Chapter 302

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Recognizing the person by sound, Song Miao leaned against the vat and turned her head; sure enough, it was Han Li.

She glanced at the sky; the sun had only tilted slightly westward, so she couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Young Master Han, why are you back so early today?"

Han Li responded to her voice and stepped forward, saying, "There were some matters at the yamen; Guiren Wu let me return to the city first—what are you looking for?"

Speaking, he extended his arm.

Song Miao stood on a wooden chair, leaning against it; though she was taller, her arms were still not long enough. Just now she had rolled up her sleeve and reached into the water, the surface passing her upper arm, yet still unable to touch the bottom. Seeing Han Li come over, she did not refuse his help, and simply handed him the fire tongs she was holding.

The latter took the copper tongs, switched them to his other hand, and still extended his right hand.

Song Miao laughed and shook her head, but without needing anyone to assist or lend a hand, she held the rim of the vat and jumped down to the ground herself.

Her movements were light; when she leaped down from the high chair, her footsteps made only the faintest sound, clearly effortless, but Han Li still instinctively stepped forward, making a vague protective gesture.

Song Miao waved her hand, smiled faintly, and pointed behind her, saying, "There are several sections of lotus stems at the bottom of the vat; I'm afraid they'll rot. Young Master, you are tall with long arms—please trouble yourself to clamp them out for me."

Han Li took the fire tongs and went forward, not using the chair; he reached out and bent over, and in a moment took out four or five sections of lotus stems from inside. Then he saw the lotus flowers placed to one side and asked, "Should these flowers be put back into the vat?"

Song Miao quickly shook her head and said, "No need. I'll tidy them up and put them in a vase."

Han Li picked up the lotus flowers, feeling them slightly sticky in his hand, and said, "Probably soaked too long. How should they be tidied? Let me do it."

Speaking, he had already walked toward the well.

Song Miao followed him up, standing to the side watching him wash the lotus stems one by one, washing them very carefully.

Cheng Erniang had been standing to the side the whole time without speaking, just listening to their conversation. Seeing their actions at this moment, she simply returned to the room and brought two small low stools for Han and Song to sit on.

Han Li washed the lotus flowers; as soon as he washed one clean, Song Miao took it and opened the petals.

Cheng Erniang came back and looked, unable to help but ask, "Young Lady, what are you doing?"

Song Miao said, "These lotus flowers were picked too tenderly, separated from the root too early. I'll give them a little outside help; otherwise, I'm afraid they truly won't open."

Cheng Erniang sighed and said, "Though it's kind, it's probably the first time buying such a thing, with no certainty. Money was spent, and a flower spoiled before it even bloomed. I don't know if many here can be raised to bloom. Truly a pity."

Hearing this, Han Li interjected, asking, "Was someone cheated by the stall vendor? Should we report it to the Xunpu?"

"I'm afraid it has little to do with the stall vendor. Young Master Xu thought flower buds could be kept longer than bloomed lotuses, so he picked all the tender buds." Before Song Miao could speak, Cheng Erniang explained, "I heard the flower seller even advised him, saying it would be best to buy them mixed."

Han Li had been keeping his head down working, but hearing this, he suddenly raised his head and asked, "Young Master Xu?"

"That's the young master of the Xu family martial hall where Young Liangyan is. Last time he ate char siu, roast pigeon, and various steamed buns at our shop, and he often comes to look after the business, helping Young Lady Xu take dried meat and biscuits, and comes to buy food. Not only is he a big customer, but he's also a very good person, often saying he wants to help!"

Cheng Erniang said this and immediately added, "It's just that our food shop's back kitchen has many particularities—Young Master Han knows this, so it's not easy to let him come and go. Otherwise, last time he came, he would have wanted to show off his wood-chopping skills!"

She laughed heartily, making a very regretful expression.

After speaking, she didn't meddle further, pointed to the back kitchen not far away, and said to Song Miao, "Young Lady, I'll go check inside. If you have anything, call me."

After Song Miao agreed, she slowly put away the fire tongs to one side, then took two steps that became three, four, five small broken steps as she went to the back kitchen, her ears still pricked up to listen to the sounds behind.

As for the well behind, Han Li washed the lotus stems carefully once more, then learned from Song Miao to loosen the petals of the lotus flowers together, and asked again, "After all, he is a big customer of our food shop. Next time he comes, shouldn't we best put the flowers out? Otherwise, wouldn't it seem like we are slighting his intentions?"

Song Miao agreed, "I think so too, but I'm very afraid they won't bloom."

Han Li said, "There is a Master Su at Taixue. His family has a wonderful garden, and I heard he is extremely skilled at cultivating lotuses. I was just about to return; I'll catch someone to ask and see if there's a way to get them to bloom."

"If it can happen naturally, that's best. Young Master, if you happen to meet someone on the way, just ask me one question. If you don't meet anyone, never mind." Song Miao sighed, "If it really doesn't work, I'll buy some lotuses myself and explain properly to that Young Master Xu. He is very generous and probably won't mind these small matters; it's just that I feel embarrassed myself."

