Chapter 141: Miao Chu Chapter 140: Bones

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Helping Xie San'er up, Song Miao then said a few more words to his parents; although she let the matter drop, she did not forget to add, "I see that you two are honest, good people, so how is it that your child speaks and acts in such a hateful way? This time turned out alright, but in the future, if he offends someone who cannot be offended……"

The mother, however, sighed and said, "Once we return today, we will certainly discipline him properly!"

She added, "There are also no elders in the family; my husband and I are both always out earning a living. We originally had a daughter, but after she married, this child had no one to discipline him. He mixed with all sorts of messy people, both inside and outside the clan. Hua Prefecture has been chaotic these years; all kinds of thugs have sprung up outside, acting tyrannically everywhere. Who knows where this child learned such things, but he has become increasingly lawless!"

"We have beaten and scolded him before, but we cannot just keep him locked up either. Once we fail to watch him and he runs out the door, he mixes with those mixed people again. Alas!"

Hearing this, Song Miao looked at Xie San'er. He had been so arrogant yesterday, but now, caught by his parents, he was wilted, like a plucked chicken. Looking at him, he did not seem thoroughly bad.

She asked, "Do the two of you work in the medicine shop?"

Both of them shook their heads.

"Where would we have that ability? We don't know many medicines; we have always worked at the grain shop of Master Xie!" the woman said.

Her husband then said, "If the young lady needs grain, just tell me, and I will send over a bag of good rice!"

They also left fruit and pastries and such as an apology.

Although Song Miao found it strange, it was not convenient to ask further. She waited until the family left, then went out the door with Dabing.

Because they were staying at the official post station, meals were included, so the two of them had leisure. They went out, firstly to buy some common dry goods, and secondly to again inquire about prices of kitchen utensils, cooking tools, and ingredients, just like yesterday.

Right when they were asking about prices of large woks, large bamboo steamers, and so on in a grocery store, they saw two people enter from outside and ask the shop assistant, "Have you seen a young boy these past two days……"

The two described his age and appearance.

The shop assistant said, "Haven't seen him — these past few days, people have already come asking several times. How come you're also helping to ask, Liao Ge? Where did this Passing Dragon come from?"

That Liao Ge said, "I heard he's a friend of the grain and rice Xie family. They spent money, got Old Master Chu to intervene, and summoned a group of people to help search. But right now there's still no news. All the streets have been asked. I'm afraid he's a passing flower-picking thief who has long since run off to who knows where."

Soon after, Song Miao and Dabing went out the door. Walking on the road, they saw patrol soldiers led by yamen runners holding portraits and investigating house by house along the way — precisely searching for Xiang Lin.

Seeing such a formation, Dabing, having stayed in the yamen for two years — though in the rear kitchen, he had seen quite a lot — said, "They've been searching for days and haven't found anyone. Most likely he's no longer in the city."

Song Miao then instructed him, "Since there are flower-picking thieves in the city, you be careful in your daily life too."

Seeing it was nearly noon, the two returned to the official post station, put away their things, and then Song Miao put on the pair of cloth shoes and several pairs of socks she had bought, and went to the Xie family from yesterday.

Because they had agreed on the time early, Liang Yan was already waiting at the door early. Seeing Song Miao arrive, he hurried to welcome her. A steward also came to receive her.

Song Miao greeted them, entered the room, and in front of the steward gave the shoes to him, then said, "Try them on first, see if they fit."

Liang Yan turned his back to try them.

Song Miao glanced out of the corner of her eye and saw that he had already changed into clean new shoes this time, and inside he was also already wearing new socks, so she set her mind at ease.

The steward said, "I have already informed the kitchen, and the materials are prepared. Please, Young Lady, guide us."

Just as he spoke, he led Song Miao toward the rear kitchen.

Liang Yan originally wanted to follow, but the steward said, "Master Xiang will be back soon. He will certainly look for you when he returns. Young Master might as well wait here for him, so as not to be anxious."

On the way to the rear kitchen, Song Miao inevitably asked about Xiang Lin's whereabouts.

"We have exhausted all methods, but there is still no good news." The steward sighed.

Song Miao nodded and comforted him a few words.

Just as they were about to reach the kitchen, they heard a burst of scolding from inside.

