Chapter 83

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Cheng Zijian's mind was full of the essay he had just written at this moment.

He felt his approach to breaking down the topic had improved considerably compared to before, his conception was the best in years, and as for the writing, it flowed in one breath.

Only this time the time was still insufficient, he wrote a bit slowly, and the ending was also rushed.

He felt both anticipation and unease at once, rarely had there been a time when he actually couldn't wait to see the results announced.

Hearing someone bring news at this moment, Cheng Zijian spaced out for a moment, unexpectedly didn't hear clearly, and asked blankly: "What?"

That person said it again, saying: "There's a young lady from Fuzhou outside, saying she wants to find you."

A classmate happened to be at the side.

That classmate couldn't help but ask: "Zijian, you've started a family? How come we never heard of it before?"

"No, I haven't started a family."

Cheng Zijian was also somewhat bewildered.

His parents died early, he was raised by his elder sister; for his studies, the family fields were sold off, the travel funds to enter the capital were also scraped together by his sister and brother-in-law; he was single-mindedly studying, only hoping to gain an official position early to repay them, where would he have any family?

Moreover, although he was in the Taixue, he was in the Lower Hall, and hadn't advanced halls in two years; if this time he still couldn't get in, he would be driven back to his native place in a blink, which good family in the capital would look favorably on such an out-of-town son-in-law?

Unable to bother with questions, Cheng Zijian's heart already gave rise to a few points of bad premonition, and he took off running.

A young lady from Fuzhou, apart from his own sister, who else could it be?

But the two places were separated by a thousand li, and there was a young niece at home; if something hadn't happened, how could his elder sister abandon everything and travel far to the capital?

Cheng Zijian ran wildly all the way; when he reached the main gate, he searched around in a circle but still saw no one; just as he was anxious, he heard someone call softly from behind: "Xiao Jian."

He hurriedly turned his head, only to see a person standing in a corner not far away, wearing coarse hemp clothes, head wrapped in cloth, waving at him.

That person's features were still the same as in memory, but face and bearing had both weathered too much, actually making him not dare to recognize her for a moment.

"Sister!"

Cheng Zijian felt grief and joy intertwined, but in the end joy weighed heavier, almost bouncing as he ran over.

He grabbed the other's sleeve, looked her up and down repeatedly, and asked: "Sister, how did you come! Was the journey alright? Is home alright? Have you eaten?"

"All good, all good." That sister replied, first brushing off some gray marks from who-knows-where on Cheng Zijian's shoulder, then pulling out the daughter hiding behind her, "Xiao Lian, quickly call Uncle; at home aren't you always talking about Uncle?"

Xiao Lian didn't dare raise her head much, voice like a mosquito gnat called out "Uncle," then hid back behind her mother, only secretly peeking out half an eye to examine that "Uncle's" appearance.

At a glance, Cheng Zijian basically couldn't see his niece clearly, only exclaimed: "In a blink, how has Xiao Lian grown this tall! When I held her to coax her to sleep before, she was still a tiny little thing!"

"It's been how many years! You've even grown a beard, why can't Xiao Lian grow a bit? She's six, a proper little girl now!" That sister laughed.

The siblings reunited after long separation, naturally had a round of catching up.

If Song Miao were here, she would most likely recognize at a glance that this sister and niece were precisely the mother and daughter who sheltered from rain at her door the day before yesterday, and today met again by chance outside the grain shop, claiming to have come to the capital to seek relatives.

Upon learning that sister Cheng Erniang had arrived with her daughter two days ago and was currently lodging at Guangji Temple, Cheng Zijian couldn't help but reproach: "You've been here several days, why didn't you come find me first?"

"I inquired, heard you were taking the exam, afraid of disturbing your mind." Cheng Erniang explained, "Besides, that temple is quite nice to live in, I also took on some work, mending and sewing, can more or less supplement a bit."

