Chapter 174: The Marvelous Kitchen Chapter 173: Does Not Understand

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Wang Shuji had eaten two small bowls of rice with this Meat and Egg Soup. Because his spleen and stomach were not good, he did not dare eat much or eat quickly, and was slowly savoring that Shrimp Jujube when he saw a scholar arrive, thinking he had returned late and had nothing to eat, so he replied: "It is supplied by the Official Relay Station Kitchen."

He saw that although the other party looked somewhat disheveled, his appearance was quite handsome, and he had a courteous manner. Now being asked about the food, he was willing to do a favor, so he said: "Is this Younger Brother hungry?"

He added: "The back kitchen has already closed for the night, and it is likely too late to cook more rice for you. However, we have plenty of rice and dishes here, several of which have not been touched. If you are hungry, you can pick out a portion."

Kong Fuyang heard him say this, said thanks, but pointed to the Food Box: "So that Brother may know, I am also a guest staying at this relay station. The rice and dishes in this Food Box were originally left by me for myself. Because I had to go out on business, I temporarily placed them in the Official Relay Station Kitchen. Who would have thought they would now be placed on Brother's table? Is there some misunderstanding?"

Wang Shuji had not yet spoken when the attendant beside him, upon hearing this, changed color and leaped up like a tree.

This man did not know what the reason was, but this Food Box was taken out by him from the Official Relay Station Kitchen. He was very unwilling to cause any trouble, fearing his superior would think he could not even handle a meal properly, and from there develop some grudge against him personally.

He saw the other party was not old, and saw he was dressed ordinarily, looking dusty and travel-worn, so he knew he was not the child of some noble family or high official. His tone inevitably became impatient, and he said: "You scholar, how unreasonable! This place is an Official Relay Station, a residence for officials coming and going on official business. All provisions are for official use. Dishes are made by the Official Relay Station Kitchen and should be taken according to official status and rank. Even if not by that, it should be first come, first served."

Without waiting for Kong Fuyang to reply, he continued: "Looking at you, you don't seem to be an official. Staying here is already taking advantage of public convenience. How can you still have the face to say it was left for yourself?! Do you have no shame?!"

Kong Fuyang was hungry, and his temper flared up instantly. Originally speaking nicely, seeing the other party's tone across from him, he was not willing to give in.

With his mouth, when had he ever suffered a verbal loss? He opened his mouth to retort sharply, but before he could speak, Wang Shuji had already shouted at the attendant beside him: "Feng Gongban! Stop!"

He turned to Kong Fuyang: "Younger Brother, finish what you have to say!"

The attendant Feng Gongban was full of resentment. Interrupted by his superior, he had to close his mouth, only glaring at Kong Fuyang.

Kong Fuyang glared back and said loudly: "Although I am not an official, this time I came on business from the Du Shui Jian to dig channels and manage water for Hua Prefecture. Even without a post, I am just a worker doing the job, but ultimately it is official business."

"Can one not stay at an Official Relay Station or eat at an Official Relay Station for official business? What do you think urgent messengers should do? I dare to ask! Where is there no shame?!"

"The other dishes you took, you took them. First come, first served—I had nothing to say about that. Because before this, in this Official Relay Station, only our group arrived this late. The rice and dishes had been left in the Official Relay Station Kitchen for a long time, and later arrivals took them for themselves. It was never a problem before. I was just careless—this is my own fault, not to blame others."

Speaking, he pointed to that Meat and Egg Soup and said: "But this dish was specially made by our own cook, very carefully prepared and rare, and has nothing to do with the Official Relay Station Kitchen. I meant nothing by it; I only asked about the circumstances. But you did not distinguish right from wrong at all and opened your mouth to speak like this!"

"From your tone, you must be an official? What official are you, where are you from, what post, what name? Let me remember it. In the future, I will also carefully see if your usual official business is just as unable to distinguish right from wrong!"

A Taixue student, and a Shangshe—who does not have a bit of pride, who does not care about face?

At this moment, being scolded to his face as "shameless," Kong Fuyang feared that if he did not retort soon, he would betray the name of "Unofficial Censorate," and when it spread back, people would laugh at him!

