Chapter 301

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Seeing that the hour was too late, Doctor Lin almost painfully made up her mind to take her leave.

As soon as she said she wanted to leave, the larger ones on the table were fine, but the little disciple, who was around eight years old, simply could not hide the disappointment on her face, unable to help but look again and again at the remaining food on the table.

Actually, they had already eaten until they were seven or eight parts full; there were still a few slices of fried perilla leaves left, a small pinch of mint leaves, and a slice of ham only slightly larger than a quail egg.

Older children simply could not resist food at all.

The four of them, each staring at the ham slice on the plate while also unable to help but stare at each other.

One person asked: "There's still this bit left, how do we divide it among us?"

The smallest one was the most clever.

This person thought: right now there's only one slice left; if I go to snatch it, it would definitely look very ugly; I have the lowest seniority, so I should defer to my senior sisters, otherwise even if I ate it, even if they didn't mind me, I myself would be ashamed!

But I really wanted to eat it!

Shifu said it should be cured ham slices; is cured ham this fragrant? Sweet and salty, I originally thought sweet-and-salty things wouldn't taste good, but it turns out it can be so, so, so delicious!

Alas!

How about?

How about!

She rolled her eyes, her mind moved, and an idea suddenly came to her; she reached out with her chopsticks to pick up that slice of ham—it really wasn't big, hard to grip, and fell twice midway—finally sending it slowly toward Doctor Lin, saying aloud: "Shifu, let Shifu eat this last slice!"

Ai hei, Shifu has always doted on the young ones; she will definitely say—no need, you eat it yourself.

Then she would defer once more to her senior sisters and senior brother—since Shifu said so, everyone definitely wouldn't snatch it from me!

It was somewhat improper, but next time! Next time I encounter something this delicious, and there's a piece left over, I will definitely be Kong Rong yielding the pear! Definitely!

This person's right hand sent the ham slice forward, while her left hand had already rested on her own bowl, ready that the moment Shifu's "no need" three words left her mouth, after asking her senior sisters and senior brother, she would immediately, with the swiftness of thunder too fast to cover one's ears, shovel it into her own bowl—she would definitely cherish eating this last slice!

"It's been a few days since I paid attention, but Xiao Wu has become as sensible as her senior sisters and senior brother—good, good! My disciples are all good disciples!"

Doctor Lin was deeply moved in her heart, praised her with a sentence, and brought her own bowl forward.

Not a large slice of cured ham soon entered her mouth.

Let alone one slice; even a whole large plate, she felt was not enough for herself.

How could this texture be achieved!

The outer shell was the thickness of two grains of rice, wrapped in an unknown flour paste, fried into a kind of dense crispness; biting down, there was a slight hardness, but it took no effort at all.

As long as one had teeth, or even if one had no teeth, a flick of the lips and it would break on its own; the taste in the mouth was extremely fragrant; held in the mouth, if you bit it, it was crunchy, full of egg fragrance, flour fragrance, and milky fragrance, and also carried a very refreshing citrus scent; if you didn't bite it, saliva would melt it, powdery and fragrant.

Inside was clearly cured ham slices, but the saltiness was surprisingly just right, completely unlike any cured ham Lin Shifu had ever eaten, even if steamed for a long time or stewed in soup, which, if not handled well, was still overly salty.

The saltiness of this cured ham slice was covered by the sweet-and-fragrant taste; while chewing, it could suddenly catch the cured, aged, fermented fragrance and pop up, serving to let you recognize it—Laozi is cured ham, from Wuzhou! Top quality! Eat seriously, I'm cured for five years! —that effect.

The meat is truly fragrant!

Cured ham slices are truly delicious!

It's still good to have disciples!

This house call visit was truly worth it!

With such a good food shop, how did I not know about it before!

Doctor Lin was still savoring the last slice of cured ham on one side, self-indulging and self-moved, when Song Miao, hearing the news, had already come out.

She held a small plate of mung bean cakes in her hand and casually placed it on the table, advising somewhat regretfully: "There are still steamed buns steaming in the back; they are a new flavor and haven't started selling outside yet; I originally wanted to ask Doctor Lin and Xiao Lian and several senior sisters and senior brothers to help taste them—are you in such a hurry to leave?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the several children at the table couldn't help but let out sighs of regret.

