Chapter 243

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Song Miao

Song Miao saw the guest off, only then returning to her room.

That scroll was quite thick, and its exterior was wrapped in oil paper; she opened it to look, and inside, sheet by sheet, each was the size of a palm, covered entirely in illustrations — altogether, no fewer than thirty or forty sheets.

Xiao Lian had just come out to help collect the tables and chairs; seeing Song Miao sitting there flipping through those illustrations page by page, she stopped at once, tiptoed to look, and asked, "Sister, aren't these dishes you've made before? They look just like them!"

At these words, Dabing and Cheng Erniang both crowded over, following along with exclamations of wonder.

Song Miao answered with a sound, and could not help but sigh in admiration, "Truly alike!"

One must say, although the same meticulousness and care, judging fairly, Chen Fuzi's attainment in painting skill is far stronger than that of his junior fellow disciple Han Li.

His brushwork is realistic; although each is only a palm square in size, every sheet captures both form and spirit, and the colors are mixed to be almost identical to the original dishes, nearly encompassing all the dishes Song Miao has made for their small dining table these days.

Chen Fuzi not only painted in great detail, but also provided explanations; take the stuffed river snails — he specially painted shiitake, mint, pork, and snail meat, all the filling components, on the side, and added tiny handwritten characters — the literate can read the characters, the illiterate can read the pictures.

Every time he ate a meal before, he liked to ask about the ingredients and methods; at the time Song Miao only thought it was out of curiosity, how could she know it would end up used here.

Such vividly colored illustrated menu boards, even without examining each one, just hanging neatly in a row on the wall, a single sweep of the eye makes them a delight to behold.

The painting papers have already been mounted; each sheet has a bamboo slat at the very top, and a hanging cord attached — wherever there is a place to hook, they can be put directly on the wall.

Last time at Jixian Yuan, Song Miao saw how this old gentleman was entangled in affairs; now this stack of illustrations is exquisite and lovely, and full of care — one can imagine, even with Xiao You and the other attendants helping mix colors and do odd jobs, it must have taken who knows how much time and energy.

She was overjoyed, and couldn't help saying, "Old Master Chen is too good a person!"

Dabing was just wiping the stove top, his hands dirty, and he didn't dare touch the paintings; he only watched from the side and sighed, identifying the dishes one by one together with Cheng Erniang and Xiao Lian.

This one is Guo Qiao Fish Slices, that one is Clear Stir-fried Three Threads, also Yangchun Noodles, various Saozi Noodles, various steamed buns, Chicken Bone Grass Pork Offal Soup, Five-finger Peach Braised Chicken Soup, Shankeng Snail Braised Chicken, Carrot Stir-fried Pork, and so on — Carrot Stir-fried Pork, this dish Chen Fuzi evidently likes very much; the carrot threads are painted very finely, even the burnt edges are specially rendered with different color washes; he not only painted the ingredients, but couldn't resist using a fine brush to annotate "soft, sweet, with spice, makes you eat more rice."

The two characters "more rice" are specially bolded and weighted; within the font and character shapes, a kind of urgent flavor practically rushes out from the paper surface.

Cheng Erniang asked happily, "Young Lady, shall we hang them up and try?"

Song Miao smiled and replied, "It's already past noon; everyone go rest first, we'll do it when we get up later — don't look at it as just hanging some paintings, it's actually quite time-consuming and tiring."

Everyone hurriedly finished the work in hand, each returning for the midday rest.

The others each have rooms; as for Dabing, although he doesn't live here, Song Miao partitioned half the miscellaneous room and put a small bed there.

At this moment Dabing shut the door, drew the window, and lay down on the bed.

The room was quiet and still; because it's at the alley end, and the opposite side is still sealed off, outside there isn't even the sound of pedestrians coming and going.

The Liu family had business yesterday, he took leave and was busy all day; today he got up early again and rushed back to work in the food shop; matters were many and fragmented, truly quite tiring, but the more he worked the more solid he felt, the more he worked the more fulfilled.

Now returning to this tiny partitioned room, although apart from a bed there is no other furniture, it's not the same as at his uncle and aunt's house.

There is naturally good; everyone doesn't disdain him for coming from afar to seek refuge, but in the end he occupied his cousins' room, a tiny room, making people bump heads and knock feet, even drawers and cabinets have to be shared with him; when sleeping, he didn't dare stretch his legs straight, nor dare turn over much.

But now, he stretched his legs flat, even spread his arms open; eyes closed, not long before he was snoring softly; when he woke from a sleep, that comfortable feeling in his heart truly cannot be expressed in words.

If not for knowing the residents here are all young ladies, and his age is awkward, he would truly have the impulse to move over.

In the afternoon, everyone prepared the ingredients and materials that could be readied for the next day, and finally freed their hands to hang up the illustrations Chen Fuzi sent.

The wall surface originally had nails; at this moment, following the categories braised, stir-fried, pan-fried, deep-fried, simmered, soup, etc., they hung them up one by one; the nails were full, but the paintings weren't all hung yet, and the dish name placards weren't up either, but whether viewed near or far, it already had the imposing air of a full table of dishes.

