Chapter 311: Miao Chu Chapter 333: Old Customer

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

As they were speaking, Cheng Erniang hurried over from behind and said, "Young Lady, why don't I go with you?"

She looked at Zhang Siniang and said, "Let Siniang rest first; she still has to deliver early food tomorrow, I'm afraid she won't be able to handle it!"

Zhang Siniang hurriedly said, "I'm not sleepy."

Then she said, "The food shop also needs someone left behind, and Er Niangzi must stay here; otherwise if anything happens, I can't make decisions, and it would delay matters instead. Better to go together to the escort agency, we can also help out!"

Song Miao nodded and said, "We still need Er Niangzi to hold the fort; if anything happens, you make the decisions. Our own safety is most important; everything else is secondary."

"Although we sent the people away, we still don't know if there will be any follow-up moves. Right now it's the middle of the night, all kinds of information are hard to gather. Only you and Xiao Lian are at home, so be careful about everything."

She pointed at the tabletop in the room and said, "I just borrowed a copper gong from neighbor Meng Apo next door, and also asked the neighbors on both sides for help. If you hear any unusual movement, or if someone comes knocking, if they are of unknown origin, just strike the gong. Everyone hearing the sound will naturally come help!"

As they say, distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors.

The Song family has lived in Sanzao County Alley for many years, with a very good reputation. Now only a daughter remains, and she has encountered troubles one after another. Business has just barely picked up. Everyone relies on the many customers Song Ji brings in, and each has their own benefits; business has gradually become viable for all. Naturally no one wants her to have an accident; everyone is very willing to lend a hand.

"We'll pass by Zhuque Gate Patrol Station in a bit; we'll greet those inside and ask them to swing by the intersection more often when free, to help keep an eye out. You take good care of Xiao Lian, don't let her get frightened."

Cheng Erniang took the copper gong, carefully tested its sound, then solemnly said, "Young Lady, rest assured. I'll watch the shop here, waiting for you to return!"

So Wang Sanlang drove the carriage, carrying the two of them to the patrol station to report first, then straight to Xu Biaoju.

By the time they arrived, it was already the middle of the Hai hour (9-11 PM), but the escort agency naturally has people on night duty. Song Miao and the other two knocked and entered. Someone came to greet them immediately. Hearing that the guest wanted to recruit escorts tonight, they hurried to the back to fetch the Biaotou.

The Biaotou came out shuffling in bamboo-soled shoes, holding a baozi in his hand. The moment he showed his face and saw the group, his expression revealed surprise, and he called out, "Isn't this Song Xiaoniangzi? And Sanlang, Zhang Niangzi! How did you all come?"

He was an acquaintance who had eaten steamed buns before and also came looking for roast pigeon.

Song Miao called out "Qi Biaotou," greeted him, first explained the trouble at the food shop and how Wang Sanlang was extorted halfway, then said, "Because I don't know what the situation behind this is, I thought outsiders can't be trusted. Xu's place here has regular customers who are also acquaintances. Better to come ask you all for help. You're used to escorting, so you have experience. But I don't know how many people I should hire here, or how much silver to pay?"

Qi Biaotou instantly flew into a rage: "Which bastard family! Don't they know how important Song Ji's food is!!"

He lowered his head and calculated for a moment, then immediately said, "Song Xiaoniangzi, don't panic. I'll assign you enough people. Night is when trouble most easily brews. Inside the house, no fewer than five must be arranged. Daytime deliveries are also easy targets for stalking. Best to have three people accompanying each carriage. If real trouble comes, one can go report to authorities in time, the other two can still provide cover..."

He listed things out, and finally said, "All acquaintances. Absolutely don't stop making steamed buns and Meat gan because of this vexing matter! I'll tell Xu Meier to keep the accounts for you."

Behind the escort agency is the Xu Family Residence.

As they spoke, Xu Niangzi, having received the news, had already brought her nephew and came out from the back carrying a lantern.

She always loved to look pretty; every time she met people she had to powder her face. This time she hadn't even had time to wash her face, her eyes were swollen, her hair wasn't done up in a bun, hairpins couldn't be used in time — she just casually tied it twice with a hair rope.

