Chapter 324

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

It was past the Si hour now, the sun high overhead; though not as scorching as midsummer, it was still hot and dry. That yamen runner had walked all the way here, his official robe soaked front and back with sweat, his head and face drenched.

Song Miao hurriedly invited him inside to sit.

The man opposite waved his hand and said: "I have other business; I'm not coming in!"

Song Miao said: "It's not some other storekeeper or food shop—these are all acquaintances. Since you've come, Official, at least drink some water, wash your face with cool well water before you go. Otherwise, if the other censors and officials hear about it, they'll all think my little shop is small and that I bully my regulars!"

The man laughed heartily and said: "You said it! It's precisely the case you brought out, Song Xiaoniangzi, that has every one of us behind you busy till the soles of our feet are slipping. Inspector Liao told me to tell you: the swindler who cheated your old man, along with a pair of 'children,' has been caught! They dug up radishes still caked with mud, and the house was full of others they'd caught too!"

"The case is still under trial, so we can't say much more, but many prohibited weapons were found in the house—besides gold and silver, there were also travel permits and identity documents..."

He looked left and right. Though no one was in sight, he still lowered his voice and said: "Among them were documents falsely claiming official status. And another person, though he'd changed his clothes, has already been identified—a criminal wanted by the Jingzhao Prefecture at the beginning of the year, said to have maliciously murdered people in a county below, killing a whole family of seven!"

"Running into such a big case, with both people and stolen goods in hand—if we can crack it, it's definitely a great merit! Our whole team is thrilled! Inspector Liao sent me to give you the news: just that the case won't be wrapped up so quickly, there's more to investigate afterward, so you should have a clear idea—and we want to thank you too! When the case is finished, our whole team will come order a table of food to treat Song Xiaoniangzi and express our gratitude!"

Song Miao was truly somewhat surprised.

She had earlier heard Doctor Lin say that the old man was a swindler, so she knew he must be a Jianghu quack selling dog-skin plasters, certainly given to boasting and deception. If caught, he surely had a criminal record, but she never expected that there would be such vicious characters around him.

Thinking this led to that, she immediately thought of what had happened last night, briefly recounted it, and then said: "The Xunpu has already interrogated him once. Everyone says this case is too big and must be handed over to the Capital Prefecture Office—only I don't know when it will be handed over, or which inspector will take it over."

Looking back on this matter afterward, it was actually more chilling than at the time.

She didn't know who had set this poisonous plot, completely devoid of conscience—if they hadn't noticed in time and the fire had really started, with the weather dry and everything flammable, not only would his own family suffer, but even the neighbors to left and right would be caught in the disaster, who knows how many families would be harmed—simply unthinkable.

The official opposite had set out early that morning and hadn't yet received word. Hearing it, he was also startled. Though he learned nothing had happened, he still wiped his forehead with his sleeve and said: "Let me go back and tell the few inspectors. This case is best handled by us ourselves. Otherwise, if the Left Courtyard takes it, it may not be handled with as much dedication by our own people!"

He asked a few more details, then said: "I'm leaving first—I still have official business on hand and can't get away for a while. I need to send someone back to report immediately!"

Seeing that he was truly extremely busy, Song Miao didn't keep him, only asking: "Official, have you had breakfast yet?"

The man opposite rummaged in his sleeve, pulled out a stiff sheet of paper, smiling as he handed it over: "I've eaten, but I specially brought this!"

Song Miao looked closely. The man was actually holding a "Song Ji paper."

He looked very furtive and said: "I heard there's a new steamed bun coming out—exchange only, not for sale, and everyone has to take turns exchanging, with a daily limit. I came myself this time. Can I taste one in advance? If so, I'll exchange one and also buy two ordinary buns. I'm going to City West later, just right to eat them on the road for lunch!"

