Chapter 96

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Song Miao

Cai Xiu issued the order yesterday morning, requiring each subordinate department to send one person over — manpower was already very scarce, and they would need to work overtime to even begin to sort out the case files.

But not until it was nearly time to leave the office did a few people trickle in to show their faces.

He was a borrowed student, possessing neither established authority nor status, and unwilling to press the matter; he hurriedly assigned the tasks.

The crowd accepted the assignments, neither saying no nor saying yes, and each went their own way.

However, when Cai Xiu made the arrangements, he had specified that the recipients were to report the situation at the start of the Si hour today, so that he could coordinate the overall situation.

He had only asked the subordinates to get a grasp of the case files their respective departments were responsible for; logically it should not have taken long, yet by now the Wu and Wei hours had already passed, and still not a single person had appeared.

Cai Xiu was no fool; how could he not know this was those slick clerks giving him a show of insubordination?

But having just arrived, he forcibly suppressed the anger in his heart, waited until it was nearly time to leave the office, and seeing no one, had no choice but to go in person, searching for each one at their respective offices.

Yet he soon ran into a practically laughable trouble.

— Only a few days since his arrival, everywhere he went the rooms were full of heads; eight out of ten did not recognize him, so how could he find anyone?

He had no choice but to take the submitted roster and ask people.

But while Cai Xiu did not know others, others knew him.

On the day he reported for duty, Zhang Facao had specially held a small meeting to introduce him to the staff, and now he was undertaking the task of organizing case files; after a few days, even those who had not known him before had pointed him out and memorized his face.

Upon seeing this borrowed scholar of the Imperial Academy, the crowd did not ignore him.

Ask this one, and he would say: "Looking for Xiaocao? At the start of the month a case had a slight mishap; he went to help cross-check with the Censor who handled it that day at the Left Military Patrol Academy."

The Left Military Patrol Academy was not far, but a round trip would mean asking more people and still might yield no result; where would Cai Xiu have the leisure to go? He could only give up.

Ask that one, and he would say: "Old Zhou was summoned by the Huchao first thing this morning and hasn't returned; if you need him, why not go ask at the Huchao?"

Cai Xiu did not even know where the Huchao's door opened; how could he find it?

Seeing his expression darken, the respondent put on a kindly air and said: "You're the newly arrived Cai Xiu, right? Do you have urgent business with him? Don't rush; when he returns, I'll pass word for you."

Hearing this, Cai Xiu still had to thank him.

He asked several people, and all met with a wall; rarely encountering one who did not dodge, that one frowned and said: "Alas, I am extremely busy today, truly cannot tear myself away; the Facao assigned an urgent matter — can we do it another day?"

As he spoke, he pointed to a cup brimming with tea before him and said: "Look, all day long I haven't had a moment to drink a sip of tea — the water's gone cold!"

Seeing that tea sitting right before his eyes, wide open, not even a lid on it, white mist curling, steaming hot, Cai Xiu barely stopped himself from cursing on the spot.

He could endure no longer, couldn't even be bothered to speak further, and turned and walked out right then.

Reaching the doorway, he heard someone speaking behind him.

"Truly fucking annoying, can't even finish the work at hand, taking a shit has to be cut short, making him do this and that here! Idle to the point of talking nonsense!"

"Old Ding, your mouth hahaha."

"Lower your voice, lower your voice! Walls have ears, careful someone hears; after all it's a task the Facao arranged, be careful he goes back and files a complaint."

"I'm just afraid he won't listen — you don't need to follow, you don't need to do the work, yet you say it so lightly!"

Cai Xiu pricked up his ears against the partition wall, anger stuffing his chest.

Though his family was poor, ever since he entered school and displayed his talent, he immediately won his teachers' esteem, advancing from the County School to the Jinzhou School, then to the Imperial Academy, smooth sailing all the way.

Ordinarily, whenever he spoke, his classmates only nodded, and even his teachers did nothing but praise; when had he ever suffered such treatment?

He could not bear the indignation, and thought darkly: If you play the first day of the month, don't blame me for playing the fifteenth!

Not daring to confront them face to face, he pondered and pondered, and that fifteenth had only one form — he turned and went to find Zhang Facao.

But upon reaching the other's official residence, he saw the wooden door tightly shut, only a menial sweeping; he asked, and the man replied: "Zhang Facao was summoned by Prefect Zheng."

Cai Xiu waited a long time, waited for no one; seeing the sky grow late and his belly very hungry, he resentfully went to the canteen first.

The Capital Prefecture Office only provided two meals, morning and noon, but recently the Left and Right Military Patrol Academies were busy investigating cases, working day and night in rotating shifts, so the canteen had to follow their requirements and supply an extra evening meal.

The moment Cai Xiu entered, he saw an acquaintance come out from inside.

He called out: "Brother Kong!"

