Chapter 54: Miao Chu Chapter 54: Tables and Chairs

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Song Miao saw Han Li hand her the silver, but she did not take it; instead, she stepped back half a pace, waved her hand, and said, "It is rare for a guest to come from afar; as the host, I ought to treat him well, and since the guest is Young Master Han, I cannot accept it all the more."

Upon hearing this, the three people in the room were all stunned.

That Qin Zong could not help but ask, "So you know Brother Han?"

Song Miao shook her head, then nodded again, saying, "Though we have never met, I have long heard of his great name."

Xin Feng at the side scoffed and said, "Among people in Jingcheng, few do not know Zheng Yan; his chicken-and-dog stories are written so well that even my wife has heard his name."

The same sentence, spoken by Xin Feng now versus on the road earlier, seemed similar in wording, but the emotion behind it had changed completely.

At this moment, Xin Feng's words seemed as though Han Li's name being known had something to do with him, carrying a hint of pride.

Song Miao smiled and said, "Yes and no; Young Master Han's writings are naturally famous, but I am thanking him not for his writings."

She then asked Han Li, "Does Young Master Han study in the Shangshe Zhai of Taixue? Do you know Lower Hall's Cheng Zijian?"

Han Li had long understood and nodded in agreement.

Song Miao stepped back two more paces, but performed a proper bow.

She said, "I have yet to thank Young Master Han for his guidance; otherwise, how could I have obtained the 'Jian Long Zheng Ding Wei Xing Tong' in time?"

Han Li shook his head and said, "I did not know at the time that it was needed by Young Lady Song; I only thought Cheng Zijian needed it himself. A few words of guidance, and the borrowing and copying were all arranged by Cheng Zijian himself. Stall Owner Song need not be so polite."

"As for thanks, Zijian has sent many breakfasts and side dishes over the past few days, all prepared by Stall Owner Song, and every dish tastes excellent—even the masters often think of them. It is I who should be thanking you."

After speaking, he returned the bow.

The two exchanged bows here; though the two on the side did not know the circumstances, hearing this, how could they not realize they were old acquaintances?

Song Miao had already stepped aside, refusing to accept Han Li's bow, and turned to explain to Xin Feng the whole story of why she needed to borrow the law book.

She explained it simply in a few words, but given the Song family's situation and that she was a lone woman, who would not fill in the rest of the story? Perhaps even adding some tragic details.

Even the Taixue students knew her days were hard, let alone Xin the Censor, who had seen the ways of the world.

Xin Feng already had a good impression of Song Miao, and now pitied her even more, praising, "These students are indeed righteous, doing a good deed."

Speaking, he untied a large string of cash from his waist and handed it to Song Miao, saying, "Since it is so, I will also be like Zheng Yan and take meals at Young Lady Song's place."

Seeing this, how could Song Miao not realize he was deliberately helping her?

She declined, saying, "Censor Xin keeping watch here is already a help to me, and besides, Young Master Han is accompanying him. If I accept this silver, how could I have the face to ask for favors in the future?"

She smiled again, saying, "A few simple meals—I can still afford them. If you are all so polite, it would be looking down on me."

Qin Zong had been waiting impatiently at the side and hurriedly said, "Since there is such a connection, do not stand on ceremony—Young Lady Song, keep making your bamboo shoot dish as before; as for the rest, you need not bother."

He rubbed his hands together and said, "I will send someone to buy rice and dishes back; you can make one or two dishes as side dishes. That way, your kindness has been received by us, and my kindness has been received by you all as well. How about it?"

His intention to treat and win over the officials above and below was truly so strong it overflowed.

Xin Feng also chimed in and told Qin Zong, "Be careful; go in and out through the back courtyard, and do not let anyone see anything."

Seeing this, Song Miao agreed.

Thinking that everyone would stay overnight here tonight, she opened two more rooms and pointed them out to everyone.

One room was originally where Song Fu and Song's Mother lived; everything inside had been moved out, leaving only a bed.

The other was originally where her elder brother Song Huai Zhou lived, but it was piled with many miscellaneous items, mostly tables and chairs missing arms and legs, and several broken cabinets. Since they were truly dilapidated, no one took them even when debts were collected, and Song Miao had no time to deal with these large items for the moment, so they remained as they were.

"There are only two empty rooms with beds, and no bedding inside. If you do not mind, I will have them cleaned up," Song Miao said.

Censor Xin immediately said, "When I go out on official business, sometimes there is not even a place to shelter from wind and rain; I have slept on graves. What is there to mind?"

Speaking, he turned to Han Li and said, "Zheng Yan, this afternoon you and Young Lady Song go to the office to register, and by the way tell Judge Qin about the situation here, asking him to arrange people to watch and send some capable hands over. For these two days we will keep watch all night, and there will certainly be shifts. If the case is major, more people will need to be transferred."

