Chapter 55

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Song Miao had just steamed the pomelo peel stuffing for a while when the food from the restaurant in the back courtyard was brought back.

She told everyone to eat first and not wait for her, but before long, she saw Censor Xin coming over.

"There are several Zhuque Gate patrol soldiers behind, and also a Lizheng. If you can get away, come meet them."

Song Miao lived here alone; if she could get to know a few nearby patrol soldiers and have Capital Prefecture Office runners introduce her, then if anything happened in the future, she'd at least have an acquaintance and wouldn't be completely in the dark.

Since Censor Xin meant well, she naturally wouldn't refuse, and hurriedly followed him to the back courtyard.

A large table was placed right in the middle of the back courtyard.

That tabletop was one Song Miao had cleared out from her elder brother Song Huai Zhou's room; it was missing a corner, propped on two benches, roughly leveled, and used for the time being.

Ten people were seated around the table at this time, all sitting on cushions; Han and Qin needed no further mention, and there were also four patrol soldiers, three yamen runners, and one Lizheng—who looked quite familiar.

"Lizheng Sun," Song Miao greeted him.

Lizheng Sun hurriedly replied.

Censor Xin wasn't surprised that the two knew each other, and stepped forward to say: "This room was lent to us by Young Lady Song; this time we owe her our thanks for helping us, otherwise we wouldn't have a place to stay—Young Lady is just a young woman, and if she has any trouble in the future, brothers, please look after her."

For a moment, the patrol soldiers and yamen runners all thumped their chests in agreement, then gave their names.

Lizheng Sun replied last, then said: "This is my duty as a minor official; no need to mention it!"

Song Miao said: "I've always relied on Lizheng Sun's care; everyone in the neighborhood knows he's always diligent, and just the other day he sent over quite a lot of food."

As she spoke, she looked at Han Li and said: "Last time's taro braised pork was made with the taro Lizheng Sun sent."

Han Li was startled, then smiled and bowed to Lizheng Sun.

The latter hurriedly returned the greeting: "Just a few taros!"

But his mouth was already split in a grin.

This was giving himself face in front of the Capital Prefecture Office censor, with Taixue students present besides!

The former was his direct superior, and the latter had a boundless future; if they could remember his name and recognize his face, who knew when a single word might save him from running himself ragged!

Those few taros were truly worth sending!

After greetings were exchanged, everyone made room, but Song Miao said: "Please eat first, gentlemen; I still have two side dishes to prepare, and I'll be back shortly."

"With so many dishes, who could finish them all!" said a yamen runner. "Qin Xiong bought this whole table; even eating, we can't finish it. Young Lady Song, don't trouble yourself!"

Qin Zong hurriedly said: "There's more in the evening! It's already arranged; everyone, eat your fill, eat well!"

He pointed at the table facing Song Miao: "Young Lady, when your dishes are ready, hurry over; there's so much here, you don't need to cook for the evening!"

Song Miao looked over as directed, and sure enough, the table was full of big dishes.

There were three whole braised chickens, one pickled duck, one eight-treasure duck, half a braised goose, plus a portion of braised goose intestines and goose heart, one braised fish; staple foods included basins of chive leaf pancakes, meat buns, a large plate of eight-treasure rice, and also evodia stewed tofu soup, oil-braised bamboo shoots, a plate of stir-fried chives with soybean sprouts, and two or three cold side dishes.

With so many dishes on one table, they could hardly all fit, and two plates of meat were placed on the floor—truly lavish beyond measure.

She smiled and agreed, saying: "I'll be back very soon."

As she was about to leave, Han Li called her from the side, took a lotus leaf, broke off a braised chicken leg, placed it in an empty bowl, and handed it over, saying: "While it's hot, Stall Owner Song, eat a bite to tide you over."

Song Miao took it naturally, thanked him, and then went to the front.

Qin Zong's food had arrived so quickly that it couldn't possibly all be freshly made.

Song Miao had a cook's mindset; when she reached the main hall, she wasn't in a hurry to eat, but first looked at the braised chicken leg.

