Chapter 87

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

That Xiao Lu had not been on guard; hearing these words, his heart warmed, and he said: "It's all your kindness. Even if it's heavy, I can carry it back on my back and shoulders. If I ever have a chance to return to the Capital in the future, I'll still carry it back exactly as it is!"

The questioner had not yet had time to respond when another person beside him already cut in: "Xiao Lu, it's so heavy, and the road behind is far. Let me carry your bundle for a while—those dried meat and biscuits, aren't they heavy on your shoulders?"

Xiao Lu instantly woke up, hurriedly tucked the bundle Song Miao had given him, and said warily: "What are you doing? What are you doing? If you want to help, why not carry this bamboo box cage for me!"

As he spoke, he handed over the bamboo box containing books and clothes.

He was only putting on a show, but who knew the other person actually took it with one hand.

Xiao Lu jumped in fright and tried to snatch it back, but could not get it back, and hurriedly said: "This is heavy, you really want to carry it?"

The words had barely fallen when yet others came forward to help him unload the pack on his back, all saying: "Once we're out of the city, you can carry it yourself!"

For a moment, Xiao Lu felt he had been judging a gentleman's heart with a petty man's mind.

But while the feeling of being moved was still surging, someone suddenly pointed ahead at a shop selling braised meat and called out: "The meat smells so good!"

This person then asked: "Shall we buy some braised meat for Xiao Lu to eat on the road?"

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Xiao Lu could not refuse and said: "I can't take it! I can't take it! This meat won't keep!"

"You'll eat it in a moment, what's there to keep!"

While they were speaking, someone had already gone to the braised meat shop and bought some back, stuffing that lotus-leaf-wrapped braised meat hard into Xiao Lu's hands.

After stuffing it, that person instead stared at the bundle on his shoulder and said: "It really does seem like you can't carry it anymore."

Someone with ill intentions proposed: "Why not swap things around?"

"Swap it! Swap it! Swap that braised meat for the dried meat just now, you can change the flavor, and it doesn't add weight!"

Everyone echoed in agreement, then fixed their eyes on that bundle.

After making a big detour, they still ended up back where they started. Xiao Lu, how could he not know, muttered a few curses under his breath and said hatefully: "I knew you lot were just this useless!"

As he spoke, he also laughed, took down the bundle, and opened it to see that inside everything was neat and tidy, stacked with many small oil-paper packages.

The small packages had paper slips pasted on them, reading "Five-Spice," "Sichuan Pepper," "Xun Guan," "Original Flavor," and so on. Only one package was especially large, with a slip reading "All Flavors Included for Sharing."

He couldn't help but curse: "See, see! Song Xiaoniangzi knows you all have thick skins!"

Speaking, he singled out that package and pulled it out.

Someone immediately reached out to take it and hurriedly opened the oil-paper package.

By now the sun had risen. The dried pork slices were very thin, and under the sunlight they looked especially translucent, the grain particularly beautiful. One look and you knew the goods were genuine and the meat pure.

Xiao Lu also picked up a slice.

This slice had no other spices added, only seasoned with salt, soy sauce, a little white sugar, and so on.

The meat was very dry, the texture firm. Upon entering the mouth it was faintly salty. Since it was cut into large slices along the grain, pulling with the teeth, the meat would also be torn and bitten off along the grain.

The pork slices were sun-dried then steamed—dry but not hard, very chewy, yet they wouldn't prick and tear the gums.

After several rounds of sun-drying and wind-drying, the meat's flavor was naturally compressed to the maximum.

The meat was fragrant from the first bite, but only ordinarily fragrant. Once you chewed and chewed, the flavor came out—the meat flavor, the aroma, growing stronger and stronger. Dry and fragrant, relying on the saliva secreted by the cheeks working hard, the meat's grain gradually blurred in the mouth, and the meat aroma became ever richer and mellow, salty and fragrant, with a hint of sweetness returning afterward, the two making the meat flavor even more mellow.

Truly, the more you ate, the more delicious it was!

A piece of dried pork was chewed for a long time. After chewing and swallowing, Xiao Lu felt his teeth were all six roots pure and quiet.

Not just him alone—a group of people each got one or two slices, competing with the dried pork slices as they walked, not even having time to speak.

Seeing no one paid attention to himself, Lu Zhong felt his teeth.

Having walked this stretch forward, his teeth were young after all, already rested, and could re-enter the mortal world to fight again!

He couldn't help but secretly reach out, wanting to pinch another slice from the hand of the person holding the dried pork oil-paper package. But who knew the other person had already noticed, and suddenly called out: "Lu Zhong, what are you doing!"

This person called out while using his hand to cover the meat.

So everyone nearby looked, each condemning him.

This one said: "Lu Zhong, you have a whole big bundle of dried pork slices—how can you be so shameless as to snatch such a small package from us!"

That one said: "Xiao Lu, you've eaten so much dried meat—where will you have room in your belly for the braised meat we bought!"

