Chapter 275

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Stir-fried over a fierce fire, just off the stove, sizzling with oil — blow on it twice and it goes into the mouth; those ribs scald your tongue and palate while unabashedly giving off a charred fragrance and meat aroma.

The aroma carries wisps of smoke; using a soy-sauce pot, there is a slight char — the soy sauce chars just a touch and becomes even more fragrant, coating the ribs' outer layer, glistening with oil, all clinging with the sticky feel of soy color.

The ribs are stir-fried raw, driving out what little moisture they had, so naturally there are charred shells and charred edges, golden-yellow and charred-fragrant; the shell carries a thin crispness, one bite and the rich meat juices locked in by high heat burst out, the mouth both scalded and fragrant.

The selection is all middle-cut ribs with the crisp bone attached; under flash-frying this cut yields meat that is tight and springy-tender, the teeth press and it falls off the bone without gnawing, yet with a very fragrant mouthfeel — chew, chew, chew, full of meat texture, easy on the teeth, yet not overly soft or mushy.

The piece Du Haoniang ate was a rib tip with cartilage, especially tender, with a bit of fat; the fat charred fragrant, one bite releases a mouthful of tightly locked fat, another bite — crunch, crunch goes the bone — the mouth fills with soy fragrance, char fragrance, meat fragrance, fresh fragrance, so fragrant her mouth and stomach fought each other; her mouth wanted to chew a few more times, her stomach wanted her mouth to swallow quickly, her brain didn't know whom to obey, utterly at a loss.

Ribs with rice — truly fragrantly devastating.

But the rice-accompanying dishes on the table were not just the raw-stir-fried ribs alone.

Five Shreds Stir-fry — inside, each shred is different; water bamboo takes the innermost tender core cut into shreds, though not as sweet-tender as freshly picked from Jiangnan Erlu, it still retains a hint of its own clean sweetness; carrot shreds also have a sweet fragrance; pickled vegetable shreds are salty-fresh, soaked in water so the saltiness is just right, the freshness more prominent, plus the richness of pork shreds, the bean fragrance of tofu-dried shreds — this last flavor absorbs the sauce the most.

The sauce is the vegetable juice of the five shreds drawn out by soy sauce and yellow wine, very concentrated essence, not much oil, almost entirely relying on that bit of pork belly to contribute, thinly coating the various shreds, salty-fragrant, mellow-rich, only wine fragrance, no wine taste.

One chopstickful picks up orange, white, pink, yellow, green — color, aroma, taste all complete; eating yields carrot shreds crisp-tender, water bamboo soft-sweet, meat shreds slippery-tender, pickled vegetable shreds crisp-refreshing, and tofu-dried bits bringing a touch of resilient softness.

— All kinds of colors, textures, flavors vie for brilliance in the mouth, yet they take turns on stage, not stealing each other's scenes, even filling gaps, very harmonious, truly a dazzling dance, and with sauce — not too much, not too little, not competing with ingredients for flavor, adding another three parts of wonder.

This dish accompanies rice; rice grains can each wrap a tiny bit of sauce color, mixed among the five shreds, unknowingly a bowl goes into the belly; if used to wrap thin pancakes, the pancake rolls, turns once in the mouth, and slides down the belly on its own.

As for that Dried water bamboo stir-fried with cured meat, sun-dried then soaked, soaked just right, both crisp and resilient, sweetness more than ten times that of fresh water bamboo, biting down is simply like eating sugar.

Cured meat slices alternate fat and lean, boiled then stir-fried; the fat parts turn more transparent, glass-crisp crispness, not greasy at all, the oil has no oily feel, only fragrance; the lean parts are even more satisfying cured fragrance.

In this dish the dried water bamboo is excessively crisp, yet has resilience so it cannot be bitten through easily, eating makes the ears full of buzzing thunderous sound, resonating through the crown of the head.

