Chapter 71: The Marvelous Kitchen, Chapter 71: Urging

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Earlier, hearing Han Li say he had taken on a case, Kong Fuyang had not thought much of it, since there were always many matters at times.

But once he heard that the number of suspects in the case ran into the hundreds and the victims exceeded a hundred, he had long forgotten what he had originally wanted to say, and exclaimed, "Under the feet of the Son of Heaven, in this day and age, how could there be such a huge case!"

Following an ordinary case and following a case this large—what was learned and known were naturally completely different.

Kong Fuyang immediately understood why Han Li had set aside his studies and agreed to be seconded to the Capital Prefecture Office.

To be honest, just hearing about it had already stirred his heart.

Kong Fuyang could not help but say, "A case this big—how could I go just because I want to?"

"If you want to come, later when I return I will ask the Capital Prefecture Office to issue an adjustment summons, seconding you starting today."

As if guessing what he would say next, Han Li added, "After we meet up, you and I will first go to the Teaching Hall, see who is on duty tonight, and write an application document to them; the procedure can be made up afterward."

Even the leave procedure for going out tonight had been arranged for him.

With the Capital Prefecture Office handling the secondment, and being able to participate in solving a major case, with Han Li speaking on his behalf, Kong Fuyang had always been looked upon favorably by others; as long as the teacher on duty tonight was not out of his mind, he would surely agree without hesitation.

Just what major case could involve hundreds of suspects?

Kong Fuyang's heart was itching, and he wished he could immediately return to his quarters to pack his luggage.

However, he had only finished criticizing Han Li during the day for neglecting his proper duties and not looking like a student, so at this moment he simply could not get past that hurdle himself. He swallowed a mouthful of saliva and asked, "I still have to grade papers tomorrow and the day after. Once I finish grading, can I be seconded over then?"

Han Li shook his head and said, "The case is urgent. If you don't come tonight, I cannot wait any longer; I will arrange for someone else right away."

Kong Fuyang gritted his teeth and simply said, "I want to go. It's just that during the day, because you didn't come to help grade papers, I scolded you once in front of a group of classmates..."

He recounted what had happened during the day.

Han Li made an "oh" sound and asked, "Are you afraid of going back on your word and being mocked by others?"

He added, "If you want face, you can't have substance. You choose for yourself."

Kong Fuyang quickly shook his head and said, "It was my own mistake. Where would I dare to mention face? You are broad-minded and wouldn't mind, but I know in my heart—I have no face to take this advantage again."

Han Li glanced at him and said, "You've read so many books and traveled around studying, yet you act so indecisive. You're not even as good as some outside students who know how to improve. Where do you get so much nonsense?"

He added, "I don't have time to chatter with you. In a moment, if you want to come, come; if not, forget it. It's up to you."

Saying this, he raised his lantern and strode away.

Kong Fuyang was left behind. He hesitated for a breath, and finally called out, "Han Li!"

Han Li turned back, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "What is it?"

"If I can't go, who do you plan to find?"

Asking this, Kong Fuyang actually felt a bit uneasy in his heart, unable to say whose name he wanted to hear.

If the person who went was far inferior to himself, he could still comfort himself that even if it was to help Han Li, it counted as an apology, and he would shamelessly follow along.

But if the person's ability was similar to his own, yet they were well-connected, knew how to deal with people, and could coordinate...

Then what reason could he find?

However, before Kong Fuyang could figure out what to think, he heard Han Li coldly say, "Do you really think I run a grocery store, taking on anyone who asks?"

"I've read your essays and seen your answers on the classics. I've heard the teacher mention your character several times." Han Li said, "Although it's hard labor, only tedious work, not just anyone can do it. Think it over. Even if you can't stand it halfway and want to drop the burden, I won't agree."

He finished speaking, turned, and left.

Kong Fuyang stood where he was, unable to say what flavor was in his heart, only feeling his face was hot. He touched it with his hand and discovered that the corners of his mouth had somehow turned upward.

He stood for a while, then suddenly came to his senses. He hurried to his quarters, and after quietly opening the door, he casually rolled up the clothes he usually wore, deliberately changed into a pair of shoes easy to walk in, and was groping in the dark to get his usual brush when he heard his roommate on the bed say, "You light the lamp. I haven't slept yet."

Kong Fuyang lit an oil lamp.

Seeing him grab all sorts of things and stuff them into a bamboo basket, the roommate asked, "Where are you going? If you can't find Han Li, are you going to move into his quarters and guard him day and night?"

"No, not at all!" Kong Fuyang hurriedly said. "I'm going to the Capital Prefecture Office right now."

