Chapter 166

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Song Miao stood up, smiling as she went forward to greet her, calling out "Ma Shenzǐ."

The other woman said happily: "Just right that the Young Lady is here——where are we sending these shrimp?"

Song Miao wanted to go receive them, but Ma Shenzǐ stepped back two paces instead, smiling: "I carried them all the way, the bucket handles are all fishy, don't let it dirty the Young Lady's hands!"

She added: "It's only a few steps, I'll deliver them inside."

With such kind insistence from the other party, Song Miao led the way to the back kitchen; when they arrived and the buckets were set down, she asked the price.

That Ma Shenzǐ, however, wiped her hands on the waist pouch of her apron, looking rather embarrassed, and said: "What money, it's just some river shrimp, this small, with little meat, they need oil to cook, rich families want big shrimp, poor families begrudge even that bit of oil money, normally no one buys them, it's rare the Young Lady wants them, I'm just giving them, otherwise they'd die unsold and I'd have to force myself to eat them!"

Song Miao said: "How can that be——there's no principle in the world of buying things without paying!"

Ma Shenzǐ absolutely refused, declining repeatedly.

Seeing this, Song Miao happened to notice Big Pancake Little Brother had also followed in, so she told him to go fetch the scale.

Ma Shenzǐ said anxiously: "Don't rush! Don't rush!"

She added: "I'll be honest, I didn't originally want to say it so urgently——actually there's something I want to ask Song Xiaoniangzi!"

"My little sister-in-law is already sixteen this year, nothing outstanding about her otherwise, but she's diligent, steady and willing to work, she was working in the Washing Clothes Workshop, I raised her myself after marrying in, treating her like my own daughter."

"Two years ago I arranged a marriage for her, the man's also a fisherman, family circumstances about the same as ours, not very easy either."

"But now with the Washing Clothes Workshop like this, I only know how to use a laundry bat, have no real ability, I'm old, scavenging to survive is fine for me, but I don't want my little sister-in-law to walk the same road in the future, eat the same bitterness."

"As a sister-in-law I can't provide much, but I've saved some money, want to find her a master to learn a skill——Young Lady, right now you only have Big Pancake Little Brother as an apprentice under you, he's smart but after all young, and a boy, many things inconvenient, don't know if you'd still be willing to take someone?"

Song Miao had long known she had a request, but didn't expect it to be this, so she said: "It's not that I won't take her, I'm only temporarily in Hua Prefecture, after one or two months when things are done, I still have to return to the Capital, would your little sister-in-law not want a home, and follow me to Jingcheng?"

She added: "Besides, I've taken on the Du Shui Jian assignment now, no spare time to teach carefully, later I'll also have to manage the construction site kitchen, all large pot dishes, nothing much to learn——even if learned, few places to use it!"

Ma Shenzǐ hurriedly said: "Don't dare ask for true apprenticeship, just this period helping Young Lady as assistant, learning a move or two, later she can set up a stall or find work in a restaurant, even if her old Zhang Family burns paper money well every Qingming Festival Festival and ancestors bless them greatly, only then could they meet such a truly kind-hearted Young Lady!"

She added: "Young Lady needn't take special trouble to teach, she's a grown person, doesn't she have eyes, can't she watch and learn herself? If she learns badly or fails, it's her own stupidity, what's it to you——where's so much spare time to teach everything one by one!"

Song Miao had a strong impression of this Ma Shenzǐ.

When moving silver to the Xie Family grain shop, this person learned it was Xiang Yuanqiang who threw the money, and turned the originally proper reward silver into investment, she was very indignant, ran back and forth, not only worked hard herself but also helped others carry loads, arrived at the place, without prompting, took the lead to speak up and drum up support.

Such a capable person, if she could help, Song Miao naturally hoped to get a hand.

But thinking seriously, Song Miao still didn't agree, instead saying: "Not hiding from Auntie, I have an assignment right now, really inconvenient to stir up extra trouble."

