Chapter 246

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

He Lao Furen was somewhat surprised.

But she quickly understood the maid's thoughts and said: "He Ying's side is easy to speak to, the He family is also easy to speak to — it's merely a matter of me sending a greeting. Only, you think it through clearly: do you truly want to choose someone by his side?"

She added: "The eldest is unwilling to rely on ancestral patronage; he is full of ambition, busy all day long, and the people around him follow him from dawn to dusk. If you pick an ordinary one, once things settle in the future, I can still find you a place in my outside estates or shops. But if you choose the He family, you may have no choice but to serve their household."

"Our household is much more leisurely. You've been in the fu for over ten years; everything comes easily to you, everyone knows you. Going there, your days may not be so comfortable."

The maid let out an "ah," yet said: "I still want to serve the Old Madam!"

She added: "This servant thinks the Eldest Young Master has good character; the people by his side must surely be those who work steadily and reliably……"

He Lao Furen said: "Your thinking is not without reason."

She paused, then said: "Look again — the He family is not just He Ying alone. Is Xiao Qi's character not good? Although he is somewhat childish, his nature is pure and kind, and he has no heart for chasing fame and profit. With such a master, subordinates actually find it easier to exert themselves; future achievements may not be inferior to others."

She added: "There is much coming and going between us anyway. You take another look. Marriage is a matter of two families; it requires mutual willingness. You choose the person, and the person chooses you. We won't do that kind of blind-and-deaf marriage. Get to know each other, develop affection, then bring it up — it won't be late."

Da Wei does not place much emphasis on the barrier between men and women; when unmarried men and women meet, they often go out together to stroll and play, to get acquainted. He Lao Furen putting it this way, the maid hesitated, her face red, and went off carrying water.

And though He Lao Furen wore a smile on her face, in her heart she couldn't help but sigh.

If it weren't that a man should marry when grown, a woman should wed when grown, not wanting to delay a woman's prime years, and the fu truly having no suitable candidate, she truly would not bear to let go of someone she raised hand-in-hand to another family.

Moreover, although the He family's family style is not bad, they have many offspring, the clan is large, and between the various branches there are all things to be said. He Ying has his own opinions and manages people with an iron hand……

It really is not as good as choosing one who follows Xiao Qi.

It's just that when people are young, their thoughts always differ; they think that as long as there is a future, they don't fear hardship, not knowing that once that hardship is tasted at the start, later wanting not to eat it becomes difficult……

After all, she watched her grow up. Although unwilling to force a cow's head to water, to compel someone to choose according to her own wishes, He Lao Furen still could not stand by and do nothing.

She thought a moment, then called another servant over and instructed: "Make a trip to the He fu, deliver a message to the Eldest and Xiao Qi — just say I want to host a banquet at Qingfeng Garden to entertain guests. Since their old garden is also next door, the magnolias inside are blooming very well, and there is a pond of green lotus. I want to borrow them for a day. Ask if it's permissible."

Since the He family returned from their hometown after Qingming Festival Festival, because the elders are aged and unwilling to travel, several of the heads stayed behind to accompany them; only the two brothers returned to the Capital.

He Lao Furen's message was sent over, and immediately He Ying replied, only saying that on that day he would arrange suitable personnel, and the Old Madam could rest assured and enjoy herself.

He Qi's side, however, had no news for half a day, until the next afternoon, when Bei Zhi specially ran to the door.

"This small one conveys the Young Master's greetings to the Old Madam. The Young Master says he returned late; please don't be angry — he heard you are hosting guests, a full seven or eight guests. Thinking that several maternal cousins are not in the Capital, Zhu Jie'er is still young, and everyone else has proper duties, only he alone has received an edict and these few days happens to be at leisure. He asks if he can come keep you company, help pole a boat, hold an umbrella, call out dishes, and such……"

He Lao Furen laughed heartily and called out "Yu He," saying: "Take Bei Zhi to look at the play list and menu you drafted."