They all came over, some pulling sleeves, some pulling hands, not letting him get close.

"You're right next to Song Xiaoniangzi, so you can eat if you want. I'm a thousand or eight hundred li away!" Lu Zhong said angrily. "Since it was given to me, things sent out—how can you still try to pull them back!"

A group of people shouted and argued, grabbing and snatching. Though partly because the dried pork was delicious, just as Lu Zhong said, everyone was in the Capital. Even if they were greedy, it was nothing more than saying one more sentence to Song Miao or walking a few more steps.

But now everyone was fighting and snatching, calling and cursing. All along the way there were laughter and noise. No one had the heart to grieve over parting anymore. Finally they left Zhuque Gate.

Seeing off a thousand li, one must eventually part.

That Lu Zhong shouldered all his luggage again, bade farewell to everyone, walked thirty or forty steps, then suddenly turned back and called out: "If I really can come back next year, what you said before—asking Song Xiaoniangzi to set out a farewell feast—are you inviting or not?"

Lu Zhong shouldered all his luggage again, bade farewell to everyone, and had walked thirty or forty steps when he suddenly turned back and called out, "If I truly return next year, will you still hold that farewell wine feast you mentioned earlier—setting up a table for Song Xiaoniangzi?"

As for Song Miao, she had sent dried pork and dry cakes, then turned back toward Food Alley and pushed the stall cart home.

But she had just reached Suanzao Wei when she saw someone standing outside her own door, looking bored to death, with a very familiar face—it was Qin Zong.

Qin Zong was kicking a stone under his foot. Seeing Song Miao, he quickly drew back his foot, came forward, and called out: "Song Stall Owner! You're finally back!"

Song Miao said: "Strange. Young Master Qin actually comes to my door today. I don't know what important business brings you?"

Qin Zong smiled: "There are plenty of people who want to come to the door to find the young lady. I'm just the first one!"

He said: "I came to deliver a letter to Censor Xin, and I also have my own business—the sweet embryo you made last time, with tea added. Do you still have any now?"

He said, "I came to deliver a message for Censor Xin, and I also have my own business — last time you made that Sweet embryo, with tea added, is there any left now?"

As he spoke, he swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

Song Miao said, "There is still sweet fermented tea; if you mean tea, it can be freshly boiled — does the Qin Official want to drink some?"

"Not just me!" Qin Zong hurriedly said, "Last time the academy got that sweet fermented tea of yours, everyone said it was both delicious and refreshing; these past two nights without it, every single one has been thinking of it. I sent someone out to buy drinks, but they all fell a bit short."

He asked again, "How much is left? Name a price, I'll take it all — have the men carry it away together!"

A thoroughly hearty and generous appearance.

Door-to-door business, and he even handles pickup and transport himself — where could one find such an easy deal?

Song Miao agreed at once, praising, "With the Qin Official at the Left and Right Military Patrol Academy, every detail is looked after, every matter attended to — even food and drink are managed so carefully; the Censors and Chai Guan below must be overjoyed, and other yamen looking on truly couldn't be more envious."

Receiving this flattery, Qin Zong grinned until his mouth practically wouldn't close.

Whoever puts in the thought and spends the money all wants a word of praise.

He followed Song Miao into the house, helped carry out that bucket of sweet fermented tea already fermented seven or eight parts full, and fished out a piece of silver from his pocket.

Song Miao, however, said, "Qin Official forgot? You still have stored silver with me!"

As she spoke, she went to the back courtyard and fetched the ledger; sure enough, inside it recorded in detail on which days Qin Zong deposited how much, used how much, and how much remained.

Qin Zong then said, "I forgot all about it — you're the fool, why not just pretend it never happened and pocket it?"

Song Miao said seriously, "Having landed the Qin Official as such a major client, I intend to do business long-term — this is no joking matter."

Saying this, she entered the amount in the book and pointed out the remaining balance for him to see.

Qin Zong, however, placed the piece of silver on the table, saying, "From now on, whether it's this sweet fermented tea or other food, I'll likely often send people to buy — you just keep it on deposit for now."

Song Miao didn't decline either, thanked him, took the steelyard to weigh it; the purity was so good it needed no further verification — she simply recorded it by weight in the notebook.

Once the entry was done, Qin Zong didn't rush to leave, but said, "There's another matter — Censor Xin sent me to ask: the other day you went to help cook that one meal, and everyone in the yamen, high and low, has been thinking of it. That Zheng Guanren went to your door to ask your address and name, wanting to invite you back to the yamen as the public kitchen cook."

"No one asked you beforehand, and no one let it slip — afraid that Zheng Guanren would come knocking and cause a disturbance. What do you think? Willing to come?"

Song Miao thought for a moment, shook her head and said, "Better not. Large-pot dishes are hard to cook, the yamen is far from home, I'm unfamiliar with the place and people — I may not be able to show my skill."