And just in the time it took to say this sentence, Doctor Lin's buttocks seemed to suddenly grow roots, deeply rooted into the armchair she was sitting on at that moment, quite unable to move, as if needing someone else's help to pull her out forcefully, like pulling a radish, before she could be extracted.

Song Miao saw everyone's reaction and added another sentence, saying: "Because I was thinking that in a moment I'll have everyone help taste those buns; the previous few snacks, I only made small portions, fearing they would take up your stomachs, and later you wouldn't be able to eat."

Hearing this sentence, the disciple who was the smallest and had finally missed the last slice of cured ham could no longer hold back, letting out a extremely uncomfortable "en—" sound from her nasal cavity, the tone first flat then falling, then rising after falling, pitiful to the extreme.

Doctor Lin was already extremely uncomfortable; hearing this, she found it even more unbearable, but could only force herself to encourage herself, opening her mouth to say: "I really have an appointment; by now it's already a bit late; I'm afraid I'll be late..."

While speaking, she heard a burst of voices at the door.

Song Miao looked up and saw Zhang Siniang, Big Pancake, and several others walking in with faces full of joy.

Everyone had just entered the door; seeing Song Miao, they hurriedly greeted her; then seeing there were guests, those who had wanted to speak swallowed their words back, only their faces still smiling happily.

Everyone had gone to sell "Song Ji Qian"; such a reaction, presumably the matter had gone very smoothly.

At this time, with guests present, Song Miao didn't ask further, only said they had worked hard, told them to rest a bit, and in a moment would go measure sizes along the way, then asked again: "Has Sanlang also come back?"

Wang Sanlang was outside tending to the carriage body; hearing the commotion, he hurriedly patted the dust off his body, came in through the door, and said: "Young Lady, I'm here!"

Song Miao asked him if he was tired and if he could still drive the carriage.

Wang Sanlang hurriedly said: "What is Young Lady saying? Not to mention running a stretch and resting a stretch on the road; even if running continuously, I am exactly in the prime of strength; how far is this? How could I not be able to run!"

He asked again: "Is there any instruction?"

Song Miao turned to Doctor Lin and said: "The buns in the back will be ready in just a moment; you might as well wait a bit; when they come out of the pot, I'll have them packed in food boxes for several of you to eat in the carriage? Let Sanlang give you a ride; otherwise, once you go outside, there may not be a carriage immediately, and you'll have to search here and there, wasting even more time—you're already a bit short on time!"

The roots under Doctor Lin's buttocks instantly grew another zhang long as if, wrapping around the armchair legs again and again, wrapping tightly.

"This..."

"Where is the medicine shop you want to go to?"

Doctor Lin gave a name and said the location.

Wang Sanlang immediately said: "I know! I know!! It's at the end of Shen Mountain Great Street, right!"

He said again: "Just right; when I return here, I can also deliver a few slips along the way—you take my carriage! How many people in total?"

Song Miao pointed them out to him and said, "Besides Doctor Lin, there are four other junior doctors, all of them Xiao Lian's senior sisters and senior brothers!"

Wang Sanlang immediately guaranteed it, saying enthusiastically, "So they're all from Xiao Lian's school! At such a young age, learning medicine from Doctor Lin, they'll definitely all become divine doctors — let me drive the cart! I'll drive! Let me show off too! My cart driving is extremely steady!"

For a moment, everyone around laughed.

Seeing this, Doctor Lin also laughed and said, "Then I won't be polite! Coming to the young lady's food shop today, there's food and drink, and even someone to drive the cart back — what luck is this today!"

Song Miao laughed and pointed at the corner where Shen A'po and the others were still measuring, saying, "Sanlang, go cut in line first, lest you return late and miss your share!"

Once it was confirmed they could eat steamed buns before leaving, the whole table of people beamed with joy again.

Seizing this opening, Doctor Lin asked, "Song Xiaoniangzi, how did you make these cured ham slices? How are they so delicious? Do you sell them??"

Song Miao laughed and said, "You really know how to eat, picking the hardest snack made today to ask about!"

