Miao Chu

Chapter 171 (The Importance of)
After walking through two streets, Song Miao finally found the stall set up by the prefectural government in an open space outside a tavern.

It was nearly summer, with long days and short nights. With the help of the setting sun and the torches and candles hanging outside the tavern, visibility was not difficult.

Carrying the food box, Song Miao was about to step forward when she saw two people standing not far away. It was Kong Fuyang talking to a passing peddler carrying a load.

No one knows what he said, but the peddler waved his hand and hurried away as if being chased by a dog.

Kong Fuyang stood still for a moment, then approached another person.

Around mealtimes, the street is lined with taverns and restaurants, as well as many shops and businesses, and naturally, there are quite a few pedestrians.

Song Miaorang stepped aside and watched as he approached several people in succession, all to no avail. Some shook their heads, others waved their hands, and still others ignored him and hurried on their way.

Kong Fuyang, who has always been quite proud, was not discouraged at all despite his repeated setbacks and cold shoulders this time. Instead, he took a short break, quickly rallied, and went to find a suitable person to ask for advice.

Song Miao waited for a while, then took advantage of a gap to go forward.

Hearing the commotion behind him, Kong Fuyang turned around. Before he could even see who it was, he instinctively bowed. When he looked closer, his previously listless face immediately broke into a wide smile, and he exclaimed, "Shopkeeper Song, what brings you here?!"

Song Miao smiled and raised the food box in her hand, saying, "Young Master Kong is busy with official business and has no appetite—since I am in charge of the meals, how can I let someone go hungry?"

Kong Fuyang hurriedly stepped forward to take the food box.

Although the food box had a lid, it was made of bamboo, and a few wisps of aroma inevitably wafted out during its delivery. Normally, he would have been clamoring to open the lid and eager to eat, but this time he sighed and said, "Stadium owner Song, I'm so sorry to have troubled you to come all this way, but I really have no appetite..."

After he finished speaking, Song Miao replied, "I know you have many worries and troubles, but I have a few words to say. I wonder if you have the energy to listen?"

Kong Fuyang hummed in response, looking up to speak. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone passing by and couldn't help but turn back to look. When he saw that the person was a young child running ahead, with her older sister, around ten years old, following behind and shouting, and didn't seem like someone who could be used for labor, he looked away again. Turning back to see Song Miaoxiao looking at him, he felt embarrassed and quickly said, "I'm sorry! Stall owner Song, I..."

Song Miao smiled and said, "Young Master is focused on his work, what is there to be ashamed of? It's just that I've been watching for a long time and haven't seen many people come. Does Young Master know the reason why?"

Kong Fuyang said awkwardly, "Because we don't speak the local dialect and are all young and inexperienced, few people believed us. Although the yamen assigned some help, neither the village head nor the patrolmen were willing to do anything. They just sat behind their desks and couldn't be urged to do anything. When we finally managed to get some people, they kept asking this and that, scaring several of them away..."

He became somewhat disheartened as he said this, "Although I knew that Qian Zhongming wouldn't be so kind, I didn't expect it to be so heartbreaking. He couldn't accomplish anything without even putting in much effort. Earlier, when Zheng Yan was talking to those two old women, Li and Huang, they were overjoyed when he mentioned ten coins per head. This time, when I mentioned it in the same way, although some were tempted and asked a few more questions, they all left..."

He added, "Fortunately, there are still some people at stall owner Song's place, so it should be busier at this stall tomorrow."

Song Miao said, "I asked around, and they all said it's not a good idea to use the government's name for recruitment..."

She recounted what Aunt Ma had learned from the village head before saying, "I won't say anything nice to comfort you, young master. It's useless. Besides, with your ambition and talent, you know that Heaven is about to bestow a great responsibility upon you. Why do I need to say anything?"

He added, “We can only guess at things, and it’s hard to put ourselves in their shoes, but there are always things we can put ourselves in their shoes with—I invited those aunties over this afternoon, and they gave me a lot of advice, which I’ll share with you.”

