Miao Chu

Chapter 242 Accumulation
Song Miao saw the person off before returning to her room.

The roll was quite thick and wrapped in oiled paper. When she opened it, she saw that it contained sheets of paper, each about the size of a palm, covered with illustrations. There were at least thirty or forty sheets in total.

Xiao Lian was just coming out to help clear the tables and chairs when she saw Song Miao sitting and flipping through the illustrations. She immediately stopped, stood on tiptoe to look, and asked, "Sister, aren't these the dishes you've made? They look so real!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Dabing and Cheng Erniang gathered around, marveling at the discovery.

Song Miao responded, and couldn't help but exclaim, "It really does look just like it!"

It must be said that, although both were equally meticulous and dedicated, to be fair, Chen Fuzi's skill in painting was far superior to that of his junior brother Han Li.

He used his brush to depict reality. Although each painting was only about the size of a palm, it captured both the form and the spirit of the dish. The colors were also mixed to be almost exactly the same as the original dishes, encompassing almost all the dishes that Song Miao had cooked for their small dining table in recent days.

Master Chen not only drew in great detail, but also provided explanations. For example, for the stuffed snails, he specially drew the ingredients of mushrooms, mint, pork, and snail meat on the side, and even filled in the words with a small brush—literate people could read the words, and laypeople could also understand the picture.

He used to always ask about the ingredients and cooking methods after meals. At the time, Song Miao thought it was just out of curiosity, never imagining it would be used here.

Such brightly colored illustrated menus are pleasing to the eye even if you don't look at them one by one, just by hanging them neatly on the wall and glancing at them.

The paintings have been framed, with bamboo frames on top of each one and hanging ropes attached, so they can be hung directly on the wall as long as there is a place to hold them.

The last time Song Miao visited Jixian Academy, she had seen how busy this old gentleman was. Now, this stack of paintings was exquisite and beautiful, and full of care. She could imagine that even with Xiao You and the other companions helping with color mixing and other chores, it would still take a lot of time and effort.

She was overjoyed and exclaimed, "Mr. Chen is such a kind person!"

Dabing was wiping the stove, and his hands were still dirty, so he didn't dare touch the painting. He just looked at it and sighed as he identified each dish with Cheng Erniang and Xiaolian.

This is Crossing-the-Bridge Fish Slices, that's Stir-fried Three Shreds, and there are also Plain Noodles, various kinds of Minced Meat Noodles, all kinds of Steamed Buns, Chicken Bone Grass and Pork Liver Soup, Five-Finger Peach Stewed Chicken Soup, Mountain Snail Stewed Chicken, Stir-fried Carrots with Pork, etc. - It is clear that Master Chen really likes the Stir-fried Carrots with Pork. The carrot shreds are drawn very finely, and even the burnt edges are specially shaded with different colors. Not only did he draw the ingredients, but he also couldn't help but use a fine pen to mark "soft, sweet and spicy, good as rice".

The two characters “多饭” (meaning “more food”) are bolded and emphasized, and the sense of urgency in the font is almost palpable.

Cheng Erniang asked happily, "Wife, shall we try hanging it up?"

Song Miao smiled and replied, "It's already past noon, everyone go and rest first, we can get up and do it later—don't underestimate hanging some paintings, it's actually quite time-consuming and labor-intensive."

After quickly finishing their tasks, everyone went back to their respective places for a midday rest.

The others each had their own rooms, and there was also the big pancake. Although he didn't live there, Song Miao partitioned off half of the miscellaneous area and put a small bed there.

At this moment, Dabing closed the door and shut the window, then lay down on the bed.

The house was quiet, because it was at the end of the alley and the opposite side was still blocked off, and there wasn't even the sound of pedestrians walking around outside.

The Liu family had something to do yesterday, so he took a day off and was busy all day. He got up early this morning and rushed back to the restaurant to work. There were many small and fragmented tasks, so it was quite tiring, but the more he worked, the more grounded and fulfilled he felt.

Now that we're back in this small room, although there's only a bed and no other furniture, it's not the same as when we were at my uncle and aunt's house.

The place was fine, and no one looked down on him for coming from so far away. However, he ended up occupying his cousins' room, a small room where people bumped into each other. They even had to share drawers and cabinets with him. When he slept, he was too embarrassed to stretch out his legs or turn over.

Right now, he lay his legs flat, even his arms outstretched, closed his eyes, and soon started snoring softly. When he woke up, the feeling of comfort he experienced was truly indescribable.

If he hadn't known that the place was inhabited by women and that he was of an awkward age, he would have really had the urge to move in.

***
In the afternoon, everyone finished preparing all the ingredients and supplies they could for the next day, and finally had time to hang up the painting that Master Chen had sent.

There were already nails on the wall. Now, one by one, dishes such as stew, stir-fry, pan-fry, deep-fry, braise, soup, etc., were hung up. The nails were full, but the paintings were not yet finished, and there were no dish nameplates. However, whether viewed up close or from afar, it already had the air of a full house and a satisfying meal.