She added, "The most important thing is selecting good ham. Yunnan ham or Wuzhou ham both work, Wuzhou ham is best. The pig has particulars — best to choose a 'two-heads-black' pig; even if you can't use the top cut, you need a cut near the top, where fat and lean alternate — this time our ham is excellent, it's the five-year ham sent by Shen Niangzi and Shen A'po; if you don't know people, you can't buy it even with money."

"Once the ham is selected, scalding and washing are especially important; if not scalded through or washed poorly, there will be off-flavors."

"First cut into pieces one finger long and two fingers wide. After all preparation is done, then take sugar syrup to marinate and soak. The syrup is made by cooking maltose, white sugar, and honey — actually it's best to soak for three days, but this time was too rushed, only soaked for one day, so eating it the sweetness isn't fragrant enough, not penetrating enough, it's barely edible."

This still counts as not fragrant enough???

"It's already this fragrant, and you still say it's not fragrant enough?!"

Doctor Lin froze — she hadn't spoken! Who learned the words in her heart and spoke them??

She turned her head and saw her usually steady and taciturn eldest disciple with a face full of shock, already the first to blurt out the question.

Another disciple hurriedly chimed in, "Song Jiejie! That outer shell on the cured ham slices is also especially delicious, fragrant and sweet! Can that be bought? I'll take it back to eat as a snack!"

"I want some too! Song Jiejie! Buy some for me too!"

"Me too me too!"

One by one, they didn't call her Niangzi or Xiaoniangzi; even with Xiao Lian not here, they sweetly called out Song Jiejie together, and someone even fished out their little purse on the spot, busy handing it to Song Miao, saying, "I have money! I have money! Song Jiejie, is the amount here enough to buy some?"

Song Miao laughed uncontrollably, pushed the purse back into her hand, and said, "That outer shell is a batter with egg and cow's milk added, slow-fried over low heat; eating a little is naturally fragrant and sweet, but eat more and it's cloying. Without the cured ham inside, it's even more monotonous, but you can't put too much either; stored long it loses its fragrance, and it will weep oil, becoming soft and mushy, not good as a snack — I'll bring you something else."

"After all it's cured ham and fried food; eating too much is bad. I still have some prepared in the back; I'll bring them for you later."

As she spoke, she turned to look at Lin Laodaifu and said, "You see who will keep watch; best to eat it all up by tomorrow night."

"Still need tomorrow??"

"Song Jiejie, rest assured! It won't even take until tomorrow; we can eat it all clean tonight!"

"Only afraid there won't be enough to eat; where would there be fear of storing it long!"

Hearing her disciples howling like this down below, Doctor Lin shook her head secretly in her heart.

They're still too young, too inexperienced; they only care about eating. Although they've learned some medical principles following her, and speak in a systematic way about patients and conditions, when it comes to themselves, they don't care at all!

Not as good as this Song Xiaoniangzi, who knows salty and fried foods can't be eaten too much, that everything must have a proper measure, otherwise it's of no benefit to the body!

Those cured ham slices — she doesn't even trust a junior like her.

She must keep them herself! Store them herself! Watch the portions, and not let them harm their bodies!

Having agreed with Shen Xingniang on subsequent treatment, and asked Song Miao what food Song Ji sells, how it's sold, and if it can be delivered, Doctor Lin finalized then and there to buy breakfast here.

Hearing Song Miao introduce Song Ji's food varieties, and say what fillings the meat and plain steamed buns each have, just listing the dish names made Doctor Lin, already half-full, salivate again.

She hurriedly said, "Take turns, take turns; every day want different flavors, first eat everything once, then see what to order long-term!"

She also half-jokingly complained, "That Xiao Lian, a mere slip of a girl, eats this well at home and didn't tell me early! Otherwise I would've come early!"

Because Xiao Lian bridged in the middle, though she wasn't present, it pulled everyone's relationships close; plus eating this table of snacks now, the disciples wished they could shrink their leg bones and thin their voices tonight, come to Song Ji pretending to be Xiao Lian, just to scrounge food. So in the front hall they talked and laughed, chatted idly, and the atmosphere was extremely good.

When the steamed buns were ready in the back, she took a food box and picked up ten or so, also packed some cured ham slices, fried perilla leaves, fragrant fried mint, mung bean cakes, egg rolls, etc., and had Wang Sanlang take them on the cart.

