Chapter 316

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Others might not know, but how could Xu Erlang not know which one, what surname Han?

But he truly had no mood to clear up the confusion; at this moment, having stood listening for a good while, seeing everyone again whispering about that matter raised by "Scholar Han," he only felt it was utterly boring.

In fact, it was merely plugging gaps and patching omissions, yet those very gaps and omissions — he, a man of escort bureau origin, having stayed in this food shop for a whole day and night, and having arranged things alongside the Biaotou — he actually hadn't thought of it!

Clearly it wasn't hard to think of, nor was it any profound insight; if one had to say where the advantage lay, it was that the other party was truly familiar with this food shop, so they could often be a fraction more meticulous than others.

A fraction here, a fraction there, added together, it seemed to amount to a slight air of formidable capability.

The more he listened, the more stifled he felt, only sensing that this trip had truly shown not a single strength of his, but rather exposed his inadequacy quite badly.

Yet he couldn't pick fault with the other party — indeed, his own thinking hadn't been thorough enough.

Xu Erlang was entirely listless, and unwilling to linger any longer, lest he boost others' morale and diminish his own prestige.

He slowly went to the back, and happened to see Song Miao just coming out of the back kitchen holding a lamp together with Qi Biaotou; in an instant all dejection vanished, and he was overjoyed, stepping forward in a few strides, calling out "Song Xiaoniangzi," then saying: "I just went home and explained that matter of the Nanxun Gate Patrol Station; my father said he's acquainted with a patrol soldier inside, and come tomorrow morning, he'll go ask for the full details!"

Song Miao hurriedly expressed thanks.

Qi Biaotou said nothing to his face, but when he found a spare moment, he pulled Xu Erlang aside and asked: "Weren't you told to find Eldest Sister? How come you ended up asking the master of the house?"

Xu Erlang grinned and said: "It was a huge coincidence; I got home and didn't see Mother, but ran into Father, sitting in the front hall sobering up — he seemed to have run two escort trips with Xingji, drank quite a lot, was in high spirits, and the moment I mentioned it, he took it on, just saying he'd go inquire tomorrow."

Qi Biaotou stomped his foot and said: "Aiy! You brat, why don't you follow arrangements — told to find Eldest Sister; if Eldest Sister isn't there, you ask around and wait a bit!"

Xu Erlang said uncomprehendingly: "Aren't they all the same?"

"Your own father, don't you know him yourself?? Once he's had wine, and it's with Xingji, he won't leave the door without three or four jars — the person looks intact, can still carry a conversation, but his brain is already drunk; tomorrow when he wakes, never mind what hour, most likely past noon before his soul returns, and by then where would he still remember what Nanxun Gate, what Beixun Gate!"

Xu Erlang felt quite regretful and said: "Then what to do? I really asked around a whole circle and didn't see Mother; they said she went to patrol the warehouse, who knows where she patrolled to — Qi Shu, you also know, patrolling the warehouse means staying overnight in the warehouse; even if I go back now, I'm afraid I won't find anyone for a while……"

Qi Biaotou sighed and said: "First time taking lead, inevitably a bit green; you do it a few more times and you'll know who to ask when things happen, otherwise you agree to a client's request and can't deliver the next day — we escort runners, the most crucial thing is 'reputation'; though it's a small matter, one small slip today, another next time, two times and no one will dare trust you!"

He added: "How about you go back early tomorrow morning, rouse your father and make a trip to Nanxun Gate; or you arrange some men tonight to find your mother and have her make proper arrangements; if that truly won't work, you'll just have to explain clearly to Song Xiaoniangzi, don't wait until the last minute with not a word said, letting the matter drop to the ground!"

Xu Erlang thought for half a day; unwilling to make the escort runners run about at midnight, and even more unwilling to show weakness before Song Miao, letting her think he was unreliable, he finally said: "Anyway, everyone at Song Ji gets up early; I'll go back early tomorrow and rouse Father, that'll do!"

