Chapter 195

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Ma Shenzǐ did not answer for a moment, only pondering over it repeatedly in her heart.

She had experienced more things than her sister-in-law, and considered matters more carefully, but think as she might, although there were a few drawbacks to be found, compared to those benefits, they were simply not worth mentioning.

There has always been a saying: to judge a person, one must not only look at them when things go smoothly, but even more so when they are in a panic.

Although she had not known this Song Xiaoniangzi for a long time, having worked together on one matter was already enough to see her true ability.

First encountering that batch of disgusting kitchen laborers, then running into this Barren bean incident — let alone a young lady of such age, even an ordinary experienced manager, suddenly faced with this, might well be flustered and at a loss.

But that Song Xiaoniangzi handled it neither hastily nor impatiently, distinguishing clearly between what was urgent and what could wait, what was weighty and what was light.

The people below were originally already panic-stricken and uneasy; she came out, spoke a few words, made assignments, and by the time the matter was settled, she had even requested reward money for those who had earned merit, and in one stroke the situation was calmed and turned around.

She has skill, she has ability, her temperament is good, yet when it is time to establish authority she is absolutely unambiguous.

If a person like this cannot make a business succeed, cannot accomplish things, then who can?

Ma Shenzǐ gritted her teeth and said: "We are this kind of family, we have nothing else to stake on this; since you have this enterprising heart, my husband and I will smash pots and sell iron to support you!"

She added: "Don't wait for Song Xiaoniangzi to write a letter and then go to the Capital; even if she looks upon you favorably now, once she returns to the Capital, separated by such distance, there will certainly be those quick of hand and foot who want to stick to her, and by then she may not even remember that there is still a you in Hua Prefecture!"

"Take advantage of this time to perform well; when the river works are finished, simply follow her into the Capital. If you have no place to stay, and the Wang Family refuses, our family will give you money to find a lodging place. You will be right in front of her; Song Xiaoniangzi has always been generous, would she really send you back?"

Zhang Siniang was younger after all; hearing this, she felt very uneasy inside, and said: "Me doing this, isn't it like forcing the issue? Wouldn't that be bad?"

Ma Shenzǐ sat a little closer, tidied her sister-in-law's hair, and said: "Where did this foolish girl come from? Song Xiaoniangzi is generous; she refuses to take you in precisely because she is thinking of you. Otherwise, free labor that doesn't even need subsidizing — anyone else would have agreed long ago. You going to the Capital, at least shows your sincerity; it's surely better than doing nothing and just waiting idly, isn't it?"

With her sister-in-law's support, Zhang Siniang's originally anxious heart settled down at once; she couldn't help but say again: "This is such a big matter; although it still may not succeed, shouldn't our family also give the Wang Family a heads-up in advance?"

Ma Shenzǐ thought for a moment and said: "This matter is not good for our family to speak up about; you listen to your sister-in-law. You have a good frank talk with Wang Sanlang..."

She explained it all in detail, and finally said: "The Wang Family is fine in every other way, it's just that there are too many people, not simple like us. A whole family of brothers and sisters-in-law, plus parents-in-law — even teeth and tongue sometimes clash. Moreover, everyone's temperament differs. If you can establish a foothold in the Capital and form your own small household, it is truly a good thing."

The next day, Zhang Siniang indeed found an opportunity and quietly sought out Wang Sanlang.

The young man only hesitated for a moment, then said: "I definitely agree! You always wanted to learn a craft; before there was no chance, and I couldn't help either. Now that luck is good and we've met a noble person, why wouldn't we go!"

"We'll strive for it properly; no need for Brother and Sister-in-law to spend money. I'll go to the Capital with you; I have hands and feet and a strong back — even carrying sacks at the dock can support you!"

He turned and went home, reported the matter to his parents, and added: "Siniang was afraid our family would overthink it, and also afraid that if it fails, it would waste money and waste effort."

The speaker had intent, the listener even more so; Wang Old Lady hurriedly said: "What is there to be afraid of?! That's going to the Capital, not some remote place! It's clearly a good thing!"

She added: "I know that Song Xiaoniangzi. Your Erhua Jie, and several neighbor wives — every one who came back praised her skill, and said she knows how to conduct herself. If Siniang can follow her, why would you worry she can't stand firm?"

"When the time comes, taking advantage that your father and I are still young enough to walk, later when you have children, we can even go to the Capital to help raise them — I've lived these several decades and never entered the Capital, never seen what the walls outside the Emperor's residence look like!"

Wang Sanlang said: "Because she said it's not a sure thing; moreover, both our families are Hua Prefecture people. She goes to the Capital — what about that marriage at year's end?"

Wang Old Lady nearly jumped up in anxiety, saying: "Sanlang, usually you aren't this stupid! An opportunity like this, you couldn't find it with a lantern! You follow her there; we'll see about moving the wedding date earlier. Originally it was pushed to year's end just to leave some days to build a house. Now that you're going to the Capital, whether the house gets built or not isn't urgent anymore!"

