Chapter 259

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Once that Lv Niangzi left, not a soul in the room spoke up; instead they whispered among themselves, each stealing a smile, and all pointing and gesturing at Xu Shifu behind his sea-bowl.

Who would have thought that speaking ill of someone behind their back would be caught in the act — every word, every sentence, was practically a slap to their own face; Xu Shifu could sit still no longer and slunk away in disgrace.

The more he thought about it, the more unconvinced he felt; his original twelve-tenths dissatisfaction had outright become a hundred and twenty-tenths; he was in no hurry to drive his cart — there had been hardly any business these two days anyway — he just wanted to vent, so he went from this tea house to that wine stall, and to various other places, telling this household and that household bad things about Song Ji, with a single aim: say it enough times, and not every place has a Lv Niangzi, not everyone knows Song Ji's situation; someone is bound to believe it.

My mouth is on my own body, no one can control it; from now on I'll complain to every person I meet; in time word of mouth will spread extremely fast, with no source to be found; it may well grow fiercer and more vicious the more it spreads — and let that surnamed Song woman know just how formidable I am!

By ordinary logic, when someone badmouths another behind their back, the person being talked about is always the last to know.

Yet Song Miao had long anticipated that the carter would make trouble; the very day she drove Xu Shifu away she had already greeted all the familiar neighbors, and the patrol station as well, and had patrol soldiers do favors for her, and even sent someone to invite Sun Lizheng, asking everyone to help keep watch.

Xu Shifu was not wrong in his thinking; word of mouth among people did indeed spread extremely fast.

So he had only just stepped out of that wine shop when, before afternoon arrived, a neighbor took the initiative to come to Song Ji and report the news.

That old woman was positively filled with righteous indignation: "…If it weren't for my granddaughter hearing people say it and coming back to recite it to me, I wouldn't have known — had I known earlier, I would have rushed straight to the front the moment I caught him and torn his stinking mouth to shreds!"

"It wasn't easy for your business here to pick up; if more customers come in the future and you can bring me some trade too, what are we to do if he goes on like this, one sentence on the left, one on the right, and people who don't know the truth actually believe him!"

This old woman originally ran a sundries business in Sanzao County Alley; her family had once relied on selling daily necessities, doing business with students from Nan Lu Academy, and had lived quite comfortably for a spell.

Once Nan Lu's rear gate closed, if it weren't for her own house so she didn't have to pay shop rent, she would have been unable to hold on long ago; she could only idle away her days there.

Fortunately Song Miao's business gradually improved; from her house they took large quantities of dried lotus leaves, bamboo tubes, bamboo skewers, oil paper and such every day — more each day than the last — helping her considerably; hearing that carter ruining Song Family Eatery's reputation made her just as angry as if he were ruining her own family's name.

She longed for Song Ji to reopen more than anyone.

Once it opened, there would surely be constant customers coming and going; the busier the foot traffic, the only benefits for her, no drawbacks — lately, quite a few customers who went into Song Ji to buy pastries, dried meat and such would pass by her house on the way and buy things from her!

Song Miao hurriedly thanked the old woman and also sent a small packet of sazi back with her to eat.

The person across the way declined a couple of sentences but still accepted it, and hurriedly added: "Rest assured! If I run into that dung-sprayer, I'll definitely help you argue back!"

Once the old woman left, Cheng Erniang hurried over: "Niangzi, I'll go out and find a few people to look for him! Once we see him, I'll confront him face to face myself!"

Zhang Siniang urgently said: "He's a good-for-nothing, completely unreasonable; even if you win the argument, what if he plays the rogue or resorts to violence? Better to send Sanlang! He has thick skin and tough flesh, and has poled boats since childhood; if he really meets him face to face, rolls up his sleeves and reveals those thick arms, he'll scare him to death!"

The more she spoke the angrier she got: "Infuriating! Clearly he does things in a filthy way, yet he has the nerve to counter-accuse!"

Dabing then said: "I'll report to the authorities! Once I get word, I'll go find the patrol station; you all just call helpers to drag the man there; I've seen several patrol soldiers in the yamen before, they're easy to deal with!"