However, asking again why she suddenly came to the capital, the smile on Cheng Erniang's face couldn't stay, she forced out: "Your brother-in-law is gone, the clan decided to adopt a young son for his branch, saying to continue the lineage, told me to take Xiao Lian back to my natal family, and vacate the house."

"This... this isn't eating up the household?! Simply bullying too far!"

Cheng Zijian heard his anger rise, couldn't help cursing: "Isn't Xiao Lian their clan's branch? Sister as the birth mother disagrees, how can they force the adoption! Wait for me... wait for me..."

But he waited half a day, yet only waited out one sentence: "When I go back, I'll go to the yamen to file a lawsuit!"

"Forget it, your studies are important, don't let these miscellaneous affairs divide your heart." Cheng Erniang said, "It's not just me either; last year the Guans' family on the street was also driven back, she clearly had a son and daughter by her side, yet was forcibly married off by the clan."

Cheng Erniang knew her younger brother's honest nature, didn't dare say she had already filed a lawsuit to no avail — the clan head bypassed her status and directly hung that adopted son under the father-in-law and mother-in-law's names, even if the authorities intervened, what could they do?

"I'm a widow with a daughter, life is hard, better to come to the capital, have you to rely on, and also seek a livelihood — here mending one piece of clothing costs two cash more than back home!"

Seeing Cheng Erniang's forced smile, and Xiao Lian hiding behind, Cheng Zijian's heart held ten thousand kinds of anger, yet nowhere to vent, could only turn it on himself.

Who can be blamed?

Widow with daughter, everyone wants to peck a bite of meat.

If he could make some progress, those clan relatives of his brother-in-law, thinking his sister had a successful close relative, might have some scruples.

Right now he himself hadn't advanced halls in two years, inevitably fellow townsmen would find out and spread word back, no wonder all kinds of monsters and demons crawled out.

Cheng Zijian only felt stifled, wishing he could immediately place high in the exams and become an official, return home to slap swollen the faces of all those clan people, and reclaim his sister's house.

He swallowed his anger and said: "That Guangji Temple isn't a good place to stay either, very mixed crowd, you and Xiao Lian are both women, going in and out, even washing up is very inconvenient, let me find a house for sister to rent?"

"Where can't we live?" Cheng Erniang said, "Don't mind it, your monthly stipend is only a few coins, not even enough for yourself! Your sister knows how to manage!"

As she spoke, she also lifted a basket from the ground, saying: "I brought some local products from home, you take them to give a portion to your teacher, also send some to classmates and friends, not much, just a token of goodwill..."

Cheng Zijian could only agree, heart growing even more uneasy.

He didn't dare say more, even more afraid that once the list was posted, if he couldn't advance halls, he'd be driven back to his native place; not only would he have nowhere to go, but bringing along this elder sister and niece who came from afar to seek relatives with no branch to rely on, their future path was also unknown.

Leaving aside Cheng Zijian's worry beyond joy at meeting close kin, on the other side, at Li Doutou's household, a matter also arose because of hometown relatives.

Song Miao followed Zhu Shi just inside the door, greeted Li Doutou's wife, and was walking in when she heard the other say: "Good thing you came — you're native to the capital, do you know where to find a good cook from Qing Zhou?"

These words were disjointed, even Zhu Shi listened in a muddle, only saying: "What's this about, never heard Qing Zhou cooks have any reputation!"

"Don't mention it, Old Li has a maternal aunt by marriage who married south; today isn't my mother-in-law's sixtieth birthday? She specially sent someone a thousand li to deliver local gifts to the capital, and also had someone write a letter to congratulate, speaking of early years' matters."

"Don't know how, but the letter mentioned a kind of rolled pancake they ate two hours ago, saying it was especially soft, and thin, used to wrap meat and vegetables, taste extraordinarily good, only later couldn't find it no matter what."

"Because she married to Hong Zhou, that place eats rice year-round, can't find a few good white-case chefs, so in the letter she specially asked if the capital has that kind of pancake, if so, write the recipe and send it to her, she really wants to eat it."