Cheng Erniang has been here for more than three months. Although she knows she is just a hired helper, she has long regarded this place as her own home. As for Song Ji, she regards it as her own business and is willing to give everything she has.

It is important to understand that feelings are cultivated.

When she was desperate, she was taken in and not only had a stable income, but she and her daughter also had their own place to stay. With Song Miao's hands-on teaching, she started a stall with her, made pastries and delivered breakfast together, and served teachers and all kinds of guests. She was also invited to host banquets. While working hard to build up Song's business step by step, she also slowly stood up on her own.

She even painted the interior walls of the house herself.

The more you participate, the more you give, and the more you invest, the deeper your feelings become—this is exactly the case with Cheng Erniang.

The more she looked at the wall of menus, the more she liked them, and asked, "Now that we have the menus, does that mean our restaurant won't be open for long?"

He added, “Madam, you may not know, but since I started delivering breakfast, many people have asked us when we open for business, and some have said they want to come and eat. However, as soon as they hear that we need to make reservations in advance and only accept banquets, we are not able to take walk-in customers right now, so it’s not convenient for anyone to come.”

“I’ve already measured and calculated it, my wife. If we arrange the large and small tables together, we can fit about ten tables in the front hall, which can seat dozens of people!”

Dabing hurriedly said, "If there's not enough room in the front hall, we can set up tables in the backyard. We can build a shed and put four or five large tables there without any problem!"

"Even the tables and chairs aren't cheap. I think the roof tiles need to be replaced too. I wonder if the roof beams need to be replaced as well. And the bowls, plates, dishes, and chopsticks are also expensive!" Cheng Erniang rambled on, telling everyone what she had been thinking about.

"Why don't we buy some cheap ones to tide us over? If we're picky about the roughness of the bowls and plates, we can buy a plate for seven or eight coins!" Dabing quickly chimed in. "Yesterday I was helping them out, and since the guests all wanted to take a bowl home as a gift, the small bowls I bought only cost three coins each. I even asked where they were bought, thinking I'd tell my wife when I got back, and see if we could buy some for ourselves to tide us over!"

Cheng Erniang was taken aback: "So cheap, I'm afraid there might be some cracked or damaged pieces?"

Although she said that, she was immediately tempted by the price. She muttered to herself and turned to Song Miao, "Wife, how about we go take a look at the small bowls that cost three coins?"

Seeing the two of them talking and planning how to deal with not having enough seats and how to replenish bowls and cups when the restaurant was not even open and there were only two tables, Song Miao couldn't help but find it amusing.

She said, "Did you only go to help out because a friend of yours had a funeral?"

Seeing that the other party nodded, she continued, "That bowl is called a funeral bowl. We have one at home, and it costs three coins. Right now, there's one sitting next to the fish tank in the backyard. The bowl is very thin and coarsely fired. There's no base left. Let alone for guests, even if we use it ourselves, if we put a lot of rice or porridge in it, it'll be so hot that we can't hold it properly. If we really took it to a business opening, I'm afraid all the guests would be burned away!"

Seeing that Cheng Erniang and Dabing both looked regretful, she smiled and said, "Let's do it one thing at a time! There's no rush, and there's no use in rushing. Let's first see how the main room should be decorated, so we have a general idea. Once we've saved up some money each month, we can fix up the tables one by one. When it's almost done and we have enough guests, it won't be too late to officially reopen!"

Cheng and Liu responded in unison.

Song Miao paused for a moment, then said to Cheng Erniang, "There is another matter. I would like to trouble you to find someone to help us find a middleman in the next few days. We need to find someone to help us hire temporarily. We need to see if she is willing to come in the morning or the afternoon." She explained her requirements, which were to help with washing dishes and vegetables and do some cleaning work, and also gave her a price.

Cheng Erniang said, "It's just a few more bowls and some more leaves and stems. I can make it myself. Why bother hiring someone?"

Song Miao said, "We just wanted to free Second Madam from these trivial matters. If the steamed buns can be made, we'll probably need to deliver them to several places. You'll be out delivering food from early morning, there will be small dining tables at noon, and banquets in the evenings for the next few days. People will keep booking banquets in the future. How will you find the time to spare?"

He added, “Besides the newly hired short-term employee, I might want to hire another person. In that case, Second Sister will not only have to do the work, but also help train the newcomer. Also, I see that you have been learning to read quite quickly lately and are quite good at arithmetic. I would like to share some of the purchasing and daily accounting work with you, but I don’t know if you are willing to take it, or if you are afraid to take it?”

She made the arrangements in front of the two of them, which made Cheng Erniang's heart pound, and even Dabing couldn't help but hold his breath.

While excited, Cheng Erniang felt a little uneasy and said, "Madam, shopping is something I'm used to doing. I may not be good at other things, but I'm not afraid of picking things out or bargaining. It's just that I've never done accounting before. Although I've learned some arithmetic recently, I still don't have the confidence to do it."

As she spoke, she glanced at Song Miao.

