Miao Chu

Chapter 271 Worth it
She left early in the morning and didn't return until late afternoon, having spent the whole day away from home. As soon as Cheng Erniang entered the house, she started bustling about.

On the way, she bought some expensive fruits and cream-coated snails that she usually couldn't bear to eat. She happily delivered them to Song Miao first, and then asked Zhang and Wang Xiao and their husband to distribute them to Dabing and the two long-term hired women, thanking everyone for helping her with the work during the day.

After everyone washed their hands, they gathered around to eat, and inevitably all praised Xiaolian.

Cheng Erniang couldn't suppress her smile, but still declined, saying, "Don't praise her. She can't handle praise. She's been talking non-stop the whole way. Look at how smug she is. If you praise her any more, she'll be wagging her tail in the air!"

She added, "There's more than just her as an apprentice at Tianyuantang. There are two senior sisters and one senior brother, all within two years of each other. They can do everything. They can cut, divide, and prepare medicine. They can prepare a prescription in no time. When the master checks it, not a single ingredient is wrong. When they test their memorization of prescriptions, they speak so fluently and are not afraid at all. If my Xiaolian can be even a fraction of their abilities, I'll be so grateful!"

Xiao Lian leaned against Song Miao, her lips slightly pursed, but she didn't refute. She just listened quietly, then snuggled closer to her, pressed her face against her leg, and offered the sachet up to her.

Song Miao took it with one hand, moved a chair over to sit down, and slowly pulled Xiao Lian into her arms with the other, gently stroking her shoulder and whispering to her, "Great job!"

Xiao Lian's face flushed red instantly, and she buried her head in Song Miao's ribs without saying a word.

Song Miao hugged her and, hearing Cheng Erniang still praising the apprentices in Tianyuan Hall, smiled and said, "Erniang's worries are really unnecessary - you've only been here for a few months, and you can already do math and write, and you haven't made a single mistake in the accounts. Besides your own diligence, your talent is also extremely rare. Your daughter is just like her mother. Seeing your performance, I know that our Xiaolian will never fall behind others in the slightest!"

Cheng Erniang was even a little embarrassed to hear her daughter's praise, but now that she was being praised in public, her face turned bright red, even redder than a monkey's bottom. She was at a loss for words, holding the fruit and cream-filled snails, not knowing where to offer them.

She said, "What you're saying, madam! I'm just a clumsy and stupid person! Everyone in the restaurant is talented; they're young, smart, and just as hardworking!"

Everyone at Song's place was familiar with the place. Although there were many things to do, the atmosphere was very good. When they heard Song Miao praising Cheng Erniang and saw Cheng Erniang being modest, they joined in the conversation.

Zhang Si Niang said, "What you say is true, Madam! Second Madam is too modest! You taught me arithmetic, and I spent half a day learning with San Lang, and even after two days of trying to memorize a formula, I still couldn't memorize it! Back in Huazhou, I memorized Madam's kitchen rules in less than half a day! It's clear that these things require talent! My husband and I are just not good at arithmetic!"

Big Pancake chimed in, "My handwriting is ugly too! My wife has said it to me many times, that my numbers are all crooked, and she even showed me some of Second Sister's handwriting from before—we both studied for two months, but you write so well!"

Cheng Erniang wanted to listen but was also embarrassed. Her face flushed as she listened to everyone finish speaking before she put the fruit and pastry plates on the table and said, "You all sit down and rest, have some snacks, I'll go to the back to check on the dried meat!"

***
Cheng Erniang and Xiaolian returned late, and by the time the He family's servant hurriedly went back to report the news, the sun was almost setting.

At the He residence, Zhu Jie'er was overjoyed to learn that Xiao Lian's apprenticeship had gone smoothly and she circled around Old Madam He.

Having thoroughly enjoyed herself, she grabbed the messenger and kept asking him for details, at one point asking, "When Xiaolian became his apprentice, did Doctor Lin test her with any questions? Were they the same as what I guessed yesterday? Was I right?"

Then he asked, "How did Xiaolian answer? Was her answer good or bad?"

Then she asked, "When are you going to school? Do you have to go every day? Can I still play with her?"

The servant had no idea what questions she had asked yesterday, nor how Xiaolian had answered them. Seeing his young mistress looking at him expectantly, he scratched his head in frustration.