It was still warm, smelled quite fragrant, and the skin was glossy with oil, but when she bit into it, it was no longer crisp—tough and hard, with a mouthful of greasy fat; though the chicken leg should be the best-textured, most tender part, it actually felt a bit fibrous between the teeth.

The seasoning wasn't bad, and the spices were generous, but the skin was too salty while the inside wasn't flavorful enough; presumably the marinade wasn't mixed well, and it hadn't been marinated long enough.

The restaurant made a batch of things before the meal rush, set them aside once done, and brought them out when someone bought them—that was the usual practice.

If they sold quickly, or if a customer happened to arrive just as the braised chicken came out of the oven, it would naturally taste good in every way; but if someone like Qin Zong went at the wrong time, and the food had already sat for a while, then been stuffed on the way for a long while, by the time it was eaten it would often be far worse than just a little.

As Song Miao ate, she couldn't help but sigh.

Young Master Han meant well, but this chicken leg was quite large and really took up room in her stomach; today she had rarely made bamboo shoot stuffing and had originally planned to eat a few more bites.

A big fat chicken, with fat between the skin and meat; after braising, if left for a long time it would naturally exude oil, and eating it would inevitably be greasy.

Song Miao finished eating in a short while, took two sips of water, and hurriedly opened the stove door, planning to quickly make the bamboo shoot stuffing to cleanse her stomach and intestines.

This time it was still hot pan, cold oil; nothing else was needed, she simply put the bamboo shoot stuffing in and pan-fried it slowly over low heat to set its shape.

Once it was fragrant from frying, she added the prepared soy sauce and fermented bean curd water to simmer.

Because the fermented bean curd aroma needed to be simmered in, and reducing the sauce still took some time, but the pomelo peel stuffing beside it was already steamed through, so Song Miao first carried it out.

In the back courtyard, Qin Zong picked up a few dishes and ate a few bites, then felt something was off, and hurriedly said: "This restaurant's food isn't very tasty!"

He added: "It's also my impatience; because I was afraid the brothers would be hungry, I told those below to find a place that cooks fast, and I don't know who messed up—we won't order from this place again in the evening!"

The patrol soldiers hurriedly flattered him: "Isn't this tasty?"

"It's all solid meat, very fragrant!"

"Brother Qin has a picky mouth; we coarse fellows don't have so many particularities!"

Even Xin Feng said: "It's quite good! Plenty of meat, and good flavor!"

Qin Zong was being modest with his mouth, but he stood up eagerly, fearing the others might feel awkward serving themselves, so he served them: breaking off a leg for one, a wing for another, then distributing fish meat, and dividing the eight-treasure rice and meat buns into each person's bowl.

However, when he got to Han Li, the other man used his hand to block his bowl and shook his head, saying: "You serve yours, don't worry about me."

"Brother Han isn't eating?" Qin Zong was somewhat surprised. "Is it not to your taste?"

Han Li said: "I am eating."

Saying this, he moved his hand aside to let Qin Zong see inside.

There were stir-fried leeks with yellow soybean sprouts, a piece of oil-braised bamboo shoots, and a piece of goose meat in the bowl.

"Add more! This isn't enough to eat!"

Qin Zong bustled about to put a goose leg into his bowl, but before the meat could be delivered, he saw Han Li cover his bowl with his hand again, only saying: "I'll wait for Song Xiaoniangzi's dishes."

This time, Qin Zong actually heard a hint of helplessness in Brother Han's voice.

In front of everyone, Qin Zong couldn't bear to advise him, but in his heart he thought: Today really is the sun rising in the west! People used to say Brother Han had a poisonous tongue and was hard to talk to, but with Censor Xin he was so amiable and pleasant, getting along like two brothers in no time, and now facing this Song Xiaoniangzi, he was so considerate, afraid her food would have no one to appreciate it, willing to go hungry just to wait!

Why is it that facing me, he's never had such a good expression?

Even facing Fourth Brother, it's just perfunctory.

