Miao Chu

Chapter 25 Yuzu
Even if Han Li hadn't specifically mentioned this, Cheng Zijian would never have dared to imitate him.

Even cursing requires talent.

If you criticize poorly or miss the mark, you'll not only fail to gain fame, but you'll also easily attract trouble.

Cheng Zijian considers himself just an ordinary person, only suited to honestly walk his ordinary path.

But this did not prevent him from admiring Han Li.

Having received the corrected article and listened to much guidance from the other party, Cheng Zijian felt embarrassed to delay any longer.

Before leaving, he hesitated for a moment, then pointed to the food box he had placed aside and said, "Brother Han, besides the glutinous rice, there are also freshly made shumai and a pork rib soup..."

As he spoke, he felt his mouth begin to water, but thankfully he was careful not to let it spill out in front of him.

"It's best...it's best to eat it while it's hot, don't forget if you're busy."

Han Li was about to nod when he suddenly paused and asked, "Isn't it mutton steamed buns?"

After saying this, he seemed to realize he had misspoke and added, "Thank you for bringing me so much breakfast, but you don't need to go to such trouble next time—I have my own food."

But Cheng Zijian had also eaten the mutton buns before, so he knew exactly which of the other person's words were sincere and which were just polite. He quickly replied, "The shumai also has mutton and pork fillings with scallions, and they are no less delicious than the mutton buns. The buns yesterday were specially made by the chef. They are not usually available. I have already told her that if she makes them again next time, she must save some for me so that I can send them to Brother Han."

He added, “Brother Han, I can eat that porridge anytime. I don’t come here all the time. This little bit of food is just a change of pace. It’s nothing special.”

Han Li frowned, wanting to speak several times, but after a long while, he still didn't say anything to refuse. He just reached into the book hole under the table, pulled out a string of coins with a clatter, handed it to Cheng Zijian, and said, "It's not right to eat your money for free—don't refuse, you only get a few coins a month in subsidies."

His face hardened, and Cheng Zijian dared not refuse any longer. He obediently accepted the money, tears welling up in his eyes—once he accepted the money, wouldn't it become a business transaction?

He also wanted to use the opportunity of delivering breakfast to get closer to her in order to build a better relationship!
Perhaps seeing his mournful face, Han Li pointed to a cloth bag in the corner and said, "You bring things here every day, it's not good to always go back empty-handed. There are some pomelos over there, but I find peeling and removing the seeds too troublesome and don't want to eat them. Pack some up and take them with you, or they'll spoil."

When Cheng Zijian went over to take a look, sure enough, the large cloth bag was stuck to the corner of the wall, its mouth wide open, revealing a bunch of huge, yellow pomelos inside, at least a dozen or twenty of them.

Fuzhou also produces pomelos, though they are not as famous as the Shatang pomelos of Guizhou, but they taste just as good.

Cheng Zijian's family had a pomelo tree. He had eaten many pomelos since he was a child and was quite familiar with them. He knew that pomelos would spoil quickly once spring arrived. Given Han Li's lazy and unappetizing nature, they might really go bad. So, without further ado, he took two rope bags from the side, filled each with five or six pomelos, and hung them in his hands. He then took the empty food box from last time before saying goodbye and leaving.

Back at the school, he first killed a pomelo to try. Apart from the thick peel, the flesh was sweet and delicious, and the taste was quite good. So he specially found a clean cloth bag and put six of them out.

***
Meanwhile, He Qi had already returned to the Imperial Academy with a small basket.

He ran quickly on his way there and returned in a hurry, already thirsty. As soon as he entered the study, he put down his basket and immediately opened the bamboo tube to drink the soup.

However, Song Miao's soup pot had been kept burning hot all the way, and He Qi had run so fast that the soup in the bamboo tube hadn't cooled down much. Caught off guard, He Qi swallowed a big mouthful and cried out in pain, choking on the soup that covered his face and half of his clothes.

His tongue was burning from the heat, and he felt disgusted by the dirt on his body. Since there was no one in the house and no clean water, he had no choice but to hurry outside to find a water source.

