Chapter 79

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Song Miao

Zhao Fuyin didn't come to the government office more than a few times a year; he only held a nominal post, and hadn't even seen what the canteen looked like.

Although Prefect Zheng was diligent, his daily official duties were busy and he had many social engagements; in the two-plus years he had been in office, the number of times he had entered the canteen was also few enough to count on one's fingers.

It was rather Qin Jie who, since his transfer to the Capital, very much wanted to achieve some merit; in order to show he led from the front, he often didn't leave after court ended, but stayed up keeping watch with the subordinates handling cases, so he knew the canteen quite well.

Therefore, when he just now heard that Judge from the Criminal Investigation Department praise the government office's public kitchen skill, for a moment he didn't know whether his own ears had a problem, or the other party's tongue had a problem.

However, Zhao Fuyin took the lead, and it wasn't good to stop him, so Qin Jie could only follow along, waiting to be embarrassed together.

Han Li, on the other hand, couldn't be bothered with socializing, and was even less willing to eat at the same table as these few superiors; he found an excuse to decline a few sentences, and left first.

Qin Jie couldn't go stop him, and knew he couldn't stop him anyway; he was just about to help explain a few sentences, but unexpectedly he didn't need to speak, for Tao Gongshi had already helped smooth things over, laughing and saying to the few people: "Not seen for several years, Han Zhengyan still has this temper; in the end, being a student is good!"

Han Li's reputation originally arose from his writings; even a Censor like Xin Feng had heard of it from his wife and Old Lady at home, so how could Zhao and Zheng not know; they couldn't help but join in sighing about the young man's brilliance and so on.

While the few people spoke, they had already arrived at the canteen.

Since it was originally to show they understood the feelings of those below, the few gentlemen naturally refused to go to the small side room next door; otherwise who would be able to see?

Unknown who took the lead, everyone very tacitly walked directly into the large dining hall outside.

Right now was mealtime, and there were very many heads in the dining hall.

Zhao Fuyin and his party with such a formation naturally attracted everyone to look; those who were close and really couldn't avoid it, and those who were eager, all stepped forward to salute and ask after them.

Qin Jie had been an official for several years, and was already thoroughly familiar with this way; laughing, he greeted a circle, and said in a loud voice: "Everyone has worked hard! This time the case is time-tight, the task heavy; tonight Zhao Fuyin, Prefect Zheng, and the Criminal Investigation Department's Tao Gongshi three gentlemen have specially come to hold the fort; everyone grit your teeth, once the case is concluded, I will definitely properly request merit for you!"

He was the Current Manager of the Left and Right Military Patrol Academy; right now a whole dining hall full were his subordinates, so naturally he had to give face, and the responding voices thundered.

Song Miao stood inside that half-partition; actually it was just blocked by a stove and table, not much different from a full partition; seeing the commotion here, she couldn't help watching a play; on one side superiors pretending to perform, on the other side subordinates accompanying the performance, she also found it quite interesting.

And after the few gentlemen finished greeting, they still had to perform the play to the end; they were already standing at the very back of the crowd.

For a moment the yamen runners and Chai Guan at the front of the line seeing this, hurriedly wanted to make way, but were stopped by both Zhao Fuyin and Tao Gongshi together, insisting on queuing according to the rules.

Seeing the atmosphere was very good, the superiors all wore reserved satisfied expressions; Qin Jie hurriedly seized the opportunity to save a sentence, saying: "Our canteen's food isn't good, but there is a cook whose lamb meat buns are made not badly; in a bit have someone take a few more, and also ask Gongshi to taste one."

Tao Gongshi was very cooperative, saying: "I'm hungry right now, bring me two big ones."

The few people talked and laughed; the kitchen helpers following along on the side were scared out of their wits and hurriedly went to the front to find a cook.

But right now in the public kitchen where was there any other cook; there was only Song Miao alone.

