Chapter 42: Wonderful Cook Chapter 42: Taro

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Song Miao

At this very moment, the Taixue students in the hall were somewhat worried—if the matter reached the ears of the School Director, it would surely be trouble.

But Diao Zi and the others were more afraid of making a big scene and drawing the government office over.

If it were Patrol Officers, that would be fine; many of the nearby Patrol Officers were acquaintances, and even if they didn't know them, mentioning Chief Liao would earn them some face.

But the students were blind; if they shouted at everyone they saw, they might end up summoning the city Patrol Soldiers, and their whole group would be dragged back to the government office in public. Once thrown in jail, even if they were eventually bailed out, it wouldn't be easy to explain to their boss.

The onlookers had already been hesitant, especially Diao Zi, who was even more anxious. Seeing Wang Chang's bruised shoulder and hearing his shrill screams on the ground now, they dared not wait any longer.

Although Diao Zi was being pulled by three people, he could feel that the others lacked experience and their grip was gradually loosening. Especially now, the two holding his arm and waist both let go, all turning to look at Wang Chang's injuries on the ground, giving him a chance to seize the gap. He struggled hard and broke free to the side.

Once free, he propped himself up with one hand on the ground, opened his mouth, and shouted at Song Miao: "Little slut, you're lucky this time. Just wait and see! Someone came to save you today, but will someone come to save you every day?!"

While speaking, he climbed up by holding the door threshold and the main gate. Unable to stand steady, he nearly rolled out the door, but didn't forget to look back and shout: "Brothers, let's go!"

Not one of the onlookers dared delay; they hurriedly followed him out.

The group ran out in a hurry, not daring to look back.

Inside the food shop, Cheng Zijian still wanted to chase them, but was held back by a classmate beside him.

He was so anxious he stamped his foot: "If we don't stop them, what do we do when they come back at night?! We're still here now, but in the evening there will only be the Song Stall owner alone!"

"Let them go." Song Miao hurriedly used words to coax him. "After this commotion, surely they won't dare come again for several days."

One hesitates to throw a stone for fear of breaking the vessel.

If we really tried to stop them, these onlookers are people who earn their living by strength. If they fought viciously and injured these students, what would we do?

Wang Chang on the ground lay there for a while longer. Seeing no further disturbance, he scrambled up in one roll.

He neither shouted nor covered his shoulder anymore. He even followed the other classmates to secretly poke their heads out to look, and while looking, he turned back to Song Miao and said: "That's what they say, but there are thieves for a thousand days, and who guards against thieves for a thousand days? Song Stall owner, why don't we go report to the officials together?"

Song Miao shook her head and first asked: "Is Young Master Wang's shoulder injury serious?"

Wang Chang hehe laughed and said: "What injury! I was just bumped by him on the road. It's long since fine. I was just afraid they would really fight and smash up this house, so I put on an act to scare them."

While speaking, he moved his shoulders and arms, and indeed there was nothing abnormal.

Song Miao then put her heart at ease and asked again: "On which day is our public examination?"

Cheng Zijian blurted out: "The fifteenth."

As soon as he spoke, he saw the people around him glaring at him. He immediately realized, and hurriedly said: "It's fine. Studying for an exam is something done normally. Now that it's upon us, burning incense only at the last minute and clutching Buddha's feet temporarily won't do much good."

He added: "But Song Stall owner's place is different. It's better to go report to the officials together for peace of mind."

Song Miao did not answer immediately, but calculated the time in her heart.

Today is already the twelfth. As for the public examination, there are only two days left. It happens once a year. No matter what, she couldn't drag anyone into this at this most important moment.

She saw that this delay had made the sky outside even darker, and hurriedly said: "It's too late. Going to report to the officials now, who knows when it will be settled. Going back and forth late at night is really inconvenient. I'll go myself tomorrow."

Speaking, she stepped back a few paces, made a great bow to everyone, and again solemnly thanked them. Finally she said: "Today I owe it to all of you. Otherwise, I wouldn't know how this would have ended!"