Where exactly does the problem lie?

He thought this way, but his hands didn't slacken, busily distributing meat to the next person.

But after distributing a few, when it came to Sun Lizheng's place, the other man also hurriedly stood up and said: "Many thanks, Brother Qin, no need, no need, I've already eaten a braised chicken leg, and plenty of duck and goose meat, give this leg to the other brothers!"

Qin Zong glanced at his bowl edge, and sure enough there was a cleanly gnawed chicken leg bone, and some other bones, but compared to the others at the table, those bones were far too few.

"Others have some too, eat the good meat first!" He only thought this person was too embarrassed to eat more, smiling as he stepped forward.

Sun Lizheng was not Han Li, unable to refuse Qin Zong's hard sell, he had to accept it, but even though he tried very hard, his smile still held a few traces of poorly concealed reluctance.

Naturally, a patrol soldier familiar with him on the side saw through it, joking: "Old Sun, when did you learn to be polite with the brothers? Back when snatching meat at a table, we never saw you being so yielding!"

And added: "Such a good chicken leg, if you don't eat it, I'll eat it!"

Saying this, the patrol soldier made a move to snatch it.

But unexpectedly, Sun Lizheng not only didn't dodge, but came forward to meet him, actively yielding the chicken leg from his bowl, saying aloud: "I'm really not putting on airs, Old Sun here ate breakfast late today, my belly isn't hungry, I can't fit so much meat."

The patrol soldier was only playing around, never expecting to actually snag a chicken leg, but since it was good meat, he said: "Then I won't be polite! You've made me feel embarrassed!"

"I'm just a Lizheng, only recognizing people, not like the brothers running back and forth, getting hungry quickly!"

Sun Lizheng laughed hehe, and while laughing, he looked up again, only to see Song Miao carrying a tray out from behind, immediately pushing a plate of braised chicken in front of him toward several patrol soldiers nearby, and saying: "All are proper good meat, Brother Qin's kindness is such, everyone should eat more!"

Seeing Song Miao walk near, Sun Lizheng hurriedly raised his right hand high, calling out "Song Xiaoniangzi".

When Song Miao looked over, he again pointed with his finger at his own front, saying: "Song Xiaoniangzi, put the dishes here, there's an empty seat here!"

But just as his voice fell, he saw Han Li opposite stand up, saying: "Put them here for me, carrying back and forth is so much trouble."

While speaking, he actively moved aside the plates and dishes in front of him, and even sent a plate of fish to Sun Lizheng's front.

Seeing the fish head before him rolling its bulging white eyes at him, Sun Lizheng had to accept it, his heart filled only with disappointment, but he couldn't argue, so he could only sigh inwardly: This Young Master Han, after all is a scholar, doing things with refinement, not putting on airs at all, and so diligent.

But this diligence was really too untimely!

He couldn't help but look at the dishes Song Miao had put down.

It was a large plate, inside neatly arranged, placed sideways were many stuffed dishes.

The filling inside the stuffed dishes was unknown what meat, the outside also couldn't tell what ingredient wrapped it, light brownish-yellow, looking ordinary, but just as it was placed on the table, that fermented bean curd aroma had already wafted out.

"This is pomelo peel stuffing, I see Brother Qin's table of meat dishes is very substantial, so I stuffed this for everyone to cleanse their intestines and stomachs." Song Miao said smiling, "I made quite a lot, if you can't finish it doesn't matter, it will be more flavorful at night."

She put down the dish plate, and returned to the front hall to watch her bamboo shoot stuffing.

The table was full of dishes, the bowl had been stuffed full by Qin Zong, this pomelo peel stuffing was brought up, everyone for a moment hadn't gotten around to it.

But there were those who had been waiting early.

Song Miao's front foot had just left, smelling that familiar fermented bean curd fragrance, Sun Lizheng at the table was already eager to move, his hand immediately grabbed chopsticks.

