Chapter 60

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

The moment it entered her mouth, she didn't even need her teeth, nor did she need to press it with her tongue—that small spoonful of Ginger Milk Pudding had already half-melted in Zhu Shi's mouth.

She had truly never tasted such a texture before; it was many times more tender than tofu, almost shapeless, yet with a half-solidified feel.

The first taste was cow's milk and sweetness.

The cow's milk flavor was rich, and the sweetness was obvious, but before she could swallow it down her throat, the ginger flavor had already spread.

Old ginger was naturally pungent, but that pungency was now wrapped in cow's milk, and the sweetness of white sugar suppressed it, so the spiciness stimulating the tongue became extremely mild, yet rich and mellow, blending with the congealed cow's milk to melt on the tip and root of the tongue—rich, fragrant, sweet, but not cloying.

The ginger spiciness and the sweet cow's milk flavor were intertwined and neutralized each other.

Once swallowed into the belly, the ginger flavor slowly burned from the stomach, bringing a warm feeling, spreading to the limbs and bones.

Zhu Shi took spoonful after spoonful; at first she really wanted to eat slowly and savor it, but as she ate, as if she had only tasted the flavor, that white porcelain bowl was scraped clean by the spoon, even the bottom, with not a bit left.

She scraped the spoon hard around the bowl wall once more, put it in her mouth and sucked for a long time, and only when she could suck out no more flavor did she come back to herself.

—Such a small bowl, it's really too easy to eat!

The bowl was empty, her mouth still craved, and her belly could still hold more; Zhu Shi couldn't help but look toward the stove counter.

There were still many bowls there, looking exactly like the one in her hand, and they even had lids!

They should be full to the brim, freshly made, not eaten empty, right?!

But Zhu Shi was after all too embarrassed to ask for more, so she could only hint indirectly: "This Ginger Milk Pudding is truly delicious! I ate it, and my feet were originally cold, but now half my body is warm! How is it made? Let me learn it when I go home!"

Song Miao then told her the method, and added: "Actually, water buffalo milk is best, but water buffalo are rare in Jingcheng; ordinary cow's milk is enough, as long as the ginger is old enough, and the cow's milk is heated just right, it can be curdled well."

"The mouth of the milk jug should be raised higher, and it's best if the spout is a bit smaller; pouring from a height into the bowl mixes the ginger juice and cow's milk evenly, making it easy to curdle."

"If it doesn't curdle, there's still a remedy: heat the steamer, remove the firewood, leave only the remaining fire, and steam the Ginger Milk Pudding over water on a very low fire for a little quarter of an hour; it can also curdle into a curd shape, and tastes just as good."

Zhu Shi listened carefully, and her eyes unconsciously glanced again at the lidded porcelain bowls on the stove counter.

If only she could, she really wanted to eat another bowl...

This thought of hers was like a hundred claws scratching her heart; seeing she could hardly bear it any longer, she was about to open her mouth when her husband came out from behind.

Sun Lizheng had just dried the rainwater off his body, originally intending to come over to take the shift, but seeing his wife sitting with a bowl in hand, he asked curiously: "What are you eating here? How come you have something to eat all by yourself?"

Song Miao smiled: "Ginger Milk Pudding."

She added: "I saw everyone got caught in the rain, so I made some Ginger Milk Pudding; it can ward off the cold. This is a bowl for each person, everyone gets a share."

As she spoke, she pointed to the small pot beside her: "I also boiled a pot of Ginger Sugar Water; later I'll put it on the stove to keep warm. Whoever wants to drink can just serve themselves a bowl; it also wards off the cold."

Everyone had drunk Ginger Sugar Water, but Ginger Milk Pudding was something Sun Lizheng was hearing for the first time; he couldn't help but ask: "What is this Ginger Milk Pudding?"

Song Miao handed him a bowl.

He hurried forward to take it, but before he even got close, suddenly a pair of hands reached in, snatching food from the tiger's mouth, and flew off with the bowl.

Sun Lizheng was stunned; he looked up and saw Zhu Shi holding the bowl with both hands, smiling so broadly her eyes disappeared.

"Old Sun doesn't like sweet things; I'll eat this per-person bowl for him!"

As she spoke, Zhu Shi pointed to the pot on the stove counter and said to Song Miao: "Let him drink the Ginger Sugar Water! I'll serve him a bowl in a moment!"

She added: "You just go about your business; don't worry about this; leave it to me!"

"Who said I don't like..." Sun Lizheng had only said half the sentence, and the word "sweet" hadn't even come out of his mouth, when Zhu Shi's glare forced it back down; he dared not chatter anymore, looking aggrieved as that bowl changed owners and slowly moved into the inner room.

A husband and wife bickering; Song Miao naturally wouldn't interfere, just smiled, and returned to the back courtyard to busy herself.

As soon as she left, Sun Lizheng immediately jumped out from the inner room.

"You woman!" he couldn't help but curse in a low voice, "Everyone says Miss Song Xiaoniangzi said it's a per-person bowl; you ate your own and that doesn't count, and you still want to snatch mine!"

