Miao Chu

Chapter 88 Strange

Upon hearing the words "Young Lady Song," the first person to react was surprisingly Xin Feng.

He involuntarily swallowed and hurriedly said, "I'll go sign the approval. You go and fetch Miss Song—is our sweet fermented rice drink back?"

He then stepped forward to retrieve the document.

Han Li, however, shifted his hand and said, "I finished signing on the way back. You can rest and have some water. You'll be busy later."

As expected, he went out and left.

As soon as Song Miao arrived at the back office, before she could even speak, the two guards standing outside greeted her with smiles.

After she explained her purpose, one of them immediately went in to announce her arrival, while the other brought out a small table.

The guard invited her to sit down, thanked her for the drink she had given him last time, and said, "When we were on night duty, we were always afraid of falling asleep. But strong tea has to be boiled with ginger, garlic and salt. It's the middle of the night, and we can't make that."

"On the day we got the young lady's sweet fermented rice, it was delicious and convenient. Just add water and you can drink it twice. I was so awake all night. When they came out to call for us in the middle of the night, we both responded immediately. We did our job well and were praised by our superiors the next day!"

Seeing the man's vivid description, Song Miao couldn't help but smile. She then placed a small bag of dried pork that she had prepared earlier on the table and said, "Yesterday, I was instructed to dry pork for Young Master Han. I bought some extra meat myself, so I'll have you try it, sir. This meat is a bit tough. If you're sleepy at night, chewing on it might wake you up."

He then whispered, "Sir, just share it with that young man from last time. There aren't many pieces; it's just for fun."

Seeing that there was indeed only a small package, and having become acquainted with Song Miao, the guard didn't refuse, but quietly said, "Then I'll take it!"

As he spoke, his hand swiftly stuffed the dried meat into a cabinet to the side, and then asked, "When will you return to the kitchen to cook, young lady? We've changed cooks twice in the past few days, and neither is as good as your cooking last time."

"It's too far, and I only know those two tricks, so I won't embarrass myself by showing them off!"

Just then, Han Li and the messenger came out from inside.

After Song Miaochong took his leave of the guard, he stepped forward, bowed to Han Li, and then said with a smile, "I know Young Master Han is busy, but I received some good news yesterday and was asked to come and bother you again!"

Her movements were light and graceful, and her tone of voice was light and cheerful. It was neither lively nor playful, but rather a kind of ease that was similar to both yet completely different. She was poised, generous, and very infectious.

Han Li watched her walk over and heard her speak, and couldn't help but smile, saying, "Thank you for making this trip, stall owner Song. What good news do you have?"

"It's Young Master Cheng Zijian—yesterday, the Imperial Academy announced the list of students to be promoted to the inner dormitory. He was seventh on the first list and has been promoted to the inner dormitory. Since he didn't know how to come to the government office to express his gratitude, he specially asked me to help him convey the message."

Upon hearing that he was seventh on the first list, Han Li subconsciously frowned.

If it were Cheng Zijian himself who brought this news, he would have given him a good scolding and a lecture, then assigned him some homework, asking him to find a teacher to find out where he went wrong, and then copy the article out and revise it carefully.

Cheng Zijian is a timid and indecisive person. Encouraging him indiscriminately is more harmful than helpful. He will only retreat if coaxed, and will only move forward if he is hit.

Even if you hit someone, you can't hit them again; after hitting them, you should give them appropriate praise.

But the person standing in front of him now was different, so Han Li couldn't keep a straight face.

In front of Song Miao, he didn't want to appear too aggressive, so he smiled and said a few polite words, "I understand. Thank you, stall owner Song, for conveying my congratulations to him and asking him to keep up the good work and enter the upper class again next year."

Song Miao agreed, took the basket off her back, handed over a bundle inside, and said, "At Young Master Cheng's request, I made some dried pork for him—he is very grateful for Young Master Han's many guidance and instruction in the past, and said that when he is done with his work at the government office and has some free time, he would like to thank him in person and ask me to host a banquet for him..."

As she spoke, she pointed to the bundle and said, "I've made quite a lot, and they've all been packed separately. If you can't wait until mealtime, you can take a bite and chew on a couple of pieces. They're a bit tough on your teeth, but they'll keep you full for an hour or two."

Han Li's smile widened as he took the bundle, bowed deeply in thanks, and said, "I was indeed starving last night and searched everywhere for food—thank you for your help, stall owner Song!"

Song Miao then asked him what dishes he liked to eat, so that she could prepare them in advance.

Without a second thought, Han Li immediately replied, "Stall owner Song, just do what you like. I'm not picky about food; everything is fine with me."