He said ashamedly: "It's me being young, thinking things through incompletely, nearly making a joke of it!"

Seeing this junior looking rather spiritless, Qi Biaotou wanted to encourage him, so he said: "First time leading, not thinking everything through is normal; I'll keep an eye on everything for you, and there are those brothers, each one will help; you just go ahead and do it!"

He added: "Don't say such disheartening words either; being young has its advantages — look at that Scholar Han who came today, he seems a bit younger than you, yet handles affairs in a remarkably seasoned and meticulous way, and is very modest; he said he's coming again tomorrow, you young people should get to know each other more……"

Hearing his own side praising wildly here, and then hearing the four words "coming again tomorrow," Xu Erlang felt a mouthful of young blood about to spurt out.

He single-mindedly wanted to prove himself, so that night he snatched the night watch shift, not swapping to sleep until nearly Ugly Hour.

And this night Song Miao, likewise, rarely didn't sleep early.

She summoned Wang Sanlang to the front hall, took paper and brush, and asked him to depict the appearance of that old man seen yesterday; as he drew, she made corrections according to his description, until nearly Zi Hour before returning to her room.

She lay on the bed, eyes closed, but her mind slowly sorted through the events of this time.

Able to easily mobilize a patrol station, in the middle of the night, to run to such a faraway place, and once produce several hundred guan to buy off someone else's debt, and then call a bunch of rascals to help — the modus operandi was extremely familiar — eight or nine out of ten, it was still that Wu Yuanwai.

Just needed confirmation.

Now having entrusted quite a few people to help, and hired escort masters, yet it was all defense, truly passive.

Since ancient times there's only a thousand days to be a thief, no thousand days to guard against a thief.

Not to mention the long haul; even a few more days — one, hiring escort masters is very costly; two, going in and out, constantly needing people to protect, ultimately very inconvenient, not a solution.

If it really won't work, still have to take the initiative to devise a plan, lure the snake out of its hole; otherwise we'd wait until the year of the monkey and the month of the horse.

Song Miao calculated for a while, thought until midnight, then casually fell asleep.

Next day, she got up slightly later than usual, waited until everyone up and down had prepared all matters in the food shop, changed shoes, and just stepped out the second gate, she saw a man in the front hall tying his leggings and fastening his clothes — it was Xu Erlang.

She took the opportunity to greet him, and said: "Troubling you, Young Master Xu; I also need to go out now, could you help arrange an escort master to accompany me?"

Xu Erlang was originally going to follow the early food cart to Xu Biaoju; hearing Song Miao put it like this, his mouth moved faster than his brain, and he immediately said: "I'll go with Song Xiaoniangzi!"

The moment these words came out, Qi Biaotou, who had been standing to the side, abruptly turned his head back.

Song Miao didn't think much, agreed a few sentences, and went back to the back courtyard to gather her things.

Taking advantage of her having already walked away, Qi Biaotou couldn't help but call out to Xu Erlang and remind him: "Weren't you supposed to go back and find the master of the house?"

Xu Erlang went "Ah," came to his senses, and said: "Let me see if I can arrange another brother to go back; anyway it's just delivering a message, whoever delivers it shouldn't matter, right?"

Qi Biaotou shook his head and said: "Erlang, don't resent me for talking too much — some things can be delegated, some things, you still have to do yourself."

Seeing Xu Erlang looking hesitant, he added: "You send someone else to relay the message; one, where would they know the details so clearly; two, the master of the house is lying in bed — down below, who would dare go in and rouse him?"

Qi Biaotou was an old escort runner; he did things by the principle of a spit and a nail; it had always been so; now encountering a client who was Song Miao, his heart was already filled with those steamed buns, glutinous rice, grilled meat chashao, Meat gan; and yesterday at the meal, tasting 'Song Cuisine' for the first time, he became hooked on the flaky crisp buns, roasted ribs, roasted pork neck, roasted meat trimmings, even more filled heart and eyes with no gaps, stuffed full by delicious food, making him especially soft-mouthed, wanting to put in extra effort to handle things well for her.

