just say she'd bake flatbread for us to take tomorrow, and said the flatbread is soft even when cold, soft and chewy; at that time she'll stir-fry some chopped evodia pickled vegetables for us, and pickle some sour carrots to bring along, to eat rolled up."

"Oh, I love eating vegetable rolls with flatbread the most; I have to eat before I leave!"

"What if there's more delicious food and things to learn the day after tomorrow?"

"Oh my, you person, why are you so insistent on getting to the bottom of things!"

Hearing two students who could be his sons bickering here, if it were yesterday, or even today during the day, Lu Wenming would likely be annoyed beyond measure, but at this moment he had the idle leisure to smile and shake his head, wash the basin clean, and only then return to his room.

For ordinary villagers, these two rooms vacated for them were where the younger son used to live, so naturally there was no extra furniture.

The student sharing the room took a small wooden stool to sit on, used a taller wooden stool as a table, took up a brush, and was writing something.

Lu Wenming walked over and casually asked, "What are you writing?"

That student said, "When Leader Han spoke of the sluice gates today, there were several points I didn't understand, so I'm writing them down first to ask him tomorrow."

Lu Wenming had originally already planned to get on the bed and lie down, but hearing these words, his footsteps suddenly stopped.

In his youth when he studied he was also very ambitious, feeling his prospects were limitless, that as long as he exerted himself, obtaining office was merely a matter of using it as a stepping stone.

However, he tried repeatedly and failed repeatedly, wasting twenty-odd years, before finally forcing him to face reality.

After throwing himself into being a retainer for others, at first he still strove to distinguish himself, hoping to gain office through his patron's appreciation and recommendation, but after discovering it was impossible, Lu Wenming became increasingly muddleheaded, merely passing the days.

Now seeing his roommate like this, he couldn't help but bring out his own books as well, and sit down beside that oil lamp together with him.

He had only been reading for a short while when the student beside him suddenly looked up and asked, "Hey! Brother Lu, do you think that Song Xiaoniangzi will cook for us again tomorrow night? If she does, what will she make?"

At this very moment, the "Song Xiaoniangzi" on everyone's lips, upon seeing the just-returned Han Li and Kong Fuyang, was also asking questions.

"Young Master, where did you get so many fish?"

Putting the many fish strung on rice straw into a large basin, Han Li went to wash his hands while turning back to speak to Song Miao, saying, "During the survey today, we saw many people selling fish at the river ferry crossing, the price was very low, fearing you were stuck here and couldn't go out easily, we bought some back; if there's time to cook them tomorrow they can substitute for meat, if not then forget it."

He also asked, "What are we eating today? Have they all eaten?"

Song Miao served them rice on one hand, answered the questions first, then introduced each dish one by one, only saying what ingredients were used and how the dishes were prepared, and thanking Young Master Han for the many dried goods and so on.

She also said it was a pity the two returned late, the rice wasn't as tasty as when freshly cooked, especially the scorched rice crust had become thicker, and also harder.

Kong Fuyang had been standing to the side earlier, also carrying fish in his hand; because he was talkative, several times he wanted to speak with Song Miao, but every sentence was spoken by Han Li first, leaving him no opening to interject.

Later, after putting the fish away properly, hearing this speech, he was anxious beyond measure, already having no mind for anything else, thanked Song Miao, and immediately buried his head in his rice, oblivious to the outside world.

It was Han Li who took the rice, yet wasn't in a hurry to move his chopsticks, but first asked Song Miao, "Has Stall Owner Song eaten?"

Waiting for Song Miao to smile and nod, he then ate his rice with peace of mind in big mouthfuls.

While the two ate, Song Miao was leading Dabing in examining those many fish.

Han Li said he would cook the fish tomorrow, but she couldn't be bothered to wait for tomorrow.

"Right now it's been raining continuously for days, whether pond water or river water, all are very yellow and muddy; these fish take on the flavor of the water they live in, the muddy fishy smell is also heavy, so we'll use strong flavors to suppress it."

She watched Dabing kill fish for a while, then went to teach him.

There were really quite a lot of fish, it took some effort, the two processed the fish clean, chopped them into chunks an inch thick, added ginger shreds, heavy wine, soy sauce, salt, fermented black beans, Sichuan pepper and such — the latter two lightly fried in oil first — mixed evenly, covered with lotus leaves.

It just so happened the household they were borrowing lodging from was particularly generous, having an ancestral well passed down.

Song Miao asked the owner's permission, put the several large basins holding the fish meat separately into a large bucket, lowered them into the well, letting them soak in the flavors all night.

Up front, after Han and Kong finished eating, Han Li first sent Kong Fuyang out to notify everyone of tomorrow's departure time, then called another person over, himself using the excuse of collecting bowls and chopsticks to go wash them, and a while later went out the door, to the back kitchen.

Before washing the bowls and chopsticks he looked once, after washing and setting them to dry he looked again, seeing Song Miao was teaching Dabing how to kill fish and cut fish chunks, really inconvenient to speak, so he had to withdraw and walk outside.

But he had only walked halfway when he suddenly paused, turned back again, stood at the kitchen doorway for a while, waited a good long time, then called out to Song Miao, and right in front of Dabing, spoke a few sentences with her about tomorrow's arrangements.

Finally he said, "Last night was rushed, no time to say — Kong Fuyang and I swapped rooms with this household, currently staying in the room opposite yours; if you encounter any trouble at night, just come knock on my door."

Han Li was here speaking with Song Miao, while far in the Capital, Cai Xiu held a long roster, flipping through it back and forth, and after finishing, turned back to look through it again from the start.

Because he ultimately couldn't find the person he wanted, he couldn't help asking, "How strange! How is it that Han Li's name still isn't seen?"

Finishing these words, he suddenly found it funny — this isn't the Capital Prefecture Office, who would know some Han Li.

Just about to explain to the petty clerk who brought the roster who Han Li was, the other party was already smiling and said, "Young Master Cai jokes; you mean the Han Li of the Taixue? How would his name be in there, he already led people to Hua Prefecture several days ago."

Cai Xiu froze completely, only feeling his ears must have malfunctioned.

He hurried forward, grabbed the other's sleeve with one hand, and asked, "What's going on? What Hua Prefecture? Why did he go to Hua Prefecture?! Wasn't he trying to go to Liu Ta He?"