Chapter 161

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Lu Wenming had been roasting the pan-fried Hulless Barley cakes brushed with thin oil over the fire; the surface originally had only a few golden-brown mian hua, but after Lu Wenming roasted them too long, the original burnt spots grew larger and larger until they covered whole areas.

The belly of the cake puffed up slightly, like a pufferfish that had just started to generate "qi," but that qi hadn't had time to grow large.

Roasting grain naturally brings an extreme toasted aroma; Song Miao brushed mutton fat, and the oil crust was also based on mutton fat. Mutton fat differs from lard and from clear oil; when cold it has a bit of a gamy smell, but after such roasting and heating, only a rich mutton aroma remains—plump, fragrant with a hint of sweetness.

Lu Wenming had only eaten one meal inside the cart body that afternoon, and had been rushing ever since; it was now the zi hour, and he was terribly hungry.

While roasting the cake, this man had eyes only for that cake; seeing its belly grow bigger and bigger and the aroma grow stronger and stronger, full of a harvest joy, he hurriedly laid it on the dried lotus leaf in his hand, flapped it back and forth with both hands to cool it, and after not long, took a bite.

The pan-fried thin pancake was hot to the mouth; one bite went "crack," and afterward the outer crispy burnt shell in his mouth was greeted again and again by his upper and lower teeth, also making "crack crack crack" responding sounds.

Mutton fat, Hulless Barley, glutinous rice—fried then roasted, though there was not a bit of meat, in the mouth was mutton aroma mixed with grain aroma, and also a faint nutty fragrance. Chewing and chewing, because the Hulless Barley itself had a fresh wheat-sweet taste, unlike ordinary flour; perhaps smelling it was astringent, but once eaten, that rich, heavy flavor spread in the mouth.

Hulless Barley flour cannot be ground that fine; it always retains some coarseness, giving another kind of rustic flavor.

Because it was not leavened dough, the inside was chewy and resilient; a little salt, a few Sichuan peppercorns, using both to bring out the sweetness of the Hulless Barley and glutinous rice themselves, and with mutton fat as the binder.

Such a thing, at midnight, paired with a teacup of tea, simply couldn't be more stomach-friendly!

Lu Wenming had met an old friend, and his pending matters now had hope; his mood was extremely delighted. Eating the cakes, one after another, he felt they suited his heart even more than the three pages of cake with duck cargo from that afternoon.

Just as he was thoroughly enjoying himself, he heard a cough from the side, then another series of coughs.

His mouth did not stop; he turned his head to look, and saw Li Huaiduan staring at his own hand.

The latter suddenly asked: "This is Hulless Barley cake? What flavor is it?"

Lu Wenming subconsciously reached his hand forward, stretched it halfway, then stopped again, drew it back a bit, gritted his teeth, and after all still handed it forward, saying: "You taste a bite? But you've eaten your fill at dinner; such coarse grain may not suit your appetite."

While saying this, he tore off a corner for him.

Li Huaiduan took it, stuffed a corner into his mouth, chewed a couple of times, and said: "Can't put it into words; not quite like the usual mian jiao I eat, just too little to taste anything—give me another bite?"

Lu Wenming was startled and hurriedly said: "Huai Duan! If you're not used to it, don't force yourself!"

Li Huaiduan laughed heartily: "No, no, give me a bit; I've been busy this midnight and am a little hungry; later we'll find something else to eat to tide us over."

Your "find something else" versus these Hulless Barley cakes personally made by my Song Xiaoniangzi—can they be the same thing!!

Lu Wenming glared at him, but after all handed out two pieces, instructing: "Eat carefully; this is a good thing!"

"A few cakes, and you're already out of breath!"

Li Huaiduan said while putting down the thing in his hand first, also sitting around the stove; sometimes the cake wasn't roasted enough, so he roasted it a bit more—roasting while eating, eating while roasting—and while doing so told Lu Wenming about tomorrow's boat arrangements using the map.

He pointed at the map, finished the two pieces allotted to him, then went to take from the lotus leaf wrap Lu Wenming had placed to one side, roasting and eating again.

Lu Wenming still didn't know this man had sinister intentions; he took the map and was slowly looking it over. After finishing his study, he looked down again and felt something was off, suddenly exclaiming: "Thief! Where are my cakes? How are there only these few left?!"

Li Huaiduan he-he-he laughed, an old face, laughing out the sly gleam of when he was in his teens, shouting: "I told you before not to want my things, you had the nerve not to want my things, so I have the nerve to want your things!"

While saying this, he slipped out like grass flying; after a good while, he brought back dry rations and food scavenged from who knows where; the two sat by the stove with tea, slowly sharing and eating.

Old friends meeting naturally have much to catch up on; the talk could never end.

Seeing it was too late, the two finished eating and were about to tidy up to rest, when Li Huaiduan, savoring the many things he had eaten at night, thought for a long time, but in his head there were only those few cakes. He endured for a long time, but in the end still couldn't help it, and suddenly asked: "That Song Xiaoniangzi of yours—does she sell cakes?"

