Miao Chu

Chapter 71 Urging
When Kong Fuyang first heard Han Li mention that he was following up on a case, he didn't think much of it, given how busy he was.

However, when he heard that there were hundreds of suspects and over a hundred victims, he had long forgotten what he originally wanted to say and exclaimed, "How could such a huge case occur under the very nose of the emperor!"

The knowledge and experience gained from working on an ordinary case are completely different from those gained from working on such a large case.

Kong Fuyang immediately understood why Han Li would abandon his studies and agree to be temporarily transferred to the Kyoto government office.

To be honest, he was already tempted just by hearing about it.

Kong Fuyang couldn't help but say, "This is a major case; I can't just go whenever I want."

"If you want to come, I will ask the Kyoto government to issue a transfer order when I get back, and the transfer will start from today."

As if guessing what he was going to say next, Han Li added, "After we meet up, let's go to the teaching building first and see which one is on duty tonight. We'll write an application for them, and the formalities can be completed later."

Even the leave application process for him to go out tonight has been arranged.

With the Kyoto Prefectural Government lending him a position and the opportunity to participate in solving a major case, and with Han Li's involvement, Kong Fuyang has always been regarded with special regard. Unless the duty officer tonight has lost his mind, he should know that he will agree without hesitation.

What kind of major case could involve hundreds of suspects?
Kong Fuyang's heart was itching with desire, and he couldn't wait to go back to his dormitory to pack his luggage.

However, having just criticized Han Li for neglecting his duties and not behaving like a student during the day, he couldn't get over his own conscience. He swallowed hard and asked, "I still have to grade papers tomorrow and the day after. Can I be temporarily transferred over after I've finished grading them?"

Han Li shook his head and said, "The case is urgent. If you don't come tonight, I can't wait any longer. I need to arrange for someone else to come immediately."

Kong Fuyang gritted his teeth and said, "I want to go, but I just scolded you in front of all the classmates because you didn't come to help grade the papers during the day..."

He recounted what had happened during the day.

Han Li said "Oh," and asked, "Are you afraid of going back on your word and being ridiculed by others?"

He added, "If you want to save face, you can't have substance. You choose."

Kong Fuyang quickly shook his head and said, "It was my own fault, how dare I mention face? You are broad-minded and don't mind, but I know what I'm doing and have no face to take advantage of you again."

Han Li glanced at him and said, "You've read so many books and traveled around to study, yet you're still so indecisive in your work. You're not even as good as some of the more ambitious students in the outer dormitory. Why all this nonsense?"

He added, "I don't have time to waste with you. Come if you want, or don't, it's up to you."

With that, he raised the lantern and started walking away.

Kong Fuyang was left behind. After a moment's hesitation, he finally called out, "Han Li!"

Han Li turned around, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "What are you doing?"

"If I can't go, who will you look for?"

As he asked this question, Kong Fuyang felt a little uneasy, unsure of whose name he really wanted to hear.

If the person going is far inferior to himself, he can comfort himself by thinking that even if it's just to help Han Li, it's also a way of apologizing, so he should shamelessly follow along.

But what if someone has similar abilities to oneself, but is also adept at social interaction, interpersonal skills, and coordination...

What other excuse could he possibly give?
However, before Kong Fuyang could even come up with a solution, he heard Han Li say coldly, "Do you really think I run a general store, taking things from everyone I see?"

"I have read your articles and seen your answers to the classics. I have heard the Master mention your character many times," Han Li said. "Although it is hard work and tedious, it is not something that everyone can do. Think it over. Even if you can't stand it halfway and want to quit, I will not allow it."

After he finished speaking, he turned and left.

Kong Fuyang stood there, feeling a mix of emotions. He felt his face getting hot, and when he touched it, he discovered that the corners of his mouth had inexplicably turned up in a smile.

He stood there for a while, then suddenly realized what was happening and hurriedly went to his dormitory. After quietly opening the door, he casually rolled up his usual clothes and even changed into a pair of comfortable shoes. Just as he was groping in the dark to get his usual pen, he heard his roommate on the bed next to him say, "Turn on the light, I'm not asleep yet."

Kong Fuyang lit an oil lamp.

His roommate, seeing him grabbing all sorts of things and stuffing them into a bamboo basket, asked, "Where are you going? If you can't find Han Li, are you going to move into his dorm and keep watch over him day and night?"

"No, no!" Kong Fuyang hurriedly said, "I'm going to the Kyoto government office right now."

The roommate sat up abruptly, threw off the covers, got up, slipped on his shoes, and tried to stop him, saying, "Are you crazy? If you don't like Han Li, wait until he comes back. Why go to the capital's government office for no reason!"

