Miao Chu

Chapter 167 Peace of mind
Kong Fuyang never expected that there would be a "robust woman" that Song Miao had found right in front of him.

Although he is always talkative, he is never stubborn.

Having witnessed Zhang Si Niang's actions firsthand, he immediately stood up and said, "Let me try it too."

After speaking, he walked to the bamboo basket containing lettuce and first tried to lift it with one hand—it was very heavy, and he couldn't balance it well, so it wobbled a bit. In the end, he managed to hold it steady by using both hands.

After carrying the bamboo basket for a few steps, Kong Fuyang put it down and went to the well at the back, where he dutifully drew out two buckets of water.

As soon as he put the carrying pole on his shoulder, he immediately sensed something was wrong.

The Great Wei used a system of sixteen jin per jin. Ordinary water buckets could only hold about twenty jin of water. However, the water vats in the kitchen of this official post station were very large, so the wooden buckets used for carrying water were also specially made. They were very big, with three heavy iron hoops. When full of water, each bucket weighed thirty or forty jin. The two buckets weighed heavily on the carrying pole.

Kong Fuyang came from a wealthy family and had hardly ever done any manual labor in his life. He thought he was proficient in the Six Arts and could always rank first in the tests of riding and archery. He even thought he could draw a bow with a volume of 1.5 shi (a unit of weight) when he exerted his full strength.

According to the archer, such a performance is enough to qualify one for a rank in the Imperial Guard, so a small bucket would be a piece of cake!
But at this moment, a towering mountain suddenly appeared on his shoulder, pressing down on his chest, making his scalp tingle, and making it impossible for him to breathe.

They say that mountains are to be looked up to, but once you reach such a mountain, you can't even lift your head up, let alone look up to it!

Kong Fuyang forced himself to walk a few steps, and he did manage to walk, but the more he lifted his shoulders, the heavier and more painful they became. Moreover, the water bucket was shaking and constantly spilling water. He tried to stop the water from spilling, but his steps became more and more erratic. Luckily, he stumbled and almost fell.

Just then, Zhang Si Niang stepped forward and helped hold the front bucket. Seeing this, Song Miao also rushed forward to help hold the back bucket.

Only thanks to the two of them keeping him steady was Kong Fuyang finally able to stand firmly on the carrying pole. Still shaken, he wiped his sweat and suddenly felt the mountain on his shoulder fly away, and his head felt lighter. As soon as he looked up, he saw Zhang Si Niang beside him with her knees spread apart and squatting down slightly, placing the carrying pole a little above her shoulder blades. It seemed as if she only exerted a little force, and the carrying pole lifted into the air on her shoulder.

Two large buckets of water were also thrown along with them.

When the water was on his shoulders, it splashed everywhere, but now that it was on Zhang Si Niang's shoulders, it was very obedient. It was clearly swaying back and forth, but the water only swirled in the bucket and hardly spilled out.

As for Zhang Si Niang, although she wasn't quite as frail as a floating cloud, she still carried a load of water with great speed and ease, walking on the stone steps as if on flat ground. Before long, she entered the kitchen, asked Song Miao, and poured the water into several large wooden basins and pots.

Kong Fuyang followed behind, and seeing the series of actions of the person opposite him, he no longer had any doubts. He immediately cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Young lady, you have quite the strength. It seems I am utterly useless!"

He added, "I was ignorant before, and now I want to apologize to you, young lady. With your strength, you will be able to carry things in the construction site kitchen without being any less capable than ordinary laborers!"

Then he turned to Song Miao and said, "Stadium owner Song, what I just said was all nonsense. I was arrogant and ignorant, which is why I dared to speak so presumptuously. You are in charge of the kitchen, so you should be in charge of everything!"

His quick admission of his mistake made Zhang Si Niang across from him feel a little embarrassed. She stammered, "It's not that I'm particularly strong, it's just that you've never done such rough work before. You can learn it in no time!"

