Chapter 250

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Song Miao left Qingfeng Garden at Wei Hour; although she had hired a cart, the place was far, and by the time she returned to Sanzao County Alley it was already Shen Hour.

Entering the alley end, she had just gotten off the mule cart when she heard Cheng Erniang speaking inside the room.

"Stay a while longer, Young Lady is catering a noon banquet, so she should be back about now — you've come such a long way, and are old acquaintances, you simply must eat dinner before leaving! Otherwise when Young Lady finds out, never mind what she says, I'd have no face to see her!"

Before long, another familiar voice sounded.

"No need, no need! We live nearby too, we'll just come again tomorrow — we've bought plenty of biscuits at home, and have side dishes, with the weather this hot they'll spoil if we don't eat them soon, such a waste! What time does Young Lady set up her stall? If we come tomorrow, what hour would be best to visit?"

It was actually Zhang Siniang!

Song Miao turned her head and met eyes with Dabing; both were shocked to the extreme.

The letter summoning them had only just been sent; even if they'd grown wings they couldn't have flown that fast, yet the people had already arrived?

She couldn't bother with anything else, first handing the money pouch to Dabing to settle the bill, then striding inside; looking up, sure enough three people sat in the front hall — besides Cheng Erniang, there was another young man and woman.

Song Miao called out: "Fourth Niangzi! Third Brother Wang!"

That pair of man and woman sprang to their feet.

— Precisely Zhang Siniang and Wang Sanlang from Hua Prefecture.

Both called out: "Song Xiaoniangzi!"

Wang Sanlang only walked forward a few steps, but Zhang Siniang rushed straight at Song Miao in excitement, reaching out to grab her, then pulling her hand back halfway, looking utterly embarrassed.

Song Miao just lightly patted her arm and said happily: "When did you arrive in the Capital? Why didn't you send word, so I could have gone to meet you!"

Hearing such an intimate sentence, Zhang Siniang's originally uneasy heart settled at once, and she hurriedly replied: "It's been a little over ten days since we arrived!"

Song Miao was even more surprised.

She hurriedly asked: "You arrived this early? Why didn't you come find me!"

"I thought to first find a place to stay, and let Sanlang and I get familiar with the Capital, before coming to call — fearing Young Lady originally lacks for hands, and would feel awkward turning me away if I showed up."

Speaking to this point, Zhang Siniang smiled bashfully and said: "I feared that without any greeting, I'd suddenly come running over, give Young Lady a fright, and put you in a difficult spot — these days I've already found a go-between and visited several places; today I finally found a suitable washing clothes workshop. The manager lady said to come by tomorrow for a formality and I can start work; can do short-term or long-term, short-term hire is paid by the day, I chose short-term hire, whenever Young Lady needs people here I'll just resign from that side!"

Although she had never been to a washing clothes workshop, Song Miao knew that no matter the trade, the wages the employer pays, short-term is always less than long-term.

She thought for a moment and asked: "How does that washing clothes workshop calculate your wages? How is it calculated if you do long-term?"

"Three cash to wash one set of clothes, including inner and outer layers; if shoes are added, one more cash; must be ironed with a flatiron after washing clean — I brought a flatiron with me to the Capital!"

After finishing speaking of short-term hire, Zhang Siniang then spoke the long-term hire prices.

Cheng Erniang had also risen by now; listening, she couldn't help clicking her tongue and said: "How can it be even lower than the prices in my time!"

She also explained: "I entered the Capital in the second month; at that time it was still four cash five fen per set of clothes, including inner and outer layers, also short-term hire! Long-term hire was over two hundred cash more per month than what you get now — although that was winter, and clothes were thicker, the drop is still quite a lot."

Zhang Siniang said: "Heard that lately the western side has been raining constantly, and flooding; originally refugees who would return home aren't leaving, with so many people, this kind of work that only needs hands everyone scrambles to do — I'm still young and strong, that's why the manager lady took me; some who are older, she even picks and chooses!"

Cheng Erniang sighed and said: "In my time the washing clothes workshop didn't pick by age, they took anyone!"