Kong Fuyang then realized what was happening and quickly explained, "I didn't mean to cause him trouble. I just said that I had taken on some important business and was too busy to handle it all, so I asked to come and help."

As he spoke, his voice rose three degrees higher.

My roommate was stunned and asked, "You agreed?"

"I don't care about shame, I agreed!"

Kong Fuyang said he was shameless, but his tone was far too lighthearted.

"Okay, you agreed, so why are you smiling like that?"

Did I laugh? No, right?

As Kong Fuli asked the question, he touched his face and then took out a lamp to find a bronze mirror to look at himself. Sure enough, even with the candlelight as dim as a bean, he could see that the person in the bronze mirror was all smiles and wrinkles. Even though he tried his best to suppress it, he still couldn't help but show his teeth.

"Oh dear, oh dear!" He hurriedly put down the bronze mirror. "I'm leaving now. If anyone asks about it tomorrow, just say I'm short-sighted and shameless for speaking ill of Han Li today..."

"Fine, you can say it or not, I'll just apologize in public when I get back!"

He hurriedly slung his bag over his shoulder before turning around and saying, "I'm leaving! To be honest, there's a lot going on this time, all hard labor, so I probably won't be back for the next few days. He'll get a transfer order from the capital prefecture soon. If any of you ask, please explain it to me!"

After saying that, he happily carried his bamboo basket and left.

The roommate was left alone in the dormitory wearing a big bellyband and with bare hairy legs. He watched Kong Fuyang run quickly, taking three steps at a time. He felt that the other person looked no different from a silly kid on the street who could be tricked by his family into helping him peel beans all day with a candied hawthorn.

What's even more tragic is that I also really crave the taste of candied hawthorns, which is obviously quite silly, but why is it that no one is willing to give me one to trick me into giving them away?
Not to mention that when Han Li finished packing his things and returned to the original spot, he found that Kong Fuyang had already arrived.

After the two went to the school to find the teacher on duty, they went straight to the Kyoto government office and were busy for several days.

Meanwhile, when Master Chen heard that Song Miao only asked him to help inquire about how to access the previously published records, he readily agreed, saying that he would send someone to inform him as soon as he received the information.

Because the Imperial Academy was holding a public examination, Master Chen, though he was trying to avoid it, couldn't stay away for too long. He could only wipe his mouth and beard, and reluctantly take his leave with his protruding belly.

After seeing Master Chen off, Song Miao finished tidying up the household chores and prepared to go out to buy ingredients for tomorrow.

But as soon as she opened the gate, before she could even step out, she saw that about ten steps away from the gate, and further towards the South Slope Academy, there were already quite a few students, some standing and some sitting. A quick glance revealed at least a dozen or twenty of them.

"Street vendor Song!"

"Why are you setting up your stall so late!"

"That's right, that's right! How can stall owner Song be so lazy in her business? Doesn't she want to make any money?!" As soon as she opened the door, the students rushed over, one after another.

Seeing this scene, Song Miao inwardly cried out in alarm and quickly bowed to everyone, saying, "I'm so sorry, all the breakfast I made today has already been ordered."

Upon hearing this, the students burst into complaints.

"Shopkeeper Song, does this mean that we students from the southern foothills aren't even entitled to breakfast because of the Imperial Academy's public examinations? This is blatant favoritism!"

"Miss Song has never acted like this before. Does she only want new customers and not us old customers anymore?!"

"I arrived early this morning, but I couldn't smell anything. How could this be? Is there absolutely nothing left to eat? Not even a drop of soup?"

"Could you save me a serving of shumai tomorrow? I'm a regular customer. Even if the back door is blocked by the school clerk tomorrow morning, I'll still sneak out to get it at noon!" The man said, already taking money out of his purse.

Having no other choice, Song Miao had to promise that she would definitely open the door at a certain time tomorrow. She went back into the house to get paper and pen, and asked them to register everything properly. She also collected the deposit, saying that if they did not come by the appointed time, she would ask someone to take them back.

Since it was inconvenient for everyone to write while standing, someone placed the paper against the Song family's gate and picked up a brush to write. As they were writing, someone with a keen sense of smell suddenly asked, "Why do I smell something like rice cake in the house?"

As soon as this person mentioned it, others nearby immediately chimed in.

"I smelled it too, I thought there was a mistake!"

"It smells really good."

As they spoke, everyone looked at Song Miao. Although they didn't say anything, the meaning in their eyes and expressions was very clear.

Song Miao was taken aback, then suddenly realized what it meant and said, "I think it's the steamed snow cake I made this morning—I didn't make much, I just brought it to try, and I ate it for breakfast myself."

Seeing a group of people eyeing her menacingly, Song Miao simply went inside, opened the door wide, and went to the stove to open the steamer lid.

