Chapter 45: Miao Chu Chapter 45: Settled

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Carrying a food box that was still quite full, along with an essay marked with red annotations, Cheng Zijian walked out of the Shangshe Xuezhai at a loss.

He had urged several times, yet still could not send this food box away; he was truly perplexed.

When he first met Han Li, the other party had said he never cared about food and drink.

But under his persistent urging, Brother Han still accepted those shaomai, glutinous rice, and also Huang Bobo.

Thereafter, every time he came to deliver breakfast, he was never refused again; even just yesterday at noon, after eating that pig trotter rice, Brother Han specially instructed him to remember to pay.

Also, that string of cash he had left with him before wasn't even used up at all!

How could it be that overnight, saying he didn't want it, he just didn't want it anymore?

Since it's like this, should the money be returned?

He couldn't figure out where the problem lay, his heart in turmoil.

Brother Han said there was no need to send food every day, but without this pretext, would he come empty-handed to ask the other party to correct his essay and ask many questions?

Such a shameless thing, Cheng Zijian truly could not do.

Moreover, this "not every day" — does it mean not necessary every single day, or not necessary on any day?

Facing Han Li, Cheng Zijian dared not ask in detail, deeply afraid the other party would say "not necessary on any day," leaving no room for maneuver.

He returned to the Waishe Xuezhai, baffled after much thought.

The public examination was imminent; although the hour was still early, quite a few people were already sitting in the dormitory.

Cheng Zijian had already eaten, and moreover he had eaten steamed buns both last night and this morning, really not wanting to keep them until lunch, so he put the food box on the desk and asked a few nearby classmates: "Have you eaten? I bought extra steamed buns here, and also soy milk drink."

Before long, those who hadn't bought breakfast gathered around, divided the steamed buns and soy milk, and tried to give money.

Cheng Zijian hurriedly said no need, saying: "Just a few steamed buns, two tubes of soy milk drink, what's there to pay for!"

Everyone then said: "Then at noon let's all chip in for a few dishes and eat together — Zijian doesn't need to pay, just treat it as returning this morning's meal."

Taixue students pooling a table to order dishes and eat, getting to eat a few more different dishes, costing not much more than two cash, is a very common practice.

Since it was a reciprocal matter, Cheng Zijian did not refuse.

However, a classmate nearby already asked: "Today at noon even you guys have to eat at the canteen? When will Song Xiaoniangzi make pig trotter rice again? Zijian, remember to reserve a portion for me!"

Cheng Zijian was helpless.

The rest ate the steamed buns listlessly as well.

"Cold."

"Mutton cold and congealed fat, a bit gamey — Song Stall Owner's shaomai also uses mutton, but it wouldn't congeal fat, and wouldn't be gamey!"

Someone who couldn't stand it said: "Which time you bought Song Ji's shaomai could you wait until it cooled to congealed fat? Not eating it all halfway is already good! Still congealed fat!"

"These red bean steamed buns aren't edible either, the beans aren't even cooked through, the sweetness isn't right, cloying, not as good as the Huang Bobo Song Xiaoniangzi made before!"

"You few, eating Zijian's food, yet picking faults here!"

"Alas, where is it saying Zijian is wrong!"

"Truly not that meaning!"

When Cheng Zijian ate in the morning the steamed buns were still hot; although he felt they were far inferior to Song Ji's food, they weren't inedible, but now seeing everyone's reaction, he faintly woke to realization.

— Whether Song Ji's glutinous rice, or shaomai, even the soup, all were always piping hot, almost straight off the steam into the food box, and he delivered them hot to Brother Han's hands.

Today's bought steamed buns, those buns were already warm when he got them; by the time they reached Brother Han, they were probably seven or eight parts cold.

Before, eating Song Ji, eating so many times, Brother Han never said anything, just ate silently, eating cleanly.

Today just switching a place, immediately "no need to come every day," almost entirely returned to him.

Could it be, it's the food's problem?

But Brother Han clearly said he "never cares about the way of food and drink"!

