Chapter 239: Wonderful Kitchen Chapter 241: Posturing

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Hearing her granddaughter describe today's dishes at Song Ji, especially the sweet-and-sour, appetite-opening Sweet and Sour Pork that was hot inside and cold outside, and the Perilla Cucumber that was soft, well-cooked, and fragrant, with juice in every bite, the child spoke without thought, praising in a disorderly, aimless way, not knowing that the more so, the more it made adults imagine.

They were not particularly special dishes, and most ingredients were cheap and easy to get, but hearing them paired that way, and hearing the method, He Lao Furen, who had suffered the bitter summer for long, looking at Zhu Jie'er swallowing saliva, could in an instant guess the flavor, and could not help but swallow a mouthful of saliva herself.

However, He Lao Furen was not an elder who simply indulged the child.

She advised: "Your Brother Qi has just returned, there are many matters at home to be busy with, and he must also return to Xuezhong to study. Sister, be obedient, do not disturb him doing serious business."

Zhu Jie'er's happy little face immediately darkened, saying: "Fine!"

But she immediately perked up, asking: "Then when Brother Qi is on holiday, can we go?"

The words were out, and she herself negated them, saying: "Brother Qi's holiday, who knows when it will be. My belly has grown a little hungry bug, it just told me it really wants to eat that gulu-gulu calling meat. If I can't eat it, my belly will hurt—Grandmother, can I go find Xiao Lian to play myself?! Zhu Jie'er is a big child, I can go visit on my own!"

Though there was a nephew's son accompanying her, He Lao Furen still inquired about Song Ji before letting her granddaughter go, naturally knowing that family's situation.

She said: "The sister you want to find goes out to set up a stall and do business during the day. You are so small, going to their door without an adult accompanying you, they would have to spare attention to take care of you, isn't that adding trouble to people?"

She also said: "Moreover, going without notice, others will say our family does not observe rules."

Zhu Jie'er made a muffled "oh," obviously very discouraged.

He Lao Furen coaxed: "It's not some difficult dish. Have the kitchen make another portion for our Zhu Jie'er tomorrow according to that."

"That's not the same! There's no Xiao Song Jiejie at home! Xiao Lian isn't here either! I even said I'd bring her a medical book!"

She loudly proclaimed again her ambition to make a garden at the door, and Xiao Lian's ambition to learn medicine.

He Lao Furen long knew that family had a mother and daughter who came to the capital to seek relatives. Now hearing the younger one had such ambition and was also practicing calligraphy, and more rare that the young lady really taught, though not knowing how she taught, nor what she could finally learn, but being able to have that spirit, she liked it very much, and said: "Next time you go, go again in a few days!"

She also said: "Your Brother Qi is not free. When Grandmother has free time, I will take you to visit. You first pick several medical books yourself—but our Zhu Jie'er cannot pick randomly. Since you want to make friends, you must be sincere. After picking them out, you must come and tell me why you picked them so. Convince me, then we can go together."

Zhu Jie'er was one breath almost jumping with joy, the next breath not happy again, pouting her lips as if they could hang an oil bottle, complaining: "Others originally wanted to pick each book carefully themselves! Grandmother saying this makes it seem like I only knew to be careful after being reminded! So bad! I won't stand for it!"

He Lao Furen could only hold her granddaughter's head and rub it while apologizing, then called the servant over in person and instructed: "Send an invitation card to the young lady at that Song Ji food shop, ask which day is convenient. Just say our grandmother and granddaughter want to reserve seats, visit as guests, and see if it works!"

Zhu Jie'er immediately beamed with smiles, praising without end, saying "Grandmother is the best grandmother under heaven," "I like Grandmother the most," and so on, coaxing the old lady until she couldn't close her mouth, before happily returning to her room to rest.

After the granddaughter slept, He Lao Furen called the serving woman who had come over that day over, and asked in detail about the dinner scene.

