Chapter 358: Miao's Kitchen Chapter 360: Explanation / Settlement

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Even with such a reply, Xiao Lian still hesitated, turning her head to look at Cheng Erniang, probing softly: "Mother?"

Cheng Erniang, caught off guard by Song Miao's words, seemed to return to years ago, finding it quite amusing, unconsciously grinning — but at her daughter's call, she hurriedly composed her expression.

She coughed, straightening her face: "Your sister says it's fine, then it's fine — use it well, let's not waste good things. Not to speak of far-off matters, in a few months, once you've learned, every few days you can take pulses and apply needles for everyone at the food shop, loosen their muscles and bones, less illness and pain, win their hearts — that counts as helping your sister a little!"

She immediately assigned her daughter work.

These words were naturally just a mother's encouragement and urging for her daughter.

An apprentice not yet graduated, and so young at that — even if she truly wanted to needle and prescribe, adults wouldn't easily let her practice on them.

But Xiao Lian believed it, immediately tensing up, no longer daring to delay: "Then... then I'll go practice more!"

Finished speaking, she went *dong dong dong*, hurrying into the room.

Song Miao hurried forward a few steps, grabbed her, coaxing with a smile: "Your mother's scaring you! Where's the rush! Don't you see what time it is? Hurry and sleep, careful you won't wake tomorrow — not learning anything in the daytime, and if less sleep stunts your growth, later when you follow Master across mountains and rivers to treat patients, legs too short, how will you wade through water?"

After chasing the child back to sleep, she turned to Cheng Erniang: "Er Niangzi, you sleep soon too — tomorrow there's plenty to be busy with!"

Early next day, the food shop was indeed busy without rest before daybreak.

Everyone setting up stalls set up stalls, delivering goods delivered goods. By past noon, that wave of crowds handled, seeing Zhang Siniang had also returned with newly purchased ingredients, Song Miao set aside her work, freed up time, and began stewing soup.

Yesterday she told He Lao Furen she'd stew pig stomach cuttlefish soup for an old acquaintance — that old acquaintance was none other than Shen Xingniang.

The day before, Shen A'po had come, saying the clothes were mostly done, planning to find a free moment at the food shop to deliver them for trying on, altering on the spot any ill fit.

Song Miao asked once, learning Shen Xingniang recently visited Doctor Lin on schedule, now eating rice again, no longer fearing soup like before, merely eating for the sake of eating with no appetite.

She thought to take advantage of her visit to make a warming tonic soup, also helping clear the bitter taste.

Pig stomach cuttlefish soup truly nourishes stomach and spleen, nourishes yin and supplements kidney. In childhood, the embroidery aunt from Dingzhou urinated frequently at night, not yet needing medicine, so the mountain specially stewed this soup for her a while.

Unknown if truly effective, or Aunt Su's silver tongue praising it to turn rotten grass into fresh flowers — the old aunt believed deeply, result: immediate effect.

But even ignoring the uncertain efficacy, the soup's flavor alone is well worth a taste.

She'd long asked Shentu Hu to reserve good pig stomach; this time the shop bought back several, all plump and thick.

Pig stomach must be scrubbed clean repeatedly with coarse hair and large leaves, blanched, then carefully scraped clean of white membrane and yellow cysts; cuttlefish roasted first then soaked, soaked soft then cleaned of black membrane, hard bone removed, cut into strips.

For this soup, before ingredients enter pot, white pepper must be roasted.

Stewing soup for He Lao Furen and Shen Xingniang, Song Miao spared no expense, using pepper heavily.

Whole peppercorns roasted fragrant, releasing layers of pungent aroma, crushed with knife blade, ample water added, pig stomach, cuttlefish, ginger slices, dang shen and such put in, boiled high heat, then left to simmer low.

By afternoon the soup still simmering, Shen Xingniang and Shen A'po had already hired a cart, delivering many clothes to the door.

Shen Xingniang's skill truly excellent; clothes distributed, everyone at the food shop tried them on — not a single spot ill-fitting.

Clothes well-cut, once worn, people appear especially neat and sharp.

Previously Song Ji's long and short-term hired women wore varied clothes — either self-made same color similar styles, or bought coarse ready-made.

Now all in brand new clothes, same style, bearing "Song Ji" insignia — truly spirited, everyone full of pride.

