While the craftsmen worked, it was too crowded to stand inside the shop, so Xu Jiang went to the backyard and began packing up the luggage she had brought from the inn and the belongings the comprador had brought back. She first made the bed and sorted out the clothes, then swept the courtyard, went to the kitchen and arranged the pots and pans, and finally cut some fodder for the donkey.
These jobs are not easy either. After finishing them, my mouth is dry and my body is sweating.
She hurriedly found the old Yin tea she brought from Qianzhong, opened the ceramic pot she bought in Xishi yesterday, filled it with water and placed it on the stove, lit a fire and boiled the cold water for the soup. After a while, a sweet aroma spread all around.
A Lai had the most sensitive nose. He came over like a puppy, took a few deep sniffs, and asked curiously, "Boss, what are you cooking? It smells so good!"
Xu Jiang dimmed the fire, looked up and said to him, "Count the heads, get the bowls from the cupboard, and add more tea."
A Lai obediently ran to get the bowl, then carried it to the yard, pumped water to rinse it, and after washing it, he lined it up in front of Xu Jiang. Xu Jiang lifted the lid and was greeted by an aroma that was even stronger than before. Just the smell made her mouth water, it was so delicious.
A Lai couldn't help swallowing, "Boss, what kind of tea is this? Why is it so fragrant?"
"This is the tea I brought from my hometown. It's called Laoyin and it's the best for quenching thirst. Hurry and give it to the chefs."
"Okay!" A Lai picked up the tea and was about to run. Xu Jiang couldn't help but shout behind him: "Hey, be careful not to burn yourself."
Not long after, she heard him screaming from the heat. Xu Jiang couldn't help but smile and shook her head. She picked up a bowl, blew on it, and drank slowly. The autumn breeze dispelled the summer heat, and the sweet tea moistened her lungs. Low chanting could be heard faintly from thousands of miles away. Xu Jiang sighed softly, picked up the bowl of soup, and offered a distant tribute to the soul of her hometown.
"Boss, the tiles on the roof have been replaced, and Uncle Cao's work will be finished soon. Come over and see if it fits. If there are no more changes, we can start sweeping, burning incense, removing filth and driving away insects." Xu San's voice came from outside. Xu Jiang put down the bowl, turned off the fire, and walked out.
She arrived at the lobby and suddenly felt a noticeable lightening. Looking up, she saw the original two glazed tiles on the roof had been replaced with eight brand new ones, with two more added at each corner. The light filtering through the tiles became soft, clear, and translucent, lending the once lifeless room a touch of elegance and splendor.
"Those broken tiles, broken tiles, and cracked tiles at the eaves have been replaced, so they won't leak even on rainy days. But your shop is backed by an underground river, and it's very humid, which is not conducive to storing books. You have to find a way to get rid of the moisture. There's lime powder at the stone quarry in the East Market. You can buy some and fill it around the shop, and replace it every six months. It's very effective in removing moisture and repelling insects." Xu San had a lot of experience in repairing houses for others, and he explained the problem and solution in just a few words. Xu Jiang wrote them down one by one and asked to do it later.
She walked outside the shop, where Carpenter Cao was lifting a finished flower stand. Xu San hurried over to help, and together they lifted it to the sides of the gate. Carpenter Cao had a masterful hand, and his craftsmanship was exceptional; the flower stand fitted perfectly with the grooves on either side of the gate, perfectly aligned.
Even Xu San, who was used to seeing this, couldn't help but sigh: "Uncle Cao's cooking is really good!"
Uncle Cao clapped his hands and looked around, feeling satisfied. He slowly said, "Working is like being a person. The more effort you put in, the more you get paid. Only by doing a good job can you live up to the trust of your boss."
Xu Jiang nodded in praise. Ever since she arrived in Beijing and entrusted the renovations to Xu San and his team, they had done a truly impressive job, from demolition and renovation to cleaning and filling. It saved her both effort and worry, and she saved money. She had made the right choice.
"Thank you all for your hard work these days. The table at Sanxianzhai has already been reserved. After I finish the final cleaning, I will treat everyone to a good meal and wine."
When they heard that there was a good feast, everyone was happy. Among them, Xu San and A Lai were the most enthusiastic. They hurriedly picked up brooms and feather dusters and began to sweep up the dust that fell from the tiles. Cao Shu and two other craftsmen also came forward to help fetch water and scrub, while Xu Jiang took out the incense burner and filled it with smoke.
The incense, a mixture of common red mugwort and yellow pine, burned in a salvaged bronze cauldron with a beast head, kills poisonous insects and removes odors, leaving a lingering fragrance. The incense must be strong enough to make smoke seep through the roof, completely eliminating snakes, insects, rats, and ants.
With everyone working together, and the shop being small to begin with, the job was done quickly. Xu Jiang locked the door and, walking under the sun, led everyone to Sanxianzhai in the east of the block.
"Let's go eat something delicious!" A Lai was still a little boy, jumping and skipping all the way, full of joy, which made people couldn't help but curl their lips.
Arriving at Sanxianzhai, the waiter recognized Xu Jiang and quickly ushered them into a private attic room. Xu San and the others usually ate at street food stalls and rarely visited such a spacious restaurant. As they looked around, they couldn't help but praise Xu Jiang repeatedly.
It was just ordinary work, but even wealthy families didn't value them so much and specially held a banquet to thank them. The shopkeeper Xu was a woman, but she was experienced, thoughtful, and generous, which was admirable.
"Everyone, please take a seat. The food and drinks will be here soon." The waiter led everyone to the elegant room and quickly went downstairs. Xu Jiang hadn't taken a seat yet, so no one was willing to move. Seeing this, she quickly called out, "Everyone, please take a seat. We are not strangers, so there is no need to be polite."
Everyone then sat down. Carpenter Cao was the oldest among them. Although Xu San was responsible for attracting workers and negotiating jobs, he was actually the backbone. It was he who made the final decision to take on Xu Jiang's job.
Although he felt a little awkward being in Sanxianzhai, as an elder he felt obliged to speak up for these unruly youngsters, so he said, "Thank you for the expense, sir. We are a bunch of rough folks, a small restaurant would be enough for a bowl of soup, not a restaurant like this."
Xu Jiang hurriedly said, "Excuse me, Uncle Cao. I'm new here, and I'm grateful for your care. The Book of Songs says, 'Give me a papaya, and I'll repay you with a jade pendant.' Your care for one another is truly incomparable to a meal."
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