Chapter 290

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Cheng Zijian held flour paste in one hand and a manuscript in the other, walking to the foot of the wall in a daze.

A crowd was urging each other on noisily.

"Hurry up! How many dishes does it take to write this long! We're still waiting back here!"

"Rush rush rush, what's the rush! When it's time to hand in assignments you're never this urgent——don't make a racket, careful my hand slips and I write messily, and Song Xiaoniangzi won't be able to read the characters!"

"Don't squeeze, don't squeeze, I still have two or three dishes to write here!"

Before long, someone else started complaining.

"The people in front are too clueless! Writing characters this big, they take up so much space, how are we supposed to put brush to paper!"

"Won't fit! No empty space left! Who's going to find another sheet of paper!! Hurry up!"

Cheng Zijian stared wide-eyed, looking so bewildered it made others dizzy.

Too many people surrounded it, blocking that posted large sheet tight as a drum; he hurriedly stepped forward at a quick pace, wanting to squeeze inside.

Very quickly, the people in front turned back and glared at him.

"What are you doing, queue at the back, first come first served! First come first served!"

"Don't squeeze, we're all scholars, at least have some propriety in doing things!"

A flash of inspiration struck him; he raised the paper in his hand and said: "I'm here to deliver blank paper! Gentlemen, make way, make way!"

Hearing this, the crowd each turned to look, and sure enough saw him holding paper in one hand and flour paste in the other, so they hastily made way for a narrow path.

"Hah, should've said so earlier!"

"Hurry and paste it! I'll give you a hand!"

Cheng Zijian had just squeezed in; he basically didn't have to lift a finger before people on his left and right took the paper one after another, another took the flour paste, and together they helped paste it up.

He took the chance to hurriedly glance at the so-called "Song Restaurant Menu Order" posted above.

First were several lines of text, briefly introducing the matter: Song Ji's food shop in Suanzao Alley was about to open for business; right now they were drafting the menu; they had already submitted some dishes; Song Xiaoniangzi said she had noted them down, and also said she would come into Taixue to solicit dishes.

Song Xiaoniangzi is very busy; she might not be able to handle so many; so they took the lead and posted this solicitation order; if anyone has a dish they want to eat, they can write it down; maybe luck will be good and the food shop will select it as a new dish!

The right side explained clearly; further left, every blank space was full of characters; at the start the handwriting was extremely large, one character each; by the time it filled up, they began inserting characters in every crack, so a glance across made one's vision go black then swim; even a scholar like Cheng Zijian felt a bit dizzy from the characters.

He stood at the foot of the wall and was quickly recognized by someone, who called out: "Zijian!"

This one shout set off whispered exchanges among those behind.

Originally not many people recognized him, but once someone introduced him, saying he was the one "that day Song Xiaoniangzi delivered pig trotter rice and taro braised pork", everyone felt he looked familiar, and they started addressing him as brothers.

Someone pointed at a spot on the wall and said: "Brother Cheng, you're acquainted with Song Xiaoniangzi, can you put in a word for her, she absolutely must pick my jiaoma chicken! This dish isn't afraid of sitting, delicious hot or cold!"

Another hurriedly said: "Younger Brother Cheng, I have a dish, called jiasa Meat! Extremely delicious! I've already written it up, several of us fellow townsmen all wrote it——ask Song Xiaoniangzi if she's ever heard of it, if she knows how to make it! If she can make it, as long as this dish exists, we'll definitely come order it every few days!"

But this person's voice had just fallen when rebutting voices rose.

"Jiasa Meat, what jiasa Meat? Never heard of it, definitely not tasty! Better make the fish soup I wrote; plenty of people like fish soup, as long as it's made, definitely many will order; you still have the nerve to say 'every few days', if you don't go, no one orders, how will that be good for Song Xiaoniangzi?? Force it to rot??"

This one pulls, that one drags, every single one wanting to speak with "Brother Cheng" and "Zijian".

Cheng Zijian didn't dare utter a sound; he didn't even want the flour paste anymore, clutching the remaining manuscript, practically fleeing with his head in his hands.

He didn't even have time to eat; he hurried back to the dormitory; by now he already had a few guesses in his heart; sure enough, at the entrance he saw the wall outside the dormitory also surrounded by a crowd, above it still the seven large characters "Song Restaurant Menu Order", simply pitch-black and gleaming.

Walking closer for a look, this was after all right outside the dormitory, convenient for fetching and taking items; new paper had already been posted early on; not to mention two large sheets written packed full, even a third sheet was more than half written; it looked like it would be full soon; behind them people were urging three times, four times, shouting for the front to write faster.

Not only that, people were even persuading each other.