"Who snatched the caramelized taro Miss Song Xiaoniangzi made for me last time? I didn't get a single piece! I'm telling you, this isn't over; if you don't return it, Old Lady will remember it for a lifetime and bring it up time and again!" Zhu Shi counterattacked on the spot.

Sun Lizheng immediately simmered down; he hurriedly glanced at the miscellaneous room and said in a low voice: "Keep your voice down; the officials are inside!"

Zhu Shi then let it go; she asked how many people were inside, put the Ginger Milk Pudding on a tray, told her husband to take it in, and added: "After they finish eating, remember to help clear them out; don't let Miss Song Xiaoniangzi have to clean up herself in the end."

Sun Lizheng sighed, carrying the tray in.

He entered the door and first counted heads; sure enough, there wasn't an extra bowl in the tray; his heart sank a little, but he still held out a hopeful question: "Miss Song Xiaoniangzi made some things to ward off the cold; there's Ginger Sugar Water, not too sweet, and there's also a food with a lot of sugar added—does anyone here not like sweet things?"

Whether patrol soldiers or yamen runners, they had all eaten the dishes Song Miao made at noon; who didn't know her skill?

Moreover, Zhu Shi had a loud voice; separated only by a curtain, nothing could be blocked; everyone heard it with their own ears and had been waiting long ago; seeing Sun Lizheng come in, they all smiled at him.

There were also teasing remarks.

"It's just that Old Sun doesn't like sweet things; we all do!"

"Exactly! Made by Miss Song Xiaoniangzi, whether sweet or salty, who wouldn't like it? Even if it's bitter, I'd want to taste it!"

As they spoke, several people didn't wait for him to distribute; they took the initiative to step forward and snatched their own share of bowls into their hands.

The Ginger Milk Pudding, smoother and more delicate than Spicy Tender Tofu; several people ate while winking and making faces at Sun Lizheng.

"Oh my, I'm such a crude person; like Zhu Bajie eating the Fruit of Immortality, I only know it tastes good, but can't explain why!"

"Warm and warm, eating it feels strangely comfortable!"

"Tender, soft, spicy, delicious!"

"Cold wind and cold rain, having a place to sit, and being able to eat this Ginger Milk Pudding; this life, oh my, is like being an immortal!"

Sun Lizheng almost wanted to cover his ears and not listen; he urged resentfully: "Hurry up and eat yours; where does all this nonsense come from!"

He added: "Let me see how long you can eat!"

A small bowl of Ginger Milk Pudding naturally couldn't be eaten for many bites; soon, several people began to suffer from joy turning to sorrow.

"How is it all gone already!"

"Old Sun, any more? Bring me another bowl!"

Sun Lizheng cursed: "There's more in your dreams, a hundred bowls in your dreams! If I really had more, I'd eat them myself—could I stand here staring blankly!?"

Speaking, he swallowed his anger and took those bowls, had just walked a few steps out of the Main Hall, when he saw his wife rise from that bench and hand him the bowl in her hand again.

Sun Lizheng extended the tray to receive it, but Zhu Shi did not place it on it; instead she held it before him and said: "Take it."

"I'm busy right now, and outside you still want to put on airs!"

Sun Lizheng, helpless, finally freed his right hand to take it.

Just as he took it, his left hand lightened—Zhu Shi had taken the tray away.

And Zhu Shi, holding the tray, went toward the Back Courtyard; as she walked she did not look back, only saying: "In a while you wash your own bowl yourself!"

Sun Lizheng was first a bit dazed, but when he lowered his head he saw that the Ginger Milk Curd in the White Porcelain Bowl had only half been eaten, a White Porcelain Spoon placed at the empty spot, while the other half of the jellied cow's milk trembled in the bowl, tender and fresh, carrying the scent of cow's milk and ginger, drilling straight into his nose.

"Aiya! Aiya!"

Sun Lizheng for a moment did not know what to say, and cried "aiya" several times.

"Aiya what—hurry and eat it while it's hot!"

—It was that Zhu Shi hearing the sound, turning her head, and glaring at him from afar.

Sun Lizheng grinned and laughed for a long while, picked up the spoon and was about to scoop, when suddenly his hand paused, his foot turned, and he quickly slipped into the Miscellaneous Room.

"Song Xiaoniangzi's skill is truly excellent—this Ginger Milk Curd is so tender, so sweet, and eating it warms you through; no wonder you eat it and want more!"

He ate while also pretending to look out the window at the house across the way, changing positions in the small Miscellaneous Room, walking back and forth.

The other few on night duty never thought that one slash could come back and cut themselves; annoyed to no end, they all drove him away.

"Go, go, go."

"Get to one side!"

"On kitchen duty—hurry up and finish eating, then honestly get to work!"

Here Sun Lizheng drank a mouthful of Ginger Milk Curd making a hundred and twenty slurping sounds, annoying everyone; the nuisance is temporarily not mentioned.

