Chapter 140

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

That child looked to be eight or nine years old, even taller than Liang Yan by a head, and already had some weight to him; when he crashed into Song Miao, she felt a sharp pain, and from the great force she staggered, barely managing not to fall, yet still forced herself to steady him and hold him up.

When she held him up, she couldn't help but lower her head to look.

On his head were two topknots, and between the topknots his hair was stuck with quite a few things like dry broken tree branches; looking more closely, they resembled the broken tips of some plant's roots and rhizomes — precisely where the licorice scent came from.

And that child, after crashing into Song Miao, used the momentum to steady himself, but without even turning his head, chased after his remaining companions and ran off.

The Xiang family steward behind had already followed out; seeing this, he frowned deeply too, but in the end said nothing.

Yet he didn't speak, and someone else spoke up for him.

Liang Yan had also come out the door early on.

Earlier, when he was surrounded and cursed at by several children, they had already pointed at his nose, and he only defended himself verbally, offering no resistance at all; but now seeing that child crash into Song Miao and then lift his leg and run, and then seeing Song Miao supporting her waist and hugging her arms, frowning as if injured somewhere, his expression changed instantly, and he shouted: "Xie San'er, you stop right there! You injure someone and just run?!"

That child turned back and shouted: "A little woman blocking the way herself, what's it got to do with your grandpa — your grandpa hasn't even come looking for trouble with her yet!"

Opening with 'your grandpa', closing with 'your grandpa', especially that tone, swaggering and vulgar, 'woman' this, 'woman' that — who knows where he learned it.

Hearing this, Liang Yan was furious beyond control, and chased out like a cannonball.

At noon he had scrounged a meal; that old chicken, though a bit gamey, was also dry and had hardly any meat juice, but in the end it hadn't died in vain.

Naturally tough since childhood, and now with a full belly and strength, his feet flew; he ran three parts faster than that child, Liang Yan taking three steps for every two, and with a final fierce lunge, grabbed the man's lapel and yanked backward with all his might.

That child called Xie San'er resisted desperately at first, but after fighting for a short while, he felt Liang Yan's fighting style was terrifying — he didn't dodge his own fists, completely willing to lose eight hundred to injure the enemy eight hundred, as if seeking mutual destruction; especially when he looked up again and saw his eyes bloodshot, his expression angry to the point of ferocity, he was a child after all, fear rose in his heart, and he cried: "Stop hitting, stop hitting! I'll apologize! I'll apologize to that woman!"

Even as he said this, he looked toward the front.

His several companions had long since run off without a trace.

This person was resentful in his heart, but dared not say anything on his mouth; pressed by Liang Yan, he was brought before Song Miao, and stiffly offered a perfunctory apology.

Seeing his attitude, Song Miao was very displeased.

It was rare for Liang Yan to catch someone back, and it was for her sake; especially since this child was so arrogant before, and now carried himself like this, she wasn't prepared to let it go lightly, and asked coldly: "What's your name? Which family's person are you?"

Liang Yan at the side opened his mouth to answer, but Song Miao gave him a meaningful look, and he hurriedly shut his mouth.

That Xie San'er had stiffly apologized, thinking the matter was over and already wanting to slip away; suddenly hearing Song Miao ask this, his heart jumped, but he was unwilling to answer, only turning his head away.

Song Miao then let him go, turned her head and asked: "Trouble you, Steward, may I ask which family he belongs to?"

And said: "He acts so unreasonably, crashes into someone and doesn't apologize, his mouth is filthy, and he specially bullies the weak; others see he's a child and don't bother, but I've always had a needle-sharp mind, and don't easily let things go!"

That steward, fearing Song Miao would misunderstand that the Xiang family was bullying Liang Yan, and it would spread and ruin the master's reputation, had wanted to explain earlier but couldn't find an opening; now given a step down, he hurriedly said: "Though it's not clear, most likely he's a child from the Xie clan."

