Chapter 348

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Song Miao smiled faintly, not speaking, and was just about to hand over the bundle when, who would have thought, before her hand could even be raised, several voices came rushing up from behind.

They were a number of sharp-witted short-term hire young ladies, hurrying over to express their goodwill.

Some among them still held bowls in one hand; some had set down their bowls but hadn't had time to put down their chopsticks, still pinching the last remaining pair as they hurriedly crowded close; and some, though they had put both down, had clearly fallen a step behind and could only chase after the rest, swallowing the food in their mouths whole as they scrambled to speak.

"I'll take it!"

"I'll do it!!"

"Don't all snatch at once, you lot go eat your rice——I'll take it!"

In the end, the one standing closest snatched it up and said, "Young Lady, give it to me! Let me carry it!"

The whole group stopped eating their rice; having waited so hard for Song Miao to return, they set down their bowls and chopsticks, all clamoring noisily to ask questions.

"The Empress Dowager summoned Young Lady into the palace this time——what matter is it?"

"She came looking so suddenly, in such a rush, we had no way to inquire, and with so many guests, it was killing us with anxiety!"

"The proprietor submitted a dry ration recipe——is it that the recipe works, or that it doesn't, that drew people from the palace??"

The imperial edict hasn't been issued yet, so Song Miao naturally wouldn't open her mouth wide and speak of it first.

These past two days, everyone in the food shop, top to bottom, hasn't even had rest; every single person was busy until smoke rose from the tops of their heads; even those scheduled for rotation rest all voluntarily came back to help share the burden with their companions.

She had seen everyone's efforts fully with her own eyes, and taking the opportunity, she said: "It's not a bad thing; the official soldiers tried the dry rations and highly approved, calling on me to give them detailed instruction on the preparation method——having offered this recipe, there may be good news from the palace later; we just wait! When the day truly comes that an edict arrives, I'll give everyone reward money!"

Coming out to work, who isn't doing it to earn money to support their family?

Whether following behind or standing in front, joyous expressions appeared on every face.

An auntie immediately called out to ask: "Proprietor, is the reward money the one Young Lady Cheng Erniang mentioned before?"

Song Miao raised her brows and smiled, winking at her, and said: "No, it's not!"

She dragged out that "oh" sound long and long, with tone and tune, her voice full of laughter, smiling as she said: "What Second Young Lady spoke of was issuing from the food shop; what I speak of is given by myself——two separate portions. Lately we've truly worked hard; getting these two portions of money, however not much, can still let everyone take it to fatten their purses, to reward their toil!"

The moment these words came out, the whole room was truly filled with cheers; if not for the roof having been re-tiled and carefully swept clean, the rising and falling waves of sound would have shaken down dust and dirt.

And Song Miao, having finished speaking, took the bundle back into her hands again, smiling as she told everyone: "All of you go eat! Today I'm not here, thank you for your hard work minding the shop! Eat quickly, tidy up everything that needs tidying properly, hurry back and rest early; most likely tomorrow there's another hard battle to fight!"

"Not just tomorrow! I'm afraid from now on every day there'll be hard battles to fight!"

Zhang Siniang, squeezed into a corner, now getting her chance, shouted loudly without showing weakness: "This kind of battle I'm not afraid to fight; I only fear the battle isn't hard enough, isn't big enough!!"

Another long-term hire young lady followed up: "I originally thought this winter at home the cotton quilts and winter clothes all needed replacing, but cotton fabrics are all expensive, and with so many mouths at home, if we replace this we can't afford that, I was counting on my fingers figuring how to save money; who knew my luck was truly good, getting such a generous proprietor——this year we'll definitely have a warm winter!"

"What a pity the place is too small, and manpower isn't enough either, watching money flow out the door with eyes wide open, unable to scoop it up even if we try!"

"Proprietor, let's hurry and find a place!"

"We must recruit people fast too! Otherwise just getting familiar with the situation takes at least three or four days! Alas, who knows how much less we'll earn!"

A group of people stood here baring their teeth and stamping their feet in dry anxiety.

Song Miao urged several times before she managed to drive them all back to eat.

When she turned around, she saw a person standing by the second gate——it was Han Li, waiting honestly; she walked over, and as she passed, she lightly extended the bundle in her hand.

Han Li accepted it naturally into his hand and followed along.

The two entered the back courtyard, walked a few more steps, and Song Miao turned around, only then slowly calling out "Young Master Han".

Han Li did not answer, but stood in place and said: "I left rice for you, on the table outside in the food box——have you eaten?"

Song Miao shook her head: "I haven't eaten, but I'm not hungry either; today I made a lot of dry rations, and when testing the taste I ate a little……"

As she spoke, in the end she couldn't help but say: "Though it doesn't taste good, it earned quite a bit of praise; they all say the dry rations made are very filling, and they've already been taken to Chan Prefecture; soon personnel will be drafted from nearby prefectures and counties to mobilize grain and rush production——knowing I can help, I'm truly happy in my heart!"

