Miao Chu

Chapter 226 Take a look
After leaving the Cao family, seeing that it was almost time, Song Miao went directly to the Zhu family.

After sitting for a while and drinking half a cup of tea, she took her leave with Liang Yan.

The mule cart first delivered Zhu's belongings, then returned to Suanzao Lane.

For the first half of the journey, Liang Yan barely spoke, simply listening quietly to the conversation between the two people in the car.

When Zhu arrived at the destination, without being asked, he took the initiative to stand up during the parking break and politely waved goodbye to Song Miao.

When the mule cart set off again, Liang Yan did not sit down as usual, but deliberately changed seats to Zhu Shi's seat, closer to Song Miao. He looked like he had been holding back for a long time. He first glanced in the direction of the driver ahead, and seeing that the door was closed properly, he carefully leaned closer and whispered, "Sister Song, I have something to tell you quietly."

Before he could even speak, a barely suppressed laugh had already spread across his face.

Song Miao immediately lowered her head, also pretending to keep a secret, and asked in a low voice, "What is it? Tell me quickly!"

"When I was in Huazhou, I heard Sister Song teach Brother Dabing that there is a part of the pig called the pig's shank, which is divided into the front shank and the back shank. It is very delicious and can be stewed in soup or stir-fried. Is that right?"

Song Miao nodded, waiting for him to continue.

Liang Yan burst out laughing.

This time, his smile was that of a pure eight-year-old child, with his mouth wide open and even his back teeth showing.

"My great-aunt's grandson is named 'Zhu Houzhan,' the 'Hou' in 'Houbo.' He also has a nickname, 'Big Pig Head'!"

Song Miao was taken aback, then couldn't help but laugh out loud, asking, "Who gave him that nickname? And who helped him choose his given name?"

The Zhu family runs a slaughterhouse. Even if others can't distinguish what a pig's trotter is, how could they not know?

"He said his nickname was given to him by his great-uncle. On the day Zhan was born, a pig with an exceptionally large head came to the stall and sold out very quickly. His great-uncle was overjoyed and gave him this nickname!"

They've already started calling him "Brother Zhan".

Song Miao knew that "Grandpa" referred to Butcher Zhu. After a moment's thought, she realized that a grandfather who liked to eat pig's head meat giving his grandson the name "Big Pig Head" showed how much he liked him.

But she still couldn't help but laugh.

Liang Yan then mentioned his full name.

"Because his parents said that pork tenderloin was the most delicious and easy to sell, and the word 'tenderloin' also had a good meaning, they specially chose it. They took it to ask the old scholar and then to the Taoist priest, who also said it was good..."

Song Miao found it hard not to agree.

"Pork shank is really delicious, especially the hind shank, which has tendons and membranes, making it chewy but not tough. When stir-fried well, it can even be a little crispy, and when stewed well, it won't be dry. The last time I made a pear, almond, and lean pork soup, they used hind shank."

Liang Yan's eyes widened, and he immediately asked, "Was it the sweet soup we drank in Huazhou?"

After Song Miao nodded, he said, "That soup was delicious! The meat inside was also very tasty!"

After saying that, he seemed to remember something, hesitated for a moment, and then lowered his voice a little more before asking, "Sister, after I go to the martial arts school, I will still come home to chop wood and grind beans after my evening classes—when can you help me make that soup? I'll bring Zhu Zhan over so he can taste it too, okay?"

As he spoke, he took something out of his sleeve and showed it to Song Miao, saying, "He gave me this as soon as we met today."

There was only a small oil lamp in the carriage, its flickering light casting the shadow of that thing.

It was a very small bow, no bigger than half a child's palm, with a kind of clumsy yet delicate beauty.

"Although I gave him a clay figurine with a large knife, that was bought. He made this himself... I felt a little embarrassed and wanted to return the favor as soon as possible."