And said: "Because we're lodging here on loan, the adults are all busy, the Xie family feared the two young masters would have no one to keep them company, so they called over clan children to accompany them; who would have thought these few would have such dispositions, truly... sigh! Let me call someone to come ask..."

While speaking, he kept watching Song Miao's expression.

Song Miao had not the slightest thought of smoothing things over.

She knew the Xiang family was lodging on loan after all; even for the sake of relations between the two sides, they mostly wouldn't stand up for Liang Yan — naturally within reason.

The Xiang family can't manage it, but she's different.

She was originally just passing through, not afraid of offending people; no matter how strong a dragon doesn't suppress a local snake, her side has many people and great momentum, and it's proper official business, and there's Han Li behind helping, just right to borrow the momentum.

Liang Yan is already in such a situation; even if she pursues nothing at all, the other children won't think well of him, but will think he's easy to bully.

Better to really make a scene; even if the adults only slightly restrain them, it's better than letting it develop — either way it won't get worse.

She stretched out a hand, lifted a bit of her sleeve, revealing her wrist.

Just now that child crashed in; because both hands sought support, his fingernails dug hard into the back of her hand and arm, and now several deep red marks had been scratched out, blood seeping outward.

Song Miao said: "You know I eat by my hands; if he had just apologized nicely, I wouldn't have pursued it, but with this attitude — I'm staying at the official posthouse on the street, not far away; trouble you to inform his parents, tell them to bring the child and come to the door to apologize."

That child stared wide-eyed.

The Xiang family steward, seeing Song Miao truly intended to pursue it, and she was an outsider at that, in his heart only wished he could go up and help bang a gong and beat a drum; he hurriedly turned back and called a peeking little servant from inside the door, and asked: "Do you recognize which family this child is from?"

"Recognize him, he's Xie Rong's third son!"

"You take him back and tell his parents — you saw what just happened, right? Though he's a small child, being this insensible, the victim doesn't want anything else, just wants them to come to the door and apologize; you take the child back and properly explain to Xie Rong's whole family."

Xie San'er this time was truly anxious, and cried: "Sister! Elder sister! I was wrong! Spare me, I'll never speak nonsense again!"

Song Miao with a cold face said: "You admitting fault now is just fear of trouble, you fundamentally don't know where you went wrong; I have no qualification to teach you, let your parents come teach you."

That little servant hurriedly pulled Xie San'er away.

Xie San'er, who was arrogant and foul-mouthed before, now knew fear, desperately begging that little servant, crying for father and mother all the way.

Left to one side, Liang Yan stood with mouth agape watching, both excited, wanting to follow and join the excitement, and anxious, from time to time turning back to look at Song Miao's bleeding arm.

After the people left, Song Miao then pointed at Liang Yan's shoes that had been wet all day, and said to that steward: "Young Master just now caught the person for me, and got his shoes all stepped wet; wonder what size? I'll buy a new pair tomorrow and return them to him."

The steward hurriedly said: "No need to return, no need to return! Plenty of shoes at home!"

Song Miao had paper on her, so she took that paper to make a show of measuring, and then considered it done.

After a while the steward spoke again: "That banquet, can Young Lady truly not accept? If you know that Qian Yaosi, later within Hua Prefecture, whatever business you need to handle, there'll only be benefits."

Song Miao only said she had accepted a job of cooking for people, and politely refused.

That steward then said: "There's one more matter; last time Young Lady gave that recipe for cold tossed crown daisy, don't know why, the cooks we brought along can't make that taste no matter what — wonder if you can spare some time to come give some guidance?"

And said: "Young Lady must have heard just now; many notices have been posted outside, don't know if you've seen — my family lost a young master, the whole household has searched for many days, the master from early to late goes out seeking connections and currying favor, tea and rice without taste, hasn't eaten properly for two or three days..."