Shen Xingniang's clothes not only look good but wear well; everyone moving, raising arms, bending legs, all convenient, no worry of pulling at knees, crotch, elbows, or armpits.

A moment later all tried, not one needing alteration, everyone praising the make.

A short-term hire couldn't help saying: "These clothes really good, makes me want to wear home to show family!"

Facing the human-height large copper mirror Shen Xingniang and Shen A'po brought, she faced it once, turned, faced back again, praising: "This set, compared to my own clothes, fits and looks better by far — makes me look so straight!"

She was still a bit shy, but unexpectedly these words out, many around echoed.

"Truly good-looking! Especially shows spirit!"

"I look taller and thinner too! Look, is it not so?"

Even same fabric, different cut, different skill, different pairing — effect on person completely different.

Sometimes, details reveal true mastery.

Song Ji demands high but pays well, matters complex and trivial, yet food shop atmosphere good, top to bottom get along well.

Earlier when making clothes mentioned, all long and short-term hires already had small anticipation; now made, worn, seeing workmanship and fabric, naturally know price not low, all happy.

Who wouldn't like good things?

Silver given enough, materials all good, arranging matters not cold but considering individual strengths and preferences — employer does this much, employees so well-treated, knowing as long as they do well future surely better development — unless character extremely poor, how they perform, naturally known without asking.

Seeing everyone mostly done trying, Song Miao invited Shen Xingniang aside, took out prepared money notes.

Shen Xingniang refused throughout.

She said: "Even not mentioning life-saving grace, just for myself, I don't want to take Young Lady's money!"

"Now I'm treated at Doctor Lin's, body much improved. Because of treatment, and hometown may have gossip, rather than return, better stay in Capital — Aunt and I already looking at shopfronts, preparing to open embroidery shop soon."

Shen Xingniang proposed: "Young Lady's food shop fame growing, I make clothes for you. If anyone asks, you give my shop name — just count as offsetting clothes money. Next season when making new, we'll discuss money then!"

Song Miao shook head, smiling: "One yard for one yard — with your skill, where would you need me to spread your name?"

Shen Xingniang bitterly smiled: "To Young Lady, I don't fear speaking truth — I once had some fame. Thick-skinned as it sounds, my weaving and embroidery, under heaven not even one palm enough to count, two palms definitely not finished. Precisely so, I always loved weaving and embroidering intricate difficult patterns, selling dearer, feeling my skill better — actually already very restless."

"Now trouble happened, some high households feel my work inauspicious. Those who praised and flattered me before, either distance themselves, or each have schemes."

"Yesterday still met an embroidery workshop steward, came to door, asked me to weave and embroider secretly for him, pass off as other skilled weaver's work, under another's name, to sell high price. Once sold for much silver, split with me — like that, still wants nine parts him one part me, saying without him, no one would pay high price for my work."

Seeing Shen Xingniang narrating softly here, Song Miao didn't interject or interrupt, only took a teacup, slowly poured her a cup of tea.

Teacup placed before Shen Xingniang, she reached to take it, but didn't drink, continued: "Also many people, superficial greetings, actually clearly wanting to get patterns, steal skills. Also repeatedly asking what happened to me before... also..."

"I sometimes think, encountering such calamity, many years ahead, body full of pain, everyone seeing me, behind back all gossiping — how to live these days, how to live hereafter!"

She paused, both hands holding teacup, still not drinking, only lifted her head slightly, looking at Song Miao.

Compared to when she previously came to the food shop, Shen Xingniang's eyes now held much more spirit.

"Fortunately I took Doctor Lin's medicine, and heard her say those words, learning that my illness isn't incurable; once cured, I'll be able to eat and drink normally, rise and rest just like before, and now I've also made clothes for the Young Lady here, heard many people's praise, I only feel my heart is also very happy..."

"Actually one doesn't necessarily have to weave embroidery that's refined and beautiful, powerful things; even if only making ordinary clothes, worn on a person's body, letting them look good, wearing them comfortably, and oneself can also earn money, even without a particularly powerful reputation, unable to sell for a particularly high price, it's still particularly good."

Speaking to here, she pursed her lips and smiled, her cheeks although still somewhat sunken, complexion also slightly haggard, but already having several parts of vigorous, upward spirit.