He Qi swallowed some cold water and wiped the dirt off his front, but he still felt uncomfortable. However, he was thinking about the shumai, so he hurriedly returned to the school dormitory to eat the breakfast he had finally gotten and then ask someone to help him change his clothes.

However, as soon as He Qi pushed open the door this time, he noticed something was wrong. Why does it smell so good!
It smells like... scallion and lamb...

But his basket was clearly covered!
As he strode in, he saw a person standing in front of the table where he had placed his basket, holding a bowl of sticky rice in his hands, eating it with relish.

"Wang Geng!!!"

He Qi's heart was in her throat, and she practically ran over.

The boy he called Wang Geng was about fifteen or sixteen years old. He was wearing a brocade robe and was still sleepy. When he heard the shout, he almost dropped the lotus leaf bag. He quickly turned around and looked back, saying, "Why are you shouting so loudly so early in the morning? You startled me. The teacher hasn't come yet!"

He then held up the glutinous rice in his hand and said, "This is the legendary Song Ji glutinous rice they talk about? As expected, those students from the Imperial Academy haven't eaten anything good. To me, it's just so-so. Although the taste is not bad, there's nothing special about it."

He then pointed to the open basket and said, "This mutton basket with scallions and the vegetarian basket with dried tofu are quite delicious—where did you get them? It's rare that you still think of me."

He Qi had been holding onto a sliver of hope, but when he got closer and saw that the basket lid was open, his heart sank to the bone. It was as cold as the layer of ice that had formed on the top of the Bian River that morning. When he heard Wang Geng comment on the shaomai, he felt like he was about to shatter.

He gritted his teeth and said, "What bag? This is the shumai and glutinous rice I finally got!! I queued for two days!! You surnamed Wang, do you even know what it means to steal without asking?!"

As he cried out, his eyes welled up with tears of grievance, and soon he was about to burst into tears.

Now, He Qi was the youngest in the Imperial Academy, and his elders often spoiled him, which made him a person who was not to be trifled with.

Everyone in the school knew his temperament, and since he was usually very easygoing, loved to play and make a fuss, and didn't hold grudges, he was actually quite popular.

Upon seeing this, Wang Geng was truly terrified and said, "I saw you put it on my desk and thought you brought it especially for me..."

He added, "We usually eat whatever we want, and you never complain..."

As he spoke, seeing He Qi glaring at him, he dared not argue any further and hurriedly handed over the basket, carefully saying, "There's another one, it looks like minced pork..."

He hadn't eaten the pork because he thought it was cheap and not as fragrant as mutton, but he didn't dare say so now. Instead, he said, "Which family's is it? I'll have someone buy a hundred or two right now, and I'll definitely have a group of people secretly keeping watch for you so your family won't know you're sneaking around eating outside again..."

"Buy my ass! That stall owner has already closed up shop today!" He Qi couldn't help but swear.

"Ah..." Wang Geng racked his brains and hurriedly said, "It's just a few shumai, surely only one family knows how to make them. I'll arrange for someone to go home and make them fresh and send them over. You'll definitely get to eat them today!"

He Qi threw a tantrum for a while, then realized he had embarrassed himself and knew he had put the basket in the wrong place, so he couldn't blame anyone else. But he just couldn't shake off the feeling of unease.

Fortunately, he was still thinking about the shumai. Although there was only one left, he was worried that it would lose its flavor if it got cold, so he ignored everything else and hurriedly took the basket in front of him.

Because his tears tasted salty and bitter, and were connected to his nasal and oral cavities, he was afraid of affecting the taste, so he quickly wiped them away, drank a few mouthfuls of water to cleanse his mouth, and snorted, still angry. He said, "Am I someone who has never eaten before? If it weren't for this stall owner... Never mind, I won't argue with you. What do you know?"

After he finished cursing, he carefully held the last shumai and put it in his mouth.

Thank you so much, Qingmei Shou, for the good luck charm! :)
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(End of this chapter)