Chapter 227: Wonderful Cook Chapter 229: Take a Look

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Leaving Cao Gate, seeing that the time was about right, Song Miao went directly to the Zhu family.

After entering and sitting for a while, drinking half a teacup of tea, she then took Liang Yan to bid farewell.

The mule cart first took Zhu Shi, then turned back to Sanzao County Alley.

For the first half of the road, Liang Yan almost didn't speak, just quietly listening to the two people talking on the cart.

When Zhu Shi reached her destination, without being called, he took the opportunity while the car stopped to stand up, and together with Song Miao, politely waved goodbye.

When the mule cart set off again, Liang Yan didn't just sit down, but specially changed seats to Zhu Shi's place, sitting closer to Song Miao, looking like he had endured it for a long time; he first glanced toward the front carriage driver, saw that the door was closed properly, then carefully leaned over and whispered: "Song Jiejie, let me quietly tell you something."

Before he could speak, a smile he couldn't hold back already appeared on his face.

Song Miao immediately lowered her head, also acting like she was keeping a secret, and asked in a low voice: "What is it? Tell me quickly!"

"Earlier when I was in Hua Prefecture, I heard Song Jiejie teach Big Pancake Brother, saying that there's a place on a pig called pig zhan, divided into front zhan and back zhan, very delicious, can be stewed into soup or stir-fried—is that right?"

Song Miao nodded, waiting for him to continue.

Liang Yan "pu chi" laughed.

His laugh this time was a pure and proper eight-year-old child's laugh, laughing with his mouth open, even showing his back molars.

"My grandaunt's grandson is called 'Zhu Houzhan', the 'hou' of 'thickness', and he also has a childhood name, called Zhu Datou!"

Song Miao was stunned, then couldn't help but laugh out loud, asking: "Who gave him the childhood name? And who helped him choose his name?"

The Zhu family runs a slaughterhouse; even if outsiders don't know what pig zhan is, how could their family not know?

"He said the childhood name was given by his granduncle; on the day Zhan Ge was born, a pig with an especially big head came to the stall, sold very quickly, his granduncle was overjoyed, so he gave him this childhood name!"

Already called "Zhan Ge".

Song Miao knew "granduncle" referred to Zhu Butcher; thinking about it a bit, she felt that a grandfather who likes eating pig head meat giving his little grandson the name "Zhu Datou" showed how much he liked him.

Only she still couldn't help but want to laugh.

Liang Yan then spoke of the big name.

"Because his parents said pig zhan meat is the most delicious and also easy to sell, and the character 'zhan' has a good meaning, they specially chose it, asked an old scholar, and also asked a Taoist priest, both said it was good..."

Song Miao found it hard not to agree.

"Pig zhan meat is indeed very delicious, especially back zhan meat, with tendons and membranes, it's chewy when eaten but not hard; stir-fried well, it's even a bit crispy; stewed well in soup, it's not dry—the meat used in the last snow pear almond lean meat soup was back zhan meat."

Liang Yan widened his eyes, immediately asking: "Was it that sweet soup you drank when you were in Hua Prefecture?"

After getting Song Miao's nod, he said: "That soup was very tasty! The meat inside was also very delicious!"

After speaking, as if he thought of something, he hesitated a moment, his voice lowered a bit more, asking: "Sister, after I go to the martial hall, even after evening classes I'll still come back home to chop firewood and shell beans—on which day will you help me stew that soup? I'll bring that Zhu Zhan over to taste it too, okay?"

Speaking, he took something out from his sleeve to show Song Miao, saying: "He gave me this as soon as we met today."

Inside the cart body there was only a soybean oil lamp, the candlelight flickering and flickering, casting the shadow of that thing.

It was a very small bow, not even half a child's palm big, with a kind of clumsy delicacy inside.

"Although I gave him a big knife clay figure, that was bought; this one he made himself... he felt quite embarrassed, always wanting to quickly return the gift."