Han Li stepped closer, lowered his head to listen to her speak, his expression very focused; for a long while, waiting until Song Miao's lingering words faded completely, only then did he say: "Young Lady has done a great deed this time, established great merit, accumulated great virtue; hearing it makes me truly happy. Shall I give you something, alright?"

With a smile on his face, he spoke while adjusting the bundle in his hand, lifting it properly, and only then asked: "Last time you said water bamboo gets old and unpalatable, and mentioned many Jiangnan ingredients——how about I find some fresh seasonal things and bring them back for you?"

"Praising like this is really too outrageous; if I count as a great deed, great merit, great virtue, then what Young Master did in Hua Prefecture——what would that count as? Wouldn't that mean achieving sainthood on the spot?"

Han Li smiled and said: "It doesn't reach achieving sainthood on the spot; if it can also count as a bit of posthumous merit, later I'll accumulate more; the eighteen layers of hell, the nine levels and thirty-six caves of the heavenly palace——when we're old, the two of us……"

He spoke, then suddenly paused, no longer wanting to discuss this, yet pulled the topic back, asking: "How about bringing some crabs back for our food shop? Jiangnan has fat crabs; wait another month or so, autumn is precisely the time to eat crabs."

Hearing him say "bring along" and mentioning Jiangnan twice, Song Miao vaguely sensed something, and simply asked directly: "Is Young Master going to Jiangnan?"

But the moment the words left her mouth, she suddenly realized, and only asked with considerable puzzlement: "Is it a court summons? But why not go to Chan Prefecture?"

Han Li said: "Vice Commissioner Li is in Chan Prefecture; with him holding the fort, there's no fear relief and rescue won't be timely; my going would be of no great use. It just so happens I encountered Wang Shuji Wang Fufu entering the capital; he was appointed by the court to handle the matter of north-south canal transport allocation; he came seeking me, and discussed with the Water Supervisor Cheng……"

"Did the Supervisor Cheng agree? Is Young Master willing to go?" Song Miao couldn't help but ask.

"Wang Fufu is a Chan Prefecture native; he worries for his hometown folk; today he was very moved, and I truly can contribute a bit of strength."

Just this one sentence, Song Miao already vaguely guessed the scene at that time.

She shook her head: "Young Master, how could it be just a bit of strength!"

And said: "I can't help with anything else; I'll just prepare some food for Young Master to carry on your person; when do you set off?"

Han Li answered: "Tomorrow we leave."

He paused, then said: "This time returning, I actually still have to help someone bring a message."

"This canal transport concerns an extremely great matter; Official Wang already has some ideas in mind; he expects to conscript many civilian laborers, and also mobilize soldiers; he very much wants to invite Young Lady to go help with the cooking."

"I never asked the person herself, and have no standing to speak——yet I don't know what Young Lady's thoughts are?"

Song Miao was somewhat surprised, but thinking carefully, it felt perfectly normal.

She hesitated a few breaths, then straightforwardly said: "If you ask me, privately I naturally don't want to go——right now the food shop is too busy, and it's right on the upswing; leaving for two months, leaving everything here, though there are people helping to manage, it's ultimately not the same."

"It's just I don't know what help I can be, how much help——what does Young Master think?"

As Song Miao spoke the three words "I don't want to go," Han Li visibly let out a long breath.

He stepped forward another half-step and said in a low voice, "I don't want you to go either!"

"I'm afraid that if he comes to invite you in person, you'll hear him speak, mention the disaster victims, and can't help but soften your heart—the food shop is already busy, and at such a critical time, if you leave, who here can make decisions?"

"Besides, the matter of food along the grain transport route is different from before in Hua Prefecture; this time, once one place is done, you move to the next, traveling all the way without rest, very hard."

"Furthermore, on my way back I thought about it; this matter doesn't necessarily require so many civilian laborers and soldiers—using other methods, it can be accomplished just the same!"

He listed many reasons in succession before coming to see Song Miao.

Song Miao asked, "Young Master says using other methods it can be accomplished just the same, without needing so many people, naturally there's even less need for me, a cook—is this true?"

Han Li nodded and said, "Of course."

"I imagine Official Wang must be very busy, so I won't go to disturb him; please trouble Young Master to pass a message for me, just say that I am tied up here and cannot leave; if it is absolutely necessary to use the traveling kitchen, then send someone to bring me word."

Han Li agreed, chatted with her for a few words, but then slightly furrowed his brow, sighed, and said, "By the time I finish my business on my end, it will probably be autumn; everything else is fine, except for one thing—only fear we won't make it before our food shop opens."

"I used to say I acted without propriety; whenever I returned, day or night, I relied entirely on Young Lady's consideration; now that I must leave, I am truly uneasy in my heart."

"Not only this food shop, there will surely be new places in the future—I'll leave the new shop for Young Master to return to, how about that?" Song Miao said, looking up.

"Young Master often comes to look after things, and I've grown used to it; now that I know you're heading south, I'm actually even more uneasy inside, only I can't say so."

After speaking, she reached out and took the bundle from Han Li's hand, saying, "Young Master, please sit for a moment; I'll be right back."