"What's the use of writing such big characters! Do you think big characters will coax Song Xiaoniangzi into picking yours? It still depends on whether the dish is good; first, look at whether it's troublesome to make; second, look at whether delivery is convenient; third, look at whether the demand is loud——you might as well drop yours and write my pickled vegetable stir-fried pork with egg bits! This dish is tasty and keeps well; sandwiched in flatbread or paired with noodles or rice, all extremely good; order this one, go to the canteen and ask for plain noodles, blissful!"

"No no no, still go with mine; mine is garlic stir-fried pork slices, especially delicious, that's truly fragrant, and carries a hint of spice……"

Because the person speaking behind was a familiar face, Cheng Zijian didn't dare linger, fearing he'd be called back again, and hurriedly ran off.

Running all the way; at the canteen, people inside were discussing what dishes to suggest for Song Ji; at the study hall, when people inside were whispering, a crowd was also discussing dishes, how to choose ones that are tasty and not too expensive, so they themselves could eat them daily.

Even upon returning to the dormitory, roommates were actually talking about this too.

"Sigh, it's still a bit far——when the time comes let's still take turns in a sequence; on 1,3,5,7,9 days two people go buy; on 2,4,6,8 days the other two go buy; that way we can eat it every day, and no one has to run themselves ragged!"

"Then buy a bigger basket?"

"Four people's rice and dishes, that's not little; feel like a food box is more convenient, though heavier; after all it's layer by layer, convenient for rice and dishes not to spill out!"

"Sigh, is that Nanlu Academy's Shan Chang annoying or what; it's been this long, still not willing to loosen up a bit!"

"Exactly; if only the dog hole wasn't blocked, we could save at least half the journey!"

"I heard two months ago that Song Xiaoniangzi was preparing to reopen the food shop later; she had already scouted the route and picked a most suitable dog hole! Who knew!"

This whole day, Taixue top to bottom, and even next door in Guozixue inside, discussions were rampant; everyone, as soon as they had a spare moment, discussed what dishes to suggest for Song Ji.

And those discussing this matter were not limited to the two academies alone.

Separated by two walls and an alley, inside that Nanlu Academy there were actually quite a few discussions too.

This discussion, however, came from the teaching hall.

Nanlu's students cannot enter and exit freely, but the masters, Jiaoxue, and various servants, kitchen workers, etc., cannot possibly stay in the academy from morning to night.

Others aside, masters have always not been few in arranging their own servants and attendants to queue, so they themselves can eat Song Ji's——Nanlu's canteen is even worse!

Thus today a whole group of students surrounded Song Miao; their voices were strong and they spoke really loudly; it was heard early on; plus Taixue had been clamoring over Song dishes all day; being this close, with people coming and going, how could they not have detected a bit of movement.

Once one person knew, before long all the masters had heard, and they all joined in, researching what dishes Song Ji should really push when opening.

After all they are masters; you discuss, I deliberate; they immediately drew up lists, preparing to add and supplement over two days; once more or less done, they'd send it to that Song Ji.

The masters finished writing one round, thinking this matter was settled, but they didn't know that when they spoke, they hadn't paid much attention; originally in the teaching hall there were still a few students helping with odd jobs.

So they turned and left, the students quietly slipping out of the room, passing word to one another, and before long everyone at Nan Lu, high and low, knew of it.

Everyone was in a great hurry.

Immediately someone raised a brush and said, "Such an important matter—surely we can't leave our Nan Lu people out of it?"

"Hurry up, everyone ask each other what dishes they want to eat, quickly make a list, and have someone quietly send it to Song Ji!"

No matter how fiercely Shan Chang Xu raged and thundered, some time had passed since the incident; though the dog hole was sealed, the master and instructors still had their proper days to live, and no one could patrol here day after day, keeping the students company in their waiting.

Thus, without realizing it, the number of people patrolling the academy walls gradually dwindled.

When patrols were frequent, some students still managed to climb over the wall; now that they were fewer, it went without saying that sending a message was naturally no difficulty.

But regarding the matter of sending a message, some felt it was improper.

"If we send a menu to Song Ji, Song Xiaoniangzi may not pay it much heed, right?"

"How can you say that? Why wouldn't Song Xiaoniangzi pay us heed?"

"Nan Lu's dog hole is now gone to crawl through; although we ourselves always think that in another two or three months, sooner or later a new hole will appear, but who dares to guarantee it? Not to mention Song Xiaoniangzi, I myself am not sure—if we don't bring her business and only offer suggestions, will she listen? Will she care?"

"That's the reasoning! Even if Song Xiaoniangzi is willing to listen, once those Taixue students find out, they'll surely sneer and say unpleasant things!"

"Exactly! Their mouths are very offensive; they'll surely say we can't buy anything, can't help the business, and are just pointing fingers here!"