Song Miao played with the small bow for a moment, then returned it to Liang Yan, smiling: "Come whenever you have free time; I'll pile up the firewood, and when you come, help me chop it slowly—only if you invite him to drink this pig zhan soup, won't it clash with his name? Will he be unhappy?"

"No!" Liang Yan hurriedly explained, "He even said he'd take me to secretly roast pig back zhan to eat!"

For a while he also told Song Miao about the people he met at the Zhu family today, the things he encountered, and tonight's dishes—"Sister just said Granduncle likes eating pig head meat rolls with scallions; today I saw them! Only right now there are no scallions, they used chives!"

Song Miao discussed back and forth with him all the way.

Seeing they were almost at Sanzao County Alley, she then asked: "That Young Master He at noon, do you still remember what he said?"

"He said he can recommend you to a very capable martial instructor, just depends on what you want to learn," Song Miao asked softly, "Today you also went to the Zhu family; the Zhu family plans to arrange for you to go to the Xu Family Wuguan at Baokang Gate, to learn martial arts together with Zhu Zhan."

"Since Young Master He has spoken, it's not empty talk; vouching for you is just a matter of a word for him, not difficult at all. If you can follow the master he recommends, both your fellow disciples and the people you meet will be better than ordinary people. Later, if you join the army and enter the camp, the people you know will be different; even if you start the same, the subsequent path will be completely different."

"I've already inquired; disciples from the Xu Family Wuguan generally have three paths: either join the army, or become bodyguards for wealthy families, or join a dart agency to run escorts. Although some fellow disciples can show the way, later they might not be able to help much—the difference is very great. Which side do you want to choose?"

Liang Yan hesitated: "I... I've already acknowledged my grandaunt; if I don't go to the martial hall with Zhu Zhan, will it be bad?"

Song Miao shook her head, saying: "It's fine. If you choose the front path and get picked by someone, once you're established, you can recommend Zhu Zhan over too; the Zhu family would only be happy—it all depends on your own wishes."

"But I... but I ultimately don't know that Young Master He; if I accept his favor, won't I have to ask Sister to repay it first? If I can't repay..."

Song Miao said: "Some favors can be owed first; no need to hurry to repay—just like Zhu Zhan's bow. If you hurry to repeatedly return gifts because you feel your gift isn't good enough, once he knows, he'll only feel sad and think you're keeping him at a distance."

"Young Master He is the same; he originally meant to help kindly. If we keep saying we want to thank him, it will only make people uncomfortable—for example, if you chop firewood and shell beans for me, and I count every root and every jin of money with you, what would you think in your heart?"

Liang Yan was stunned for a moment.

Just thinking about it made his heart clench; he murmured: "I... Sister..."

Song Miao added: "Another matter: you met the Zhu family today and felt good for the moment, but it might not feel suitable in the long run. Get along first; if there's anything uncomfortable, the Xu Family Wuguan is at Baokang Gate, not far from Sanzao County Alley; come find me immediately to tell me."

"Before returning to the Capital this time, that Han Li Young Master Han specially instructed me: if the Zhu family isn't suitable, he will sponsor you to learn martial arts."

Liang Yan was extremely surprised and couldn't help but exclaim "ah".

Song Miao said: "He said he was cared for by many people since childhood and is now following suit. Although he hasn't obtained an official position yet, he still has some ability to make money. Not to mention supporting one or two of you, even supporting ten or twenty of you, he can afford it. He told you to make progress and not be trapped by trivial chicken feathers and garlic skins, limiting your vision and hands and feet."

She added: "Speaking of relationships, Young Master Han is closest to us, so there's no need to fear accepting his favor. But Young Master He, and Zhu Bogong's side, each has its advantages. No matter whom you choose, there will still be room for regret later; it's not something that can't be changed. You think about it seriously again?"

When they returned to Sanzao County Alley, the time was already late.

Cheng Erniang came out to answer the door and told Song Miao about what happened in the afternoon.