Speaking, she hurriedly turned and called out: "His father!"

Wang Old Father picked up an extremely low small wooden stool, was sitting there; called by his wife, he opened his mouth and said: "The family originally planned to build two rooms, one for you, one for future Old Four. That one is lazy and gluttonous, his marriage is uncertain; right now there isn't even a stroke of the eight characters. Since you urgently need money here, the house just won't be built for now. Wait until the river works are done, the family scrapes together money, marries you off, then you go to the Capital — let's see if you can make something of yourselves!"

The two families picked a day to meet, laid out the matter, and it was a perfect match; they indeed moved the wedding date forward and quickly finalized it, each preparing on their own — not to be mentioned further.

And after both sides returned home, Wang Old Father couldn't help but say to his wife: "Everything in the Capital is expensive; those two are both young people who haven't been through anything. Outside, there are countless places to spend money. You divided the money into six portions, only giving two portions to Old Three — how can that be enough?"

Wang Old Lady said: "You only know how to run a generous mouth — give it all to Old Three, Oldest and Second have both started families, each with sons and daughters, wouldn't they have opinions?"

"Old Four is a lone bachelor, and close to Old Three; I asked him, that's why I dared do this. It will have to be repaid later!"

"They are all real brothers; this is exactly the time to help a big favor. In a lifetime you may not encounter a few such chances — why so much calculation!"

Wang Old Lady let out an "oh", but then said: "Then you take out that nine hundred cash hidden in the wall hole behind the wardrobe, and give it to Old Three to take to the Capital."

Wang Old Father's face instantly changed color; he panicked: "What wall hole?? How would I know!"

"You keep pretending; I'll just treat it as my own stash and take it all away?"

"No! No!! I scrimped for many days to get this little bit; I was still thinking of going to have a couple of drinks!"

Wang Old Father's private savings, after his utmost struggle, ultimately still preserved two hundred cash.

But Wang Old Lady was counting the money when first the eldest daughter-in-law, then the second son came over to call.

Seeing his wife go out and chat for a long time; when she returned, her expression was very complex. Wang Old Father couldn't help asking: "What happened? What did they shout you for?"

Wang Old Lady looked at the cash strung halfway on the table and said: "Oldest and Second, both families said they are willing to give up their entire share of money first, so Old Three and Siniang can take it to the Capital."

The two hundred cash Wang Old Father had just barely kept warm on his body, he hurriedly said: "Not necessarily all brotherly affection; I'm afraid they're also thinking that if Old Three makes good one day, they'll have an excuse to run over and rely on him."

"Everyone hopes for the best, everyone gives money — this still doesn't count as brotherly affection? Only you, unwilling to part with two hundred cash for your own son, that counts as father-son affection, right??"

Wang Old Father fled clutching the money.

Zhang Siniang's side proceeded smoothly in every respect, but the government office's investigation into those two matters on the river works was extremely unsmooth.

First is that Barren bean matter.

The kitchen staff, united in effort, had long since found out that Fang Quan of the Fang Family Chehang had a problem.

The yamen immediately sent men to seize him; however, interrogated again and again, Fang Quan refused to confess, until repeated questioning frightened him into confessing the whole story of that day.

It turned out that day, very early, he followed the old routine to deliver grain and supplies to the river works kitchen; the sky was not yet bright. Halfway, he encountered two men blocking the cart. Upon asking, he learned they were laborers rushing to work on the river dike. Because of a family matter the night before, they had drunk a few extra cups, and in the morning all overslept. Seeing they were already late, if later they would not only have wages deducted but also be reprimanded, and for three days could not get reward money. The two therefore hurriedly blocked a cart on the roadside.

These two were not only extremely smooth-talkers, but also promised to give Fang Quan twenty cash each.

Fang Quan, seeing the money, and thinking it was just a favor, let the two on the cart. Afraid of being seen, he even specially had them hide inside the cart body, and instructed them not to let anyone outside see.

Fang Quan kept crying injustice: "Sir Official, this little one truly only had good intentions! If I had known these two had such vicious hearts, I would never have dared to give them a ride!!!"

When asked again what those two looked like, Fang Quan spoke vaguely.

On one hand, it was still early then, the sun not fully up, faces couldn't be seen clearly. On the other hand, those two looked very ordinary; height, appearance — truly no distinguishing features at all.

The yamen, based on Fang Quan's own confession, drew up many wanted posters; but the latter examined each one and only said he couldn't be sure. Following this to search, and checking the laborers who were late that day on the river works — there were ten-odd people. But those ten-odd were screened one by one, and none were them. This case at once lost its lead, stuck at the halfway point, leaving only repeated re-interrogation and repeated investigation.

As for Li Laizi, the other man who had wanted to stir up trouble on the riverway and provoke a brawl, he was a habitual chicken thief and brawler who had been arrested and interrogated many times before. His attitude was that of a hoodlum—arrogant—and he denied everything.