That person instantly panicked, face like a mourner saying: "Finished; if Fuyin and them really all eat large-pot dishes, when Zheng Guanren returns, he'll definitely have us flayed!"

And asked: "Can young lady help add a little something? However much to just make do!"

Taking people's money, one should naturally do one's utmost; moreover this person's attitude was really very polite, so Song Miao said: "I'll get them a small pot and separately make a dish; although it may not be of use."

Seeing the people were all lined up at the end of the queue, time was very tight, she added: "If we can get two people to come help pick vegetables, even better."

Early on, helpers from the back followed up, took over the small worker's vegetable-serving task at the side, and had that small worker stand at Song Miao's position to help cut meat; although slower, in the end it could be managed.

And Song Miao freed her hands, together with those two helpers picked heads and removed tails of bean sprouts, swiftly washed a basin clean, shook dry the water, together with fine carrot shreds and scallion shreds stir-fried in clear oil, then adjusted a bit of white vinegar, poured half a circle around the pot edge, only wanting vinegar fragrance not vinegar sourness; timing it so when people queued up, adding a few drops of sesame oil was just right to come out of the pot, having helpers serve a spoonful to each of the few people.

The canteen public kitchen's large-pot rice also had nothing special to offer; the officials found a table vacated by those below, took chopsticks, on one side said a few idle words, asked about the case's detailed circumstances, asked about progress; originally it was talking while eating, but eating and eating, a whole table slowly quieted down.

And that Qin Jie originally only accompanied them for the sake of his stomach, originally held not half a bit of expectation, but when he ate that fried pork belly, he couldn't help blinking his eyes, somewhat incredulously eating another mouthful.

By the time he ate that clear stir-fried bean sprouts, his chopsticks even moved a few degrees faster.

As for the other few Judges, originally eating at the same table as their Superior and Capital Prefecture Fuyin, they were actually trembling with fear, but after all they were the ones truly doing the work; busy for half a day, except for that one who ate early, most were already hungry with front chest sticking to back back, barely restraining themselves from wolfing it down.

A few mouthfuls of food down the stomach, although hindered by eating at the same table as superiors, not good to whisper, the few people couldn't help but lower their heads, using peripheral vision to look at each other, eyes writing all bewilderment.

——This is that Prefect Zheng, Qin Pan official's so-called ordinary flavor, flavor not good?

Although it's modesty, this modesty is also too excessive, right?

Large-pot dishes can be made into this kind of flavor; with such a canteen, what are they still hiding and concealing for? Could it be they're still afraid people will poach the cook away?

Had I known earlier, the Criminal Investigation Department should have been more friendly with the Capital Prefecture Office, walked around more!

Just eating, early someone carried a basin of steamed buns over, busily saying: "These are lamb meat buns just out of the steamer basket, properly soft; please gentlemen taste!"

This person was upright, took chopsticks and was about to put into everyone's bowls.

However delivered to one person's bowl side, that person used a hand to cover the bowl; delivered to another person's side, that person also used a hand to cover the bowl wide open.

Even that Tao Gongshi who earlier still boasted to the skies, saying he'd support by eating two big ones, in the end only took one, ate two mouthfuls, and only said to Qin Jie laughing and joking: "By rights my native place is Xiyang, properly I should prefer noodles more, yet I also can't say the food is not good, the lamb meat buns taste even better; Qin Pan official is clearly from Ezhou, located in the south, yet feels the lamb meat buns are more delicious?"

Qin Jie was extremely puzzled, for a moment even feeling his parents giving him this name was not very appropriate, only bewilderedly saying: "In the past it wasn't like this……"

Speaking, he also took a lamb meat bun.

The bun was still the previous flavor, just out of the pot, quite fluffy soft, only don't know why, the meat filling was more greasy, instead not as good as before.

Although edible, compared to that food, it was far worse by not just one level.

Three dishes one soup, with meat and vegetables; even someone of Qin Jie's background couldn't pick out any major faults in those few dishes.