This time, without Cheng Zijian opening his mouth, a student beside him interjected: "Song Stall owner, this is the friendship of Pig Trotter Rice! How can there be so many words of thanks!"

"Exactly! Exactly! You ate breakfast and lunch. It's thanks to Song Stall owner that you could eat so well. Today we just chased a few people away. What is there to take out and say!"

"When Song Stall owner reports to the officials, if the government needs someone to testify, remember to come find me! I'm not boasting, but among those present, no one's mouth can speak better than me!" It was Wang Chang boasting about himself here.

For a moment, the people around him all booed him.

"I think you're not good at speaking, you just have a thick face!"

"Give you a name, call it Wang Shameless!"

"If Song Stall owner looks for me, I'm much more reliable than Wang Chang!"

Everyone then began to compete to speak first here.

That Cheng Zijian couldn't get a word in, so he could only say: "Exactly. If there's anything, Song Stall owner, don't think too much. Definitely come call us!"

Someone else suggested: "Actually, it's best to hire someone. Those rascals are watching right now. Song Stall owner lives alone, after all, which always makes people worry."

Song Miao sighed and said: "I also thought so, but people aren't that easy to find. Let's wait and see."

Ordinary people, if they are experienced hands, who isn't already dragging a wife and children? Who would be willing to live with you?

If you find someone young, not only might they not be able to help, but if real trouble comes, it's easy for one person to run alone. With one more young person, you'd have to worry about her.

Furthermore, to hire someone in a hurry, you inevitably have to go through a go-between.

Among the three teachings and nine streams, there are always those who walk the same path.

Among the go-betweens nearby, who doesn't know that group of rascals?

If the person recommended is bought off or threatened by someone, and they open the door in the middle of the night, even if you have feet, you won't be able to run that fast.

Moreover, it's selling food. If someone tampered with the food and drink...

But in front of everyone, she naturally couldn't explain in detail, which would only add to the worries. She only agreed and then said: "Today such a thing happened. I must go to the government office to report tomorrow. For fear of not making it in time, I won't set up the stall in the morning."

She added: "Trouble everyone. When you go back, if convenient, also tell others a word, so that no one makes a wasted trip tomorrow morning."

Everyone had been lively just now, speaking one after another. Hearing Song Miao's words, they suddenly quieted down, and there wasn't even a single person speaking.

After a while, Cheng Zijian "oh"-ed, and only then did the others follow with "ah," "oh," "ao oh," "oh" responses.

The disappointment and regret were expressed clearly with just a few interjections.

After answering a few times, someone finally came to their senses and hurriedly made amends.

"Of course. Today encountering such rascals is really terrifying. Song Stall owner, rest for two days. Don't be anxious to set up the stall!"

"Exactly, exactly! Not urgent, not urgent! We have plenty of good things to eat later. It doesn't matter missing a day or two. Solving the matter properly is what counts."

"If there's anything, just come find us!"

"Rest assured, when we go back we'll tell everyone, and they'll surely all be very understanding — it's just that gang of troublemaking rascals who are to blame; sooner or later they'll meet with great retribution!"

Everyone offered solemn words of comfort for a moment, and just as they were leaving, Wang Chang suddenly exclaimed in alarm: "My five-spice broad beans!"

Speaking, he hurriedly turned back to search everywhere for them.

Several people searched for half a day, and finally found them by the door — the lotus leaf wrap had accidentally come undone at one corner, and ten-odd broad beans had rolled out.

"Didn't I tell you to put them away properly!!"

"In the rush to fight, who had the attention to spare for so much — I clearly remember putting them carefully on the ground!"

"Carefully put, and they still managed to spill out?"

Song Miao saw them a few steps, then returned to the room; inside she heard everyone mutually complaining, and hurried out to ask: "Did they get dirty? I still have more here, don't eat them and ruin your stomachs."

