Chapter 268

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Xin Feng was so eager that even Song Miao couldn't bring herself to tell him straight out; moreover, urged repeatedly to go to the back courtyard, she could only lead the way back.

As they walked, she had to honestly say: "Many thanks to Sister-in-law and the Censor for thinking of me like this — previously I had a young friend here, named Liang Yan, who studied martial arts at the martial hall; it just so happened that a fellow disciple's uncle-by-marriage knew how to build stoves, and he came over to help finish building them……"

Just as they were speaking, they had already arrived at the back courtyard.

Two stoves, large and small; the large one as tall as a person, and even the small one was not of a size that could be encircled by outstretched arms.

The stove doors were tightly shut, yet even so one could already smell an extremely fragrant roasted meat aroma; unknown what it was, it actually carried a burnt-sweet taste, and also a very rich soy-sauce fragrance, making a person standing at the side unable to stop wondering in their heart: what's inside, when can we eat?

Xin Feng, full of hope to show his face, seeing such a scene, was disappointed to the extreme; he could only stare with his bull-eyes at the two stoves, then turn his head to exchange big-eye-to-small-eye looks with that craftsman; after a long while, he still couldn't help asking: "Young brother, take a look at how these two stoves are built?"

That craftsman immediately circled around looking again and again, tentatively reached out a hand to touch, and couldn't help asking: "Young Lady, there's something roasting inside right now, isn't there?"

Song Miao nodded in assent.

He could only reluctantly admit: "The fire-separation is done quite well."

And said: "This style is different from what we usually make; where is the method from?"

"It's what my family habitually uses; there were original drawings. I gave those drawings to the previous master, and he made them following them."

Hearing Song Miao finish speaking, that Gan Shifu again took his carried scraper to test.

The stove body had already been fired extremely hard; picking with fingernails, scraping with a knife, not a bit of powder could be knocked off.

"The stove's exterior craftsmanship passes, but who knows how the inside is……" He looked at Song Miao full of expectation, "Young Lady, in use have you felt anything not right? I'll modify it for you? Need anything added? Or make you another one?"

"Looking at your two stoves, the large is too large, even the small is large; do you still need an even smaller one? Otherwise daily if there are times with little to roast, firing up the stove would also waste firewood!"

Song Miao hadn't spoken yet when Xin Feng at the side already changed his face, saying: "Go on, don't talk nonsense; my family's girl's business is good! Her shop's stoves are only complained too small, never too large — opening the stove means roasting a lot, even more isn't enough to sell, quickly spit out that mouthful!"

Gan Shifu could only shut his mouth.

Song Miao smiled and replied: "This is also the first time using them; still getting familiar with the stove's temperament, haven't tried out anything not right yet; only that master who helped fire the stove will leave the capital in a while; later if there's anything needing help, or new ones to make, I'll definitely come find Gan Shifu!"

And said: "If speaking of what's lacking, there truly is something lacking……"

She described the iron rack once more: to have a handle outside the stove, without opening the stove door, just turning the outside handle makes the rack inside the stove also turn along; best if besides the handle there's also a foot pedal, which can also drive the inside iron rack to turn, so it's convenient to exert force.

Besides that, if it could rely on water striking to turn by itself that would be best; at that time hang a large bucket of water above, or devise a way to draw water, let the water flow down and rush, drive the bearing shaft to turn, saving manpower.

The stove has a rotatable iron rack inside; compared to fixed roasting, the coloring and roasting are more even.

"Needn't be iron cast; copper works too." She added another sentence.

It was merely copying what was used on Pingyang Mountain before — that day Mother only mentioned it in passing, didn't describe much, only raised the desired effect; Aunt Xu following Uncle Xu made it out in no more than two days; even with over a thousand catties of meat hung inside, turning that handle was still not the least bit strenuous, and they also diverted spring water over; when needed, even without a person there water would help turn.

But she has now already described the original iron rack's appearance completely, and explained the operation in great detail; Gan Shifu listened and still kept shaking his head, saying: "Never seen this before; I'll go ask familiar blacksmiths — strangely difficult, afraid it won't be easy to find!"