She also cursed: "His mouth is truly an ass-mouth; his words are like spraying shit; he pisses and shits anywhere, how can he have the face to speak of Wang San! How can he have the face to speak of me! I wash my hands I don't know how many times a day! Back in Hua Prefecture, aunties and young ladies all called me 'Liu Xishou'! It truly infuriates me!!"

Seeing everyone in the room worked up beyond measure, all wanting to exert themselves, Song Miao instead shook her head: "Everyone going out to catch him gives him far too much face; if we can't catch him for a while, won't we have to keep watching constantly? We'd be led around by the nose by him, running ourselves ragged, and still delaying our own business."

She added: "Besides, even if we find him, if we go confront him ourselves, even if we win and have reason on our side, it will only make a laughingstock of us — patrol soldiers aren't available at a moment's notice either."

"Then what do we do, Niangzi, we can't just ignore him and let him say whatever he wants!"

Song Miao thought for a moment, then called out: "Er Niangzi."

Cheng Erniang responded at once.

"You go to the meat shop, find Shentu Hu, and tell him someone outside is spreading that our family's meat is leftover overnight meat from the stall, gone rotten; since we've always bought pork and mutton from him, ask him whether it is or isn't."

"Also Feng Saozi; the dried cuttlefish comes from her place as ingredients; someone says it's rotten."

Speaking, she also called out the two short-term hire young ladies who were busy in the back, explained the matter, and said: "I know after you two finish work here you still work a shift at the wine shop, so you must know quite a few wine young ladies — I wonder if it's convenient to help pass a message; if they see Xu Shifu spouting nonsense about our family in any wine shop or tea stall, have them help call someone to the eatery to pass word; if they can detain him, even better — I'll reward you handsomely!"

The two agreed, each faster than the other.

"Niangzi, rest assured! Tonight I see one, I tell one; I'll definitely make everyone know this matter; that surnamed Xu is too hateful! How can there be someone with a mouth full of maggots! Clearly he himself is the filthiest!"

"Exactly! I also often peddle nearby; I'll help keep watch too; not only will I explain clearly to the other wine young ladies, when I get home I'll tell all the neighbors, relatives and friends too, have them all help keep watch — this stinking bug, disgusting! Once I catch him, I'll spit right in his face!"

With assignments divided among several fronts, aside from Cheng Erniang being dispatched to report to Shentu Hu, Auntie Feng and others, the rest all returned to their posts to work.

Song Miao smiled: "So many orders piled up; everyone hurry up and work — if you all keep your minds on that stinking bug, you might not finish by day and have to work overtime into the night, then it won't be worth it!"

They say if the general is a bear, the whole troop is bears; similarly, if the general is brave, the soldiers are brave; this saying applies in an eatery just the same.

The whole group had originally been very tense; seeing the proprietress unflustered when something happened, they all relaxed a little.

Then seeing Song Miao respond like this, on one hand her attitude completely dismissed Xu Shifu as nothing; on the other hand, she laid out one, two, three countermeasures, and although they hadn't truly taken effect yet, just hearing them made people feel quite reliable.

Others strike a snake at its seven-inch point; this proprietress smashes the snake's whole body; no matter where your seven-inch is, she just uses every kind of method, like a huge boulder rolling down, crush it to death and be done.

Everyone was no longer panicked; instead anticipation arose — who knew which front would catch him, and when they'd be able to catch him!

Then there were those two short-term hire young ladies, working with their hands, never before like today; previously they always wanted to slowly eat Song Ji's provided meals, rest a bit, drink an extra cup of beverage before leaving; today they practically hated that they couldn't finish the work faster, wrap the rice and dishes in lotus leaves, eat while walking, get to the wine shop early, spread the word everywhere, quickly catch that carter and watch the show.

They even couldn't help whispering and plotting together.

One said: "I think, aside from reporting to our eatery, shouldn't we also send someone to the meat shop to report to Shentu Hu? That's definitely better than reporting to the patrol station — otherwise by the time patrol soldiers arrive, the yellow flower vegetables will be cold!"