"But we'll be able to buy sooner or later—when does she open for business?"

"I heard it might be around the Mid-Autumn Festival."

So a group of them began counting on their fingers.

"It's only a few more days; surely the wind has already passed!"

"Exactly, on the day she opens, the new dog hole will surely be dug too!"

"Let's carefully look for a few suitable spots at the Rear Gate; best if they're hidden and close to Song Ji!"

"But that's after all a matter for later; Song Xiaoniangzi may not believe it, whereas those Taixue people come and go freely; she'll surely be more willing to choose from the dishes they suggest..."

Everyone fell silent at once, each racking their brains, and each proposed something, only to be shot down by others as unsuitable.

After a while, someone suddenly said in a low voice, "I do have a method—it's just a bit shameless..."

"What method?"

"Say it quickly! As long as it works, let's hear how shameless it is!"

The man said, "I was thinking, earlier they quarreled with us, saying they wanted to crawl through the Food Alley dog hole, pass through the middle academy, and crawl out the Rear Gate—to go eat Song Ji's food, right?"

As soon as he finished speaking, someone quick to react around them had already guessed it and shouted, "You mean, we should also go to Taixue?"

"Yes! Yes!" The proposer was also somewhat excited, "I heard Taixue uses wanted posters to fill it; we'll also write on a piece of paper, and at night, find a spare moment, quietly take advantage of them not having locked the door yet, and help post it—afraid they themselves won't be able to tell which are written by their own people and which by us!"

This method sounded useful as soon as they heard it, so everyone agreed; they filled it out first, then hurriedly passed the paper down, repeatedly urging that this opportunity was rare, telling everyone writing dish names to write with care.

Because someone asked when it had to be finished, whether the paper could be left for a few more days, relaxed, so they could write whenever they remembered, to avoid missing anything.

But almost immediately someone objected.

"No! We need it tonight!"

"Shh, don't spread it outside; we're sending it to Taixue!"

Someone else explained again the reason why it had to be sent to Taixue overnight.

With that, no more urging was needed; everyone knew the stakes, and indeed they scrambled to fill it out in a flurry, finishing by the afternoon; those who could write did, and those who couldn't in time would talk about it later.

Two who often came and went had already collected several sheets of paper filled with dish names; taking advantage of a bit of night, they sneaked over the wall.

The two slipped to the opposite side and entered Taixue; since they had come before, they knew the way, and soon found the canteen area.

They had thought it would be dark by now and that no one would be at the place where the so-called "Requisition Menu Decree" was posted, but when they arrived, they found there were still two or three people gathered around.

They had three or four sheets of dishes; if they really posted them, the display would be too large and too conspicuous, and they might easily expose themselves, so the two dared not go forward and could only find a nearby place to hide, waiting until everyone left before going.

But soon, the two discovered something was wrong.

They stood close; almost everyone at the poster site was holding a lantern or an oil lamp, illuminating the writing on the wall very brightly.

"Why is it never-ending? They leave and come back, come and leave!"

"Look, what they wrote doesn't seem right—how does it seem like they all wrote the same thing?"

"It really is!"

After waiting a while longer, taking advantage of a moment when no one was around, the two hurried over and lit the candle they carried to shine on it.

Hah! No wonder it looked like seven or eight places had been written; when they walked up and looked, they found indeed it was all the same thing—probably because they were afraid no one would choose their favorite dish or see it, so they were secretly adding more here behind the scenes.

The two didn't dare cause trouble; seeing no one around, they hurriedly posted it.

After all, there were many sheets; by the time they posted the last one, someone was already coming.

Seeing that large sheets were posted there, and all with writing on them, the newcomer immediately felt strange and called out, "Which Zhai are the two of you from? What are you posting?"

The two didn't even take the flour paste; they turned and ran.

As soon as they ran, they startled the newcomer, who chased a few steps; seeing he couldn't catch up, he gave it up; arriving at the posting spot and looking up, he saw that suddenly four or five more sheets of dish names had been added compared to before, and was extremely shocked.

By the next morning, it wasn't just this one person who was shocked.

Both posting spots were crowded with people.

"Isn't this too strange?! Overnight, how did so many more sheets appear!"

"I saw many people secretly writing dish names at midnight! This is cheating!"

"This won't do! The dish I wrote was clearly at the front at the end of the You hour; overnight, this dish has been pressed down by others; isn't this too unfair?!"

"This can't go on! It's easy to fake!"

So, in a surge of public indignation, the group of students changed their method again and started over—taking the Xue Zhai as the unit, this time each person had only one chance, arranged by rhyme and meter; if they liked a dish, they could mark a correct character below; whether marking a character or writing a new dish name, they had to sign their name, counting as one vote, to prevent mischief.