"You cat! You were brought here to catch mice, not to knock over my oil pot — knocking over the oil pot would be fine, but you smashed half a basket of my chicken eggs too. You can't catch mice, you only make trouble. What use are you?!"

As he spoke, a black cat suddenly leaped out from the room.

Because it was extremely black, and there was a patch of white fur between its two eyes and its nose and mouth, mottled and patchy, it was not very pleasing to look at. It leaped very fast, and at a sudden glance, even in broad daylight, it was rather frightening.

Not only Song Miao, but even the steward was startled into retreating two steps.

The cook chased out right after it, but unexpectedly saw the two of them, and hurriedly stopped to bow in greeting.

The steward hurriedly asked, "What's going on?"

The cook said, "Don't know why, but lately the kitchen has been plagued by mice. It was better a few days ago, but these past few days, even when the food is cooked and covered with a cover, they can flip the cover and eat the food in the plates into a muddled mess."

"At first they were somewhat restrained. Yesterday, even the braised chicken specially left for Master Xiang was gnawed more than half. I saw this couldn't go on, so I asked the Xie family to help borrow a cat. Who would have thought that this morning, after only leaving for an hour, I came back to find the oil pot and chicken eggs all knocked over. I don't know if it was this cat that knocked them over, or the mice."

Hearing this, the steward said, "Most likely it's because of the heavy rains lately. The mice had their nests flooded, so they ran out to make trouble!"

He then hurriedly called people, saying, "Bring back a few more cats, let them loose in the courtyard, lest the mice gnaw the medicinal materials — those things spoil very easily!"

After arrangements were made, he then invited Song Miao into the kitchen.

The cook had also eaten that day's breakfast before, and treated Song Miao with utmost respect. He hurried forward and said, "Let the young lady know, I followed the recipe you gave, but I don't know why, the tossed garlic chives come out with a heavier astringent taste, the aroma isn't the same either, and the mouthfeel isn't so crisp and tender. Master Xiang also said it's not as fragrant as when you made it that day. One bite and it's wrong."

Song Miao said, "You make it and let me see."

The ingredients were ready, so the cook proceeded to make it step by step.

Raw tossing is a quick dish; in just a moment, a basinful was done.

The cook fetched clean chopsticks and gave a pair each to Song Miao and the steward.

Song Miao, however, was not in a hurry to eat, but said, "There are a few points. First, the garlic chives were not drained dry enough at the start. Second, when tossing, there were too many vegetables for the basin, so the seasoning couldn't coat evenly. Third, too much sesame oil was added; cold oil should be used, not hot oil. If the leaves are scalded limp, it won't taste good. When it says a few drops, it truly means only a few drops. This oil is to moisten the astringency and lift the aroma. If there's too much, floating oil makes it greasy. Fourth……"

She pointed them out one by one, explaining in great detail, then said, "You correct these and try making it again."

The cook followed her instructions and made it. Wherever Song Miao saw something wrong, she stepped forward to guide him by hand.

Before long, another small plate of raw tossed garlic chives was served.

The cook and the steward both hurriedly used chopsticks to taste respectively.

The cook's face instantly bloomed into a smile, and he hurriedly asked the steward, "Is it this taste? Is it this taste??"

He then invited Song Miao, "Young Lady, please help compare and verify!"

Song Miao also tasted a mouthful, smiled, and said, "Eight or nine out of ten it's there. Only if there were good vinegar, changing the vinegar and adding half a spoon more, the flavor would be even better."

The steward also said, "I'm not Master Xiang, I don't know what he'd say, but as I see it, this new flavor is indeed far better than the old one!"

He then hurriedly thanked Song Miao.

Seeing the matter was settled, Song Miao was just about to take her leave, when the steward hurriedly had someone bring over a purse, and said, "Please, Young Lady, you've made a trip here, toiling back and forth; this is travel money. Master Xiang these two days has been busy searching for the Young Master, unable to attend to all this; when he finds the person another day, and he eats this dish, he may well have further thanks to give."

Song Miao earned this money by her own skill, so she naturally saw no need to be polite; she said thanks and accepted it readily.

The steward originally intended to see Song Miao out, but that cook was extremely reluctant to let her go, snatched up the task, and shamelessly asked a great many questions.

