Miao Chu

Chapter 217 Farewell
The Xiang family steward reluctantly boarded the carriage, while a group of boatmen and fishermen happily boarded the mule cart.

As soon as the car started moving and drove a distance, everyone could see that Han Li was out of sight, and Song Xiaoniangzi was no longer by his side. Someone started to let out a sigh of relief.

For a moment, people were crossing their legs, shaking their legs, loosening their stomachs from holding their breath, leaning against the side of the carriage, complaining about being squeezed by the people next to them, and asking not to press down on their hawthorn tea leaves. The two large carriages were filled with noise.

"My stomach is about to burst from today's meal!"

"Then you should eat less!"

"What are you saying? Why don't you eat less?"

"Old Lu, you! You have the nerve to tell others to eat less? I saw you loosen your belt twice just now—take it easy, or you'll be too bloated to walk!"

The old man, Lu, who had loosened his belt, wasn't embarrassed at all. Instead, he raised his head and said, "So what if I can't walk? Today, it's Scholar Han's treat. There's such a big table with several dishes that I've never seen before. I have to eat and support him!"

As soon as he said this, many people around him echoed his sentiments.

"This is the first time I've ever seen 'lily'. I can't quite describe the taste, it's strangely fragrant and a bit powdery. It's also the first time I've ever known that lotus seeds, barley, and ginkgo nuts can be cooked with soy milk—hey, you know what, it's incredibly delicious! And the soy milk is great too, just the right consistency, fragrant and sweet. No matter how many soy milks I've had before, none of them have been as sweet as this!"

Immediately someone chimed in, "Isn't that obvious?! I heard from that young lady Song that the rock sugar she used was incredibly sweet!"

Immediately, someone with a discerning eye exclaimed, "My goodness! Who would have thought! I've finally eaten rock candy in my lifetime!"

Some people, unfamiliar with the product, were extremely anxious and hurriedly asked, "What is rock sugar? What is rock sugar?"

You know what granulated sugar is, right?

"I know, it's extremely expensive!"

"Rock sugar is much more expensive than that! One bag of rock sugar can buy a whole basket of granulated sugar!"

The man spoke with absolute certainty: "I saw it once before when I was helping people transport things. It looks just like the ice that forms on the river in winter, you can almost see right through it. In our area, only high-ranking officials and big businessmen can afford to eat it. Even in the capital, not everyone can afford it. I heard that these rock candies today were specially given to Scholar Han by Magistrate Cen to nourish his body. He brought them out because we came!"

The man was like a storyteller, and for a moment the entire carriage fell silent as he rambled on about how expensive and rare the rock candy was.

After he finished arranging the candy, suddenly someone slapped their thigh and exclaimed, "Oh! Why didn't you say so sooner! If I had known that rock candy was so rare, I would have drunk more even if my stomach was bursting!"

"Your belly is already big enough, be careful it doesn't burst!"

"The old man and the fried dough sticks were also coated with rock sugar powder, didn't you guys notice?"

"No wonder! No wonder everything is so delicious! Ah, Miss Song's cooking is superb, and Scholar Han is incredibly generous. They must consider us honored guests to be so willing to bring out such good things!"

"It's all thanks to Old Lu!"

So a group of people went to thank old man Lü.

"No, no, everyone contributed, it wasn't just for me, otherwise how could we have caught that thief?" Old Lu said smugly, but he tried his best not to show his smugness.

"You dressed up so well! I never could tell before!"

"If you see the ringleader, aren't you panicking?"

"What's the panic? My eldest nephew's youngest son was kidnapped by human traffickers. The couple cried themselves blind. It's been seven or eight years, and they still haven't found him. I heard that human traffickers have come this time. I just wish I could have attacked them right away. Panic? No way!"

A group of people, with money in their pockets and hawthorns and tea leaves in their hands, all with bulging bellies, were chatting animatedly.

When they arrived home, as soon as Old Lu entered the house, his wife came out to answer the door with an oil lamp.

"Why are you up so late? You're so old, do you still think you're young?!"

The old woman complained as she lit the oil lamp, but then handed the large bowl to the old man. She grumbled and said, "I cooked millet porridge tonight, and I specially saved some rice water for you. You must be thirsty after walking all this way, right?"

Old Lu took the bowl but didn't drink from it. Instead, he grabbed his wife's shoulder and walked straight into the house.

"What are you doing? It's so hot outside, your hands are so warm, they've made me sweat!"

"Hey, come on!"

After carefully locking the door, Old Lu took out a cloth bag from his pocket and presented it to the old woman like a treasure, saying, "Quickly put it away, don't let the eldest and second sons see it, or they'll think we're rich and spend money lavishly!"

The old woman took it suspiciously, her eyes suddenly lighting up. She exclaimed "Oh my!" twice, then coughed and lowered her voice, saying, "Where did this come from! There are actually two strings of cash! Have you been up to something bad?"

Old Lu retorted angrily, "Do you think I'm that kind of person? If I were, would you dare marry me? This is money I earned by risking my life outside! It was a reward from the government!"