The roommate sat up in shock, threw off the quilt, put on his shoes, and got up to stop him, saying, "Are you crazy? You don't like Han Li. Just wait until he comes back to say it. Why on earth go to the Capital Prefecture Office!"

Kong Fuyang then came to his senses and hurriedly explained, "I'm not going to cause him trouble. Zheng Yan said he has urgent matters on hand and is too busy, so he asked me to go help."

By this point, his voice had risen by three degrees.

The roommate listened, dumbfounded, and asked, "You agreed?"

"I'm shameless, I agreed!"

Kong Fuyang said he was shameless, but his tone was indeed excessively lighthearted.

"Fine, you agreed, you agreed. Why are you laughing like that?"

"Did I laugh? No, right?"

Kong Fuli asked while touching his own face, then raised the lamp to find a bronze mirror to look in. Indeed, even though the candlelight was like a bean, he could see that the person in the bronze mirror had a face wrinkled with laughter. Even though he desperately suppressed it, he couldn't help but let his teeth show.

"Oh dear, oh dear!" He hurriedly put down the bronze mirror. "I'm leaving. If anyone asks tomorrow, tell them I was short-sighted and shameless, which is why I spoke ill of Han Li today..."

"Forget it. You can say it or not. When I return, I'll make a public self-criticism myself!"

He hurriedly put on his pack, then turned back and said, "I'm leaving! Zheng Yan said there are many matters this time, all hard labor. I'm afraid I won't be back for several days. Soon he will ask the Capital Prefecture Office to issue a transfer order. If any teacher asks, please explain for me!"

Saying this, he left happily carrying his bamboo basket.

Left alone, the roommate wore a large bellyband, his two hairy legs bare, standing in the quarters. He watched Kong Fuyang run off, taking two steps at a time, and felt that the other's appearance at this moment was no different from a silly child on the street who could be tricked into shelling a day's worth of beans with just a candied hawthorn.

What was even sadder was that he himself craved the taste of candied hawthorn. He was clearly just as silly, but why was no one willing to give him one to trick him?

Not to mention that Han Li had packed his things and returned to the original spot, only to see that Kong Fuyang had already arrived first.

The two first went to the Teaching Hall to find the teacher on duty, then went straight to the Capital Prefecture Office. There was a flurry of busyness. Indeed, for several days straight, they were busy without touching the ground, not to mention it.

On the other side, Chen Fuzi heard that Song Miao only asked him to help inquire how to access the previously publicly announced case files. He agreed in one breath, saying that once he got news, he would immediately send someone to inform her.

Since Taixue was holding its public examination, even though Chen Fuzi was lazy, he couldn't leave for too long, so he wiped his mouth and beard, reluctantly bade farewell with a full belly, and left.

After seeing Chen Fuzi off, Song Miao tidied up the household chores and prepared to go out to buy ingredients for the next day.

But she had just opened the front door and hadn't yet stepped out when she saw that starting ten or so steps outside the door, and further toward Nan Lu Academy, many students were standing or sitting; at a glance, there were at least twenty or thirty.

"Song Stall Owner!"

"Why are you opening your stall so late!"

"Exactly, exactly! Song Stall Owner does business, how can you be so lazy, don't you want to make money?!"

Seeing her open the door, the students spoke one after another and hurriedly gathered around her.

Seeing this scene, Song Miao silently thought it was not good, and hurriedly saluted everyone in a circle, saying: "I'm truly sorry, the breakfast I made today has all been reserved."

Hearing this, the students exploded and began to complain.

"Song Stall Owner, does the Taixue public examination mean our Nan Lu students aren't even qualified to eat breakfast? This is blatant favoritism!"

"Song Xiaoniangzi never did this before; do you only want new customers and not us old customers?!"

"We came early in the morning and didn't even smell a scent; how can you do this? Is there not a single bite of food left? Not even a sip of soup?"

"Can you reserve a portion of shaomai for me tomorrow? We're old customers; even if the gate is blocked by the school instructor tomorrow morning, I'll crawl out at noon to get it!" While saying this, he had already reached into his waist purse to take out money.

Song Miao had no choice but to promise that the door would definitely open at a certain time tomorrow; she went back into the house to get paper and brush, had them register one by one, collected deposits, and only said that if they didn't come by the time, they should ask someone else to take it back.

Since standing made writing difficult, someone pressed the paper against the Song family's front door and began to write; while writing, someone with a keen nose suddenly asked: "How do I smell... it seems there's a scent of rice cake inside the house?"

As soon as this person mentioned it, others nearby immediately chimed in.

"I smelled it too, and thought I was mistaken!"

"It is quite fragrant."

While speaking, everyone looked at Song Miao; though they didn't speak, the meaning in their eyes and expressions was very obvious.