The serving woman described it, finally saying: "That young lady acts very thoroughly, looking proper, and the person is open and straightforward. But after only meeting once, I don't know her true background."

She also said: "That mother and daughter are both hardworking, their hands and feet are clean. What's difficult is they are very spirited. The little girl is two months younger than our Zhu Niangzi, cannot sit still for a moment, and without anyone urging or calling, she herself anxiously remembers to go wash bean sprouts."

He Lao Furen sighed hearing this, saying: "A widow bringing up a daughter, a solitary young lady, life is not easy for either!"

Speaking, she specially called her personal maid over, saying: "Tell them to be courteous when sending the invitation card, do not show off wealth. Zhu Jie'er is going to visit to find a playmate. Don't let people think we are putting on airs."

She could not help but complain again: "This Xiao Qi. Tell him to bring back something tasty when he finds good food. I treat him so kindly usually, yet not a thing!"

The maid smiled: "Young Master didn't bring many freshly picked tender melons and vegetables? Old Furen praised him for being thoughtful before!"

"That's because she doesn't know they ate so many fresh dishes tonight. Never mind the rest, but the glutinous rice cakes could be brought back? He clearly knows my maiden home is Yu Yao, and we've always liked rice cakes, New Year cakes, and all glutinous foods!"

The serving woman had to speak for He Qi, saying: "Old Furen has wronged Young Master. He originally wanted to bring some, but because that Song Xiaoniangzi said glutinous rice cakes cannot be kept at all and get hard when cold, he gave up."

She then described how Song Miao used gauze to rub glutinous rice into rice cakes.

"I saw our sister eat it, soft and soft, without water, she swallowed it down in one go. She even clamored for more. Because it's glutinous food, I didn't dare let her eat much, and hurriedly stopped her."

He Lao Furen was an expert in eating glutinous food. Hearing this, she actually became a bit restless, and couldn't help asking: "So soft?"

The serving woman, though she hadn't eaten it, answered decisively: "Young Master Qi praised it without stopping, saying eating it was like eating nothing, it slid into the belly in one go! He is so picky with his mouth, what he says must be reliable!"

He Lao Furen couldn't help saying: "Then I must try it!"

She also said: "Since entering the capital, though we can find southern cooks, and make New Year cakes and rice cakes, none taste like when I was young. I don't know where the problem is. I always feel the water is also a problem. Even the breath is not right!"

She hurriedly told the maid again: "When sending the invitation card, ask that young lady again. Just say about today's dishes, the rest doesn't matter. The rice cakes, Perilla Cucumber, and iced Sweet and Sour Pork—I very much want to try them. See if she can prepare them!"

Zhu Jie'er was young, her knowledge naturally limited. Seeing a Straw Raincoat Cucumber, she felt it was novel and fun. Eating Night-blooming Jasmine Pork Slice Soup, because she liked flowers, she praised it again and again, treasuring it extremely.

He Lao Furen, at her age, had seen outstanding knife skills who knows how many times. She was not very interested in so-called new tastes or flower tricks. Because her teeth were not good, she preferred things she could bite, but not just steamed, simmered, or braised. She hoped the cook could make familiar home ingredients into good taste and good texture. Especially nostalgic, so after hearing, what she liked was the soft Perilla Cucumber and rice cakes, and also the meat that was both cold and hot, yet not hard at all, sweet and sour.

Of course, what interested her most was still the rice cakes.

Though not knowing what texture the Song Family Food Shop made, nor if it suited her taste, thinking of the scene when she was young of several sisters roasting rice cakes around the fire to eat, He Lao Furen couldn't help but feel some anticipation.

Summer is not suitable for roasting. But if it could really taste like when she was young, even just smacking her lips would be enough!

The He Family was preparing to send invitation cards, while Song Miao was listening to Cheng Erniang's report.

Before, she had been very satisfied with Er Niangzi's handling of affairs. This trip outside for two months, after returning to the capital, seeing the other did things so meticulously and with method, she valued her even more.