"That boy called Big Pancake specially came once, saying he was Young Lady's apprentice, and insisted on sweeping the back courtyard before leaving; we couldn't stop him. I said to keep him for a meal, but he wouldn't. He also asked when Young Lady would be home tomorrow, and said he'd come again then."

"Another one: when Young Lady went to Hua Prefecture, she came several times too. She's a young lady who said she had something to seek; since Young Lady wasn't there, she went back again. I wanted to ask her origin and name, but she only said it was inconvenient to explain."

Song Miao asked about the other person's appearance and description; surprisingly, she didn't know her. Although she had guesses in her heart, ultimately she had no way to verify them, so she could only let it go for now.

She washed up and was just about to return to her room when she saw someone sitting in the courtyard, waiting for her to come over; he immediately stood up — it was precisely Liang Yan.

"It's so late, can't you sleep?" she asked hurriedly.

Liang Yan shook his head, called out to Song Miao, and said seriously: "I've decided, I'm still going to stay at my grandaunt's house, and practice martial arts at the Xu Family Wuguan together with Zhu Zhan."

Song Miao, seeing the person opposite wearing an anxious, explaining expression, couldn't help but smile: "It doesn't matter which you choose; the firewood at the food shop is being kept for you — after all, you'll have to come chop it!"

Liang Yan was just a child; once he went to the Zhu Family and then to the martial hall to learn martial arts, one could guess that even if he could often come to Song Ji, he wouldn't be able to stay long; as for the so-called keeping firewood waiting for him to come chop it, it was fundamentally impossible to realize.

But the speaker knew the meaning in the words, and the listener naturally understood as well.

Liang Yan gave a heavy "Mm."

Song Miao had already agreed with that mule cart driver last night, asking him to come to the door again early the next morning to pick them up.

Sure enough, by this time, after they had eaten, that driver had already arrived; he entered, gave a greeting, and helped move the luggage piece by piece.

Xiao Lian was extremely reluctant, constantly circling around Liang Yan talking, and also said: "You mustn't get new friends and forget me!"

Liang Yan hurriedly said: "I won't!"

And also said: "You also mustn't only mind playing with others and forget me!"

When it came time to board the carriage, he only then quietly said again: "I left something on your window sill; remember to go get it in a bit!"

In a moment the carriage took the people away; Xiao Lian waited until she could no longer see the carriage's shadow, only then returning to the back courtyard.

She immediately tiptoed to look at the window opening.

On top sat a mud-sculpted rabbit, its eyes painted red, its tail short, its back arched, extremely cute.

She hurriedly cradled it down, turned and ran outside, saw Cheng Erniang sprinkling and sweeping the road outside the door, ran closer, first called out "Mother," said "I'll sweep!", then held her hand up high, and asked: "Mother, look! The toy Yanzi Gege gave me, can I accept it? Can I accept it??"

Her tone held undisguised excitement.

Cheng Erniang subconsciously frowned.

Perfectly fine, why buy this? Can't eat it, can't use it, spoiling the child for no reason.

She opened her mouth about to speak, lowered her head, and saw her daughter beaming, eyes fixed on the rabbit in her hand without blinking, overjoyed; she suddenly realized that since her husband died, all these years, she had never brought anything home again.

The biggest reason was naturally having no money, but children playing doesn't necessarily require bought things; drawing a line on the ground, finding some chicken feathers to make a shuttlecock, twisting a grass rope — all could make a child happy, but she truly had no spare energy, and even less the mood.

Xiao Lian's most recent toys were still the gifts Song Xiaoniangzi brought back this time from Hua Prefecture: small fans, small sachets, small hairpins, and small combs.

She was excessively excited, had to hug them to sleep all night, to the point that she herself had to forcibly stop it, and finally put all the things away first.

And now, just a mud-fired rabbit, made her daughter this happy; Cheng Erniang watched with a faint sourness in her heart.

Right now, having entered the Capital and thrown herself under Song Xiaoniangzi's wing, clearly food and lodging were no worry, and she slowly had a bit of spare money in hand, no longer so straitened.

