Chapter 99 Old Case Settled: Dragon Boat, Case, Crispy Pot...
Shen Miao turned around to look when she heard the sound.
Yao Luoge was dressed in a gaudy outfit, with a bright red and green robe with colorful ribbons, and he had mugwort and pomegranate flowers stuck diagonally in his forehead. He darted through the crowd like a butterfly.
"Oh my dear Lady Chen!" Yao Luoge laughed before speaking, grinning as he was about to open his mouth.
Shen Miao glanced at him and raised her hand to interrupt him: "No, I don't want it, I really mean it."
Ever since he saw Shen Miao standing in a daze in front of Kangji last time, he had a keen sense that she might be somewhat attracted to him. From then on, he included her in the list of potential customers and would pester her every time they met.
Thirty strings of cash a month wasn't a bad price to pay, but her duck farm, fields, soup noodle shop, and fast food restaurant were already enough to manage, so there seemed to be no need to rush into opening a large restaurant. Besides, the shop that Kangji rented was definitely going to be torn down and renovated, which would be another big expense.
Once you start spending, your hard-earned money will disappear like water flowing away.
Shen Miao is actually more interested in buying than renting.
Kangji's shop was much larger than that tiny shop on Yujie Street, which was small and had low rent, making it barely affordable. The monthly rent was thirty guan, which added up to three hundred and sixty guan a year!
Three hundred and sixty strings of cash! Even Shen Miao felt a pang of heartache just hearing that.
If you grit your teeth and buy such a house or shop, even if it costs a lot at first, all the money you earn in the future will be yours, and you won't feel like you're working for the landlord every day.
Moreover, there are plenty of two-story shops in the inner city, and even single-story shops can be expanded with one's own money. Her original plan was to slowly build up her business, make money, and then gradually find a good one to buy.
Even if Kangji is good, there's no need to put all your eggs in one basket.
Yao Luoge stamped his feet anxiously: "Madam Chen, please listen to me, this time there is truly a great opportunity!"
Helpless, Shen Miao had no choice but to stop, sigh, and ask, "What exactly is the difference?"
"This is truly a great thing for Madam Shen, and it's even related to your parents! Although I, Yao Luoge, am greedy for money, I would never lie about such matters. It's absolutely true! More real than gold!"
Yao Luoge was practically swearing an oath, but seeing that Shen Miao still raised an eyebrow in disbelief, he could only look around furtively and whisper in a low voice, tugging at Shen Miao's sleeve: "Lady Shen, may I speak to you in private, just a little while..."
He tugged twice, but couldn't budge it. Confused, he looked down and realized that Madam Chen's hand was being held by someone. Following the arm upwards, he saw a very tall young man coldly glaring at him.
This person was so tall that he was in such a hurry that he didn't look up and didn't even notice that there was a person next to Madam Chen. He thought it was a wall.
"This is..." Yao Luoge chuckled awkwardly.
After thinking for a moment, since the engagement was already arranged, Shen Miao answered frankly, "This is my husband."
As soon as she finished speaking, the grip on her hand tightened considerably, and Shen Miao also hooked Xie Qi's palm with her little finger as a gesture of reassurance.
Yao Luoge was taken aback, then broke into an exaggerated smile and began to offer congratulations incessantly, speaking auspicious words even more fluently than the matchmaker: "I have long heard that Madam Shen is getting married, and today I have met my husband, it is truly a perfect match!"
Shen Miao smiled and raised her other hand: "Thank you for your kind words. I will definitely invite you to a banquet later. Alright, alright, let's not talk here anymore. Let's go outside. I have many relatives and friends there. Please let me settle my family and the things I have, and then I will talk to you in detail."
Since Yao Luoge mentioned her "parents," Shen Miao naturally couldn't ignore it.
Although Instructor Lin of the Xiang Army had previously told her that the higher-ups were investigating the horse-riding incident from three years ago, there had been no further news, and Shen Miao hadn't paid much attention to it. Firstly, she couldn't make decisions about the matter; secondly, she was afraid of getting too involved and getting into some serious trouble; and thirdly, she, Xiang Jie'er, and Ji Ge'er had all gradually emerged from that period of darkness. Since she was powerless to change the world, she could only live peacefully and try to make the best of a living.
