Miao Chu

Chapter 193 A way out
The past is gone and cannot be retrieved, but the new moon and the egg still remain.

Song Miao held the egg, rubbing it in her hand for a while, thinking about the past. She was lost in thought for a long time, then leaned forward again, about to place the egg on the ground to face the bright moon, when she heard footsteps coming from not far to her right.

The man quickly approached, called out "Miss Song," and asked in surprise, "Today is clearly the Beginning of Summer, not the Beginning of Spring. How come you can stand an egg upright?"

Song Miao looked up and, though she couldn't see the person's face clearly, she recognized him by his voice and appearance as the late-returning Kong Fuyang.

Hearing her call, she immediately snapped out of her reverie and smiled, "Young Master is finally back! But where is Young Master Han? I heard you went to the prefectural government office. Since Magistrate Cen invited you, he probably provided a meal. You promised to come back for dinner. Are you still able to eat now?"

Kong Fuyang hurriedly said, "Of course," and then added, "We haven't eaten anything. We rushed back just to get this one bite. Your question makes me anxious—did those animals steal it all?"

He added, "Zhengyan is keeping Cen Tongpan here to discuss matters; I wonder when he will be able to return."

Song Miao stood up and said, "Don't worry, we've saved plenty. Young Master, please tidy up first, and you can eat as soon as you come out."

She went back to the kitchen, cooked the noodles she had prepared earlier, and mixed them with the shrimp and pork bone soup. Just as she was about to serve it, Kong Fuyang, who had already slipped into the kitchen, saw the bowl and was overjoyed. He hurriedly went to take it, saying, "I'll eat here. No need to bring it back!"

He sat at the table, scooped up the noodles and stirred them, coating them in the rich broth. He slurped up several mouthfuls of noodles, followed by a few mouthfuls of broth. After swallowing the broth along with the noodles and pork bones, he finally had time to eat the prawns he had been eyeing for a while.

After sucking on the shrimp roe and eating the shrimp meat, he quickly peeled several shrimp while chewing, his hands and feet trembling with urgency.

When he finally slurped up the meat and yolk, along with the bone marrow, and the noodles, which were full of wheat flavor and coated with rich bone broth, into his mouth, he couldn't help but stretch out his legs and lean back in his chair. His eyes were still open, but they were completely unfocused, as if his soul had gone to work in his mouth.

After swallowing a large mouthful of noodles that had absorbed countless essences, he finally let out a long sigh.

"Alas—what will I do if I don't have Miss Song's cooking anymore!"

Seeing his expression, Song Miao couldn't help but laugh and asked, "Is it really that delicious?"

"You don't understand! When I heard you say that today is the beginning of summer and that we're going to have some extra dishes tonight, I knew it would be a big meal. Whenever I had a spare moment, it was on my mind. I thought about what to eat several times. At first, I thought it would be shrimp and pork with egg soup, then I thought it might be the pork trotter rice I'd heard about before, and I even guessed chicken or duck."

"Because everything you make is so delicious, I was filled with anticipation just thinking about it. When I came back, I thought the things I had guessed were already excellent, but I never expected that they would be such the best things ever—I love shrimp, I love shrimp roe and shrimp paste, and I especially love eating the bone marrow. This noodle also has my favorite texture! It's coated in soup, with meat, and is infused with bone marrow and shrimp roe... Oh my! You don't understand!"

Song Miao, the cook, was immediately labeled as "incompetent".

She couldn't help but chuckle as she watched Kong Fuyang devour the entire bowl, not even sparing a drop of the broth. After finishing, he seemed utterly satisfied, and she felt a sense of pride herself on his actions.

For a chef, nothing is more gratifying than when diners enjoy their cooking.

She laughed and said, "I'll ask the shrimp farmer next time and try to buy some more—while I'm still in Huazhou, I'll see if I can do it again."

Kong Fuyang was delighted to stand up and gave Song Miao a deep bow. However, after finishing the bow, he said, "Alas, I am in a real dilemma. I want to eat the old dishes that Miss Song makes again, but I am also eager to try the new dishes that I have never tasted before. When we return to the capital, please make sure that restaurant opens as soon as possible. I want to come and eat here three times a day!"

It's still nice to have a customer come to you on their own initiative, even though I know it might not come true.

Since it was getting late, after exchanging a few more words, Kong Fuyang took his leave.

However, just as Song Miaogang finished cleaning the stove, she heard footsteps outside the door again. Looking up, she saw that it was Kong Fuyang who had returned.

He hurriedly said, "I almost forgot—Miss Song, to be honest, I don't know when he will be back. Please don't wait too long. If there is any food, leave it in the pot, and he will know to clean it up. You should get some rest!"

Song Miao paused for a moment upon hearing this, then quickly agreed.