The other had a different suggestion: "Shentu Hu might not be able to leave; better to report to Auntie Feng — she has sons and daughters-in-law at home, one shout and they can come help watch the shop, she can free herself; plus her tongue is sharp, her saliva alone could drown that surnamed Xu!"

The two of them were still imagining and envisioning on this end, fully believing they'd make it in time to contribute and show off; on the other end, worldly matters have never mostly gone as people wish.

Cheng Erniang received Song Miao's instructions, went to report to Shentu Hu and Auntie Feng, explained the whole story clearly, only said the eatery had something urgent, didn't linger, and hurried off.

Both Shentu and Feng were veteran businessmen; the moment they heard Cheng Erniang's tone, how could they not understand Song Miao's meaning.

Given Song Ji's current scale, they were already major clients; words need not be spoken outright; the two immediately sprang into action, using their connections to inquire everywhere.

It was also a coincidence, and also that Xu Shifu's "good luck" — ever since Shentu Hu got Song Miao as a client, back when her purchasing volume was small, he never slighted her, nor did he complain about her pickiness in selecting meat; they did business very smoothly; once they were familiar, as Song Miao's business gradually grew and purchasing increased, especially in recent days after she returned to the Capital, she added manpower, added varieties, and specially made dried meat.

Ten catties of fresh meat yield no more than four catties dried; Song Ji's order volume was both large and stable, and she also had to make steamed buns and rolled noodles for breakfast, midday small dining tables, etc.; every day the pork baseline required buying one or two hundred catties, plus mutton.

Shentu Hu used to only do pork business; he couldn't sell a whole pig a day; Song Miao's side lifted him up to stocking two or three pigs a day; to not lose her business, he even started selling mutton alongside.

His place had many varieties, complete cuts, letting people choose more; customers came more than before; business got better by the day; now one stall wasn't enough, so he added a new stall, and just called his two nephews from the countryside to help.

The Shentu family originally had many members, three sons two daughters; aside from the youngest who was too young and only helped, the other four also did meat, vegetable and fruit business nearby; vegetable sellers, fruit sellers, all single-mindedly trying to supply Song Ji.

Rare to have this opportunity; practically the whole family wanted to distinguish themselves.

Everyone who could spare the time mobilized at once; from ancient times more people make farming easier; over ten people fanned out, and very quickly they found the carter's tracks.

So Xu Shifu was still cursing away with great relish.

"You don't know, the meat was crawling with maggots, I simply couldn't bear to look! How can someone who makes food be so utterly heartless? If word got out..."

The word "out" had barely left his lips when, at the tea house door, a furious roar was already heard: "You with the cankered tongue! Who are you saying has maggoty meat?!"

The voice was like a thunderclap, startling Xu Shifu so badly he shivered; he hurriedly turned his head and saw a stranger, though not old, of ordinary build.

Xu Shifu's heart settled back into his belly at once.

He sneered: "I'm talking about the Song Ji food shop in Sanzao County Alley — what's it to you? Could it be you think that woman's pretty and want to speak up for her? Her family buys rotten meat and stinking fish day in, day out! Who knows where they dig up that meat and fish — it was subpar to begin with, and then left overnight; in heat like this, maggots grow everywhere..."

As Xu Shifu spoke on, at first he still looked across at the man; seeing him stay silent, just darkening his face, he couldn't help turning to gesture to the people beside him, really getting into it, when from the corner of his eye he caught a group of people coming in through the door.

The leader was exceptionally burly and tall, with a full beard; the moment he entered he made straight for Xu Shifu.

Xu Shifu vaguely sensed something was wrong, stopped talking, and was about to ask — but the bearded man was already before him.

Darkness fell before Xu Shifu's eyes; he whipped his head around, felt a fierce wind before his face, and just barely reacted in time, scrambling under a nearby table, shouting: "Assault! Assault! Report to the officials! Someone hurry and report to the officials!"

The people originally sitting at that table hurriedly moved aside.

The bearded man raised his fist and cursed loudly: "You surnamed Xu, get out here! You're spewing filth here, saying Song Ji sells rotten meat and stinking fish — everyone in the meat market knows Song Ji's meat comes from my family! Cutting off a man's livelihood is like killing his parents; when did my Shen family ever offend you?!"

