Miao Chu

Chapter 36 is important
Wang Chang's stomach was full of pickled radishes, and his appetite had long been so good that he wanted to eat a whole cow. Seeing that everyone else was grabbing them, he was not going to give way and quickly brought over a lotus leaf wrap as well.

Dried lotus leaves normally have a faint, pleasant fragrance, but as soon as they are opened, the fragrance is completely overwhelmed by the aroma of braised pork trotters and rice inside.

The lotus leaf was wrapped loosely, so it didn't weigh down the food inside.

The rice was steaming hot and loose, with a little bit of gravy poured over it, topped with a corner of pickled vegetables, and next to it lay a peeled egg with a light soy sauce color—all of it was steaming.

The amber-colored braised pig's trotters are placed on top, already deboned, leaving only the alternating layers of fat and lean meat—the meat must have been slowly braised over low heat, visibly soft and tender, barely holding the fat together on top of the lean meat thanks to a thin layer of pig skin.

The lean meat had become so tender that it crumbled into strands at the slightest touch of chopsticks.

The rich, savory broth combined with the fatty, juicy pork trotters creates an irresistible aroma that, once it enters your nostrils, instantly whets your appetite.

Wang Chang's hands trembled with craving. He grabbed his chopsticks, picked up a large piece of meat, and tried to stuff it into his mouth, half-covered with rice.

The pork trotter wrapped in the lotus leaf trembled along with his shaking hands. The amber-red skin and meat swayed slightly, and with a snap, it fell back onto the lotus leaf—it was too tender and mushy to pick up without a bit of skill.

He was so anxious that he quickly brought his mouth to the lotus leaf wrapper, wrapped the meat inside, and shoveled a big mouthful of rice mixed with meat and gravy into his mouth.

It smells so good!

Smells so good!

Wang Chang chewed hard a few times, almost reluctant to swallow it—the braising sauce was too fragrant, but it didn't overpower the meaty aroma of the pig's feet.

The pig's feet skin is soft and chewy with a slightly gelatinous texture. The fat inside is tender and the lean meat is crispy and juicy, truly achieving a flavor that melts in your mouth with the aroma of oil, meat, and braising sauce.

The fatty parts of the pig's trotters are plump, the lean parts are tender, and if you eat the tendons, they have a slight chewiness. All three are wrapped around the rice—the aroma of the rice is not overwhelmed by the meat and braised flavors.

The rice grains are long and thin, dry and loose, and do not stick together at all. When chewing, the rice aroma is not too strong and does not overpower the flavor—it does not overpower the flavor anyway. It is not sticky, but rather it absorbs the oiliness of the pig's feet and the aroma of the braising sauce very well, while calmly maintaining the rice aroma in each grain.

There's also the pickled vegetables, which are salty with a hint of sourness, adding a touch of flavor, cutting through the oiliness, and enriching the taste.

Everything went perfectly together.

There's only one downside.

The braised pork trotter rice seemed to have its own ideas, completely disregarding Wang Chang's commands. It only rolled around in his mouth a few times before quickly sliding down his throat and into his intestines.

Even though the meal was a large portion, Wang Chang felt like he hadn't actually eaten much.

By the time he realized what was happening, there was only an egg left in the lotus leaf package, along with a few mouthfuls of leftover white rice and two triangular pieces of dried tofu.

He picked up the egg and took a bite—it was soft and tender, the egg white was cooked, but the yolk had just solidified, and there was still a little bit of soft, semi-liquid yolk in the middle. It was slightly salty, with a strong egg flavor, and surprisingly, it also had a hint of scallion flavor and a slight spiciness.

—Can boiled eggs really taste this good?!

As Wang Chang ate, he started acting a little silly.

who am I?
where am I?
Where did such a happy life come from?

Will I be able to eat it tomorrow? Can I eat it every day?
Everyone in the room was eating, and they were all eating very quickly, without even looking up.

This reaction, however, made the onlookers extremely anxious.

"smell good."

"Why are you all so busy eating and not saying a word?!"

"So, tell me, is it delicious?"

"Say a few words? Say a few phrases? Ugh! You're driving me crazy!"

"It smells so good! Damn, that pig's trotter looks so tempting! Is there any left? Guys, can you sell me a portion?"

Some people even went inside, approached someone they knew, and asked, "How is it? What does it taste like? Is there anywhere outside that I can buy it? Something that's about 50-60% similar would be great—it smells so good, it's making my mouth water!"

The student who had been found was chewing his food, finally managing to swallow it with a few gurgling sounds before saying, "Delicious! I'm not well-traveled and haven't eaten anything good before. I'll tell you after I've tried some similar places!"

I go!

I'm waiting for you to eat it!

Are you going to wait until you eat out? By then, the opportunity will be too late!

The onlookers, who had been watching him intently with their ears perked up, were shocked by his unexpected answer and began to boo him.

