Miao Chu

Chapter 312 A Guest
After saying that, Chief Escort Qi, as if afraid that Song Miao would worry, added, "I will arrange for someone to go back to the escort agency and tell the boss in a while. He has many connections and can probably find out something."

He then inquired about the situation at the Kyoto Prefectural Government.

Before Song Miao could speak, the young bodyguard who was traveling with her interrupted, "Head镖师 (bodyguard/escort), you don't know, all the officials in the capital's government office are very familiar with Miss Song. As soon as the words were spoken, they all rushed to help—I think we don't even need the镖局 (bodyguard/escort agency), Miss Song can find someone to take care of things herself! It makes me feel like I'm just taking money and not doing any work!"

"That's not true," Song Miao hurriedly said. "Although the yamen can help with inquiries, we still need the escort agency to handle the daily comings and goings of people in the restaurants. Otherwise, who could trust us?"

He added, "Furthermore, if we could also get some information from the escort agency, we could verify it both ways and have to work on two fronts, which would be even better! I'll trouble the head escort and his men to work hard these next few days!"

Chief镖 (bodyguard) Qi laughed and said, "Not to mention the money we're paid to do things, we'd do our best even for everyday steamed buns, roasted pigeons, grilled meat, and all kinds of dried meat!"

After traveling back and forth for so long, it was already past noon. There was still no definite news, and they still had to wait for a reply, so the three of them returned to the restaurant first.

As soon as she entered, everyone inside had already returned and came to greet her upon seeing Song Miao.

The group of people were all talking at once, looking like they had just survived a disaster.

"My lady, thankfully we have the镖爷 (bodyguard/escort) protecting us—we encountered several troublemakers on the way!"

"As soon as Dabing and I stepped out onto the main street, a few thugs rushed up and tried to steal our steamer basket. It was early, and there weren't many passersby around. We couldn't even call the patrolmen. If it weren't for the bodyguards who restrained them, we might not have been able to save our cart of food!"

"Luckily, we left early and the car was moving slowly. At the corner of Yangtou Lane, for some reason, a lot of stones suddenly appeared, and we almost crashed into them!"

Song Miao hurriedly asked everyone if anyone was injured or bumped into anything. As a result, except for a short-term hired woman who was too careful and nervous when delivering breakfast, and who was always paying attention to her surroundings and neglecting the area nearby, she accidentally stepped into a hole and twisted her ankle, everyone else was unharmed.

"How badly did you twist it? Have you seen a doctor? Since you're injured, you should go home and rest for a few days until your leg is better before coming back."

The aunt blushed and said, "I just twisted it a little. I've already applied some ointment, and it only hurts a little. I think it will be fine on its own in a couple of days. There's no reason to go home and rest for such a minor injury. It's a busy time at the restaurant!"

Song Miao went to check on her injury and, seeing that there was nothing unusual, was slightly relieved. She then turned to her and said, "Second Madam, when you have some free time later, why don't you call two people and hire a bodyguard to accompany Aunt Lu to see a doctor? After all, we can't know what's inside just by looking through the skin."

He added, "If the injury inside is indeed serious, and the doctor says it's difficult to move and requires rest, then go home and rest first. A few more days won't make a difference."

Aunt Lu insisted, "It's really alright! Don't worry, boss. If I can't come, I'll definitely let you know! If it really comes to it, I'll switch shifts with someone else so that no one else has to cover for me for nothing!"

After inquiring about the injuries of the helpers at the restaurant, Song Miaocai then asked about those who had been ordered to go out and inform various places that day, saying, "What did Madam Shen, Sister Liu, Butcher Shen, and the others say?"

"Many families said they understand and will handle it themselves, telling their wives not to worry about them and to just take care of their own shops!"

Cheng Erniang said, "The Shen family's fish shop said that recently they've been inviting friends, relatives, and neighbors to their home and shop whenever they have free time. Old Mrs. Shen also said that she's getting old now and is just waiting for someone to come looking for trouble. If she happens to bump into someone, she'll seize the opportunity and hold them accountable. She doesn't know which fool will be willing to help pay for her funeral clothes! She's not afraid of people coming; she's only afraid of people not coming!"

The room, which had been somewhat tense, suddenly burst into laughter.

Of course, it was all nonsense, but the way Old Lady Shen spoke, with such eagerness in her words, made everyone feel relieved.

Zhang Si Niang said, "Butcher Shen also said that he doesn't have much else at home, but he has a lot of sharp knives. In addition, he recently brought two nephews from the countryside, so he has even more manpower. He also said that cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents. He wants to see who dares to come to his door to cause trouble in broad daylight. Let's see who has the fastest knife and the roughest hands!"

He added, "He also said that once this matter is settled and the opening date of the Lady's Restaurant is set, a whole butcher will come to congratulate us. They have already selected a large, fat pig from a farmer's house outside Yangzhou, fattened it up for a month or so, and are just waiting for the auspicious day to bring it over for roasting!"

