Chapter 247

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Although it was a concession made under pressure from a group of old fogeys, having tasted the chicken-juice steamed buns and lost the food box with the seven buns inside, Jia Chang was a bit worried, thinking of other flavors.

The canteen food was indeed unpalatable.

He occasionally didn't have time to eat breakfast; if he had some good buns on hand, it would be a decent option.

Such a small matter, he naturally wouldn't handle it himself; he called a trusted subordinate, gave instructions, and considered the matter settled.

That subordinate had no official position and was used to handling things; upon hearing it, he knew it was not good.

Song Ji's reputation, without exaggeration, was well-known in both academies.

One need only see the long dragons lining up daily in Food Alley, and the dog holes next door at Nan Lu being dug more and more, larger and larger, it is said the flowers and plants blocking the holes were quietly replaced with larger ones—so they could squeeze out to queue faster, a group of students had the footprints on their buttocks at Nan Lu almost kicked flat.

He himself had no time to queue, but had eaten glutinous rice and shaomai brought back by colleagues several times—as bribes for him to help cover shifts—truly delicious!

Such a food stall, the business from walk-in customers could never be finished; not only did you want to press the price, but you also wanted a kickback?!?

Was this a joke?!?

But Jia Chang had been at the Imperial Academy for nearly two years; his subordinates knew he was not one to listen to persuasion, and besides, there was someone behind him, so this subordinate dared not speak, only left with a worried face.

He dared not delay, knowing there was still room for negotiation in this matter; seeing it was past mid-morning, he simply hurried to inquire about the location, and did not dare to send word for someone from the food shop to come, but ran to Song Ji himself.

When he reached the end of Suanzao Alley, Song Ji's main gate was open; as soon as he approached, he smelled a strange fragrance.

That scent was indescribable, very special, fresh, with a hint of greenness, and also sourly fragrant; it entered the nose, then the brain, the mind was empty, strangely unfamiliar—I've never smelled this before!

Before he could react, his mouth was drawn by the sour fragrance to drool uncontrollably.

This person stood at the doorway, craned his neck to look, and saw two large Da Lian stoves behind the door, both covered with lids, wisps of white smoke rising from them.

The closer he got, the stronger the aroma.

Even with the lids on it was this fragrant; once the lids were lifted, wouldn't it be overwhelming?

What was this thing?!?

His curiosity gained the upper hand; for a moment, he even forgot what he had come to do.

"Sir, may I ask what brings you here?"

This subordinate looked up and saw a young lady standing behind the stove counter, dressed in plain clothes, with a cloth wrapped on her head, mouth and nose covered by a kerchief, only a pair of eyes showing.

Her eyes were very clear, pupils like lacquer, black and white distinct; her whole body had no other adornment, very simple and pure.

This person hurriedly returned the salute, first introduced his origin, surnamed Jiang, called Jiang Xia, and asked: "May I ask, is Miss the Song Stall Owner of Song Ji in Food Alley behind Taixue?"

Seeing the other party agree, he continued: "Because of an assignment from the superiors, I wish to purchase some steamed buns from Miss daily..."

"So it is Official Jiang of the Imperial Academy; please sit for a moment while I free my hands..."

The young lady pointed to the seat in the front hall, courteously; although her face veil was not removed, just looking at that pair of eyes, they carried a smile, looking very pleasant.

This subordinate named Jiang Xia responded, took a few steps forward, but was reluctant to sit down, and couldn't help but look back again.

The lids of the two large pots had been lifted, revealing black things inside that no one knew what they were.

Once the pot lids were opened, the whole room was filled with rich fragrance, among which was a distinct sweetness, with a hint of sourness.

What on earth was this!

He saw that Miss Song Xiaoniangzi took a large ladle and stirred the bottom inside for a moment, then heard her lower her head and instruct: "Big Cake, watch the fire slowly."

"Miss, rest assured, you go busy yourself; leave it to me!"

Jiang Xia then discovered that there was also an apprentice under the stove counter, sitting on a small table tending the fire.

Both pots were very full; one could tell they had been simmering for a while, but the stove counter was very clean, not a bit of oil stain or food scraps.

He had come suddenly; it was this clean now, which showed it was usually this clean on ordinary days.

Although he hadn't tasted those buns, the professors and xuezheng of Xuezhong had eaten them once, each urging Official Jia to purchase them; one could imagine how the taste was.

Such food, clean, delicious, and reasonably priced—where could one find it!

If Song Ji's buns could be brought into Taixue, perhaps he himself could buy a few to eat from time to time; compared to queuing outside, it would naturally be much more convenient in Xuezhong!

Damn Official Jia!

What trouble was he looking for!

Jiang Xia sat at the table, smelling the aroma, worrying about how to speak later, when Song Miao had already sent over a plate of fresh fruit, a plate of snacks, and served tea.