He also said, "Tell them to bring two sets of bedding; not too many, as there is not much time for people to sleep."

Seeing him assigning tasks here, Song Miao did not listen further and specially withdrew through the door, walking toward the front hall.

But just as she stepped out of the inner gate, she heard the sound of horse hooves at the entrance. She saw one person holding a basket in one hand, standing outside the door, looking rather at a loss. Seeing Song Miao come out, he let out a big breath and called, "Is it Young Lady Song?"

He also said, "I am Dongzhi. My young master instructed me to come get pepper..."

Song Miao could not help but laugh at that moment.

Just now He Qi had hurriedly taken Zhu Jie'er away and had mostly forgotten there was still someone left behind here, so he had come for nothing.

She said, "Because of an urgent matter, Young Master He left first. This pepper is no longer needed; please just take it back."

Dongzhi hurriedly said, "The young master specifically instructed that it be given to Young Lady Song, so it must naturally be handed into the young lady's hands. If I take it back, I really cannot account for it."

He saw two baskets on the bench at the side and hurriedly placed his own basket there as well, saying, "These are all common kitchen spices and cannot be kept for long. Please use them soon, young lady, so as not to lose their flavor."

While speaking, as if afraid Song Miao would not accept them, he hurriedly ran out.

Song Miao did not chase after him; catching up would be useless anyway. Besides, He Qi had already accepted so many gifts earlier, so it did not matter missing these. She only thought that next time he came, she would make him a few more dishes.

She lifted the cloth covering the basket and saw many porcelain bottles inside, with names written on the bodies. Besides pepper, Sichuan pepper, cassia bark, and bay leaves, there were also two bottles of mustard seeds and a small cloth bag of fresh wasabi roots.

The rest were fine, but the pepper and wasabi roots were both expensive, especially the latter, which was hard to buy even with money.

Wasabi roots could not be kept for long, but the pepper, if stored properly, would not spoil even after a year or two.

Song Miao carefully put away the other spices, then wetted a clean cloth, wrapped the wasabi roots, found a jar to cover them, and planned to give them to He Qi if he came again in the next few days; if he did not come, she would decide later.

She had just finished putting things away here when she heard the sound of a cart outside. Looking up, she saw Beizhi and Dongzhi returning together.

"Young Lady Song."

The first to speak was Beizhi, who smiled and pointed to a mule cart behind him, saying, "The young master said that after he gets his leave, there will surely be a time to eat, so he had the small ones prepare a set of tables and chairs to bring over, placed in the front hall, so Young Lady Song can use them, and he can also get a bargain."

Song Miao was stunned and went out to look. Indeed, on the mule cart was a long square table and three pairs, six chairs, making a set.

Whether table or chairs, the materials and craftsmanship were extremely fine. Although she did not examine them closely, she could vaguely tell they were made of sandalwood.

Red sandalwood has been a luxury timber since ancient times, especially since the current Empress Dowager is very fond of it; her furniture for daily life and rest is mostly made of red sandalwood, and the world pursues it, driving the price up even further.

A set like this, coupled with that craftsmanship, one can imagine its value is not small.

Song Miao thought for a moment, then asked: "It looks like red sandalwood; I wonder if my guess is correct?"

Beizhi smiled and replied: "Song Xiaoniangzi has a good eye!"

However, upon hearing this, Song Miao shook her head, only saying: "Other things are fine, but this red sandalwood table and chairs cannot be accepted."

She explained: "My family owes many debts, and the creditors are numerous and mixed; it is not good to keep such valuable furniture here — what if someone takes it away?"

Beizhi did not refute the claim that the furniture was valuable, only smiled and said: "Who would dare snatch our Young Master's things? Song Xiaoniangzi, rest assured; if they truly were snatched, there are plenty of people to deal with him!"

"Even if they are not snatched, it would be a pity if they were smashed or broken; moreover, with my family's current situation, displaying such valuable furniture for people to see is simply inappropriate."

This time, Song Miao firmly declined.

She is deep in debt; there are always creditors coming to demand payment, and neighbors from the left and right occasionally come over — how would she explain it to them?

Even if she claimed they were gifts from a guest for her own use, it would still sound forced to anyone who heard it.

As the saying goes: "In a melon field, do not put on your shoes; under a plum tree, do not adjust your hat."

Sun Lizheng helped mediate with those many creditors with great difficulty, securing an extension to repay in installments; if she acts recklessly now, others may not say anything aloud, but how could their hearts not harbor doubts?

