Miao Chu

Chapter 347 Signing
Song Miao smiled slightly and didn't say anything. Just as she was about to hand over the bundle, several voices came up from behind before she could even raise her hand.

However, several clever young women came over to express their feelings.

Some people were still holding their bowls with one hand, while others had put down their bowls but hadn't had time to put down their chopsticks and were hurriedly crowding around with the last one in hand. Still others had put down both, but as you can imagine, they were a step too late and had to catch up, swallowing their food in their mouths and rushing to speak.

"I'll take it!"

"I'll do it!!"

"Stop fighting, you all go eat—I'll take it!"

Finally, the one closest to him grabbed it, saying, "Wife, give it to me! Let me take it!"

Everyone stopped eating, eagerly awaiting Song Miao's return. They put down their bowls and chopsticks and started clamoring for answers.

"What brings the Empress Dowager to the palace this time, Madam?"

"They suddenly came looking for us, in a real hurry. We had nowhere to ask, and we had so many customers. It was driving us crazy!"

"The master offered a recipe for dry rations. Is it that the recipe is usable or not, which is why people from the palace came?"

Before the imperial decree was issued, Song Miao naturally wouldn't blurt it out.

These past two days, everyone in the restaurant has been working non-stop, with everyone working themselves to the bone. Even those who were originally scheduled for a day off have all volunteered to come back and help their colleagues.

She saw everyone's efforts and took the opportunity to say, "It's not a bad thing. The soldiers tried the rations and were very satisfied with them. They asked me to teach them how to make them in detail. By presenting this recipe, there might be good news from the palace in the future. Let's just wait and see! When the imperial decree comes, I will give everyone a reward!"

Everyone who goes out to work does so to earn money to support their family.
Whether they were following behind or standing in front, everyone's face showed joy.

An auntie immediately asked, "Master, is this the bonus that Second Madam Cheng mentioned earlier?"

Song Miao raised an eyebrow and smiled, winking at her, and said, "No!"

She drew out the "oh" sound, making it emphatic and her tone full of laughter, and said with a smile, "What Second Mistress said was to get it from the restaurant, but what I said was that I would give it myself. It's for two separate portions. We've been working really hard lately, and even if it's not much, these two portions of money can help everyone put some money into their pockets and reward them for their hard work!"

Upon hearing this, the whole room erupted in cheers. If the roof hadn't been re-tiled and carefully swept, the rising and falling cheers would have washed away the dust and dirt.

After Song Miao finished speaking, she took the bundle back and said with a smile to everyone, "Go and eat! I'm not here today, so I'm sorry to trouble you all to take care of the shop! Finish eating early, tidy up everything that needs to be tidied up, and go back to rest as soon as possible. There will probably be a tough battle to fight tomorrow!"

"It's not just tomorrow! I'm afraid there will be tough battles every day from now on!"

Squeezed into a corner, Zhang Si Niang seized the opportunity and shouted defiantly, "I'm not afraid to fight a battle like this, I'm only afraid that the battle won't be tough enough or big enough!!"

Another long-term hired woman chimed in, “I was thinking that this winter I would have to replace all the cotton quilts and winter clothes at home. Cotton quilts and clothes are expensive, and there are so many people in my family. If I replaced one thing, I wouldn’t have enough for another. I was counting on my fingers how to save money. Who knew that I would be so lucky to have such a generous employer? This year I’m sure I’ll have a warm winter!”

"Unfortunately, the place is too small and there aren't enough people. We can only watch helplessly as the money flows away from the door, and we can't even catch it!"

"Boss, let's find a place quickly!"

"We need to hire people quickly! Otherwise, it'll take at least three or four days just to get familiar with the situation! Sigh, I don't know how much money we'll lose!"

A group of people were standing there, gritting their teeth and stamping their feet in frustration.

Song Miao urged them several times before finally getting them to go back for dinner.

When she turned around, she saw a person standing by the second gate—it was Han Li, who was waiting patiently. She walked over and gently stretched out the bundle in her hand as she passed by.

Han Li naturally took it and followed.

The two entered the backyard, and after walking a few more steps, Song Miao turned around and slowly called out, "Young Master Han."

Han Li didn't respond, but stood still and said, "I left you some food, it's in the food box on the table outside—have you eaten?"

Song Miao shook her head and said, "I haven't eaten, but I'm not hungry either. I made a lot of dry food today, and I ate a little when I was tasting it..."

As she spoke, she couldn't help but say, "Although it doesn't taste good, it has received a lot of praise. Everyone says that the dried food made from it is very filling. It has already been taken to Chanzhou, and soon manpower and grain will be drawn from nearby prefectures and counties to rush to make it. I am really happy to know that I can help!"

