Chapter 225

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Song Miao paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Many thanks for your reminder, sir — with such fine stone and fine seal, though I am no wind-and-flow scholar, I still would not bear to let them gather dust."

Hearing Song Miao speak thus, Chen Fuzi laughed heartily, stroking his beard incessantly.

The long beard under his chin had just been bristly, as if somewhat knotted, but in the time it took to drink a cup and speak a few words, it suddenly seemed to have become smooth and obedient.

The mood had undergone the same change.

Just now he had felt vexed and stifled, but now that too had changed — even thinking of the mountain of case files still waiting ahead, they no longer seemed so hard to gnaw through.

Song Miao finished speaking, then pushed the sachet back, saying, "Only this white jade... one truly cannot accept emolument without merit, and moreover sir also saw that I make my living selling food, and carry heavy debts on my person; to match such fine beautiful jade, first, comings and goings would be inconvenient, second, if outsiders, especially creditors, saw it, even if they said nothing, I would feel ill at ease in my heart, and only grow more ashamed."

Upon hearing this, Chen Fuzi's mood improved even further.

If Song Miao had readily accepted his white jade, he would naturally be very happy, but now Song Miao refused to accept it, and returned such a speech, he felt another kind of happiness.

Between people one always speaks of the two words "mutual affinity"; once affinity is established, whatever one does is good.

The first time he came to the door and met this young lady, he felt the other party was very much to his affinity.

Conduct, speech — all made one very comfortable, and there was also extremely good culinary skill; later, as they gradually became familiar, he and a whole group of people often came to eat, and after long association, joy grew even more.

Very good character, very good person.

When he saw those inscribed tables and chairs, and now saw this one shop seal, especially that one name seal, Chen Fuzi found it very hard to describe the pride in his heart.

He regarded his martial-uncle as a nephew.

His own person of affinity also suited his nephew's heart — how could there be such a good thing in the world?

Worldly people often say "matching families by status," and also speak of family rank and wealth, talent and appearance, but Chen Fuzi has lived a handful of years, and the older he gets, the more he feels nothing surpasses character itself.

With character, one can support everything, can shoulder the family gate, hold onto and earn wealth and honor.

He smiled and said, "Could it be that a moment's heavy debt means a lifetime of heavy debt? You just keep it; there will always be a suitable time to wear it in the future!"

Song Miao, however, opened the sachet, took out the white jade again, gently placed it back on the table, and said, "I know sir has the heart to look after juniors, but compared to such beautiful jade, I would rather have sir's ink treasure."

"My family, with Second Young Lady's help, has already replastered the walls; in the future we will inevitably need to hang a signboard on the wall. Though it is still a matter without even a single stroke of the eight characters, I still want to ask sir in advance for a wooden dish-name plaque; I wonder if that would be possible?"

"I already promised once before; I barely snatched this job from Lao Cao — where would there be any need to ask again!" Chen Fuzi blew his beard, glared his eyes, just about to put on a fierce old man act, when he suddenly reacted, "Then the main hall plaque doesn't need me to write — who will write it?"

"Young Master Han said his calligraphy suits the main hall plaque better than others'; he originally also said he would write the signboard, but I thought, perhaps this signboard could be used for a hundred years, so we still need a person of high virtue and prestige to wield the brush..."

As she spoke the words "high virtue," Chen Fuzi's head unconsciously lifted high, as if "head" had turned into "virtue," and he looked at Song Miao with great anticipation, eyes wide and round, only waiting for her to say the words he most wanted to hear.

And Song Miao indeed did not disappoint expectations.

"Thinking back and forth, counting through all the people I know, only sir is most worthy of the four words 'high virtue, weighty prestige'..."

This sentence, like a great mountain, crashed precisely into the great pit he had just dug out, fitting seamlessly, not the slightest deviation.

Chen Fuzi felt so comfortable he wanted to shake his leg.

"Young Master Han heard me mention you, and without a second word, just said sir might not have the leisure..."

"Who doesn't have leisure?? He's the one who doesn't have leisure!!!" Chen Fuzi's leg hadn't even had time to lift before he hurriedly put it back down, loudly retorting, "The signboard is the most critical position; customers see it first upon entering, so it must be particular — let me go back and deliberate, select the very best, most suitable character forms and script styles..."

Song Miao smiled and said, "The shop's most critical part is the facade, the facade's most critical part is the signboard — I entrust it entirely to sir!"

Because there were still matters, seeing that Jixian Yuan was also busy, although the hour of Mao had already passed, and she had only sat for a moment, people still poked their heads in from outside from time to time, so Song Miao did not stay long; she delivered the letter and seal, exchanged a few greetings, and prepared to take her leave.

Chen Fuzi did not press her to stay either; after asking clearly when she would set up stall, he immediately said, "You've been rushing about all the way, very hard work; rest well at home for a few days first, whether you set up stall or not, there's no rush!"