Song Miao readily agreed, saying: "Perfect, I'm coming tomorrow to deliver shoes anyway; if the kitchen is convenient, prepare the materials, I'll come and make it once with you and you'll know."

Hearing they could meet again tomorrow, Liang Yan's eyes shone bright, clearly happy; but within that happiness, there was also some indescribable worry, from time to time looking at Song Miao's wrist.

Song Miao nodded at him soothingly, urged him inside to change clothes and shoes; after he walked far away, she then said to that steward: "Only Master Xiang worries for his son; even if dragon liver and phoenix gall were made right now, he'd have no heart to eat them."

That steward sighed a breath, saying: "Only hoping today's efforts are of some use; anyone with any use at all has been invited."

Because of this delay, Song Miao returned to the food shop a bit late.

At this time the sky was dark and clouds hung low.

She and Han Li carried food boxes back to the Yi Guan Guan; they had barely stepped through the door when a great rain began to pour outside with a clatter.

Amid the sound of rain, the wind raged wildly; the front hall was dimly lit, the other tables were empty, but one person sat alone behind a table, on which lay a small plate with a bit of salted vegetables and half a steamed bun.

Song Miao quickly called out to Han Li, signaling him to go look.

As the two drew closer, the person behind the table had already heard the sound and raised his head; his expression was unclear—first dejected, but upon seeing Song Miao and Han Li approach together, he was both angry and filled with the surprise of recovering something lost. With a thousand words to say, in the end they became only one angry sentence: "Where have you been??"

He angrily added: "I woke up, and Huai Prefecture Riverway Canteen Zheng Yan Seal wasn't in the room. I went out to look, but couldn't find the Song Stall Owner. I asked others, and not a single one was there. Even that big bun is gone—I don't know where it went. If it weren't for the yamen runner telling me, I wouldn't even know he had followed Lu Wenming out. After all this fuss, I'm the only bare pole left, right?"

It was Kong Fuyang.

While complaining, he looked up and saw Song Miao's expression, unable to help but add: "Song Stall Owner, you're still laughing! You and Huai Prefecture Riverway Canteen Zheng Yan Seal left me behind—where did you go???"

But before he could continue questioning, Han Li had already stepped forward two paces, placing the two food boxes on the table. As he opened them, he said: "I saw you sleeping soundly and didn't want to disturb your good dream. Song Stall Owner said you'd definitely be hungry when you woke up, so she had me bring back simmered fish and braised goose, along with a cold side dish—blah blah blah, do you want to eat or not? Forget it if you don't."

In a moment, the food was taken out of the boxes: indeed, a whole fish weighing about a catty, a whole braised goose leg, the cold dish being dressed lettuce stem strips, plus two steamed buns, and a bowl of rice squeezed upside down beside the goose leg.

Kong Fuyang saw this and almost immediately changed his face, breaking into a smile at once, his face blossoming layer upon layer like a true chrysanthemum. He quickly called out: "I knew Song Stall Owner always treats me best! Huai Prefecture Riverway Canteen Zheng Yan Seal must definitely have me in his heart! Oh, I was just speaking rashly in my hurry. Ignore me, ignore me!"

While speaking, he began eating with the half steamed bun still in his hand.

He had only taken two bites when he shook his head and nodded, saying: "As for taste, it's not as good as the casual bits Song Stall Owner whips up, but thinking it was brought back by Song Stall Owner and Huai Prefecture Riverway Canteen Zheng Yan Seal, the affection in it suddenly makes the dish flavorful—do you know the Willow Dew in Guanyin's Jade Purifying Bottle? Dabbing a bit of that is about the same effect..."

After speaking, he didn't forget to look at Song Miao, then at Han Li, asking: "You understand what I mean, right?"

Song Miao shook her head with a suppressed laugh.

Seeing her shake her head, Han Li naturally shook his head too.