Song Miao answered them one by one; seeing the hour was not early, she was just about to take her leave, when that cook brought out several things from the back, saying, "I don't have anything particularly presentable; I've delayed Young Lady this long. Previously I got some wild honey, very soothing to the throat; when coughing, dissolve it in water and drink, it's very comforting. Also, last time I went south I got some rock sugar lumps; don't disdain them, it's just a token of my heart. If there's anything you don't know in the future, come ask at my door; please, Young Lady, teach me more!"

Speaking, he indeed wrapped a bottle of honey in a cloth bundle, a box of sugar, and also a packet of tea leaves, said to be this year's new tea.

Knowing rock sugar was especially expensive, Song Miao couldn't conveniently take it all; she only took the tea leaves, and said, "What I answered were just trivial matters, not any secret technique; no need to be so polite."

That cook refused no matter what, insisting on giving it all.

Song Miao had no choice; seeing many jars placed on the ground to one side, she smiled and asked, "I don't need the sugar; just what good things do you have pickled?"

The cook hurriedly said, "I'm a Sichuan native, learned to pickle vegetables since childhood; these are newly made pickled ginger and pickled papaya, bought privately for my own eating, not worth much; if Young Lady fancies them, I'll send two jars over another day!"

This place was not far from the official post station, so Song Miao didn't refuse either; she put the tea leaves back, saying, "If there's extra, just put together a small jar for me."

That cook suddenly slapped his head, went to the back and brought out another jar, saying, "This is also something I bought and pickled myself; in two days it'll be ready to eat; it's pickled garlic chives, delicious with porridge or rice!"

Song Miao hurriedly said, "This is good; if there's extra of this, put some together for me too!"

She added, "Not too much; I just want a taste."

The cook agreed with aye-ayes, saying, "When the shift replacement comes, I'll have free time in the afternoon, and I'll send it to Young Lady!"

Speaking, he haphazardly gathered the various things in the room, and was about to see Song Miao out.

Seeing several plates of messy cooked dishes placed on the table to one side, which that cook completely ignored, Song Miao asked, "These don't need to be put away?"

"Those are what the fat mice crawled over; don't dare want them anymore."

Hearing this, Song Miao looked over a few more times, and felt it even more strange; she asked, "Was this chicken originally whole?"

"My master is particular about eating; this chicken was bought from the restaurant as a whole freshly roasted castrated chicken. As a result, he ate barely two bites last night, and by morning it was all eaten by mice."

He also pointed to a spot on the ground for Song Miao, saying, "Young Lady look; the mouse paw prints are right there."

Song Miao looked as directed, and sure enough, a patch of ground was greasy, a string of mouse footprints heading outward.

But she looked at the other plates: one plate had half a steamed bun left, one plate had wood ear stir-fried pork shreds, for eating with the steamed bun — this plate clearly had traces of pushing food on top.

Anyone who regularly clears bowls and chopsticks knows: the oil stains on the plate when picking up food, and the oil stains when using chopsticks or other things to push food down, are not the same; the latter are almost half-parallel streaks of traces.

Song Miao then asked, "Was the wood ear stir-fried pork shreds also originally a full plate?"

The cook answered yes.

Song Miao then asked him what had been eaten a lot by mice recently.

That cook thought a moment, and listed them for Song Miao.

It was quite balanced; vegetables, staples, meat — all were there.

"Even chopsticks it wants to climb — this morning I came, saw the chopstick box scattered all over the ground!"

Just as they were speaking, he gathered his things, shut the door, and went to see Song Miao out.

They'd walked just a few steps when a person hurriedly ran in from outside; at first he didn't speak, only when he ran close, following beside Song Miao, did he say in a muffled voice, "I'll see Sister out the door."

— It was precisely Liang Yan.

Song Miao asked him, "Has your Uncle Xiang returned?"

Liang Yan said, "Not yet; I'll see Sister off first."

Song Miao then asked him if his shoes fit his feet, then turned back and told that cook about yesterday's matter.

That cook cursed, "If I'd known that bunch of brats were no good, spending all day drilling around the courtyard, making noise, with who-knows-what rotten talk learned from who-knows-where in their mouths; if my son were like that, I'd have broken his legs with a stick long ago, let him lie honest in bed before speaking!"