She also said to Bei Zhi: "When it comes to eating, Xiao Qi is an expert. You go back and let him help me judge — I won't shortchange him either. This time I've invited Song Xiaoniangzi from Suanzao Alley's Song Ji to help add dishes!"

Bei Zhi was both surprised and delighted, saying: "If my Young Master knew, I'm afraid he would laugh in his dreams tonight!"

Whether He Qi laughs in his dreams at night, Song Miao doesn't know. She only knows that at this moment she really can't bring herself to laugh.

Because it was agreed in advance that today she would deliver various meat-and-vegetable steamed buns to Lao Cao Fuzi, and since she was making them, she simply made a larger batch in one go. One portion she had Cheng Erniang take to sell on her behalf; the rest she divided into two shares. The fuzi were many, so Cheng Zijian, Wang Chang, and the others got fewer. She also specially prepared a few for He Qi.

However, when the hour arrived and Cheng Zijian, Wang Chang, and a crowd of people came out to help move and carry the steamer baskets, all the queuing people boiled over.

Large bamboo steamers — each layer could hold several dozen buns, stacked high — so Song Miao could only move them down layer by layer.

Meat buns, vegetable buns, white and plump, fillings all different, yet the aroma was equally enticing. Especially those inside: lamb buns, chicken-juice buns, sour cowpea minced-meat buns, tofu buns — each soaked in oil and dripping with juice.

Those at the front smelled the scent and went mad one by one.

"My heavens, how can it be this fragrant!!!"

"Heavens! Heavens!! They're making buns! How did not a breath of wind leak out!! Song Xiaoniangzi is making buns!"

"Still, it's buns! Rolled noodles are tasty, glutinous rice is tasty, but I still love wheat food the most!! If it's buns made by Song Xiaoniangzi, I could eat three meals a day!"

"You think too beautifully. Definitely limited purchase — still three meals a day! Three meals in a dream, maybe!"

"Killing me, when will it reach me!!"

"Craving to death! I knew reciting books was this hard, there had to be a karmic reward — the reward has arrived!!"

"Fragrant enough to make my legs weak — sigh, I was already hungry, this aroma isn't human! Can the front hurry up!"

The people at the front went crazy; the people at the back were both excited and bewildered.

"What is that??"

"Is it glutinous rice?"

"I'm convinced! What eyes do you have — it's buns — Song Xiaoniangzi is making buns!"

"Don't know what fillings; by the time it reaches me, will I still be able to buy any!"

"Eh? Eh eh?! Where are they carrying those to??"

The crowd that was just full of surprise and joy, in a moment all turned dumbfounded.

The orderly queue immediately stirred, everyone running up to ask.

"Song Xiaoniangzi, are those buns?? You've started selling buns??"

"Song Stall Owner, why can they pre-order but we can't?"

"Are those Taixue Neishe's Cheng Zijian and Wang Chang? I know they helped Song Stall Owner copy books, but didn't they already eat pig trotter rice and taro braised pork before? Breakfast I remember was also delivered once. How can this be endless?"

"Song Stall Owner, I'll copy books for you once too, okay? What books do you still lack?"

"Why do they get buns to eat and we don't? People differing from people is one thing, but can money differ from money too?"

These many, many words almost exploded in front of Song Miao in a single breath, exploding until her ears buzzed, exploding until Da Bing wished he could shrink behind the steamer basket and hide.

Song Miao hurriedly raised her voice to explain: "Everyone, don't panic. Right now Song Ji does not sell buns — it's the fuzi who specially ordered them! Young Master Cheng, Young Master Wang, and the others are merely here to help the teachers move and carry food……"

Hearing the buns were ordered by the teachers, the queue fell silent at once; even though everyone's heart was cursing, not a single person dared speak.

Half a moment later, someone couldn't help but ask: "Song Xiaoniangzi, although one says people must respect teachers and value the Way — but, why can the teachers have buns and even pre-order, while we can't have any at all?"