But the moment her words left her mouth, the several of them instantly grew anxious, each picking up one bean after another.

Cheng Zijian, for his part, blocked the others from picking up the broad beans, turned back and replied: "It's fine, it's fine."

Everyone finished gathering their things and hastily took their leave.

As they walked, they exchanged words with each other.

This one said: "These two of mine don't look dirty."

That one said: "Mine isn't dirty either, it was dry-fried to begin with, there's only a bit of dust, blow on it and it's clean."

"They only spilled out a moment ago, they're still fragrant, how could they be dirty! Not exceeding a quarter of an hour, it doesn't count as having touched anything filthy!"

The group exchanged insights here on whether it was dirty or not, and when they reached the alley mouth, they saw two people standing in the corner — they were the ones who earlier had said they would go report to the authorities, and the one who said they would go report to the patrol station; in fact, neither had gone.

Seeing them come out, the two men only then came forward to meet them, asked clearly about the outcome of the matter, and both breathed a sigh of relief.

"I saw that gang of troublemakers run out like death stars, and I guessed nothing was wrong."

"But in the end, should we go report to the authorities first or not?"

"Song Xiaoniangzi said no need, she'll go herself tomorrow — it's fine not to go tonight, otherwise if we go report to the authorities now, who knows how long it would delay, it would definitely make us miss the hour to return to the study dormitory, and if we're caught by the instructor, that would be trouble."

The whole group spoke as they walked, feet not stopping, hurrying back.

The students normally day after day only buried their heads in bitter study, their days truly dull; tonight so many things happened, it was truly extraordinarily fresh, and extraordinarily thrilling.

The various people returned to the academy, each and every one's mood unable to calm down, they couldn't help but take it out and spread it among classmates, dormitory mates, and fellow students, and also spread widely the matter that tomorrow the Song stall owner cannot set up her stall, and must go to the yamen to report to the authorities.

Taixue students' righteousness in rescuing a lone girl, wisdom and courage battling rascals, such a heroic deed, plus Wang Chang and the others boasting to a hundred and twenty percent, how could it not attract countless people to come listen?

And after listening, learning that tomorrow there would be no glutinous rice or shaomai to eat, the crowd lost even the heart to listen to the story, only following along to curse that gang of rascals.

When they returned to their own study dormitories, they couldn't help but add oil and vinegar, one tells two tells three spreads four rumors, by the time it reached the end it had already become: Wang Chang alone holding high a bench, someone carrying an iron pot, another who-knows-who wielding a door bar, the few of them together scaring away twenty or thirty rascal big men.

Taixue and Nan Lu Academy are so close, and Wang Chang and the others exerted themselves so vigorously, naturally and spontaneously, that very night the events that occurred in Sanzao County Alley were transmitted over.

Nan Lu Academy's students had not the slightest interest in Wang Chang and the others' righteous and brave act, only learning that tomorrow Song Xiaoniangzi would not set up her stall, they all complained incessantly, hurriedly passing word to each other.

Still, there were those who did not believe.

"Is it a lie?"

"Taixue students can't get up early, can't queue past us, can't snatch glutinous rice and shaomai past us, and now they've actually started using underhanded tricks??"

These words once spoken, many who originally hadn't thought much of it, at once also gave rise to suspicion.

"Them Taixue students being sore losers is entirely possible! If we believe it as true, and tomorrow none of us go queue, won't Song stall owner's breakfast all be bought up by them?"

"Either way we all have to get up early, and all have to buy food; I'll go early and wait a bit, if I get it, I'll hurry back and tell you all."

"Forget it, I'll go too, no need for you to tell me."

A group of people, suspicious and uneasy, spoke without stop, and had already returned early; at this moment Lin Yiwen, sitting in the corner, heard all this news, yet was absent-minded and distracted.

He had earlier seen those many rascal big men come, in the Song household making noise and clamor, smashing and breaking, and moreover Song Miao saying those words about taking a knife to kill, truly he was frightened out of his wits.