Song Miao then said: "Ordinary blacksmiths I've already inquired all around; all say they haven't made it; if Gan Shifu has familiar good craftsmen, help me ask around."

The two spoke here; Xin Feng listened to Song Miao's description and only felt that rack was very formidable; at this moment he was hating not having a chance to show himself, and hurriedly said: "You write it down, and draw a diagram for me — I'll take it to ask people! Rest assured, with me Old Xin here, I'll definitely get it made for you!"

Song Miao hurriedly thanked him, and smiled: "If it can really be made that would be great; otherwise here we often need two people, watching the fire is fine, but now it's very troublesome, still have to step on a high stool from time to time to turn the rack……"

Because Gan Shifu saw the two stoves and said he wanted to look here a bit more, Song Miao invited Xin Feng to the front hall, served him tea, and said: "Today just opened the first stove; right now inside there are still roasting milk pigeons, and also made black char siu and honey juice char siu; the milk pigeons must be eaten fresh, the char siu can be taken along; it's grilled pork, salty-sweet — Censor, later take some back for Sister-in-law?"

Xin Feng downed the hawthorn tea in his sea bowl in one breath; his throat had just made a gu sound swallowing it down; hearing this speech, he hurriedly asked: "That what grilled pork — is there a lot? How much extra came out?"

Song Miao said: "Made twenty or thirty portions; originally planned to send to various regular customers later; just haven't mentioned it to anyone yet; sending another day is also in time."

Hearing this, Xin Feng immediately said: "That's perfect! Leave some for me! Just today I called a carriage; in a bit I'll send some to the brothers' homes; this whole time they've helped me clean up loose ends from before! Also your Sister-in-law's relatives……"

He counted on his fingers for a long while, finally reported the number twenty; at once he booked more than half of the char siu not yet out of the stove, and untied the money string from his thick waist, presenting it before Song Miao.

Song Miao took the money, but counted out a portion; while reading the accounts aloud to him, she handed the counted money string back, and smiled: "Besides the change, also that one portion of grilled meat char siu for Sister-in-law is my treat here, no money needed; Censor giving gifts, spending your own money, I won't be polite — Sister-in-law made me the stove, I must return a gift, right?"

Xin Feng originally wanted to decline; hearing this, he didn't decline further, laughed heartily, and said: "Ai, she has more face than me!"

He gathered the money into his bosom, and said: "All thanks to you and Zheng Yan's blessings; recently I've received many rewards; originally all thought a lifetime would just be trampled down like this; who knew it would rise again at once; fearing to cause trouble for Zheng Yan, usually doing things I also didn't dare publicize; except for that one time moving house and joining the partnership, the rest of the time, guests also didn't dare come knocking gongs and beating drums to invite."

"Only your Sister-in-law said, no matter what, you here cannot be passed over — whenever free, want to properly invite you for a meal; wait for Zheng Yan to return, then invite you two together once."

He paused, and said: "Also not anything good; us husband and wife cooking ourselves, a few small dishes; can't compare to outside restaurants, even less to your skill; ultimately a piece of sincerity!"

Words having been spoken to this extent, Song Miao naturally couldn't decline, and said: "Censor and Sister-in-law invite me, no matter what I must come; only recently added making meat jerky, dried cuttlefish, now added stoves, and also made many more steamed buns; matters not yet fully sorted out, truly somewhat busy; how about waiting for Young Master Han to return, see which day he's free, I'll go with him to pay a visit for a meal?"

Xin Feng hesitated a while, then agreed.

He looked left and right at Song Ji's front hall newly whitewashed inner walls, and also various furnishings, and another two sets of tables and chairs, many added later; couldn't help sighing: "Only a few months; who would have thought — that day when I came to your door, you were alone guarding a broken house, not even a single chair, wouldn't even buy mutton; now coming again, the shop has already hired several people, from morning to night, business non-stop……"

"That day if not for the Censor staking out here, catching that gambling den across the street clean, this house of mine might not have been kept either."

Xin Feng instantly laughed until his eyes narrowed into slits.

"I heard yesterday people say, in the yamen quite a few people are urging superiors non-stop, saying they also want to be like the Taixue, ordering steamed buns, glutinous rice, and all kinds of food from your place for outside delivery!"