"Exactly! I also want to eat buns. Song Stall Owner, this humble scholar has wanted to teach and nurture people since childhood. Treat me as a future teacher — let me pre-order a few too??"

A cart of food sold out quickly again.

In the past, people who couldn't buy any would crowd forward; today, even many who had bought some refused to leave, gathering together and talking incessantly.

"Stall Owner Song said yesterday he couldn't make enough! Today he made so many more buns, and he still made them well!"

"Stall Owner Song, are the buns good! Sell the buns!!"

"Whether they're buns or not doesn't matter; since he could make so many baskets of buns today, can he make another pot of glutinous rice tomorrow?"

"Preparing more juan Portion would work too!"

Song Miao carried a large flatbread and fled in a hurry.

Outside the Taixue gate, in Food Alley, Song Miao pushed her cart and escaped; inside the Taixue Teaching Hall, Qianzi Cheng Jia Chang could not escape.

"Xiao Jia, did you eat the buns Lao Lao Cao sent?"

"When can we get the bun-maker to deliver every day? Is tomorrow okay? I didn't get to eat any tofu buns today, and everyone says they're delicious, making me keep thinking about them!"

"Can you hurry up! It's just a few buns, why make it so troublesome!"

"Old Jia, if you encounter any difficulty preventing the buns from coming in, feel free to lay it out, and we'll help solve it together!"

A group of scholars, mostly old men, had eloquence where eloquence was needed and connections where connections were needed; Jia Chang couldn't find a single excuse.

If one said the buns tasted bad, one would likely be immediately beaten by a group of old men whose fists trembled just from waving them.

And if one said one was too busy and would do it when free, a scholar would hand over a document already prepared early.

"See if it can be used; if not, tell me what's wrong, and I'll have someone change it right away!"

Second, the funds subsidized by the Taixue Canteen came from the Court, originally intended for ingredient procurement and staffing; wanting to separately purchase ready-made buns required layer-by-layer reporting and approval—immediately a scholar asked proactively: "Who should approve this official document?"

Jia Chang had no choice but to explain the usual document approval process once.

His words hadn't even fallen before the people present had already thought of a solution.

"Lu Zuo, don't you have a brother in the Ministry of Rites?"

"No need for Lu Zuo; I have a student there too. It's not a big deal—Taixue eating buns, what's there to stop? I'll tell him to help follow up closely, don't let the process get stuck in the middle and waste our time!"

"Old Liang, you have a……"

"Go call Xiao Fang; I remember Xiao Fang said he has a senior martial brother at the Taichang Temple……"

Seeing that the old men who usually couldn't be summoned no matter how many times called, who would say their waists ached or their legs cramped or their heads hurt and absolutely refused to give face to the Xuezhengs, suddenly had no sore waists, nimble legs, and sharper minds that could turn.

In the past it was—You're looking for a certain Tian? Which year's student? Oh my, this brain of mine, I really can't remember; what do you want him for? Forget it, a teacher shouldn't be ordering students around every day, it's not proper, and besides, I'm not close with him; even though I taught him for three years, I actually only gave two classes, and I don't even recognize his face.

Now it is—Want to find a certain Tian? I know him! He entered the Lower Hall in the eighth year of Yuan You, in Shou Xin Zhai! I taught him for three years; last month I celebrated my birthday, and he even came to my door to wish me longevity and give gifts! I'll go call him! Leave this matter to me, don't compete with me for it!

One by one, they instantly transformed from lonely, shabby old men into famous teachers with students all over the world, competing to show off how capable their own students were.

When facing three or five people, Jia Chang could still employ the art of passing the buck; but now, seven or eight out of ten people in the room were old men, each with high seniority, rank, and status. If he accidentally said the wrong word and someone caught him, even the saliva spraying from their leaky tooth sockets could spray his face—he dared not be angry, nor speak, and could only agree with a full mouth.

After finally getting rid of this group and returning to his room, Jia Chang hurriedly sat down to drink a sip of water, then took out paper and brush to calculate the numbers.

