Chapter 28

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Trouble friends to refresh the bookshelf, the second half of the last chapter added a bit of content, might have to trouble you to flip back a few pages, otherwise it won't connect.

Saw comments reminding me, looked back and checked, yesterday's update indeed wrote the cooking in too much detail, the proportion was a bit off balance, so I deleted some, but it doesn't affect the plot, no need to reread the first half~

First time writing a food novel, a bit unsure of the measure, sometimes the methods get written too detailed, trouble everyone to remind me if you see it going overboard, I'll gauge whether to adjust ^_^

The leader first had his subordinates serve tea, seeing all around were his own people, only then lowered his voice and replied: "Don't mention it, ran around all morning——recently was the Lantern Festival, you know how chaotic the city was, over a hundred people went missing, mostly women and children, found very few who were recovered by today, superiors are furious, the prefectural yamen has replaced several officials, and now that recommending official is newly appointed, pressing us for a result——where am I supposed to find a result to show him?"

"It's been ten to twenty days already, the missing people might have been sold out of the capital long ago, nothing can be done, came out to search everywhere, might as well catch some gambling too, can't go back empty-handed, lest the Dutou chew us out again!"

Then asked: "It's neither early nor noon, why are you here?"

Every year during the Upper Yuan Festival in the capital many people go missing, Sun Lizheng naturally knew, first sighed along with them, but when he heard the words 'catch gambling' later, suddenly remembered his second brother at home.

He felt somewhat apprehensive, just wanting to pull the relationship closer, so he silently counted heads——only a sparse few, not many, then gritted his teeth and said: "Last time wasn't there someone who fell into the water and died in Suanzao Alley? I saw only a filial daughter left in her family, so I helped say a few words, that young lady actually has a conscience, specially made some food to thank us——brothers, want a taste?"

All were rough big men who had been running since before dawn until now, each hungry in the belly, and didn't stand on ceremony with him, said thanks, praised "Old Sun is righteous", then one after another reached into the food box.

Before Sun Lizheng could figure out how to get that food box back without being overly stingy, the curtain at the door was lifted with a hualala, and another ten or so patrol soldiers in the same uniform surged in.

【15】 All were rough big men who had been running since before dawn until now, each hungry in the belly, and didn't stand on ceremony with him, said thanks, praised "Old Sun is righteous", then one after another reached into the food box.

Everyone looked around left and right, seeing companions already walking this way, and those with lively personalities, still several steps away, laughed: "What's for food? Smells so good?"

When the rain and snow finally stopped, Sun Lizheng and a group of patrol soldiers walked out of the shop, the originally heavy food box had already become empty.

One could guess, catching gambling how could it only send these three or five men? Naturally needed two teams of men at minimum.

——Thirty-some men, even if each only took two or three bites, how much good stuff could withstand them eating?

But the food boxes were already open, how could Sun Lizheng be stingy? Could only weep tears in his heart, while on his face had to be attentive and thorough, kept urging everyone to eat, and said it was fine.

Right now there were still a few patrol soldiers who got addicted to eating, ran over to inquire, asking where he could buy it.

Sun Lizheng was just about to answer, when he heard two people beside him talking in low voices.

"That one up front, look, does he resemble the one who escaped from the gambling den at the bridgehead this morning?"

"A bit alike——the dog spawn saw us——he turned around, he's gonna run!"

Sun Lizheng raised his head, and indeed saw not far ahead someone just turning their head, walking quickly back the way they came.

He looked at the other's build and bearing, both seemed somewhat familiar, his heart instantly tightened.

Several patrol soldiers didn't even need to exchange glances or speak, already tacitly chased up together, and shouted: "That kid up front, you, don't run! Stop right there for me!"

A group who had just lifted the curtain and come out also immediately followed, but not long after all came back, fiercely spat: "Kid runs like a dog, surprisingly fast!"

"Next time if I catch him, see if I don't break his legs!"