It is certainly sad to be powerless to reverse the situation, and choosing to give up may be somewhat shameful, but what is wrong with selfishly living for oneself?
When Yao Luoge heard that Shen Miao had agreed, his eyes crinkled into crescent moons with a smile. He turned to the side and bowed deeply, saying, "Yes, yes, Madam Shen, please do as you please. I will wait here in respect."
Shen Miao then pulled Xie Qi over and pressed him down onto a small stool next to Aunt Gu, where he had almost stumbled because of the phrase "my husband." The children in the family were already holding cymbals, hand drums, and flags, all leaning on the railing, ready to cheer for Gu Tusu and his son's dragon boat race.
Tang Er and Fu Xing stood guard on either side of them like door gods, afraid that these naughty children would get excited and fall into the river.
The neighbors in Yangliu Lane brought stools from their homes, bought a few pounds of coarse tea and melon seeds from the tea stall, and crowded around the small table, chatting idly, occasionally bursting into laughter. Atao joined the aunties' lively gossip, cracking melon seeds and listening intently, her eyes shining. Every now and then, she'd lean forward and ask, "What... who was it that fell into the latrine while drunk?"
"You've met Aunt Fang's nephew before. He came to Shenji to eat soup dumplings last time. He's the one with a bald patch on top, whose hair can't even cover his head."
Atao immediately frowned, made a disgusted "Eh" sound, and rubbed her hands together: she had even brought him soup dumplings before!
The dragon boat race hadn't started yet, but the banks of the river were already bustling with activity, and there was hardly any room to stand. I heard that the best spots in the riverside pavilions had been booked out half a month ago, and most of the people sitting there were wealthy merchants, and some high-ranking officials had set up their own pavilions, all surrounded by expensive gauze curtains, so it was naturally not as crowded as it was for ordinary people.
At midday, the intense sunlight pierced through the clouds, shimmering the water with glittering golden light. In the distance, beneath the weeping willows, twelve brightly painted dragon boats stood in formation, poised to set sail. However, the oarsmen had not yet boarded the boats; only bare-chested men in the water were carrying large drums onto them.
Shen Miao leaned down and whispered in Xie Qi's ear, "Then I'll go talk to Yao Luoge first. Can you sit and keep the aunties company for me? I'll be back in a bit."
Xie Qi's ears were tickled by Shen Miao's breath as she spoke, and he couldn't help but laugh, nodding in agreement, "Okay, go ahead."
Shen Miao smiled, poured out all the snacks she had brought from home onto the table, exchanged a few pleasantries with her aunts, asked Aunt Gu to help look after the children and Xie Qi, and then squeezed through the crowd with Yao Luoge to find a quiet corner to talk.
Xie Qi pinched his ear, which had been teased by Shen Miao's aura, and occasionally turned his head to follow Shen Miao's back.
The tea stall was packed with people. There were families watching the dragon boat races, tea masters carrying boiling, hissing copper kettles and weaving through the crowd to serve tea, peddlers carrying sweets and candies and shouting their wares, and vendors selling iced dumplings with wooden boxes hanging in front of them and banging on bamboo clappers.
Amidst the clamor of the crowd, Xie Qi half-stood up, searching for Chen Miao's figure through the sea of people. Only when he saw her and Yao Luoge standing in a corner, leaning against the railing, did he breathe a slight sigh of relief and sit back down comfortably.
Aunt Gu casually stuffed a handful of melon seeds into his hand. He stared at the dry and fragrant roasted melon seeds for a long time, then put them on his lap, cushioned with his clothes, and used both hands to peel them. He put the shelled melon seeds in a handkerchief, peeled a few, and looked into the crowd.
His constant craning of his neck and turning of his head was noticed even by Aunt Gu, who was excitedly gossiping with the other aunts. She handed him another cup of tea and said, "Your eldest daughter won't get lost. Just relax and drink your tea and eat your snacks. Your eyes are practically glued to her. Are you the reincarnation of the 'Wife-Gazing Stone'?"
This made Atao burst out laughing and spit out her tea. She quickly covered her mouth, which stretched to her ears, with her teacup.