Seeing Song Miao and the others, Xu Niangzi was greatly startled and hurriedly said, "I just heard people say, thought it was a mistake — how did so many villains suddenly appear at the door! Is no one injured? The furnishings in the food shop, the roast pigeon and char siu ovens in the back, are they all okay??"

Song Miao replied, "All fine. Neighbors came out before anything could happen, and there were also Guan Cha present. The visitors didn't dare smash things. Just don't know who's behind it yet. I thought before finding out, I'd ask our escort masters here to guard the door. If there's trouble, settle it; if not, peace of mind."

"Exactly right!" Xu Niangzi sat down, calculated for a bit, then asked the Biaotou how he planned to arrange things, and finally quoted a figure.

Song Miao heard it and knew she had given a considerable discount. She hurriedly said, "Whatever it should be, that's what it is. You doing this makes me not dare come again!"

Xu Niangzi said, "No underreporting. The difference in price is for two people."

"I count as one too! Don't look at me not being as fit as before; my fists and feet can still perform! Count me as a bonus, just provide three meals a day. And Xiao Er!" She pointed at herself, then at Xu Erlang beside her. "Erlang also counts as a bonus for you — let him gain experience. Just provide meals, no pay!"

As soon as these words came out, Xu Erlang, who had been waiting to speak, hurriedly said, "Aunt speaks the truth — Song Xiaoniangzi, I've never escorted before. This time let me be the lead. Give me a chance!"

Finished speaking, he cupped his fists, bowed repeatedly, his eyes secretly glancing at Song Miao, then pretending to look away.

Such words made Song Miao really unable to refuse.

She said, "Then so be it. Thank you for the trouble — we'll settle accounts in detail later."

Then she said, "Xu Niangzi needn't say more. My place provides meals for everyone. Even for ordinary helpers, by Capital rules, good food and good dishes must be provided to have the face to ask people to come."

Here matters were settled; that side immediately arranged to call people.

Xu Erlang specially found a folding chair, sat beside Song Miao, and struck up conversation: "Escorts live near the agency. Song Xiaoniangzi needn't worry. People will arrive in a moment!"

He also asked how many rooms the Song house had in total, and the layout.

Song Miao told him one by one, then said, "I came too hastily this time. Not enough beds and bedding in the house. The escort masters staying overnight might have to suffer a bit."

"No matter. We eat this bowl of rice; we're used to making do!"

Xu Erlang used pleasant words to comfort her a few sentences, then asked in detail about tomorrow's food shop arrangements, and asked what Song Miao's own arrangements were. After all questions were done, the escorts also arrived one after another.

Xu Biaoju has its own carriages. The carriage carried a dozen or so people, led by Wang Sanlang, all heading to Sanzao County Alley together.

When they arrived, almost the moment Song Miao called the door, movement came from inside, and Cheng Erniang's questioning voice, then answering voice. After a good while the door opened. Entering, they saw Cheng Erniang had blocked the doorway with several buckets of water, and also long tables and long benches and such.

Seeing everyone return, and seeing so many escorts, she visibly let out a big breath of relief and smiled: "Young Lady, you've finally returned! Home is safe!"

After headcount, she immediately went to the back to bring tea and water, and helped with all kinds of arrangements.

The escorts each took their positions. Being veterans, each carried a bundle. Though small, inside were bedding, change of clothes — everything.

No one needed to instruct them. They divided shifts themselves: who guards the front door, who guards the back courtyard. Those guarding the front door either rest in the miscellaneous room or sleep on straw mats behind the front door. Those guarding the back courtyard sleep in the back kitchen. They also arranged how to rotate shifts, how to keep night watch, etc.

When it came time to arrange the next day's schedule, everyone subconsciously looked at Qi Biaotou.

Qi Biaotou turned his head and asked, "Erlang, what's your arrangement for tomorrow?"

For all these arrangements, Song Miao didn't interfere a bit, just stood to the side watching.

She quickly realized Xu Erlang saying it was his first time as lead wasn't false modesty.