Zhu Jie'er was somewhat disappointed, but she didn't make things difficult for him. Instead, she ran back to make things difficult for Old Madam He, pestering her to go out.

"It's already late afternoon, and it's getting dark. You won't be able to say much at the place we're going to. Why don't we go tomorrow? Go tomorrow afternoon, you can chat for a while, and then we can have dinner together!"

But while this trick might work on ordinary children, it was less effective on her own granddaughter.

Hearing that Old Madam He's tone didn't seem to leave no room for negotiation, Zhu Jie'er started to cling to her and act coquettishly.

“But we agreed yesterday, and Grandmother promised that if Xiaolian becomes an apprentice, we will go to celebrate for her today! The other day, my teacher taught me an idiom called ‘a word is as good as nine tripods.’ When Grandmother speaks, it’s always as good as ninety-nine tripods!! It’s only Shenshi now. Usually, it’s still light at this time, but for some reason, it’s getting dark quickly today. Actually, it’s still early—can’t we really go?”

"It's hot on the way, so I'll take Sister Laurel's big fan to fan Grandma and cool her down. When we get back, I'll tell her stories and recite poems to keep her entertained, okay?"

Which old lady could resist her granddaughter's coquettishness?

Madam He couldn't help but ask, "What stories will Zhu'er tell me, and what books will she recite?"

Seeing that there was a chance, Zhu Jie'er became even more enthusiastic and said, "I saw the fish at Sister Song's place and came back to tell my teacher. He taught me an article about fish transforming into Kunpeng, and I studied very hard and memorized it very well!"

But after she finished speaking, she added, "However, if Grandmother feels it's too hot, too tiring, or too late, I can endure it! We'll go another day! I'll just write a letter to Xiaolian today to congratulate her on becoming an apprentice!"

When Zhu Jie'er was being coquettish, Madam He could tolerate it, but now that she was being so considerate, she couldn't stand it at all.

She said, "I'm going now, to accompany our Zhu'er!"

As he spoke, he ordered someone to arrange a carriage and instructed the maid to pack things.

However, as soon as the old man and the young man stepped out the door, the sky and the ground, which were originally pitch black, suddenly became bright, followed by a series of rumbling sounds, as if they were exploding right next to people's ears.

Zhu Jie'er was startled at first, but she wasn't frightened. Just as she was about to speak, another bolt of lightning struck, followed by rolling thunder. Soon after, a strong wind blew outside, causing trees to sway and leaves to fly.

Although it was dark and the specific situation was unclear, the sound of pouring rain, along with the rush of moisture and heat, indicated that a torrential downpour was underway.

With such heavy rain, it's naturally impossible to go any further.

Back in the house, seeing her granddaughter looking listless, Madam He quickly comforted her, saying, "If the rain stops later, Grandma will still take you—if we can't go today, we'll definitely go tomorrow, okay?"

Zhu Jie nodded vigorously, then had someone grind ink and slowly began writing a letter to Xiao Lian, as if she didn't believe the rain would stop anytime soon.

Her unusual quietness only made Old Madam He feel more sorry for her, and she couldn't help but turn to the old woman beside her and say, "Why did it have to rain now of all times!"

The old woman replied, "Summer rains are heavy and torrential. Otherwise, if it were spring, we wouldn't be afraid to go out even if it rained. This year there has been so much rain that it has only been quiet for a month or two. Could it be that the river is flooding again?"

He added, "The rain has been holding back for so long, and for the past ten days or so it's been so stifling that it's hard to breathe. It's finally finally raining!"

Zhu Jie wrote a letter, dragging her feet on it. When she finally finished, she even asked someone to bring out her own rose perfume, dripped a few drops on the paper, and only sealed it after she smelled it good enough.

After finishing quickly, she handed the letter to the servant, walking weakly as she was about to return to her room when a maidservant rushed in.

"Madam, the gatekeeper reports that a deliveryman has arrived—he says he's Wang Sanlang from the Song Family Restaurant in Suanzao Lane."

Zhu Jie'er immediately jumped up.

Madam He hurriedly said, "Quickly, call someone in!"

After a while, Wang Sanlang was led inside.

He bowed and said, "My wife asked me to give my regards to the old lady. Since Xiaolian successfully became an apprentice today, and I was worried about the old lady, I wanted to say a few more words to express my gratitude. She really asked me several questions about yesterday's practice questions today."