Having decided to find a coachman, that coachman, besides delivering large pancakes to the food shop and transporting purchased ingredients, spent most of the rest of the time following Cheng Erniang to deliver various foods. So this task of hiring a coachman, she let the other choose a suitable one herself.

Cheng Erniang handled the matter very quickly.

"Originally wanted to ask an intermediary to help recommend someone. But after looking at quite a few, either they had no hair on their lips, or they did things too coarsely. Some couldn't speak clearly. I thought, in the end, using someone familiar is better than using a stranger. So I went to the place we often find coachmen these days. Just happened to have Xu Shifu coming to solicit customers."

"I remember hiring him several times before. This time, asking, I learned we here want to hire a carriage for half a day. He said he would come himself. Asked the price, stated the start and end work hours. He agreed to all in one breath."

"This person is thirty-nine this year. Looks quite tall. Also a person of the capital. Boasts he knows the streets and alleys very well. Has a family of six..."

Cheng Erniang explained the situation of that Coachman Xu once through.

Song Miao listening had no impression.

Cheng Erniang again said: "Actually not necessarily very suitable. But fortunately, after all, he is a person of the capital, knows the roads, lives nearby. It's just his mouth is a bit chatty. But coachmen originally just drive the carriage. It's bearable. Our hours are a bit early. Some people are not very willing to agree. They come to haggle."

This statement had some reason. Song Miao also quite agreed.

She offered the market price. Although generally speaking, half a morning could finish the work, the work time was not long. As long as they came again in the afternoon to pick up a large pancake and go home. But the hours of using the carriage were very early.

—Need to go pick up large pancakes, and need to purchase and transport fresh meat and vegetables for the day. Definitely must set out early. Otherwise, what would the family use to set up a stall?

Song Miao thought a little, then said: "Since this matter is arranged by Er Niangzi, it's all up to you to decide. If there's time, ask him to start work tomorrow. Just in time to pick up large pancakes!"

Cheng Erniang originally wanted to say to have Xu Shifu come over for Song Miao to look at again. If not suitable, change one. If suitable, then have him start work. But at this time hearing the five words "all up to you to decide," on one hand, an invisible burden seemed to be on her shoulder. On the other hand, she was also a bit elated, very hoping to handle things well by herself.

She hurriedly said, "Wait for the person to come, try them out for a few days first to see how they are; if they're really no good, replacing them will still be in time!"

Thus the matter was settled.

Early the next morning, sure enough, Master Xu brought big flatbreads over with a mule cart.

At this time the sky was too dark, and time was pressing; Song Miao was busy preparing to set up her stall, and for the moment had no leisure to attend to it.

By the time the cart went with Cheng Erniang to deliver early food to various places, the sun was already high overhead; in such brightness, Song Miao saw the face of that Master Xu who was preparing to set off at a glance.

He looked very familiar.

She didn't speak; after the person left, she asked about the big flatbreads' morning situation, then asked, "Today that mule cart — was it that the door latch broke, and in the end a tree branch was used as a bolt to plug it?"

Dabing hurriedly nodded and said, "Yes, that mule cart used a tree branch to bolt the door — Young Lady, how would you know?"

Song Miao shook her head and didn't speak further.

She hadn't known before; now that she saw the other's face clearly, she remembered that she had also hailed this person's cart several times; her impression of that driver was still quite ordinary — she felt his words weren't very guarded, he liked to boast and talk big, and also loved to ask this and that.

Last time she was pressed for time, she called his cart to help deliver several boxes of fortune-character cakes to Cao Gate Street; all along the way that person kept asking questions — asking the price of the pastries made, asking whether she earned a lot in a day of stall-setting, whether she could tell him how much she earned.

He also said he wanted his eldest daughter-in-law at home to go out and set up a stall to earn money, but in the end he was a father-in-law, so it was hard to speak; it would be good if his daughter-in-law could be as capable as Song Miao and know how to earn money.