Song Miao finished speaking, smiled, and said, "Let's not talk about these groundless things. Young Master returned early today; I don't know what you'd like to eat?"

She added, "I happen to have stewed soup here and have left a bowl each for Young Master and Master Chen. Originally I thought to put it in a box outside tonight for you to take back together when you came, but now it saves a lot of effort!"

The lotus stems were already washed clean. Han Li sat on the small low wooden stool, gently lifting the lotus petals one by one, while also looking at Song Miao.

Seeing such lotus flowers and learning their origin, he actually felt somewhat uneasy in his heart.

But at this moment, hearing her ask what he wanted to eat, and saying she had left soup, and then talking about arrangements afterward, sentence by sentence, her voice soft, flowing into his ears, and then flowing into his heart, making him not want to pay attention to any other people or matters at all.

Hearing the words "save effort," the smile on his face was already very obvious, and he asked, "What soup? You specially left some for your senior brother; it must be very remarkable?"

"My soup naturally has something remarkable about it!"

Speaking of soup, Song Miao's eyebrows immediately danced with animation.

She told the other person how rare cured ham was, said she used "the fish fins Young Master Han sent," praised again how beautiful the Golden Hook Fins were, then listed the old hen and pork zhan and other items. After praising all the ingredients, she began to explain the method: how the fish fins took several days to prepare, the cured ham also took half a day to tidy, how important the soup seasoning and heat control were, and so on.

Han Li listened while asking questions from time to time.

When Song Miao spoke of ham, he said he had eaten plenty of ham before, but didn't know why most of the time, besides being salty, he couldn't taste much aroma. He brought up what books said to comment on it, and the two discussed it.

When Song Miao spoke of pork zhan, he asked why this part was used to stew soup, and what the difference was from other places. He also said that last time when so-and-so came to drink soup, was there pork zhan in that soup too, praising that soup as sweet and clear fragrant.

When Song Miao spoke of preparing fish fins, he asked what the difference was between fish fins and fish fins. He had compared them before and actually felt they looked different from each other. He checked ancient books but couldn't find much discussion of this thing.

And so on and so forth.

He wasn't just making conversation; it was his nature, accustomed to inquiry. Song Miao was also full of curiosity about all things. The two studied together, and without realizing it, all the lotus flowers on the ground had been tidied up.

Song Miao reached out and took an empty one, then came to her senses and asked, "Only talking about irrelevant things, I almost forgot the serious matter—Young Master, what would you like to eat tonight?"

Han Li then lowered his voice: "I have business later and will leave soon. I was just passing by and brought a tube of sheep's milk along. Are you used to drinking sheep's milk?"

—Asking face-to-face what was in the letter from the day before.

Song Miao was extremely surprised. After understanding the itinerary, she calculated in her heart that there was indeed no time, so she could only say, "Since you have business, why are you still lingering here? It's just a few lotus flowers; I can tidy them up myself whenever I have time."

Han Li looked up and said, "It's been a long time since we met; it's fine to just sit across from you for a while."

He changed the subject again: "There's another reason: I met Censor Xin this morning. He mentioned you're still looking for a house, but haven't found a suitable one—is that right?"

Song Miao nodded and said, "Because I need a large courtyard, and preferably nearby, those two conditions make it hard to find."

She added, "I know Young Master said last time he would help, but I also thought that if I could settle the matter myself, I wouldn't need to trouble you so much."

"I inquired again. There are many private residences sealed due to cases, and also crime houses that haven't been sold to the outside after five or eight years. Wanting the house to be released early, I don't know how much effort it would take. Young Master is always very busy; please don't let a small matter here delay your important business because of me."

Han Li neither agreed nor refused, only asking: "I've already calculated about three days ahead, Young Lady, you've seen them—do you feel any one is slightly suitable? Or do you have some other idea?"

Song Miao told him the truth, and gave her reasons.

Han Li then said: "Even if we don't choose that day, if the food shop can reopen after August, I should be able to make some progress here."

He said seriously: "Last time during the search and inspection, I went in and looked. Recalling it now, even without mentioning the location, the size and layout opposite are excellent. If we could buy it, besides drying Meat gan and such, we could also add elegant rooms—very useful. I've been thinking about this for a long time; if I say any more, it'll be spoiling my own mood."

He added: "Others give lotus flowers, and the storekeeper remembers them, washes them clean and puts them in a vase—not only that, they even have to worry about the flowers not blooming well and spoiling someone's kindness. You like this… am I not even as good as an outsider?"

Song Miao laughed with her head down, silent for a long while. After a moment, she raised her head and said: "Much trouble to you, Young Master—but I'll also look on my end. If I find a suitable one first…"

"Then it counts as my inferior skill, not the storekeeper handling things unfairly or treating people unequally." Han Li immediately laughed too.

Checking the time of day, Song Miao didn't know what arrangements this person opposite had behind him—surely he had business, already eager to chase him away.

She hastily asked about a few matters, such as the blacksmith shop's name and address, and Han Li answered them one by one.

When Song Miao brought out the food box, he reached out to take it, then immediately asked: "Is there a stone?"