That Meat mo shao niu Meat was for eating with rice; tofu tender smooth, beef flavor boiled through into the tofu inside, mixed with zhu yu, mustard seed spiciness, and that Sichuan pepper slight numbing fragrance, mixed with white rice one mouthful down, hot, mouthfeel truly wonderful.

Beef's meat quality compared to other meats is more firm, also more chewy, meat fragrance richer.

That rice different from usual large-pot rice eaten; rice grains were soft with a slight tiny bounce, not sticky at all, surprisingly quite distinct grain by grain, but not dry.

One mouthful down, rice fragrant soft, beef mince fully chewy, that tender tofu mixed with soup juice only rolled a few circles between upper and lower teeth, already crushed among the rice, beef grains, dragging the other two together with thick soup juice messily mixed together.

The three had quite some soft, tender, bouncy, firm intersecting layered texture, also carrying fresh, fragrant, numbing, spicy, flavors all complete falling into throat, sliding into belly.

That lan hu bai cai tang was also very rich fragrant; inside shrimp skin stir-fried, also had chicken egg, fresh fragrant mouth.

Chicken egg pieces thin thin, fried fragrant enough, burnt just right, eating egg fragrance full, absorbed a bit of soup juice, carrying slight resilient chew, shredded napa cabbage still had its own vegetable sweetness.

If say what's not good, it's large-pot dishes, always lacking that little bit of meaning.

But by the time eating that fried pork belly and clear stir-fried bean sprouts, even someone of Qin Jie's wealthy background couldn't help nodding his head.

The former was the meat's roasted fragrance, relying on having just left the pot, carrying oily and roasted fragrance to explode wildly in the mouth; the latter was stir-fried especially neatly.

The oil used clear oil as a base, the heat was just right, and the bean sprouts should be just about cooked when leaving the pot; by the time they carried their rice and dishes a few steps away and sat down to eat, relying on the residual warmth the bean sprouts brought from the pot, they would cook themselves to just the right doneness, with no raw green taste at all.

Mixed with similarly just-cooked scallion shreds and carrot shreds, besides being crisp and tender, they were very refreshing, carrying the fresh original flavor of the food.

This dish was truly chosen cleverly.

The officials were tired of eating big fish and big meat on ordinary days, tired of wine tables, and this mouthful of stir-fried bean sprouts was truly refreshing.

The amount on a small plate was really not much, and Qin Jie unknowingly finished it.

Not only Qin Jie, but Zhao Fuyin, Tao Gongshi, and that Prefect Zheng were also the first to finish the bean sprouts; after finishing, though not to the point of endless praise, it could be called quite satisfied.

That Zhao Fuyin spoke first, ordering the miscellaneous runners below to fetch another large plate.

A new plate, several people taking turns with a few chopsticks, soon it was gone again.

When the meal was full and the soup sufficient, that Tao Gongshi couldn't help but sigh: "It still has to be the Capital Prefecture Office; the public kitchen cooks so well. When I go back, I'll have the public kitchen there learn well. Ordinarily, those below have complained a lot, saying to tell the kitchen manager, who then pushes it off saying large pot dishes are hard to make—what's so hard about it! Your large pot dish here isn't very good!"

A few words made Prefect Zheng proudly stroke his beard, while the yamen runners of several tables of the Capital Prefecture Office not far away could hardly help but want to stand up, come over and compare with him properly, to make an explanation.

—To reason things out! Where is it delicious! It's just this one meal that's good!

Ordinarily they can even make plain boiled wilted mustard greens without oil or less salt, you eat that first before talking!

But no matter what, dinner was finally gotten through.

Several officials walked out with bellies protruding, and that Tao Gongshi still didn't forget to tell Prefect Zheng: "This case finally has progress; it's best if there's a result tomorrow. When I come through the door again, I'll ask for another mouthful of this stir-fried bean sprouts to eat!"

At once Zhao, Zheng, and Tao three people laughed heartily, and all the bystanders accompanied with laughter.