Cheng Zijian could not be certain.

He wished he could immediately go get two portions of shaomai to try, but Song Xiaoniangzi reporting to officials — who knows how long that will take; he only hopes she can return tomorrow, so whether he eats, studies, or curries favor with Brother Han, there's something to look forward to.

Class time naturally passes quickly; not long after, the morning classes ended.

The bell rang once, and all the students in the room rushed toward the canteen direction.

Wang Chang and another, the longest-legged and fastest runners, turned back first saying: "We two go find a few good dishes to buy, you few behind queue to buy rice and steamed buns and biscuits — remember to leave someone to save seats."

Running and running, they vanished.

The rest naturally hurriedly followed.

However, Wang Chang and the other ran that fast, yet still couldn't buy any good dishes.

Several food plates placed in the middle, holding seven or eight dishes.

Large pot dishes, still for students to eat, naturally just need to be cooked through.

A watery braised winter melon, a white radish pork slices with barely a few meat slices, a pickled vegetable stewed meat — this one already looked the most appetizing, but the meat couldn't be told what meat or which cut, only making one feel it was dry and tough.

Also five portions of steamed egg, the eggs were old, the bottoms full of holes.

The largest meat dish was four portions combined into one plate of sauce-braised ribs, inside more than half spine bones and rib tails, hardly any meaty pieces...

When those who went to buy rice and biscuits returned, seeing a table full of dishes, their faces turned bitter.

"The day after tomorrow is the public exam, and the canteen gives us this to eat?"

"Deliberately starving people?"

"Forget it, just use that pickled vegetable to choke down a few mouthfuls of rice and biscuits, still have class in the afternoon."

"No oil at all—eat as much as you want, you'll still get hungry fast!"

"The one in charge of the canteen must be a relative of Lord Deng, right?"

"Keep quiet. If not, forget it. If yes, watch out for them giving you trouble!"

A group laughed bitterly for a few sentences, divided a round of dishes, then slowly began to eat, truly eating with difficulty, each complaining, using those complaints as a side to their meal.

Just as they were speaking and eating, a row of acquaintances passed by nearby, all smiling and asking: "Why aren't you eating pig trotter rice today, and coming to the canteen instead?"

There were many people in the canteen, actually very noisy, humming humming humming humming. These people, to make everyone hear clearly, had no choice but to raise their voices, and soon those on the left and right heard it, all looking over.

Yesterday Cheng Zijian and his group really made a splash; pig trotter rice, which others didn't have, only they had, and Wang Chang and the others were proud, exaggerating the taste of the pig trotter rice again and again. Last night they even came up with a story of "Wisdom and Courage Fighting Rascal," naturally making people unable to resist teasing them.

So the others in the canteen who heard this, seeing that the table in the middle was almost all students who had eaten pig trotter rice yesterday, even those who didn't know, after hearing from those around them, all joined in the laughter.

Cheng Zijian didn't mind much, but that Wang Chang was someone who cared about face, silently cursing in his heart: Saying it once, twice, and still a third time, how does everyone come to say it! Never ending!

He had no choice, turned his head and said: "What are you laughing at! Everyone eating at the canteen together, all tastes bad, Big Brother don't laugh at Second Brother!"

So the laughter became even louder.

Just as they were laughing, they saw someone running in all the way, looking left and right in the canteen, soon seeing Wang Chang standing, and called from afar: "Wang Chang! Did you see Zijian?!"

"Isn't this Zijian?" Wang Chang pointed to the side, and called again, "Zijian, someone is looking for you."

Cheng Zijian, with his back to the main gate, turned back upon hearing this, saw the person, and also stood up, just about to ask, when he heard the other panting from running, supporting his knees and panting for a while, before saying: "Outside... outside that Song Stall Owner... Song Xiaoniangzi is looking for you, asking you to call someone to go out with you..."

Speaking, his breath seemed to have evened out, he he-he'd: "I'll go with you? How about it?"