But when she finally saw a scholar on the other side, who was working in the prefectural government office, and according to what Miss Song had just introduced, he was a famous scholar in the Imperial Academy who would surely pass the imperial examination and become an official in the court in the future—he was now honestly admitting his mistakes to her, how could she not smile with her eyes squinting?

After seeing off Zhang Si Niang, who had gotten her wish, Song Miao walked towards the kitchen and saw Kong Fuyang drawing water from the well.

She found it very strange, so she went closer to ask.

However, as soon as she approached, there was a loud "bang" as Kong Fuyang hurriedly let go of her hand, took two steps back, and called out, "Miss Song," before she could ask, he stammered, "I'm thirsty, I've come to get some water!"

There was tea in the room, and even if there wasn't, a courier would bring it over as soon as you called. Kong Fuyang's actions were entirely an attempt to cover up his true intentions.

Seeing the two buckets and the carrying pole beside him, Song Miao chuckled inwardly, but feigned surprise and said, "Why go to all this trouble? I'll find some drinks for Young Master Kong!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Kong Fuyang said awkwardly, "Stall owner Song, you clearly know why I need to fetch water!"

Song Miao couldn't help but laugh. Even though it was already dark, the starlight and moonlight made her eyes crinkle and sparkle, which made Kong Fuyang laugh along with her.

He said self-deprecatingly, "Oh well, let them laugh!"

He then asked, seemingly puzzled, "That young woman doesn't look taller or bigger than me, and she's younger than me, so how come she carries the load so easily!"

Song Miao smiled and said, "Fourth Sister just said that everything requires skill and has little to do with others. Besides, everyone has their own strengths. Look, I can't carry water very well, but I don't force myself. Young Master Kong is outstanding in both learning and talent, and is by no means weak."

"On the way to Huazhou earlier, we were checking the hydrology one day, and your group was the slowest to return. I was worried that something might have happened on the way, and I even wanted to send someone to pick you up. But Young Master Han just said it was alright, and added, 'Kong Fuyang is leading the team. He is the best at riding and archery, and he is also very resourceful. Even if something happens, he will not only be able to protect himself, but he will also be able to protect the rest of the group.'"

She paused, then said, "Young Master Kong is so talented in both literature and martial arts, yet you're so preoccupied with just two buckets of water, still fussing over this in the middle of the night? Instead of wasting time thinking about this, you should rest early. When Fourth Sister comes tomorrow, ask her to teach you when she has time. I guarantee you'll learn how to carry water in no time!"

As soon as Song Miao finished speaking, the face and eyes of the person opposite her seemed to have absorbed the essence of moonlight and suddenly became bright.

Kong Fuyang, as if unable to control his voice, asked loudly, "Did Zhengyan really say I'm 'the best at horsemanship and archery'?? He used the word 'best'???"

As he spoke, he couldn't help but grin, revealing teeth that seemed to turn an even whiter shade.

Song Miao nodded with a smile and said, "I remember the exact words very clearly."

Kong Fuyang stopped using the carrying pole, as he didn't really know how to use it. He simply held the pole between his armpits, his face all he could do was smile. He carried the two empty buckets back to the kitchen and arranged them, leaving behind a trail of "hehehehehehehehehehehehe" sounds.

***
Kong Fuyang laughed heartily, but at this moment, in the Huazhou government office, the clerk Qian Zhongming's face truly showed no smile whatsoever.

A clerk standing below him was cautiously reporting back.

"I didn't say anything, nor did I mention Kong Mu at all. Everything was done according to procedure. Who would have thought these scoundrels would be so reckless..."

Upon hearing this, Qian Zhongming stood up, slowly walked to the clerk, and seemingly silently raised his hand, but suddenly a gust of wind arose, and he slapped the clerk across the face.

The latter didn't react at first, but when he did, he instinctively tried to dodge, but it was too late. He was slapped so hard that his vision went black, and he still didn't dare to say a word.

Qian Zhongming said coldly, "I only asked you to assign some incompetent people so that the kitchen couldn't be set up for a while, not to use such idiots who caused this mess. Do you know that the servant who came to deliver the message today mentioned urgent military intelligence, a tributary delegation from the vassal state, and even poisoning high-ranking officials? It alarmed even the prefect. How am I supposed to clean up your mess?"

