Miao Chu

Chapter 180 Cloud Cluster
On the drying ground, Wang Shuji, having already spoken, invited Song Miao as a proper helper.

"There are only about a hundred people. We provide two meals a day. You can bring one or two helpers with you, or hire people locally. Everyone in our shipping company is easy to get along with, no less so than the Water Conservancy Bureau. If you work here for a year or two, food and lodging will be provided, and you can save up all the subsidies. Isn't that better than pushing a cart and setting up a stall in the capital, exposed to the sun and rain?"

"If you're comfortable with it, you can continue. If you've saved enough money, you can quit, go back to the capital, find a good shop, and open your own restaurant without any delay. What do you think?"

He added, "Think it over carefully. The Transport Bureau has an office in the capital. I'll explain to them when I get there. If you're willing, just come to their office, and they'll take care of the arrangements!"

He told her the location of the government office, and then said, "I'll write you a note when I get back to my room tonight."

There was no one else on the drying ground at this time, and there was little noise. Wang Shuji did not deliberately lower his voice, so it could be heard clearly at the courtyard gate.

Standing there was Han Li, who had returned from Weizhou.

After listening to a few sentences, the latter, though not recognizing the speaker or knowing the details, had already discerned the meaning and unconsciously frowned.

He wanted to get back as quickly as possible.

He had encountered a minor incident outside the door, which was quickly resolved, but it still caused a delay, and he was already feeling somewhat impatient.

After finally managing to find out who it was in the backyard, I had already planned how to greet them and what to say, but who knew that as soon as I came in, I would stumble upon this scene.

Unfortunately, the other party invited stall owner Song, and as an outsider, I had no right to comment.

Han Li couldn't step forward, so he could only wait where he was, looking at Song Miao. He was even more eager for her reply than Wang Shuji was, but he was also afraid that her reply would not be what he wanted to hear.

It was only a few breaths, but it felt like an eternity to him before he heard the stall owner, Song, smile and say thank you.

"I'll think about it some more. If I'm interested, I'll definitely come to your door to offer my services. Thank you, Master Wang."

Wang Shuji stopped trying to persuade him and added, "Actually, there are some other advantages to traveling south and north with the Transport Bureau. Although the capital is nice, it is located in the Central Plains, and many ingredients are hard to come by. If you come here, the Jianghuai and Jingchu regions, especially the Liangzhe region, each have their own local ingredients. After all, they are the land of fish and rice. If you practice there, when you return to the capital, your cooking skills and knowledge will surely improve."

"You're so young, can't you afford to waste a year or two? What's that old saying again? 'Sharpening your axe won't delay your woodcutting!'"

If Song Miao was completely indifferent to other conditions, it was hard not to be tempted by the other party's offer of ingredients.

This time, she hesitated for a long time before replying, "I will think it over carefully. Thank you for the invitation, sir!"

Both sentences were expressions of thanks, and although there was still some distance between them, Han Li quickly noticed the obvious difference between them.

He was originally filled with joy, but after standing there for a while, despite the warm early summer weather, a strange wind suddenly blew straight into his heart, making him feel chilly.

Han Ligan stood still, being a large man, when Song Miao glanced up and saw him out of the corner of her eye. She was pleasantly surprised and took two steps forward to greet him, asking with a smile, "Young Master Han, when did you return? Why are you standing here?"

Upon hearing this, Han Li couldn't help but smile. He felt his heart was no longer cold, and the wind was no longer gloomy; it was clearly a gentle breeze blowing through the willows.

He took a few steps forward and said gently, "I came back just now and was looking for you, but you were talking and I didn't want to disturb you, so I stood there for a while and waited."

He then asked, "Is everything finished for now?"

Song Miao hurriedly said, "It's all ready—I guessed you'd be back in the next couple of days, so I've already prepared a meal for you. Chef Zhang has also left a few main dishes, and I'll just make some soup in a bit so we can eat!"