After finally seeing these few off, the canteen finally returned to its former liveliness.

Around the end of the You hour, when there were not so many people in the canteen, Han Li came over alone.

By this time no one was queuing anymore; only a few scattered people were eating at the seats.

Seeing Han Li, Song Miao said: "Young Master, please wait a moment."

Speaking, she went to the back, quickly stir-fried a small plate of bean sprouts, mixed with a few other things to make a separate tray, brought it out and handed it to Han Li, and again smiled: "I am guarding and stealing, also borrowing flowers to offer Buddha, practicing a bit of bribery—there is a matter I want to inquire about with Young Master Han."

Han Li said: "Stall Owner Song, please speak."

"It's originally that Shen Xingniang—the one who got lost near Baokang Gate before. I vaguely heard the yamen found many people lost during the Upper Yuan Festival. If there is news of her, could you trouble Young Master to let me know?"

Song Miao finished asking, but unexpectedly heard Han Li say: "I remember this person. You said before that your mother had old ties with her family. I have already kept an eye out for you early on. If there is news, I will come to report."

He also said: "Sun Lizheng has already gone back. As for the matter of your family's property deed, you still need to wait a few more days. Only after this case is concluded will there be a final decision, but there is no need to worry; just put your heart back in your belly."

She was stunned, and couldn't help but thank him.

Han Li, however, smiled: "Stall Owner Song gave a bribe, I took the bribe, my hand is very soft. Money and goods are both settled, so no need to thank."

Speaking, he slightly raised the tray in his hand, nodded, and went to find a corner to sit and eat by himself.

Just at this time a miscellaneous runner came to call, saying there was something at the back.

When Song Miao finished being busy and came out, she saw the tray that had been sent out before had already been placed back on a table to the side.

"Someone just sent it over," Da Bing hurriedly said. "I'll cut this meat and then go put it away."

Song Miao smiled: "I'll do it."

She went forward to look and saw that in the tray were stacked three small dishes and two bowls, all washed cleanly, with chopsticks placed beside the dishes to dry. Looking up again, indeed the person was gone.

Han Li always acted quickly. This time, though it was just one meal, he ate for quite a while. After finishing, he left the canteen and specially chose a long way around.

It was mid-spring, the weather gradually warming. By now the sky was dark, and there wasn't much scenery to see in the yamen, only a patch of dark purple light and shadow at the edge of the sky, like the lingering glow of sunset.

He walked slowly, as if looking up at the sky, and as if not. He himself didn't know what he was looking at or thinking about. Only his head was rare in not having so many official documents on the case, nor any other economic writings. Leaving it empty, it was very comfortable.

As he walked, the evening wind blew in his face, slightly cool, but without a chill.

He walked in this evening wind for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. When he stepped out of the small path and turned onto the main road, just as he entered the light cast by the hanging lanterns ahead, someone came up to greet him.

The further in he walked, the more people called out to him.

"Zheng Yan! Judge Qin asks you to go over when you have free time!"

"Young Master Han, the Ding Zi Fang at the back says it will be delayed another two hours. The Pai Shenxun Fang says they can't make room. They are very anxious and sent someone to ask if there is any way."

"Younger Brother Han, the Zuojun Xuncha on that side came to report, asking if they can send the prisoners over two hours later tomorrow afternoon. They don't have enough manpower."

Questions rose and fell one after another. Among them, apart from trivial miscellaneous tasks, it was various departments shifting responsibility.

Han Li's brain was pulled out of the comfort from just now all at once.

He answered them one by one.

"Trouble you to tell Judge Qin I still need half an hour."

"The Huchao has already agreed to free up three rooms. I arranged for people to set them up this afternoon. They should be finished cleaning soon. You tell Xiao Ding to go ask about the progress, urge them, and report to the Pai Shenxun Fang."

"Tell the Zuojun Xuncha on that side to have them issue the approval, finish the trial layer by layer, and hand it over to Prefect Zheng. If the Prefect nods, even delaying twenty hours is fine. Let them choose how they want."