These few sentences were all excuses, but Qin Zong listened and didn't press for the root cause, only saying, "Fine then. That Zheng Guanren is a real nuisance, always looking down his nose at people — ignore him, let him fret on his own! Just a pity — everyone was hoping you'd come so we could have good food to eat!"

The two spoke a few more sentences, then saw two attendants come out of that half-sealed house across the way; Qin Zong hurriedly waved them over to carry away the bucket of sweet fermented tea, and took his leave as well.

Song Miao saw him to the door, about to bid farewell, when her peripheral vision caught a piece of cloth lying on the table in the corner — she suddenly recalled something, called Qin Zong back, didn't ask about the case, only asked what exactly happened at this doorway that night.

"My cart was parked at the doorway; for some reason, the next day a piece of cloth suddenly appeared on it."

As she spoke, she took out the cloth she had kept — the one burned with many black holes — and showed it to Qin Zong.

Qin Zong held the cloth and examined it for a long while, thought and thought, then suddenly realized, pointing at the wooden window: "That day a few burglars tried to climb in through the window; they must have stepped on your cart, and their clothes got snagged and torn somewhere, leaving the scrap here."

He added, "No matter — the men are all caught. A piece of ruined cloth, just throw it out."

Hearing Qin Zong answer so casually, Song Miao originally wanted to mention that someone at Guangji Temple also had clothes with the same burn holes, but felt it was too far-fetched; given his conduct and personality, he might not take it to heart — so she let it go.

But after he left, she turned the matter over and over in her mind, always feeling it shouldn't be so simple.

Taking advantage of the early hour, Song Miao had to go marketing anyway; after leaving, she didn't go to the vegetable and meat markets first, but instead detoured to a nearby shop to buy some fruit, then went straight to Guangji Temple.

That woman had previously introduced herself, saying she was called Er Niangzi, and lived with her daughter in a certain dormitory outside the rear gate; Song Miao followed her directions and entered through the rear gate.

This temple's incense offerings were not flourishing, yet the lodgers were not few.

Early morning, Song Miao walked in asking people along the way — in just a short one or two li, she heard no less than three or four quarrels.

Some cursing someone for secretly seducing their wife; some cursing a family for stealing their vegetable oil and firewood.

Some saying so-and-so stole clothes, shoes, and socks.

Others saying a certain family clearly bought only two spots but crammed in three people, taking up someone else's space; their luggage also took up room so others had nowhere to put things; they also loved to occupy the latrine pit first thing in the morning and wouldn't come out, forcing everyone else to hold it in.

Those last two families, as they cursed, had already rolled up their sleeves and were about to fight.

The surrounding people saw this, not one stepped in to pull them apart — they just scattered far away, looking like they feared being dragged into it.

Song Miao had long known many small temples with no patrons and sparse incense liked to rent out monk quarters and guest lodges for extra oil money — often a mixed crowd — but seeing them ready to brawl at a word still gave her a shock.

Fearing the city gate catches fire and the pond fish suffer, she dared not linger; she listened to the quarrels through to the end, and the moment fists flew, she hurried away.

After much winding and turning, she finally reached the guest lodge where Er Niang lived.

The door stood wide open, no one inside; the layout and furnishings were extremely simple — a six-person communal bed against the wall, a table in the middle.

Right now a garment lay spread on the table, its lower hem full of black burn holes, already half-mended.

In the corner stood some buckets and basins; one basin still held two laundry bats — very familiar.

Song Miao felt certain she hadn't come to the wrong place, but with no one in the room, she didn't dare enter; she could only step back a few paces, turn to leave, then noticed a small courtyard diagonally opposite the lodge, many clothes drying inside, faint voices coming from within.

She walked over to look, and sure enough, amid the layers of clothes, a tiny figure squatted on the ground, vigorously shaking out freshly washed garments one by one, then lifting them high to hang.

Only this figure was far too small — even on tiptoe with arms raised, it was still short by a head — it was precisely Xiao Lian.

Xiao Lian heard the movement and turned around; seeing Song Miao, the two eyes on her skinny face instantly turned bright and sparkling; she hurriedly turned back and called, "Mother! Mother!"

Her voice wasn't loud, but very urgent.

Cheng Erniang asked, "What is it?"

Song Miao walked over smiling and called, "Er Niangzi."

Hearing the voice, Cheng Erniang hurried out; seeing Song Miao, she hastily put the clothes in her hand back into the big basin on the ground, saying, "Young Lady, why have you come? It's a mess here! Is something the matter? Let's speak outside! Let's speak outside!"

Song Miao said, "No rush — you finish hanging the clothes first."

She followed along, wanting to help out, but as soon as she drew near, she saw among the already-hung garments a piece of clothing and couldn't help letting out a "Huh?"

The garment was made of coarse cloth, but its lower hem was embroidered with a very beautiful bamboo branch — the veins on the leaves were clearly visible — the embroidery work was exquisite, plain to see.