Then there is the Stir-fried lotus tips, extraordinarily clean-sweet crisp-tender, freshly picked seasonal vegetables from the lotus ponds outside the city, cut diagonally into sections, pinching the most tender joints; upper and lower dental arches close, no teeth needed, the ears immediately hear a "pop" — the lotus tip cracks under pressure, the mouth fills with clean-sweet juice, chew a couple more times and there is no residue, tender to the point of moving heaven and earth.

At the end of eating, ladle another bowl of the same refreshing Clear vegetable and minced meat soup…

This meal had Du Haoniang busy in a fluster, both ladling rice and wrapping pancakes, only feeling every dish accompanied rice, and every dish suited wrapping pancakes, eating with neither mouth nor hands getting a moment's rest.

Song Ji's dining table never had the "no speaking while eating" rule, but often very few people spoke — a person has only one mouth, eating things leaves no room for speaking.

Eating to the end, seeing the momentum was wrong, Song Miao hurriedly persuaded: "Sister-in-law come again another day, I'll cook again, careful not to burst your stomach."

Du Haoniang reluctantly swallowed the last bite of ribs, rubbed her stomach and sighed: "If only I could live next door to you, once the food shop opens, eat here daily, I'd be willing to live less… forget it, better to live longer! Live one more day, can come here and eat three more meals!"

Song Miao smiled: "Sister-in-law just come; if really can't get away, every few days I'll have someone send it over, but sending back and forth always lacks wok-heat, eating it will inevitably be a few parts less satisfying."

Hearing this, Du Haoniang felt even more regretful.

Knowing Song Miao had already followed a matchmaker to look at all the nearby houses for rent or lease, she thought a moment, then said: "I'll go back and ask people, see if any houses have been released recently; if close and well-positioned, not necessarily only rent — we buying is the same!"

The speaker had no intention, the listener took it to heart.

Song Miao hadn't spoken yet when Cheng Erniang, who was clearing the table, couldn't help but ask: "Madam Du, what do you mean by 'released houses'?"

Du Haoniang answered: "Those are houses confiscated and turned over to the treasury from various places; mostly the household heads got involved in cases, committed crimes; some are even auspicious houses, you have to go get the people inside to leave yourself, and because they're more or less inauspicious, the price is one or two tenths cheaper than ordinary houses — I know Xiao Song doesn't mind this, otherwise I wouldn't dare mention it…"

Just as they were speaking, Cheng Erniang already let out an "ah", involuntarily exclaiming: "Young Lady! That house opposite us, isn't that exactly such a house?? I've been here so long, only seen the seals, never seen anyone go in or out…"

Du Haoniang hurriedly asked: "What? What house?"

The four were eating in the front hall, the main gate wide open; Song Miao simply pointed opposite, saying: "What Er Niangzi speaks of is that house opposite; originally it was a gambling den, sealed by the Capital Prefecture Office at the beginning of the year…"

Du Haoniang had only come twice, the first time by carriage, the other time this time, encountering a violent rain, she hadn't paid much attention to the neighboring courtyards; hearing this, she turned to look, saw it was right opposite, felt quite happy, hurriedly said: "There's actually one this close, why didn't you say so earlier?"

"If it's good and you like it, even if we can't rent, to buy — we pool a bit here, gather a bit elsewhere, it'll be enough! Don't worry about money not coming together!"

Song Miao shook her head: "Many thanks, Sister-in-law, but this house won't do — when it was just sealed I asked the Chai Guan, also asked Censor Xin, both said a gambling case like this won't be settled in less than half a year, because of tangled interests inside, ownership still has to be sorted out…"

"That aside, this case is a major case, and also connected to the Shangyuan kidnapping case; after closing, it must go to the Judicial Review Department for verification, one verification takes several months, finally transferred to the Building Affairs Department — the Building Affairs Department belongs to the Ministry of Revenue, does things extremely slowly; even if finally released, at least three to five years, so when looking for a courtyard I didn't dare think about it."