Zhang Siniang said: "Earning money is never easy! If the Capital's washing clothes workshops don't wash clean, or wash and ruin clothes, not only must you pay for the clothes, you also have to pay apology money to the manager lady; one slip-up, one mistake, and a day's work is for nothing, and there are many crooked ways besides……"

She spoke to here, her peripheral vision catching sight of Song Miao, suddenly paused, and immediately changed her tone: "But no matter what, it's already much better than Hua Prefecture!"

Hearing this, Song Miao asked: "How many sets of clothes can you wash in a day?"

"Right now it's summer, clothes are easier to wash, but at most I can only wash ten to twenty sets; even if I want to wash more, there aren't that many clothes — they're all fought over, we newcomers can only pick what the veterans leave behind."

Song Miao readily said: "Then don't go — come work here tomorrow, I'll pay more than the washing clothes workshop."

Hearing these words, Zhang Siniang was truly both surprised and delighted, yet still didn't dare agree, only asking: "Young Lady isn't just because I came to your door, and you knew I went to the washing clothes workshop, couldn't bear to see it, so……"

Song Miao waved her hand and smiled: "I'm truly short of people!"

She also said: "Our food shop has already taken breakfast orders from Zhuque Gate Patrol Station, Capital Prefecture Office, Taichang Temple, Hanlin Academy and many other places; every day we still have to set up stalls to sell, at noon there's the small dining table — today because we couldn't keep up, I even had to take a day off from the small dining table, and in the evenings we also frequently take banquet orders; business is on the rise!"

"Yet there are only me, Er Niangzi, Dabing three long-term hires, plus the cart driver master and the vegetable-washing sweeping lady two short-term hires; we were already too busy!"

She spoke to here; though there was no particular gesture, her tone was merely serious narration, yet just those contents were enough to give a feeling of high spirits and vigorous upward momentum.

"I just wrote a letter and entrusted someone to send it to Hua Prefecture, wanting to ask if you were free, if you could spare the time to come to the Capital — just afraid you're alone, your family wouldn't be at ease, and was still thinking how to negotiate a solution!"

"I can! I can!" Zhang Siniang was so happy her teeth showed, "Young Lady rest assured! The whole family wants me to make it in the Capital; if I can join Young Lady here, where would there be any unease!"

Speaking, her tone turned a bit bashful again; she turned to glance behind her and said: "Besides there's Sanlang — the family said it was about time, so they married us off, thinking entering the Capital would also give mutual support; in future if anything comes up, I'll just go trouble him!"

Wang Sanlang stood a few steps behind, pricking up both ears to listen; hearing this, he scratched his head and also grinned foolishly: "Song Xiaoniangzi, rest assured! I'm thick-skinned and tough, already found work at the dock, I can afford to support Fourth Niang learning a trade — we came to be apprentices, so we should properly give the initiation gift to our master; where's the logic in collecting wages!"

Song Miao smiled: "Money or not, we'll discuss later — stay for dinner tonight?"

For a moment the Zhang and Wang couple looked at each other, both hesitant.

Zhang Siniang again used the biscuits and side dishes at home to decline, only saying no need to trouble, didn't want to waste.

Song Miao then said: "Just home cooking, simply make a few dishes; since you've entered the Capital, even if we don't make any big fish and meat, if we don't even provide a single meal, and the folks back in Hua Prefecture find out, where would I put my face? In future when I want people, no one would be willing to answer!"

She repeated the words she'd just heard, speaking while smiling at Cheng Erniang, then at Zhang Siniang; in a moment the whole roomful of people were laughing.

"Really have biscuits at home? Where are you two staying right now? Really afraid they'll spoil, why not go fetch them over, we'll share and eat together!" Song Miao asked with a smile.

Zhang Siniang smiled sheepishly; hearing she should go fetch the biscuits, she finally came clean: "Tonight we originally planned to eat biscuits, only haven't bought them yet — really too many things, one is embarrassed to stay for dinner, two is lots of luggage and things haven't had time to buy yet, just about to purchase!"