Hearing the two titles "Song Xiaoniangzi" and "Song Stall Owner," let alone those at this table, even many Taixue students present, all connected them with the four words "there's something delicious to eat."

For a moment everyone pricked up their ears.

Cheng Zijian was stunned for a moment, stepping off the bench while still asking: "Did Song Stall Owner say what matter?"

"Didn't say, only told you if you have bowls and plates to spare, leave seven or eight, they'll be useful."

Hearing "Song Xiaoniangzi," then hearing the two words "bowls and plates," among the full table and full hall, who could not know this was again something delicious to eat.

So those nearby all crowded over, especially those few who had just asked "why aren't you eating pig trotter rice today," because they were closest, they crowded over fastest, each starting to recommend themselves.

"Zijian! Look at my arm, I'll go with you, you don't need to carry anything, I'll carry it all!"

"Good Zijian, how has our past friendship been? I'll go with you, don't look at others!"

Cheng Zijian hurriedly said: "No need, no need, Wang Brother going with me is enough."

Speaking, he looked at Wang Chang.

Wang Chang didn't need him to call, already following and jumping off the bench, at this moment wiping his mouth, looking proud, smiling and saying: "No need for you all, I'll go and it's enough! My arm, can fight rascals, can carry delicious things, no need for others! You all eat at the canteen! I'm going to carry the delicious things!"

Those nearby hearing it all wanted to hit him.

But some, for the sake of food, able to endure humiliation for a heavy burden, smilingly said to him: "Wang Brother, I'll follow you to carry things—day after tomorrow is the public examination, still don't know what Song Stall Owner is sending today, if it's too heavy, if your arm gets tired a bit, gets a bit sore, when writing characters it'll tilt by a hair, wouldn't that be losing more than gaining?"

"Exactly, Chang Brother, I'll help you go, guarantee not to make you exert effort, and don't need you to give anything—what Song Xiaoniangzi sends must be plenty, you give me a few bites to taste the flavor!"

The crowd half joking half serious, Wang Chang naturally laughed and scolded: "Go, go aside! Our own family might not even have enough to eat!"

While saying, while following Cheng Zijian and the two of them running all the way with the messenger.

Outside the main gate, Song Miao carried two large food boxes, one of them still pressing a covered basin on top; just as she came out she felt quite heavy, after walking this way, her arms were even a bit sore, so she could only walk and stop.

Setting off from the Sun Family Residence, the Taixue Rear Gate was somewhat far, today she came from the main gate.

Finally arriving at the place, and finding someone to help enter Taixue inside to send word, Song Miao then breathed a sigh of relief.

She originally stood by the main gate side, but inside students came in and out, seeing her, eight out of ten wanted to come up and greet her.

"Song Xiaoniangzi! It's really you! This morning you didn't set up your stall, making us each eat at the canteen—too bad to eat!"

"How is Song Stall Owner here? Are you coming to set up a stall at the main gate? Smells so good! What delicious things are for sale at noon?"

"Song Stall Owner is good, Song Stall Owner why did you come? What smells so good? Is there anything needing help?"

"Song Xiaoniangzi, are you setting up a stall tomorrow? Day after tomorrow must make more glutinous rice, day after tomorrow is the public examination!"

"Reported to officials yet? If not, tell us tomorrow morning, we'll go with you!"

The crowd said, and each looked at the food boxes she had placed in front.

Song Miao answered each one, only feeling herself like the gold-haired lions and elephants in Yujin Garden that blooms between March and April, being looked at and asked without stop, really quite uncomfortable, so she could only pick up the things again, wanting to find an inconspicuous spot in a corner.

She was looking for a place here, but someone came out from the gate.

This person was originally waiting at the entrance, hearing the crowd's words, "Song Stall Owner," "glutinous rice," "steamed bun" and such, turning around he saw Song Miao carrying food boxes, and suddenly had a guess in his heart, just about to go forward and ask, when he saw two people coming toward him not far away.

