Chapter 77

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

While Han and Kong were still hurrying toward the canteen, inside the canteen, the surnamed Dong Chai Guan who had already prepared the rice and dishes was holding his chopsticks, staring longingly at the meat before him, yet finding himself in a bit of a dilemma.

The big pork belly just out of the wok, fat and lean alternating, sliced very evenly, almost all three Portion thick.

The skin was golden yellow, crisp, the whole piece carrying the meat fragrance forced out by the hot wok, making one salivate at the smell.

The fatty parts were almost transparent, the lean parts also glistening with oil; just looking at it, one could imagine how fragrant it would be upon entering the mouth.

But it was really too hot.

Fresh out of the wok, after just a few quick slices, it went straight into his bowl; clearly in his heart he had already counted from one to ten, feeling like a very long time had passed, yet that meat still slowly and steadily bubbled with fine oil bubbles.

Several times he couldn't help but put it in his mouth, only to be scalded so badly he grimaced, yet he simply couldn't bear to eat the other dishes first.

He blew hard several big breaths, and waited a good long while, before Dong Chai Guan finally got that meat into his mouth.

What fragrant meat!

The outer shell was extremely crisp, not that kind of flaky crispness, but a crispness with thick resilience, needing a bit of force to bite into, and then using some effort to wrestle with that skin for a while before being able to bite through.

Once bitten open, the fat and lean grain of the pork belly was originally very clear, the first few mouthfuls eaten were distinctly separate.

The fatty parts were fragrant and smooth, that fat meat was also slightly crisp, the oil sensation extremely rich; because the oil had been slow-fried over low heat for a long time, much had already rendered out, the remaining parts fragrant but not greasy, the lean parts not the slightest bit tough — how could pork belly lean be tough, but the meat was very firm, tender, yet not finely tender, rather with that kind of texture that has bite.

After chewing a few more mouthfuls, the fragrant smoothness and firm tenderness combined together, no other seasonings at all, only a bit of salt added, bringing out that meat fragrance, fragrant in a simple and pure way.

One bite fragrant and resilient, that was the skin; another bite fragrant and tender, that was the meat; oil and meat juice mixed together, and there was the crisp skin's burnt fragrance, kacha kacha between the teeth.

As expected, meat is still best eaten pan-fried for the most satisfying bite! The most intense fragrance!

Just as he swallowed this mouthful of meat, Dong Chai Guan couldn't help but extend his chopsticks again.

He ate one thick slice after another thick slice; although delicious, he still felt unsatisfied, and when he put in his chopsticks again, he went all out, actually picking up three pieces, stuffing them into his mouth in one go.

Sure enough this time it was truly satisfying.

From last night to tonight, he had been busy for a whole day and night; at this moment he finally sat down, stealing leisure from busyness, eating meat in big mouthfuls.

Meat juice burst out between his teeth, bursting a mouthful of burnt fragrance and meat fragrance.

Life's happiest thing, nothing surpasses this!

Dong Chai Guan was enjoying himself, his chewing movements becoming large, so that the fat, lean, and outer layer of burnt fragrant skin had enough spacious room in his mouth to fully mix; he was eating happily when suddenly someone patted his shoulder from behind and called out: "Lao Dong!"

He turned his head and saw several acquaintances standing behind him, obviously having just entered the canteen from outside.

One of them asked: "What dishes are there tonight? If it's still like noon, we might as well get someone to go out and buy takeout."

Dong Chai Guan's mouth was full of meat; this meat had only been eaten for a short while, it was at its most fragrant, he fundamentally couldn't bear to swallow it so quickly, so he simply didn't speak, only passed that bowl to everyone to look at.

Three dishes and one soup, looking at the ingredients they were ordinary, and there wasn't any complex cooking method, yet it was what Song Miao had specially put together, firstly for speed, secondly also taking taste into account; even using a big wok to make it, it wouldn't excessively affect the flavor.

Whether dishes are made with care or not is really very intuitive.

At this moment everyone was originally just glancing casually, all already preparing to go out the door, but upon seeing these dishes, they wavered one after another.