She had to get up early the next day, so she naturally wouldn't force herself to stay awake. After thinking for a moment, she took out the document she had written in her bosom and handed it to Kong Fuyang, saying, "I originally intended to give it to Young Master Han, but since we don't know when he will return, it's the same to give it to you—let's see if it can be used."

After everything was tidied up, Song Miao returned to her room to rest.

After she rested, another hour or so passed before Han Li finally returned from the state office. Sure enough, he went to the kitchen to cook noodles, heat up soup and vegetables, and satisfied his hunger.

After washing the pots and pans, he closed the kitchen door. When he returned to the house, he pushed the door open and saw Kong Fuyang writing at his desk. He said, "It's getting late. You should go to sleep early, or you won't be able to stay up tomorrow."

Upon hearing that he had returned, Kong Fuyang quickly put down his pen, blew on the paper in front of him, and said smugly, "You said that my report on the matter of the croton in the kitchen was too general, and the methods for improvement and prevention were not very practical. You told me to leave it and wait for you to find time to revise it. Now I have revised it, so you don't need to trouble yourself—look!"

Upon hearing this, Han Li stepped forward and took the manuscript. After only one glance, he quickly asked, "Who wrote the original manuscript?"

Kong Fuyang knew he couldn't hide it any longer, so he answered honestly, "What Miss Song wrote—it even made me curious about her elder brother from Nanlu Academy. They're siblings from the same mother, so he can't be too bad! It's just a pity..."

As she spoke, she picked up the document written by Song Miao on the table, handed it to Han Li, and said, "She even imitated your style of writing, only making slight modifications, or in fact, it can be used directly without much modification."

Han Li first read Kong Fuyang's revised petition before looking at Song Miaona's original draft. He read it carefully three or four times, turning it over and over again, before finally asking, "Have you finished using it?"

"You're done using it, what's wrong?"

Han Li waved the manuscript and said, "If you don't need it, I have another use for it, so I'll put it away for now."

Kong Fuyang didn't think much of it and readily agreed. He then went on to praise Song Miao, praising the manuscript and then her cooking skills. Finally, he asked, "Zhengyan, what if Song Miao's restaurant is closed for a day after we return to the capital? We'll only be able to eat breakfast. What should we do then?"

As if on a whim, he suddenly said, "You said... Zhengyan, why don't you say hello to Master Chen?"

At this point, he suddenly perked up and said, "Go and ask Master Chen to find Chancellor Deng and ask if we can invite Miss Song to the school's kitchen. We'll set up a stall for her..."

Just as she was pondering this, Han Li said, "Regardless of whether Miss Song herself is willing or not, and whether the Imperial Academy can use this method, even if she is willing and the academy agrees—by this time next year, you will surely have already been released from your official robes, right?"

Kong Fuyang was stunned.

“If we tie him up at the Imperial Academy, what will happen when you are released from your official post…” Kong Fuyang immediately changed his mind and said, “No, no, I’m only thinking about the present and not the future—it’s better to open a restaurant, at least I can eat whenever I want!”

Frustrated, he remained silent for a moment, thinking hard, but couldn't help but ask, "Zhengyan, if I were to be appointed as an official in the future, could I take Miss Song with me and have her manage the public kitchen?"

Han Li glanced at him and said indifferently, "You should take care of yourself first. I see you're really free right now. This morning you said your mind was full of official business and you didn't have any other thoughts. You even asked me to write a poem for you. Luckily, you didn't. Can you give me the statistics on the river's progress by the end of Mao hour tomorrow?"

Kong Fuyang was startled and said, "Didn't you say this afternoon that it would be fine to give it to me by the end of Chenshi (7-9 AM)?"

“If you keep changing your mind, wanting someone to open a stall one minute, managing someone to open a restaurant the next, and planning to bring someone to manage the public kitchen the next, without even asking what the person means—if you have so many delusions, I’ll have to call you to pay your dues at the end of the Yin hour.”

***
Leaving that aside, Kong Fuyang was afraid that Chen Shi (7-9 AM) would really be changed to Yin Shi (3-5 AM), so he hurriedly climbed into his bed and pretended to sleep. However, he was tired after a long day and had eaten a lot of noodles, so he fell asleep after closing his eyes for a short while.

Meanwhile, Zhang Siniang, who had just left the official post station, was talking with Wang Sanlang all the way. As they walked, they saw their house right in front of them, and the latter said, "It's too late. You should go inside first. I'll watch you go in from here."

As he spoke, he took the basket off his back.

Zhang Si Niang took the basket, scooped out a handful of plums, wrapped them in a handkerchief, and gave him a small bag of apricots, saying, "Take these back and eat them."

Wang Sanlang wanted to accept the gift from his sweetheart, but he was also reluctant to. He said, "You eat it yourself. There are many people in the family. It may look like a lot here, but there won't be much left after everyone eats it. The younger ones will fight over it, so how much will you get?"

He added, "Ignoring the others, you like apricots, right? You should at least keep some for yourself and not give them all away. It's not good for children to eat too many!"