Han Li laughed and said, "No rush. I'll go pack up. There are a few other people leading the way and escorting the grain. They won't be back for another half an hour or so. I'll wait for them to eat together."

As he spoke, he politely bowed to Wang Shuji.

Song Miao immediately realized what was going on and introduced the two of them.

First, let's talk about Wang Shuji. He was introduced as the deputy envoy of the Sixth Route Transport. If it weren't for his help today, and the help of the laundry ladies, I might have already been taken away by the yamen runners.

Han Li was startled and quickly asked for details. Only after learning the whole story did he breathe a sigh of relief. When he saw the shackles on Wang Shuji's hands, he bowed first and then turned to leave the courtyard.

Just then, a student came out of the outhouse and, seeing Han Li, hurriedly called out, "Leader Han!" Han Li responded and greeted the student, but then asked, "What are you busy with right now? Have you eaten yet?"

The student answered, only saying that he was organizing the roster and arranging the assigned positions on the river, and that he had eaten.

Han Li then said, "You pack your things and have Kong Fuyang find someone else to take over. You go to the prefectural government office and find Prefect Cen."

As he spoke, he gestured towards Wang Shuji in the courtyard and said, "I don't know what's wrong with the yamen runners. They've acted so absurdly that they've handcuffed the superior of the Sixth Route Transport Office. You should report this matter and ask the prefect to personally come to apologize."

The student was busy at the front and had no idea that there was such a thing behind him. When he saw Wang Shuji sitting and drinking tea with one hand in shackles, he quickly agreed and hurriedly ran to the front to hand over the horse.

After Han Li finished giving his instructions, he turned around and bowed deeply to Wang Shuji, saying, "Thank you for your help, sir. If anything had happened to stall owner Song, there would have been no way to make up for it."

Song Miao quickly added, "This is Young Master Han—the official just asked me who drafted the river management regulations; it was Young Master Han Li."

When Wang Shuji saw the person step forward to bow, he returned half a bow. After hearing the other person speak and seeing Song Miao's introduction, he was somewhat surprised and said, "So you wrote that plan!"

He looked at it seriously at that moment and couldn't help but secretly admire it.

What a handsome face!
In particular, his eyebrows and eyes were straight, and his facial features were also well-proportioned. In addition, his actions and words just now were natural and orderly, which made a very good impression.

In the small official post station, Wang Shuji was quite surprised to encounter two men and one woman, all of whom were exceptionally talented and beautiful.

As he listened, he sensed something was amiss and asked, "You, like Kong Fuyang, are also a student of the Imperial Academy. Your surname is Han, but where does your given name come from?"

Han Li said, "The sharpening of a knife and a stone is like the sharpening of Han Li."

Wang Shuji immediately realized who it was, and clicked his tongue, saying, "So it's you! The one with the yellow dog fighting cock and the pearl-wielding Tanka?"

Han Li said, "I am indeed the humble one."

Wang Shuji's attitude underwent a subtle change.

After learning about Han Li's background, he first praised the previous article, and then quickly steered the conversation to the regulations governing the river, asking a series of questions.

Han Li answered them one by one.

Upon hearing this, Wang Shuji praised him highly, and then exclaimed, "I originally thought you were a young and talented man, wielding your pen like a knife, but I never imagined that you could not only write but also get things done, and get things done so effectively!"

He then asked, "I see that your rules are extremely detailed, with grouping, supervision, and rewards all being very original. How did you come up with them?" Han Li replied, "This junior dares not take credit—it was inspired by stall owner Song."

Wang Shuji was taken aback, and then asked for more details. He then learned that the cook in front of him had actually drafted a detailed set of rules to manage the cooks.

He hurriedly asked for it, and after only a quick glance, he nodded repeatedly and then asked Song Miao many more questions.

The affairs of the canal are intertwined with the affairs of the river. Wang Shuji was an expert in the rules and regulations drafted by Han Li, but he knew little about the affairs of the kitchen. When he looked at the rules and regulations, he saw the logic, the structure, and his eyes were opened. He realized that there were so many intricacies in the kitchen.