Lu Wenming glared at his old friend in displeasure and said: "Earlier you looked down on my Hulless Barley cakes—if we can settle this matter, I'll go back and put on this old face to beg you a whole sack of cakes, how about that?"

He added: "That young lady doesn't just make Hulless Barley cakes; her other cakes and dishes are also extremely delicious!"

Speaking of this, he mentioned what they ate at noon, what they ate yesterday, what they had eaten these past days. He originally wanted to pick out three or five particularly outstanding ones to describe, but the more he said, the more there was; the more he described, the more his mouth watered. Though already full, the two still swallowed saliva as they slept.

Early the next morning, Li Huaiduan first took official documents to see the County Magistrate.

The Jixian County Magistrate glanced at the text on the paper, and his expression was not too good. He said: "Hua Prefecture's water control is originally a good thing; we are close by. If they can have a bit of effect, reducing disaster to the fields along the river, lending a hand is no problem. But this time, why so many boats? Isn't that asking too much?"

"Lending a hand is one thing, but this way, all work for them, and do we still do our own business?"

Li Huaiduan said: "Indeed the request is somewhat excessive, but this time I have an old friend from the Capital who knows I serve here and wants to take care of me; he specially came to me. County Magistrate, now the roads around Hua Prefecture City are blocked, and the rain doesn't stop. To open the roads, I estimate it will take no less than ten days or half a month!"

"But the people of Linghe Town know of a road; though it's a detour, it can reach Hua Prefecture."

"Building embankments and digging rivers—who knows how much manpower and material would be needed. I hear Hua Prefecture now has to run outside to requisition even grain rice; other things must also be lacking."

"My old friend proposed that we make a big show of it this time. They've already sent people out to spread the word to buy all sorts of things."

"Linghe Town's dock is small; when the time comes, won't they still have to depart from our Jixian dock?"

"If many merchant caravans can be drawn in, no number of boats will be enough. More people, more goods. Let people know the road here is passable: first, collect more dock and boat fees; second, many people's food, clothing, lodging, and transport must be solved locally—purchasing, lodging, food and water—which isn't an expense? It can also subsidize the commoners of the county!"

The County Magistrate wasn't one who couldn't listen to others. After pondering, he was somewhat moved, but only asked: "Can it be done?"

Li Huaiduan then said the money had already been given, and added: "Just consider it the office lending a hand. I'll speak to the people below: work hard for two days, earn a bite for the commoners. Earlier, when the water rose, we restricted boats from going down the river easily; many hands stopped, mouths stopped, and everyone was worried. Fortunately, these past few days the rain upstream has stopped and the water has receded a bit; boats can travel. Otherwise, I wouldn't dare try."

The County Magistrate indeed nodded.

Just having received his superior's permission, Li Huaiduan went out and called his subordinates, ordering them to summon all the clerks, prepare to distribute tasks, and briefly explained the tasks once.

The subordinate couldn't help but say: "The time is too urgent, and there are too many matters; I'm afraid they will complain..."

Li Huaiduan, facing his subordinates now, was different from how he had been with his superior just before. He said: "This time, a brother of mine has come to join me, saying he wants to help. This man and I share life-and-death friendship. You must keep this matter in mind, watch over them to get it done well. If the matter succeeds, I will naturally remember it. On no account must there be delay or negligence. If any trouble arises, report to me at any time!"

The subordinate, hearing this, immediately changed his expression, said no more, and eagerly said: "Commander, rest assured; this matter is entrusted to this humble one to handle!"

Jixian here was bustling with activity, constantly requisitioning boats and boatmen from various townships in the county and making all sorts of arrangements. But in his heart, Li Huaiduan was still more doubtful than believing.

—Could there really be that much grain and civilian laborers to transport?

In just two rushed days, where would they recruit them from?

But seeing Lu Wenming run to the dock early to find a suitable storeroom, and busily inquire about progress from all sides, looking afraid problems would arise, he ultimately didn't nag, only sighed in his heart.

After a day of busyness, the two slept hastily that night. Upon waking, they again checked for gaps and omissions. By noon, seeing there was still half a day left, and progress was proceeding step by step, Li Huaiduan comforted him: "Old Lu, don't rush; there's still half a day. Besides, tomorrow Han Li may not be able to gather all the people and grain. Getting thirty or forty percent would be not bad. Why not go slow..."

He hadn't finished saying the word "slow" when a minor clerk suddenly rushed in from outside. As soon as he entered the door, he called: "Commander, Commander! Many able-bodied young men have come from neighboring Linghe Town, asking everywhere how to get to the dock. Dutou Huang fears something is wrong and told this humble one to hurry back and report!"

Li Huaiduan was stunned, then asked: "No one leading them, just scattered? Could there really be three or five hundred?"

"There is someone leading them, but each group is only thirty or forty at most, as few as seven or eight people—one wave after another, without stopping!"

Li Huaiduan's expression changed, and he said angrily, "Simply outrageous! Such utter chaos, and no advance notice—how am I supposed to support them!"