Song Miao immediately understood, looked left and right, but the back courtyard had been cleaned too thoroughly, and no matter how hard she tried to find one on the spot, she couldn't see a single stone.

She had to honestly say: "I hadn't thought of a stone—there was originally a letter."

Han Li's face lit up, he extended his hand, saying: "Where's my letter?"

"Originally there were some things to ask and to reply to—weren't they already asked and replied to just now?"

Han Li said nothing, only holding his palm up, looking exactly like someone stubbornly demanding something. Although he smiled faintly, his face clearly showed he was smiling.

Song Miao lightly raised her eyes, glanced at him, returned to the room, took out the letter, and pressed it heavily onto that upturned palm, only pressing her lips together without speaking.

Instead, Han Li's smile became noticeably brighter by three points.

He still didn't know that the sheep's milk he used as an excuse had already been returned. While his heart was jumping proudly, he only said: "I'll go first, come again tomorrow."

After taking his leave at once, he carried the food box, mounted his horse, and hurried home.

On the way—actually just running out to the end of the alley—his heart was nonetheless very noisy, at times a soft rumbling, at times a banging banging banging, refusing to settle for a long while.

He knew himself best.

Seeing that now was not the time to force himself against his nature, he simply found a spacious place with few passersby, first reined in his horse and stopped, dismounted, placed the food box to one side, then took out that letter from his bosom. While undoing the outer oil paper and leather pouch, his heart finally began thumping thumping thumping. Even with long deep breaths, he could hardly suppress that surge of excitement.

Having read books for years, as soon as he pinched the envelope, Han Li knew for sure there was more than one page inside.

He looked left and right; there was no cover, so he simply turned his back to the sunlight and slowly read the letter.

Three pages of paper, written very full.

Although at a glance one could tell there were no tender words—there couldn't be, and it even ruthlessly returned his sheep's milk—yet his heart still couldn't help but ripple. He skimmed it once, read it again, read it a third time. Many phrases he had no time to savor carefully, only hating that he didn't have enough time, so he hastily memorized it, then carefully put the letter back into his bosom, mounted his horse, and went on.

In July the heat flows like fire, the autumn tiger is approaching. The sun in the big afternoon was not a bit better than in midsummer, but exceptionally scorching. Beating on his head and face, before long his whole body felt hot.

But Han Li could not confirm at all whether that heat was from the sun or generated by his own body.

Carrying the letter in his bosom, he recited its contents silently in his heart. Seeing that the writing was like hearing her tone, at this very moment, it was as if a Song Xiaoniangzi was speaking in his heart.

No matter what was said, even asking about trivial daily matters in detail, it all sounded so pleasant.

—Having lived for over twenty years, Han Li finally understood what it meant to be truly full of heartfelt joy.

Returning home, the time of day was still a bit early; Chen Fuzi had not yet finished class.

Han Li gave the food box to the servant, took the letter back to his room, put it away carefully, then went to the study to flip through several account books, wrapped them carefully in cloth, and went out again with them.

He went straight to Yu Jie and entered the Ministry of Revenue.

Seeing him come, someone came to welcome him early, urgently saying: "Are you Young Master Han? Jiang Panguan has been waiting."

This man took three steps as two, barely restraining himself from running, and led Han Li toward the back office.

When they arrived at the place, he only knocked once on the door and called out: "Jiang Guanren, Young Master Han…"

He hadn't even been able to say the words "I'm coming" when there was soon the sound of footsteps inside, followed by a "squeak" as the door opened. One person stood inside and called out: "Zheng Yan, you've finally come!!"

?? Thank you Mao Li Xiao Lang for gifting me one peerless sharp sword, thank you the loyal follower of Baozi Shan Hualiu Zuo for gifting me one Zuo Feel He Bi, such big and expensive gifts, thank you two dear ones~

? Thank you Diane from England for gifting me one Peach Blossom Fan, A Bao 20 for gifting me one Sachet and one Peace Talisman each, one Sachet from a book friend, one Immortal Grass and two Peace Talismans from a book friend, one Immortal Grass from Fuya yoy, let you unexpectedly give two Peace Talismans:)

? Thank you Mai Dou Ai Xiao Du, Jingnv 007, Xian You, book friend, Han Shan Hui, book friend, book friend, Xuehua Ne 78, Huohuo Huohuo Yi, book friend, Gang Jing Bie Lai Gang Jiu Shi Ni, Ma Er Bu Xiang Pao and all dear ones for helping hang one Peace Talisman each. I've already hung them all over my body. May everyone be safe and sound in the new year^_^

? Because it's organized by hand, hope there are no omissions (there absolutely cannot be!), and also the rewards from the food friends of Book City and Xiangxiang, I'll come to thank them one by one tomorrow:)

? Also, on Qidian's review section, the activity for Xiao Tu to apply for January monthly ticket points coins has already taken effect. Our own friends, if you have a guaranteed monthly ticket and also want to give Xiao Miao, please vote after replying as much as possible. Shed a little blood. If you've already voted or can't make it… then count it as spending money to treat Miao Miao to sweet cheese, okay?