Even so, it's right opposite, close by, not only convenient to look after, but if the food shop expands in the future, adding tables and expanding the shop would also be extremely convenient.

The few spoke, unconsciously all stood up, walked to the doorway to look at that house; even Xiao Lian couldn't help following to poke her head out and sneak a peek.

The seals are sealed very tight, but even just looking at the main gate and the outer wall's footprint, one can tell it's a big house.

Du Haoniang and Cheng Erniang are both household managers, looking with quite some envy.

"Seems even bigger than our house!" Cheng Erniang's tone is full of admiration.

Du Haoniang couldn't help asking: "Don't know if there's a back courtyard either…"

"There is." Song Miao sighed, "A huge courtyard — this house used to be a bookshop; when I was little I went with my elder brother to buy books; every summer the shopkeeper would move his private collection to the back courtyard to sun, the ground both level and clean…"

Du Haoniang said: "Such a good place, compared to those seen today, who knows how much more outstanding — truly unbearable, treating a dead horse as a living horse doctor, I'll go back and have Lao Xin inquire, see what the situation with this house really is!"

Song Miao smiled wryly: "Sister-in-law don't busy yourself, I already inquired just now, it hasn't closed yet!"

Du Haoniang then asked who she inquired with.

Song Miao gave a name.

Du Haoniang still wouldn't give up, saying: "I'll go back and find Lao Xin, shout for him to think of a way; outsiders doing things aren't the same as our own people, ultimately not that dedicated — what if there's another channel?"

She didn't delay a moment, hurriedly borrowed a raincoat, took rain gear and went out the door.

By evening, the sky was half-dark, Song Miao was about to close the door when she heard someone calling from afar: "Song Xiaoniangzi!"

She looked up — it was actually Xin Feng.

Seeing the other braving rain and wading through water walking over, Song Miao was startled, hurriedly ushered him into the house, then urgently called Cheng Erniang to bring a dry towel, prepare tea, and asked: "Censor, why have you come? Such heavy rain, your legs and feet just healed, soaking in water will be trouble!"

Xin Feng laughed heartily: "Already healed about the same, next month I return to the yamen — I called a carriage to come, even if I didn't come, the medical officer would make me walk enough steps each day!"

He took the towel, casually wiped a couple times, then sat down and drank several mouthfuls of tea in one go, wiped his mouth, and said: "Your sister-in-law urged me like something else, I was afraid you'd be anxious here, so I specially came first to report the news!"

"I just went and asked clearly; that house opposite is confiscated goods, already forfeited to the treasury; actually the gambling den and the kidnapping are two cases, by rights they can be closed separately, but the person taking over doesn't want to run two rounds of paperwork, wants to bundle them together to close…"

Song Miao then said: "Last time I went to ask the two Chai Guan Liu and Li, they both said based on past experience, at least half a year must pass…"

"That's true, the kidnapping case involves too many, victims also many; if luck is bad, who knows when a new lead might be pulled out, not strange if it doesn't close next year — but it's not like there's absolutely no way."

Xin Feng paused for a moment, then said, "The person taking over now is surnamed Cao; he's someone Qin Guaren uses regularly, adept at being perfunctory and fond of speaking in official tones. I originally wanted to send word, but this time, since it was a request for merit that would have given him a promotion..."

"But because you captured Lv Mao, and there was Zheng Yan's article, which got me an audience with the Empress Dowager and praise from the Emperor, it forced Qin Guaren to report my name upward... I felt too embarrassed to go to his door for a while!"

Upon hearing this, Song Miao was very pleased and hurriedly offered congratulations.

Xin Feng waved his hand and said in a low voice, "It's a freshly settled matter; I didn't dare speak of it outside, just gave a word to my own people."

Song Miao then said, "Censor, you must not show your face in this matter again. Right now, cherishing your reputation is paramount; who knows how many eyes are watching. You must act with utmost caution!"

"I'm not afraid of that. I'm not showing favoritism; what's wrong with inserting a few words?!"