Ma Shenzǐ was visibly very disappointed, but still forced a smile: "Blame me too, rashly running to your door, making things difficult for Young Lady! Doesn't matter, we'll find her something else."

She pointed at the two wooden buckets: "Truly not worth money, even without that girl wanting to learn cooking, I wouldn't take Young Lady's silver, now this failed, my words are even firmer——a bit of river shrimp, you refuse again, I'll get angry!"

Finished speaking, she immediately turned to run outside.

Song Miao hurriedly stopped her, and said: "Though here I can't take a young lady as assistant, there's another assignment."

She told about digging canals and building dikes outside the city, needing to staff a kitchen, and said: "Originally would use corvée laborers, but I looked and none were satisfactory, wanted to find my own, but unfamiliar with the place, hard to pick suitable ones."

"I know Ma Shenzǐ is a local, lived in Hua Prefecture for generations, now want to first find twenty clean-handed, nimble, strong women, later more, don't know if you can help ask around, screen them?"

Finished speaking, Song Miao also stated the compensation.

Not much extra, but includes a daily meal, and it's government work, with Song Miao personally leading.

Ma Shenzǐ was so excited her eyes nearly bulged out, hurriedly raised her hand: "Young Lady, Young Lady! Look, is my type acceptable?"

She could hardly contain her emotion, speaking while hurriedly untying her apron, lifting her cuffs and collar for Song Miao to see, adding: "Because I sold things in the workshop half a day, my body got some dirt, but Young Lady look, I really wash everything clean!"

She also asked Song Miao to check her nail crevices, even wanted to undo her head wrap for her to inspect her hair.

Song Miao didn't stop her, she looked at whatever she was shown, and after looking said: "Auntie everything is very good, only hope the people recruited are all as good as Auntie."

She added: "Auntie's young lady at home can also come, I have no other requirements for people, just a few points, first preferably have done work, been in a kitchen, know how to tend fire, scrub, sweep, etc., second..."

She stated the age and several other simple restrictions.

Hearing her own little sister-in-law could also come, Ma Shenzǐ was overjoyed, and learning those few hard requirements, she practically patted her chest: "Now is not the past, livelihoods hard to find, rain's fallen this long, summer flood who knows when it'll come, who knows how many people worry for survival, such a good thing, Young Lady rest assured, only afraid once word spreads, many will beg to come!"

She added: "This matter leave to me, first batch only twenty, just my Washing Clothes Club sisters are more than enough, still good people left, wait for me to screen, pick those willing to work hard, clean and nimble, good-tempered, bring them for Young Lady to select one by one——won't take long to bring them over!"

Finished speaking, she bowed, not even caring her head cloth bundle wasn't fully wrapped, turned around, revealing a cloth tail at the back of her head flapping up and down, like a little rabbit's short tail, bouncing as she ran off.

Song Miao wanted to pay her, couldn't stop her, had to wait for Big Pancake to come, let him scoop out the small river shrimp from the two wooden buckets and weigh them, since she didn't know the market price, just then that Cook Zhang came in, so she casually asked.

Cook Zhang learned it was Ma Shenzǐ who sent them, said: "She wants to give to you, you accept, not worth a few coins!"

When he further learned the whole story, his face also showed some embarrassment, said: "Afraid Song Xiaoniangzi will blame me, but can't hide it——this Ma Niangzi coming to apprentice her little sister-in-law this time, was actually instigated by me behind the scenes!"

He explained, and Song Miao then learned Ma Shenzǐ's husband's family the Zhang Family, and Cook Zhang's family, are from the same clan, distant relatives.

"She wanted to find a place for her little sister-in-law to learn cooking, I advised her, rather than going outside to find some flashy but useless, big-name places, better find where she can learn real skills, and mentioned you."

Speaking here, Cook Zhang's fat ears even reddened a bit, said: "Others don't know, but I watch Young Lady make food here every day, many days, skill beyond words, though she's a cousin from two hundred li away, I still can't bear to see their family bumping into drums everywhere, with a ready-made golden bell here not striking it?"