After sending the people away, he returned to his previous business, strode forward, returned to his quarters, and once again buried himself in official documents.

It was just that after eating this meal and welcoming that evening breeze, it seemed there wasn't much difference. But when he picked up the brush to write again, for some reason, he used two parts less force.

The Hou Ya was busy, and the back kitchen was not idle either.

Originally, Song Miao, counting by the number of people, had actually prepared twenty or thirty portions of rice and dishes, thinking this amount was already more than enough.

However, the Censor and Chai Guan of the Zuojun Xunchu, who knows if they were overly tired, and most were tall and big with truly good appetites, eating truly a lot. By the time half of the You hour had passed, the canteen was nearly out of rice and soup.

Since the food was gone, they naturally had to start cleaning up.

The rest was fine, just washing and rinsing. The two small workers and the other miscellaneous runners didn't let Song Miao lift a finger; they rushed to finish it themselves.

It was just that earlier Su Shifu had monopolized a lot of mutton and pork, all good meat, and had chopped it all into minced meat. Now this person had injured his leg. The dough could be sealed and soaked in cold water to be set aside temporarily, but the raw meat could not.

But if they wrapped the buns tonight, with the weather gradually warming, it wouldn't do to leave them exposed overnight. Otherwise, even if they didn't spoil, they would lose their flavor.

Song Miao couldn't bear to see waste. Seeing the two small workers with worried faces, she said: "I'll add some shiitake cubes, mix with the sauce and stir-fry with euodia crumbs until cooked, seal with lard. Tomorrow morning you can take this minced meat and stir-fry it with carrot cubes and egg pieces, add water and soup to make noodles—those noodles can be paired with mustard greens or Chinese cabbage. How about that?"

The two small workers thanked her profusely and hurried over to help.

Song Miao worked while instructing them on how to tend the fire, why to tend it that way, when to use high heat and when to use low heat for stir-frying meat, to what degree it was most appropriate to stir-fry, so as not to be overly dry and burnt, having meat juice but not too greasy.

She spoke in great detail, and both listened with full attention, doing the work meticulously as well.

When the meat sauce was done frying and ladled into the jar, there was no need to add extra lard at all — it had already rendered out plenty of oil on its own.

"Seal it with oil; as long as you fry out the moisture inside, even if you can't finish it tomorrow, just keep sealing it with more lard afterward and it'll keep for several more days — but still, the sooner you eat it the better."

The two nodded repeatedly.

The small worker called Dabing asked, "Will Song Niangzi come again tomorrow? Why not just do it here? I'll be your assistant! I'm not afraid of hardship or toil — just treat me like a mule!"

The other man also hurriedly said, "Song Niangzi, talk to those officials — why not stay?"

Song Miao shook her head, but before she could reply, she heard voices outside, and before long Zheng Guanren walked in with several people.

Seeing Song Miao, his expression visibly turned ugly; he glanced back at the helper following behind him.

The latter hurried forward and placed a paper packet on the table beside Song Miao.

That Zheng Guanren said, "Song Xiaoniangzi, tonight's meal is done. Since the officials of the Left and Right Military Patrol Academy all praised your skill, I keep my word and won't play the villain — count it up, take the money, and you can go."

As these words came out, the small workers and helpers behind all froze, wanting to speak but not daring to interrupt, yet involuntarily letting out sounds of regret.

But Song Miao felt nothing of the sort.

She had been warned beforehand, and knew that most of today's earnings came from this Zheng Guanren losing his temper and paying out of his own pocket.

Having spent money and lost face, this person naturally would never want her to stay on.

Moreover, she never thought of staying anyway — the Capital Prefecture Office was this far from home; today she just happened to pass by and decided to earn some quick money while she was at it.

The government office kitchen required large quantities, the choice of dishes was limited, and this steward official was troublesome in the extreme — the atmosphere with the subordinates couldn't be good either.