Han Li took a step closer, lowered his head to listen to her speak, his expression very focused. After a while, when Song Miao's voice had faded, he said, "My lady has done a great thing this time, made a great contribution, and accumulated great merit. I am really happy to hear this. How about I give you something?"

With a smile on his face, he straightened the bundle in his hand as he spoke, and then asked, "Last time you said that the water bamboo was too old and not tasty, and you brought back a lot of ingredients from Jiangnan—how about I find you some seasonal things?"

"Such praise is really outrageous. If what I did is considered a great deed, a great achievement, or a great merit, then what about what you did in Huazhou? Are you trying to become a saint on the spot?"

Han Li smiled and said, "It's not as good as becoming a saint on the spot, but if it can be considered a merit after death, I'll accumulate more in the future. Eighteen levels of hell, nine layers of heaven and thirty-six caves, when we're old, the two of us..."

As he spoke, he suddenly paused, no longer wanting to talk about this, but instead steered the conversation back, asking, "How about bringing some crabs back to our restaurant? There are plump crabs in Jiangnan, and in a month or two, autumn will be the perfect time to eat them."

When he mentioned taking a side trip and brought up Jiangnan twice, Song Miao vaguely sensed something and simply asked, "Is Young Master going to Jiangnan?"

But as soon as she said it, she suddenly realized her mistake, though she was quite puzzled, and asked again, "Is it a summons from the imperial court? But why not to Chanzhou?"

Han Li said, "Counselor Li is in Chanzhou. With him in charge, there's no fear of insufficient relief and assistance. My going there wouldn't be of much use. Coincidentally, Vice Minister Wang Shuji and Vice Minister Wang Fa came to the capital. He was appointed by the court to oversee the allocation of water transport between the north and south. He came to find me and discussed the matter with the Director of the Water Conservancy Bureau..."

"Did the Supervisor agree? Is the young master willing to go?" Song Miao couldn't help but ask.

“Wang Fa is from Chanzhou and is very concerned about his hometown. He was very emotional today, and I can indeed do my part.”

With just this one sentence, Song Miao had already roughly guessed what had happened.

She shook her head and said, "Young master can do far more than just a little bit of help!"

He added, "I can't help you with anything else, so I can only prepare some food for you to take with you. When will you set off?"

Han Li replied, "I'll leave tomorrow."

He paused, then said, "I actually have a question to ask someone when I come back this time."

"This time, the canal transport is of great importance. Master Wang already has some ideas in mind. He expects to conscript many laborers and call up soldiers. He really wants to invite my wife to help with the cooking."

"I haven't asked her directly, and I don't have the proper status to speak—but I don't know what my wife thinks?"

Song Miao was somewhat surprised, but upon closer reflection, she realized it was perfectly normal.

She hesitated for a few moments, then said decisively, "If you ask me, I naturally don't want to go—the restaurant is too busy right now, and it's on the rise. If I leave for two months, everything will be left here. Even though someone will help take care of things, it won't make a difference." "But I don't know what kind of help I can offer, or how much help I can provide—what does the young master think?"

As soon as Song Miao said "I don't want to go," Han Li visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

He took another half step forward and whispered, "I don't want you to go either!"

“I’m afraid that if he comes to invite you in person, and you hear him speak and mention the disaster victims, you might not be able to resist softening your heart—the restaurant is already busy, and if you leave at such a critical time, who will be in charge here?”

"Moreover, the food arrangements along the canal are different from those in Huazhou before. This time, we have to move on to the next place after finishing one place. We are constantly on the move and never stop. It is very hard work."

"Furthermore, on my way back, I thought about it and realized that this matter doesn't necessarily require so many laborers and soldiers. We can accomplish it in other ways as well!"

He listed many reasons why he had come to see Song Miao.

Song Miao asked, "Young master said that it can be done in the same way using other methods, without needing so many people, and naturally without needing a chef like me. Is this really true?"

Han Li nodded and said, "Of course."

"I imagine Lord Wang must be very busy, so I won't bother him. I'll trouble you, young master, to pass on a message that I'm short of manpower here, and if it really comes to it, I'll have to use the mess hall staff. Also, send someone to deliver this message to me."

Han Li agreed and chatted with her for a few minutes, but then frowned slightly, sighed, and said, "By the time I finish my business, it will probably be autumn. There's nothing else, but there's one thing—I'm afraid it won't be in time for our restaurant to open."

“I used to say that I acted without any sense of propriety. When I came back, I never distinguished between day and night. I relied entirely on my wife’s consideration. Now that I have to leave, I feel really uneasy.”

“Not only this restaurant, but there will definitely be new places in the future—how about I reserve the new shop for when you return, young master?” Song Miao said, looking up.

"Young master often comes to take care of me, and I've gotten used to it. Now that I know you're heading south, I feel even more uneasy, but I can't say it out loud."

After she finished speaking, she reached out and took the bundle from Han Li's hand, saying, "Please sit for a moment, young master. I'll be right back."