Someone took a fancy to that bowl of soup, saying: "It's actually Lanhudai Cabbage Tang, haven't eaten this in a long time! These fried egg pieces look beautiful!"

Immediately someone chimed in, saying: "This soup is good, much better than that boiled cabbage at noon!"

Another looked at that Zhuyu Beef Minced Tofu Braised Pork: "Is this tofu braised meat? Really fragrant, smelling spicy and numbing, I like this bite, it's fine, with this dish to accompany rice, I won't starve no matter what."

"These bean sprouts are stir-fried lively, and that meat, what meat is it? Pan-fried? Looking at it and smelling it are both strangely fragrant."

Just as they were speaking, that Xin Censor and several brothers lined up at the end of the queue, stood to the side, hearing the discussion here, also followed to take a look, and then also said: "No need to ask, looking like that it's of course pork! Besides, only pork is cheap, one person can get this much, could there still be mutton for you?"

Right in the middle of the commentary, only heard someone from behind interject and ask: "What pork?"

Everyone looked up, and it was that Kong Fuyang who had come with Han Li.

Just that Han Li had only just stepped into the canteen with his front foot, when his back foot was stopped by a hurriedly arriving clerk, only saying Qin Jie had an urgent matter to find him, calling him back.

Leaving Kong Fuyang alone, lined up behind Xin Censor and the others, hearing them speak, he also joined in the fun and chimed in a sentence.

Xin Feng was a straightforward personality, just now had already spoken openly, and having gained a benefit, no longer quibbled, pointing at that Fried Pork Belly and explaining two sentences to Kong Fuyang.

"Hmph, I dislike that pork's gaminess, don't like to eat it — are there other dishes?"

Hearing this sentence, the originally still wholeheartedly wanting to slowly savor Dong Chai Guan, almost choked as he hurriedly swallowed that one big mouthful of meat down.

Although he didn't recognize Kong Fuyang, but seeing this person was familiar with Xin Censor and the others, he also didn't stand on ceremony, choking his neck, forcibly swallowing several times, busily saying: "There are! The dishes are great! Younger Brother! You dislike pork's gaminess, later when you get that fried meat, come sit here, I'll help you eat it!"

While speaking, he shifted the bench under his buttocks under the table, enthusiastically saying: "Come, I've saved you a good spot, go quickly! Don't let the good dishes all get taken by others!"

"Then I'll go take a look."

That queue moved very fast, Kong Fuyang spoke while walking very quickly forward, visibly it wouldn't take long before he could reach the front.

With backup now, Dong Chai Guan ate the remaining Fried Pork Belly even more generously, often stuffing three or five slices into his mouth at once; it was satisfying, but not long after he had eaten the meat clean.

After swallowing the last bite of meat, he looked back, but it was Xin Censor and the others returning with their bowls.

Thinking that in a while there would be another portion waiting for him, Dong Chai Guan was full of anticipation, and even specially moved that bench out.

However, waiting until everyone sat down one by one, seeing everyone was there, only Kong Fuyang was missing, Dong Chai Guan's heart tightened, and he hurriedly asked: "Where's that Younger Brother just now? How come he went to get food and disappeared?"

"He was here just now, seemed like just when getting meat, he was asking Song Xiaoniangzi something, most likely he'll be here in a moment."

Dong Chai Guan's heart waited anxiously, turning his head repeatedly, and even specially stood up, fearing the person wouldn't find him; even so, he still waited a good long while before Kong Fuyang returned.

"Where did Younger Brother go? Why so long?"

He hurriedly shifted inside a bit, making room for the outermost seat, waiting for the person to sit down, then went to look at that bowl.

However, in the bowl there was Zhuyu Beef Minced Tofu Braised Pork, there was Vinegar Stir-fried Bean Sprouts, and another bowl separately holding soup, but uniquely there was no Fried Pork Belly.

Perfectly good meat, where did it go?

Dong Chai Guan was struck as if by lightning.

But Kong Fuyang likewise didn't seem to have recovered his wits, as if savoring something; only after a long while did he say: "Pork is truly fragrant!"

