Butcher Fulang’s Noodle Shop - Chapter 42
Old Madam Zhang praised the food Song Shi’an brought, expressing concern to her eldest son after the birthday banquet: “As a family of seventh-rank officials, we spend excessively on food and clothing. Extravagance is inappropriate. The emperor prefers loyal ministers over those greedy for wealth. I know you are merely following the crowd but it was easier if you understand the emperor’s mind.”
Coming from a scholarly family, Old Madam Zhang was knowledgeable about official matters, preemptively blocked Zhang Nanyan’s response, prompting him to act as a filial listener.
“Considering the scrutiny on your current errand, exercise restraint. Visit the countryside when possible. Remember, flowers don’t bloom for a hundred days, and people don’t stay good for a thousand days. Life is like the river’s waves, with inevitable ups and downs.”
Having experienced the hardships of her husband’s family after marriage, Old Madam Zhang’s words of caution resonated with Zhang Nanyan.
“Moreover, the cook chosen by your younger brother has a dignified appearance and excellent skills. The ingredients used are all home-cooked, and the taste is even better those delicate dishes.”
Old Madam Zhang’s words prompted Zhang Nanyan to nod in agreement. On the first day, he rewarded Song Shi’an with brocade, silver coins, and various meats.
The next day, he offered Song Shi’an a position as a cook at Zhang Mansion, which Song Shi’an politely declined.
If they were employed by Zhang Mansion, both he and Xu Zhongyue would become servants, which neither of them liked.
“Thank you to the old lady and Madam Lin for the kindness. I will bring delicious dishes here in the future. Besides, my family also wants to open another store, maybe in Yuezhou. If the city has good shops, it will be more convenient to deliver food in the future.”
The housekeeper transcribed Song Shi’an’s words and reported back to Madam Lin. Upon hearing that Song Shi’an wanted to open a shop, Madam Lin made a decision. This led to another story.
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At that moment, Song Shi’an happily left the table and met Xu Zhongyue at the Moon Cave Gate. The two walked out of the mansion, and Song Shi’an excitedly showed Xu Zhongyue his new reward. Their figures were reflected in the prefect’s eyes.
Zhang Nanyan, adept at observing words and expressions, noticed something amiss with the prefect’s demeanor.
Despite the official position gap, they followed different promotion routes and maintained a good relationship. They approached to toast, and Zhang Nanyan jokingly asked, “Is the food not to your liking?”
After some contemplation, the prefect suddenly inquired, “Do you still remember General Xu?”
Approaching his forties, Zhang Nanyan, proud of his career, nodded. “Certainly. One of my great regrets is only seeing General Xu among the crowd during his expedition. I never had the chance to meet the Great General.”
The late emperor died suddenly on the way to perform sacrifices, leaving the world in chaos.
The late emperor’s three half-brothers, who coveted the throne, and the princes guarding the four sides, each harbored their own secrets. Leading their armies to Beijing in the name of mourning, two kings from the southwest and northern east were also poised to make a move.
Only the young general could turn the tide in times of crisis, placing the late emperor’s orthodox blood on the throne, and restoring peace to the world.
Unfortunately, shortly after the emperor ascended, General Xu perished in the final battle. His body eluded discovery among the rebels, leaving only a tomb in the outskirts of Beijing.
During his tenure as an official in Beijing, the prefect had encountered General Xu multiple times. The heroic and handsome young general in silver armor left an indelible impression.
If he were still alive, why hadn’t he returned to the capital? The prefect shook his head silently, chalking it up to a mere resemblance.
Alas, it was so uncannily similar.
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After concluding the important matters of the birthday banquet, Song Shi’an felt at ease and smiled happily. They dined at Zhang Mansion, exchanged the hefty reward money for banknotes, and stored the cloth and dried meat snacks at the inn.
With lightened pockets, they joyfully went shopping.
Qingjiang Town was lively, but Yuezhou City surpassed it. Strolling through bustling streets, the duo enjoyed a shadow puppet show, sipped tea, and listened to storytelling sessions.
Passing a jewelry shop, Xu Zhongyue wanted to buy jewelry for Song Shi’an, but the latter resisted, pulling him away.