When the two sat opposite each other, he first mentioned the bun varieties Taixue intended to purchase, before discussing the price.

"Stall Owner Song's buns are naturally good, but the price is really too expensive—all are students; one meat bun at eight cash, truly unaffordable..."

Song Miao said: "Except for mutton buns at eight cash, other meat buns are only five or six cash each; because mutton is really expensive, the meat portion is generous, so the cost is high; if not suitable, I can change the variety here."

"Less meat, cheaper, wouldn't that do?" Jiang Xia couldn't help but ask.

"There are small mutton buns, five cash each; but if there isn't meat in every bite, only a bit of filling, it's tasteless to eat; better to eat ordinary pork buns or chicken-juice buns!"

"Yes, the small ones are too small; calculated, they're not as cost-effective as proper large mutton buns!"

Going around in circles, saying half a day of nonsense, seeing the person opposite had no impatience but also no intention of conceding, Jiang Xia had to say: "Not to hide from Miss, I was assigned to handle this purchasing matter; there is also a condition..."

He didn't look for other reasons, only took out a contract and placed it on the table, saying: "I know Miss can read."

Song Miao took it and looked, strangely saying: "Official Jiang just said mutton buns at eight cash each are too expensive, but the contract also marks eight cash; does this mean no more bargaining?"

"Taixue pays Miss eight cash per bun; Miss returns two cash to us—meat buns two cash each, plain buns one cash each, all calculated and returned per bun; do you have anything to say?"

Song Miao heard this and slightly frowned.

Jiang Xia continued: "The superiors mean—if Miss agrees, the purchasing quantity can be increased; by then you prepare one or two hundred buns daily according to your original method; the rest of the quantity can have buns made smaller, less meat, less vegetables, it doesn't matter; by then you won't lose out, and I can also complete my assignment on this end."

Seeing Song Miao not speak, Jiang Xia had to persuade again: "Miss does business outside; you should know that sometimes not only government offices and official schools, but even ordinary shops often encounter shopkeepers or purchasers demanding money and bribes; two cash per bun is actually not too excessive..."

The last sentence was almost squeezed out with gritted teeth.

Plain steamed buns were only three cash apiece; skimming one cash off each, meat buns ranged from five or six to eight cash, collecting two cash per bun.

It was already a small business—such greed was truly unsightly.

Hearing this, Song Miao merely shook her head and said, "Jiang Guanren, how others do business is none of my concern, but Song Ji must build a reputation—I dare ask, if Sir buys buns outside with too little meat or too few vegetables, will he still patronize them in the future?"

Jiang Xia was instantly speechless.

Thinking of his superior's orders, he had no choice but to say, "Young Lady, you naturally care about your reputation when doing business outside, but this time it's delivering to the Taixue Canteen, food for the students, so it doesn't matter so much—as long as it's made, it will surely sell."

"Besides, the canteen's orders are steady; once the contract is signed, there's no worry about business for a whole year—you don't need to worry about sun and rain either; just make them and deliver them to the canteen, you don't even need to sell them, and there's no need to worry about anything else—we'll arrange people to collect the goods. Such a good deal, where else could you find it?"

Song Miao listened helplessly.

"Song Ji has become familiar in Food Alley entirely through solid craftsmanship and the reputation built upon it. Sir now says reputation doesn't matter, which truly goes against how I've always conducted myself, so there's no need to mention this again." She pushed the contract back into his hands, "Besides, to put it immodestly, I'm not lacking legitimate business to do."

Almost as soon as these last words fell, the sound of carriages and horses came from outside; shortly after, a person carrying several layers of steamer baskets entered through the door.

The steamer baskets were extremely large and stacked high; the person had just carefully stepped over the threshold when the big cake tending the stove hurried over to help, calling out, "Er Niangzi is back!"

And called toward Xiao Lian inside the back courtyard.

The arrival was naturally Cheng Erniang.

The steamer baskets blocked her view, so Cheng Erniang couldn't see the situation inside the room, but she was beaming with joy; upon seeing the big cake who came to greet her and hearing his words, the smile on her face couldn't be concealed, and she said loudly, "Hurry and tell the Young Lady! Hurry and invite the Young Lady out! You don't know, today I took buns out, just delivered them to the patrol station, and every constable said they wanted as many as there were! Fortunately I kept some back, leaving several dozen to take to the Capital Prefecture Office!"

"As a result, just as we arrived at the Capital Prefecture Office and mentioned a word, they were snatched up in a scramble—by the time the silver was collected and before we could even leave, officials from behind came chasing out, asking if there would be more to sell tomorrow!"

"Whenever someone asked, everyone came to ask; just the Prefecture Office alone ordered over a hundred—and this is only the first day! Once they've tasted the flavor, there will definitely be even more!"

Although Big Cake had only heard about it and hadn't experienced it personally, he was extremely excited and hurriedly said, "That's wonderful!"