He rummaged through the box again, found several packets of things, casually wrapped them in cloth, and forcibly stuffed them into Song Miao's arms, saying, "What others give are all messy dried goods and snacks; I'm old, and don't cook, you just take them and eat them yourself!"

Speaking, he personally saw her to the door.

Only after seeing her off, returning to the room, did Xiao You come out to help tidy things, tidying while unable to help asking, "Just now in the inner room, I heard sir speaking of stones, seals and such — what was that about?"

"Oh, you mean that swastika stone? It's something he picked up in the past; he got two pieces in total..."

Chen Fuzi spoke to this point, and suddenly fell into a trance.

When the martial-uncle first entered the sect, he had already shown the edge of his brush.

He was very competitive, studying nonstop from early to late every day; clearly the youngest in age, he always had to surpass others before he would stop; if he couldn't surpass them, though he said nothing on his face, after returning he often wouldn't even spend extra time eating, swallowing a few mouthfuls whole, then continuing bitter study.

Even if he did surpass them, he would not have any superfluous emotions, as if all his energy was again placed on coping with the next round.

The Fu sect took in very few people; everyone got along very harmoniously, helping each other, relations were good; knowing his origins were pitiable, they often showed more care, and also wanted to bring him to change this stubborn heart of his.

A lifetime is that long; if one is always tensed tight, one can only taste sour and bitter, cannot feel sweet and beautiful — wouldn't that be too pitiable?

But soon, everyone discovered it wasn't that he didn't want to change, but that he couldn't change.

Clearly a half-grown child, yet one doesn't know if from forcing himself too much all along, he had already forgotten how to relax.

The master discovered something was wrong, advised several times, saw no use, so simply started keeping the person by his side, running through every major prefecture and county, every rural field, river by river, embankment by embankment.

Many years passed; the person became more steady, did things more carefully and solidly, became reliable, but still drove himself very tight, not willing to stop for a single moment.

Until one time, he went out with the master and brought back two stones.

One doesn't know what he saw, or what he heard, but from this time on, he finally learned to have proper tension and relaxation.

He treasured those two stones extremely, carried them on his person daily, not lightly letting people look or touch.

Until the master's eightieth birthday, the martial-uncle carved one of them into a name seal as a birthday gift.

After the master passed away, that one seal as a relic returned to the martial-uncle's hands, but from then on, one seal one stone, never met again.

Many years passed; he thought those two stones had long been sealed away; who knew this time they would suddenly appear again, the other one carved into such a beautiful seal.

Chen Fuzi naturally would not say more.

He was also a person who had talked of love.

Some words must wait for the person themselves to speak voluntarily; some things must wait for the person themselves to awaken to; if you pierce through it, rush it, then it all loses that flavor.

Besides, there's still the off chance.

Just hope that off chance doesn't happen.

Chen Fuzi thought, turned his head to look, and seeing Xiao You carrying an oil-paper bundle and green plum drink heading toward the back, hurriedly stopped her: "Ah! Where are you taking those?"

Xiao You said: "Put them away for you first, sir?"

"No need!" Chen Fuzi hurriedly pointed at his own desk, "Just put them to the side. In this hot weather, the green plum drink is perfect mixed with water, and there's that egg roll tube too — when I'm free, or when I can't bear reading anymore, I'll take them out and eat a roll! Ah!"

"You help me hurry Old Lu, tell them to speed up. Now that Xiao Song is back, it won't be long before the food stall and eatery's small dining tables can reopen!"

Hearing this, Xiao You became even more anxious than Chen Fuzi, and hurriedly said: "Then would it be better to hurry them even more? Should I tell them to hand everything over tomorrow?"

And anxiously added: "It's already been delayed this long. If we keep dragging it on endlessly, who knows how many months Song Xiaoniangzi's eatery will have been open and the stall operating while we're still here counting ant-sized characters in the ledger!"

Just a few sentences, but as they spoke, whether from staring at the green plum drink bottle before him and the box holding egg roll tubes, or thinking of the many dishes he'd eaten at the Song Family Eatery before, he involuntarily swallowed two or three times mid-sentence.

Here master and disciple were busy rushing the work; on the other side, Song Miao left Jixian Yuan, walked a stretch forward, and went to find the mule cart.

The cart was parked under a tree's shade to one side.

The weather was hot, and Song Miao had just drunk the medicinal beverage, so she wasn't hungry at all. She asked the driver, who had already taken the opportunity to eat soup cakes at a roadside stall and fill his belly.

Seeing it was still early before the end of the You hour, she didn't wait for the next day, and simply asked him to turn directly toward Cao Gate outside, buying some tonic food-medicines and fresh fruit along the way, planning to visit Xin Feng.

Upon arriving, it took half a day before a woman came to answer the door.