The embers were still warm, and the steamed snow cake was still piping hot. As soon as the lid was opened, the aroma wafted out.

"There's not much left, how about we share it with you all to have a taste?"

The students on the south slope immediately nodded.

"Alright! Alright! But it wouldn't be right to take advantage of Miss Song for nothing, so please take the money!"

"It has to be stall owner Song, so generous! Is this a new dish? When can we finally get to eat it properly?"

However, some people take the opportunity to make demands.

"I'm so hungry I'm dizzy, Miss Song, could you give me a bigger portion?"

"You're dizzy? I'm so hungry I'm seeing stars! I want an extra portion too!"

These demands were quickly suppressed by others – “Stop making a fuss, we’re lucky to have anything to eat, what’s with all the chatter!”

Song Miao smiled as she counted the number of people, cut the food into pieces with a knife, wrapped each piece in lotus leaves, put them in a basket, and gave them to the guests to take as they pleased. She also asked them to taste the food.

There were only two layers of steamers made to begin with, and Master Chen ate quite a lot. Now that it was divided among the people, each person only got three or four bites.

After eating the steamed snow cake, the group of people started talking nonsense.

One said, "It's not enough!", and the other said, "We'll eat more tomorrow so I can tell you how it tastes!"

Someone else said, "It's delicious, but there's too little. When you sell it, it would be best to have five times more servings like today!"

Finally, someone gave a serious review, saying, "I like it! I'm going to eat this with shumai—I used to eat shumai with sticky rice, and it would make me feel a bit full, but this is just right! Will you be able to buy some tomorrow?"

A group of people are asking the price and offering to pay.

Song Miao said, "It's only a few bites, yet you've all been waiting for so long. I'm too embarrassed to ask for money—but you should at least tell me whether it's too sweet or too bland."

Only then did everyone give their serious evaluations.

This steamed rice cake is naturally not as good as glutinous rice or shumai, but it tastes very pleasant and sweet. Everyone present who tried it thought it was pretty good. If it were really sold, they would definitely buy one as a bonus.

Someone else urged, "Miss Song, those yellow steamed buns were delicious last time. You said they were troublesome to make, so how about making some ordinary red bean steamed buns or red bean cakes? Your red bean filling is different from others, it's especially delicious! It's fragrant and not greasy at all!"

Song Miao had only made yellow steamed buns twice, and in very small quantities. Only three or four people present had tasted them, but everyone who had tried them agreed that they were delicious and also praised the red bean filling.

The others also became curious and started asking to eat.

Song Miao could only say, "I'll think about it some more, but I'm just one person after all, and I can't do too many things."

Everyone urged Song Miao to quickly find someone to help her.

Worried that the instructor might come at any time, the students ate the steamed snow cake and then urged Song Miao to prepare more new dishes in the future, both in variety and quantity. Only after urging her did they leave in a hurry.

After finally seeing the person off, Song Miao closed the door and was about to leave when she heard a series of commands and footsteps coming from the house across the street.

She turned her head and saw two constables and a group of patrolmen pushing a cart out. The cart was packed full, but everything was wrapped in cloth, so she couldn't see what was inside.

Although she wanted to ask a few questions, she was not familiar with the two constables and did not want to trouble them, so she gave up.

As Song Miao followed the cart out of the alley, she heard neighbors on both sides pointing and whispering at the street corner, as if watching a spectacle.

"I heard that a lot of gamblers were arrested last night."

"It turns out that the house inside was a gambling den—it was so well hidden that sometimes when I saw people going in, I thought they were students who had slipped out, never imagining they were gamblers!"

As the crowd was discussing this, they saw Song Miao come out and quickly stopped her, asking, "Miss Song, I heard that the yamen raided gambling last night and arrested two or three hundred people in the house opposite yours. Did you see them?"

The number of people increased seven or eight times in an instant.

After hearing Inspector Xin's instructions, Song Miao hurriedly shook her head and said, "That house is usually kept tightly closed. I've been going in and out, and I've never seen anyone pass by. I thought it was empty. Who would have thought it was a gambling den?"

Everyone was disappointed, but they didn't ask any more questions and started talking about other things.

"I heard that Sun Lizheng's younger brother was also arrested on the spot! I don't know if it's true or not."

"What a sin! Doesn't that mean you'll get a hundred lashes?"

"It seems that's not all; he gambled away a lot of money and it appears he even got involved in gambling dens."

Many thanks to miya for sending me the two sachets =3=
Thank you to Fu Ruanruan from the bookstore for gifting me a writing tool; my cat, Dandan, for two small tokens of my appreciation; and reader 1919313224459288576 for one small token of my appreciation :)

Thank you to reader Xiaoxiang (03532831) for sending me a lucky charm! ^_^
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(End of this chapter)