"And that's not the end of it!! On my way back halfway, I met several patrol station constables who said they specifically intercepted me halfway! They said those buns were delicious, and tomorrow they have official business to go out on duty, passing by Er Liu Street, which is only a teacup's time away from here, saying they would come to the door themselves to pick them up—placing an order of two hundred and forty in one breath! Ai yo! And we don't even have to deliver them ourselves!"

"Tomorrow I'll get up at the Ugly hour! Otherwise I'm afraid we won't be able to finish wrapping them in time!"

Cheng Erniang said this, and if she hadn't been carrying so many large bamboo steamers and needed to watch her step, she truly couldn't help but dance with joy.

The bamboo steamer happened to be shifted by her, blocking the left side, so the table in the middle couldn't be seen, nor could Song Miao and that guest Jiang Xia.

And although Big Cake knew, he deliberately didn't remind her; not only that, he kept interjecting, urging her to continue speaking.

"Then I should also come early! Otherwise I won't go home tonight? Ai yo! The patrol station is good after all, once in a while we don't have to deliver goods ourselves—but it's not good when customers order too much; our food shop only has three people in total, and we still have to prepare breakfast in Food Alley, and there are the old gentlemen's lunch tables, and in the evenings there are banquets from time to time; we simply can't keep up!"

The two of them spoke back and forth, walking toward the back courtyard to put down the steamers as they talked.

Left behind, Jiang Xia sat awkwardly in place, neither able to speak nor able to stay silent.

Seeing his appearance, Song Miao said, "I know Sir took on this assignment out of necessity, and your words may not come from your heart—please help me give a reply: the price your superior offered, I truly cannot do here."

"You've also seen it—only three people, and one is still a short-term hire apprentice; if I were to take the Taixue Canteen order, I'd have to hire more people. If the price isn't pressed down, I could still do it, after all, it's nearby..."

Song Miao gave him face, but Jiang Xia felt both ashamed and guilty in his heart.

He was just an ordinary person.

Those words indeed didn't come from his heart, and he also felt cutting corners was not good, but people have to eat; since the superior assigned the task, naturally he had to find a way to complete it, after all, he had a whole family to support.

Now being pointed out by a young lady, and treated with such consideration, instead made him seem excessively incapable.

Jiang Xia returned dejectedly to the Taixue to report to his superior.

Just as he finished speaking, Jia Chang's expression changed.

He said, "It's just a little girl! Why doesn't she go to heaven! Full streets of people pushing carts, opening shops, running food shops—does she think she's the only one in the world who can make buns?!"

But Jiang Xia was both willing to speak a few words for Song Miao and very much wanted to keep Song Ji's buns, so he said, "That Song Xiaoniangzi's craftsmanship is indeed different from others—if it weren't somewhat remarkable, the School Teacher gentlemen wouldn't be thinking of them so much—besides, today was indeed rather noisy, everyone saw it, and outside news spreads chaotically..."

"Although Sir isn't afraid, after all, the gentlemen are all advanced in years; if trouble is stirred up, it's no joke. Sir might as well give them some face and order some Song Ji buns for them..."

This, left unsaid, would have been fine; but once said, it instead ignited Jia Chang's anger.

He said, "It's just a few buns! You go ask around outside, see which family makes good ones, tell them a word, say the Taixue Canteen needs to purchase breakfast for several thousand teachers and students, and have them send more bun samples for us to try."

He added, "I just don't believe it—without the butcher surnamed Song, do I still have to eat hairy pigs?!"

The words Vice Commissioner of the Imperial College Jia Chang spoke here, "Song Butcher," did not know, nor did he care to know.

It was seen that within a very short time, the buns had already replaced the shaomai, and even the quantity sold increased day by day; in just a few days, it had increased by thirty or forty percent or more.

Not only the Zhuque Gate Patrol Station and Capital Prefecture Office, but also many other government offices and departments got the news, tried them, and followed suit in ordering breakfast from Song Ji. The Taixue Canteen order hadn't even been finalized, and the three people inside Song Ji were already so busy they had to steal moments to catch their breath.

The matter of hiring people was soon settled.

First, Cheng Erniang found an intermediary and hired a short-term young lady to help wash vegetables, wash dishes, and sweep; on the other side, Song Miao wrote a letter, entrusted someone to deliver it to the Huai Prefecture Official Post, intending to ask whether Zhang Siniang was willing to enter the Capital.

After the letter was sent, the next day was the day of He Lao Furen's banquet.

Qingfeng Garden had its own stove; the He family cook had prepared pots, bowls, ladles, basins, and other kitchenware. Song Miao reported the ingredients needed, then had nothing else to manage. Since Cheng Erniang had to deliver meals and someone had to stay home to watch things, she only took Big Cake with her.

When she arrived at the place, just as she entered the door, she was called by someone.

"Song Xiaoniangzi! Look, who am I!"