Taking the bundle back to the room, Song Miao tidied up a bit; when she came out again, she saw that the several stools originally placed in the center of the courtyard had been returned to the back kitchen, and the several empty basins and buckets that had been leaning by the well were now all tidied up, turned upside down, and placed on shelves to the side to dry, still dripping water.

Seeing someone come out, Han Li, who had been washing his hands, straightened his back and looked up.

Song Miao walked a few steps closer and handed the bundle in her hand over, saying, "Last time Young Master sent many things over; I saw that the bundle had many pockets sewn inside and thought them very useful, so I asked Shen Niangzi to help make a few; who would have thought they would come in handy just now."

She also explained the things inside to the other party, saying, "Young Master will arrange the other things himself; inside are mostly food—also some of the dry rations made this time, kept for emergencies..."

She also said there were Meat gan, dried fish, amber walnuts, various dried fruits, sauce for mixing with rice, sugar cut into small pieces and wrapped, and so on and so forth.

Han Li carefully put away the bundle and said, "There are two more things."

"Last time I heard you asking where to find an acupuncture mannequin; knowing such a thing is rarely available ready-made, I had someone make one out of wood; it is rather crude, but the price is low, and Cheng Erjie has a proud nature—if the thing were too expensive, she would think too much about it."

"Although the materials are cheap, it can still be used; the top is all blank, so by then Xiao Lian can draw the acupoints on it herself; wrapped in leather on the outside, inserting needles might take some effort."

"It should be done in a few days; when the time comes, it will be sent to the food shop; you know about this matter, so have someone remember to receive it."

Song Miao was very surprised, but quickly agreed and asked, "How much did this cost?"

Han Li said, "Not much."

He reported the total amount, then in a low voice said, "Put it on the account; we'll settle it slowly with Young Lady when I return."

He recorded this favor on Song Miao's head.

Song Miao thanked him and said with a smile, "When I get it, I'll tell Xiao Lian the whole story in detail; she has been troubled by the acupoints lately; with this wooden acupuncture mannequin, she will surely be happy..."

The two exchanged a few more words, and then Han Li said, "The other thing is the house across the way; although I won't be away from the Capital for long, I have already instructed someone to keep an eye on the process; once..."

He had not finished speaking when he saw the expression on the opposite person's face change all at once.

Like the colorful clouds at the edge of the sky just clearing, like gentle ripples brushing the water's surface, very bright.

"Last time it seemed we spoke of this house; Young Master and I each relying on our own means, to see who gets it first..."

When she said the four words "each relying on their own means," and then spoke the following sentence, Song Miao's final tone rose, and she smiled with a hint of cunning.

Han Li heard these words and had not yet had time to ask when a commotion arose in the outer hall; in a moment, the head cook and two short-term hire women almost rushed in all at once.

"Young Lady! Two officials have come from outside!"

"Boss! Someone from the Building Affairs Department has come!"

Song Miao had no time to explain in detail and hurriedly stepped out.

As soon as she passed through the second gate, she indeed saw several people standing outside; the two in front wore official robes, while those behind were dressed as clerks.

Song Miao hurried forward to pay her respects.

The several visitors were equally courteous; they first announced their identities, produced waist plaques and official documents as proof, exchanged a few polite remarks, and then handed over two official documents.

"Please trouble Young Lady to check them over; if there are no problems, then make a mark and sign at the back; tomorrow find some spare time to come to the Building Affairs Department to register."

The leading official had an extremely good attitude; he even specially explained to Song Miao what the main content of the document was, where she needed to sign and mark, how to sign and mark, and also why they had come running today and why they wanted Song Miao to sign and mark in advance.

It turned out that the current Empress Dowager had spoken, saying she wanted to buy the house at the end of Suanzao Alley and give it to the young lady of the food shop opposite—because the other party had presented a copy of the Military Rations Formula, which was of great benefit to disaster relief at Liu Ta He; the Censorate and the Ministry of Revenue had received orders and were practically running until the hair on their legs was about to be blown off by the wind.

Furthermore, the Building Affairs Department, having received instructions from above, had the new house deed and land deed made up that very day—it was best to finish all the documents before the imperial decree was issued, so as not to miss anything.

Not to mention that this house was already being processed urgently, and the procedures for purchasing it were already seventy-eighty percent done; even if there were nothing at all, the group of officials would still handle it as a special case, hurry to produce it, and leave the procedures to be supplemented later—one must know that golden words and jade speech; who could not see that the Empress Dowager acting this way was demonstrating that the Imperial Household was as close as family to the common people, harmonious and joyful, and also expressing a stance for the Emperor, showing that the Zhao Family would not shortchange those with merit.

"Originally, it would have been fine for you to sign this when you came tomorrow, but this house was originally involved in a case; after signing, you still need to go find a superior for approval; back and forth, who knows how much time it would take, fearing it would delay matters."

Song Miao carefully went over it once, then signed her name, and took the ink pad to stamp and seal it.

Once the signing and sealing were properly done, she was about to take a towel to wipe her hands when she looked up and saw, behind the crowd, a man relying on his height being the tallest, standing out like a crane among chickens, with a smile on his face, looking at her all along.