Song Miao played with the small bow for a moment before returning it to Liang Yan, and said with a smile, "Come whenever you have time. I'll gather some firewood and help you chop it slowly when you come—but you're treating him to this pork shank soup, which clashes with his name, won't he be unhappy?"

"No way!" Liang Yan quickly explained, "He even said he'd take me to secretly roast that pig's hindquarters and eat it!"

Then she talked to Song Miao about the people she met and the things she encountered at the Zhu family's house that day, as well as tonight's dishes—"Sister said earlier that my uncle likes to eat pig's head meat rolls with scallions, and I saw them today! But there are no scallions right now, they are using shallots!"

Song Miao and he discussed things back and forth the whole way.

As they approached Suanzao Lane, she finally asked, "Do you remember what Young Master He said at noon?"

“He said he could recommend you to a very skilled martial arts master, depending on what you want to learn,” Song Miao asked softly. “You also visited the Zhu family today. The Zhu family plans to arrange for you to go to the Xu family martial arts school in Baokangmen to learn martial arts under Zhu Zhan.”

“Since Young Master He has spoken, it is not empty talk. His guarantee for you is just a matter of a word and will not cause any harm. If you can follow the master he recommends, whether it is your fellow disciples or the people you come into contact with, they will be no different from ordinary people. When you join the army in the future, the people you meet will be different. Even if you start at the same time, your future will be completely different.”

“I’ve already inquired. Disciples from the Xu Family Martial Arts School generally have three paths: joining the army, becoming bodyguards for wealthy families, or working as escorts for a security escort agency. Although some of them may be fellow disciples who can guide them, they may not be able to help much later on—there’s a big difference. Which path do you want to choose?”

Liang Yan hesitated and said, "I... I've already acknowledged my great-aunt. Would it be inappropriate if I didn't go to the martial arts school with Zhu Zhan?"

Song Miao shook her head and said, "It's alright. If you choose the front and someone else picks you, once you've established yourself, you can even recommend Zhu Zhan to them. The Zhu family will be happy—it all depends on your own wishes."

"But I... but I don't know that Young Master He at all. If I accept his favor, wouldn't my sister have to pay it back for me first? And what if I can't pay it back..."

Song Miao said, "Some favors can be owed to you first, and there's no need to rush to repay them. Just like Zhu Zhan's bow, if you rush to give him gifts repeatedly because you feel that your gifts are not good enough, he will only be sad and upset when he finds out, and feel that you are being distant with him."

“Young Master He is just like everyone else. He was just trying to help out of kindness. If we keep saying we have to thank him, it will only make things difficult for him. For example, if you helped me chop firewood or grind beans, and I try to charge you for every single piece and every single pound, how would you feel?”

Liang Yan was stunned.

His heart clenched at the mere thought, and he murmured, "My...sister..."

Song Miao then said, "There is another matter. You met the Zhu family today and felt good about them at the moment, but you may not feel that it is suitable for the long term. Just get to know them first. If there is anything you don't like, the Xu family martial arts school is in Baokangmen, not far from Suanzao Lane. Come and talk to me immediately."

"Before returning to the capital this time, Young Master Han Li specifically told me that if the Zhu family is not suitable, he will sponsor your martial arts training."

Liang Yan was extremely surprised and couldn't help but exclaim "Ah!"

Song Miao said, “He said that he has been taken care of by many people since he was a child, and it is time to follow their example. Although he has not yet obtained an official position, he still has some ability to make money. Let alone supporting one or two of you, he can support a dozen or twenty of you. He told you to be ambitious and not to let trivial matters limit your vision and actions.”

He added, “If we’re talking about relationships, Young Master Han is the closest to us, so we’re not afraid of owing him a favor. But Young Master He and Uncle Zhu each have their advantages. No matter who you choose, there’s always room for reversal later. It’s not like you can’t change your mind later. You should think about it carefully again.”

***
By the time I got back to Suanzao Lane, it was already late.

Cheng Erniang came out to answer the door and then told Song Miao about what had happened that afternoon.