He also asked for Song Miao's charter, saying he would return it the next day. Then he called out Han Li's name again and asked, "After the Huazhou River matter is settled, what are your plans?"

Han Li said, "The river affairs are just beginning, it's too early to talk about what will happen later."

“It’s not early at all!” Wang Shuji said. “I had already told Miss Song that the Transport Office also has river transport projects to do, and I was thinking of asking her to help out. These projects vary in scale and difficulty along the way, so they are not easy to manage.”

"But the whole country depends on this waterway, and the river transport is of great importance. Everyone in the court and the public is watching. If it is done well, it will bring fame, provide valuable experience, and make the river transport a good place to work. So, once things start running in Huazhou, do you want to come and take a look at the transport office?"

Before he could finish speaking, a voice outside said urgently, "Sir Wang, the situation in Huazhou is critical. How can you try to poach someone now? Zheng Yan is in charge of coordinating the river affairs this time. If he leaves, who will take his place?"

He then shouted loudly, "Zhengyan, everything must be completed from beginning to end. You must not give up halfway!"

As he spoke, the person wiped the sweat from his head and face and jogged quickly into the backyard.

When Song Miao looked up, although the face seemed unfamiliar, she guessed that the other person was most likely Cen Dezhang, the prefect of Huazhou.

She knew that Cen Dezhang had arrived, and that the matter of the arbitrarily detaining the man must have come to an end. She saw that many more yamen runners had arrived. As soon as Cen Dezhang stepped forward, he stopped Han Li from leaving and immediately apologized to Wang Shuji for the shackles.

Wang Shuji had no choice but to reply to each of them.

Seeing that her two superiors were there, Song Miao didn't want to get involved and quickly retreated to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Chef Zhang had left many large dishes warm in the pots.

After finishing up all the chores, Dabing went back to his room to wash up, so Song Miao didn't bother to call him.

Calculating the time, it was still early, half an hour before Han Li mentioned. This dish was a quick soup that could be made in no time, so there was no rush. Song Miao sliced ​​the meat and marinated it before washing the oyster mushrooms and slowly tearing them into strips.

She had just finished preparing all the ingredients when she heard footsteps outside. Looking up, she saw Han Li.

He changed his clothes, and it was clear that he had tidied himself up carefully. Although his eyes were slightly red and bloodshot, indicating that he hadn't rested well, he still looked energetic and in a good mood.

Seeing him come in, Song Miao greeted him with a smile and then asked about the situation outside.

Han Li said, "Since the two gentlemen are discussing matters, I will step aside to avoid listening to their arguing."

Upon hearing the word "pulling," Song Miaoguang could almost picture the scene in her mind—the two officials, Wang and Cen, each grabbing one of Han's arms to show their intimacy in order to seize him.

Poor young master Han, should he raise his arms or not? If he didn't raise them, it would seem disrespectful; if he did raise them, it would be tiring to do so for a long time.

She asked with a smile, "Young master, are you hungry? How about I get you a few bites to tide you over, and then we can have a proper meal together when the others return?"

Han Li shook his head and said, "No rush, I've already packed some things for the journey, it won't make a difference if I wait a little longer."

He stepped forward, approaching the stove, and asked again, "What are you busy with, Stall Owner Song? Do you need washing or rinsing done here? Or do you need firewood added to the fire? Do you need me to lend a hand?"

Song Miao said, "No need, everything is ready. I'll just open the stove when the time comes."

When she saw Han Li run into the kitchen, she didn't ask anything else but whether he needed help. Without saying anything else, she pointed to a small table next to him and said with a smile, "There's nothing urgent right now, young master. Please have a seat and I'll pour you a cup of tea."

Han Li said, "I heard you went to the kitchen outside the city today? You must be very tired after traveling back and forth all day. Please sit down and I will pour you some tea."