The clerk could only lower his head and repeatedly beg for forgiveness. Qian Zhongming said coldly, "I slapped you only because you are someone I trust, to teach you a lesson so you'll do your research before acting in the future—if that young lady were easy to get along with, why would Han Li have chosen her to help him? Fortunately, today it was just a loss of face, which can be salvaged. If it had ruined my reputation..."

"No, no!" the clerk hurriedly added, "Where would she find people in such a short time? Even if she did find people, there would be no grain or laborers. How can she cook without rice? And if she cooks, someone needs to eat... After all, this is just a small part. As long as the Water Conservancy Bureau can't find manpower..."

Hearing these words, Qian Zhongming's expression finally softened. He said, "I was thinking of delaying it until the end of the month so I could start recruiting people for him. But the Han group has embarrassed me like this, so I have no choice but to delay it a little longer to reassure my men."

***
Meanwhile, at the official post station, Zhang Si Niang packed her things, bid farewell to Song Miao, and headed home.

She was busy and rarely stopped, but she learned a lot. In just half a day, she learned how to stir-fry vegetables, the techniques for kneading dough, and the intricacies of making spring pancakes. It was an eye-opening experience. In particular, the chives and river shrimp she cooked herself were so delicious that you could taste the difference in flavor in just one bite. Compared to the previous dish, she had made great progress.

When a person truly learns something, especially when they clearly perceive that they are making progress, the sense of satisfaction they feel can surpass everything else.

When Zhang Si Niang returned home, she thought about and memorized what Song Miao had taught her during the day, fearing that she might have missed something. Knowing that her job was mostly settled, she felt only joy and peace of mind, and did not feel tired at all.

I had only walked halfway when I saw the entrance to my alleyway ahead, and there was a person standing at the intersection who looked very familiar.

Zhang Si Niang was overjoyed and ran forward, calling out, "San Lang!"

Upon hearing her call and seeing Zhang Si Niang in person, the latter was overjoyed and hurriedly came forward, calling out "Si Niang".

It was well past lunchtime when the man behind him pulled out a package of dried lotus leaves from his pocket and handed it over, saying, "Look what this is!"

Zhang Si Niang took it and was overjoyed. She exclaimed, "Steamed rice cake! Where did you get this?"

Sanlang said proudly, "I got a job today, delivering some to Erliba. It just so happens that they're having a wedding, and they gave me this steamed rice cake as a wedding favor. I saw that it has lots of red dates inside, so it must be sweet. I knew you like this, so I brought it back for you!"

He added, "Eat quickly! Try it and see if it's sweet!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Si Niang took a bite and said, "Sweet!" But then she handed the dried lotus leaf wrap back, saying, "You eat some too!"

Sanlang quickly waved his hand and said, "I brought this especially for you!"

"If you don't eat, I won't eat either!"

The two of them pushed and shoved each other, but in the end they shared the steamed rice cake head to head.

It turns out that this Sanlang was the man Zhang Siniang had arranged to marry a couple of years ago.

Both families are fishermen, have known each other since childhood, and have a good relationship.

Nowadays, there is not much emphasis on the separation of men and women, especially among ordinary people. It is common to see young men and women who are engaged going out arm in arm, strolling and visiting together. In particular, if the wedding is arranged at the end of the year, the two families will already regard each other as one family.

After finishing the steamed rice cake, Zhang Si Niang suddenly seemed to realize something and hurriedly asked, "The water has risen so high, how dare you still go towards Erliba?"

Wang Sanlang said, "The water has been swift lately, and it's not easy to catch fish. I thought it was a rare opportunity to have some work, and I could just cast my line a few times. I'm just idling around anyway, and if I earn a little extra money, I can save it up. I was thinking of buying you a bronze mirror. Linzi's family bought one for his new wife. They put a brand-new bronze mirror on a table, and his mother-in-law is extremely pleased with it!"