Cheng Erniang has been here over three months; although she knows she's just a hired helper, she long ago treated this place as her own home; as for this Song Ji, she regards it outright as her own career, wishing she could devote everything to it.

One must know feelings are nurtured.

At her wit's end, she gained shelter; not only did she get stable income, she and her daughter got their own place to stay; taught hand-in-hand by Song Miao, she followed along setting up stalls, making pastries together, doing early food delivery together, together receiving scholars and various guests, even invited out to cater banquets; while striving to build Song Ji step by step, she herself slowly stood up.

Even the interior walls of the house were plastered by her own hands.

The more participation, the more contribution, the more investment, the deeper the feelings — Cheng Erniang is exactly so.

The more she looked at this wall of menu boards the more she liked them, and she asked, "The menu boards are all ready; won't our food shop be able to open before long?"

And said, "Young Lady may not know; I've been delivering early food all along, and many people ask when we'll open for business, and some say they want to come eat, but hearing that advance booking is required, only banquet tables are taken, not yet able to handle walk-in customers, everyone feels awkward to come."

"I've long measured and calculated, Young Lady; if large tables and small tables are interspersed, our front hall can fit ten or so tables, and then we can seat several dozen people!"

Dabing hurriedly said, "If the front hall can't seat them all, the back courtyard can also set tables, put up a shed, placing four or five large tables is no problem!"

"It's just tables and chairs aren't cheap; I see the roof needs tile repairs too, don't know if the beams need replacing; also bowls, plates, dishes, cups, chopsticks all cost money!" Cheng Erniang chattered on, telling all the things she'd been worrying about.

"Buy some cheap ones to make do first? If picky about rough bowls and dishes, seven or eight cash can buy a plate!" Dabing hurriedly interjected, "Yesterday I ran errands for them; because the guests all needed to bring bowls back as gifts, the small bowls he bought were only three cash each; I specially asked where they were bought, thinking to report back to Young Lady, whether we should also buy some to make do first!"

Cheng Erniang froze: "This cheap, afraid there's some chipped rim or flawed body, right?"

Although her mouth said so, the moment this price came out, she immediately felt tempted; muttering to herself, she turned to look at Song Miao: "Young Lady, three-cash small bowls, shall we go take a look?"

Seeing the two speaking on and on, clearly the food shop hasn't even opened, there are only two tables, yet they're already planning how to cope when future customers can't all be seated, how to add more bowls and cups; Song Miao couldn't help but find it amusing.

She said, "Dabing, it was because an acquaintance had a white funeral that you went to help, right?"

Seeing the other nod, she continued, "Those bowls are called white funeral bowls; our house has them too, three cash each — right now by the fish tank in the back courtyard there's one propped up; the bowl walls are very thin, fired crudely, not even a foot ring left; let alone for guests, even for ourselves, if we put a bit more rice or porridge, they're too hot to hold steady; if truly taken for opening business, the guests might be scalded away!"

Seeing Cheng Erniang and Dabing both show regretful expressions, she smiled and said, "One thing at a time! No rush for a moment; besides rushing is useless; let's first see how this main room should be arranged, have a number in mind; wait until we save money month by month, add one table at a time, when tables are nearly enough and customers are enough, then truly reopen for business — not late at all!"

For a moment Cheng and Liu both answered in unison.

Song Miao paused, then said to Cheng Erniang, "There's another matter, trouble Young Lady to find a matchmaker these two days; we need to hire a short-term hire here first, see if she's willing to come mornings or afternoons."

She explained the requirements: originally to help wash bowls, wash vegetables, do some cleaning work, and gave a wage.

Cheng Erniang said, "Just a few more bowls, a few more vegetable leaves and stems; I'll do it myself, why spend money to hire someone?"

Song Miao said, "The point is to free Er Niangzi from these trivial matters; if steamed buns can be produced, I fear several households will need delivery, you'll spend half the morning out delivering meals, at noon there's the small dining table, these days every evening there are banquets, later on there will be continuous banquet bookings; where will you find the time?"

And said, "Besides the new short-term hire, I might want to add another person; then Er Niangzi will not only do work, but also help train the newcomer; also I see you've learned characters quite fast lately, and arithmetic has some shape too; I want to divide the purchasing and daily accounting work a bit to you; just don't know if you're willing to take it, and afraid you might be scared to take it?"

She made these arrangements in front of the two; not only did Cheng Erniang's heart pound, even Dabing couldn't help holding his breath.

Cheng Erniang, amidst excitement, felt a bit insecure inside, and said, "Young Lady, purchasing I'm used to doing; other things may not work; picking goods, bargaining prices, I'm not afraid of; but I've never kept accounts; this whole time although I learned some arithmetic, in the end I lack confidence."

As she spoke, she looked at Song Miao.

Seeing that the other party did not interrupt, only looking at her encouragingly, Cheng Erniang gritted her teeth and said, "But I really want to take it!"

Song Miao said softly, "It's fine, it doesn't matter if you don't want to do it, and if you want to take it, don't be afraid either—I'm not a hands-off shopkeeper, I'll work with you, and once you're skilled, I'll let go."