Seeing this much, Doctor Lin hurriedly had her disciples take out money, saying, "That soup today, I also have a bit of knowledge about it; and those cured ham slices, I've never even seen before — I want to come eat good food often in the future; if you give this much and refuse money, I'd lose face and wouldn't dare come again."

She added, "Xiaoniangzi, it's fine for you; at most you lose one guest. I have so much good food I can't eat here; that would be a huge loss!"

Song Miao pushed the money back, saying, "You can give it next time; today I'm truly not treating, I'm just helping out and got benefits too!"

She told about Shen Xingniang sending a painted screen panel and two Wuzhou cured hams to her food shop, and pointed at the people still measuring in the corner, saying, "Right now I'm also helping make food shop clothing; this time I'm entrusted by others to do the job, not a free treat. Next time I'll make a full table of good dishes — I've always heard Xiao Lian talk about your many deeds when she returns to study, and truly admire you very much!"

Doctor Lin turned her head back.

Not far away, Shen Xingniang had just come out of the back courtyard not long ago, changed clothes, but hadn't come very close, only seriously craning her neck to listen. Seeing her turn, Shen Xingniang hurriedly showed a smile and said softly, "Still don't know how to give you the consultation fee."

Doctor Lin sighed in her heart, smiled, reached out to lift the food box in front of her, raised it, and said, "Isn't this your consultation fee?"

Not long after Doctor Lin's group left, having finished measuring, Shen Xingniang and Shen A'po also bade farewell to Song Miao.

Before leaving, Shen A'po went outside to call a cart. Seeing Shen Xingniang looking absent-minded, Song Miao saw her out the door and handed her a food box.

Shen Xingniang reached out to take it, said "Many thanks," and for some reason her eye rims suddenly reddened; she choked out, "If this time still can't get better, what am I to do……"

These words were less a question than an emotional outpouring and release; hearing them, one's heart couldn't help but ache.

Song Miao knew no comfort would work now, so just said softly, "Doctor Lin never does things recklessly; she practices medicine everywhere, her medical ethics and skill are both top-tier. Shen Niangzi just follow her instructions; even if you overthink, wait until the medicine is used up, and if it truly has no effect, then think again."

She added, "When can you come again? I'll stew a soup early — Lin Laodaifu specially instructed to eat more, drink more, build up the body, then illness can heal faster; everything else is trivial!"

Having seen off the two groups, Song Miao returned to the back courtyard.

By now the hour was late. She packed that bowl of soup, thought a bit, also packed some of the leftover cured ham slices separately, put them all in the food box, tidied up, and was about to go back to her room to get the letter. On the way she saw on top of the water vat, a lotus flower had completely drooped its head.

— In the end, there was one branch that couldn't be coaxed to bloom.

She went forward, took out that pitiful withered lotus, was about to tidy the others a bit and wait for free time to vase them, when she saw the lotus root stem she'd taken out was gnawed jagged. She lowered her head to look, and sure enough inside the vat a school of fish were gathered at the other lotus stems, gnawing a mouthful, darting away, returning to gnaw a mouthful, darting away again, swaying heads and tails, each one extremely pleased with itself.

Seeing the fish gnawing lotus stems so arrogantly, Song Miao hurriedly took all the flowers out, was about to wash them with water, when she saw a few broken stems lying at the bottom of the vat — not necessarily all gnawed by fish, possibly also accidentally dropped in by her yesterday.

She looked left and right, found a fire tong, tiptoed trying to pick out the broken stems, lest they rot and stink inside.

The water vat was too high, too deep, hard to exert force; she tried several times but couldn't reach the bottom. She hurriedly went to find a chair to stand on, just stepped up, when she heard someone speaking at the second gate.

"Niangzi is inside; I'll accompany the Young Master in together."

Before long, footsteps came from behind. First Cheng Erniang called "Niangzi," but before a second sentence was spoken, another voice asked, "What are you looking for? Slow down, let me see?"

?? Food Friends, Happy New Year!

? A very rich chapter, wishing friends a smooth New Year in all matters.

Thank you all last year for your love and support of Xiao Miao, and for your tolerance toward me personally:)

Thank you all for your subscriptions, monthly tickets, various tickets, comments, everything!!

I originally wanted to thank those who tipped, but today I didn't have time to organize it; tomorrow—no, next year I'll thank everyone separately~