Standing beside her was a bodyguard who had come along. He said to the man beside him, "Little Liu, don't laugh! I saw that butcher today, and he really has some skills! He's all muscle, and when he exerts himself, the flesh on his arms jumps. If it really came down to a fight, even a trained fighter might not be able to beat him. Come back and laugh when your arm muscles can jump!"

That Xiao Liu was none other than the bodyguard who had gone out with Song Miao today.

He was really unconvinced and immediately said, "You're looking down on me! Once this matter is settled and Song's restaurant opens, I'll come to congratulate him. I don't have a fat pig, but I'll bring some fruit, fat fish, and red eggs! I'll ask the butcher then, and if he agrees, we can find a place outside the door to have a match!"

Just then, Chief Escort Qi entered, cheered, and said, "Good! That's the kind of spirit we escort brothers should have! I'll be there too, to judge for you!"

He then turned to Song Miao and said, "Miss Song, I will also send a congratulatory gift to your door. If there is a big pig, whether it is roasted, boiled, or steamed, as long as it is made by your own hand, it is fine no matter how it is cooked—can you share a piece of meat?"

No sooner had he spoken than people on either side began to shout.

"Head镖师! This can't be fair! We always call each other brothers, but when it comes to this crucial moment, you're only thinking about your own gain and have forgotten about the rest of us? Are we going to have nothing to eat?"

"Such a formidable competition, we should definitely come and watch!"

"I can be a judge too! Why bother the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort)!"

Qi, the镖头 (bodyguard), laughed and scolded, "Once I get the chance to come to your door, you'll all be able to climb up the vine and take advantage of me. Now, you're all saying this, it's obvious you're just here to freeload. If Miss Song hears this, how could she possibly agree to anything!"

"The more people the restaurant has, the better. If any of you can spare some time, come over and help us try the food. I'd be more than happy to oblige if it's lively and fun."

"Hey! Hey! Listen up, everyone! This is what Miss Song herself said: 'I'm so happy!' - We'll all be coming over for a housewarming meal sometime!"

After exchanging a few lively words, everyone returned to their posts. Some took the time to rest and prepare for their evening watch shifts, while others, following orders from Chief Qi, went back to the escort agency to inquire about recruiting people. Still others avoided being seen when guests arrived.

Before long, the dozen or so bodyguards had all dispersed.

Having lingered at the patrol station for a long time, and then going to the Kyoto Prefectural Government Office, it was already quite late when they returned to the restaurant.

Before long, Dabing came to ask about dinner arrangements.

"We came back late today, so we were a bit rushed. I just discussed with Fourth Sister that we plan to each cook two dishes, cook a pot of rice, and ask the ladies and aunts to make a big steamer of flatbreads and steamed buns. That should be enough!"

Last night, when they came to ask for a favor, all the bodyguards took it seriously and didn't refuse at all. They immediately followed them to Suanzao Lane, and didn't get a full night's sleep. As soon as they arrived, they started working.

Today, they got up before dawn and went out together. Zhang Si Niang and the others said that when delivering breakfast and goods, the bodyguards who accompanied them took the initiative to help carry things.

Madam Xu's asking price wasn't high; she gave a discount and charged two fewer people. Song Miao felt indebted to her, and also to all the bodyguards. Hearing about the plan, she said, "Tonight is the first proper meal. I'll cook. You and Fourth Sister can lend a hand first, and we'll cook tomorrow, okay?"

Dabing immediately agreed, let out a long sigh of relief, and said, "I was just telling Zhang Si Niangzi that the time was too tight, and it had been a long time since I had cooked a large pot of food, and I was very afraid of ruining it for thirty people at once! Now that you are here to lead the way, it couldn't be better!" He then asked about the specific dishes.

Song Miao then went to the kitchen for a walk.

I didn't buy any vegetables in the afternoon, but I did have a lot of miscellaneous items, such as lotus root, cucumber, cabbage, and some leftover ingredients from making steamed buns.

With vegetables readily available, let's look at the meat.

Seeing the things hanging from the rice straw in the copper basin, Song Miao looked them over and was quite surprised, saying, "How come there are so many pig kidneys?"

Zhang Si Niang quickly replied from the side, "It was Butcher Shen who bought it. Besides the pork kidneys, there was also pork neck meat. He said that someone had ordered it this morning, but it didn't come by late afternoon. He sent someone to ask, and they said they didn't want it anymore. Since he couldn't find any customers to buy it, he bought it at cost price and asked us to bring it back to you, Madam!"

Song Miao lifted the lotus leaf covering the pork kidney and found several large slices of pork neck meat underneath, along with a very nicely presented rack of ribs.

"I figured we had about ten more bodyguards with us today, and they've been running around with us a lot, working really hard. Plus, it's their first day here, and we got some cheap pork kidneys today, so I decided to buy some good spare ribs..."

Song Miao praised her, saying, "That's a good idea, but even if the镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) don't come, we should still eat well ourselves—everyone's been busy lately!"