She looked about thirty, wore a coarse cloth robe, a coarse cloth headwrap, an apron tied at her waist, her complexion somewhat yellow, eyes full of red bloodshot veins, brows habitually furrowed as if from furrowing so long they'd forgotten how to relax, shoulders slumped, making her back appear slightly hunched.

Seeing her age and appearance, Song Miao guessed she was Xin Feng's wife, hurriedly performed a greeting, gave her name, and said: "Formerly I received much care from Censor Xin, and now entrusted by someone, I've come specially to visit — but I don't know if it's convenient?"

That woman also gave her name, and sure enough it was Du Shi, Xin Feng's wife.

Both sides exchanged greetings, and she hurriedly ushered Song Miao inside, asking her to sit while saying: "So it's Song Xiaoniangzi. I've heard Lao Xin mention you many times. He said you went to Hua Prefecture; when did you return?"

"I already returned last night. I wonder how the Censor's injury is now?"

"Just returned, you should properly rest. Why rush over here? It really makes one feel embarrassed!"

Du Shi was greeting her verbally, about to pour tea, but when she lifted the teapot it was light and empty, pouring nothing.

She was momentarily embarrassed, and hurriedly asked: "What would Xiaoniangzi like to drink? It's hot, how about some cold beverage?"

Song Miao had heard beforehand that the Xin family's circumstances were ordinary. Seeing it today, the house and furnishings were all plain. Judging by the look of things, they most likely couldn't afford ice, and would have to go out and buy it eight or nine times out of ten.

Xin Feng's parents were already gone. The household had one son and two daughters. The son had joined the army and gone elsewhere with the troops. The two daughters were twins, only three years old, still at the age needing care.

Du Shi alone cared for the children and had to tend to a heavily injured husband — where would she find the time?

She smiled and said: "This afternoon I visited an old gentleman, just drank cold beverage there and came out. Right now I don't feel hot at all. If there's well water, I'll just fetch a cup myself."

Du Shi hurriedly rushed to fetch well water.

Hearing Song Miao ask about Xin Feng's injury, Du Shi sighed and said: "It's much better. Earlier he'd already gotten out of bed, but now he still can't walk far, limping along. He's anxious as can be, but can only slowly recuperate."

"Yet he keeps worrying about the yamen side, afraid he won't recover, will lose his livelihood, won't know what work he can do — sighing all day long."

Song Miao said: "It was an injury sustained on official duty. How could the Censor have such thoughts?"

Du Shi's worry deepened, and she said softly: "A few days ago two colleagues happened to come visit. They said the abduction case from before has been decided from above. Lao Xin let the ringleader escape. Though Qin Guaren spoke up for him, in the end he couldn't avoid punishment — he's been demoted one rank."

She added: "But since it was an injury from official business, the yamen says these months' subsidy silver won't change. When he recovers and returns, they'll pay according to the new reduced subsidy."

Song Miao was momentarily at a loss for words.

Du Shi was about to say more when a call came from the inner room, followed by a series of "thump-thump" sounds. She hurriedly said to Song Miao: "Busy talking, I actually forgot he's in there getting anxious."

Saying this, she hurried into the room and half-supported a person out.

Song Miao stood up, saw the visitor, and was truly shocked in her heart.

They say tendon and bone injuries take a hundred days. Xin Feng had lain bedridden for two months. Originally a big-waisted, broad-shouldered strong man, he'd lost much weight. Clothes hung on him with a loose, empty feel. That was one thing, but his whole person exuded a spirit of dejection, completely unlike before — truly two different people. Looking at him made one sigh with pity.

He leaned on a crutch, head covered in sweat, slowly laboring toward the outer hall.

Song Miao hurried forward to greet him, and helped move the opposite chair aside.

When Xin Feng walked, his mind focused only on walking, not distracted in the slightest. Even so, he still walked with a limp.

Once he finally managed to sit down, he looked up, saw Song Miao, and his eyes suddenly brightened. In that instant, the dejected air about him seemed driven away. He urgently asked: "It's actually Song Xiaoniangzi? When did you return? What about Zheng Yan? Has he returned too??"

Song Miao only said she arrived last night, and that Han Li would need at least another ten days or month before returning to the Capital.

The smile on Xin Feng's face froze halfway, stiffening. After a long pause, he said: "Right. He's busy with important matters, can't spare a hand for a while, can't return — naturally he can't attend to other things..."

"Though Young Master Han hasn't returned, he entrusted me to bring some tonic gifts to visit the Censor, and convey a couple of sentences."

Song Miao spoke, placing the purchased gifts on the table.

One bamboo basket, one wicker basket, two gift boxes, and a bundle — all containing various things, mostly tonic food ingredients and medicinal materials. Once spread out, they filled the table full. One look showed the cost was not small.

But Xin Feng didn't care about any of that, only urgently asking: "What words??"