As he spoke, he handed the two food boxes he was carrying to the maid beside him, and also gave her two letters, one from Song Miao to Old Madam He, and the other from Xiao Lian to Zhu Jie'er.

He gave a thorough introduction, conveying all the necessary information, and then prepared to take his leave.

Madam He hurriedly asked them to stay, and had someone prepare gifts, saying, "The rain is too heavy, you should wait until it stops before going back."

Wang Sanlang said, "My wife said she's afraid the rain will get heavier and heavier, so she told us to go home after delivering the things."

Sure enough, they left in a hurry.

As soon as the person left, Zhu'er eagerly opened the letter. It was four whole pages long and looked quite intimidating. However, the handwriting was large and the content was just childish talk. But she read it with a big smile and was very happy. She kept saying things to Old Madam He and said, "Grandmother, Xiaolian said there was a kind of food in the food box that was sent, called 'double-layer cheese.' She helped Sister Song make it—let's eat it!"

Madam He had not yet closed the letter.

The letter was written in a fresh and natural style, and the handwriting was equally outstanding. Although it was in classical Chinese, it felt as if Lady Song from Suanzao Lane was speaking to her directly. After reading it once, she couldn't help but turn back and read it again carefully before putting it aside and smiling as she asked someone to fetch the food box.

The food box was sealed with paper, and the paper was stamped with the shop's seal, "Song Ji Restaurant".

The grandfather and grandson looked at the seal for a while, studying the characters and the illustrations before finally opening it.

The food box contained fresh mung bean cakes, which were kept warm by charcoal underneath. Even on a hot summer day, they were still scalding hot.

The grandfather and grandson didn't even bother to look at the other food box; they each grabbed one and started eating.

The mung bean cake is piping hot, with a thin, crispy outer crust sprinkled with a few white sesame seeds, which are also crumbly and extremely fragrant when you bite into them. The filling is sweet but not greasy, with a hint of saltiness, slightly moist, soft, and sandy. One bite and you're blown away by its delicious aroma.

Most children swallow food whole, and Zhu Jie'er was no exception.

She finished one in a few bites and was about to take a second when Old Madam He stopped her, saying, "Your little sister Song specifically told me that this is fried and you can't eat too much—just have one to taste it."

Fearing her granddaughter might act spoiled, she immediately ordered someone to open another food box.

This one was filled to the brim with ice, with two small bowls in the middle, covered with lids. When you opened the lids, the surface was covered with a layer of milk skin.

The milk skin is a very light yellow color, with slight wrinkles, like fine silk swaying in the wind, or like spring water rippling.

A spoon was hanging on the rim of the bowl, and the two of them each grabbed one and couldn't resist taking a bite.

The first thing you taste is the milk skin.

Madam He immediately understood why this bowl was called "Double-skin cheese".

The outer layer of milk skin is thick and smooth, with a rich, creamy flavor like cheese. However, when you bite into it, it has a slightly taut, bouncy texture. Once it enters your mouth, it melts almost immediately, carrying a full-bodied creamy aroma and an extremely rich milky taste.

Once the milk skin melts, the underlying milk layer, which is in a state of almost solidification, becomes smooth and creamy, and then melts away quickly as well.

It has a faint sweetness and a very subtle egg white aroma, but no eggy smell. It tastes like pure milk, with the sweetness coming out slowly, from the tip of the tongue to the back of the tongue, then to the throat, and even to the nasal cavity. The mouth is filled with a sweet milky aroma from beginning to end.

The sweetness comes from the natural sweetness of rock sugar and milk, which is further reduced by the chilling process, making the milk flavor even richer.

Each person gets only a small bowl of this double-layered cheese, and it's not greasy at all after eating; only a milky aroma remains.

That night, Zhu Jie'er fell asleep to the sweet smell of milk.

In her dream, she also had a very skilled master of the garden. Sister Song praised her for her competence, congratulated her on her successful apprenticeship, and made her a big bowl of double-skin cheese.

She took a bite, then another. So milky, so fragrant! Hehe, the portion is generous, so I don't have to worry about it being gone after just a couple of spoonfuls!
***
On this particular day, Song Ji was unusually tense in Suanzao Alley.