Xie Qi blushed deeply from the teasing, but he still couldn't bear to look away, stealing glances again and again.
When Shen Miao was at home, her eyes were always smiling, and her brows and eyes exuded gentleness and warmth. But now, when she was talking to Yao Luoge, she revealed a serious, earnest, and even somewhat indifferent expression.
Xie Qi had always known that beneath A Miao's gentle and beautiful exterior lay a strong and composed heart. Despite her young age, she seemed to have already seen through the fickleness of the world. Sometimes, when she sat alone, lost in thought with her eyes downcast, she would reveal this faint expression.
detach yourself from reality and become focused and resolute.
Whenever Xie Qi saw her like this, even in the bustling city, he felt the surroundings instantly quiet down.
Amiao is so beautiful that you can't take your eyes off her.
"Huh? Is it about to start?!"
Aunt Gu suddenly stood up, rushed to the railing, and shouted, "It's starting!"
Sure enough, a cheer as loud as waves erupted, drawing everyone's attention.
"Knock knock knock—"
The drummer at the bow swung his arm and pounded the drum, the beats instantly becoming as dense as a torrential rain, and the twelve dragon boats shot off like arrows. Gu Tusu, bare-chested with a five-colored silk belt around his waist, held a vermilion oar and cleaved through the water. The oarsmen roared in unison, their oars slapping the water's surface, splashing up layers of water droplets that shattered into countless points of light in the sunlight.
"Second Brother Gu! I see him! The darkest one on that dragon boat is Second Brother Gu!" Xiang Jie shouted, raising her cymbals and banging them loudly. "Second Brother Gu, charge! Row faster!"
"Second brother! Second brother!"
"That dark-skinned guy is our Second Brother Gu!"
Chen Chuan quickly blew the trumpet, Li Gou'er beat the drum, and Yan Shu waved the flag. When Gu Tusu rowed the dragon boat past at high speed, Xiang Jie'er led her group of little monkeys even more energetically, shouting until their voices were almost hoarse.
Shen Miao and Yao Luoge glanced at the dragon boats rushing through the waves. Several dragon boats skimmed past the river surface, and the colorful scales painted on their hulls seemed to come alive in the shimmering water.
But neither of them was really interested in looking closely.
Shen Miao and Yao Luoge turned their gazes back at the same time.
"Does Miss Shen know that the case of your father and mother's deaths three years ago has been officially settled at the Dali Temple the other day?"
Yao Luoge, sleeves tucked in, leaned against the railing and continued, "...The one who instigated the disturbance was the Empress Dowager's 'sworn brother,' now known as the Marquis of Lejiang. The joint trial by the three judicial departments has now resulted in the Marquis of Lejiang being stripped of his post and title, and his entire family being exiled. I've heard that the Emperor intends to use the confiscated wealth from the Marquis of Lejiang's home to compensate the families of the people who were implicated and lost their lives. I fear an imperial decree will be issued soon, which will be some solace for Madam Shen's family."
Yao Luoge bowed to Shen Miao and said, "Back then, no one dared to mention this matter during the late emperor's reign, but now things have taken a turn for the better. Although the dead cannot be brought back to life, the truth has come to light, and your parents can rest in peace. For this, we should congratulate Madam Shen."
Shen Miao remained silent, gazing at the Bian River where hundreds of boats were racing, a cold smile creeping onto her lips.
The man has been dead for three years, and now he's finally acting like a righteous official. Where was he all this time?
If Shen's parents were truly alive, and knew that their eldest daughter had perished in Nanjing, and that Ji-ge and Xiang-jie had been tormented by their elder brother's family to the point of huddling in the ruins, they would probably return as vengeful ghosts to claim their lives.
She lowered her head and smiled sadly, then looked up at Yao Luoge: "Such a secret matter has not been heard of in the streets. It must be that the palace has kept it a secret. Where did you get this information, Yao Luoge?"