As he spoke, he went to the side and took a clean teacup, rinsed it with hot water, and then placed it in front of Song Miao, poured her half a cup, and sat down next to her.

He sat down, hesitated for a moment, and couldn't help but ask, "What are your thoughts on the invitation from that Mr. Wang today, stall owner?"

Song Miao hadn't expected that the other party had come all this way just to ask this question.

After a moment's thought, she replied, "It's a bit of a pity that so many good ingredients were wasted. After all, we have too much debt at home. Once things are settled in Huazhou, I will most likely return to the capital to pay off the debt as soon as possible. As for the shop outside that you mentioned, that's a matter for later—we haven't even learned to walk yet, so how can we be at that stage yet?"

"If the family debts are paid off, what does Mr. Song think of this job?"

Song Miao shook her head and said, "I am not comfortable telling Mr. Wang directly, but I am not afraid to explain to you, young master. If I had a choice, I would not like to work as a long-term cook in the government office. Everyone has their own tastes, especially since the more officials there are, the more taste preferences there are. Although I have some skills, I cannot guarantee that everyone will like them."

"It's naturally fresh when you cook for one or two meals, but if you keep doing it for a long time, and then you bring it up and I respond, I only have two hands, and I can only take care of one thing for twelve hours a day. I can't take care of another, so I inevitably feel frustrated."

She paused, then said, "Besides, I only met that official Wang by chance. He happened to eat a couple of fresh dishes and found them to his liking, so he casually invited me. Who knows what the situation will be like in the yamen in the future? What if someone else has a chef who also likes the food and wants to bring him into the shipping department?"

At this point, she smiled and said, "If I hadn't known that I was coming to Huazhou this time to cook for ordinary laborers and soldiers, and that Young Master Han and his party would be cooking for them, I wouldn't have dared to agree so readily. Besides, I know Young Master Han's character and how he acts. If you weren't absolutely certain that you could get my way in everything, you wouldn't have invited me."

Hearing Song Miao say something, Han Li felt a little lighter. When she said things like "I know the young master's character and conduct," his heart felt like a soft, fluffy white cloud floating in the sky on a hot summer day, so light and carefree that it might drift away at any moment.

His heart felt so light, as if the weariness and toil of the past few days had flown away with it. Yet he couldn't help but ask again, "If the debt is paid off, does Mr. Song actually want to go south for the sake of the ingredients?"

Song Miao laughed and said, "What cook doesn't like fresh ingredients? Not only in the south, but if I have the opportunity, once I have accumulated enough people and money, I want to go to all directions to broaden my horizons."

Han Li seemed to be deep in thought. After a few moments, he asked again, "So, is the Jia Tong Restaurant actually based in the capital?"

"If I had the ability, I would like to open my own restaurants all over the country, and let reliable people manage them. I would live in the east for two years and in the west for two years, and I could taste all the delicacies in the world and be in charge of them. Isn't that a wonderful dream?"

As she spoke, her spirits soared, and she seemed so vibrant that Han Li stared at her in a daze for a long time before finally smiling and replying, "What a wonderful dream! It makes me want to have one too."

Thank you so much for the sachet you sent me! And thank you to the following six friends for sending me amulets: Xiaobai Term, Book Friend 20250815232529861, Yellow Scorpio Palace, Book Friend 20200606081347166, Red Sleeve One Fairy, and Red Sleeve Concubine A. I've got them all on me now, thank you everyone! =3=
Thank you to PureHateWarrior_Ab from the bookstore for the ray of inspiration; Naljor for the writing aid and a small token of appreciation; my cat named Egg for the four small tokens; and CrazyMom, I Love Nongnong, and JINGJING~ for the small tokens of appreciation. ^_^
thanks, thanks!

Thank you again for all the votes.

Finally, I must mention that after this period of relentless effort, writing several hundred more words every day, I have now more than doubled back all the overtime I had accumulated! I'm so proud!