She stepped forward, took the paper packet, opened it to look, and sure enough inside was a long string of cash strung on cord.

Estimating the amount was about right, she couldn't be bothered to count it, turned first to instruct the two small workers: "The strong tea is already brewed, the water boiled too; after the hai hour passes, trouble you two to take those sweet dough pieces together with the tea water and hot water, brew them and send them to the various officials."

After bidding farewell to everyone, she turned to Zheng Guanren and said, "Since it's like this, many thanks for your favor, I'll be going first."

Song Miao walked extremely fast, wanting to get home before dark, quickly wash up and rest.

After all, tomorrow she still had to rise early to set up her stall; if she was late, once she opened the door people would be sitting everywhere outside, not to mention those students would hound her to death, and come demanding "Stall Owner Song, are you done making money!"

She slipped away fast, but in Zheng Guanren's eyes it looked infuriating enough.

In all his years at the government office, this was the first time he had paid money into it himself.

A string of cash was naturally nothing to him, but the face lost was enormous.

He originally thought this young woman would pester him, want to stay; though he was determined not to agree, he could have toyed with her a bit, vented some anger — who knew this woman might be a rat, she actually ran this fast!

With nowhere to vent his anger, he had to find an excuse and shouted at the two small workers, "What sweet skin, sour skin! She says do what, you do what?"

The two small workers wouldn't speak, but a helper to the side already knew how to handle it and hurriedly said, "It's to be sent to Qin Pan and them; they said they were afraid those officials couldn't stay awake at night, and also some must be sent to Prefect Zheng's place."

Zheng Guanren exclaimed in surprise, "The sky's already dark, what hour is it, how is Prefect Zheng still there?"

"They said he originally signed out after roll call, but returned in the afternoon; Zhao Fuyin and Tao Gongshi from the Judicial Department also came — the three together, bringing many Judicial Department officials, all came to eat dinner..."

Several pieces of news, each more alarming than the last.

Zheng Guanren was caught off guard, felt his temples throbbing, and cried out involuntarily, "Such a major matter, how could no one have told me!"

Another helper, fearing blame, hurriedly said, "How could they not have called? They searched the entire government office, couldn't find you, went out to search, even went to your residence! Prefect Zheng also asked where you went!"

Sweat broke out on Zheng Guanren's forehead; he hurriedly wiped it and shouted, "Where did I go? I went to find the cook! Otherwise what will the whole office eat tomorrow? Could we still count on that young woman to come cook?"

"Song Xiaoniangzi cooks really well!" But it was Dabing, being young and foolish, who stupidly talked back.

Seeing the atmosphere in the room was wrong, everyone looking at him, Dabing felt uneasy inside, couldn't help stepping back a pace, but his mouth was faster than his brain: "Not only did the officials of the Left and Right Military Patrol Academy praise her, even Zhao Fuyin and Tao Gongshi praised her — Tao Gongshi even said tomorrow he wants to eat Song Xiaoniangzi's stir-fried bean sprouts; I was close by and heard it clearly!"

Zheng Guanren froze, no longer caring to scold the ignorant small worker, but turned to ask the helper at his side, "Is this really true?"

"Seems there is such a thing..." that helper said, hardening his scalp.

Zheng Guanren snorted through his nose, turned to ask the several newly hired cooks behind him, "For a small dish like stir-fried bean sprouts, is there anyone who can't make it?"

The several cooks who came with him all nodded.

It is indeed a common small dish; not to mention proper cooks, even randomly knocking on a household door on the street, few wouldn't know how to make it.

"Outside officials were just speaking polite formalities, and you lot actually took it seriously!"

Zheng Guanren sneered, "Without Butcher Zhang, does this official still have to eat hairy pigs?"

As he spoke, he ordered the several new cooks, "Tomorrow if Tao Gongshi comes again, each of you make a stir-fried bean sprouts; whoever satisfies the superior, I'll give him an extra hundred cash a month!"