“That boy named Dabing came over specifically, saying he was my wife’s apprentice. He insisted on helping to sweep and clean the backyard before leaving. I couldn’t stop him. I offered him a meal, but he refused. He even asked my wife what time she would be home tomorrow, saying he would come over then.”

"There was another one. She came several times when my wife went to Huazhou. She was a young woman who said she had something to ask for, but she went back because my wife wasn't there. I wanted to ask her background and name, but she just said it was inconvenient to tell me."

Song Miao asked about the other person's appearance, but she didn't recognize him. Although she had a guess, she had no way to verify it, so she had no choice but to put her hand down for the time being.

She washed up and was about to go back inside when she saw someone sitting in the courtyard. He immediately stood up as she approached—it was Liang Yan. "It's so late, can't you sleep?" she asked hastily.

Liang Yan shook his head, called out to Song Miao, and said seriously, "I've made up my mind. I'll go live at my great-aunt's house and practice martial arts with Zhu Zhan at the Xu family's martial arts school."

Seeing that the person opposite her looked anxious to explain, Song Miaoyin couldn't help but laugh and said, "It doesn't matter where you choose. We'll save firewood for you in the restaurant; you'll have to chop it eventually!"

Liang Yan is just a kid. Once he goes to the Zhu family and learns martial arts at the martial arts school, it's easy to imagine that even if he can come to Song Ji often, he won't stay for long. As for the idea of ​​leaving firewood for him to chop, that's simply impossible.

But the speaker knows the meaning behind the words, and the listener understands as well.

Liang gave a heavy "hmm".

***
Song Miao had made an appointment with the mule cart driver last night, asking him to come and pick her up early the next morning.

Sure enough, after they finished eating, the coachman arrived, greeted them at the door, and helped them carry their luggage one by one.

Xiao Lian was extremely reluctant to part with him and kept talking to Liang Yan, saying, "Don't forget about me when you make new friends!"

Liang Yan hurriedly said, "I don't know how!"

He added, "Don't just focus on playing with others and forget about me!"

Just before boarding the bus, he quietly added, "I left something on your windowsill. Remember to pick it up later!"

The car drove off with its passengers, and Xiaolian waited until the car was out of sight before returning to the backyard.

She immediately stood on tiptoe to look at the windowsill.

There was a clay rabbit on top, with red eyes, a short tail, and a hunched back; it was very cute.

She hurriedly picked it up, turned and ran outside. She saw Cheng Erniang sweeping the road outside the door. As she got closer, she first called out "Mother!" and said, "I'll sweep!" Then she raised her hand high and asked, "Mother, look! The toys that Brother Yan gave me, can I accept them? Can I accept them?"

His tone betrayed his undisguised excitement.

Cheng Erniang frowned subconsciously.

Why buy this out of the blue? It's inedible and useless; you're just spoiling the child for no reason.

She opened her mouth to speak, but when she looked down, she saw her daughter beaming with joy, her eyes fixed on the rabbit in her hand, overjoyed. Suddenly, she realized that since her husband's death, she hadn't brought anything home for all these years.

The biggest reason, of course, is the lack of money. But children don't necessarily need things that cost money to play with. Drawing a line on the ground, finding some chicken feathers to make a shuttlecock, or twisting a straw rope can make a child happy. But I really don't have the extra energy or the mood.

Xiaolian's latest toys are still the gifts that Song Xiaoniangzi brought back from her trip to Huazhou: small fans, sachets, hairpins, and combs.

She was so excited that she wanted to sleep with him all night, so I had to forcefully stop her and finally put everything away.

Now, just a clay-baked rabbit has made her daughter so happy, and Cheng Erniang felt a little sore inside.

Now that they've arrived in the capital and are under the care of Miss Song, they clearly have no worries about food and lodging, and are slowly accumulating some savings, so they're no longer in such dire straits.