The man didn't seem to mind, just chuckled. However, seeing his friend standing nearby, wanting to leave but reluctant to, glancing furtively at his food every now and then, yet too embarrassed to stare so directly, he pretended not to care and turned his head away. Remembering their past friendship, he steeled himself, made a huge decision, turned the lotus leaf bun in his hand around, and said, "I haven't moved much from this spot, if you don't mind..."

He hesitated for a moment, then added a specific prefix before continuing, "If you don't mind, would you like to try a small bite?"

That friend, being a man of principle, almost agreed immediately, only saying politely, "This, this... isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

"Stop nagging! The meat's getting cold, eat up!"

"Charge! Charge!"

"That's right, if you don't eat it, I'll eat it for you!"

"You're so embarrassed, but I'm quite comfortable with it. Please step aside and let me do it!"

Those who were watching the commotion couldn't stand it any longer and started shouting.

The student who offered the food laughed and scolded, "Don't pretend! If you really don't want to eat, I won't let you!"

He turned the bamboo chopsticks in his hand around and handed them over.

The friend chuckled, his face practically beaming with joy, and quickly snatched the chopsticks from him, saying, "Good brother, I knew our friendship was extraordinary! Just wait and see how I treat you in the future!"

As he spoke, he knew how to behave, so he didn't dare to take too much of the pig's trotter. He only picked out a small piece where the skin and meat were still attached, along with some pickled vegetables, and finally ate it. As he chewed, his whole face visibly lit up.

Among the crowd watching the spectacle, some who had already eaten were now hungry, and others who hadn't eaten yet, who had only glanced at the food as they passed by, were also tempted and couldn't wait to get back to their own homes, so they opened the lids and started eating on the spot.

The perfunctory food prepared by his own kitchen was no match for the fragrant and tempting braised pork trotters rice in the room. After only a couple of bites, he felt that the food in his hands was dry, bland, and tasteless.

The poor students ate while relying on the aroma of the braised pork trotters in the school cafeteria to make their food palate, unsure whether they had gained something or lost out.

While everyone in the study was eating happily, the scene in the upper dormitory was quite different.

The teachers had eaten glutinous rice and shumai before, but with three people sharing one set, there wasn't even enough to fill their stomachs, so how could they be satisfied?

They all invariably asked Cheng Zijian where it came from. When they learned that it was sold daily by the stall owner with the "Song Ji" sign in the food alley, available only early in the morning, and that there was a queue to grab it, and that it was all sold out today, they all gave up and had no choice.

“Zijian’s approach was indeed clever, and others couldn’t imitate it—Han Li only has one stomach, so it wouldn’t be good for everyone to bring him food, he couldn’t possibly eat it all!”

Duan Fuzi's tone was rather sour.

It is true that the world is declining and people's hearts are not as old as they used to be.

I have been a teacher for so many years, and I have been very conscientious and considerate of my students. How come there is not a single person among so many who would send me such delicious sticky rice and shumai for breakfast?

It's good to try something new!

Well, if word gets out, people who don't know the situation might think that he, as a teacher, accepted bribes from his students and showed favoritism in private.

He had no choice but to find another way and comfort himself from a different perspective.

Master Chen, however, was not so particular. He even asked Cheng Zijian which "Song" he was from and what time he usually set up his stall. He actually wrote it down on the paper and pen that was readily available. Seeing that everyone in the room was looking at him, he then said confidently, "I'm old and forgetful."

After that matter was dropped, Master Duan and the other two quickly brought the topic back, trying to persuade Master Chen to intervene and convince Han Li to help the students in the lower dormitory with their writings. If that didn't work, since they were all students, it wouldn't be appropriate for him to teach, but at least they could have more exchanges.

Master Chen replied, "If it were someone else, I could offer my opinion, but Zheng Yan is busy and has his own ideas, so I can't make decisions for him..."

Cheng Zijian, who was listening nearby, also felt that Brother Han was very annoyed by trivial matters and would not be willing to take on this task.

But the two teachers, Duan and his companion, kept talking and offering advice for half a day, their lips almost bleeding from exhaustion, constantly bringing up the students' studies.

Seeing that Master Chen was gradually softening his tone, Cheng Zijian began to feel increasingly uneasy.

Everyone has selfish desires, and he was no exception. If Master Chen really tried to persuade him, and Brother Han couldn't refuse and agreed, wouldn't he feel that he was the one who had gotten the benefit and was now acting innocent, causing trouble for others?
If Brother Han does not agree, will he offend the Master?