In the Back Courtyard, Song Miao had prepared all the ingredients for the next day, arranged everything properly, saw that the hour was late, and after waiting a long while still did not see Han Li return, so she could only go to sleep.

And in the Capital Prefecture Office, Han Li saw Song Miao off, took the many copied manuscripts she had left behind, and went to find people to borrow the management regulations of the Archives Library, the Tower Affairs Department, and other places.

He was personally led by Qin Jie to see Prefect Zheng; many people saw this, so naturally they would not make things difficult, and readily found them all.

After carefully studying these things for half a day, Han Li then went to knock on Qin Jie's door.

After he entered, without saying anything else, he only asked: "With Qin Xiong's ability, though you've been in the Capital for a short time, you must have found a few useful people in the office by now, right? Can you spare one or two?"

Qin Jie was stunned, then overjoyed, and asked: "Does Huai Prefecture Riverway Canteen Zheng Yan Seal finally understand and is willing to help me straighten out the procedures?"

He also said: "Not just one or two—even five or eight would be enough—A Wen is leading a few juniors following behind; I'll call them over, all to listen to your arrangements."

But Han Li shook his head: "I don't want those who came in following you; I want the old clerks who have long been in the office."

He paused, then said: "I don't care about the procedures; I only have some questions to ask."

"You can do whatever you want." Qin Jie agreed in one breath. "You want people—I'll call them for you. But no matter what, you still have to use my people together with them. Those clerks in the Military Patrol Office are all old hands; urging them doesn't make them move, beating them doesn't make them budge."

How could Han Li fail to see the other's plan?

But he really didn't have that idle time to keep helping the Qin family bring in new people one after another, so he said: "Then no need for others—trouble Official Qin to spare me a bit of time—is that convenient?"

Qin Jie knew he never spoke without cause, and agreed: "Since you've spoken, even if I can't spare them, I must."

He then asked: "What exactly is the matter?"

Han Li said: "You keep urging me to handle the procedures all day; I told you to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys, but you were too soft-handed..."

"You think I'm new to being an official?" Qin Jie shook his head and laughed. "Huai Prefecture Riverway Canteen Zheng Yan Seal, you're only seconded here for a while; before long you'll return to Taixue to study, and in the future the Censorate and Hanlin Academy will be at your disposal, coming and going as you please."

"But I still have several years to serve in this office. If I overstep, in the future when we meet head-on, how will those below look at me? Who will be willing to work for me?"

"Earlier two groups were already caught, but only given a lesson once, and the other colleagues came to make peace. I didn't want to bother with it, but Prefect Zheng stepped out to smooth things over, saying this, urging that."

"After all, the Capital Prefecture Office is different from other prefectures and counties. Every clerk has who knows whom backing them behind the scenes. If I move too harshly, before I've even secured my own position, I might bring a heap of trouble upon myself."

Han Li heard this explanation but was unmoved, and said in a flat tone: "Then you chose the wrong chicken, and killed it the wrong way."

Qin Jie found it even more amusing.

Young people are often full of spirit and sharp edges, not knowing reverence, always thinking the world is vast and theirs to roam at will; in speaking and acting, they always take things for granted.

He had heard many elders praise this Han Li, and had seen this man's actions—indeed formidable, quite clever.

But no matter how clever, after all he was new here and hadn't even met two people yet.

This time he invited him over, hoping to borrow his ability to lead the younger ones below; who would have thought that at this moment he was actually pointing out flaws to him, a registrar who had been transferred twice and promoted step by step to the Capital?

Did he really think doing things was as simple as scolding people?

But after all he counted as half a fellow disciple, and of very high seniority; even for the sake of Chen Fuzi, he had to give him two parts of face.

"Then according to Huai Prefecture Riverway Canteen Zheng Yan Seal's opinion, how should I choose my chicken, and how should I kill it?" Qin Jie said with a smile.

Han Li did not reply at once.

In the past he had followed his teacher traveling to study, and upon arriving at a place he would first go to the academy, then to the office; he had seen many people and matters, and was all too familiar with Qin Jie's attitude.

But this time was different from before—he had no time to take it slowly, nor did he want to take it slowly; it was only to borrow a knife anyway—the Stall Owner at the Song Stall was still waiting.

He thought for a moment, then said unhurriedly: "Let me catch a chicken for Qin Xiong. You hold it in your hand, then see if it's suitable to kill. How about that?"

Qin Jie considered himself to be without cost, but still felt this Han Li was not quite like his impression, nor like his imagination—somewhat not amenable to orders.

He first agreed, then added: "If it doesn't work, Huai Prefecture Riverway Canteen Zheng Yan Seal, then don't keep shirking; patiently help me lead people and straighten out the procedures. How about that?"

Han Li did not agree, only said: "Hurry up. If you keep dragging your feet, we won't catch any tonight."

Qin Jie almost laughed out loud at this young student's naivety, but finally held it in; following Han Li's words, he sent people to invite three veteran clerks from the Archives Library to come separately.