Sun Lizheng also didn't dare linger, hurriedly found an excuse and took his leave.

He didn't go home first, but on the road bought some fruits and pastries, went to his uncle and aunt's house half a street away.

Upon entering, he first called "Old Second".

But Sun Er was not home, only Sun Lizheng's aunt was there with two young grandchildren.

"That good-for-nothing, since passing the Lantern Festival hasn't been home again, afraid something happened, yesterday early his wife and his father split up to go look, knew you were busy, afraid you'd be anxious, didn't dare tell, thought if still not found in a couple days would tell then."

Giving birth to such a son, not many days in a month is he home, that aunt also had no way, though also anxious, already somewhat used to it.

Sun Lizheng always suspected what he just saw was Sun Er, afraid his brother really got caught.

But no matter what, he couldn't complain to the elderly, at this moment could only say: "What kind of talk is this, should have told me early, might have found him——if delayed long, real trouble would be problematic."

Once out the door, he went around everywhere making inquiries, searched a circle, got no news.

This matter set aside for now.

Furthermore, on the other side, Song Miao saw off Sun Lizheng, then finished sorting out most of the household chores. Seeing the rain and snow in the sky gradually clearing and that tomorrow didn't look like it would bring bad weather, she carried a basket and went to the street to purchase goods.

This trip she replenished all materials, just about to go home, then saw at the Vermilion Bird city gate edge surrounded many people, all looking at the notice posted on the bulletin board.

She walked closer, heard someone up front say: "How come this portrait looks so familiar, wasn't one posted before? Posted another today? What's the meaning?"

Another person squeezed to the front, squinted and looked for a long time, then said: "It's the same person! It's the woman who went missing from Zhoubei Wa before, this time the reward money increased, whoever helps find the person can get a hundred strings of cash reward."

Hearing this number, the crowd immediately clamored, everyone discussing animatedly.

Song Miao also raised her head to look at that portrait, confirmed she had never seen this person, was about to turn and leave, but heard not far away an old woman say: "What missing, in my view, must have been kidnapped by child traffickers, from Lantern Festival to today how long? Yamen searched and inspected but didn't find, afraid was sold to other places long ago, let alone a hundred strings, even if given a thousand strings might not be able to find."

"Last year a relative's family lost a daughter, you all still remember? Back then also searched everywhere, but to this day haven't found her back."

"Every year Lantern Festival loses that many people, how many can be found back?"

"Also not necessarily, heard this time the missing one is an embroidery girl."

The speaker's tone carried a few parts mystery: "My maternal nephew's paternal nephew works under Minister Cao, heard this time the missing one was making a wedding garment for the Cao family, and that day she was still wearing the Cao family daughter's cloud cape——next month is the wedding date, now the wedding garment is lost, currently still the embroidery workshop searching themselves, temporarily can't find, by the end definitely have to report to the master family, officials finding people, might be easier than imperial clan families!"

"Can't the embroidery workshop just find a few more embroidery girls to rush the work?"

"Can't, the missing one used some technique, called some 'cut what silk', extremely fine, ten days half a month can't even rush out a single hair——if the front of your clothes looks like a phoenix, turn around and the back becomes a monkey's butt——can you stand that?"

A knowledgeable person suddenly interjected to ask: "Is it kesi (tapestry weaving)?"

The speaker up front froze a moment, said: "Right right! That's the name!"

Hearing here, Song Miao instantly stopped in her tracks, found an empty spot, and carefully looked at that notice again.

The notice wrote in great detail, only saying a certain embroidery workshop lost a person, surname Shen, called Xingniang, Suzhou native, also stated height, what clothing worn when missing, also age, appearance, features, finally attached a portrait, and used red characters to mark the reward money.

Seeing the three characters Shen Xingniang, and recalling the kesi everyone just spoke of, Song Miao could no longer move her feet.

She recalled the old matters on Pingyang Mountain.