Miao Chu

Chapter 278 Slacking off
It had been many days since I last saw him. He looked much thinner and darker than when we parted, but he still seemed to be in good spirits.

His eyes were bright. When he saw Song Miao, he glanced at her once, then looked at her for a long time before calling out, "Stadium owner Song."

It was Han Li.

Song Miao was very happy and asked, "When did you return, young master?"

Upon hearing this question, Han Li paused for a moment, then replied with a smile, "I haven't been back long, so I brought you some things."

Song Miao noticed that although the other person had changed his outer garment, his trousers and shoes were covered in splattered yellow mud and water stains. The old clothes he had just taken off and was draped over his horse's back were also covered in mud, making it seem as if he had just entered the city and rushed straight to a restaurant.

She couldn't help but say, "You must be tired from your journey. You should rest for a few days. What difference does it make whether it's a few days earlier or later?"

Seeing that there was little politeness in her words, Han Li couldn't hide the smile in his eyes and said, "I have to go to the Water Conservancy Bureau to report tomorrow, and there are many trivial things to do afterwards, as well as messy handover and reporting. I don't know when I will have a real break. I'm worried about it, so I might as well come back first."

Song Miao laughed and said, "Why are you just standing there? Young Master, come in and talk to me."

He then stepped forward to help lead the horse.

The horse was familiar with her. When it saw her coming, it snorted loudly, then stuck out its long tongue and licked its nose and mouth first. After licking them, it went to lick her hand.

Before Song Miao could even move aside, Han Li quickly pulled its head away and said, "Just tie it up in front—I'll put the things down and then have a drink of water before I leave."

Aren't you going to eat?

Han Li shook his head and said, "I won't eat. I came here just to deliver something."

As he spoke, he unloaded two baskets and two small bundles from the ground and the horse's back.

Song Miao was extremely surprised and asked, "How come there are so many?"

Han Li then said, "Some of them are local gifts from Huazhou, given by the locals. Others were given by Prefect Cen and other officials. Some were bought by chance on the road, found suitable, and then were purchased by our own family."

He paused briefly at this point, as if pondering how to say it.

But after thinking for a while, he smiled and put on an honest confession, saying, "I'm sometimes at the Imperial Academy and sometimes outside, I don't have a fixed place, it's just a waste to leave these things here, so I might as well send them all over, to offer them as a token of my own goodwill—and it really is my own goodwill. Does Mr. Song think I'm being lazy?"

That's a bit too much of a push.

Song Miao naturally didn't refuse the kind offer that had come all this way.

She also honestly smiled and said, "Let me see what these things are, and then see if they are easy to store. If they are not easy to store, I will naturally complain."

He then went to take the basket and bundle.

Han Li handed her a small bundle and said in a low voice, "Take this inside first."

Seeing how carefully he was handling it, Song Miao didn't know what was inside. She carefully took it, and after putting it away, she turned around and saw Han Li putting one foot on the stirrup of the saddle to change his shoes.

Hearing the commotion inside, the other person, unusually flustered, stopped walking and haphazardly stuffed the things in their hands into the remaining bundle. After straightening their newly changed robe, they slung the bundle over their shoulder, carrying a large basket in each hand, and came forward, saying, "I've come to ask for a cup of tea first."

Song Miao didn't ask any further questions. She smiled and welcomed the person inside, then took a half-step back and glanced back.

The horse, which had been tied to the side with its head facing the alley entrance and its rear end facing the South Mountain Academy, seemed to sense Song Miao's gaze and immediately turned around, happily licking its tongue and blinking its two huge eyes at her.

The first time, half of its body turned back as well.

A pair of shoes covered in mud hung from the saddle hook.

The rain had stopped in Beijing several days ago, and although there were still a few puddles on the roads, they couldn't possibly splash onto shoes this dirty.

Song Miao had only guessed three-tenths of the time before, but now she was seven-tenths certain that this person had not gone back after entering the city, but had come directly to Suanzao Lane.

She didn't rush to ask, but simply followed a few steps and inquired, "There's hawthorn leaf tea in the well—would you like some more, young master?"

Han Li agreed, put the bamboo basket on the ground, casually draped the bundle over a bench, and said, "I'll get it myself. I'll wash my hands while I'm at it. Is there anyone behind me? Is it convenient?"

He then pointed to the many things and said, "Take a look first and then tell me if you want to complain."

He was very familiar with coming and going, so Song Miao didn't stand on ceremony. She simply called out "Second Madam" to the back of the room and then reminded him, "Young Master Han is here."

Han Li entered following the sound.

Soon, Cheng Erniang's greeting could be heard, followed by Xiao Lian's cheerful voice, and then Cheng Erniang's scolding: "This child! Wash your hair before you come out to talk to Young Master Han, don't drip water all over the place!"