Zhang Si Niang glared at him and said, "Just take it if I give it to you!"

Seeing this, Wang Sanlang picked up a few plums and an apricot, and whispered, "I also won a prize today, and I've been saving it. Mother told me that the family is saving money to see if we can build two more rooms in the next two months. It wouldn't be good for you to squeeze into the old house..."

Zhang Si Niang pursed her lips and whispered, "We'll talk about it later."

They urged him to go home quickly.

After seeing her fiancé off, Zhang Si Niang returned home. As soon as she entered, she heard a scolding voice coming from inside.

"Why did you go and mess with Wangcai, who was just guarding the door?"

"Waaah, I had no idea it would actually steal my eggs!"

"Serves you right! Look at how smug you are, running all over the street with those eggs, thinking you're some kind of egg king? It's one thing for the neighbors to play with them, but you don't even spare the cats and dogs. You were practically shoving the eggs right up to Wangcai's mouth, who else would it steal from if not yours?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a wail of crying erupted from inside the house.

Zhang Si Niang hurriedly entered the door and saw that her niece was crying first. After her niece started crying, her nephew, feeling that he would be at a great loss if he didn't cry, also started crying. The two of them were competing to see who could cry the loudest. Her sister-in-law yelled at one of them but couldn't yell at the other.

She hurried over, put down the basket and food box she was carrying, and said, "Look what Auntie brought back! If anyone cries again, no one will get anything to eat!"

Upon seeing the fresh plums covered in frost, the bright yellow apricots with red tips and a fresh, sweet aroma, and the enormous shrimp with its large bone and alternating layers of fat and lean meat clinging to the bone, the children, forgetting even to wipe their snot and tears, flocked around, one calling out "Auntie," another clinging to their legs and acting coquettishly.

Aunt Ma hurriedly called out, "Fourth Sister."

Zhang Si Niang then handed the things in her hand to her sister-in-law for her to distribute. After seeing off her nephew and niece, she tugged at her sister-in-law's sleeve, and the two went into the house together.

As soon as Aunt Ma entered the door, she complained, "Why did you bring back so much stuff when you only went to deliver some eggs and tea? You silly girl, anyone would think you came to beg for money—that's how you deliver gifts!"

Zhang Si Niang neither explained nor answered, but remained silent for a few moments before suddenly saying, "Sister-in-law, what do you think about it? If I go to the capital with Miss Song and work as a handyman for her, without pay, just meals provided, would that be alright?"

Aunt Ma was taken aback, but then asked, "Does Miss Song agree?"

He added, “Don’t think you’re so great just because you don’t want wages. Apprentices outside don’t get paid. A master is considered generous if he gives them ten or twenty coins a month for pocket money. Let alone someone with your skills and temperament—these past few days, I’ve had people asking me about the origin of the flatbread, whether Miss Song is still taking on apprentices, and even asking if anyone is willing to pay out of their own pocket to learn the craft!”

Zhang Si Niang said, "I know!"

She repeated her conversation with Song Miao before saying, "From what you said, it seems you're willing to take me in and think highly of me, but there are many things that are holding you back..."

Aunt Ma was also a little troubled, saying, "What you said makes a lot of sense. You're going to the capital and you don't know anyone there. If you get sick or suffer any injustice, I'd worry about you, a young lady like you, not to mention your brother!"

He added, "Besides, what about the wedding? The Wang family has taken care of everything. Although they are poor, they have given their all. This morning, his mother even came to tell me that she wanted to build two rooms for you as your new home!"

Zhang Si Niang hesitated for a moment, but finally said, "Sister-in-law, what do you think about letting San Lang come to the capital with me?"

Aunt Ma was momentarily stunned, then immediately asked, "Have you discussed this with him?"

Zhang Si Niang shook her head and said, "I want to ask my sister-in-law first."

He added, “I had thought that our family and the Wang family were both poor families for generations in Huazhou. Apart from fishing and doing odd jobs, we went to the laundry. Last time I set up a stall, I worked hard for a month or two, but I didn’t earn much money. I’ve already let it go. I don’t want them to have to row boats and work as punters after they get married and have children.”

At this point, she added, "They say a tree dies when transplanted, but a person thrives. You saw it for yourself, sister-in-law. Miss Song has such good skills and a generous spirit; she's destined for great things. Although she's in debt right now, that shop will open sooner or later. With her abilities, it will definitely grow bigger and bigger. If I go with her now and work hard, will I be treated unfairly?"

"If I establish myself in the capital, my family might be able to come and seek refuge here. Water flows downhill, and people strive for higher positions. This is right under the emperor's nose! Wouldn't that give Qiao'er and Hu Zi a better future?"

"It's a rare opportunity to have this chance. My wife has always appreciated me. If I don't try my best to seize it, I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep at night thinking about it!"

(End of this chapter)