Speaking to here, he asked: "How much debt still owed? My side received the Empress Dowager's bestowal, a big house living in for free, and also reward silver; daily life actually doesn't need much."

"This whole time your Sister-in-law specially discussed with me; she had me come mention it — why not first take our reward silver to repay the debt; later when you save up, slowly repay us; anyway the two at home are still young, marrying off is still early, not in urgent need of dowry……"

Where would Song Miao have thought there was actually such a matter; she hurriedly shook her head, saying: "I can earn money; Censor rest assured, please Sister-in-law also rest assured!"

"Know you can earn; just don't push yourself too tight — just afraid you'd be embarrassed, so she had me come say it first; tomorrow she'll come herself to deliver the money."

Song Miao was startled, firmly declined a round; seeing Xin Feng impervious to persuasion, could only say: "My family's debt is truly much; not something my stall here for a few months, doing business a few months can clear; fortunately the creditors are all very lenient; most don't press me; as long as I repay the fixed amount monthly, they instead come advise me — though so, ultimately all are outsiders; owing them money, I'm anxious in heart, also have the mind to work harder to earn money to repay."

"If owing Censor and Sister-in-law, I only feel it's family; not anxious, then that drive is gone, instead not beneficial — that day Young Master Han said to hang silver on my account, told me take it first to repay money, renovate the shop; I said the same, and he then stopped."

Hearing Song Miao even pushed back Han Li's silver, Xin Feng knew his words were already useless, so he stopped speaking, secretly making other plans in his heart.

A moment the hour arrived; he was called to the back courtyard, given one roasted milk pigeon — ate until mouth full of oil, sucked fingers and gnawed bones; originally still wanted to buy two to take home for the family; because hearing Song Miao say pigeons out of the stove, once cooled the flavor greatly diminishes, meat juice also loses more than half; better next time bring the family to roast fresh and eat fresh; only then did he stop.

Because knowing it was for gifting, Song Miao had Big Pancake and Zhang Siniang take covered woven baskets lined with lotus leaves, cut the char siu into portions and pack them; outside pasted a circle of paper, sealing the basket; specially took out the seal Han Li helped carve last time, stamped the four round characters "Song Ji Food Shop".

Xin Feng didn't know many characters, but seeing these few characters, couldn't help praising: "Your shop seal is good! One look and it's auspicious, has blessings!"

Song Miao smiled: "Just want to thank Young Master Han; when he carved the riverway official seal, busy but stole leisure, specially helped carve this shop seal — I still haven't had a chance to properly thank him."

Xin Feng immediately read that chapter over and over, praising it even more enthusiastically, saying: "I said so, how come this chapter looks so much better than others'!"

He wanted to buy a lot of char siu; cutting, portioning, and packing into baskets all took time. After the meat was selected, Song Miao thought to first lead the man to the front hall to sit.

The two walked one after another, and halfway there Xin Feng suddenly stopped, pointing to the side and asking: "That vat has a broken rim and green moss growing on it, why hasn't it been thrown out? Is it too heavy to move? I'll call a few brothers over..."

Song Miao turned her head and looked in the direction he pointed, immediately laughing: "That was originally a water vat used in the shop. Because the rim broke and it cracked, it leaked easily, so I moved it here to raise fish — that moss was also raised by me."

Xin Feng listened, half-understanding, and said: "Moss can still be raised? Might as well grow vegetables or flowers?"

"I use this back courtyard as half a kitchen. Growing vegetables and flowers inevitably requires watering and fertilizing, and attracts insects and mosquitoes; ultimately it's not good."

Speaking, she took him to look at the moss again, saying: "Actually it's just adding a bit of rustic charm."

"I'm really a coarse old fellow, can't tell the difference." Xin Feng laughed heartily, leaned in to look, saw many fish inside, and froze again: "Why are they all these gray, nondescript ones? And small, tails not long either, can't even wag their tails prettily — when I go back I'll tell my sister-in-law, have her take me to the flower-and-bird shop to buy you some pretty fish when she has time!"

Song Miao laughed and explained: "I really don't know how to raise fish, afraid they'd die. It was also Young Master Han who brought them along the way, saying he'd asked and these fish are very hardy — sure enough, it's been over two months and every single one is still alive!"

