Chapter 298

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

That day Song Miao went out to set up a stall, and when she returned to the food shop, she saw that Cheng Erniang and Zhang Siniang had already retrieved the "Song Ji Notes" and that so-called perforated clip, and had also bought ink pads and other items.

Cheng Erniang said to Song Miao: "Young Lady, we have already discussed it. Counting Wang Sanlang, there are four people here in total. We will split into two routes to register names, and collect the silver money along the way!"

"I was thinking that this time we should first allocate quantities by location — Capital Prefecture Office, Du Shui Jian, Hanlin Academy, Xunpu, various academies, etc. — each according to their usual sales volume to divide the number of 'Song Ji Notes' sheets. Once this is divided, we will sell at each place on a first-come-first-served basis — to avoid anyone becoming displeased and saying we are unfair!"

She gave a detailed introduction to how the food shop would operate: how to register, how to collect money, how to explain, etc. — everything was systematic, and many details had been thought of in advance. One listen and you could tell she had put her heart into it.

Song Miao praised: "I think it's very proper. Who planned this?"

"Si Niang and Da Bing thought the most. Sanlang also helped fill in many gaps. I'm just the one who organized it!" Cheng Erniang hurriedly said.

Zhang Siniang then said: "Er Niangzi had already set up a framework there. I merely studied the method you used when recruiting people and distributing meals in Hua Prefecture, adapted it, and filled in whatever seemed usable!"

Da Bing also scrambled to deflect credit.

Only Wang Sanlang sat to the side, wanting to speak but finding no opening. Just now he had been moving and carrying things, and was wiping sweat. Now, anxious, he broke out in another full head and face of sweat.

Song Miao smiled: "Just a few words of praise, why is everyone dodging?"

She added: "Everyone put effort into this 'Song Ji Notes' matter. Erniang, make a note. By month-end, we need to devise a reward money method. You look into how to set it."

"This... isn't necessary!"

"Young Lady, let's drop it this time!"

The four people in the hall, except for Cheng Erniang, almost vied to be the first to speak modest words.

Wang Sanlang finally seized the chance and said: "Young Lady, let's talk about reward money after this matter passes! We're not in urgent need of money. We only hope for long-term work. We fear that if all sorts of messy people come to collect debts outside, the food shop's cash flow won't match up, affecting business and putting you in a difficult spot!"

Seeing everyone's reaction, Cheng Erniang had wanted to decline, but constrained by her manager status, she couldn't speak freely. At this she quickly chimed in: "Exactly. Let's talk after this matter passes!"

Song Miao naturally understood everyone's intentions.

"This matter isn't just busy for a few days. When the 'Song Ji Notes' are issued later and customers come to redeem them, that's when the real trouble begins. Everyone will have many extra tedious procedures. This is additional work that brings no extra profit, so naturally there must be reward money." She raised her voice and added, "Moreover, for these one or two months the food shop must open properly. At that time we'll also need to establish a system of rewards and penalties — wait for Erniang to draft it, then come discuss with everyone."

"In short: one, if the food shop earns more, everyone earns more. Two, even if the food shop doesn't earn more, those who put in more effort can still earn more — who isn't here to earn money to support their family? I absolutely won't let anyone work for nothing!"

Song Miao paused, then said: "As for debts, as long as we can sell all the 'Song Ji Notes', it will be enough to offset them. If it's truly not enough, I have other methods. Everyone just work with peace of mind. Don't worry about the rest!"

She spoke with such certainty that the few people in the hall finally stopped declining and agreed together.

At that very moment, a short-term hire woman happened to carry a large bamboo steamer out to the front hall. She heard every word clearly. She said nothing, only pretended not to have heard. When she turned back to the back courtyard, she hurriedly called her fellow workers over and repeated Song Miao's words. At once, all the long-term and short-term hires set their minds at ease.

The front hall people were all familiar — either they had followed Song Miao doing many things in Hua Prefecture, or they were Cheng Erniang. Even if the food shop truly encountered great trouble, she herself would go out as a short-term hire and bring back silver money to help tide over the crisis — they were their own people.

Everyone speaking here, aside from a bit of worry, was actually more expressing loyalty. They didn't feel those outside matters could shake Song Ji in the slightest, and everyone was convinced Song Miao would surely have a solution.

But the many long-term and short-term hires in the back were ultimately newcomers. Whether regarding the food shop or Song Miao, they knew little. They only knew the proprietress had a useless father who left behind many debts to be repaid.

Under the same roof, everyone had been specially instructed by Cheng Erniang and had long signed contracts not to speak of the food shop's affairs outside. But seeing the many recent movements and hearing snippets, they all knew someone wanted to cause trouble — just not what trouble, or what difficulties would arise. They were very afraid of incidents affecting their livelihoods, each carrying a worried heart.

Fortunately this time someone heard Song Miao speak and relayed it, letting the whole group breathe a sigh of relief.

After Song Miao finished speaking, she specially added to Cheng Erniang: "There's another matter — Erniang must help reserve a portion for Taixue. Although they don't do delivery, for many days they have always looked after our business. If we don't count them in, it really can't be justified."