Kong Fuyang was just carrying two food boxes; he looked up, saw it was Cai Xiu, nodded and greeted him.

Cai Xiu went up to meet him, pointed at the two food boxes, and asked: "Which superior's? They actually have Brother Kong deliver them?"

Kong Fuyang said: "It's Zheng Yan's; he's too busy to come out, so I'm bringing it back for him."

Speaking, he was about to take his leave.

Cai Xiu suddenly had a thought; he no longer hurried in to eat, but turned and walked shoulder to shoulder with Kong Fuyang, smiling as he asked a few things — nothing more than how much longer the borrowing would last, when he would return to the Imperial Academy, what he had been busy with lately, whether he had run into any trouble, whether he would be bullied by the clerks, and so on.

After all they were classmates; aside from case-related content which Kong Fuyang did not reveal, he answered a few sentences more or less.

Especially when asked about the clerks, he was genuinely rather proud, and couldn't help adding: "Bully what? Zheng Yan assists Qin Pan in overall management, everything assigned properly and neatly; I too borrow the tiger's might, who dares stir up trouble?"

Because it was boasting and showing off, he conveniently wiped clean the earlier quarrel he had with Xin Feng and the other Censors and the subordinates' Chai Guan, as if his brain had been washed by water, as if nothing had happened.

How could Cai Xiu swallow this?

He frowned and asked: "Zheng Yan is a student; beneath him are so many veteran clerks and petty officials, and I've heard there are even outsiders borrowed in, all working day and night in rotating shifts — how could there be no complaints? You're not bluffing me, are you?"

"What's there to bluff about?" Kong Fuyang rolled his eyes. "Go inquire; even Qin Pan's schedule is arranged with Zheng Yan's help — what complaints could others have?"

Having said this, he himself realized he had misspoken, fearing it would bring trouble to Han Li, and hurriedly said: "I was talking nonsense, don't mind it!"

Finishing his words, he hurried away.

It was Cai Xiu behind, watching his back carrying the food boxes, who could not help but give rise to many thoughts; he had no heart to eat further, and busily sought out a few acquaintances in the office to question.

The Left and Right Military Patrol Academies were currently at the height of attention, especially the Right Courtyard which had consecutively cracked two major cases, each linked to the next; outside there were naturally many rumors.

Ask about that newly arrived Han-surnamed Imperial Academy student, and almost everyone knew.

This one said: "You ask about Han Li? He's indeed highly favored. There's an old Censor at the Right Army Patrol Court, surnamed Xin, who usually ignores whoever speaks to him, and even when orders come from above, he can talk back to them. I don't know why, but he's oddly obedient to this student—whatever he proposes, there's no objection at all, and he backs him up both to his face and behind his back."

The other said: "The higher-ups practically treat him like a deity to be worshipped with incense every day—the other day he requested men, and as soon as he opened his mouth, Judge Qin himself went trotting off to several camps in City West and City South to borrow troops, reportedly losing all face, and through the night managed to get three hundred soldiers back."

Cai Xiu soon understood.

That Han Li could coordinate so many affairs relied entirely on strong support from his superiors.

Without superiors, he wasn't worth a fart.

But with an official post and assignment, naturally there was authority; relying on that power and influence, even a student could easily move hundreds or thousands of people.

Cai Xiu was stirred for a moment, and also understood many things.

He had already seen clearly: between people and place, relying solely on oneself, it was very difficult to accomplish anything.

Han Li had Qin Jie holding the rear, so naturally he was important, but that escort and protection, the one who truly did the work, Xin Feng, was also indispensable.

So where was his Cai Xiu's "Xin Feng"?

The next morning, he stood outside Zhang Facao's door. After reporting the events of the previous day, he said: "After all, I am a stranger, and those below are bound to be neglectful and disrespectful. This matter is urgent, so I ask the Legal Officer to arrange one or two experienced hands to help lend a hand; surely it can be pushed forward faster."

Cai Xiu was thinking of people here, while Xiao Lian was thinking of food there.

She followed Cheng Erniang walking on the road, walking and walking, and involuntarily thought of the taste of that glazed fried bread from yesterday, becoming a bit absent-minded.

Bread chunks the size of a thumb, fried golden, covered all over with sugar syrup, crisp and crunchy, with a very crumbly texture, not hard at all.

Bite into it, and inside is soft and tender, with a warm little pool of sweet water inside, sweetness just right, not greasy or cloying.

Fragrant and sweet, crisp outside and soft inside.

So that dry and hard bread could become this delicious!

Xiao Lian couldn't help but tug at Cheng Erniang's hand, saying: "Mother, when I grow up and earn silver, I'll make that glazed fried bread for you and Sister every day—it's really delicious!"