Xin Feng snorted and said, "It's just a bit vexing — even if I interject, it may not be of use. That fellow is truly skilled at stonewalling. Think as I might, a hundred sentences from me can't match one sentence from Zheng Yan."

He proposed, "I'm thinking I'll send a message to Zheng Yan via someone here, ask him to put in a word. It's just as well, since the later matters will need his help too!"

Song Miao was already somewhat hesitant; hearing it was this troublesome, she became even less willing. So she asked, "Does this still require dealing with the Judicial Department, asking them to help expedite approval?"

Xin Feng said, "That place doesn't need him. My Old Xin's face in the Judicial Department can still sell a bit of face — what needs urging is the Tower Affairs Office later on, and there are superiors from the Ministry of Revenue inside. They have their noses in the air and won't easily deign to deal with people."

"If we go through proper sign-off procedures, letting them write one name a year in that manner, without three to five years this house won't be released. By then, the yellow flower vegetables will be cold!"

"Zheng Yan is a Taixue student after all, with literary fame and a reputation for talent. Others are willing to look at him more highly. Entrust the matter to him, and there's nothing that can't be accomplished. It's reliable!"

Xin Feng spoke with delight. Song Miao pondered slightly but felt it was very wrong.

She thought for a moment and said, "Let's not rush — it's best not to have Young Master Han show his face in this matter!"

"Whether it's the Tower Affairs Office or the Ministry of Revenue, they hold money and property in their hands; they are precisely fat posts, most prone to trouble. Who knows when Young Master Han might end up scolding them — if he goes to ask a favor this time, gains benefits and face, and later finds them displeasing, would he still be able to open his mouth to scold them?"

Xin Feng was stunned for a moment.

Song Miao added, "Moreover, right now is the summer flood season; we don't yet know the water situation in Hua Prefecture. They must be busy as a hive. It's best not to disturb them with such a trifle — if the house across the way can be had, naturally that's best. If not, we'll just search for another place."

Xin Feng didn't think much of it at first, but hearing this speech, he sighed, "Indeed. You think finely; it's very reasonable. I've known him a long time, see him act day in and day out, and always forget he still has to scold people..."

Song Miao smiled and thanked him, then said, "Thank you for your trouble, Censor, running about for so long. Also thanks to Sister-in-law's reminder, I learned there was confiscated property to view. Taking advantage of these two days not setting up stall, I want to go through them in a sweep. Could you help send a greeting?"

This, however, was simple.

Seeing he could finally be of help, Xin Feng's voice instantly rose a few degrees, and a smile appeared on his face.

He said, "The Tower Affairs Office has set up a point at the Zhou Ya. I'll have someone send word; when you arrive, just report your name!"

The rainwater never stopped, now heavy, now light; the standing water grew ever deeper.

Early the next day, Song Miao went to the Capital Prefecture Office and found the point set up by the Tower Affairs Office.

One didn't know if it was because the rain was too heavy, but the place was very deserted. Aside from the clerks on duty, there was only one other person sitting to the side flipping through a register.

Song Miao gave her name and stated her request. The receiving clerk was quite agreeable, pointing to the empty seat beside him, and said, "You wait. They're scattered in several places. I'll go to the back and search."

Before long, he indeed found a register first and handed it over, then went to the back again to search.

Song Miao took the register and sat to the side, slowly flipping through it.

There weren't many confiscated houses for sale near Zhuque Gate, and even fewer close to Suanzao Alley.

She reluctantly copied down a few locations, returned the register, took a new one and looked again. After several trips back and forth, she saw that the nearby confiscated properties had been mostly looked through, and not a single suitable one was found.

Song Miao was somewhat disappointed. She returned the register, gave thanks, and was about to leave when, passing by the table from before, her footsteps paused.

A youth was sitting there, having flipped through a register for half the day. At this moment, his head was full of sweat, and his mouth was muttering incessantly, mumbling to himself.