He recounted what had happened the previous night, and then instructed me: "The yamen and that scholar Han have both specifically told me not to reveal this to anyone, lest that kidnapper have other accomplices coming to retaliate—I'm only telling you this, so don't blab!"

"No way!" The old woman was startled and quickly agreed, then complained, "You're too old and frail for this kind of thing. Next time, you should send a young person. Otherwise, what if they get hurt by bad guys?"

"Young people can't be trusted. It's just bad luck that he came across me. If I hadn't been patient and convincing enough, with such skill and nimbleness, I wouldn't have been able to catch that kidnapper! A different young man might not have been able to catch him!"

Seeing that Old Man Lü was going on and on about his boasting, the old woman couldn't help but spit and say with a laugh, "Keep bragging! No one's going to call you out on it anyway!"

"So tell me, am I amazing or not! The yamen even gave me a reward, and they were even planning to make a big fuss and have the village head deliver it to my door, but if the case hadn't been left unresolved..."

"Yes! You're amazing!" The old woman chuckled, bringing the cloth bundle in her hand closer to the oil lamp. She looked at it again and again, counting the contents. Her face beamed with joy. Then she looked down at the wrinkled old face opposite her, and surprisingly, she found it more and more pleasing to the eye.

After paying, Old Lu took out another cloth bag, carefully opened it, and sighed regretfully, saying, "It's a bit heavy!"

He urged again, "Try it, this is called Sha Weng, it's coated with rock sugar powder!"

He exaggerated the status and price of rock candy he had overheard in the carriage several times over, and then said, "I took a bite and knew you would like it, so I secretly wrapped up most of it and brought it back—eat it! It's cold now, so it's not as good as when it's hot, but it's still very fragrant and sweet!"

The old woman hurriedly said, "Such good stuff, let's save it for Baozi and Taohua to share when they get up tomorrow..."

Old Lu glared at her irritably and said, "You might as well stop calling yourself Chun Gu and start calling yourself Stupid Gu! I finally managed to save this mouthful, do you think I'm saving it for them?"

"He's just a little kid. He'll earn his own living in the future. Plenty of good food is waiting for him. You and I are an old couple. Every day we eat is one less day we have left, do you understand?!"

The old woman, after being glared at, grinned and scolded, "I know, you old rascal! You've got quite a few tricks up your sleeve!"

As he spoke, he went to taste the sand.

"Oh my, this rock sugar powder, no wonder it's expensive! This sha wen is so fragrant! I'm so lucky, I had such good taste back then, choosing such a good boss who always remembers to bring me a bite of whatever delicious food he sees!"

Old Lu's face crinkled into a wide grin, his wrinkles spreading like a giant chrysanthemum. He suddenly seemed embarrassed, saying, "Eat yours, eat yours! What are you muttering about?"
After the seventh day following Xiang Yuan's death, the Xiang family steward visited again.

This time, he brought travel expenses and gave Liang Yan two strings of cash to keep, instructing him: "Keep some money on you, stay close to Miss Song on the road, don't wander off. If you get lost, having money on you will ensure you don't go hungry, but don't flaunt your wealth. Go to the yamen or the patrol station, whether you like it or not..."

After saying all that, he thanked Song Miao profusely for a long time, and finally said, "Originally, the Xiang family should have sent someone to go as well, but... sigh, this time it's been hard on you, young lady!"

The following day, he left with the Xiang family's convoy.

Xiang Yuan's funeral was very grand.

Manager Xiang was a capable man; he prepared everything that needed to be prepared, and he also hired people to perform rituals day and night on both land and water, making quite a spectacle.

Those who had business dealings with the Xiang family in the past would inevitably come to offer condolences, while others would urge them to deliver goods, collect debts, or settle accounts. Knowing that the debts were settled upon the death of the person, they felt that if they did not settle things clearly now, the matter might never be resolved in the future. So, they all grabbed Xiang Lin, the young boy, and the Xiang family's steward.

Xiang Lin had a broken hand and an injured face. He had taken anesthetic at first, and it was his first time being a filial son, so he was still a little excited. But after kneeling for a whole day, he was already impatient. He was also being pulled and argued by the crowd, and he felt a headache. He dumped everything on the steward, telling him to deal with it quickly, whatever he wanted, as long as it didn't come to his face.

But when the Xiang family steward finally managed to tidy things up, he followed Xiang Lin's example. Although the other person was just a child, he wanted to chime in on everything. Perhaps it was because he had been running around with Xiang Yuan all this time, but he was quick to learn how to find fault. He complained that there was too much here and that there was no one to ask him.

Manager Xiang had already put in a tremendous amount of effort to untangle the loose thread, and Xiang Lin's haphazard kick made him so angry that he almost couldn't catch his breath. In the end, he had no choice but to ask for opinions again.

But Xiang Lin was only a few years old, how could he give any advice? He just spouted nonsense, making Manager Xiang feel like he was going to vomit blood.

After the Xiang family left, many rumors circulated in Huazhou City.

Before the man was caught, Han Li reported to Cen Dezhang, who sent a messenger on three horses to the capital overnight to deliver the message. Within a few days, officials from the capital prefecture arrived in Huazhou, traveling through the night.