"Come out!"

As he spoke, he kicked his foot under the table.

Seeing the man's physique, and seeing seven or eight people crowd in behind him, every one stout and strong, Xu Shifu didn't dare argue back; he hugged his head, curled into a ball, and hurriedly said: "I was wrong! I was wrong! I spewed filth! I spewed filth! Master Shen, spare my life!"

Shentu Hu was so furious he couldn't pull him out; he cursed with a mouthful of abuse.

Just as he was cursing, a sharp voice cried from the door: "Where's that surnamed Xu! Where is he!"

Someone vaulted in — but it was a withered old woman.

This person was originally Feng Shenzhi's mother; having gotten the news, she came running immediately.

Seeing her, Shentu Hu didn't dare slight her, hurriedly stepped aside, afraid of even brushing against her.

And in the whole room, almost eight out of ten people pointed together at the space under the table and shouted: "Right here!"

The word "here" was called latest by one person, dragging at the end, so clearly audible that even the tail of the sound trembled slightly — whether from anticipation or excitement, who could say.

And Feng Laoniang truly lived up to expectations; seeing Xu Shifu under the table, unlike Shentu Hu she was not useless — she lowered her body and squeezed right in.

She raised her nails and scratched wildly at Xu Shifu's head and face, not forgetting to yell: "You surnamed Xu, you son of a bitch, you bastard born without an asshole! No one else knows you, but don't I? You've been unruly since childhood, dogs spit at the sight of you; couldn't make it in the east city, so you come to the west city to put on airs!"

"Song Ji is that clean — every time I go deliver goods, I don't dare step through the door without wiping my soles clean, and you still dare run your mouth here! I heard long ago, you old asshole who pisses and shits everywhere, can't hold it in and leaves it all over; you got fired from Song Ji and come here to talk shit! My daughter's cuttlefish strips are every single one hand-picked by me, even the whiskers are beautiful — you're the rotten fish! You're the stinking shrimp! You're the rotten fish!"

Feng Laoniang's nails, Feng Laoniang's mouth, and especially Feng Laoniang's agility at her advanced age — Xu Shifu several times wanted to strike back or retort but couldn't; in the end he had no choice but to scramble out, and just when he found an opening, clenched his fist to strike, he was grabbed by Shentu Hu and the others at his side and pressed back under the table.

Another Shen family youngster also squeezed in, taking advantage of his youth, unafraid of being accused of bullying the few, and joined Feng Laoniang in scratching to their heart's content.

A roomful of people watched the spectacle; since it wasn't a life-threatening beating, not even a drop of blood was seen, so no one intervened.

Seeing it was hopeless, Xu Shifu hurriedly begged for mercy: "I was wrong! I truly was wrong! It was me who did wrong, got fired, then ran out spouting lies to ruin Song Ji's reputation — their meat is good, top-quality clean, it was all me spewing filth; I'll go apologize to the young lady, will that do? Stop hitting! Stop hitting!"

Feng Laoniang crawled out from under the table, wiped her hands with a handkerchief, didn't forget to shake out her sleeves, tidied her slightly disordered hair, and snorted: "You still want to go to Song Ji, see Song Xiaoniangzi? You must be delirious; you think I'm stupid? Be honest — you go to every place you ran your mouth, admit your wrong there, make the matter clear, then you can leave!"

So from afternoon to evening, Xu Shifu was escorted by the crowd, admitting guilt and apologizing at one shop, one stall after another.

Only after the very last one, with a thousand assurances and ten thousand promises, practically ready to kowtow to the lot of them, was he finally allowed to go free without being sent to the yamen.

When he finally climbed onto his own mule cart, Xu Shifu touched his face and felt only pain and itch; though there was no mirror, no water basin, he knew it must have been scratched beyond recognition by that old-and-young pair; tears and snot flowed together, streaming onto his face, pain atop pain, and he couldn't help baring his teeth and cursing.

"Just you wait, Laozi will have his day! Hiss!"

But he had barely finished one sentence, not yet daring to say what he would do when that day came, when his face hurt, his heart gave a start, and he hurriedly poked his head out to look, terrified someone had heard and would come settle accounts again.