Carrying her bundle back to her room, Song Miao tidied up. When she came out again, she saw that the stools that had been placed in the middle of the courtyard had been moved back to the main kitchen. The empty basins and buckets that had been leaning against the well had all been arranged, turned upside down, and were drying on a rack to the side.

Upon seeing the person come out, Han Li, who was washing his hands, straightened his back and looked up.

Song Miao took a few steps closer and handed over the bundle in her hand, saying, "Last time, the young master sent over a lot of things. I saw that there were many pockets sewn into the bundle, and I thought they would be very useful, so I asked Madam Shen to help me make a few. Who would have thought they would come in handy?"

He then explained the contents of the container to the other party, saying, "The other young masters will take care of things; there's mostly food inside—including some dry rations made this time, just in case..."

They also mentioned dried meat, dried squid, amber walnuts, various dried fruits, sauces for mixing with rice, sugar cut into small pieces and wrapped up, and so on.

Han Li carefully put the bundle away and then said, "There are two more things."

“Last time I heard you asking where there were acupuncturists, and since I knew that these things were usually not readily available, I asked someone to make one out of wood. It’s a bit crude, but the price is low. Sister Cheng is strong-willed, and if something is too expensive, she will think twice.”

"Although the materials are cheap, they are still usable. The surface is completely blank, so Xiaolian will draw the acupuncture points on it herself. Since it's wrapped in leather, inserting the needles might be a bit difficult."

"It should be ready in a few days, and then it will be delivered to the restaurant. You know about this, so please tell someone to remember to receive it."

Song Miao was surprised, but quickly agreed and then asked, "How much did this cost?"

Han Li said, "Not many."

He reported the total amount and then whispered, "Put it in the account, and I'll discuss it with my wife when I get back."

This favor was attributed to Song Miao.

Song Miao thanked her and said with a smile, "Once I get it, I'll tell Xiaolian about its origin. She's been suffering from acupuncture points lately, and she'll definitely be happy to have this needle-shaped wooden figure..."

After exchanging a few more words, Han Li said, "There's also the house across the street. Although I'm not in the capital for the time being, I've already instructed someone to keep an eye on the process. Once..."

Before he could finish speaking, he saw the expression on the other person's face suddenly change.

It was as bright as the first clearing of colorful clouds in the sky, or as clear ripples on the water.

"I think we talked about this before. This house, young master and I will each rely on our own methods to get it first..."

When she said the phrase "it all depends on the means," Song Miao's voice rose at the end of her sentence, and she smiled slyly.

Before Han Li could even ask a question, a commotion erupted in the outer hall. A moment later, Da Bing and two hired women practically burst in at the same time.

"My lady! Two gentlemen have arrived outside!"

"Master! The building management staff has arrived!"

Song Miao didn't have time to explain in detail and hurriedly stepped out.

As soon as they stepped out of the second gate, they saw several people standing outside. The two in the lead were dressed in official robes, while the others behind them were dressed as clerks.

Song Miao quickly stepped forward to greet her.

The guests were equally polite. They first introduced themselves, took out their waist tokens and certificates as proof, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then handed over two documents.

"Please trouble you, young lady, to check it. If there are no problems, please sign and seal it at the back. Find some time tomorrow to come to the building affairs office to register it."

The leading official was very polite and even explained to Song Miao for a while what the document mainly contained, where she needed to sign it, how to sign it, and why they had come all this way today and wanted Song Miao to sign it in advance.

It turned out that the current Empress Dowager had given the order, saying that she wanted to buy the house at the end of Suanzao Lane and give it to the young lady of the restaurant across the street. She had donated a portion of military rations, which greatly helped the disaster relief efforts in Liutahe. The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Revenue received the order and practically ran so fast that the hairs on their legs could be blown off by the wind.

Furthermore, the building management office, upon receiving instructions from above, produced new house deeds and land deeds on the same day—ideally, to complete all the documents before the imperial decree was issued, so as to avoid any trouble.

Not to mention that this house was already being processed urgently, with the purchase and sale procedures nearly complete, even if there was nothing else, the officials would still make special arrangements to expedite the process, leaving the other formalities to be completed later. It should be known that the Empress Dowager's words are law, and everyone can see that she is acting in this way to demonstrate that the imperial family and the people are as close as family, and to express the Emperor's stance that the Zhao family will not mistreat those who have made contributions.

“You could have signed this when you came tomorrow, but this house is involved in a case. After signing, you still need to go to the superior for approval. It will take a long time, and I’m afraid it will cause problems.”

Song Miao carefully reviewed it, then signed it and took out an inkpad to stamp it.

After signing the document, she was about to wipe her hands with a towel when she looked up and saw a person standing out from the crowd, tallest among them, smiling and staring at her.

(End of this chapter)