Because of the sudden downpour, everyone was a little worried about business.

Fortunately, the dried meat and dried squid had been harvested long ago. Song Miao had calculated the time perfectly, and today's last batch was dried just right. Since no new batches were being made, there was no need to worry about them getting damp, moldy, or smelly.

After packing everything up overnight and tidying up the rest of the things, everyone left together, leaving only Cheng Erniang, her daughter, and Song Miao.

While Xiaolian was washing up, Song Miao quietly pulled Cheng Erniang aside and asked, "Do you feel uncomfortable when I praise Erniangzi?"

Cheng Erniang was somewhat surprised, but then she remembered being praised that afternoon, and her face immediately turned red again.

She hesitated for a moment, then, having no intention of hiding anything from Song Miao, she honestly replied, "I do feel a little uncomfortable, and embarrassed..."

Song Miao asked again, "Don't you want to hear it at all?"

Cheng Erniang quickly said, "No, it sounds pretentious, but although I feel embarrassed, I'm actually quite happy from the bottom of my heart!"

"I didn't praise you much before because I saw you didn't like it. If you're not in a difficult position, then I'll stop keeping the good things I see you doing to myself and praise you more often—I want to praise you in front of outsiders, is that alright?"

Cheng Erniang's ten toes moved back and forth inside her shoes.

She was only in her early twenties. Although she had been the older sister, the head of the household, the wife, and the mother since childhood, she had received very few compliments. So when Song Miao praised her in public for the first time, she felt more embarrassed than happy.

As she received more and more praise, she gradually learned to accept it. When faced with a situation like this afternoon, although she was still a little uncomfortable, her feelings of happiness and discomfort were now evenly matched.

Cheng Erniang began to hesitate to refuse.

She couldn't help but thank her, and then told her about her childhood. Finally, she said, "If I do well and you praise me, I will be very happy, even though I feel embarrassed."

“Then I will praise you as I please in the future.” Song Miao smiled slightly. “I think Second Madam will do the same. If you see something I did wrong, please remind me. If you see something I did well, please tell me so that I can feel happy.”

"This is my first time being a host, so I'm not very confident."

Cheng Erniang's eyes widened in surprise as she asked, "Does your wife also feel uncertain?"

Song Miao laughed and said, "Even if I have confidence, sometimes I still have vanity and want to hear people praise me."

Cheng Erniang immediately racked her brains and praised everything she knew, with utmost sincerity in her words.

While Cheng Erniang went to wash up, Song Miao found a moment to call Xiaolian over and asked softly, "This afternoon, Mother praised others in front of strangers and said bad things about you. Are you still upset?"

Xiaolian shook her head and didn't say anything, but she couldn't help but pout.

Song Miao said, "Mother doesn't know how to praise people. You can teach her, praise her more often, and she will learn. Also, teach her to praise me more often."

She didn't reveal what Cheng Erniang had just told her, only saying, "Let's all teach her, quietly, without her noticing, so she can learn to praise us too, wouldn't that be good?"

But Cheng Erniang didn't need much instruction.

When she came out after washing up, she saw that her daughter had already made the bed and was using a small scale from the restaurant to weigh the various medicinal herbs in the sachet. She was taken aback and asked, "Xiao Lian, it's so late, why aren't you asleep yet? What are you doing?"

Xiaolian looked up and said happily, "Master said that this sachet can repel mosquitoes. I divided it into four parts, one for Mother, one for Sister and one for Zhu'er—I also moved some of my share to Mother, so that mosquitoes won't bite you!"

She added, "Mother, you've worked so hard! I must study hard and do even better than my senior sisters and brothers, so that you can be proud of me."

Cheng Erniang couldn't quite describe how she felt, but she felt that all the hard work and toil she put in every day was worth it.

For some reason, she suddenly remembered what Song Xiaoniangzi had said to her earlier, and tears welled up in her eyes. She belatedly realized what was happening and said, "No need. I must have said something inappropriate today and made you sad. As long as we are healthy and safe, that's more important than anything else, like success or ability!"

　It's almost the end of the month, but the two activities in the comments section are still active! I checked, and there are still quite a few reader titles left. If you're interested, just find the "November Fan Titles" post in the pinned thread and comment. The share-to-earn-coins activity requires a separate post with the word "share" in the title.

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　　(End of this chapter)