Wouldn't that make my sins even greater?
Moreover, we clearly agreed this morning that Brother Han should stay and that we would send him food. But the teachers still won't let us leave. If we make him wait on an empty stomach, what if they think that Cheng Zijian is untrustworthy?
Besides, if I don't lead the team, my classmates might still be waiting. Do you really expect Song Xiaoniangzi to push such a heavy cart over by herself?
How could I possibly accept this?
Cheng Zijian was always an honest man. In front of the teachers, he would even hold back his farts to avoid making a sound. At this moment, he was filled with countless worries and was already very troubled, but he did not dare to interrupt. He just kept looking at the door and secretly tiptoed to look at the water clock in the corner.

Just then, the bell finally rang, signaling the end of get out of class.

After much persuasion, Master Duan and his companion finally realized what was happening.

Another teacher said, "get out of class has just ended, and everyone must be hungry. Why don't you call Han Li over, sir? Let's go find a restaurant outside. Old Duan and I will host the meal, and you, sir, can take the seat. We can invite Han Li to eat together. Once we're at the table, everything can be discussed!"

Having said all that, and seeing that he couldn't refuse, Master Chen had no choice but to agree.

The teacher turned his head and saw Cheng Zijian standing to the side, saying, "Cheng Zijian, come along too."

Before Cheng Zijian could even relax, his heart was gripped high again.

He quickly waved his hand and said, "No...no need!"

Master Duan said, "Han Li has helped you so much, it's only right that you come and keep him company. Besides, how much of this meal can the three of us old men eat? We'll have to rely on you young people."

Cheng Zijian could easily see that his teacher was taking good care of him, partly to become familiar with Master Chen, and partly out of consideration for his family's poverty, by giving him a treat.

Normally, he would have gone no matter what, but it just so happened to be today.

Since the Master was so kind, Cheng Zijian could no longer keep it a secret.

He said honestly, "It's just a bit unfortunate today—I promised to bring Brother Han lunch..."

The three teachers were all taken aback and looked at him.

"It was also made by stall owner Song. It's braised pork trotter rice, and I heard it comes with soup..."

Cheng Zijian dared not speak too plainly.

With the civil service exam just around the corner, a bunch of students are not studying properly, but staying up all night copying "Wei Xing Tong" (a collection of criminal laws from the Wei dynasty). Many of them are from the lower-level dormitories. Although they mean well, they are not doing their proper job. Once they are found out, they will definitely be taught a lesson.

But he was overthinking things.

When the teachers heard that the braised pork trotters rice, shumai, and glutinous rice were all made by the same person, they were all intrigued and had no time to investigate why there was braised pork trotters rice.

Master Chen's eyes lit up immediately, and he asked, "Pig's trotter rice? How many portions did you make? Do you have any extra?"

But the light in his eyes slowly dimmed again, and he said, "My teeth aren't good, so I don't know if the pig's feet are stewed until they're tender enough—you young people probably like chewy things, so it's probably a bit tough, right?"

"If you can't chew it, sir, I'll help you share it." The other teacher stopped mentioning finding a restaurant or holding a banquet outside and simply replied.

Upon hearing this, Master Chen became extremely anxious and hurriedly said, "No need, no need for your help! If I can't chew it, I'll just cut it into pieces with a knife and swallow it whole, just to taste it!"

After saying that, he laughed at himself.

Master Duan then said, "It's rare that you want to eat this, Master. Zijian, go and ask if there are any extra braised pork trotters."

As she spoke, she quickly gave Cheng Zijian a meaningful look, while simultaneously swallowing hard herself.

Cheng Zijian inwardly groaned.

They are all our own teachers, how can we neglect them?

Moreover, with Master Duan helping him so much, and Master Chen having such a good reputation, it would be difficult for his classmates to refuse, since they were trying their best to help the students with their studies.

Fortunately, Miss Song said yesterday that she would make thirty-five servings, and after counting the number of people, it would be enough to support these three ancestors.

But he wasn't sure, so he said, "There should be some, but I don't know how much... I'll go check first, and if there's any extra, I'll send it all over."

"Go quickly! Go quickly!" the three teachers said almost in unison.

After Master Chen finished speaking, he suddenly realized something and said, "Send Zheng Yan's copy here as well."

He hurriedly rang the bell.

A short while later, someone entered.

"Xiao You, go to the upper dormitory and tell them I have something to do here and need Zheng Yan to come over."

The man called Xiao You responded first, then paused. Seeing so many people in the room, he hesitated for a moment before forcing himself to ask, "May I ask what brings you here, sir? My uncle has been very busy lately; if I don't explain clearly, I'm afraid he..."

Master Chen laughed and scolded, "First tell him I have something urgent to discuss with him. If he refuses to come, then tell him his lunch has been delivered to me and ask him to come and eat—I want to see whether this kid values ​​my words more or his lunch more!"

Thank you to readers 20250308195026824 and 20170222134110318 for sending me two amulets each, and to my friend Er Er's mom for giving me one amulet to hang up. =3=
I'm a little late today, I hope I didn't make it too late for everyone's dinner. I'll try to be on time tomorrow. ^_^
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(End of this chapter)