Chapter 97

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Her daughter had been coughing for a long time; as a mother, she naturally felt the most heartache.

Cheng Erniang was so anxious she couldn't sleep well at night. At first she only used folk remedies to treat it, but later gritted her teeth and went to see a doctor, getting several doses of medicine, yet still saw no improvement. Not only that, the child had a poor appetite and didn't even want to eat rice.

Song Miao saw a little short child coughing every day, listless, and felt only pity. It happened to be the transition between spring and summer, so after thinking it over, she asked the meat stall to set aside a pair of pig lungs for her.

Pig lungs taste sweet; they can stop coughing and nourish the lungs. However, they contain much saliva and impurities, and if not handled well, they easily retain a strange smell.

Other offal in the market, such as pig hearts and pig kidneys, could all sell at a good price, but this thing was cheaper.

Song Miao bought a large quantity of pork every day, so the stall owner only charged two cash, half-selling and half-giving, giving her a large one and even throwing in an extra pair of pig livers.

With the pig lungs, Song Miao also bought some northern and southern apricot kernels, planning to make Xiao Lian an apricot pig lung soup.

This soup relieves wheezing, stops coughing, and moistens the lungs, very suitable for drinking in spring to moisten dryness. After cleaning it well, that pig lung had no strange smell at all; one couldn't even tell it was offal.

Song Miao herself liked it very much, but usually found it troublesome, thinking that making too much couldn't be finished and making too little wasn't worth it, so she never got around to doing it.

Today she just happened to take the opportunity to have a bowl for herself.

She brought the pig lungs home, went to the back courtyard and looked around, found an empty bucket with a broken bottom in the back kitchen, washed it clean, hung the bucket up, and filled it with water.

The bottom of that bucket had three or four holes of various sizes; once water was poured in, it poured out from the holes like a stream.

Song Miao took two iron hooks, one hooking the pig lung and one hooking the pig liver, hooking the other ends respectively to the water bucket's water outlets, opening the lung tubes and liver holes facing the water outlets, letting water trickle into both.

Clear water in, red water out.

Washing pig lungs requires patience. In the market, most people cut them open and keep gently rubbing and washing by hand, but this method is both laborious and likely to leave residual saliva.

The Song family had a well, so fetching water was convenient. Song Miao changed many buckets of water; after repeated rinsing, the pig lung had been washed white as jade, not a single blood thread left, and the pig liver had all its blood drained, one tender white, one tender pink. Sniffing closely, there was no foul smell at all.

After the ingredients were washed, she cut the pig lung into thick pieces, put them in a cold pot with cold water, added scallion and ginger to blanch, then washed them clean again. She heated the pot dry, used only a clean pot to add a few ginger slices and stir-fried the pig lung until dry-bodied. When the outer layer was slightly burnt yellow, she added ginkgo and soup bones, added enough water, brought it to a boil, then turned to low heat to braise slowly.

Pig lung soup needs long braising. Leaving it on the fire, Song Miao went to busy herself with other things in the back. Just as she was tidying up, she heard someone knocking at the front door. She went to answer and saw Han Li standing outside.

Seeing him, Song Miao was quite surprised and delighted. She greeted him and asked, "Young Master Han, how did you find time to come out today?"

Speaking, she ushered him into the front hall.

Han Li smiled and said, "Tomorrow is the Cold Food Festival. Though the yamen is busy, I managed to scrape together two days of rest, so I took the chance to come out for some air."

While saying this, he didn't decline, walked straight into the door, waited for Song Miao to offer a seat and tea, took a sip of the tea first, then took something out from his bosom and said, "Fortunately, I did not disgrace the mission—dragged on this long, I've kept Stall Owner Song waiting."

Song Miao saw the thing wrapped in an oiled paper envelope, neat and tidy, and had already guessed a bit in her heart. She hurriedly took it with both hands, opened it, and sure enough, inside were two copies each of the land deed and house deed, all brand new, but the names on them had been changed.

Not Song's Mother as before, nor Song Dalang, much less the certain person that Steward Liao had tried to put on the register that day, but changed to Song family's daughter, named Miao.

This ancestral home finally returned to its "original" owner!

She felt as if a great burden had been lifted, couldn't help but smile, and hurriedly curtsied, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, Young Master Han—thank you for running around and exerting yourself. Otherwise, I might not have been able to keep this house."

Han Li said, "This was originally your family's thing and has nothing to do with me; I just ran an errand. However, this deed was collected by me on your behalf. Whichever day you have time, you still need to go yourself once to register and sign, completing the procedure."

He added, "The yamen itself acted carelessly, which is why such an oversight occurred. Right now, the Archives Library is conducting a self-check, but the matter hasn't been fully settled yet..."

Song Miao didn't need him to finish his words and said, "Young Master, rest assured, I won't spread it outside."

The two chatted a few more sentences. Seeing it was getting late, Song Miao said, "It's just about noon. Young Master, if you're not in a hurry, why not stay for a simple meal before leaving?"