This person had clearly tagged along on a few escort runs, understood the general process, but wasn't too familiar. He carried the lantern in and out many times. At first he wanted to arrange things, but seeing the other escorts all cooperating habitually, there was simply no room for him to speak, so he had to swallow it back.

And when it came to making tomorrow's arrangements, everyone had their own opinions.

Some said the food shop didn't need many people left during the day; best to send more people along on outings to escort early food and deliveries, to avoid trouble halfway.

Some said this time the target is the food shop; best to have more people guarding. Otherwise if people suddenly come smashing, they can't stop them.

Yet others said, ultimately this is aimed at the food shop proprietor, so the most important thing is by Song Miao's side; more people should guard here.

Because the escorts each held their own view, Xu Erlang was at a loss for a moment, and could only look helplessly at Qi Biaotou.

Qi Biaotou only then stepped forward, made a quick decision, and still arranged the main personnel to go out and escort the food.

He said: "Besides our escort team inside the food shop, there are long-term and short-term hires during the day, and a patrol station is set up just one street outside; no one would come make trouble in broad daylight, but the delivery route may encounter much trouble."

He then asked Song Miao: "Song Xiaoniangzi here will be accompanied by me bringing a brother; two people are more than enough!"

Before Song Miao could speak, Xu Erlang had already chimed in: "Uncle Qi, tomorrow I will go with you to guard Song Xiaoniangzi!"

As soon as his words fell, an escort said: "Erlang, this time you are the head; if you don't stay at the food shop and run around outside, where will we find you when something happens down below?"

This reasoning had quite a bit of merit.

Xu Erlang wanted to say let Qi Biaotou stay behind and ask him if anything came up, but then felt that this time he had fought for the head position himself, and suddenly he wholeheartedly wanted to force his way into following a young lady; saying it out loud would be really too obvious, and if it succeeded fine, but if it failed in the end, his face would be utterly lost!

Thinking back and forth, he finally held his tongue.

Once everything was arranged and he saw everyone return to their posts, Xu Erlang lagged behind last, and taking advantage of the moment Song Miao was locking the door, wanted to step forward to help.

Crossbar, door prop, two copper basins behind the door, one filled full of water, one empty.

Song Miao and Cheng Erniang both moved extremely fast, one passing things, one placing things; Xu Erlang several times wanted to take over, but never managed to.

Cheng Erniang even turned her head and said: "Second Young Master Xu just sit; there's nothing much, I'm here — moreover these things are complicated and trivial, how could the escort team doing guard duty be made to do them!"

Xu Erlang had to step aside.

He waited dryly for a while, saw Song Miao heading to the back, hurriedly followed alongside, and sighed: "Don't know why, I'm usually quite practiced at doing things, but today I've made a complete mess of it, giving Song Xiaoniangzi a laugh."

"Originally there's nothing in the world that's accomplished in a single step; who is born knowing everything?" Song Miao smiled, "Young Master Xu is young yet able to take on so many matters, already very remarkable; right now perhaps just lacking a bit of plugging gaps and patching leaks, trouble yourself to be more careful tomorrow, as long as nothing is delayed, it's all fine!"

Xu Erlang hurriedly said: "Many thanks for Young Lady not despising me for first time taking charge — but rest assured, I will ask Qi Biaotou on everything before deciding; he's a decades-old escort head, familiar with everything, won't make mistakes."

He also asked Song Miao what time she would rise early tomorrow, what he could help with, and so on.

Song Miao thanked him, then said: "No need to help, Young Master Xu is too polite! Whether kitchen inside the food shop or outside, everything has many established ways, originally all accustomed, adding a person in would instead be inconvenient."

She also urged him to go rest quickly; if anything, speak tomorrow.

Just as they were speaking, Cheng Erniang carried a tray over and delivered it before the two.

Familiar tray, in the tray again familiar goat milk, only this time two bowls.

Song Miao felt a bit strange, looked up at Cheng Erniang.

Cheng Erniang instead smiled: "I and Xiao Lian earlier left some for Young Lady, a bit much, so simply divided into two bowls."