Song Miao found it amusing, so she picked up the basket on the ground and opened it to look at the contents.

The first basket was very large, with many layers of oil paper wrapped inside. When you opened each layer, you found a piece of plain-colored fine cloth inside.

Besides the cloth, there was another large package in the basket, containing a thick stack of insoles. At a glance, there were at least seven or eight pairs, all made of fine cloth and very meticulous. I tried to fold them in my hand; they were very soft and could be easily folded in half.

There were also seven or eight pairs of cloth shoes.

The shoes are made of plain cloth without any embroidery, but the workmanship is exactly the same as the fabric and insole, and they are extremely soft.

Whether it was the insoles or the shoes, Song Miao compared them and found they were all her size.

Looking at the other items in the bamboo basket, they were indeed mostly food and household items. Some of them looked very expensive and were probably gifts from Cen Dezhang and other officials. Others were clearly handmade by farmers, such as dried pickled vegetables, salted dried vegetables, dried daylily, dried cucumbers, and dried green beans wrapped in layers of dried lotus leaves and oil paper.

Song Miao looked through them one by one, and then noticed a small peach-colored bundle on the side. She picked it up and opened it. First, she saw several pairs of straw gloves, all fingerless, and several bottles of snow oil ointment. When Song Miao was in Huazhou, her students had also given her some flatbread, which was a local specialty and very nourishing.

A piece of paper was tied to the bottle and the gloves, one with the character "Cheng" written on it and the other with the character "Liu" written on it.

There was also a bamboo box with the character "lotus" written on it.

The box was slightly larger than an adult's palm and was exquisitely woven. Song Miao guessed it was a gift for Xiao Lian, so she didn't open it, intending to let the child unpack the surprise herself.

After looking at the items one by one, Song Miao realized that some of them were indeed a bit expensive, but after thinking about it, she didn't take them out. She only mentioned the last bundle again.

She felt something was off when they were dismantling it.

The bundle was actually warm to the touch.

When it was opened, the package revealed a completely different story.

A piece of cloth with many pockets sewn inside: some for personal medicine, some for several folded clean handkerchiefs, some for writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, and even two name seals. Upon closer inspection, one was indeed engraved with "Han Li" and the other with "Zheng Yan De Xian," clearly Han Li's own seal.

Upon seeing this, Song Miao realized she had made a mistake – no wonder this bundle was placed separately on the chair; it was originally Han Li's personal belongings.

Having accidentally touched the other person's personal belongings, Song Miao should have quickly put them away and returned them to their original place, but she couldn't help but take another look.

Everything else in the bundle was neatly packed and tidied up, except for one thing that seemed out of place—three fried cakes.

The fried dough was wrapped in a lotus leaf, but it had clearly been hastily wrapped and was now coming undone. The lotus leaf wasn't big enough, and a corner was sticking out. Fearing that the dough would soil the bundle, Song Miao took another clean lotus leaf from the shop, intending to wrap it around the dough.

As she was wrapping it, she suddenly paused.

The pancake was hot, and the top one had two large dents.

Song Miao turned her head to look at the water clock.

It was already past midnight.

People at that time usually ate dinner early, and it was already past dinnertime by now.

Did they rush to buy this to fill their stomachs?

Song Miao thought for a moment and then carefully put her bag away again.

We've looked at everything, even counted and studied the pancakes that Young Master Han secretly hid—it must be the big fried pancakes from Pan's shop on the street—but still no one comes out.

Song Miao found it strange and couldn't help but enter the second gate as well.

As soon as she arrived at the backyard, she could hear Cheng Erniang talking to Xiaolian in the water room, but the yard was very quiet.

In the corner, Han Li stood facing the two stoves, remaining motionless for a long time.

Song Miao walked over and said, "Young Master, you've come back just in time. The stove is ready. I've tested its properties these past few days, and it works quite well. It won't be long before we can use it to roast goose and pig!"

Han Li turned around and asked, "How come it's so fast? You said last time that this furnace was difficult to make—where did you find the craftsman?"

“She’s a relative of Senior Brother Liang Yan.” Song Miao briefly explained how Liang Yan recognized Zhu Shi as his great-aunt, entered the Xu family martial arts school, and introduced Senior Brother Yang Mian’s uncle to help make the stove.

"This stove is burning very well..."

She praised it a couple of times, and then mentioned that she had recently made black char siu and roasted pigeon, inviting Han Li to come and eat when he had time.

But as she spoke, she looked up and saw that Han Li's expression was somewhat forced. She was immediately puzzled and asked, "Young master, do you not like roasted or grilled dishes?"

Han Li shook his head and said frankly, "I know you need to make a stove here. I've already asked two military inspectors from the prefectural government to help me find someone. I received a letter saying that they've found the right people. I was just thinking of coming to discuss it with you today, to see when I have some free time so I can send someone over to see which one we need, or if we can use both..."