Song Miao smiled and agreed.

On several occasions, I found this young master Han to be very easy to talk to and very comfortable to be around.

Now that they were practically acquaintances, Song Miao's demeanor was no longer as reserved as when they first met.

She first mentioned that she had found half a piece of fabric on the stall, without mentioning that Qin Zong had told her to throw it away. She only said, "I saw many small burn holes on it and smelled of incense, which I found very strange. Since I didn't know what was going on, I put it away first."

After she finished speaking, she took half of the wrapped fabric out of her sleeve.

Han Li listened attentively, took the cloth, looked at the burn holes on it, and smelled it as well, saying, "It must have been burned by incense and candles."

He gestured twice, his expression gradually becoming serious, and said, "It should be the back hem of a robe, but the placement of the iron is really strange."

Song Miao then said, "It looks like someone wore the same clothes all day without washing or changing them, but I don't know where it got burned like this."

“Just burning incense at home shouldn’t leave so many holes,” Han Li said. “Judging from the way it looks, it’s like it was burned by burning big incense sticks and candles in some temple.”

In ordinary households, a person would burn no more than three sticks of incense. How big is an incense burner anyway?

It's not a festival or holiday right now, so who would rush to light incense and candles? Even if they did, how could they possibly burn them to this state, riddled with holes?

He had read all the confessions that had been obtained during the interrogation. Every suspect was asked to explain their whereabouts in the past three days, but none of them confessed that they had ever been to a temple.

Burning incense and worshipping Buddha is nothing shameful and there is no need to hide it—so why hide it?
Thinking about this, Han Li felt even more strongly that something was amiss.

Without delay, he immediately turned around and went to the gatehouse, where he asked a guard to go in and call Xin Feng to bring out an inspector and two officers. He then instructed Kong Fuyang to prepare ten copies of the retrial approval documents in advance, leaving the names blank so he could fill them in when he returned.

Seeing his seriousness, Song Miao quickly told him about meeting Cheng Erniang and her daughter, who were washing clothes for others, and how the clothes had such burn holes. She also mentioned that she had just looked for the clothes and found that the hem was embroidered with extremely delicate bamboo branches.

"Although I am not good at needlework, I do have some knowledge—the needlework is extremely delicate and fine, and the bamboo leaves and branches are embroidered as if they were real. Even the best embroiderers in the market may not be able to do such good embroidery."

"Which temple was it? What were the names of the mother and daughter?"

“Guangji Temple is located between Zhuque Gate and Imperial Street.” Song Miao hesitated for a moment. “Second Madam came from the south. She’s all alone with her daughter, and life is very difficult for her. She’s new here and has only been staying at the temple for a couple of days. She probably doesn’t know the details of this matter. She’s just helping with the laundry. If the authorities ask questions…”

Han Li said, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing and won't disturb anyone."

Knowing that this person was always very reliable, Song Miao felt reassured after he told her to relax. Just then, Xin Feng came out with several other people.

When he saw Song Miao, he greeted her with a smile at first, but after learning about the burned clothes and the Guangji Temple, the smile on his face immediately disappeared. He pointed to an officer and said, "The owner of those clothes is definitely suspicious. Find the person first and re-examine him immediately!"

The official received the order, but stood there hesitantly for a long time before leaving.

Seeing this, Han Li said, "It doesn't need to be too complicated. Just check which suspect's clothes are missing a piece at the hem, bring them out, and that's it. As for the rest of the procedures, have Kong Fuyang help with them."

The officer looked relieved and left immediately.

Xin Feng paid no attention to these things, and said to another patrolman, "I don't want to go to Qin Jie. You explain the situation here to him and ask him for two squads of patrolmen. See if he'll agree to that. If he won't even agree to that, I don't want to wear this coat anymore!"

These words sounded no different from sulking, but the inspector dared not delay and went immediately.

Listening from the side, Song Miao couldn't help but ask, "If the yamen plans to search Guangji Temple, why don't I go with them? Firstly, I can lead the way, and secondly, I know the mother and daughter well, so it will be easier to ask them questions. They probably won't be so panicked when they see someone they know."

Before Xin Feng could speak, Han Li shook his head and said, "No need. This case is still unsolved, and we don't know if there are any accomplices outside who haven't been caught yet. There are too many people in the temple, so it's best if you don't show yourself."

He added, "Since it's still early, you should go back first, lest you stay here too long and have too many things to do at home."

Upon hearing this, Song Miao stopped insisting, bid farewell to the two, and left in a hurry.

She had only walked one street when two men came galloping towards her. The one in the lead wore a brocade robe and official boots—it was Qin Zong.