Hearing it was Song Miao's request, and the fish Han Li found and brought back, Xin Feng at once found the vat, the moss, and all the various fish inside pleasing to the eye, liking them more the more he looked, saying: "You didn't say so I didn't notice; you mention it, aiyo, indeed every single one is spirited, much stronger than other fish — though the colors aren't bright, they swim very earnestly, not the lazy kind. Truly fish chosen by Zheng Yan, fish raised by Song Xiaoniangzi, are simply not ordinary!"

The angle of his praise was truly cunning, amusing Song Miao no end.

After a while Xin Feng pointed at one of them and asked: "How come this one is thinner than all the others, and its tail is crooked? Is it being bullied? The color also seems different, a bit red — did it fight?"

Worthy of an old Censor, he really observed carefully.

Song Miao leaned in to identify it, hurriedly went inside to find Han Li's earlier painting to verify. Sure enough, the tail in the painting was straight, there was a record, the fish body had no red color, and it also said this fish was especially combative.

Xin Feng saw the painting, came closer, and compared the painting with the whole vat of fish, gesturing and pointing. Then he fetched a basin, scooped out the broken-tail fish, and had Song Miao wait for it to heal before putting it back in the water vat.

Only at the end did he look at that painting over and over, saying: "I've heard Zheng Yan's calligraphy and paintings are worth a lot. Even though this is the back courtyard, there are many people and hands are mixed; during the day it's best to keep doors and windows shut, don't let people come and go, lest someone accidentally walk off with this painting!"

After the char siu was cut, portioned, and packed, Xin Feng carried many baskets and was about to bid farewell to Song Miao, when he suddenly seemed to remember something, grinned, and said: "Forgot to tell you, this time I went to find a craftsman, it was also thanks to Zheng Yan's reminder — he really is thoughtful!"

He told how he had analyzed from the talk among his brothers who Han Li was looking for a furnace for, and for what reason.

Song Miao was stunned for a moment, then offered thanks.

The man had already left, yet she still stood at the doorway, looked up at the peeling-paint signboard, then looked at the center of the front hall — the central hall position there had already been cleared. Back when they were in Hua Prefecture, Han Li had already drafted several couplets for her to choose, directly saying if he couldn't return by August, couldn't make it in time for the shop reopening, he would have the finished central hall scroll and screen painting mounted and sent back to congratulate her on opening.

The central hall scroll and screen painting were fine, but unexpectedly he still remembered the furnace; from so far away he even sent people to help inquire...

Just as she was lost in thought, Cheng Erniang came out from behind to ask about tomorrow's purchasing. Song Miao put those distracting thoughts aside for now and went inside.

Meanwhile Xin Feng rode the carriage, delivering char siu all the way. When he returned home, he hurriedly told Du Shi everything that happened today, and put the reserved char siu on the table, pointing: "Younger sister gave this to you, said she's treating you, wouldn't take money!"

Du Shi sighed: "Truly a good girl, only hope her business grows bigger and bigger!"

Then asked: "The silver matter, did you mention it?"

"Still mention it! She wouldn't take it!" Xin Feng told the matter. "Better you go make a trip tomorrow? Between you women, words are always easier to say."

Du Shi gave him a sidelong glance: "Usually you boast yourself to the skies, yet now you can't even send out a bit of silver!"

"Not just me! Zheng Yan couldn't send it out either, shows it's not that I'm incapable!" Xin Feng hurriedly cried injustice, told how Han Li also wanted to give silver but was refused by Song Miao, and since it came up, casually mentioned the seal, the ugly fish, and the furnace.

He only treated it as idle husband-wife chat, but Du Shi listened and felt increasingly that something was off.

She only knew recently her husband was finding a furnace-maker for Song Xiaoniangzi, but didn't know the many details behind it. She couldn't help asking: "You say that Young Master Han sent a vat of ugly fish to Song Xiaoniangzi — fine — but he even gave every single fish a name and painted a painting?"

"Lending money is nothing, Young Master Han has always been kind-hearted and open — but he even remembers Song Ji's furnace so clearly, he's in Hua Prefecture yet has to pull strings in several places, entrust people to help inquire?"