"You think I came at this time for what reason?" Han Li smiled slightly. "I just wanted to find an excuse to mooch a meal—if Stall Owner Song doesn't mind the trouble, please add a set of bowls and chopsticks."

He added, "Stall Owner Song originally wanted to eat what?"

Song Miao said, "I originally wanted to eat some noodles..."

Na Han Li's face showed a smile visibly richer, saying, "I am a person from Guanzhong and very fond of wheat food; I don't tire of it three meals a day."

Whether it was polite or not, hearing this made the cook feel very comfortable in her heart.

Song Miao then asked, "I originally prepared pig liver and pig lungs. Does Young Master Han eat offal?"

She also asked about dietary restrictions.

Hearing the two words "offal," Han Li's brow furrowed slightly, but immediately relaxed, saying, "Stall Owner Song's culinary skill; Han naturally has no taboos."

His expression only flickered for a moment. Song Miao was meticulous and naturally saw that the other was hiding something, but she didn't say more. She just took out shiitake mushrooms, lean meat, and other ingredients, thinking that if Han Li couldn't get used to pig offal later, she'd make him another topping. Anyway, it wouldn't take long.

She took two kinds of fruit and snacks and placed them on the bench, saying, "Young Master, please sit a moment; wait a little while longer before it's ready."

Song Miao had originally planned to eat noodles and had already kneaded and rested the dough three times. By now the dough ball had been shaped into a ring, brushed with oil, and rested about seventy to eighty percent. She first ignored it, only washed the leeks and cut them into sections, removed the sinews and membranes from the pig liver, cut it into extremely thick large slices, boiled a small pot of water with ginger, Sichuan pepper, and salt. When the water boiled, she removed it from the heat, put the pig liver slices in to simmer for a while, until they were about seventy percent cooked, then immediately scooped them out and drained them.

At this time she reheated a pot of water, lightly pulled and stretched the rested noodles in the plate, pulling them into half-fine long strands, then used both hands to twist and pull them open, shaking and stretching them outward.

The noodles extended very easily, pulled into half-Portion thickness, very even.

While Song Miao stretched noodles here, Han Li got a master's chair and sat by the side, drinking tea while watching. He felt that whether it was cutting vegetables, pulling and stretching, or shaking and tossing on the board, every movement was like flowing clouds and running water, having a certain rhythm and cadence, very natural.

He had always been very busy; fatigue was secondary, but he was truly mentally tense. On the way back, his head was full of many things, actually not resting for even a moment.

But now seeing Song Miao casually making a meal, watching and watching, his head gradually emptied, letting his breathing slow down. He didn't know if it was an illusion, even his heartbeat became slower.

He subconsciously leaned his back back.

The chair back was very high. He tilted his head slightly, and it just rested there, without needing any effort.

Han Li just watched the white steam rising from the stove, covering the girl with a layer of fine gauze, making her movements seem even more hazy and even more fluent.

Between one breath and the next, Han Li felt his whole body sliding down, sliding very slowly, as if supported by a thick layer of clouds beneath him, having a heavy lightness sensation. His eyelids gradually drooped, and before him it just went dark.

As if a lifetime had passed, he suddenly smelled a fragrance.

The scent was strong, carrying the aroma of cooking smoke, slowly drilling into people's noses.

Han Li had finished handing over his tasks in the morning before going out. All the way to Suanzao Alley, he had only saved eating two pieces of pork jerky on the road. His stomach was already hungry. Now, hooked by the scent, his stomach kept growling. He suddenly opened his eyes and saw smoke swirling above the stove opposite. Stall Owner Song was ladling dishes from the pot into a bowl to the side.

—He only then discovered that he had actually fallen asleep just now.

Though only a short nap, it was high noon, and he was mentally exhausted. A short nap was far more comfortable than a long sleep. At this moment, his head was like rolling once in clear water in a deep pool in the heat of summer—cool, refreshed, and clear-headed.

Han Li straightened his body at once.

Song Miao cooked with single-minded focus, not knowing that this Young Master Han had actually fallen asleep watching her pull noodles and cut vegetables.

The pulled noodles went into the pot; after boiling done they were rinsed in cold water and laid at the bottom of the bowl, topped with two large spoonfuls of stir-fried leeks and pig liver — a fragrant bowl of tossed noodles.

Though simpler, the flavor was not inferior in the least.

She set a basin of noodles and a large bowl of soup on the bench, placed an empty bowl before Han Li, and said: "Young Master, taste first; if you are not used to it, I still have shiitake mushrooms — a shiitake minced meat topping is very quick, ready in the time it takes to wash hands."

Han Li shook his head: "No need to trouble yourself, this is very good."

As he spoke, he picked up noodles into that empty bowl — many noodles, then leeks, and only at the end a symbolic single slice of pig liver.