The attendant, after being lectured like this, how could he not be angry? He stepped forward and was about to point at Kong Fuyang to refute him.

Wang Shuji quickly gave his nephew a look.

The nephew and the household servant hurried forward and pulled Feng Gongban back.

Wang Shuji then pulled over a stool beside him, patted the stool surface twice, and said to Kong Fuyang: "Younger Brother, do not be anxious. Listening to you, this time we indeed took the wrong dishes. Presumably they did not mean it, and it is also that you did not make a mark, and no one was guarding them. Both sides are unintentional mistakes. How can one say that yin and yang crossed—everyone has words to speak openly, and harmony is good, is it not?"

"This Feng Gongban is my attendant. I have the responsibility of not managing my subordinates strictly. After I return, I will certainly admonish him well. You calm your anger. Looking at the fact that I am older, please forgive."

Wang Shuji looked to be in his forties. Although sitting, one could still tell his stature was taller than others, but he was very thin, with a short beard, his mustache and hair somewhat sparse, already with a few white whiskers.

Kong Fuyang saw him speak so politely. He was originally just arguing for the sake of pride. Because the other was older and invited him, he was not too embarrassed to refuse again, so he sat down as well.

Wang Shuji completely ignored the attendant and smiled: "It is indeed that your Du Shui Jian cook's skill is outstanding; others cannot compare. I tasted it and kept picking at this dish, so I could not leave much for you. You must know my spleen and stomach are not good. It has been a long time since I have eaten something so to my appetite—grateful beyond measure, grateful beyond measure!"

He took another bowl, served Kong Fuyang a bowl of rice, took chopsticks from the side, and said: "I suppose you have been hungry for a long time? Sit down and eat a few bites before speaking."

Since the other had done this much, Kong Fuyang naturally could not get angry anymore.

Besides, his belly was indeed hungry. He said thanks, took the bowl and chopsticks, and in a few mouthfuls began devouring the rice.

An empty stomach for a long time is actually not suitable for eating heavy, spicy, strong-flavored things. Kong Fuyang, though young, understood a bit of the way of self-care. He casually picked a few dishes to go with the rice and hastily dealt with two bowls.

After finishing, Wang Shuji personally poured him a teacup of tea, then asked: "Younger Brother, what is your honored surname?"

"This humble one's surname is Kong, called Kong Fuyang."

Wang Shuji, upon hearing this, felt it sounded familiar, and could not help asking: "Master Kong, where are you from? You should be at the age for studying. Why have you come to Hua Prefecture?"

Kong Fuyang replied: "I am still studying at Taixue. This time I came with a classmate to dig channels and manage water."

The attendant was already sitting at a separate table. At this time, hearing that he was a Taixue student, although he did not dare to disobey his superior to his face, behind his back a cold smile appeared on his face.

Wang Shuji naturally could not see it. He only chatted with Kong Fuyang about the channel-digging matters. First he said that when he was an official in a county before, how he patrolled the embankments at night with a lantern. Then he said how he later got an official from the Du Shui Jian to guide him. He also asked Kong Fuyang several questions about building embankments.

Seeing that this young junior answered fluently, indeed a person who could get things done, he inevitably chatted a few more sentences.

As for Kong Fuyang, after chatting for a while, he also thought to ask a question: "I do not know, Brother, your several..."

He paused, skipped over the attendant, and looked toward the nephew beside him, asking: "How should I address you?"

Wang Shuji first gave his own name, then said: "I am currently serving in the Transport Commission, now going to the Capital on official business."

Kong Fuyang took the tea, suddenly paused, and immediately asked: "So it is Official Wang. Meeting by chance is better than knowing each other. Now that we have such fate to meet in this Official Relay Station, this humble one has a sentence to ask: The relief grain in Hua Prefecture here, and also quite a lot of embankment materials, I heard are also transported by grain transport. I do not know when they can be transported here?"

Wang Shuji had previously always taken the initiative to control the conversation between the two. At this time, being asked this, his expression stiffened. He actually could not answer for a moment. After a silence of several breaths, he said: "This matter I temporarily do not know. Besides, the materials should first enter the Capital, and then be distributed by the Court."