"Firstly, the recruitment booths are all located in the bustling city center of big merchants and trading companies. Recently, the economy has been bad everywhere, and even dockworkers and laborers don't have many jobs. Look at this big tavern behind us, which poor family can afford to eat there? Isn't what we're planning to recruit this time precisely the poor families? They benefit from it, and we benefit from it. It's a win-win situation."

"Given the location that Qian Kongmu chose, aren't most of the people who come and go fair-skinned and dressed in fine clothes? Why would they stop for ten coins?"

"While it's not as bad as asking a blind man for advice—let me ask you, if I gave you ten coins per person and asked you to bring along your classmates from the Imperial Academy, like Young Master Han, to write calligraphy for someone for a day, would you take it?"

At this point, Song Miao smiled and said, "I'm just a street vendor. I can work all night to earn an extra hundred or so coins—you, sir, are a scholar who can toil all night for river affairs. But would you really work all night copying books for someone just to earn a hundred or so coins?"

Having spent a long time together and knowing each other's personalities well, she spoke with much more daring. At this moment, she said, "Labor is never equal in value. As the saying goes, those who labor with their minds serve others, while those who labor with their bodies are served by others—how much do you pay me for a day? How much does the court pay for a day with Prefect Cen? How much is it worth for a day with Minister Cao? And going further up, to be extremely disrespectful, even the emperor for a day..."

"This matter cannot be thought about too deeply. If you think about it well, you will know to work hard and improve yourself. If you think about it poorly, you might act impulsively and end up writing something like 'speech on a fish's belly'."

After discussing the location, Song Miao then talked about the stalls.

"Hanging up such a detailed sign, it looks very clear, but who is it for? Will literate people come to apply?"

“With patrolling soldiers sitting behind the stalls, ordinary people would avoid the government soldiers if they saw them, not knowing what was going on. Who would dare to come forward?”

"And also..."

Song Miao laid out all these questions one by one, and when Tong Fuyang listened to them, cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Even if his family were wealthy, or even if they were of ordinary means, with his literary reputation, he could easily make a comfortable living by attending literary gatherings and banquets and relying on the prizes offered by the hosts. Naturally, he wouldn't work hard for such a small amount of money.

He had previously thought he had thought things through very thoroughly, but now, after being pointed out by this stall owner Song, he realized that he was still arrogant at heart, completely lacking empathy and merely making assumptions.

He immediately thought of the time when he was in the Kyoto government office, when he was writing clerkships for several inspectors and their subordinates. It was because of his arrogant and presumptuous behavior that he incurred the wrath of everyone.

If it weren't for Han Li stepping in to help salvage the situation...

Kong Fuyang placed the food box on the ground and bowed deeply to Song Miao, saying, "Thanks to the reminder from stall owner Song, otherwise Zhengyan would have been so disappointed to see that I had delayed things to this extent!"

He added, "I'll go back now and gather everyone together to discuss how to deal with things tomorrow. We can't be as hasty as we were today. We need to choose a suitable location and figure out how to get around Qian Zhongming. Also..."

Seeing that his eyebrows were furrowed as he spoke, looking quite distressed, Song Miao smiled and said, "It's not just you who's anxious, young master. The other aunts and ladies are just as anxious. We've already set up a stall right outside the official post station."

"Setting it up there is convenient because it's easy to find and not too cramped. I've already made the arrangements. I'll ask them to spread the word tonight—to recruit people using only my name. That way, we can bypass the authorities. If anything happens later, we can deal with it then. What do you think?"

Kong Fuyang was both surprised and delighted, saying, "No wonder Zheng Yan always says that stall owner Song is a man of great talent! Fortunately, you are ahead of the curve in everything, otherwise it would really be too late!"

This was his first time in charge, and he had made such a mess of things. He was so focused on how to fix it that he didn't want to wait even a moment longer. He had no appetite and picked up the food box, saying, "I'll go back with Miss Song right now and take a look!"