"That maternal aunt by marriage of mine is older, these two years got sick, bedridden year-round, heard the messenger say, the person is thin beyond description, the doctor straight up said prepare for the end, any day she might go."

"You know my mother-in-law, got the letter, cried a bout, urged us to go out and help find, these few days already bought many pancakes back for her to try, but not a single one was right, asked again, she said when she ate that pancake before was in Qing Zhou..."

Zhu Shi asked in surprise, "Aren't all thin pancakes soft? Wouldn't it be fine to just bake them softer?"

"I'm just saying it's not that — it has several layers, one layer heavier than the next, the middle layer is particularly soft, the ends are very fragrant..."

"I haven't heard of it before. When I go back, I'll have Old Sun keep an eye out too?" Zhu Shi said.

Li's wife hurriedly nodded and said, "Our two families are our own people, I won't bother with those fake polite words. My mother-in-law is extremely anxious, she wishes she could turn into a bird right now, fly over carrying a recipe in her beak to her sister!"

Song Miao had originally just been standing to one side. Hearing these words, she suddenly asked, "Is that soft pancake called a Three-Layer Pancake?"

Li's wife, hearing this, hurriedly turned her head and asked Song Miao, "Has the young lady eaten it before?"

"I don't know if it's the same, but that Three-Layer Pancake is about the size of a small plate, quite thin, softer than other thin pancakes, especially suitable for wrapping meat and vegetables."

"After it's made, you stack them up. Even after two days, they're still just as soft. Only, this seems not to be a Qing Zhou method, but rather a Mi Zhou area method. I've heard the locals like to use this as dry rations."

Li's wife had not yet spoken when someone came out from the front, voice like a great bell, loudly saying, "That's it! That's it! I think it's this so-called Three-Layer Pancake!"

Song Miao looked up and saw an old woman coming towards her.

That old woman's hair had turned white, yet it was still both abundant and thick. Her complexion was ruddy, her back straighter than some young people's.

"Although I ate it in Qing Zhou back then, the person who gave us this pancake was a Mi Zhou person — young lady, have you eaten this pancake? Where can it be bought? Who knows how to make it?"

Song Miao replied, "I happen to know how to make it, I just don't know if it's exactly the right one."

The old woman was instantly overjoyed and hurriedly said, "If it's not too much trouble, could you make one for us to see?"

She looked at Song Miao, then at Zhu Shi, and finally asked Zhu Shi, "May I ask which family's young lady this is?"

Zhu Shi hurriedly explained Song Miao's background to Li Laoniang again, and praised her, "Her skill is excellent. Previously, the Censor from the Capital Prefecture Office ate her cooking and praised it repeatedly!"

Li Laoniang became even more excited at once and hurriedly said, "So your family ancestors ran a food shop! No wonder you have broad knowledge and good skill!"

She then asked if it was convenient for her to make it right now.

Making a pancake was, for Song Miao, merely a trifling effort, so naturally there was no difficulty at all.

She agreed at once and added, "Only, Auntie Zhu's family seems to still have matters to attend to..."

If not for those matters, Zhu Shi would have been very willing to stay and eat this pancake. But she truly had no choice, so she told the Li family about the messy affairs at home, and added, "If anything unfavorable is discovered outside, please have the Dutou keep an eye out. He doesn't need to lift a hand. If it's not too much trouble, just send word in advance so we can be prepared. We would be endlessly grateful."

The two families have always been close. The two people opposite agreed at once, saying they would pass the message to Li Dutou when he returned.

After seeing Zhu Shi off, Song Miao did not delay and went straight with that Zhu Shi to the kitchen.

How could Li Laoniang wait idly? She hurriedly followed inside and waited to watch from the side.

The Li family are all Hejian people. Their ancestors ran an escort agency. By Li Dutou's father's generation, they had established a firm foothold in the Capital, and only then settled down. Later, by a stroke of luck, they entered the yamen.