Owing a large sum and accepting others' kindness, she must maintain a proper posture; even if she does not have to eat bran and swallow vegetables every day, she cannot be seen as going too far, can she?

Furthermore, judging by He Qi's current manner, today he sends tables and chairs, tomorrow he might send tableware, and so on — who knows how this room will end up furnished?

To him it is merely a casual remark, a drop in the bucket, truly well-meant; but to her it may not be suitable.

Seeing Song Miao so insistent, and hearing her explain again, Dongzhi and Beizhi exchanged a glance, looking very awkward.

Song Miao then said: "Please take them back; if Young Master He asks, just relay my difficulties to him — he is deeply affectionate and righteous; without needing more words, he will naturally understand."

The two could only bid farewell and leave.

When Song Miao turned back to her room, she saw Xin and Han standing in a corner by the middle gate.

Seeing the two Zhi leave, Xin Feng then stepped out and asked: "Which one is that Young Master He?"

"He is a student of the Guozixue."

Song Miao briefly recounted how she came to know He Qi, then added: "Young Master He is a very good person, very righteous, and also loves to eat."

Upon hearing this, Xin Feng knew this must be some noble family's son; he had only wanted to confirm, and seeing it was unrelated to the case, he no longer doubted, only saying: "I know a few craftsmen in Cheng Nan; they often have damaged furniture, tables and chairs. When this case is concluded, I will take you to have a look; if there is anything suitable, pick a few pieces back, give a few cash coins as a token gesture, and that will do."

Song Miao listened, but did not take it to heart.

She has seen people make furniture; Xu Shushu's family on Pingyang Mountain are of the Mo School, and because they have no children yet love kids, they often make small clever toys for her to play with.

There were tables and chairs the size of a walnut that could change shape with a few flicks, moving little wooden men, small wooden houses that could be assembled and disassembled, and a little horse she could sit on, press a mechanism, hold the rotating parts, and it would slowly walk forward and turn to the side.

Having seen much, she knows that for a craftsman, there is no such thing as a ruined piece; even if something goes wrong, a slight alteration makes it good again, and if it truly cannot be fixed, selling it at a discount still attracts plenty of buyers.

Censor Xin's "give a few cash coins as a token gesture" presumably means he lends his face, and the other party gives face in return.

This face, Song Miao is currently too embarrassed to bask in.

She only smiled and thanked him.

Seeing the three enter the miscellaneous room of the main hall to study the wooden window positions, with further arrangements for the evening, Song Miao did not disturb them further, only lowered her head to work.

Spring bamboo shoots grow fast when attached to the root; once separated from the root, they age fast.

There used to be a vulgar saying: in spring, never relieve yourself in a bamboo grove; otherwise, you might specially find a flat patch of ground, and when you squat the ground is flat, but before your five grains have time to cycle out from your belly, your buttocks get poked by a shoot just drilling out from underground.

Only a short while had been delayed, yet Song Miao felt the slender shoots in her hand were harder than when she made the bamboo shoot granules pan-fried with eggs for He Qi this morning.

Fortunately, stuffed bamboo shoots have their way of eating when tender, and their way when tough.

She cut the shoots into finger-length sections, kept the shoot nodes at both ends, pierced vertical channels through them with a coarse needle — more channels for larger sections, fewer for smaller — then thoroughly wrung dry the pomelo peel that had been soaked in many changes of water, before chopping the filling.

At this moment there were no horse hooves on hand, so Song Miao made do with soaked wood ear and shiitake mushrooms.

Front leg meat, three parts fat, seven parts lean; after chopping into minced meat, she divided it into two portions — one mixed with wood ear and chopped evenly, one mixed with shiitake and chopped evenly.

Seasoning done: the former received only a pinch of salt; the latter, besides salt, also had a small corner of fermented bean curd lightly mixed in — thus both meat fillings were seasoned.

The shoots had channels pierced; using her fingers to gently press both ends toward the middle, the center became a lantern shape, hollow, just right for stuffing with meat; once done, the middle of the shoot sections bulged plumply.

The pomelo peel had long been slit open; after wringing dry, the deep slit was also just right for stuffing with meat filling.

Both are home-cooked dishes; aside from taking some time, neither is difficult to make.

Once stuffed, Song Miao did not wait further, immediately opened the stove door and added firewood.

Knowing Qin Zong would go to the wine tower to order dishes, and given his style, he likely ordered mostly big fish and big meat; since she was making side dishes, she naturally kept them light, to help everyone cut the grease.

Thinking this, for the pomelo peel stuffing she did not use meat soup to cook; she only took a bowl, spread a thin layer of the remaining shiitake minced meat at the bottom, placed the finished pomelo peel stuffing on top with the meat filling facing up, steamed it until the steam rose, then left it alone.