"You must remember to return Liang Yan's gift!" she finally still nodded.

Xiao Lian answered "Oh oh," carefully put away that rabbit, only then ran out to help wipe and sweep.

Early in the morning, when Song Miao went to send Liang Yan to the Zhu Family, outside Jixian Yuan, Liu Hanlin had already gotten down from the carriage.

He walked exceptionally fast today, did not return to his own room, but went straight to find Chen Fuzi.

As soon as he entered, he started shouting "Lao Chen."

Chen Fuzi raised his head from behind the desk, saw it was Liu Hanlin, immediately glanced at the water clock in the corner, exclaimed "Yo," and said: "How did the sun come out from the west today? It's not even the mao hour yet!"

Rarely, today Liu Hanlin did not banter with him for verbal advantage, but instead laughed heartily as he stepped forward, presenting an object.

It was a long wooden box, inside which lay a scroll painting that looked to have some years on it.

He said: "Lao Chen, last time weren't you wanting to borrow that 'Yu Xiang Tu' I newly acquired to admire? I brought it for you! Look, how is it, impressive enough??"

Chen Fuzi instantly became alert, saying: "What for? What for?? No trouble, no courtesy — either a traitor or a thief; if you don't say clearly what matter, I won't admire this painting!"

Liu Hanlin's face was piled with smiles, saying: "Lao Chen, let me ask you something — I saw yesterday your green plum dew still had quite a lot; can you spare me a cup today?"

Chen Fuzi was stunned, saying: "You like drinking green plum dew, I'll have Xiao You go outside and buy two bottles, why go through the trouble of sharing back and forth……"

Liu Hanlin hurriedly asked: "Is what's bought outside yesterday's?"

"Naturally not; yesterday there was only one small bottle total, made specially for me, I even ration it for myself; if it weren't for coincidentally being seen by you, and Xiao Song was there, I wouldn't even have been willing to share that one cup with you — so stop thinking about it! Otherwise today one cup, tomorrow one cup, what if you get addicted?"

"Alas, where am I that shameless?? Other green plum dew I've also drunk; the flavor not comparing to this is secondary; most important…… this thing is truly useful to me……"

Chen Fuzi was stunned, saying: "What use?"

Liu Hanlin hesitated for a long while, seeing no one to the left or right, only then said quietly: "These two years I've been stepping on the mao hour every day, sometimes still arriving late; you think I'm putting on airs, being lazy?"

Chen Fuzi glanced at him askance, clearly expressing a "yes."

Liu Hanlin said irritably: "Wasn't I diligent when young?? In front of you, not afraid to say it — truly in these one or two years I've also gotten an ailment; those old intestines and old passages, truly don't obey, every time delaying for a long time, and still no good; took medicine, either can't endure it, or no effect."

"But today early morning, I all at once…… haven't been this smooth in many years! Thinking back and forth, nothing else changed, only drank your green plum dew."

"Before also drank other green plum dew, never had this effect; I specially came to test; if it truly is its efficacy — Lao Chen, you've saved my life!"

Chen Fuzi instantly froze.

Beat him to death, he also wouldn't have thought it would be this reason.

But they were originally same-year graduates, and old friends; the other party had spoken to this extent, not wanting any face at all; he naturally couldn't refuse, so he took out the key, bent down to open the copper lock on the lower right cabinet, carefully took out the bottle of green plum dew Song Miao gave, and also said: "It's on account of this old face of yours that I'm willing to part with a bit!"

"Lao Chen, I always knew you're the most righteous!!" Liu Hanlin hurriedly stepped forward, just about to cradle that bottle, but a sweep of his eyes caught several pages of paper laid flat on Chen Fuzi's desk.

Though only a glance, he still made out the top half page; by the time his hand touched that bottle, the corresponding meaning had already floated up in his mind.

He went "Eh," one hand tightly hugging the bottle, head lowering, but eyes staring at the paper, asking: "This brush array…… has some interest…… who wrote it? Your hand, don't block it, let me have a good look!"