Cheng Erniang had originally been focused on the shops by the roadside, just wanting to see which one needed help. Hearing her daughter's words, she couldn't help but smile: "Then our Xiao Lian must work hard. Sugar is so expensive—Mother is waiting!"

Xiao Lian only felt she suddenly had a very important mission, nodding repeatedly, and said: "Sister said it's made even better with white sugar and rock sugar; if there were honey..."

As she spoke, she really did drool.

"Then it would be even more expensive," Cheng Erniang replied casually.

But Xiao Lian took it seriously, counting on her fingers, silently keeping count in her heart. After walking a few more steps, she said again: "Mother, I can stay in the room by myself—there's wood in the courtyard, the rear gate, the room door, so many doors, I haven't had time to wipe them!"

Cheng Erniang smiled, only pulling her daughter closer, and did not answer.

One must know when to advance and retreat when being a person.

A person borrowing residence herself, leaving a five or six-year-old daughter at home, while she went out to find work—what did that mean?

Even if Xiao Lian was more sensible, she was still only half-grown. In the long run, she might really end up having that Song Xiaoniangzi help watch the child.

—Such a shameless thing, she could not do it.

But Cheng Erniang had no skill at all, and spoke official language with a Jiangnan West Circuit accent. Finding work was truly difficult; often leaving early and returning late, taking Xiao Lian to wander the streets all day, with no result.

On the other side, Song Miao set up her stall in the morning, then went to purchase supplies, preparing ingredients day and night, and also found time to make the fu cakes and red bean paste rolls that Duan Shi, wife of Li Doutou, wanted, and delivered them.

In just two days, relatives and friends of the Li and Duan families came to the door, wanting to order fu cakes and red bean paste rolls, all thinking of giving them for the Cold Food Festival.

Also, since the Xunpu was nearby and she had no time to go set up a stall, some people discussed wanting to order a batch of breakfast from her every day.

Song Miao was only one person, unable to be in two places at once. She wanted to take on these businesses but was too busy. After calculating that her income these days had increased considerably, she had the idea of hiring someone.

Only, first she feared the seasonal business wouldn't last; second, she feared a suitable person was hard to find; third, she worried the debt collectors would think too much.

Best to first save up a sum of money, pay off once on the originally promised day, then take the opportunity to visit and explain things. Only then would it be proper.

After getting along for several days, Song Miao saw that Cheng Erniang was clean in her movements, quick at work. Though her skills were ordinary, she was enough to be an assistant, deliver things, or hawk the stall cart. Seeing her bring her daughter to the streets every day to look for work, always without result, she was somewhat moved and had the idea of hiring this person to help.

But her business was small-scale. If she set the wages too high, she couldn't afford it; too low, and it would seem like she was taking advantage of a favor. It was truly hard to speak up, so she hesitated and didn't rush to say it.

After waiting another two days, that day she sent out a batch of fu cakes and red bean paste rolls. When Song Miao returned, she saw Cheng Erniang and her daughter happily back home early, overjoyed.

"Song Xiaoniangzi! I found work!" It was Cheng Erniang, her voice excited.

Song Miao sighed in her heart, but couldn't help being happy for this Er Niangzi. She smiled and congratulated her, then asked for the details.

It turned out Cheng Erniang's work was so hard to find. Besides having an accent and no skills, it was also because she hoped to keep her daughter by her side to watch over her.

Ordinary employers naturally would not agree.

"It's a slaughterhouse outside Nanxun Gate. They kill pigs and sheep every day. Because the clothes and covers are hard to wash, and the ground is dirty, they're hiring someone to launder clothes and sweep..."

The next morning, Cheng Erniang took Xiao Lian to start work.

The clothes, covers, and floor of the slaughterhouse—one could imagine how hard washing and sweeping would be. When mother and daughter returned that evening, they were so tired their eyes stared blankly.

Xiao Lian was young and didn't have to do much, but coming and going, the road was far, and she walked enough to be tired.

But even so, Cheng Erniang still worked with great energy.

After returning, she sat for a moment, recovered a little, then told Song Miao about the strange things at the slaughterhouse—how they killed pigs, how the pigs screamed terribly, how they slaughtered sheep, and so on.

But Cheng Zijian, upon hearing this, felt heartache and shouted for his sister to bring some dirty clothes back every day. After school, he would come over to help wash them, but was scolded by Cheng Erniang until he went back dejected.

But there was also a trouble.

Every line of work has its hardships. The hardship of laundering lay in the hands being repeatedly soaked in water vapor.

Ever since going to the slaughterhouse to help with work, because of long hours in water, Cheng Erniang's hands slowly began to crack and peel, almost never in good condition.

And Xiao Lian, being young and weak, didn't know if it was from staying by the river too long, her hands and feet often touching water. From some day on, she came down with a child's cough. Though not serious, it dragged on for a long time without getting better.

But in the end, to make a living, there was no choice.