Song Miao smiled and replied: "No talk of buying or exchanging. If it weren't for you, Official, specially taking a detour to deliver the letter, I'd still have to make a separate trip to the Capital Prefecture Office later—such a waste of time and effort. Just here, you've saved who knows how much trouble—I'll pick out a few for you. No matter what, a few buns are something I can afford to give!"

Song Miao said as she did so, indeed taking dried lotus leaves and pulling several buns out of the steamer basket on the stove. Especially the flaky buns, she took one each of the cured ham and red bean paste flavors.

Knowing the other man was in a hurry, lotus leaf wraps weren't easy to carry, so she used a rope net to tie them on the outside, making a handle. Just as she finished packing and was about to hand them over, she heard a clinking of coins. Looking up, it was that official grabbing a handful of copper coins, entering the room, and cupping his hand over the stove counter.

Song Miao hurried to refuse, but the man opposite pressed his hand down on the copper coins, saying: "Don't move! You're not allowed to move!"

He continued: "You young lady! Several inspectors have instructed us: when we come to eat, we must not take advantage of being acquaintances to eat and occupy for free—every one of us is a regular customer. Your place does such big business, it's not enough for all the extortion outside. Today the Prefecture Office comes once, tomorrow the Xunpu comes once—can you even keep doing business?"

He looked left and right, made a show of slowly releasing the copper coins, and retreated toward the door, saying: "Alright, don't refuse anymore. If Inspector Xin hears about it, he'll scold us. If Young Master Han hears about it, it'll be even more embarrassing! When he treated guests before, he always paid enough!"

Song Miao laughed and cried at once, saying: "I won't refuse! Official, don't panic!"

She thought for a moment, then brought out another large bamboo tube, filled it with cow's milk, sweet fermented grains, and ice cubes. She had just brewed tea; though not strong, she gave a spoonful of both tea liquid and tea leaves, along with a section of reed, also packed in a rope net, and handed them over together with the buns, smiling: "Not giving you buns, at least let Official have a drink for the road. Will that do?"

"That's good!"

The yamen runner agreed, said his farewells, one hand reaching out to take it, the other turning his body.

He had only turned halfway when, the bamboo tube in hand, he first brought his lips to the reed section and sucked a sip, then several more sips. Sucking away, his eyebrows danced wildly as he called out: "So refreshing! So satisfying!"

He had rushed all the way to deliver the news without a moment's delay, and was indeed very thirsty. He gulped it down, turning one step into three, taking tiny steps. At the door's edge, he finished half a cup in one breath. Since he had been sucking it up, it hadn't touched the bottom. Now he lowered the reed section a bit and sucked up a lot more of the add-ins in one breath.

Cow's milk mixed with ice, the ice half-melted, making the milk taste a bit lighter, and there was tea too.

The tea was plain tea, different from the cooked tea people like to drink nowadays. Mixed with cow's milk and ice cubes, it tasted especially refreshing.

Inside there were also sweet fermented grains. Adding three parts of a very comfortable sweetness—not only that, because the bird's-foot millet and naked oats had fermented just right. With one sip, each plump, swollen grain would burst with a small gush of syrup between the pressing tongue and the upper palate.

That syrup was even sweeter, but it was a unique fermented sweetness, different from maltose and such eaten ordinarily. Especially palatable. There were also just-boiled naked oat grains, boiled until they burst open like flowers, very chewy, with a bit of slipperiness, full of grain fragrance and a faint, barely-there sweet aroma.

—Having a bamboo tube of this while rushing on the road, no matter how far you walk, you won't be bored. Just tasting the naked oats and bird's-foot millet inside, guessing whether the next sip will be chewy or burst with syrup, can pass half a day!

In the government office, the mules and horses were limited in number. Not every time they went out could they apply to use one. The monthly allowance for hiring mule carts and horse carriages was also very limited. The lower-ranking people had to be careful with every penny.