She also said: "Right now we're staying at Guangji Temple, two streets from here, quite close; I thought Young Lady does breakfast business, the closer I live the better — only nearby houses, long or short lease, are expensive; hearing we're newcomers from out of town with no guarantor, they think we're refugees and aren't very willing to rent."

Cheng Erniang simply felt the same.

What the Zhang and Wang couple now encounter, is almost entirely the pits she stepped in back then.

Even the temple they stay at is the same one!

She couldn't help saying: "That Guangji Temple had a bad incident before……"

She also told of how many kidnappers' accomplices were hidden inside, and how an Embroidered Lady was imprisoned in a side courtyard room.

Zhang Siniang was so frightened her face turned white, and said: "No wonder this place is so much cheaper than other temples!"

This kind of thing was naturally not easy for two newly arrived outsiders to find out.

But even knowing this now, Zhang Siniang and the others had paid a month's rent in one go, had already affixed their seals, and it was written clearly in black and white that the money could not be refunded; the young couple felt the pinch of spending money, and no matter what, they had to stay long enough.

Seeing that the two had made up their minds, Song Miao said: "Nearby there is a Zhu Shenzi; her maiden family does business, she knows many people, and her husband is the local li-zheng—she is a very good person, and we have frequent dealings on both sides. Another day I will introduce her with proper courtesy to ask her to inquire around and see if there are any suitable families planning to rent out a place."

"I will vouch for you; by the time you have stayed at Guangji Temple for a month, it will be just right to move out and live there."

Knowing that the two had not tidied their house and many things were incomplete, Song Miao said nothing more about a welcoming feast, only saying: "Let's just wait until another day to cook a few dishes at home and have everyone gather together."

It was nearly mealtime by then; having been busy all day, there was too little time now and not enough ingredients, so she simply decided to find a small food shop outside, and the whole party went out to eat, introducing themselves to one another, and also agreed with Zhang Siniang that they need not get up early tomorrow, but come to the food shop at the si hour; they would first get used to things before talking further.

Speaking again of coming to Sanzao County Alley this morning, Song Miao said: "We hired a cart driver surnamed Xu, who works half a day every day; he will go to pick up the flatbreads in the morning, and then I will ask him to take a detour to pick you up first."

Thus the matter of going out was settled for the time being.

As for eating, the food shop already included meals, so there was no need to worry at all.

If before entering the capital Zhang Siniang had still been full of anticipation mixed with a bit of anxiety, after coming with Wang Sanlang for over ten days, she had truly been dealt a heavy blow.

Although she had expected it and had heard her family say "A thousand days at home is good, one day away is hard," only after truly experiencing it herself did she understand what it meant that clothing, food, lodging, and travel all cost money; indeed, when one goes to a foreign place and is short of money, one truly cannot take a single step.

The young couple were worrying and fretting, never expecting that all problems, once they came to Song Miao's place, would be solved in an instant; truly, even their steps felt several ounces lighter.

After finishing the shopping and returning to the room in Guangji Temple, Zhang Siniang could not help but say: "Song Xiaoniangzi is so kind; I think everyone in the food shop is easy to get along with—I just hope I can learn quickly, work hard, and get the hang of it soon, so as not to disappoint them!"

Wang Sanlang then said: "No wonder old people always say 'rely on,' 'rely on'; indeed, having a backer makes all the difference! When Song Xiaoniangzi was by the river, she did things unlike an ordinary person! It is rare that you, Siniang, have this opportunity; in my opinion, this food shop will surely grow big sooner or later, and by then you will be among the oldest batch; as long as you do well, you will surely become the Manager Lady!"

He also said: "I will work very hard too! If I can make a name for myself at the dock, we will have firmly planted our feet—don't worry about money, just go ahead and learn cooking; I can support this family! They say husband and wife are one body; now is the time for me to support you!"

In Guangji Temple, the young couple were looking forward to the future; in Sanzao County Alley, Cheng Erniang was also looking forward to the future.