Although watching someone eat is impolite, Song Miao, as the cook, felt entitled to observe for a breath or two to decide whether to remake it — she watched Han Li eat: first a chopstick of leeks, then a chopstick of noodles, then a chopstick of leeks and noodles together, chew chew chew, a smile already appearing on his face; her heart both relaxed and amused.

Sure enough, he doesn't eat offal.

She rose: "I'll add some topping."

But heard Han Li hurriedly say: "No need, I just eat little, not that I don't eat."

As he spoke he put the bowl's only piece of pig liver into his mouth, biting a small mouthful first.

Song Miao said: "Truly fast..."

But before her voice fell, she saw the person opposite raise his brows, expression faintly surprised; in a blink he ate the remaining large half-slice of pig liver clean.

Not just finishing it, he took the chopsticks from the large bowl and scooped seven or eight pieces of pig liver into his own bowl in succession.

Song Miao said helplessly: "Really no need to force yourself..."

Han Li then looked up: "I normally eat little; only Stall Owner Song's making has no offal taste at all, very fragrant, very suited to my taste."

Speaking, he busily added a few chopsticks of leek-and-pig-liver tossed noodles to the other empty bowl at the side, pushed it toward Song Miao, and said: "Don't believe me? You taste?"

It was as if Song Miao's stir-fried pig liver needed him to help clear its "unjust reputation."

Observing a moment, seeing this person did not look forced, Song Miao no longer insisted.

She moved a small table over, sat facing Han Li across the bench, and the two ate lunch together.

A mouthful of tossed noodles entered the mouth, still scalding.

Song Miao blew two breaths before daring to taste the flavor.

Stir-fried leeks and pig liver alone, piping hot out of the wok, is for that breath of wok hei.

First tasted is rich meat fragrance, carrying faint burnt fragrance and soy sauce fragrance.

Pig liver thoroughly rinsed, because cut into extremely thick large slices, specially braised half-cooked then stir-fried over fierce fire.

This ensures inside tenderness while giving outside explosive sauce burnt fragrance, preventing outside burnt while inside still raw.

One bite down: pig liver slightly burnt, the outermost layer stir-fried to a faint crisp shell, inside texture yet ultimate tenderness, powdery, very magical, also with a bit of crispness, but not a single thread of bad offal taste.

Eating it, you know it is liver, yet cannot believe it is liver.

Liver inherently carries a unique meaty freshness; this is top-grade yellow-sand powder liver, very sweet; now guided by sauce fragrance, exceptionally rich and mellow, tender and smooth; leeks stir-fried just to the breaking point of rawness, pungent fragrance, crisp tenderness, especially the root-stem parts with slight spiciness, carrying juice, cutting greasiness extremely well.

The two mixed stir-fried, flavors already merged; pig liver has leek pungent fragrance, leeks have pig liver meaty freshness, and noodles mixed between, taking the major share.

The noodles pulled very chewy, thickness even, bare strips; compared to rice noodles, more suitable for absorbing sauce.

Now every strand of noodle coated full with oil-bright, oil-moist sauce, carrying pig liver oil-meat and leek green-grass fragrance, doing balance in the mouth.

Balanced extremely perfectly.

Song Miao ate clean a full bowl, specially leaving a bit of belly room; and Han Li, after confirming she did not want more, ate the entire large basin, not leaving a single leek — even the sauce wrapped clean by noodles.

After eating, he put the noodle bowl back on the bench, exhaled a satisfied breath, visibly full.

Song Miao hesitated, said: "Actually also braised soup — if cannot eat more, later pack a soup cup for Young Master to take back and drink, how about it?"

Han Li silent a moment, then said: "Can also drink a little first, then take a soup cup back."

Song Miao smiled agreement, indeed ladled a bowl for him, just about to bring it, when heard outside a burst of footsteps.

Two people eating in the front hall, the main door naturally wide open; now Song Miao looked up and saw Cheng Erniang pulling Xiao Lian rushing into the house.

Since Cheng Erniang got that slaughterhouse starch-washing laundry work, she rises before dawn and returns afternoon; don't know why, this time she returned half a day early.

Song Miao somewhat surprised, couldn't help welcoming out two steps, asked: "Er Niangzi returned?"

Cheng Erniang seeing this wooden door wide open, and seeing a stranger sitting inside, the words she originally wanted to say to Song Miao at once swallowed back.

And Han Li had already stood, saying: "Disturbed Stall Owner Song long enough, Han will take leave first."

Song Miao hurriedly stopped him, introduced both sides.

Cheng Erniang hearing this one called "Han Li", a Taixue dormitory student, at once surprise and joy, hurriedly said: "Xiao Jian told me, thanks to Young Master Han, otherwise this time he definitely could not advance dormitory!"

Words inside and out, thousand thanks ten thousand thanks.

Han Li returned the courtesy, declined a few sentences, took the food box to leave; Song Miao about to see him off, but saw Xiao Lian hiding behind Cheng Erniang, forehead a patch of green-purple, momentarily shocked: "Xiao Lian's forehead what happened?"