But this was after all the Song family's affair, and he could not well step forward to interfere.

Moreover this time he had taken a leave slip to come out, saying he was going to see a doctor; if he got hurt or bumped into here, or if the matter blew up, and the instructor found out, and reported back to his father...

Lin Yiwen did not even dare to think further.

But he still had a few parts of conscience after all, and did not immediately flee; he originally wanted to wait for that gang of rascals to leave, then go see what the situation was inside, who knew he would see that gang of Taixue students return again, running straight into the rascals.

Before long, two students ran off, saying they would report to the authorities, report to the patrol officers.

Seeing this situation, Lin Yiwen also dared not stay longer, fearing he would be arrested as one of the troublemakers, also not caring about going to comfort Song younger sister afterwards, or pouring out his innermost feelings to her in detail; he hurriedly took advantage of people not noticing, turned and ran back to the academy.

In the evening in the study dormitory everyone studied and reviewed their lessons, but Lin Yiwen was absent-minded, his mind hanging on the matter of the Song family eatery in Sanzao County Alley.

At this moment hearing the news, others only thought it was rumor, but he knew that although there was exaggeration within, the matter was not false.

Knowing it had not blown up, the rascals had all run off, he finally breathed a sigh of relief; on one hand feeling his affection was deep, on the other hand unconsciously recalling just now, separated by the wall, distantly hearing Song Miao speaking in the eatery, cold words and cold phrases, holding a knife and standing firm, his heart faintly felt a bit of an itch.

— In the past, Song younger sister was naturally good, gentle and graceful, but always made him feel there was a thread of plainness.

Now having suffered calamity, instead she is like a rose with thorns, even more fragrant; wanting to protect the flower, one must be careful of the thorns pricking the hand, making his heart feel hollow, yet also making his heart feel a bit heated.

Only the matter of taking her back home cannot be settled for the moment, and now everyone looking at him seems to carry a strange examining gaze, not knowing if it's his own overthinking or if there truly are many discussions behind his back, truly annoying.

Tonight an unexpected event occurred; after seeing off Cheng Zijian and the group, Song Miao naturally could not just sit idle.

She had set up her stall in Food Alley for many days, and had already accumulated some regular customers; not going tomorrow, and with Cheng Zijian and the others helping to spread the word, there would likely be more or less some people discussing it.

These discussions, these kind-hearted students' goodwill and pity, would in the future also be one of her supports.

But this after all cannot be truly relied upon.

To save herself, she must first let those many people behind know that she is not someone to be easily manipulated.

Since today they dared to break into a home at night, tomorrow she will dare to report to the authorities.

However much they cover it up in private, this is after all under the Emperor's feet, and there are many Taixue students who witnessed it with their own eyes; when the matter truly blows up, the ones doing the dirty work below may not be afraid, but the officials above — would they also not be afraid?

But before reporting to the authorities, she also must go tell Sun Lizheng, and explain clearly today's matter of rascals coming to the door, so the other party can also be prepared, to avoid being implicated.

Also, although tomorrow she will not set up her stall, today Wang Chang, Cheng Zijian and the others exerted themselves so vigorously, she must still show some appreciation; first to give thanks, and second the imperial examination is imminent, so it counts as giving them an extra meal, a bit of nourishment is good too.

Because she didn't want them coming back and forth delivering pots and basins wasting time, and also considering students crave oil and richness, Song Miao intended to make only one main meat-and-vegetable dish to anchor the table, and add one appetizing snack, and that would be about it.

She washed clean those dirty pomelo peels, and peeled and cut a few more; on one hand she blanched the pomelo peels, on the other hand she pondered.

What are you doing?

Just as she was thinking that, she looked up and saw many taro roots in the basket on the ground—sent last time by Zhu Shi, wife of Sun Lizheng; only one had been used for the sugar-coated taro, the rest still left to dry.