After speaking, he asked Kong Fuyang whether the road to Hua Prefecture could return to the Capital, and how long it would take.

After learning that just the detour would take at least eleven or twelve days, he was indeed somewhat disappointed. He calculated, sighed, and said: "Forget it. I can only stay here for a few more days."

He added: "Younger Brother Kong, today I mistakenly ate your dishes, but I cannot eat them for nothing. How about this—tomorrow I will set a banquet and invite you and your classmate to attend. It can be considered a small apology."

"As for the banquet, one matter does not require two masters. Since the cook hired by the Du Shui Jian has such skill, and it is because of me that you missed the good dishes tonight, I intend to pay extra remuneration to ask him to help prepare the feast. How about that?"

Kong Fuyang did not agree immediately, but hesitated for a moment and said: "The apology is not necessary. However, if I eat with Official Wang, I am very willing—only this matter must first be asked of Young Lady Song."

He explained: "The cook was specially hired, not entirely to cook for us, but mainly to cook large pot meals for the laborers later. This time she originally accepted a request and willingly cooked better for us, squeezing time to help. Actually, on ordinary days she has other errands and is very busy!"

Wang Shuji was stunned, then said: "Then there is no need for a banquet. Just a few simple dishes. I do not know if it can be done in time?"

Kong Fuyang had only a few chopsticks of watery, mushy stewed and simmered dishes for dinner that night. It was truly hard to bear. At this time he really wanted to eat a table of pure Song dishes, but he also knew Song Miao might not be able to manage.

He first settled the matter himself: "Tomorrow I will ask her. If she has time, we will talk again."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, saying it was too late, he took his leave and returned to his room.

When passing the attendant's position, Kong Fuyang deliberately stood for two breaths, but saw the other party did not turn his head. So he was too lazy to bother further. He only greeted Wang Shuji's nephew and smiled at the household servant, then left quickly.

After Kong Fuyang left, the smile on Wang Shuji's face was put away. He called out "Feng Gongban" and said: "We are going to the Capital on official business. One less matter is one matter. This time it was just mistakenly taking someone else's Food Box. It was originally not a big deal. Just explain it clearly. How could one speak to provoke and challenge like this? If it truly causes a disturbance, and because of a small matter, a memorial is impeached to the Censorate, losing face is secondary. But if it delays the business even a little, how can I report to the Transport Commission?!"

That Feng Gongban assented obsequiously and hurriedly apologized; he turned his head, and when everyone had returned to their rooms one by one, he alone stayed last, faced the direction Kong Fuyang had left, spat fiercely several times, then slammed the door shut and went inside.

The next day at dawn, not long after the sky brightened, Song Miao got up.

She felt she was already quite early, but after finishing her grooming, the moment she stepped out into the front hall, she saw the main gate wide open — two students had already arrived, one of them precisely Kong Fuyang.

Song Miao exchanged greetings with the two of them, then asked Kong Fuyang what time he had returned last night and whether matters had gone smoothly.

Kong Fuyang answered each in turn, then recounted the unexpected incident from last night, and also spoke of Wang Shuji's banquet proposal, finally saying: "I thought Song Xiaoniangzi is this busy, simply unable to clone herself, how could she have time to prepare a banquet, so I dared not agree; he said just making a few dishes would be fine — but a few dishes also takes time she doesn't have, right?"

After hearing the whole account, Song Miao did not rush to refuse, but asked: "That Wang Guanren serves in the Transport Commission — is he the Deputy Transport Commissioner Zhang Gongchu mentioned?"

Kong Fuyang wore a blank look and asked: "What Deputy Transport Commissioner?"

Song Miao then repeated a few sentences of what Zhang Gongchu had said yesterday, and added: "I heard his accent is rather heavy."

Kong Fuyang said: "Since he didn't say, I didn't inquire closely about his official rank, but that Wang Guanren has a weak spleen and stomach, so I imagine his accent wouldn't be heavy."

He added: "If he truly is a Deputy Transport Commissioner, I cannot let the matter slide — I must properly ask about grain, fodder, and supplies!"

Song Miao pondered briefly, then said: "These two days are busy; I truly cannot free my hands to prepare any small banquet, but in a few days when the tenth-day rest comes, I can spare two double-hours."