At this point, the Huazhou prefectural government had already completed half of the trial.

Rui Fusheng was quite straightforward. Knowing that he couldn't escape no matter what, he readily confessed everything. Not only that, he also embellished the story of how Xiang Yuan helped him escape.

Even without his words, some of the officers who came to arrest him had already spread the word. Even though Xiang Yuan was executed and his crimes were absolved, people who knew him would still discuss him amongst themselves, revealing knowing expressions.

Huazhou was a major transportation hub, with many merchants coming and going. Xiang Yuan was a sociable man, and soon the merchants spread the news far and wide.

From the capital to various places, many different scenes unfolded to tell the story.

What remains unchanged is that knowing look in your eyes, the look that you, I, and everyone understand.

"Have you heard? That merchant who came first that year, the one surnamed Xiang, the one with two children..."

"The one who tipped off the kidnapper, right? Sigh, what's the point! Other things are one thing, but this is a kidnapper!"

Along with these messages, clues provided by Rui Fusheng also spread to various states and regions.

As documents and letters were sent out one after another from the state and prefectural governments, teams of people were dispatched, and more and more victims were rescued from various places.

As luck would have it, two children from Xiangyuan Township had gone missing years ago. This time, pulling up a radish brought up the mud, and they were found and sent back.

When loved ones are reunited, there will naturally be tears of joy and heartache, but now that the person has been found, the inevitable questions will be asked about the case, the ringleader, and how the person will be punished.

Although the case is not yet closed, the culprit cannot escape the death penalty. When questioning the remaining accomplices, the prefectural government did not say much, but inquiries could be made outside.

The town is small and there are many acquaintances, all from the same village. If one person knows, it's as if everyone knows.

Overnight, the Xiang family's reputation was ruined.

***
Just as the case was in full swing, the new waterway in Huazhou was finally opened.

It was an ordinary afternoon when, as soon as the sluice gate was opened, the water in the main channel rushed out and flowed straight into the old Wangjing channel along the new riverbed, and countless people on the riverbank cheered.

Although the river channel is now open, there are still many things to be done, but we no longer need so many people. Song Miao's job is finally over.

Although she only spent less than two months in Huazhou, she met many people and did a lot of things, gaining a great deal of experience.

When the river was finally cleared this time, Han Li specially invited everyone from the kitchen to the riverbank to watch together.

Seeing the river flowing swiftly, the cooks were all incredibly excited. Some even clasped their hands together and bowed to the heavens, praying that the new river channel would be effective and that there would be no more flooding.

Song Miao was also very happy. Although she did not personally start digging and shoveling, she felt that the new river channel would be passable, and that the efforts she and her group made in the kitchen were very useful.

With everything settled in no time, she packed her luggage and bid farewell to her acquaintances.

All good things must come to an end, and the day finally arrived for them to depart for the capital.

Early in the morning, the official post station was packed with the women and aunts from the kitchen who had come to see Song Miao off, knowing that she was returning to the capital.

After thanking everyone, Song Miaoguang received five or six pairs of straw sandals and cloth shoes, about ten handkerchiefs and headscarves, and a lot of local specialties, including food and household items. Since most of them were handmade, everyone said they were not worth much money. If she didn't accept them, they would look down on her. She had no choice but to thank everyone for their kindness and invited them to visit her in the future if they ever came to the capital, as she would do her best to be a good host.

When the two sides parted ways and the mule cart slowly drove out of Huazhou City, Song Miao felt a little reluctant to leave.

However, not long after leaving the city, the wheels slowed down more and more, and eventually even stopped.

The coachman reminded her, "Miss Song, Scholar Han is ahead!"

A short while later, a light knocking sound came from the outside of the car.

Song Miao lifted the curtain at the carriage window and looked up. Sure enough, Han Li was riding his horse right there. When he saw her face, he immediately bent down and admitted his mistake, saying, "I've had too many things to do these past two days. I wanted to take half a day off, but I couldn't. I couldn't even see you off, Mr. Song. When we get back to the capital, I'll come to you to ask for punishment."

“Young master, you really didn’t need to go through all that trouble—you’ll see me right away, no need to see me off.” Song Miao replied with a smile, then urged him to go back.

Han Li replied, "It's not just about delivering something; there's another matter."

As he spoke, he took out a letter and two small cloth bags from his sleeve and handed them over, saying, "I would like to ask Mr. Song to act as my messenger and deliver this letter to my senior brother, Mr. Chen Ting."

He then pointed to the two cloth bags and whispered, "These are two insignificant little things—one is for my senior brother, and the other is a thank-you gift for stall owner Song."

Song Miao had recently become very close to him, and she accepted the gifts without any formality. Just as she was about to ask how to divide them, she heard Han Li say, "The names are written on them, or you can find out by opening them."

As he spoke, he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, gazed at her intently for a moment, then spurred his horse to make way, waved to Song Miao, and watched the mule cart disappear into the distance.

　The double monthly pass bonus ends in two days! I'm asking everyone for any extra monthly passes they have for Xiaomiao. Thank you so much! ^_^
　　(End of this chapter)