Song Miao laughed: "How did it get onto blame or not blame, rather must thank Cook Zhang, if not for your introduction, I'd also have trouble finding so many helpers!"

She again mentioned the morning's events, apologized to him, finally said: "Noon was chaotic, originally wanted to apologize."

Cook Zhang hurriedly said: "Wasn't anything really, you and I both don't hold grudges!"

Song Miao saw it was nearly time to make dinner, didn't stay blocking his place, smiled in agreement, took Big Pancake and left.

The two reached the back drying yard, since the sun was overhead, rare lately, they sat peeling lettuce stems while chatting idly.

Song Miao told the other about Ma Shenzǐ's matter, and said: "Probably these two days, can get twenty new kitchen helpers——this batch not like those kitchen corvée laborers from morning, we'll select carefully, once settled, still give them to you to lead."

Big Pancake agreed in one breath, looking like he'd burned his bridges, seriously: "Young Lady watch this time! I absolutely won't make such a big mess again!"

The two worked while talking, not long after, that Cook Zhang personally brought a young lady over, introduced both sides.

——Turned out Ma Shenzǐ's little sister-in-law Zhang Siniang had already arrived.

Seeing Song Miao, she looked quite nervous, greeting her repeatedly, then said: "Sister-in-law said Young Lady bought many lettuce stems this morning, thinking there must be a place here needing help, so she told me to come first and lend a hand!"

Song Miao saw that though she was of medium build, her arms were thick and her shoulders broad—a working woman. After a few exchanges, though not as quick-witted as Ma Shenzǐ, she looked serious and down-to-earth. Song Miao was satisfied and did not stand on ceremony. After she washed her hands and came over, Song Miao taught her how to peel the lettuce stems.

In a short while, the drying yard went from two people to three.

Among the three, Song Miao moved fastest, Da Bing second, and Zhang Siniang, realizing she was slowest, grew anxious. Though she said nothing, sweat beaded on her forehead, and her peeling motions grew larger.

Seeing this, Song Miao said nothing like "don't rush," but called out "Zhang Siniang," then said: "It's nearly mealtime. Da Bing, finish up here. You come help me wash some vegetables."

Zhang Siniang hurriedly agreed. Before leaving, she quietly told Da Bing: "Wait a moment. I'll come help you clean up in a bit."

Saying this, she hurried off with Song Miao.

Song Miao brought her into the back kitchen—sure enough, by now Zhang Gong Chu had already finished dinner, and everything else was tidied up seven or eight parts full.

After exchanging greetings on both sides, Song Miao did not waste words. She first asked Zhang Siniang to help wash leeks and rinse river shrimp.

Once all ingredients were ready, seeing there was still a little time, she said to her: "I'm no proper cook. I only know some home cooking, and may not be able to teach anything. Fortunately I have a greedy mouth and tongue, and have eaten many things, so tasting your food is no problem. You take these ingredients and make a plate of stir-fried river shrimp with leeks. Let me taste the flavor, how about it?"

Zhang Siniang agreed at once, and sure enough, cooking with the fire, she stirred out a plate.

Song Miao tasted with chopsticks, then had her taste it too. Finally she said: "Don't rush yet. I'll make one dish, and you try it too."

Saying this, she took over.

Zhang Siniang stood to one side. Coming from a fishing family, she was used to river flavors. Though her sister-in-law and Zhang Cook had told her beforehand that this young lady before her was excellent at cooking, she still couldn't help thinking to herself: No matter how skilled, the same leeks, the same river shrimp—could this young lady really stir up something extraordinary?

Once Song Miao took over, she paid no attention to anything else. Since Da Bing wasn't back for the moment, she stoked the fire herself, then washed the pot and put it back.

While the pot heated, she carefully shook the leeks dry, cut them into sections about half a cun long, separated the leek roots and leaves, then drained the river shrimp again and wiped the water off the shrimp bodies with a clean cloth.