Song Miao was stunned, then suddenly realized and said: "It must be the Snow Steamed Cake I made this morning—I made very little, just to try a sample, and ate it myself for breakfast."

Seeing a group of people staring at her covetously, Song Miao simply went into the house, threw the front door wide open, went to the stove, and opened the steamer basket lid.

Warmed by the remaining embers, the Snow Steamed Cake was still hot; as soon as the lid was opened, the fragrance wafted out.

"There isn't much left; let me share a taste with everyone, how about it?"

The students of Nan Lu immediately nodded.

"Yes! Yes! It's just not right to eat Song Xiaoniangzi's for nothing; you should take some money!"

"Song Stall Owner is the most straightforward! Is this a new food? When can we officially eat it?"

But some took the opportunity to make requests.

"I'm so hungry I'm dizzy, Song Xiaoniangzi, can you give me a larger portion?"

"Just you being dizzy? I'm so hungry my vision is blurry! I want a larger portion too!"

These requests were quickly suppressed by others: "Stop making noise, having something to eat is already good, what's the fuss!"

Song Miao smiled as she counted the people, cut a piece with a knife, wrapped each in lotus leaves, put them in a basket for them to take themselves, and asked them to help taste it.

She had originally only made two layers of steamer baskets; Chen Fuzi had eaten quite a lot, so by the time it was distributed among everyone, each person got only three or four bites.

A group of people took the Snow Steamed Cake, and after eating, they all began to talk nonsense.

One said "Not enough to eat!", another said "Eat more tomorrow so you can tell me the taste!"

Someone else said: "It's delicious, but too little; when you sell it, a portion should be five times this size to be enough!"

Finally, someone gave a serious review: "I like it! I want to eat this with shaomai—previously I ate shaomai with glutinous rice and felt stuffed after; if I eat this with shaomai, it's just right! Can I buy it tomorrow?"

A group of people again asked for the price and offered money.

Song Miao said: "It's just a few bites; I let you wait so long, how could I be embarrassed to take money—just tell me, is it sweet or bland?"

Then everyone seriously gave their reviews.

This Snow Steamed Cake naturally couldn't compare to glutinous rice, shaomai, and such, but it was very comfortable to eat, very fragrant and sweet; everyone who tasted it thought it was quite good, and if it were really sold, they would definitely buy a piece along with other things.

Someone urged again: "Song Xiaoniangzi, the Huang Bobo from last time was delicious; you said it's troublesome to make, but how about making ordinary red bean steamed buns or red bean cakes? Your red bean filling is different from others, especially delicious! Fragrant and not greasy!"

Song Miao had only made Huang Bobo twice, in very small quantities; only three or four people present had eaten it, but those who had all agreed it was delicious and also praised the red bean filling.

For a moment, the others also became curious and chased after her to eat.

Song Miao had to say: "Let me think about it; I'm just one person after all, I can't make too many things."

Everyone urged Song Miao to quickly find someone to help.

After all, they worried the school instructor might arrive at any moment; a group of students ate the Snow Steamed Cake, then chased Song Miao to make more new foods in the future, with more varieties and quantities; after urging, they hurriedly left.

Song Miao finally saw them off, closed the door, and was about to leave when she heard commanding voices from the house opposite behind her, and the sound of walking.

She turned and saw two yamen runners leading a group of patrol soldiers pushing a cart out; the cart boards were packed full, but everything was wrapped in cloth, so she couldn't see what was inside.

Although she wanted to ask a few questions, she wasn't familiar with those two yamen runners and didn't want to trouble them, so she gave up.

When Song Miao followed the cart out of the alley, walking along, she heard neighbors on both sides watching the excitement, pointing and discussing at the street corner.

"I heard many gamblers were caught last night."

"So that house opposite was a gambling den—hidden so tightly; I happened to see someone going in and thought it was a student sneaking out; who would have thought they were gamblers!"

While everyone was discussing, seeing Song Miao come out, they hurriedly called her and asked: "Song Xiaoniangzi, I heard the yamen caught gamblers last night and dragged out two or three hundred people from your opposite house; did you see it?"

The number of people was instantly exaggerated by seven or eight times.

Song Miao had been warned by Censor Xin, so she hurriedly shook her head and said: "That house's front door was always tightly closed; I went in and out and never saw anyone pass by, and thought it was vacant; who would have thought it was a gambling den."

Everyone was disappointed, but didn't ask further, and started talking about other gossip.

"I heard Sun Lizheng's brother was also caught on the spot! Don't know if it's true or false."

"What a sin; wouldn't he have to take a hundred blows of the Killing Might Stick?"

"Seems like more than that; he gambled a lot of money, and seems to have been involved in the gambling den."