The buns from that so-called Song Ji Food Shop were truly not cheap!

The plain steamed buns were okay, at market price; the meat buns were one or two cash more expensive than any sold outside.

If truly purchasing, one would have to press the price down, or find another shop with lower prices, so that one could personally eat the kickback.

Jia Chang knew best how much skill the canteen's public cooks had; the food they made could not possibly taste good.

After those scholars had made a fuss for a long time, seeing this current scene of a huge commotion, he knew he probably couldn't drag it out any longer. He calculated for half a day, finally had a rough number in mind, and at last put his heart at ease.

——The scholars and Xuezhengs wouldn't every single one want to eat buns; if the kickback was sufficient, they could order more. If they truly refused to give it, to shut these old men's mouths, he would have to pinch his nose and buy over a hundred, and buy the rest from another place to make up the number; eating from either end was the same.

By then, he would have the kitchen reserve some for several Xuezhengs, for Deng Jijiu, and for himself. You wouldn't believe it; today when Lao Cao Fuzi delivered them, he didn't think much of it at first, but after eating one, the flavor was truly good. No wonder a group of people were clamoring to order them.

The one he ate today was called a Chicken Juice Bun; the skin was thin and evenly thick, every bite inside was meat. I don't know what meat was minced into the meat filling; when bitten open, the meat juice mixed with oil burst out, steaming hot. If he wasn't careful and couldn't wolf it down in one bite—the meat juice was really too hot and too much, and truly couldn't be wolfed down—it would drip all over his hand.

The meat was especially fresh and fragrant, formed into meatballs, not at all loose; biting down, it actually had a bit of firmness……

Dealing with a bunch of old men for half a day had long tired Jia Chang out; at this moment, thinking of that bite of bun he had just eaten, he couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva.

He stood up, walked to the table beside him, and took out the food box he had just brought back.

This food box was given to him by Lao Cao Fuzi, who said to let him try the taste. There were originally eight in total; after eating one Chicken Juice Bun, seven remained.

He heard the Tofu Bun was also delicious. Jia Chang opened the lid, preparing to seriously look for the Tofu Bun—whether to pry it open to look, or…… eh, where are the buns?!?!

The food box, originally packed full, was now empty inside; even the dried lotus leaf originally placed at the very bottom had vanished without a trace.

Jia Chang couldn't believe it. He lifted the food box, turned it over, shook it upside down, and looked carefully once more.

One could guess without thinking: a food box couldn't possibly have a secret mechanism.

The seven large and small buns inside were truly gone.

How could they be gone?!!!

He had been holding it in his hand all along. Except when he was stopped by the group of scholars earlier, when he explained things to them and wasted half a day, placing the food box on……

Jia Chang was struck as if by lightning.

That's right, placed it on the side!!!

Which damn old bastard, not only ate them himself but also secretly stole his buns to eat!!!

In another Teaching Hall not far away, several scholars were so excited their eyes turned red.

"Lao Lao Cao, impressive! You secretly hid so many!"

Lao Cao Fuzi was also very bewildered, saying: "I remember I finished eating them! I even threw away the lotus leaf at the bottom. How did seven suddenly appear out of nowhere? My box didn't even have seven in total!"

"Did you take the wrong one?"

"Why not ask and return it to the person?"

"Wait! I remember now. It seems……this box was for Xiao Jia, right?"

"That's right. He probably took yours. Under this food box, you even stuck a 'Jia' character! Is that your handwriting?"

"Then forget it. Return what? Not returning!"

"So it was for that good-for-nothing! No returning! Whoever wants to return, I'll curse them! Whoever sees gets a share, whoever sees gets a share!"

Five or six people surged forward together.

Lao Cao Fuzi hurriedly grabbed one first and took a big bite.

Wow, it's a Tofu Steamed Bun, such a tender, fresh, and fragrant bite, the dough soft and the filling generous!

Hey! Eating beautifully!