He saw Xu Erlang looking so hesitant, assuming the junior was shirking, and said: "If you don't want to run, I'll go back for you; either way, same as yesterday — either I guard the food shop, or I return to the escort bureau, you guard the food shop; between the two of us, one must stay on guard, otherwise if something happens, others can't make the call."

Xu Erlang, how could he admit he wanted to spend more time with Xiaoniangzi; fearing if he responded too slowly he'd be tagged with a "lazy" hat, he hurriedly said: "I'll go! I'll go! Qi Shu, I truly have no intention of not running!"

So by the time Song Miao finished packing and came out, the person waiting had changed from Xu Erlang to another escort master past forty.

Qi Biaotou smiled and said: "Erlang feared the matter wouldn't be handled solidly, so he's running a trip himself; I'm swapping in a steady man to accompany you."

Song Miao didn't think much, expressed thanks, hired a mule cart, brought some snacks, and went to Tianyuantang together with that escort master.

Doctor Lin, seeing Song Miao arrive, and her bringing quite a few snacks, all favorites from yesterday, especially the cured ham slices just fried before leaving — he was truly overjoyed, couldn't help saying: "Coming is enough, yet you bring such fine gifts, ai! You, this young lady, truly put me in a bind — aside from the customary tuition, I've never accepted gifts from disciples' families!"

At these words, several disciples at the side all showed anxious expressions; someone already couldn't help calling out: "Master! This time just accept it!"

"Right! This was specially brought by Song Jiejie; she even said yesterday, these fried cured ham slices, if kept long, the fragrance runs off!"

An even quicker-witted one had already quietly slipped to the back, calling to Xiao Lian who was learning to identify and prepare medicine: "Cheng Lian! Cheng Lian! Your Song Jiejie is here! Brought lots of things, all delicious!"

And whispered to the senior sister teaching and leading people nearby: "Yesterday we ate those fried cured ham slices too!"

Xiao Lian, learning Song Miao had come, though not knowing the reason, was truly overjoyed; not daring to decide on her own, she could only turn to look at the senior sister teaching her medicine identification, at first still a bit timid, hadn't figured out how to ask for a moment's leave, when she saw the person opposite swallow a mouthful of saliva and take the initiative to say: "Rare for Song… rare for your family member to come — hurry and go take a look; come back in a bit and make up the other two medicines, that'll do!"

Not only that, but this person also set down the medicinal ingredients he had only half-processed in his hands, and without minding the trouble, took off his cloth gloves, hastily removed the outer garment, head covering, and sleeve covers he had specially worn for medicine-making, hurriedly bundled them up, tossed them onto a pile to the side, then turned back and said to Xiao Lian: "I saw that Song Niangzi yesterday too; I'll go with you to greet her!"

And another person beside them who had also followed along to Song Ji yesterday, upon hearing this, involuntarily smacked his lips, his eyes going straight for a moment, not knowing what he thought of, and imitating the example, hurriedly said: "I'll go too! I know Song Jiejie too! Yesterday I went to her door and ate so many good things; today she's come, Master taught us before that in being a person one must reciprocate courtesy — no matter what, we must go and give a greeting!"

Before long, the rest of the people gathered around.

"Which Song Jiejie? The Song Jiejie of the glutinous rice and steamed buns we ate??"

"That mung bean cake Xiao Lian brought last time, was it also made by this Song Jiejie??"

"Xiao Lian, was that grilled meat chashao you ate at noon the other day also made by this Song Jiejie? The time you gave me a piece and a half of lean and fatty meat to eat?"

Xiao Lian could only answer yes to each.

Thus, in just a few sentences' time, before she herself had even reacted, she was already sandwiched in the middle, wrapped up and moving forward.

Walking along, they encountered people asking questions along the way.

— "Aren't you in class? Where are you going?"

— "Not afraid Master will see and scold?"

— "How come so many people, such a big array? What are you going to do?"

And the crowd, you one sentence, me one sentence, scrambled to reply.