Asked why he had done it, he said he had heard that people from Weizhou were coming to take jobs from Huazhou people, and while everyone else in the city only shouted about it, he simply could not stand by and really wanted to vent his anger. Coincidentally, that day he had a stomachache and was relieving himself on the riverway when he saw people coming from the opposite side. On impulse, he had originally only wanted to detain the other party, but who knew the matter would blow up so much.

Asked where he had gotten the money to eat at that restaurant the previous night, he said it was money he had saved up before, and one meal had eaten it all.

Asked further, he just hemmed and hawed, stubbornly refusing to admit it.

Unfortunately, Da Wei followed the Chengjin system, and torture could not easily be used to extract confessions. For a time, the legal office of the Hua Prefecture Government Office did not know whether this was intentional or truly the case, and they were actually completely helpless against a small-time hoodlum.

Cen Dezhang, who served as Vice Prefect, urged them again and again, but they could not be urged, and the case remained stuck where it was.

Soon, the news was sent back to the Yi Guan Guan.

The students of the Du Shui Jian were all in an uproar, especially Kong Fuyang, who was so angry he almost wanted to go himself. But since matters on the riverway were more important, he could not spare the time. Moreover, a retainer under Cen Dezhang had already promised to do his best to push the case forward and would surely give an explanation within three to five days, so he temporarily suppressed his anxiety.

As for Han Li, he had recently been busy assisting Wu Gong in following up on the river sweep production matters. Because craftsmen and materials were insufficient, and in recent days many corvée laborers conscripted from various county and town offices had been added to the riverway—an increase of over a thousand, not to mention their complex and chaotic origins, making management quite troublesome—he left early and returned late, sleeping in the sheds on the riverway for several consecutive days.

Since he could not return himself, he asked Kong Fuyang to deliver a message back.

"Zheng Yan says: those two cases currently have no progress, and we have no time to deal with them now; we can only spare our hands in a couple of days. But we are truly worried that someone might use some underhanded trick. Please ask Song Xiaoniangzi to be extra careful. If you need anything, just say so. Safety comes first."

Since Han Li had said so and even had Kong Fuyang deliver the message, Song Miao was also very worried and simply spoke frankly without ceremony, making her requests.

Someone capable of doing something as heinous as poisoning, having failed to achieve their goal, would certainly not let it go.

To cause a disturbance, besides poisoning, there was only murder or arson.

But at this time, almost all poisons had a very strong strange smell, or their appearance was very obvious. Since the first attempt had not succeeded, the kitchen was now on guard everywhere, and there was no possibility at all afterward.

Song Miao then asked Han Li to dispatch a squad of Patrol Soldiers to patrol the area near the kitchen day and night in shifts.

The firewood was stacked in separate piles away from the houses, and fire prevention was done according to the requirements of the Jingcheng fire suppression team. Oil and wine were stored separately in locked warehouses. To commit arson, one would not only have to pass through several layers of Patrol Soldiers but also evade the ears of the Zhang family's warehouse keeper.

Ever since the barren bean incident, this person had been even more anxious and fearful, feeling day and night that some evildoer was going to cause trouble. Originally, he could not stand the sound of mice or crickets, but now he feared that even if an insect or ant passed by and accidentally crawled too loudly, he would wake up in the middle of the night in shock. After this assignment was over, he would probably lose a circle of weight.

Poisoning and arson had both been guarded against, so only murder and injury remained.

Knowing that manpower was tight and the office would certainly not pay more attention, Song Miao told the kitchen staff to form groups according to the streets and alleys where they lived. Every morning they would come to the Yi Guan Guan together and take a unified cart to the kitchen. In the afternoon, after returning, they would be sent back to fixed locations by mule cart, to avoid trouble halfway. She also specifically found a trustworthy cart driver and instructed him that when driving the cart, he must go slow and steady, pay attention to safety, and so on.

With such carefulness in everything, they indeed passed several days safely and steadily.

Having been anxious for a long time, seeing that nothing had happened, everyone gradually relaxed quite a bit.

Early one morning, with only a sliver of light on the horizon, mule carts set off one by one from the Yi Guan Guan, heading toward the kitchen in the direction of the riverway.

Early in the morning, everyone closed their eyes to rest, with no interest in idle chat. After leaving the city, there were few pedestrians, and all along the way only the sound of the mule carts traveling could be heard.

As the cart was running, Song Miao vaguely felt something was wrong, so she opened the door of the front cart body and said to the cart driver, "Master Chi, it's better to be steady. Going slower doesn't matter; we can make it today."

The cart driver said, "It's the same as usual. Today I even urged it slower—this mule is very diligent today; without much calling, it will run hard on its own."

He got off the mule cart, carefully checked it once, and found no problem. Then he returned and started forward again.

After not long, the mule cart had reached a slope. Going up the slope, there was a long and steep downhill.

The cart driver waved his hand, but before he could crack the empty whip, the lead mule kicked its legs impatiently, ran two steps left, two steps right, and charged straight up the slope.