A tableful of people were just about to eat; hearing this sentence of his that came out of nowhere, they all froze.

Seeing everyone at the table looking at him, Kong Fuli then seemed to react, and said: "I just went to get dishes, and because I casually said a sentence that pork easily has a fishy stink, that young lady said to let me try dipping it in sauce, and specially brought out a small saucer of sauce powder for me……"

"I originally thought, since someone brought out the sauce saucer, I'd take a slice to try, just as a token gesture, to give face at least; who would have thought…… this pork pan-fried, dipped in that dipping powder of hers made from who knows what, didn't have a shred of pork stink, and could actually be fragrant to that degree——actually it seems even without dipping there wasn't much stink; this meat truly still depends on the cooking method, one cannot have a preconceived bias!"

Speaking to this point, Kong Fuyang looked at that Chai Guan Dong again, and also felt somewhat embarrassed, saying: "This brother, I just now…… I just now stood there, with the sauce saucer, one slice after another, and have already eaten that meat clean; it seems there's no need to trouble you to help……"

Here Kong Fuli was eating with a tableful of people, while in the Gongchang, Han Li was following a minor official and hurriedly reached the Main Hall.

The moment he entered, he saw two men sitting at the head.

One of them looked familiar; he had seen him years ago in Yingzhou; his surname was Tao, at the time he was Tongpan Xingguan Agricultural Season Shi; last year he heard news, only saying he had already been promoted; at this time he ought to be Jingdong Lu Tongpan Gongshi.

The other sat at the head, looked over sixty, wore common clothes, quite wealthy in bearing.

And at the accompanying seats, first was that Prefect Zheng, then Judge Qin Jie.

Upon seeing Han Li enter, Qin Jie immediately stood up, introduced to the two at the head: "This is Han Li Han Zhengyan, a Taixue student, currently seconded to our Capital Prefecture Office; this time he did much coordination, helped no small amount."

Then introduced the man on the left to Han Li: "This one is Tao Gongshi, currently serving as Jingdong Lu Tongpan Gongshi."

Pointed to the other, said: "This one is our Zhao Fuyin."

Han Li saluted first, then greeted the two separately.

That Tao Gongshi laughed and stood up, saying: "No need for much introduction here; I and Zhengyan were old acquaintances; back in Dingzhou, he even gave me a hand."

Speaking, he turned his head to the person beside him: "Still Zhao Fuyin has the ability, to invite Zhengyan out of the Taixue."

Zhao Fuyin also laughed along, only exchanged a few pleasantries, then looked at Qin Jie, asking: "What exactly is the situation this time; since the person has come, just speak quickly."

"Only started trial today; manpower also insufficient; presumably not so fast to have results."

Qin Jie spoke, addressing Han Li: "Zhengyan, you tell the two officials about today's trial findings."

By rights, at this moment Qin Jie should do the introduction; only the collating and statistics were all in Han Li's hands; tried for a day, and only tried a minority of prisoners; hadn't yet had time to report upward; now superiors are pressing for answers, so he had to call the doer over.

Han Li then simply introduced today's trial findings once.

"Last night although ostensibly to catch gamblers, but today the government office's interrogation yielded some unexpected gains……"

He started from the house opposite the Song Family Eatery at Sour Date Alley End; because there was this outsider Tao Gongshi present, he concealed the inside story that Song Miao's ancestral house property deed was tampered with by a Capital Prefecture Office minor official; only said they got a clue, traced it to that Liao Head's head, then learned he and his confidants had many properties in their names; after surveillance, simultaneously moved to raid; sure enough every room was a gambling den.

Today's tally: including gamblers, plus those implicated inside the gambling dens, added up to a full eight hundred twenty-seven people.

This number is already huge enough; but even more unexpected was that from a house near Zhu Family Bridge Tile District in Chengdong, they actually searched out over ten women and children who went missing during the Upper Yuan Festival.

Hearing there was actually this matter, that Zhao Fuyin and Tao Gongshi both couldn't sit still; especially the former, already leaning forward, cried out in alarm: "What? Truly found people?"