Going to City West this time, he had to run to several places along the way. This yamen runner had originally planned to walk and hire a carriage, mixing the two. But now that he had a bamboo tube of drink, he calculated the distance in his mind and couldn't help but walk back. He took several big gulps first, chewed and swallowed, then took another sip. Only then did he call out at the door: "Song Xiaoniangzi!" Then he thickened his face and said: "I drank more than half a cup of this drink in one gulp—is there more? Can you add a little for me?"

He also said: "The add-ins I'm eating—are they the same as those in the sweet fermented grain drink you sent to the Capital Prefecture Office last time? Only there's one more kind, a big grain, chewy and glutinous, with a bit of toughness. What is it?"

Song Miao smiled: "I asked Official to sit down and eat and drink a bit before leaving, but you wouldn't!"

She said while taking the bamboo tube back, replenishing each item for the other party, topping it up until it was nearly even, then handed it back, saying: "It's the sweet fermented grain drink from springtime, only this time cow's milk was added. It's not paired with strong tea, but plain tea, so the taste is lighter. Inside is a very large grain, cooked until glutinous and chewy—that's naked oats. However, this drink is better cold than hot, not suitable to be eaten with breakfast. Official, if you like it, another day I'll see whether to send some specially for you at noon or in the afternoon, just for refreshment!"

This man had already agreed a thousand times in his heart, but said with his mouth: "Song Xiaoniangzi, don't rush. Let me go back and ask the big shots first!"

Sweet fermented grain drink was available all year round and wasn't expensive. But this time cow's milk and bird's-foot millet were added, and there was ice too. The cost definitely went up—but drinking it in his mouth, it was already a completely different drink. So refreshing, so satisfying!

Song Xiaoniangzi said she would send it specially, but he didn't dare to really accept it. It would be best to go back and discuss it, gather a number of people, and then agree. That way Song Ji would also have something to earn, and they would also have something to eat and drink. Both sides benefit!

This yamen runner held the bun rope net in one hand and carried a bamboo tube in the other. He walked quickly with his feet, but sipped and chewed slowly with his mouth. He only hoped this bamboo tube of drink could last until he finished his business. It quenched thirst and relieved heat, and there could be some left to eat with the buns later—sigh, I wonder what that flaky bun Song Xiaoniangzi mentioned tastes like!

If it weren't that he was wearing official robes at this moment, he was very afraid that the sight of him chewing buns openly on the street would be too ugly and would affect the appearance and dignity of the Capital Prefecture Office officials. He really wanted to open the lotus leaf wrap right now and eat them!

The yamen runners of the Capital Prefecture Office had Song Ji's cow's milk sweet fermented grain tea drink to drink. But just two streets away, the scholars at Taixue could only stare at each other over a large bucket of bland and tasteless perilla drink.

One scholar couldn't help but complain: "It was agreed that it was only to help the Law School. How did helping turn into helping without end! Isn't the Locked Hall Examination the Ministry of Personnel's business? What does it have to do with us! The Ministry of Rites is also laughable. The neighbor next door came over to say hello, and they just agreed right away—normally they've never been so nice to us!"

He also spat and said: "Setting questions here today, setting questions there tomorrow. Are they getting subsidies! Is their own work still to be done!"

Once these words were spoken, many echoed in agreement.

One person chimed in: "Clearly they want the monthly examination. The Xuezhong hasn't even finished setting its own questions! Dean Deng is really something—helping with so much, no subsidies is one thing, but they don't even handle the meals properly!"

"It's just that they think we're easy to bully and easy to talk to—look, do they dare to have people from the Court of Judicial Review and the Commission of Investigation come to do this!"

"They didn't even prepare several kinds of drinks!!"

"Perilla drink is something so hard to go wrong, and they made it so perfunctory—might as well take Song Ji's hawthorn leaves and just brew a pot!"

"You actually dare to compare the drink here with Song Ji?! Where did Song Xiaoniangzi offend you?! Wait until I get back to Song Ji, I'll see if I don't repeat your words to her, so she won't save a portion of her good dishes for you!"

"Hello??"