Song Miao looked at her appearance, and heard her finish speaking such a long passage of words; clearly they were two completely different people, yet in a trance, it was as if she saw that gentle face from many years ago.

That person would move the loom outside and slowly weave and spin, from time to time glancing at herself catching fish, watching insects, blocking ants, and would also specially weave some round-headed round-bodied fish, silly cute cats and dogs... and would also call her "Little Girl".

Her heart couldn't help but faintly sour, and she said softly: "That you can think this way, truly couldn't be better, couldn't be better."

Shen Xingniang took a deep breath, then let out that breath in a long exhale, saying: "Although the Young Lady always declines, in my heart I'm very clear."

"If not for the Young Lady saving me, this life of mine would certainly be gone, and I couldn't have met Doctor Lin; who knows, I might have already returned to my hometown, the days I'm living now, thinking about it one knows, I'm afraid living is worse than death... The Young Lady saved my life twice, how can I not give the Young Lady a few pieces of clothing?"

Song Miao wasn't persuaded by her, but instead said: "Since Xingniang plans to stay in the Capital, and also wants to open her own shopfront, future expenses will be very large; one who doesn't manage a household doesn't know the price of firewood and rice, I'll wait until your shopfront is chosen, the shop opened, truly earned big money, then come give me a few sets of beautiful clothes!"

And laughed saying: "Don't you plan to associate and interact with me in the future? Why must you rush to give them now?"

Shen Xingniang hurriedly shook her head.

Song Miao pushed that cloth bag holding money tickets back again, saying: "If Xingniang truly wants to thank me, then accept this money — favor or not favor, we won't bother with it, but if speaking of friendship, I have another entrustment, wanting to trouble Miss Xingniang."

"My family has deep origins with that Yang Xiu Niang; my mother before her death repeatedly urged, and I also from childhood heard her name, deeds, am extremely familiar, although these words sound strange, they're real and true, I regard her as my own family elder — the Young Lady last time said, you're helping transport those things your master left in the countryside to the Capital..."

"When the things are delivered, if there's anything I heard of in childhood, I want to pick out one or two not-worth-money items, if Xingniang looks at them, doesn't feel anything improper, can you gift them to me — I want to burn and send them down to the earth next Qingming Festival Festival Festival, to settle this heart matter."

Hearing such an entrustment, Shen Xingniang immediately reproached: "Young Lady, what words are these! Not to mention such a trivial small matter, even if it's some major difficult matter, as long as the Young Lady opens her mouth, I also absolutely won't decline half a point!"

And said: "It's just that inside there isn't a single valuable thing, all are some ordinary old objects, taking such things to give, I really feel embarrassed..."

The two spoke a few more sentences, seeing the other long-term and short-term hired women all had no complaints about clothes not fitting, Shen Xingniang looked at the time, then said: "I still need to go find Doctor Lin for a follow-up, the Young Lady here is also busy, won't delay — will come again another day!"

Song Miao agreed with a sound, but again had her wait a moment; not long after, she carried out two copper pots with handles.

"This is the just-stewed pig stomach cuttlefish soup, I asked Doctor Lin, she said you can eat." She put the copper pots on the table, "Right now outside, after all it's inconvenient, I packed two pots for you, one pot for Doctor Lin, one pot you take home — most likely by the time you get home they're still hot, can eat directly."

"Get well quickly, if in the future your embroidery workshop opens nearby, I can often visit!"

Shen Xingniang's eye rims slightly red, carrying the two copper pots, entered the carriage that had been waiting outside for a long time.

Having seen off Shen Xingniang, Song Miao put this matter at the bottom of her heart, striving not to let herself hold too great expectations, to avoid disappointment.

But she had just returned to her room not long after, when a short-term hired woman came in to report news.

"Outside came a young lad, says he's called Beizhi, asking if the Young Lady has time or not..."

Song Miao slightly startled, hurriedly turned and went out the second gate.

Sure enough just arrived at the front hall, saw one person properly standing at the big door side — precisely Beizhi.

She went forward a few steps, first called the other party once, hurriedly asked: "Long time no see you, also no see Young Master He — is it free time? Or is there something to convey?"

Beizhi however performed a salute, saying: "This lowly one also hasn't seen the Young Master for a long time, this time coming over, received the family's Eldest Young Master's instructions — wonder if Song Xiaoniangzi has time, the Eldest Young Master wants to visit."