While speaking, she gave Song Miao a meaningful look.

Song Miao immediately understood, said: "Young Master Xu has worked hard, have a bowl too!"

Xu Erlang declined a couple of sentences, but in the end still held the bowl, and in a moment gulped it down clean.

Once finished drinking, seeing Cheng Erniang bring the tray to collect, Xu Erlang didn't think much, casually placed it on top, then turned back to speak with Song Miao.

"How come Young Lady's goat milk here tastes better than other places? Seems the milky fragrance is richer, the goat stench also very little, I actually couldn't taste it!"

Song Miao smiled, casually mentioned a few recipes for removing stench when boiling goat milk, didn't delay, checked front and back once more, only said the hour was too late, please Young Master Xu rest early.

Both sides bid farewell, she returned to her room and locked up, tidied a bit, because truly exhausted, the moment she lay on the bed she fell asleep.

And Xu Erlang stood at the doorway, also didn't dare linger, honestly retreated into the courtyard,

Not far out from Song Miao's room was a large water vat.

Xu Erlang holding a lantern in hand, subconsciously walked to the water vat side, raised the lamp to look, and saw inside many fish lazy and listless.

Fish originally have no eyelids; at this moment shone on by the lamp, don't know why, but they also didn't mind the brightness at all, too lazy to even move, occasionally one or two swaying their tails counted as responding to the scene.

Although not daytime, borrowing the lantern light and moonlight, still could see the fish size and color seven or eight parts full.

Just staring at them, Cheng Erniang noticed the movement here, one hand holding a lamp, one hand dangling a tray upside down walked over, smiling asked: "So late, Young Master Xu still not sleeping? Is there something to instruct?"

Xu Erlang shook his head, pointed at the water vat inside, said: "Is this specially raised by Song Xiaoniangzi? She likes fish? How come they're all black, gray? Very unsightly."

Cheng Erniang said: "An old customer sent them, because saw a broken water vat here, and heard Young Lady say she always raises fish to death, so specially sought these out, said although ugly, very hardy, not easy to die, and won't grow big — heard each has a name, only I really can't tell them apart, ugly beyond compare, really hard to distinguish!"

Xu Erlang just now saw those fish ugly, originally already planned to go buy some good-looking fish to bring back, hearing this, instantly beat a retreat.

He thought a bit, then asked: "Does Song Xiaoniangzi habitually drink goat milk at night before sleeping? Tomorrow simply don't buy, wait for me to bring some back from outside, everyone share and drink as a late-night snack!"

Cheng Erniang said: "Young Lady formerly had no such habit, recently an old customer, because gets along well with food shop upper and lower, specially came to send... Young Master you still have to arrange many escort masters, and all sorts of upper and lower matters, this kind of eating drinking trivial matter, our food shop will manage!"

Left an "old customer", right an "old customer".

Xu Erlang couldn't help asking: "This old customer, and the one who bought the fish, are they the same?"

Cheng Erniang shook her head, said: "I don't know so many!"

She spoke, gave a blessing bow, excused herself, put down the things, and also returned to her room to sleep.

Left Xu Erlang holding the lantern standing a good while, looked up again at Song Ji Back Courtyard various things, then looked at the fish vat, always felt heart empty and hollow, waited a bit more, then went to the front hall miscellaneous room to sleep.

This night, don't know if day has thoughts night has dreams, Song Miao although fell asleep fast, but once asleep not peaceful, kept having bad dreams, one moment dreaming someone came to the door to make trouble, one moment dreaming Song Ji's carriage halfway lost control, overturned on the ground.

When startled awake by the dream, she looked at the water clock, a quarter hour earlier than usual, but simply couldn't sleep anymore, simply closed eyes to rest spirit a moment, then climbed up.

Morning everyone came to the food shop, but it was smooth all the way, no accidents.

Once things were made, divided into several teams, each with escorts following to deliver early food, Song Miao herself early called a carriage, followed Qi Biaotou and another escort together to Nanxun Gate Patrol Station.

Result she inquired about yesterday that swindling old man, got a piece of news.

— Old man ran off with a pair of son and daughter.