She said: "As for the so-called remuneration, discussing money is inappropriate; I have another idea — you just said that Wang Guanren cannot leave for a while, and must wait here until the road is passable before entering the Capital?"

The sun was three poles high.

In an upper room of the official inn's back courtyard, because he knew today he would finally no longer need to go out and inspect official roads, river channels, or embankments and dams, nor go into the street to inquire about disaster conditions, Feng Gongban only climbed up when someone came knocking at the door.

He had not slept well all night; in fact he had woken early, but his mood was poor, and hearing the knocking made him even less happy; he threw on a coat to answer the door, saw the visitor, and said in a disgruntled tone: "So early in the morning, what do you want!"

The visitor was also a Gongban official of the Transport Commission; this time he had accompanied Wang Shuji to the Capital on official business, but yesterday he had suffered diarrhea and had not gone out of the city with the others.

Seeing Feng Gongban's reaction, that companion said: "Feng Yun, don't say I didn't give you a suggestion — the Deputy Commissioner is already up, right outside; do you want to come take a look? If there's anything you can help out with."

Feng Gongban was startled and said: "This early?"

"Not early anymore — what hour do you think it is!"

Feng Gongban hastily changed clothes, casually wiped his face, took water and rinsed his mouth haphazardly, then followed out the door, asking as he walked: "What is the Deputy Commissioner doing outside? Has he eaten breakfast?"

He walked quickly to the doorway.

Inside the front hall there were not many people, and Wang Shuji was not to be seen, but faint, indistinct voices could be heard, as if coming from beyond the wall.

Feng Gongban froze, glanced at the companion beside him, and subconsciously followed the other man out toward the courtyard exterior.

The moment he stepped out, he saw the tables, chairs, and cloth banners that had been placed in the courtyard when they returned last night had all been moved out, set up early early; those rows of fences were also already arranged, neat and orderly, quite an imposing manner.

Outside were all people — able-bodied laborers in their prime, bustling and jostling in queues, and someone was shouting at the top of his voice holding a scroll: "Don't rush, don't rush, line up! Line up!"

The tables were in rows, two joined together, with a small gap between each pair; two tables formed one team, and those who reached the front stepped forward to register.

And that very Deputy Commissioner whom he usually flattered and fawned over now stood behind one table, speaking to a young man dressed as a student who was registering.

"What is the Deputy Commissioner doing?" Feng Gongban was like in a dream.

Just as they were speaking, someone behind answered: "There's a Song Xiaoniangzi recruiting people; she said in two days she'll set up a banquet to invite Uncle and yesterday's Young Master Kong's party for a meal, and since she knows we can't leave for a while, she asked Uncle to help keep the scene in order."

Feng Gongban seemed to have heard the most absurd thing in the world and cried out: "Too preposterous — the Deputy Commissioner actually agreed?"

When he turned his head, he saw the newcomer was actually Wang Shuji's nephew.

"Uncle said, since we're idle anyway, helping keep an eye on things doesn't take much effort; he's also curious how they recruit people to repair the embankment, and wanted to watch anyway; this time he gets to chatter a few sentences for free, not only can he eat at the banquet, but each day he also gets an extra meal provided — very worthwhile!"

Wang's nephew laughed heartily, carrying a tray of cut paper and walking outside, looking like he was going to deliver the paper.

Feng Gongban stared blankly and said: "Wang Er Gongzi, what are you doing?"

"I'm helping Uncle." Wang's nephew smiled bashfully. "Originally last night that meat-and-egg soup with shrimp jujubes, I didn't get to eat it, and it was a bit of a pity — Song Xiaoniangzi said those who help out get a meal provided each evening, with another soup specially made; in the morning they ate her red sugar sesame sauce flower rolls and spicy pork cube flower rolls! Hey! It's work that has to be done anyway; now helping out, I earn a free meal!"

As he spoke, holding the tray, he hurried out of the courtyard.

Left behind, Feng Gongban stood in place, only feeling that he heard every sentence the other said clearly, yet understood not a single sentence.

Just from sleeping in a bit — how did things become like this?