After checking the time, Zhang and Liu went to cook and urge others to prepare the steamed buns. Only after they finished did they come over to help.

Song Miao first counted the number of people, then looked at the ingredients again, and had already silently started to make a combination in her mind.

The first thing to do is make the meat.

I cut a large piece of foreleg meat, first into large chunks, then into large pieces, and then I called someone to mince it into minced meat.

Cut pork neck into strips and ribs into pieces almost the length of a palm. The former is marinated with salt, light soy sauce, maltose and other seasonings, while the latter is marinated with a little bit of spices in addition to these.

—Since she had been listening to the bodyguards talk about the stove, she decided to use it to roast some meat today so they could have a good meal.

Now that the main meat is ready, let's go check on the pork kidneys.

Pork kidneys are the most unpleasant part of a pig, and if not handled properly, they can significantly affect the taste.

These main butchers had already been to the White Clothes, but there were always some places that weren't cleaned properly. In addition, there was a very unpleasant smell next to the White Clothes. Song Miao, along with Zhang Si Niang and Da Bing, carefully cleaned and dried the area before starting to quickly make decorative cuts.

After the meat was prepared, it was time to prepare the vegetables.

It's not autumn yet, so most lotus roots are still crisp. These two in the restaurant look long and plump, and when you break them open, you can see they have nine holes.

Since lotus root is not good for making soup, and there was no time to make soup at the moment, Song Miao took it out separately, had someone wash and peel it, diced some of it, and chopped the rest together with the minced meat. She seasoned it herself and used the oil from the pot next door that had just been used to fry crispy fried dough and soybeans to fry lotus root balls.

There are also cabbage, celery, Sichuan pepper leaves, etc., all of which are washed and cut into sections or torn into pieces along with the cucumber.

With about thirty people, it's already considered a large pot of food. If you stir-fry it, it's very easy for it to release water, and it won't taste good if left for too long.

It's best to mix it, serve it with a light sauce, and add some other vegetables. Mix only as much as you want to eat.

Song Miao was in charge of cooking, with Zhang Si Niang and Da Bing assisting her. They were both used to the job and their movements were very quick. Whatever was needed here, it could be handed to them there just in time. They didn't even need to ask; they only needed to ask a question to know what kind of fire to use.

While the three were busy here, Xu Erlang, who had just returned from the escort agency, stood in the courtyard. Seeing the women washing vegetables and tidying up dried meat behind the curtain, he first encouraged himself before stepping forward and asking, "Aunties, do you have any coarse firewood here? I'm just idling around anyway, could you chop some fine firewood for the kitchen? Or if you have anything heavy, call me to move it..."

He was a young man with thick eyebrows and big eyes, and he looked honest, which made him quite likable.

One of the long-term hired women replied, "This young镖爷 (镖爷 is a term for a镖爷, meaning a镖爷 is a kind and reliable person) has a good character—but this is our job, if you do it all, what is the employer hiring us for? Just go and do your work!"

Xu Erlang was eager to show off his wood-chopping skills, but now that he had been rejected, he couldn't help but look into the main kitchen. He took a few steps in that direction and asked, "Then can I go and help Miss Song?"

This time, many people in the backyard changed their expressions.

The nearest hired woman quickly stepped forward, smiling, and stopped him, saying, "Young Master, our kitchen is different from other places. Because it's all food inside, going in and out gets dusty and dirty. You have to wash your hands, change your shoes, cover your head, and cover your face before you can go in. Why don't you sit in the front? I just ordered some snacks to be sent out—they're all good stuff. I just heard them praising them. Hurry up and try some!"

— Xu Erlang was chased to the front before he could even enter the door.

Because they were afraid that there were too many bodyguards and strong men outside, and that customers would be frightened if they saw them, or they would think that something had happened to Song's shop, everyone had gathered in the outhouse—and almost everyone was eating snacks at this time.

Commonly available items include fried dough twists, sesame cakes, and mung bean cakes, as well as crispy fried soybeans, spiced broad beans, and seasonal fresh fruits. Although the portions are not large, there are many varieties, and several benches are set up.

Xu Erlang, who was initially a little disappointed, cheered up again upon seeing so much food.

Oh my! It smells so good!
Especially the mung bean cakes, crispy fried soybeans, and spiced broad beans—they must have been freshly fried; they smelled absolutely amazing!

He couldn't resist going forward, picking up a mung bean cake, and eating it too.

Not long after they finished eating, a hired woman came out and said, "The food is ready. The master invites you镖爷 (bodyguards) to eat!"

A group of people suddenly moved and split into two groups. One group went to the back to eat something hot, while the other group waited for someone to bring them food, but stayed here to guard the place.

As soon as we sat down to eat our hot meal, the dishes were served one after another.

Just then, someone in the front hall called out, "Young Madam Song, are you here? You have a guest!"

The voice sounded familiar, but it belonged to a neighbor from Suanzao Lane.

(End of this chapter)