Because there was important business, he didn't dare create side issues, hurried forward to welcome them, returned the salute, and addressed: "Cao Xiansheng, Wei Xiansheng! Did you two come well on the way?"

"Is it Xiao You? Why is it you today?"

"Exactly this matter, we've gotten used to it, we are also from Taixue, really no need for you to trouble yourselves to come pick us up."

"How have your healths been lately, Xianshengs?"

Both sides exchanging pleasantries, unavoidably walking inside.

Xiao You really wanted to ask about "Song Xiaoniangzi," but finally felt such behavior was too rude to the two Xianshengs, so he endured it. But he had just walked a few steps when he saw three people running toward him.

These three didn't stop their feet, simply as fast as flying, only slowing down gradually when they reached the gate.

And the one at the very back was actually quite familiar, it was Cheng Zijian whom they had met yesterday.

That Cheng Zijian also saw Xiao You across from him, hurriedly stopped and returned the salute.

Xiao You smiled and cupped his hands at him. After they passed each other, he slowed his steps a few paces, then turned back to look.

At the gate, Cheng Zijian and the three looked around, finally seeing Song Miao in the corner and those two large food boxes, and hurriedly went up to welcome her.

"So heavy! Song Xiaoniangzi, why didn't you say something earlier!"

"One person carrying it so far!"

"Hey, weren't you going to report to officials today? Why are you still making these things!"

"Don't be so polite, it makes us feel a bit embarrassed!"

Song Miao smiled: "Going to report to officials in a while. Taking advantage of the early time, making some food to send over, it's nothing, just two side dishes, just to give those from yesterday some comfort."

She pointed at the food box and food basin on the ground, named everything inside, then said: "That Purple Perilla Peach Ginger, everyone help themselves—it's just a palate-cleansing snack to go with the meal. But there are eight bowls of Taro Braised Pork in all, two of them reserved specially for Young Master Cheng, one reserved specially for Young Master Wang; the rest are brought out for everyone to share."

Wang Chang heard he had his own portion too, and knew at once it was the favor exchanged for last night's blackened shoulder; he grinned so widely his eyes vanished, and hurriedly offered thanks.

Song Miao added: "Leave that food box where it is; no need to return it tonight. If there's nothing major at the yamen, I'll still set up my stall tomorrow—just bring it to me tomorrow morning. The day after tomorrow is the prefectural examination; don't neglect your studies, or I'd feel uneasy."

Speaking, she again saluted and thanked the student who brought the news, then said: "Trouble you, Young Master, to make these two trips. If you don't disdain it, try this Taro Braised Pork I made? It's a Guangnan style, after all—I don't know if you'll be used to it."

That person had already voluntarily helped carry the basin of Purple Perilla Peach Ginger; even through the basin and the food box, he could already smell the fragrance. At this moment he couldn't properly return the salute, so he hurriedly set the basin back on the ground, saluted, and grinned: "I'm used to it! I'm used to it! How could I not be used to it! These legs of mine were born to run; rather, I should thank Stall Owner Song for letting me bask in your glory!"

The three each carried or held things, happily taking leave of Song Miao; though the food box and food basin were actually not light, they ran back even a bit faster than when they came.

And that Xiao You, hearing the commotion, saw these three carrying food boxes and running wildly, and couldn't help but smile.

Done!

He had taken on a task from his teacher; today he carried a paper reading "Song Ji Glutinous Rice," and from early morning asked around again and again in Food Alley, originally thinking it would be easy to buy every kind of food and let his teacher eat to his heart's content.

Who would have thought he got only one answer: "Young Lady Song is not setting up her stall today."

After returning, though his teacher did not blame him, that sighing and lamenting look made him truly ashamed in his heart.

—It was one thing that his learning couldn't satisfy his teacher, but how could he not even buy some food? He was too useless.

But there was no breakfast; right now, wasn't there food for lunch?

With Cheng Zijian's portion, could Han Li's be missing?

With Han Li's portion, as long as he went back and said so, would he still fear his teacher wouldn't trade his face for food?