The drumbeats of the dragon boats on the Bian River made the tea table beside him tremble slightly. Yao Luoge wiped the sweat from his bushy beard and said in a low voice, "People have their ways, and rats have theirs. Just trust me, Madam Shen! As for why Madam Shen hasn't heard a word about this, it's naturally because the higher-ups don't want to make a fuss about it. Think about it, who is Marquis Lejiang? To save face for the Empress Dowager, even the interrogation and arrest were done secretly. However, nothing stays hidden forever. Now all the major brokerage firms know that Madam Lejiang is in a hurry to sell off the dozen or so shops that were part of her dowry. If it weren't for the trouble at the Marquis's residence, why would she be doing this?"
Yao Luoge smiled again: "Whether you believe it or not is up to Lady Shen to decide, but I'll leave it at that. This Marquis of Lejiang will most likely take a nominal position like the Registrar of Yazhou, and his whole family will leave Bianjing in style, saving face for the noble families and the Empress Dowager. But in reality, they will be escorted by the Imperial Guards all the way to Yazhou, where they will be kept under guard and never allowed to return to the capital."
Shen Miao's eyes flickered.
He had been talking incessantly about Shen Miao's parents' case, and judging from his expression, he knew quite a bit... Regardless of how he knew, Shen Miao suddenly understood as she listened, and abruptly looked up at him directly: "The owner of that two-story building at Kang's couldn't possibly be..."
“Madam Shen is so clever,” Yao Luoge stroked his beard and smiled. “That was one of the dowry items of the Lady of Lejiang. A bride’s dowry is not subject to confiscation. Now that the Marquis of Lejiang’s title has been stripped, his whole family is going to move to Yazhou. Once they go, they may never come back. That’s why the Lady of Lejiang is in a hurry to sell off her property in Bianjing to get more money to support herself.”
"Lady Lejiang is in a hurry to sell and doesn't care about losing money at all. She just wants to get the money as soon as possible, so she's demanding cash." Yao Luoge was sweating profusely. "She's entrusted a dozen or twenty properties to several brokerage firms in Bianjing. She'll sign the contract with whoever sells first. Madam Shen, you absolutely mustn't miss out on such a great opportunity!"
After a moment's hesitation, Shen Miao's eyes flickered: "How much?"
"Two thousand five hundred strings of cash."
Now it's clear.
No wonder Yao Luoge was in such a hurry to find her.
The price is indeed tempting!
But knowing Yao Luoge's cunning nature, she knew this was definitely not the lowest price! She still remembered the money she had swindled from Ninth Brother! Moreover, since it was an urgent sale and required a lump sum payment, it would filter out many merchants who needed loans from the temple.
Then Shen Miao didn't hold back and offered a price.
"Two thousand strings of cash." Shen Miao narrowed his eyes. "If you can lower the price, I will sign a contract with you immediately, and the cash will be transferred and paid in full on the same day."
Yao Luoge looked at Shen Miao, and Shen Miao looked at him in return.
"Alright, it's a deal." Yao Luoge gritted his teeth and wiped the fine sweat from his forehead. "I'll go to the Marquis of Lejiang's residence right now!"
The sudden sale of the dowry by the Lady of Lejiang was like a boulder thrown into the major brokerage firms, causing a huge stir. With everyone eyeing this lucrative opportunity, he was naturally anxious too!
Fortunately, Yao Luoge had a promising nephew who had just passed the Mingjing examination last year and entered the Dali Temple as a Sizhi (a minor official of the eighth rank). He happened to have handled some miscellaneous matters related to this case. After asking the family members behind closed doors, they finally connected all the dots.
So he immediately went to find Lady Shen.
No secret stays hidden forever; most people just don't know this news yet, otherwise, this shop would sell without any trouble. The price he's offering—2,500 strings of cash—is already below market value.
But Yao Luoge was determined to be the first broker to sell his business. Other brokerage firms were already vying for it, inquiring with their acquaintances about potential buyers. Therefore, Yao Luoge couldn't afford to delay. If he couldn't sell such a large deal and another brokerage firm beat him to it, his reputation as Bianjing's top broker would be ruined.
"Lady Shen, wait for my good news." Yao Luoge readily agreed, cupped his hands in greeting, and rushed out.
Shen Miao watched his retreating figure, a shrewd glint in her eyes. She realized that her interests aligned with Yao Luoge's; it wasn't just because brokers could take a large cut, but also because of his own reputation. This time, he should be able to help her lower the price in time.