He had tasted Song Xiaoniangzi's skill several times, knowing that things coming from her hands had none that didn't taste good, especially last time's taro braised pork, truly after eating, lips and teeth retained fragrance, repeatedly savoring the aftertaste, he and his wife almost fought over the last piece of taro.

This dish before him also had fermented bean curd fragrance, and he didn't know yet what flavor it was!

He and the pomelo peel stuffing were separated by quite a distance, his hand wasn't long enough, he hurriedly stood up to pick some, and used a bowl to hold them, in one breath he clipped several into the bowl, before sitting down.

Having eaten braised chicken legs in front, and several chopsticks of each meat and vegetable, then downing a meat bun, Sun Lizheng's belly was already half full.

Once he learned Song Miao had also made dishes, he didn't eat much anymore, specially leaving a bit of empty space.

But just as he bit into the pomelo peel stuffing, Sun Lizheng couldn't help but inwardly cry out that it was bad.

The empty space was too little!

Song Xiaoniangzi didn't lie, saying it was a dish to cleanse the intestines and stomach, it truly cleansed the intestines and stomach.

As soon as it entered his mouth, he originally wanted to bite, but before he could bite, a pool of soup juice directly melted in his mouth.

Very fresh and sweet.

The soup juice was a clear sweet pork clear soup taste, just as it was swallowed into the throat, it came back up with pomelo's clear fragrance, but that fragrance was not a strong fragrance, but rather a very fresh pomelo pulp fragrance.

After he chewed a few more bites, he discovered the pomelo peel pulp was already very soft, completely not needing teeth.

The peel had the outer yellow skin shaved off, blanched in water then wrung dry, and soaked changing water several times, long ago removing the original bitter astringent taste cleanly, only leaving the pomelo peel pulp's clear fragrance.

This peel pulp was especially able to absorb water, the middle stuffed with pork mushroom filling, and sitting on pork mushroom meat patties steamed together, completely absorbing the pork's meat juice, meat fragrance, and mushroom's unique fragrance into it, not needing to bite to have a mouth full of juice, then biting, the nearly melt-in-mouth pomelo peel mixed with mushroom pork filling swam together in that mouth full of soup juice.

Pomelo peel clear fragrance, mushroom pork filling fresh and sweet, among it also had fermented bean curd's unique fragrance, extremely refreshing.

With this dish placed before him, even ten braised chickens plus ten simmered fish, he wouldn't exchange!

Sun Lizheng ate one, then ate another, in the blink of an eye he ate the pomelo peel stuffing in the bowl to the bottom.

This thing, casually slurped it all down, no matter how much he ate he didn't get tired of it.

He couldn't help but stand up again to replenish.

Those replenishing dishes were naturally not just Sun Lizheng alone.

Han Li was also eating.

He didn't eat fast, but never stopped, almost half a bowl at a time replenishing.

And he also had one advantage, that plate of pomelo peel stuffing was placed right before him, easy to clip, almost unconsciously, a full plate had a corner eaten by him.

The two each ate their own, occasionally when clipping dishes their eyes met, with great tacit understanding neither spoke, only moving their gazes away.

In a short while, that plate of pomelo peel stuffing arranged in an O shape when brought up, the symmetrical places had two corners dented in.

Han Li's movements were very concealed, but Sun Lizheng standing up again and again was too obvious, soon attracting the attention of those beside him.

"Old Sun, what are you eating? Didn't you say you weren't hungry?"

"Oh my, an empty space, and it's all eaten by you?"

Sun Lizheng was busy eating, only managing an apologetic smile; after a long while he finally freed his mouth and, finding a spare moment, said: "Brother Qin is generous, buying so much meat; this one who hasn't seen the world has had his fill, let me first eat some to clear the intestines and stomach."

These words could only deceive children.

Clear the intestines and stomach, clear all these dishes in? I'm afraid you're stuffing the intestines and stomach, right?

The two who asked grew suspicious, and each followed suit by picking one up into their own bowl.

Very quickly, these two also stopped speaking, and began picking pomelo peel stuffing into their own bowls one after another.