Then urgently asked: "Rescued? Any loss of life? How many total? Where are the other missing people?"

"Still searching and rescuing; at noon just received news; rescued eighteen people, male and female, mostly women, children only six, four boys two girls." Han Li said, "As for where the other missing are, afraid still need to continue interrogation to find out."

"But based on current known news, the missing people eight or nine out of ten have already been smuggled out of the Capital——that house discovered quite a few gambling den enforcers; the enforcers simultaneously are also the Tingjiao heads of the city's Tingjiao Hang; after Upper Yuan Festival, although whole city manhunt, but Tingjiao heads leaving the city have never been restricted……"

Zhao Fuyin hurriedly asked again: "Can the people be chased back?"

"Not necessarily easy, but also not entirely impossible; just need to expend more effort; finish interrogation early, sort out a direction, early send documents to various prefectures, call on local government offices to follow the vine and find them one by one; this isn't something doable in a morning or evening……"

Hearing it only needed people, and also needed various prefectures to cooperate, Zhao Fuyin at once breathed a sigh of relief, slapped the table: "Then quickly try; try out a result, then quickly send documents calling people to go search!"

Speaking, he looked at that Tao Gongshi, said: "Tao Guanren……"

"Prefect rest assured; this official has already transferred two Check Judges and two Clerks; all are veterans of many years; if anything else, just speak; this case not broken, no result produced, this official also won't have a single good day."

That Qin Jie also said: "Also must thank Tao Gongshi; this morning this official and Prefect Zheng went to entrust; Gongshi didn't decline in the slightest, immediately dispatched people; if not for the few capable aides lent by the Criminal Investigation Department, at this time still might not have found those ten-odd missing women and children."

The group spoke a few formulaic words; several Check Judges and Clerks of the Criminal Investigation Department who got the news had already hurried over.

Seeing the lot with dark circles and haggard looks, that Zhao Fuyin couldn't help but say to Zheng Boqian: "Although matters are urgent, but the Criminal Investigation Department officials coming to assist are also guests; food and lodging, you still must arrange people to properly attend to them; absolutely must not neglect them!"

"Where's so much fuss." Tao Gongshi instead laughed: "Came to do business, not to enjoy blessings; eating at the Gong Chu is fine! If too particular, word gets out, reputation also bad; originally a good deed, instead becomes a bad deed——when can't rice be eaten, not urgent in this moment!"

"This……"

Zhao Fuyin couldn't help but look at Zhifu Zheng Boqian.

Prefect Zheng however hesitated a moment, said: "Just about to report to Prefect; the few cooks below make ordinary dishes; that Gong Chu manager Xiao Zheng just came to find me, said he sought a few good cooks, tomorrow morning they'll come to try cooking; since so, might as well let them make a table at noon?"

Such a small matter, Zhao Fuyin naturally wouldn't mind; just about to nod, but unexpectedly a Criminal Investigation Department Check Judge suddenly cried out: "This still counts as ordinary?"

These words out, the whole room looked at him.

This Check Judge was somewhat embarrassed, but could only explain: "This official ate, only felt this Capital Prefecture Office Gong Chu's dishes taste particularly good——this official just went with them; that fried pork belly, crisp outside tender inside, truly peerless; the stir-fried bean sprouts also very crisp, vinegar sour and slippery, both appetizing and refreshing; also that minced beef tofu…… hiss……"

He spoke on, recalling the taste just now, couldn't help wiping his mouth corner with his hand, fearing saliva might truly flow down.

"Makes me hungry just listening!" But Tao Gongshi laughed.

Zhao Fuyin also laughed, said: "I'm hungry too; since so, since matters already discussed properly, why not go together to taste this peerless dish?"

How could Prefect Zheng say no; could only arrange a minor official to hurry and find that Zheng Guanren.

However searched left and right, no sign of the person; asked again, only said went out on business; by the time that minor official returned wanting to report, Zhao Fuyin had already brought that Tao Gongshi and party to the Canteen.