"I think this Zhang Siniang is down-to-earth and courteous; she followed the Young Lady in Hua Prefecture for a month or so, so I suppose she will learn quickly. I have always dared not take on big orders, but now there is one more person, and I can let loose a bit!"

As she spoke, she could not help but say: "I have discovered it! The Young Lady, besides being capable herself, is especially blessed with good fortune—business is bad in the capital due to the flood, so Young Master Han asked the Young Lady to go to Hua Prefecture; although it was hard, she also received payment. Now that she is back, she is short of help, and the people from Hua Prefecture have come knocking on their own door; every trip is not in vain!"

"As the old saying goes, this is the fate of great wealth and honor! With such a master, mountains open the way and water builds bridges—our food shop's business will surely be booming in the future!"

Song Miao smiled and said: "Although you are overpraising me, if your words truly come true, then relying on your usual wholehearted effort, as long as you can shoulder it in the future, I will ask you to be the head shopkeeper of this food shop!"

"Oh! This!" Cheng Erniang blushed, rubbing her hands, unwilling to say a word of refusal: "The Young Lady flatters me too much! I only hope I can truly shoulder it and not cause the Young Lady further worry, so that in the future I will have the face to be the head shopkeeper!"

The Song Family Eatery had timely help arrive, but the Capital Prefecture Office had no such good fortune.

The Right Courtyard Military Patrol Commissioner Qin Jie and Prefect Zheng Boqian sat facing each other at the desk.

After reporting the recent progress of their duties, Zheng Boqian asked a few casual questions, and finally asked: "Has the Right Courtyard gone to see Xin Feng recently?"

Qin Jie hurriedly said: "Sir, rest assured; everyone takes turns going now, visiting once every ten days or so—I went to see him just a few days ago; he is much better now, and probably in another month or so, he will probably be able to move about normally."

Zheng Boqian nodded and said: "Prefect Zhao asks me every time I see him—saying that the Empress Dowager also asks him often; I had no choice but to ask you!"

"It is only right! It is only right!"

Zheng Boqian asked again: "Speaking of which, Han Zhengyan has been in Hua Prefecture for nearly three months; shouldn't he be coming back? The Court is urging the repair of the Inner City roads; many houses and walls need to be demolished. Such a big matter easily offends people; after thinking it over, I still think we must find a way to transfer him back."

"Not to mention that he handles the personnel coordination very well; even setting that aside, with his name presiding over it, even if the imperial clansmen and royal relatives make a fuss, they dare not make too much noise—after all, he is a xue shi; if he sees something he dislikes, he can write an article and curse them at will, unlike us, who must act with misgivings in everything we do."

Qin Jie said: "Who would say otherwise? Being a xue shi is good; scold if you want to scold, praise if you want to praise. This time, with Xin Feng's article coming out, I have to say, not to fear Sir's laughter, I am a bit envious!"

The two talked for a while longer, and then Qin Jie took his leave.

But he had only walked halfway when he heard someone speaking on the other side of the wall.

"Go tell Military Patrol Zhang Xunshi; just say it has been found, at Zhu Family Bridge Tile District past Chengdong. Only, his price is a bit high; he says that thing, although called a mud-fired stove, by his method, it is best to paste a layer of iron on it, which is very troublesome to make, and a suitable blacksmith must be found..."

"Never mind that; it's good that it's found. Military Patrol Zhang Xunshi has been urging me every day, urging me until my head is big; I will go report to him right now!"

Qin Jie's expression changed instantly.

He quickly returned to the room, had his cousin Qin Zong called over, and asked: "Last time I told you to look for craftsmen who can make stoves; how is it going?"

Qin Zong had clearly not expected to be asked about this; he was stunned for a moment, then said: "I had them help inquire, but there has been no news for a while..."

"No news, so you just ignore it??" Qin Jie's face turned black; he simply hated iron for not becoming steel.

"Didn't Zheng Yan say, just ask us to keep an eye out; he also entrusted others; if found, great; if not found, it doesn't matter?"

"Are you stupid?? Others have found it, but I can't find it; is it that you don't take his request seriously, or that you lack the ability? Choose one!!"

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