When the pot was hot, she added plenty of oil. When the oil in the pot just began to smoke, she added minced ginger and garlic. The moment she smelled the fragrance, Song Miao immediately dumped the river shrimp in.

Extreme heat, extremely fast stir-frying. In the blink of an eye, those small gray-green river shrimp turned a bright, tempting red, giving off the rich aroma unique to shrimp shells bursting oil.

Zhang Siniang watched from the side. By this point, she already sensed something was not right.

Both stir-frying shrimp—why weren't hers as fragrant?

Clearly this Song Xiaoniangzi stir-fried about the same amount as she did. Why did her shrimp seem to cook faster than hers, and much faster at that?

Song Miao naturally didn't know what the person beside her was thinking.

She drizzled a small circle of turbid wine along the edge of the pot.

The wine slid under the shrimp, touched the hot pot bottom, and in an instant was scalded, clutching a bit of shrimp fishiness and hurriedly slipping away.

At this point Song Miao ladled out the bright red river shrimp, leaving the base oil. She had added plenty of oil the first time, so no more was needed now. This time she only added the leek roots and whites, stir-fried over high heat seven or eight times, added a little salt. Seeing the leek whites just slightly soften, she immediately added the leek leaves and the small river shrimp that had already been burst-fragrant.

This was the combined stir-fry, so that they would mutually absorb flavor. Naturally she still used fierce heat, added a little salt, a little soy sauce, and a little bit of Sichuan pepper grains—this was to enhance fragrance. She stirred lightly once, then immediately took it out of the pot.

Knowing river shrimp die quickly once out of water, Song Miao's every movement was extremely fast. Draining, burst-frying, stir-frying, combined stir-frying—from putting in the pot to taking it out, Zhang Siniang almost couldn't react in time.

When she saw that plate placed before her, the leeks emerald green, the leek roots white between, the river shrimp bright red, all three glistening with oil, the oil only a thin layer, the color extremely beautiful, and carrying a fresh fragrance and a pungent fragrance—even though she had just seen it made with her own eyes, at this moment she still felt somewhat dazed. This and what she had just made were clearly the same dish, but why did it look as if it weren't?

Song Miao handed her chopsticks, smiling: "This dish must be eaten hot. Taste a bite first?"

Zhang Siniang was completely unable to resist, and immediately picked up a chopstickful.

She went straight for the shrimp.

The moment it entered her mouth, the few small river shrimp singled out did not make a "crack" sound in her mouth, but a "rustle rustle" sound.

It was the sound of extremely thin shrimp shells, after being burst-fried in oil, becoming one hundred and twenty percent crisp and crunchy. Because the oil temperature and timing were both mastered extremely well—just burst through but not over-dried or over-burnt—making them crisp but not hard, only fragrant and not bitter.

The seasoning on the outside of the shrimp shells was most abundant: a rich but not overpowering soy sauce fragrance, a pungent leek sweet fragrance, and a little bit of Sichuan pepper numbing fragrance—all very restrained little bits. Combined together, paired with the shrimp oil fragrance, especially after biting through the shell. Because the small river shrimp had been burst-fried separately first, there was a slight gap between the shrimp shell and the shrimp meat. Just that little bit of empty space had seeped in a thin layer of shrimp shell oil, fresh to an extraordinary degree.

The river shrimp meat was small, but the texture was tight, springy, and tender, carrying shrimp meat juice and rich shrimp oil fragrance. Neither was much, just a little bit. But just that little bit, on the tongue, became all the more pure and fresh-sweet.

For some inexplicable reason, Zhang Siniang used her empty left hand to touch her eyebrows, then touch her hair.

?? I swallowed the words I said at the beginning of the month, and I'm here shamelessly asking everyone for monthly votes again!!!

? Wanting three thousand votes, I found that compared to the monthly vote rebate activity, many friends also want nickname titles. I very much want to strive for a few more titles. I hope that if any friends have extra monthly votes and also like Xiao Miao, they can spare some for her. Thank you everyone QAQ