The whole journey could not be called very pleasant.

But it was only that one time; the other few times she also called his cart, and such a situation did not occur again.

Since Song Miao had handed the errand to Cheng Erniang, she wasn't anxious to intervene, thinking that since it was a trial period, she'd watch for a few days first before deciding.

Moreover, where in the world is there a perfect person? She was hiring a driver; as long as he drove the cart well and his character had no fatal flaw, it was enough; she was paying the usual price, so it wasn't right to be overly picky.

Yesterday that roll of rice noodles sold out very quickly, but for the time being no feedback had been received; Song Miao couldn't tell for a moment whether it was because her previous foundation was good, or the rice noodle rolls really sold well and people liked them.

However, today she still prepared thirty percent more quantity, and on top of that the rice noodle rolls were also purchase-limited; she reckoned it should be quite a bit better than yesterday's situation of not having enough to sell.

Pity that Song Miao didn't know — overnight, between the two schools, many rumors had already surged forth regarding the rice noodle rolls.

This rice noodle roll is a newly listed food; it has meat, vegetables, and noodle skin; in the great heat of summer, eating it isn't greasy at all; the ingredients are rich, the taste is good, and the key point is the price is very suitable.

Vegetarian rolls three coins, meat rolls five coins; one meat one vegetarian added together is actually the price of one large portion of glutinous rice; eating it, although not as filling for as long as glutinous rice, it's not easy to feel stuffed in the stomach, and won't make people drowsy; with so many benefits, naturally those who like it are many, and those unaccustomed to eating it are few.

The first day the limit was twelve rolls per person; actually not many people managed to buy; by midday the news had spread everywhere.

— Song Xiaoniangzi has come back; she set up her stall this morning; this time the shaomai are gone!

— A new food has been put up, called rice noodle rolls!

— What?? That shaomai I still haven't been able to eat a few times! It's gone just like that? What on earth are rice noodle rolls??

— Are those rice noodle rolls tasty or not? What flavor are they?

When talking about the previous information, everyone could still interject a few sentences and discuss; but when it came to the taste and texture of the rice noodle rolls, the number of people qualified to speak suddenly became few.

At the beginning, almost all were praise, saying how the rice noodle rolls were soft, smooth, and refreshing, neither crumbling nor mushy; how the fillings inside were delicious; how the sauce outside was meticulous; different fillings paired with different sauces, each with its own deliciousness, fundamentally not greasy.

By afternoon, the word-of-mouth on the rice noodle rolls slowly underwent a reversal; unknown who started it, people began to speak ill of them.

Bad reviews intensified.

— Aiya, Song Xiaoniangzi's glutinous rice is delicious, shaomai are also delicious, but that rice noodle roll — I really can't get used to it; the sauce isn't tasty!

— That sauce is weird; can't describe it; it's sour, it's salty!

— The noodle skin isn't tasty either; the texture is too ordinary!! Alas, Song Xiaoniangzi also has times when she misses the mark!

— Brother, listen to Brother me for one sentence of advice: if you want to buy, don't buy rice noodle rolls; buy glutinous rice instead!

— Heard it's still purchase-limited! One person can only buy four rolls!

— Alas, I advise you all not to try; if you really must try, buy one roll to taste and that's it!

A group of people here earnestly and sincerely persuading — what their purpose ultimately is, only they themselves know.

But the next day at dawn, when they discovered more and more people starting to head toward Food Alley, everyone felt something wasn't right.

This crowd — how is it even more than before?

And it's a lot more!! Look at those holding basins, carrying baskets, holding books — at a glance they're prepared to line up at Song Ji.

"Lao Liang, how come you're here? Yesterday didn't you say you didn't want to queue, that you weren't eating anymore??"

"Sigh, originally I thought queuing would still mean not buying, just wasting time — but yesterday wasn't everyone saying they didn't like that rice noodle roll? Since everyone dislikes it, if I come queue, I ought to be able to buy, right?"