"Someone from Cheng Lian's family has come! We're going along together!"

"Yesterday I followed Master to their door, received Song Ji Song Niangzi's hospitality, right now we're going to give a greeting!"

"It's the Song Jiejie who made those broken crispy steamed buns last night!"

Every single one stealing the host's thunder.

Walking and walking, even Xiao Lian began to suspect, this time just who was going to see their family's visitor!

Seeing the crowd growing larger and larger, but having barely arrived at the place, not yet even close, they saw the house's windows and outside the door were surrounded by many people, originally everyone looking inside, but upon seeing the crowd approach, all called out: "Ah! Second Senior Sister has come! Fifth Junior Sister has come!"

"Senior Sister Guan Lan has come too!"

"Junior Brother Meng is there!!"

"Quick! Quick! Master is looking for you all!"

A group of people were inexplicably pushed inside the door, and saw one person sitting at the table in the middle — precisely that Song Xiaoniangzi.

And their own Master sat to one side, staring at a painting on the table without stopping; hearing the movement, seeing the crowd enter, and seeing the swarm of people behind them, he showed not a trace of anger, but instead immediately called over those few disciples who had gone to the door together yesterday, saying: "Quick, all come over — look at the portrait drawn on this paper, does it resemble that fraud you saw yesterday!"

A child's mouth cannot keep secrets.

Yesterday that group of four followed Master out, ate a great meal, on the road encountered a villain committing fraud, arrogance extremely rampant, yet Master saw through it at a glance — it was a jianghu swindler selling dogskin plaster, finally sent to the xunpu — this matter almost by the next morning early, had spread throughout the yi guan.

Right now hearing they were to identify the portrait of that fraud old man from yesterday, almost everyone squeezed over, scrambling to look.

But upon seeing the portrait on the paper, for a moment the room was almost deathly quiet; clearly ten or twenty people stood there, yet only the sound of a few insects outside chirping and squabbling could be heard.

— As for resemblance, most people had not seen him with their own eyes, no way to distinguish, but just speaking of this painting, it was truly too lifelike, too real!

The painting paper was vertical and long, one chi long, approximately half a chi wide, on top depicted an old man, narrow eyes, sunken mouth, left cheek had a small mole, jia-shaped face, eyes sunken in, ears very small, almost no earlobes, nearly completely stuck to the scalp, from the front the ears couldn't be seen, on the right ear there was a fingernail-sized scar, as if burned by something.

This portrait was different from the portraits on the usual wanted documents everyone had seen; it was obviously also composed of stroke after stroke of lines, but looked especially delicate, especially vivid; the nose on the paper was straight, the baozi stood up, could discern the arc of the sunken eyes, could also see just how sunken the mouth was — as if a person's face had just vividly appeared before you.

The disciple standing closest couldn't help reaching out a hand, wanting to touch it, just about to touch the paper, was stopped.

She looked up, and saw that Song Xiaoniangzi facing her softly reminded: "Used lead as brush — the bencao says it's poisonous, don't touch oh."

After another good while, a disciple who had seen that old man yesterday said: "Resembles, yet not very much; his face seemed to have a bit of cheekbones — this painting is thin alright, but no cheekbones seen."

The portrait on the paper was naturally drawn according to Wang Sanlang's description.

But he had only met that old man once, impression though deep, description might not be fully accurate; therefore Song Miao drew the portrait according to what he said, looking at it resembles yet doesn't resemble.

At this time arrived at Tianyuantang, with a few disciples and Doctor Lin helping, revised again and again, until finalizing the draft, a disciple even couldn't help saying: "Holding this portrait, if I see the person on it, I'll definitely recognize them at a glance!"

As for Doctor Lin, besides praising, further asked: "Young Lady, where did you learn this painting skill? Can you teach? If it could be used to draw medicinal ingredients for us, how good that would be!"

Song Miao smiled, only said will see in future, thanked everyone, took that portrait, and went straight to the Capital Prefecture Office.