As he spoke, he turned around and looked for a village headman guarding the stall. He greeted a patrolman, took several documents, and then turned back, hurriedly calling Song Miao to head back.

Song Miao naturally knew why he was in such a hurry. On the way back, she explained what she had done and why she did it, telling him not to worry too much.

The more Kong Fuyang listened, the more dejected he became. Before he even returned to the official post station, he seemed to have shrunk by half. He sighed and said, "I have always been arrogant, but it turns out that I am actually the most stupid and foolish one. Miss Song, how can you be so thorough in your work?"

Song Miao smiled and said, "It's not me who's handling things so well, it's all those ladies and aunts, but we can't get anything done by ourselves. When it's time to register tomorrow, we'll need many literate people to make the roster and prepare the groups and assignments in advance. We'll have to rely on you all for this." Kong Fuyang dared not make any more promises at this point.

He said, "We've set out ten tables. Even if many people don't come, it's best to have enough staff. But I don't dare use the people from the government office anymore..."

Seeing that he was getting stuck on this again, Song Miao said, "Why bother? Why don't you follow the path that others have already trod? What did Young Master Han do when he came to Huazhou? And how did you get here? What are your identities?"

Kong Fuyang felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

It wasn't that he hadn't thought of it, but with Han Li gone, he had to handle many of the department's progress alone. Today, he was busy recruiting people, but he had been turned down all day. In fact, he was hungry, but he was so disheartened that he was completely numb and his mind was filled with anxiety.

Now that Song Miao had enlightened him, his anxiety gradually subsided, and he finally regained his composure, replying, "I should go find the students of the state school first!"

Those who have mastered both literary and martial arts skills will serve the emperor.

Who among those who can enter the state school doesn't have a bit of arrogance?

Qian Zhongming can manage many village heads and patrolmen, and control many merchants. How could he possibly command so many students?
At this moment, without Song Miao needing to give him any further pointers, his mind finally returned, and he said, "I'll go back and check on the situation at the stalls, see what we need to replenish tomorrow, make a list, discuss it with everyone, and then we can split up and do our own thing!"

He then turned to Song Miao and said, "Young Lady Song, if we can recruit enough people this time, all the credit will go to you—even if I don't want anything myself, I will still write a memorial for you and ask for a great reward!"

When they returned to the official post station, they found that many tables had already been set up, and even a shed had been erected to shelter them from the wind and rain.

Not only that, upon entering, one can see that several cloth signs have already been made in the small courtyard in front of the official post station, as well as a large number of fences.

It was just past lunchtime, and there were only a few tables of people in the front hall. At the corner, two tables were pushed together, and it was clear that a group of students were talking.

When one of them saw Song and Kong enter, he quickly called them over. It turned out that they had already used the platform set up at the entrance of Song Miao's house to do some checking and filling in the gaps.

Although Han Liren was not present, he had already made arrangements for the manpower needed for this canal dredging project. He had planned out exactly how many people were needed for each location, where the people would be deployed first, and where they would be sent next.

Everyone meticulously followed the established rules, and finally, Kong Fuyang and Song Miao returned. They quickly called the two of them over to discuss the matter together.

As the saying goes, many hands make light work. After discussing for more than half an hour, they finally assigned each task to an individual.

By this time, the stamps had been delivered, and the other students were either stamping their names, registering their names, or receiving other tasks, or preparing a sufficient number of blank rosters.

Seeing that everything was on track, Song Miao, who had been busy all day, finally finished her work, said goodbye, and went back to her room to wash up and rest.

As expected, Kong Fuyang was assigned the task of going to Cen Dezhang to ask for the transfer order for the state school students.

Without wasting a moment, he borrowed horses from the post station and was about to leave. Before leaving, he saw the postman helping to harness the horses. He calculated the time in his mind and suddenly stopped. He was already at the door when he turned around, looked around, picked up the food box on the table next to him, and hurriedly walked to the kitchen.