Seeing that he was running in a hurry, and not knowing what important matter it was, Song Miao did not greet him.

She left decisively, unaware that Qin Zong had led his companions into the inner quarters, and was happily going to find Xin Feng to claim credit, preparing to report how he had fulfilled his mission, when he had already brought back that sweetheart.

However, as soon as Qin Zong entered the courtyard, he saw Xin Feng, two patrol inspectors, and Han Li coming out together.

He hurriedly said, "Where are you all going? I brought that sweet..."

Having just argued with Qin Jie that morning, Xin Feng looked at Qin Zong with disdain, and said curtly, "Get things done!"

As he spoke, he turned to his head and said, "Zhengyan, hurry up! Don't delay your afternoon business."

Han Li nodded, wrapped the half piece of clothing he was holding in a cloth again, and handed it to Qin Zong, instructing, "Take this to the interrogation room and tell them that this is the evidence that Inspector Wang urged us to bring in. It's very important, so send it in quickly—they're waiting to interrogate this suspect inside."

Upon hearing the word "important," Qin Zong hurriedly agreed, grabbed the cloth bag, and ran inside. Sure enough, when he arrived outside the interrogation room, before he could even repeat Han Li's words, someone rushed out—it was Inspector Wang himself.

When Inspector Wang saw the cloth bag in Qin Zong's hand, he was overjoyed and said, "Little Qin, you've come to deliver evidence, haven't you!"

Qin Zong hurriedly delivered the items over.

The inspector took the package, opened it, and carefully examined it. He then breathed a sigh of relief and sneered, "Perfect! The thief dared to lie. With this good stuff, I'll either scare him to death or fake it!"

As he spoke, he hurriedly returned to the interrogation room.

Qin Zong was left standing outside, somewhat stunned.

—Why does that tattered cloth look so familiar?

He scratched his head, took a few more steps outside, and suddenly a flash of inspiration struck him, and he realized the truth.

—Look at all those holes on it, isn't that the piece that Miss Song brought to me this morning?

He also said at the time that he thought it was just a thief who accidentally snagged a piece of rag, and that he should just throw it away.

How come in less than half a day, this tattered cloth has suddenly transformed into some kind of "important evidence," and I even have to carefully escort it myself?

That's really weird!
***
Qin Zong found this strange, and Song Miao, who had just returned to Suanzao Lane, also felt something was off.

A carriage was parked outside the Song Family Restaurant. A coachman was sitting in front of it, while another person stood to the side, staring anxiously at the gate.

A wooden sign with the character "Deng" hung at the front of the carriage, and the driver and the anxious-looking man were both unfamiliar faces.

Song Miao stepped forward, couldn't help but glance around again, and then asked, "May I ask what brings you two here?"

The man waiting outside the door asked, "And who is this young lady?"

“My surname is Song, and I am the owner of this house,” Song Miaoying replied.

The man was immediately overjoyed and said, "My surname is You, and I was originally a student at the Imperial Academy."

As he spoke, he pulled out a name card and handed it to Song Miao.

Song Miao paused for a moment, then reached out and took it. Looking down, she saw that the person's background and identity were indeed written in detail on it.

The man surnamed You said, "My master's surname is Chen, and he also works at the Imperial Academy. He came to this restaurant the other day, and the young lady treated him to breakfast. One of the dishes was called Snow Steamed Cake—do you remember it?"

Upon hearing the description, Song Miao immediately recognized that it referred to Master Chen from the Imperial Academy, and replied, "That is indeed the case."

The man breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I do have a favor to ask—I wonder if you have any plans this afternoon, young lady? Could you please go to Jinming Pond and help prepare a meal? The price is negotiable."

The invitation came suddenly, and Song Miao didn't want to make a decision immediately, so she asked, "What's the situation? How many people will you be cooking for? Are there any requirements?"

The man surnamed You said, "There are only four guests in total. It would be best if you could prepare an extra portion of food for me as well, so there would be five."

"Among the guests, the youngest is over fifty and the oldest is over seventy. It's best to cook something soft and easy to chew. These guests ate a banquet yesterday and were not full. Today, they visited the garden together to admire the flowers, compose poems, and paint. They also ordered takeout for lunch and did not eat well."

"My husband said that Miss Song's taro with braised pork and braised pork trotter rice are both delicious and her cooking skills are superb. The others are curious and want to try them too..."

Upon hearing this, Song Miao shook her head and said, "Taro with braised pork and braised pork trotter rice are both dishes that require a lot of time to prepare. It's already noon, and we haven't had time to buy the ingredients yet. If we want to eat them tonight, we probably won't make it in time."

(End of this chapter)