Compared to rice, many northerners prefer wheat-based foods, and the Li family is the same.

Their household not only keeps white flour on hand, they even have a griddle for baking flatbreads. Not only that, the kitchen is also filled with fresh meat and vegetables — presumably prepared for the old lady's birthday banquet noodles.

Since they were going to bake flatbreads anyway, Song Miao asked, "If you don't mind, I'll also prepare some small dishes to go with the pancakes?"

The two people opposite naturally had no objections.

Song Miao wasted no more words. First she boiled a small pot of water, then took a basin and scooped out some flour. Half she directly scalded with that boiling water, the other half she scalded with warm water.

Because the Three-Layer Pancake is made by stacking three layers of dough and baking them together, after being scalded with boiling water, the kneaded dough becomes softer, stickier, less prone to shrinking back, and less prone to cracking. But if all boiling water is used, it lacks toughness, and the dough skin tears easily when rolling.

Half boiling water, half warm water. When baking, the layered texture is better, it tears open easily, and makes the pancake even softer to eat — only the hands must use a clever knack.

Taking advantage of the dough proofing, Song Miao asked for a clean broom, took it apart to find the fine twigs and made a small broom, then boiled it in hot water — this is used to sweep away the bubbles on the pancake and the flour residue on the griddle when baking.

With the small broom ready, she cut a piece of lean pork about half a palm in size from the kitchen, washed it and cut it into fine strips. She also selected usable white radish, carrot, celery, and large scallions, washed them all and cut them into fine threads.

Once all this was prepared, she heated the wok and used fierce fire to quickly stir-fry the pork strips until tender. She also beat eggs and pan-fried a small plate cut into fine threads. She also stir-fried a sour pickled vegetable with cornel fruit and mustard seeds. Seeing a small patch of mint growing behind the house, she specially picked a handful of leaves, washed them, and fried them in hot oil.

For a moment, among the side dishes, the hot ones were pork strips, egg threads, sour pickled vegetable, and fried mint leaves. The raw ones were white radish threads, carrot threads, celery threads, large scallion threads. There was also a small bowl of sweet flour sauce.

The side dishes were done, the dough had proofed, and the griddle was hot.

Song Miao had long since divided the dough portions and oiled them. Now she simply flattened the three portions, stacked them together, rolled them into an extremely thin sheet, put it on the griddle to bake. While baking the pancake, she continuously swept the rising bubbles on the pancake and the fine flour residue falling on the griddle with the newly made small broom.

The pancake was extremely thin, and made with half boiling water scalded dough, so naturally it cooked very fast. Before long, fine golden yellow pancake flowers appeared on the pancake surface.

The fragrance of the dough slowly wafted out, mingling with the special fragrance of the fried mint leaves, the egg fragrance of the pan-fried egg threads, the meat fragrance of the lean pork threads, causing the two people watching and waiting in the kitchen for half a day to simultaneously swallow a mouthful of saliva.

The first Three-Layer Pancake was baked. Song Miao first placed it in a small basket to cool slightly, then handed it to Li Laoniang and asked, "Please have a taste — I don't know if this is the flavor?"

Li Laoniang reached out to take it. She didn't need to tear it by hand at all. With just a light shake, that pancake instantly separated into three sheets thin as cicada wings. The dough fragrance grew stronger, and the touch in her hand was soft like satin.

She was a Hejian person. Eating pancakes was something she knew from birth. Without Song Miao saying anything, she hurriedly followed her own preference, first spreading a layer of flour sauce, then laying pork strips, fried egg strips, and various vegetable threads on the pancake. She didn't even glance at the sour pickled vegetable, nor pay attention to the fried mint. She added another layer of sweet flour sauce, then more pork strips, fried egg strips. The thin pancake layer — she wished she could stuff in fillings as big as her head.

Li Laoniang was over sixty, yet her teeth were still firm. With difficulty she wrapped it up, opened her mouth wide, and bit down fiercely on the left side where the meat, egg threads, and sauce were most abundant.