She added, "Since there's new work, Er Niangzi will start getting extra wages next month."

She named a figure.

It wasn't too much, but it was very sincere.

Cheng Erniang felt a surge of hot blood rush straight to the top of her head, making her face and head burn, and she kept saying "No need, no need," "I didn't do anything," and so on, but her face had long since broken into an uncontrollable smile.

Wages were raised!

She only hoped she could do a better job, lead the people well, and live up to the increased silver.

Da Bing was extremely excited.

Although he hadn't gotten a raise and had no one under him to lead, looking at Cheng Erniang, he naturally felt a sense of anticipation in his heart.

—Cheng Erniang had only joined Song Ji for a little over three months, and because of her own hard work and the Young Lady's favor, she had immediately taken over important purchasing and account matters, had subordinates, and had her wages raised.

As long as he worked hard, given the Young Lady's usual way of doing things, she would definitely not shortchange him!

After Song Miao settled this matter and arranged all the various tasks for the next day, while she was still speaking, she heard the sound of carriages outside the door.

Soon the carriage stopped, and shortly after, a maid entered.

The other party first exchanged greetings, confirmed that the person before her was Song Miao, then said: "My mistress's surname is He. A few days ago she sent you an invitation card, and today she has brought the young ladies of her household to visit..."

Song Miao hurriedly said, "So it's He Lao Furen who has come; I just failed to go out to welcome her."

Speaking of which, she indeed walked to the door.

At this moment, He Lao Furen was holding Zhu Jie'er's hand walking toward Song Ji; seeing Song Miao, she was slightly stunned, then smiled and said, "Is it Song Xiaoniangzi? I've long heard Hou'er Qi say your skills are excellent, and Zhu Jie'er praises you all the time since she returned, but I didn't expect that not only are your skills good, you're also so pretty."

Song Miao smiled and said, "It's everyone's favor that makes my five-or-six-tenths skill sound like twelve-tenths."

She added, "He Lao Furen has clear eyes and much knowledge; it's rare that you've come today. I was just thinking to ask you to help cast an eye over things, because the shop is small, we have few hands, and no experience. There must be things not done well enough, or flavors not sufficient. I hope you'll give plenty of suggestions."

However, after meeting face to face and exchanging a few words, He Lao Furen immediately understood why that old woman had come to Song Ji once yesterday and praised Song Xiaoniangzi as "thorough in conduct," "proper," and "straightforward," and also understood why her granddaughter kept calling Song Jiejie, clearly liking her very much.

After exchanging pleasantries, just as they entered the door, Zhu Jie'er, who had held back from speaking for half a time, went "wah," kept tiptoeing to look at the wall on the right, pulled He Lao Furen's hand forward, and called out, "Grandmother! Look!"

He Lao Furen had no choice but to follow her.

By the wall, someone was taking down the menu pictures hanging on the wall one by one.

He Lao Furen listened to Zhu Jie'er's little mouth chattering, saw her tiptoeing and looking up, heard her call "Grandmother, look quickly," and ask "Song Jiejie, where has Xiao Lian gone," busy without stopping.

Her own granddaughter, no matter how you looked at her, was likable.

He Lao Furen laughed heartily, laughing while casually glancing at the wall, then suddenly went "eh," walked over a few steps, looked closely for a while, and couldn't help but praise, "Such solid foundation! I don't know where this good painting came from?"

Song Miao did not mention Chen Fuzi's origin, only replying, "It was drawn by a familiar customer helping out, also a matter of chance."

She invited the guests to sit down and served tea, snacks, and fruit.

Xiao Lian heard the noise and came out from the back; seeing Zhu Jie'er, she was extremely surprised, and seeing an elder beside her, without adults reminding her, she already knew to actively return the salute.

He Lao Furen, the older she got, the more she loved children; she smiled and agreed, then said, "Good child, Zhu Jie'er keeps saying she wants to find you. You children go play by yourselves."

She asked Song Miao and learned the back courtyard was accessible, so she followed the two children for a walk. Seeing they did nothing else, first looking at fish around the water vat, with an old woman watching beside them, she felt relieved, then came back out and sat down.

Song Ji had no ice, but it was very ventilated, the roof was high, with two layers of thick tiles on top, blocking the heat. When the wind blew, it was still quite cool.

The tea wasn't iced either, but by her knowledge, she couldn't tell what tea it was, yet the taste was sweet and moist.

The fruit wasn't expensive, all seasonal fresh goods, presumably kept soaking in water, carrying a coolness. Tasting one, the quality was very good, fresh, with full fruit flavor, even better than most of the fruit served at the Fu, and the few snacks also tasted quite good.

The food shop had no furnishings, but it was very clean and bright. The tables were dining tables; running a finger across the tabletop, there wasn't the slightest greasy feeling.

Good feelings accumulated bit by bit.

He Lao Furen looked forward to it even more.

She saw Song Miao busy at the stove beside her and asked, "Song Xiaoniangzi, I don't know if we can eat sesame balls today?"