Suddenly, deafening cheers erupted outside the tea stalls as the twelve dragon boats, their green flags fluttering across the colorful ribbons trailing on the river, surged forward. The roar of the spectators on both banks nearly lifted the stalls off their feet, and some of the betting tables in the stalls, piled high with dragon boat race chips, burst into thunderous applause as well.
Shen Miao hurriedly returned and asked, "Who won? Did Second Brother Gu win?"
Aunt Gu was holding several children, laughing and jumping, too happy to answer her.
Xie Qi laughed and said, "I won first place! I heard there's a reward of several dozen strings of cash."
Shen Miao exclaimed with delight, "Second Brother Gu is so amazing! But he and Uncle Gu have always been strong!" She then hurried to congratulate Aunt Gu, playfully snuggling up to her and saying, "Auntie, with such a wonderful occasion, you have to treat us to a good time today."
"I never expected them to win. Two of the rowers were sick, so our two were forced into the job, but they turned out to be the most promising! We never imagined this would happen!" Aunt Gu was so happy that she cried, and she quickly hugged Shen Miao tightly. "Alright, alright, shall we have the fun at your shop? Auntie, take out some money, and we'll invite all the neighbors over. We'll also bring over all the wine from my house. We have to have a good drink!"
"That's great! Let's go home and get everything ready!" Shen Miao said with a smile. "Yu Xun just said the other day that all his overwintered crucian carp are plump. We're in a good mood today, so how about we make a big pot of them?"
"Does my eldest sister have another good idea?"
"Have you ever had Su Guo? It's a popular dish in Linzi during the twelfth lunar month. It's made by slowly stewing pork belly, pork hock, crucian carp, kelp, tofu, white cabbage, and lotus root together. It's famous for its fragrant, tender, and rich flavor. But we don't need to be particular about the twelfth lunar month. We just make it whenever we feel like it."
"You're making the children's mouths water." Aunt Gu looked down and saw that Xiang'er and Yanshu were already swallowing their saliva. She couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh. "Then hurry back and invite everyone to eat together for dinner."
As night fell, the neighbors indeed gathered at the Shen family's house.
The sky was as dark as if it had been splashed with ink that day, the night was extremely dark, yet it was also very clear. The Milky Way was clearly visible hanging upside down on the horizon, and the scattered stars looked so low that they seemed as if they would fall softly onto the eaves of the green tiles at any moment.
Two red gauze lanterns cast a warm glow in the Shen family courtyard, illuminating the three large jars of plum wine placed on the square table. The wine was still unopened, but Liu Douhua's father and Li Tiaozi were already patting their bellies and singing vulgar folk songs from the entertainment district. Gu Dalang tapped his bowl with bamboo chopsticks to keep time, occasionally opening his mouth to sing, but each time he failed to join in because he couldn't find the right tune.
Beside him, the old man from the Zeng family, whose beard was already white, was solemnly asking the fortune teller Ge to read his palm, nervously asking, "How many more years do you think I can live?"
The charlatan, Ge, also asked seriously, "Are you seventy years old now?"
"I'll be seventy next year."
"That's not good. He'll only live another thirty years at most," the charlatan Ge said regretfully, shaking his head.
Grandpa Zeng was stunned for a moment before he suddenly realized what was happening and burst into laughter: "You, you, you're not a proper Taoist priest!"
"Hey, don't disbelieve me, this is the absolute truth."
Beside them, Xiangjie led the way, followed by a long string of children (including the tallest, Youyu), each carrying a bamboo dragon boat, running around the yard shouting, "Dragon boat race! Dragon boat race!"
Lei Ting, carrying the Qilin, ran around behind the children, making the house as lively as boiling water. Only Shiyi Lang, wearing a toad hat, quietly and leisurely chewed his hay in the donkey shed, occasionally snorting.
While Yu played with Xiang Jie and the others in the courtyard, Xie Qi naturally took over tending the fire in the kitchen.
He had also tied his sleeves and was diligently adding firewood and working the bellows. His face and hands were covered in soot from the stove. Shenmiao and the aunts were preparing the stew when they turned around and saw a big tabby cat squatting there.
Aunt Gu walked in, carrying three plump white cabbages in her arms. The kitchen was filled with steam. She asked, "Big sister, where should we put these?"