Kong Fuyang stamped his feet and sighed with "ai ai," resentfully saying: "One after another just knows how to shake their heads. I don't know if you're pretending to be stupid or truly stupid, forcing me to spell it out—from now on, don't do things leaving me out like this! Even if you leave me out, do it like today and remember to make it up to me!"

He added: "We were originally just old acquaintances. Others may be fine, but with us they're not the same. You two always put me on the tip of everything. As the saying goes, new clothes are not as good as old ones, new people are not as good as old ones. If we must compare, to put it bluntly, I am the original wife. Do you understand or not??"

He sighed again: "Once having seen the vast sea, one finds no other water; apart from Mount Wu, no other clouds! That is the affection between you and me—Song Xiaoniangzi, next time there's something delicious, remember to save me a bite!"

Seeing that his mouth couldn't stay idle for a moment, Song Miao pressed her lips and laughed.

Han Li took down the pack on his shoulder and returned it to Song Miao, saying: "You've walked half a day. Song Stall Owner, go back and rest early—with such heavy rain, it's not good to go out this afternoon."

Just as they were speaking, they heard voices outside. Soon, a group of three or four people burst in, shaking the raincoats off their bodies, calling for the yamen runners, and glancing around the front hall with their eyes.

The yamen runner hurried out from the back. Seeing the crowd, he was clearly acquainted with them. He hurriedly greeted them and asked: "Ai yo! Today is your rest day, and with such heavy rain, why have you gentlemen come out?"

The few people complained: "What can we do? They say a passing wealthy guest lost his son. They searched everywhere and couldn't find him, so they reported it to the authorities. Now, an entire department has brought along all the dutou and xunpu under them to help him find someone."

The yamen runner asked: "Is it that boy surnamed Xiang? They came asking about him these past two days. He's not here."

"Since it's official business, we have to make a round anyway. We'll go in and take a look ourselves—are there any important people present whom we can't afford to offend?"

Saying this, they went to the back, knocking on doors and searching room by room.

Seeing that these people complained with their mouths but acted without the slightest slack, Kong Fuyang couldn't help but find it strange: "Huai Prefecture Riverway Canteen Zheng Yan Seal, you earlier asked Judge Cen for two people to help take turns relaying messages on rest days. Judge Cen said his subordinates didn't agree, each wanting to rest, and it wasn't good to force them or to rotate compensatory rest. He even wanted to assign two servants from your home to help you—but looking at me, not everyone is resting! With such heavy rain, they can still be so diligent!"

Han Li made a shushing gesture, signaling him that there were ears on the other side of the wall.

Kong Fuyang then closed his mouth.

Song Miao guessed it might be that Xiang Yuan had found Qian Yaosi, and this man had spoken, producing such an effect.

If true, no wonder Xiang Yuan had always wanted to treat the other party to a formal banquet. And why would that steward say he knew this yaosi, saying there was only benefit and no harm?

That night passed without incident.

Early the next day, taking advantage of Han Li leading people to report at the Hua Zhou Prefecture Yamen, Song Miao was about to go out shopping with the big bun when a yamen runner came to report that several people outside were inquiring about her name.

Song Miao followed them out the door. Sure enough, she saw the young servant who had brought news yesterday leading the way, with a man and a woman standing beside, holding the crying Xie San'er among them. Seeing her come out, they hurriedly saluted and apologized, and urged their son forward to apologize.

Unlike Xie San'er, his parents looked like honest people at first glance, appearing very nervous. They apologized very sincerely and also wanted to offer compensation.

The younger one, after a night, seemed like a changed person. Not only did he apologize honestly, he even knelt to admit his fault, listing one by one the wrongs he had done, and promising not to bully people in the future, and so on.

Song Miao stepped forward to help him up.

After a night, Xie San'er had changed his clothes, and the two little topknots had also been retied with new cords. But strangely, there was still a faint licorice scent on his body. Looking down, his head was still in roughly the same place, but now had many broken roots and whiskers not quite the same as yesterday.