He also said to Liang Yan, "Young Master, don't mind them; a bunch of little bastards, foul-mouthed to the extreme!"

Liang Yan then said, "Uncle Duan, don't call me Young Master; I'm not any Xiang family Young Master."

The three walked; walking abreast was inconvenient, so naturally there was front and back.

Seeing the two conversing, Song Miao slowed her pace slightly, yielding a bit of space.

This Xie Family Residence is a three-entry courtyard; the kitchen is in the innermost part; exiting requires a detour, inevitably passing many side rooms; all along the way one smells various medicinal scents.

Song Miao kept to the side, leaning toward the outside; she'd walked just a few steps when she suddenly caught a faint licorice scent, but after one more step, a slight breeze blew from the left, bringing a faint burnt braised aroma.

For no clear reason, her mind stirred; she felt something was off, so she stopped her steps, and carefully searched under the eaves from where the burnt braised scent blew.

Under the eaves there was naturally a corridor; along the outside of the corridor were planted quite a few flowers and trees.

It was nearly summer now; the flowers and trees had lush branches and leaves, wild grass was also abundant; grass and leaves grew in disorder on the ground, faintly revealing things underneath — several pieces of bone.

Song Miao was a cook; she was naturally especially familiar with bone shapes, and hurriedly stepped closer, lowered her head to examine closely.

She stood in place without moving; ahead, Liang Yan reacted first, turned back to look; Cook Duan followed and returned, asking, "Young Lady, what's wrong?"

Song Miao pointed at the bones, saying, "Are these roast chicken bones?"

Cook Duan hurriedly jumped down the steps, pushed aside the grass, and sure enough, many chicken bones, scattered and broken, thrown all over the ground.

He frowned, saying, "Storerooms are all around the sides; these dead mice, wouldn't they really have hidden in the storerooms?"

Song Miao had a preconception in her heart; looking at the bones, she couldn't help but be biased; she only felt it didn't look like mice dragged them, but rather quite orderly, like they were thrown from under the corridor outward, forming a small half-fan shape, like one slice of a cake cut into six.

She followed that throwing direction and looked again, and sure enough arrived at the window sill of that large side room to the side.

There was nothing else; only on that window sill lay a small piece of chicken bone, clearly the position of a chicken wing tip.

She couldn't help asking Liang Yan, "Do you often see those children playing in the courtyard?"

Liang Yan nodded, saying, "They're used to running all over the courtyard with Xiang Lin."

"Xiang Lin is lost; do they still run wild? Where do they run most?"

Liang Yan thought a moment, saying, "Seems they're often seen around this area."

This place is the outer wing room of the first entry.

She looked up and saw the steward coming inside, so she said softly to Liang Yan, "Ask him to come over."

Liang Yan heard her and called out to the steward without thinking.

The steward saw the three of them standing there and ran over in a few steps.

Song Miao quickly pointed out the bones under the eaves and the bones by the window opening to him, and said, "I smell licorice inside; I'm afraid mice like it most, it's sweet."

The steward was startled, quickly called for people, and took the keys from his pocket himself, quickly opening the door.

As soon as the room opened, the licorice scent inside grew stronger.

Several servants entered the door and, following the steward's orders, lifted the cloth covering them one by one to inspect.

Song Miao looked inside; it was like a storeroom, except for the licorice stacked high against the wall side and covered with oilcloth, there were no other household furnishings, only a table placed against the wall, with a layer of cloth on top of the table.

She always felt the table and the cloth were strange, looked down at the ground, and indeed saw another bone at the table corner, so she called the steward, pointed at it, and gestured for him to look.

The steward did not use the servants, but went forward himself, nimbly lifting the cloth with his hand.

There was no mouse under the table, but a person was lying there, mouth open, drooling, sleeping soundly.

The steward looked closely, his forehead immediately jumped, his heart almost jumped out, and he cried out in alarm, "Young Master???"

?? Thank you to Book City Short Short for sending me a path of Inspiration: ）

? Thank you to Book City Crazy Mom for sending me seven Small Gifts, Ao Te Man Xiao Jie for sending me three Small Gifts, my cat is called Egg Egg, two book friends each sent me two Small Gifts, Smoke and Freedom, Fu Ruan Ruan, billy_Da each sent me one Small Gift, thank you everyone=3=