"I originally also wondered whether Taixue should get a share. But that's a stall location. Daily just serving glutinous rice and packing steamed buns is already too busy to keep up. If we add this 'Song Ji Notes' business, how could they manage? So I thought we'd simply skip them this time. If there's a next time, we'll issue them then!"

Song Miao thought a moment, shook her head slightly, and said: "That's not quite right."

"This 'Song Ji Notes' is for gifting new steamed buns. The new steamed buns won't be sold to the public for a month or two, they can only be given with 'Song Ji Notes'. If the students find out everyone else has them but they don't, what will they think?"

Da Bing stepped forward at this moment and said: "Young Lady, this matter was proposed by me and Erniang. I thought the places already asked could cover all the 'Song Ji Notes'. We can't spare many sheets. Here there are over a thousand students — throw them in and you won't even hear a splash."

"Since it's like that, better to forget it. Next time there's such an opportunity we'll talk again."

Da Bing didn't forget to add specially: "Young Lady rest assured. Taixue are all old acquaintances. Everyone sympathizes with us. As long as we explain properly, they'll all understand. They won't be angry."

This time, Song Miao strongly disagreed.

She said: "You've always been likable, mixing familiarly with customers up and down Taixue. But familiar is familiar. Ultimately we are doing business. They are customers — customers are customers. Whether new or familiar, however it should be done, that's how it's done. You can't arbitrarily decide in your heart."

Seeing Da Bing looking like he half-understood, she gave an example: "For instance, you said last time you ordered a cabinet and a set of table and chairs from that Carpenter Liu. They were supposed to finish the food shop's things, then immediately do yours. Now he tells you a big client came, also a new client, and wants to move the new client's order ahead of yours. Because you've been in frequent contact lately and are very familiar, he asks you to be understanding. Besides, the things aren't that urgent..."

Da Bing blurted out: "On what grounds! Who said my things aren't urgent!"

The moment these words came out, he froze completely.

Song Miao saw his expression and knew he had understood. She said: "Even between brothers and sisters they care whether parents can hold a bowl of water level. How much more so with unrelated strangers?"

She added: "Whether customers mind or not is the customers' business. We absolutely cannot favor one over the other. Otherwise familiar customers will feel: since I'm familiar with you and patronize your business daily, do I instead suffer a loss? New customers will feel: all the good things go to old customers. Clearly paying the same money, they are treated poorly. Over time, new customers become unhappy, familiar customers become dissatisfied, and in the end neither side is properly served."

Everyone listened, and each recalled their own past conduct.

Cheng Erniang hurriedly said: "Then I'll adjust the numbers. But Taixue has many people and loose tongues. We're selling at a stall in Food Alley. Once we start selling, many will watch and gossip randomly. I'm afraid the news won't stay hidden."

She added: "Also, later during redemption, only you and Da Bing are at the Food Alley stall. I'm afraid you won't manage. If we add another person, then..."

Song Miao said: "The Taixue 'Song Ji Notes' can be held in hand for now. Delay selling them by a day or two. As for how to handle redemption at the stall, I'll think of a way."

Once matters were settled, everyone then clearly divided the tasks.

Among the four, Li Cheng'er learned fastest and knew the most characters. Zhang Siniang was next. Da Bing learned slowest, barely able to write common characters, but those characters were strangely ugly. Wang Sanlang learned a bit faster than Da Bing, but both their handwriting was equally ugly, neither very usable.

To avoid suspicion, Cheng Erniang and Wang Sanlang took one side, Zhang Siniang and Da Bing the other. They split east and west, each hurriedly went out the door to collect money and sell Song Ji Notes — not to be mentioned further.

Seeing the group off, Song Miao only calculated in her heart for a moment, didn't delay, rose and began working.

She had long sent word to Shen Xingniang, asking her to spare time to come by before Wei Hour today, to help measure dimensions for the food shop staff and confirm wages and fabric costs.

After saying this, she mentioned that Xiao Lian's master would also come today, just waiting for Shen Xingniang to make her own choice.

But regardless of whether the other party was ultimately willing to treat the illness, it wouldn't affect Song Miao properly hosting Lin Laodaifu on this end.

Yesterday's fire-heel had already been burned and washed. Song Miao put it into a large lidded bowl, added plenty of water, put it on the pot to steam-braise, then prepared the remaining ingredients, just waiting to add them slowly.

Although fire-heel shark fin is a labor-intensive dish, once it's on the pot and ingredients are ready, the rest of the time only requires watching the heat, not much tending needed.

After instructing the helper woman to watch the fire, Song Miao freed up time. She first returned to her room and took out the letter Han Li sent last night.

She was pressed for time in the morning and only gave it a cursory sweep; now that she had leisure, she finally read it carefully, and when she finished reading, she didn't go looking for any pebbles — a single pebble can't open its mouth and speak.

After adding water and grinding ink, then spreading out the writing paper, Song Miao wrote a reply letter; first she asked about the many things Cheng Erniang had mentioned, such as whether the name and shop name of the craftsman who would deliver the shelves could be told to her in advance, so she could discuss the timing with that craftsman master, avoiding a situation where the other party arrived just when the stove was hot, making people wait in vain.