"Auntie, that'll do! Aunt Liu, could you please fry some tofu cubes for me?"
"Sure, I'm good at this."
"Aunt Fang, cut some bamboo shoots. Oh dear, Grandma Zeng, be careful when you peel lotus root, this knife is very sharp, don't cut your hand..."
As Shen Miao spoke, she layered cabbage at the bottom of the earthenware jar. After Aunt Fang finished cutting the bamboo shoots, she densely arranged winter bamboo shoot slices, fried tofu, and fried crucian carp on the jade-like veins of the leaves... layering various ingredients one by one. Suddenly, she heard a crisp voice calling from outside the kitchen window: "Sister Shen, guess who I am!" It turned out to be Gu Jia A Bao holding a newly made mugwort dragon boat and heading towards the stove.
Shen Miao quickly wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve, picked up a jujube cake from the steamer and stuffed it into her mouth, deliberately looking hesitant and thoughtful as he said, "I guess you're my younger brother!"
Immediately, another round head popped out from under the window, hands on hips, looking up smugly and saying, "You guessed wrong! You guessed wrong! I'm the younger brother!"
Shen Miao suppressed a laugh and stuffed one into his mouth as well, saying, "Alright, go play!"
He then went back to leading the aunties in making crispy fried dough.
There's a saying in Shandong: "Whether you're poor or rich, you still eat crispy pot." Besides Zibo barbecue, crispy pot is probably the most famous dish in the area.
Suguo (a type of stew) is best made in winter, when the cabbage is at its best and sweetest. Every family has its own unique recipe for suguo, and the ingredients vary slightly, but they will definitely include cabbage, kelp, tofu, lotus root, pig's trotters, and fish. The rest depends on what the family likes to eat.
It's actually quite simple to make. Place a bamboo mat at the bottom of the pot, then layer on a layer of cabbage, followed by another layer of other ingredients, layering them one by one. When the pot is almost full, insert a ring of large cabbage leaves vertically around the edge of the pot, and then pour in the remaining ingredients.
Prepare the sauce by mixing scallions, ginger slices, minced garlic, and various spices, then pour it into a large pot. Do not add any water; the cabbage will release its own sweet broth, which is sufficient.
At this point, the lid cannot be closed, but the cabbage will gradually become soft and mushy. After covering the pot, simmer it for an hour before eating.
As Shen Miao and her aunts chatted and laughed while busy, Xie Qi, focused on tending the fire, became too quiet. Gradually, Gu's sister-in-law and Aunt Gu forgot that there was a man present and began to "break the habit" again, laughing and joking.
When Shen Miao was laughing so hard she was doubled over, she suddenly noticed that Xie Qi was frozen by the stove, his whole body flushed.
She coughed lightly, pretending that she hadn't laughed, and silently went over to check on how the stew was cooking.
It was already past 7 PM, and the cabbage leaves standing up around the pot had long since wilted from cooking. The pot had been covered and simmering for half an hour, and the aroma had already begun to waft out.
Lifting the lid, I saw the amber-colored broth bubbling away. The kelp had soaked up all the meat juices, the tofu puffs were plump like gold ingots, the crucian carp was stewed until tender, and the pork knuckle was so tender that it would melt at the touch of chopsticks. The vegetables were sweet, sour, salty, and savory, with a rich aroma of sesame oil...
The aunties also gathered around, gazing at the pot full of tender stewed food. Various vegetables and meats were soaked in the rich broth, each with its own flavor, yet they blended together. The ever-rising aroma was so enticing that people forgot to speak.
After a while, Xie Qi helped Shen Miao bring out the pot of crispy sauce. As soon as the wind blew, the aroma filled the courtyard. The men in the courtyard were also attracted and gathered around to watch. Ge the fortune teller was even swallowing his saliva while calculating the auspicious time to open the pot.
Gu Tusu had already silently squatted down and started opening the wine jar.
Just as things were getting lively, they suddenly heard hurried footsteps at the alley entrance. Yao Luoge burst in, covered in sweat, leaning on his knees and panting heavily, but his eyes were fixed on the surprised Shen Miao in the crowd.
"Madam Shen, I've reached an agreement!"
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