Zhang Si Niang said, "I don't need that. What's not good for reflecting your face? Just fill a basin with water, look at your reflection, and you'll see it much more clearly than any mirror. You should save this money; we'll need it for other things in the future. I've been saving money for you. In the winter, when you're fishing, your hands get cold. I was thinking of buying two pieces of leather to make a pair of gloves and a pair of boots for you and my brother, so you won't get wet or get cold. But leather is quite expensive!"

"No need, I'm not afraid of the cold!"

As they walked and talked, Zhang Si Niang kept scolding the other for not paying attention to the water's current and depth, while Wang San Lang was preoccupied with buying a mirror and rouge for his beloved.

In the end, Wang Sanlang apologized and said he would not do such a thing again.

However, he couldn't help but sigh and said, "The fish haven't been good lately, and the boat can't keep running. We can't just keep waiting, can we? The summer fishing season is coming in less than two months. If we just waste our time like this, how will we make money? How will I marry you?"

"We've worked hard enough all year round. If we can't take it anymore, let's take a break and see what kind of work is available on the shore. We can find some other jobs to make ends meet!"

“It’s not that easy to find work. It’s not just us fishermen and ferrymen; right now, the river porters, laborers, and even the vendors selling goods around here are all out of work. Brother Wu and the others have been looking for work for over ten days, but they haven’t found many jobs. Let alone me.” He paused. “But you, you said the laundry shop hasn’t had any work for a while. Why don’t you take a break too? I’ve saved up some money…”

As he spoke, he reached into his sleeve.

Zhang Si Niang declined repeatedly, first recounting the events of the day, and finally said, "You have no idea how good that Miss Song's cooking is. Her stir-fried river shrimp and chives were so delicious that I even wanted to use a spring pancake to clean up the remaining oil on the plate. In just half a day, she has learned so much—I'll make it for you another day!"

He added, "I don't care how skilled I become. I just want to learn a trick or two so I can set up a stall or get a job in the kitchen of a restaurant or teahouse. I'll be grateful!"

While Wang Sanlang was happy for his beloved, he couldn't help but feel heartache and reluctance upon learning that she was going to the canal construction site. He said, "The construction site is so far away. You'll start working tomorrow, which means you'll have to leave early in the morning and not get back until dark. If this job lasts for two months, won't we be unable to see each other for quite a while?"

"I'm not going to work on the canal tomorrow, I'll just be an assistant at the official post station first," Zhang Si Niang explained, then added regretfully, "It's a pity you're not a woman, otherwise with your strength, you would definitely be selected—then we could both be in the same place, wouldn't that be great!"

But today, her sister-in-law came back in the afternoon and has been running around making appointments with many old friends from the laundry shop. It's really inconvenient for Wang Sanlang, a man, to be among them.

He does not mean that.

Wang Sanlang pondered for a while, and seeing that the Zhang family was not far away, he stopped and pulled the person to stand by the roadside. He asked, "Fourth Sister, you said that the young lady Song hired so many people who were laborers that the yamen should have allocated, but they are not useful now, so she would rather spend money to hire them. Does that mean that other places on the construction site also have such a need for laborers?"

“I’m not after his generous subsidies. If he gives me a little something and provides a meal, we can meet up during lunch break. If it gets late at night, I can take you home. Otherwise, I’ll be worried sick in the middle of the night!”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Si Niang pondered it over and over, then grabbed Wang San Lang's sleeve and hurried home, saying, "Let's go ask your sister-in-law first, and I'll ask Miss Song tomorrow!"

Wang Sanlang hurriedly clutched his sleeve, saying, "It's so late at night, and I'm coming to your house empty-handed. What will your sister-in-law think of me? What will my brother think of me? What will my nephews and nieces think of me?"

Zhang Si Niang spat at him and said, "Who are you calling my elder brother and sister-in-law, nephew and niece! They're not even married into the family yet!"

But she eventually let go and said, "Let me ask for you. It would be great if Miss Song really still wanted someone!"