She also asked if the other party, once their work was settled, planned to come back for a meal, what flavors they would like to eat.

She further said the sheep's milk was indeed very good to eat, but he came back very late every day, so from now on don't come deliver it daily; she would go buy it herself when she returned, or asking Cheng Erniang and them to bring it along on their delivery route back was just the same.

She also said the shark fin he sent last time, today she was entertaining an honored guest and had already soaked and prepared it, and was about to use it.

She would set aside a separate bowl, put ice in the ice box, and ask him to remember to bring it back and also taste this soup — she also explained the soup's preparation method and ingredients once, so that if he wasn't used to it, he would remember to tell her, clearly stating what flavor he wasn't used to, so next time she could pay attention.

Perhaps because the matters discussed were all proper business, yet that proper business wasn't so proper, and Han Li's letter was written entirely in vernacular; though neat, the ink traces were in sections, the colors varying in depth, clearly written on many separate days, intermittently, which made Song Miao's reply equally casual.

At first she still put the incoming letter aside and replied point by point; later, as she wrote, it became completely writing wherever her thoughts went, and when she came to her senses and turned to look at the water clock, a small half double-hour had surprisingly already passed; as for the tabletop, it was covered in flowing script, a full two pages of paper, and she couldn't help but laugh at herself for a moment.

Folding the letter well, Song Miao unconsciously followed the manner in which Han Li had delivered his letter, wrapping her own reply layer by layer into those many sheets of oiled paper and leather pouches, before going into the courtyard to work — not to mention that.

This day Cheng Erniang and the others returned exceptionally late; after midday, having seen off a group of old masters, the whole crowd still had no trace.

She didn't wait for Cheng Erniang, Zhang Siniang and the others who went to sell "Song Ji Stationery", but instead waited for Shen Xingniang and Shen A'po who came to the door.

Shen Xingniang still covered her face with a cloth; she didn't do it herself, entrusting the measuring task to Shen A'po, while she stood to one side.

Shen A'po was already of some age; much of the time raising her hands, squatting down, were somewhat slow; Shen Xingniang watched from the side, extremely anxious, several times wanting to step forward, already drawing near, but thinking of something, hurriedly retreated again; the last time she looked at Song Miao rather embarrassedly and said: "Can Young Lady pick a clever person to come out and give my aunt a helping hand..."

She paused, as if smashing a cracked pot, and added in a low voice: "If it were ordinary days, I would have come to do it myself, only recently my body has some bad odor, getting too close is ultimately improper..."

Song Miao didn't ask further, called a long-term hired woman who was usually quick with her hands and feet to come out, letting her listen to Shen Xingniang's arrangements and act as assistant for Shen A'po.

The measuring in the front hall had only gone halfway when Doctor Lin arrived.

According to Chen Fuzi's words, this old doctor was already in his seventies, but he was not quite like Song Miao imagined; though his hair was completely white and his face had wrinkles, his back was still ramrod straight, his whole person bearing a temperament both crisp and gentle.

She brought four disciples, three female and one male; the oldest was already in their twenties, the youngest only seven or eight; each carried a medicine box.

Upon entering, Lin Laodaifu first asked for "Song Xiaoniangzi"; after Song Miao hurried forward to greet her and exchanged greetings, she had someone serve tea, but she couldn't even be bothered to sit, only asking again: "Where is the patient?"

Shen Xingniang didn't even have time to hesitate; her two legs had already actively stepped forward.

And Doctor Lin's nostrils flared a few times, carefully examining Shen Xingniang's complexion and eyes, then watching her walking manner; not rushing to take her pulse, she instead turned to Song Miao and said: "Does Song Xiaoniangzi have a secluded room here?"

"My room counts as secluded enough."

Song Miao glanced at Shen Xingniang, seeing she had no intention of objecting, and led the way toward the back courtyard.

The several disciples saw this and were about to follow, but were stopped by Doctor Lin's voice: "You all sit outside and wait for me."

Entering the room, Song Miao showed the two to seats, and was about to withdraw outside, but hadn't taken two steps before Shen Xingniang grabbed her sleeve in a fist.

She planted her feet and didn't move again.

Doctor Lin took the pulse and asked about it very quickly; a moment later, having finished, she asked Song Miao: "Can your bed be lain on?"

Of course it can.

Doctor Lin directed Shen Xingniang to lie on the bed, and said to Song Miao: "Young Lady, bring a basin of hot water for me — and bring some soapberry; if there's tea oil, give some tea oil; best be quick."

This time when Song Miao withdrew outside, Shen Xingniang didn't stop her again.

When she brought the hot water back and stood at the doorway, she heard speaking from inside.

"What's the big deal, it can be cured! Why cry! A fine young young lady, a whole life long ahead!"

?? Hello everyone, Operations Officer Xiao Tu applied for a monthly ticket activity for Xiao Miao; voting for monthly tickets can earn Qidian coins; the life-saving monthly ticket activity post for some reason came out in early review; friends who kept monthly tickets remember to go to the comment section to find the activity post and reply first before voting!!!!!!

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