He couldn't help but smile wryly as he said this: "I never expected a child to beat me to it..."

Upon hearing this, Song Miao was truly surprised and couldn't help but say, "Inspector Xin brought a craftsman with him when he came to our door last time, saying he wanted to help make a stove..."

Han Li's expression became even more complicated.

Song Miaotai understands the frustration of working hard for nothing.

She hurriedly said, "Although the oven is finished, it's very laborious and time-consuming to bake things right now. It's still missing the frame inside. I've been looking everywhere for a long time, but no one dares to take it on. The inspector is inquiring about it. Could you please ask around for me, young master?"

Han Li agreed almost immediately.

The two talked as they went to the front hall and took their seats.

Song Miao took a large cup and poured more than half a cup of hawthorn leaf tea. After Han Li finished drinking one cup, she poured another. When he put down the cup, she said softly, "I was just about to apologize to the young master."

Han Li was taken aback and looked up at her.

Song Miao pointed to the bundle placed on the chair and explained that she had accidentally opened it earlier.

"Why are you making such a big deal out of such a small matter?"

Song Miao smiled but didn't explain. Instead, she changed the subject and asked, "Where did you buy the fried dough, young master?"

Han Li suddenly paused.

Seeing his reaction, Song Miao actually understood what he meant.

She said, "If it were anyone else, I would never presume to ask. But a guest is a guest after all. If I were to ask, people would think that I have a monopoly on business and assume that once a guest has been to my house, they can't go to other people's houses. That would make them feel uncomfortable..."

"But after all, he is Young Master Han, so I'm not afraid to speak a little more bluntly—has Young Master already eaten and is not hungry, or does he simply have no appetite?"

Han Li hesitated for a few moments, then said, "Firstly, it's been hot for too long, and I don't have much of an appetite. Secondly, I've come all this way, and I don't want you to be busy as soon as I sit down. Besides, it's already past mealtime. If everything is cleaned up, it'll be too much trouble to start cooking again..."

He paused for a long time at this point.

—Thirdly, I don't want you to think that I come back every time just for a bite to eat.

He really thought this sentence through carefully, but in the end he swallowed it back.

"So you just don't have an appetite, not that you're not hungry?"

Han Li finally nodded.

Song Miao smiled and stood up, asking, "I'll make you a bowl of noodles. Please just have a bite, young master, how about that?"

“This is a restaurant. Even if an ordinary customer comes in hungry, I cannot let them leave hungry—let alone Young Master Han.”

As she spoke, she pointed to the stove: "The fire is still burning, and the stove is still warm. There's always some dough left in the water vat. It'll be ready in a moment. I know that people in Shaanxi often eat fermented noodle soup in the summer to whet their appetite, but unfortunately there's no time to make fermented noodle soup right now—let's have something else for now?"

Han Li couldn't possibly say no.

He stood up and said, "Shall I start the fire?"

Song Miao smiled and shook her head, saying, "Young master, you only care about yourself and not the horse? Why don't you take it to the back to have some food and drink first!"

So when Han Li led the horse around to the backyard, he familiarly fetched oats to feed and water it, then brushed the horse's mane for a while. When he came out again, a bowl of fried egg and salted plum noodles was already on the table.

The thin noodles were soaked in the milky white soup, with a semi-transparent edge, clearly having absorbed all the flavor.

Two fried eggs lay on top, glistening with oil. One was cooked through and then used to make soup, perfectly cooked. The other egg white was fried until it had a caramelized crust and crispy edges, while the yolk in the middle was semi-solid.

Place chopsticks on it and gently touch it; you can easily feel the fluid inside. If you pierce the skin with a little more force, you'll find an enticing runny egg yolk center.

Before even taking a bite, you can smell a wonderfully refreshing salty and sour aroma as soon as you get close – it comes from the crushed salted plums and their juice, carrying the unique fragrance of green plums. You don't even need to put them in your mouth; just the aroma alone is enough to make your mouth water and whet your appetite.

Take a bite of the noodles; they are thin and smooth, and they are indeed soaked in the soup. First, they are salty, then sour, and then sweet, with the aroma of eggs and wheat.

Take a sip of the soup; the broth is salty, sour, fresh, and fragrant, but it doesn't overpower your taste buds. Wherever the soup goes, comfort follows.

Take a bite of the fried egg, the white is crispy and fragrant, the yolk is runny. Eat it with the noodles, the noodles are coated with salted plum soup, the uncured thick yolk, and a little bit of salted plum. The soup also contains fried garlic, celery, and scallion. All the fresh, fragrant, salty and sour flavors swirl in your mouth, making you forget what "no appetite" means and just want to slurp up the noodles with gusto.

(End of this chapter)