"You must remember to return the gift to Liang Yan!" She finally nodded.

Xiao Lian responded with a soft "ooh," carefully put the rabbit away, and then ran out to help clean and sweep.

***
Early in the morning, when Song Miao went to see Liang Yan off to the Zhu family, Liu Hanlin had already gotten off his carriage outside Jixian Academy.

He walked exceptionally fast today, not returning to his own room, but going straight to Master Chen.

As soon as he entered, he shouted "Old Chen".

Master Chen looked up from behind his desk and saw that it was Hanlin Liu. He immediately glanced at the water clock in the corner and exclaimed, "Oh! Why is the sun rising in the west today? It's not time for roll call yet!"

Surprisingly, today Liu Hanlin did not try to gain an advantage verbally, but instead stepped forward with a smile and showed him something.

It was a long wooden box containing a scroll painting that looked quite old.

He said, "Old Chen, didn't you want to borrow my newly acquired 'Encountering Immortals' painting to admire last time? I brought it to you! Look, how about it, isn't it generous enough?"

Master Chen immediately became alert and said, "What are you doing? What are you doing? There's no reason for your kindness; you're either up to no good or a thief. If you don't explain what you want, I won't appreciate your painting!"

Liu Hanlin's face was full of smiles as he said, "Old Chen, I have a question for you—I saw that you still had a lot of plum dew from yesterday, could you spare me another cup today?"

Master Chen was taken aback and said, "You like plum syrup, so I asked Xiao You to buy you two bottles. Why are you splitting them back and forth like this..."

Liu Hanlin hurriedly asked, "Was the one you bought outside yesterday?"

"Of course not. There was only one small bottle yesterday, which was specially made for me. I was even drinking it sparingly myself. If you hadn't happened to see me and Xiao Song was there, I wouldn't have even shared that one cup with you—so stop thinking about it! Otherwise, what if you get addicted to drinking it one cup today and one cup tomorrow?"

"Sigh, how could I be so shameless? I've tried other plum syrups before, but the taste isn't as good as this one. The most important thing is... this stuff is really useful to me..."

Master Chen was taken aback and asked, "What's it for?"

Liu Hanlin hesitated for a long time, and seeing that no one was around, he whispered, "For the past two years, I've been arriving at the appointed time every day, and sometimes I'm even late. Do you think I'm putting on airs or slacking off?"

Master Chen glanced at him sideways, clearly indicating that he meant "yes".

Liu Hanlin said irritably, "Was I not hardworking when I was young? I'm not afraid to say it in front of you—in the last year or two, I've developed a problem. My old intestines are really hard to control, and every time I take a long time to recover, it still doesn't work. I take medicine, but either I can't bear it or it doesn't work."

"But this morning, I suddenly felt... I haven't felt this relaxed in many years! After thinking it over, nothing else has changed except that I drank your plum syrup."

"I've tried other plum syrups before, but none of them had this effect. I came here specifically to try it. If it really works—Old Chen, you've saved my life!"

Master Chen was immediately stunned.

He would never have imagined that this was the reason.

But since they were born in the same year and had a long-standing friendship, and the other party had gone to such lengths, not caring about saving face at all, he naturally couldn't refuse. So he took out his key, bent down to unlock the brass lock on the lower right cabinet, carefully took out the bottle of plum syrup that Song Miao had given him, and said, "I only gave you this because of your old face!"

"Old Chen, I knew you were always the most righteous!" Liu Hanlin hurriedly stepped forward, about to pick up the bottle, but a quick glance revealed several sheets of paper spread out on Master Chen's table.

Even though it was just a glance, he still managed to make out the top half of the page, and by the time his hand touched the bottle, the corresponding meaning had already surfaced in his mind.

He exclaimed "Huh," clutching the bottle tightly in one hand, then lowered his head and stared intently at the paper, asking, "This writing... is interesting... Who wrote it? Don't block my view, let me take a good look!"

(End of this chapter)