There was even an oil lamp lit in the kitchen tonight.

Kong Fuyang entered the room and skillfully lifted the lids of the two pots. Strangely enough, there were still some warm vegetables in the pots today, and he wondered who they were for.

He didn't try to take the pot; instead, he opened his own food box.

The food box has three layers, with charcoal at the bottom to keep the food inside warm.

Kong Fuyang took some charcoal out of the stove and put it in the bottom of the food box, intending to eat it when he returned.

Since he didn't have time to go back to his room, he casually put the food box on the table. Just as he was about to cover it with a lid, he couldn't resist opening the lid and taking a look.

The first layer contained a large bowl of rice and a small bowl of braised cabbage. The second layer also contained two bowls. One bowl was mainly meat, with a little bit of braised goose, pickled duck, stewed fish, and braised lamb. The other bowl contained half-minced and half-sliced ​​pork and half-crushed fried eggs lying in a thick white broth. Several long, date-shaped meatballs also lay in the soup. I don't know what kind of meatballs they were, but they looked slightly yellow with a hint of pink.

The pork looked very fresh and should have been cooked very tender, still retaining a very light pink color. As for the fried egg pieces, they looked perfectly cooked, with some scattered in the soup and others in larger chunks. The yolks in the middle still had a slightly raw color and a jelly-like appearance, so they should have been fully cooked. They were probably just pretending to be tender.

Having followed Song Miao all the way and stayed in this official post station for many days, Kong Fuyang immediately recognized which dish belonged to the Song family.

Even though he was about to leave, he couldn't resist grabbing a spoon, scooping up a spoonful of soup and vegetables, and putting it into his mouth with his right hand while covering the food box with his left.

With each spoonful, the flavors of soup, egg, and meat greet the tongue in a sequential manner.

The soup was very thick and sweet, and the sweetness was so natural that there was no greasy feeling at all. It was the sweetness of the clean and fresh pork juice that honestly came out when it was poached, along with the sweetness of fried eggs and that indescribable sweetness of river seafood, like the sweetness of shrimp and the sweetness of crab.

The soup had already been swallowed, but only belatedly did I realize at the back of my tongue that "that last bite was so fresh and sweet."

At this moment, they were already tasting fried eggs and poached meat.

The fried egg had been simmering in the hot food container for so long that it was already fully cooked. I don't know how it was done, but the frozen part still had a slightly cooked texture, while the fried bottom had a perfect caramelized aroma. This part is especially good at absorbing soup. When you chew it, the poached meat and the fried egg take turns visiting your mouth, sometimes fresh and fragrant, sometimes sweet and savory.

Chew it a few times, swallow it, and it's gone.

Kong Fuyang couldn't help but turn back, reopen the food box, and take another spoonful. Only then did he force himself to place the spoon on the food box with all his might, grit his teeth, and leave.

Cen Dezhang was quite easy to talk to. He was called to the door in the middle of the night and listened to Kong Fuyang's evasive report. When he learned that everyone needed to borrow students from the state school to help register the roster the next day, he immediately agreed. He changed his clothes, went to the front office, got the seal, stamped the drafted conscription letter, gave Kong Fuyang a few words of encouragement, and called a clerk on duty to take Kong Fuyang to the state school to select people, so as to avoid being in a rush the next morning.

After Kong Fuyang went through a lot of trouble, by the time he finally settled things, it was already dark.

As he rode on his horse, he kept planning for tomorrow's situation. Feeling that there were probably no major problems, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

As soon as he breathed a sigh of relief, the feeling of hunger in his stomach finally surfaced, urging him to spur his horse forward, eager to get back to the post station and eat the dishes prepared by the man surnamed Song.

As Kong Fuyang galloped along on horseback, a man in the official post station waved his hand and said to the person next to him, "It's the middle of the night, no need to wake the cook. I really don't have an appetite. Let's see what's in the kitchen and just find something to eat. There's no need to be so picky."

(End of this chapter)