"You're still talking! Setting this broken exam paper made me miss Song Ji's kitchen for days!"

A group of people, you one sentence, me one sentence, by the time it reached the end, they were truly thirsty, yet could only drink a cup of Perilla Drink haphazardly, frowning as they continued to compile the exam paper.

With great difficulty each contributed some, someone then said: "Call Lao Cao over to take a look — Chen Lao is still grading the Legal Studies questions, afraid he can't spare time at the moment."

Before long, Cao Fuzi was invited over.

He flipped through the questions, coughed once, then said: "This question of yours is far too simple!"

The others were just getting up to massage waists and rub shoulders, hearing this, all showed some puzzlement.

A more serious one, already couldn't hold back for a moment, immediately asked: "Cao Lao, what do you mean by this? Before I set the question I reviewed the Lock Hall Exam questions from nearly ten years, following a nearly identical pattern, very carefully, each case cites the Criminal Code, where is it simple?"

Cao Fuzi looked up, said: "So it's Xiao Zheng!"

He searched among those many papers, found one paper, said: "This question about night intrusion into a residence was drafted by you, right?"

The person opposite nodded honestly.

Cao Fuzi examined it carefully, shook his head smiling: "Speaking you set it simple, you're still not convinced?"

Then said: "Your case says the thief at the end of the Rooster hour scaled the wall and entered a civilian home, originally intending theft, but seeing the mistress beautiful, and the master absent, wanted to commit rape; just then the mistress discovered the thief's tracks, shouted loudly, attracting neighbor women with cleavers to rescue — the thief had already fled, but while scaling the wall, was pulled down by the mistress and the woman, accidentally fell headfirst to the ground and died."

"The village head reported to officials, calling it 'mutual killing', your question asks examinees to judge 'mutual killing' or 'night entry into home, kill without guilt', right?"

Seeing the other nod, Cao Fuzi said: "Too simple! If I were you, I'd also add that the thief was instigated by someone, also have him carry a concealed weapon, also say he struggled with the mistress and the woman, also say after his death his wife wants to remarry with child, his brother takes the chance to seize fields and houses, his wife reports to officials, clan members have opinions..."

He spoke a whole passage, extending the question further and further, just the oral description took half a day, already combining the thief's night entry into a home with property disputes, marriage, inheritance, forged wills, deeds, official corruption and many other matters.

That teacher opposite listened tongue-tied, couldn't help saying: "This... this complex, just reading the question takes half a day! It's only a Lock Hall Exam, afraid they won't be able to answer!!"

Cao Fuzi curled his lip: "Pass the Lock Hall, become an official — originally set up as a shortcut for those protected dependents, those with officials in family, quality who knows how much worse, if let them pass easily, later give them a Civilian Official post, go to their post, how will local commoners fare?"

Then said: "Me and Lao Chen reviewed those Lock Hall questions, both feel inadequate, before didn't know, couldn't reach, now since it's come to us, must reform, future must follow the difficult standard — otherwise once officials, daily cases encountered will only be harder, more complex!"

"Perk up your spirits! All day not letting us go eat good food, not even decent drinks, if you don't set good papers, people will think you don't exert effort!"

Cao Fuzi finished these words, the whole room of people all reacted.

"Still Lao Cao!"

"Ginger is still old's spicy! Should set difficult ones!"

A group of people clamoring here, just as they spoke, outside two people one after another walked in.

The lead one also seeking Cao Fuzi, said: "Outside there's an official, claims to be your nephew, says has business to find you, asks if you have time to go out once."

?? Many thanks for unexpectedly giving me a Peach Blossom Fan =3=

? Thanks Qing Tang Niu Nan He, Book Friend two dear friends each giving me one Immortal Grass:)

? Grateful to Book Friend dear friend giving me two Peace Talismans, Julyn, zzz, Book Friend, Book Friend five dear friends each giving one Peace Talisman ^_^

? Thanks everyone's various tickets~