Seeing that the other person didn't interrupt but only looked at her encouragingly, Cheng Erniang gritted her teeth and said, "But I really want to accept!"

Song Miao said softly, "It's alright. It's okay if you don't want to do it. Don't be afraid to take it on if you do. I'm not a hands-off manager. I'll work with you until you're proficient before I let go."

He added, "Since there's a new job, Second Madam, we'll start increasing your monthly pay next month."

She gave the number.

It wasn't a lot, but it was very sincere.

Cheng Erniang felt a rush of heat to her head, making her face and head hot. She kept saying, "No need, no need," and "I didn't do anything," but her face was already beaming with joy.

Monthly pay has increased!

I just hope I can do a better job and lead the people well, so that I can live up to the increased salary!

Big Pancake was extremely excited.

Although he didn't get a raise and no one was there to guide him, looking at Cheng Erniang, he naturally felt a sense of anticipation.

—Cheng Erniang had only been working at Song's for a little over three months, but thanks to her own hard work and her wife's high regard for her, she quickly took over important purchasing and accounting matters, gained subordinates, and received a raise.

As long as I work hard, my wife will treat me well, just as she always does!
After explaining the matter and arranging all the tasks for the next day, Song Miao was still talking when she heard the sound of a carriage outside the door.

The horse stopped for a moment, and soon a maid entered.

The other party greeted her first, and after confirming that the person in front of her was Song Miao, said, "My lady's surname is He. She sent an invitation to you the other day, and today she and her young mistress have come to visit as guests..."

Song Miao hurriedly said, "So it's Madam He who has arrived. I just didn't come to greet her."

As he spoke, he walked to the door.

At this moment, Madam He was walking towards Song's restaurant with Zhu'er by the hand. When she saw Song Miao, she was slightly taken aback, and then smiled and said, "Is this Miss Song? I have heard from Monkey Seven that your skills are excellent. Zhu'er also praised you when she came back. I did not expect that not only are your skills excellent, but you are also so beautiful."

Song Miao smiled and said, "It's all thanks to everyone's kindness that they've praised my mediocre skills as if they were a perfect 12."

He added, “Madam, you are discerning and knowledgeable. It is a rare treat for you to come to our door today. I was just about to ask you to take a look at our shop. Since it is a small shop with few staff and little experience, there must be something wrong with it or the taste is not good enough. I hope you can give me some pointers.”

However, after just one meeting and a few words, Madam He immediately understood why the old nanny had praised Miss Song as "thoughtful," "appropriate," and "open-minded" after only one visit to Song's place yesterday. She also understood why her granddaughter kept calling her "Sister Song," clearly showing her great affection for her.

After exchanging pleasantries, Zhu'er, who had been holding back her words for a while, suddenly exclaimed "Wow!" as she stepped inside. She kept standing on tiptoe to look at the wall on the right, then grabbed Old Madam He's hand and pulled her forward, calling out, "Grandmother! Look!"

Old Madam He had no choice but to follow.

Beside the wall, someone was taking down the menu pictures hanging on the wall one by one.

As Madam He listened to Zhu'er's chattering, she stood on tiptoe and looked up, calling out, "Grandmother, look quickly!" and asking, "Sister Song, where did Xiaolian go?" She was busy all the time.

My own granddaughter, no matter how you look at her, is lovable.

Madam He chuckled, glancing casually at the wall as she did so. She exclaimed "Eh!" and walked closer, examining the painting more closely before praising it, "Such solid skill! I wonder where this wonderful painting came from?"

Song Miao did not mention Master Chen's background, but only replied, "It was drawn by a regular customer, and it was also a coincidence."

She invited the guests to sit down and served tea, snacks, and fruit.

Hearing the commotion, Xiaolian came out from behind and was overjoyed to see Zhujie. Seeing that there were elderly people nearby, she greeted them on her own without being reminded by the adults.

The older Madam He got, the more she loved children. She smiled and agreed, then said, "Good child, Zhu'er keeps saying she wants to come and see you. You children go play by yourselves."

She asked Song Miao and learned that she could go to the backyard, so she followed the two children for a while. Seeing that they were not doing anything else but looking at the fish in the water tank, and that there was a nanny watching over them, she felt relieved and came out to sit down again.

Songji doesn't have ice, but it's well-ventilated, and the roof is high with two layers of thick tiles that insulate against the heat. When the wind blows, it's quite cool.

The tea wasn't cold, and even with her limited knowledge, she couldn't tell what kind of tea it was, but it tasted sweet and smooth.

The fruits were not expensive; they were all fresh and in season. They should have been kept in water and kept cool. I tried one, and the quality was excellent. They were fresh, flavorful, and even better than most of the fruits displayed in the mansion. The snacks were also quite delicious.

The restaurant wasn't furnished, but it was very clean and bright. The tables were dining tables, and when you ran your finger across them, there was no greasy feeling at all.

Goodwill is built up little by little.

Madam He's anticipation grew even stronger.

Seeing Song Miao busy at the stove, she asked, "Miss Song, I wonder if we'll be able to have mochi today?"

(End of this chapter)