“I don’t like these things,” Song Shi’an declared, asserting his preference for food.
Leading them to an ice drink shop, Xu Zhongyue indulged Song Shi’an’s taste for luxury ice bowls filled with crushed ice, fruits, and syrup. The indulgence was akin to later Haagen-Dazs, considered an entry-level luxury product. Xu Zhongyue happily bought two bowls—one lychee pastes for five yen and a slightly cheaper papaya and snow pear with thick honey for three yen.
Lychees were a rare treat in ancient times. Transportation from Lingnan, whether by land or water, took three to five days, and at most, eight or nine days, causing damage. Lychees could only be transported in pots with roots attached to keep them fresh. Even in the palace, the empress dowager and emperor couldn’t enjoy fresh lychees regularly.
To savor lychees, they were transformed into sugar paste. A precious spoonful, along with a few pieces of snow-white and translucent pulp, graced the bowl of crushed ice. The silver-like taste was palpable when consumed.
Song Shi’an, a fan of cold food, felt a mix of happiness and longing when Xu Zhongyue handed over the lychee meat entirely to him. Reminiscing about his past life’s freedom with lychees, he decided to share.
The sweet and soft pulp, combined with the flowing juice, left a fragrant taste in Xu Zhongyue’s mouth. He couldn’t help but admire Song Shi’an’s beauty under the bright sun, feeling that his wife outshone even the luscious lychees.
While Song Shi’an fed lychees to Xu Zhongyue, he kept the ice cubes for himself. Finishing his bowl, he reached out to scoop the ice cubes from Xu Zhongyue’s bowl. Laughter echoed as they finished both bowls.
Song Shi’an, confident in his stomach and intestines, soon faced retribution.
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In the evening, at the Four Seasons Pavilion, a renowned restaurant in Yuezhou City, they enjoyed a private seat on the second floor with a cool breeze.
Ordering mutton soup from the Zijin stove, the thin-cut mutton, white and fragrant thick soup, and bright red wolfberries were a favorite in Yuezhou City. Considered a great summer tonic, locals believed it benefitted hands and feet in winter without causing chills.
Song Shi’an, a mutton enthusiast, received a bowl of soup with meat from Xu Zhongyue. As he lifted the spoon to his lips, a strange and pungent fishy smell hit him. An acidic surge made him nearly vomited out the afternoon’s ice bowl.
Concerned, Xu Zhongyue asked, “Have you eaten too much ice and upset your stomach?”
Song Shi’an stubbornly insisted, “It’s okay, maybe the smell of the mutton soup hasn’t dissipated. I’ll take it slow; it’ll be fine.”
His condition did not improve.
Four Seasons Pavilion was renowned for its mutton dishes, and when the waiter brought sizzling mutton skewers, the enticing aroma overwhelmed Song Shi’an, causing him to whimper and turn pale.
Concerned for his wife’s health, Xu Zhongyue, who had worked hard to make him healthier, wanted to take him to the medical clinic. However, Song Shi’an refused to leave, downplaying it as a case of gastroenteritis.
Xu Zhongyue knew he was unhappy about the wasted food and money, compromised and bought a take-out food box. He packed soup, water, meat skewers, and snacks. Holding the basket in one hand and supporting Song Shi’an with the other, he anxiously left.
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At the hospital, Song Shi’an asked the old doctor to take his pulse. Xu Zhongyue, usually calm, now anxiously circled back and forth. The old doctor, after examining, grinned, “Oh, this is very hard to cure. You need to spend a lot of money for this.”
Xu Zhongyue, eager for information, implored, “tell me straight away, no matter the disease. I have money; I’ll spend whatever it takes to cure him!”
Song Shi’an, dumbfounded, asked, “Am I really suffering from an incurable disease?”
The old doctor, enjoying the suspense, eventually revealed the truth. “In seven months, your wife will give birth to a baby. The cost of giving birth is slightly greater than that of a woman. You need to eat red ginseng and bird’s nest. Then there is longevity lock, clothes, socks, shoes, full-moon wine. All of this will all cost a lot of money.”
“Ah?”
The old doctor laughed, clarifying the situation. “Your wife is pregnant. Congratulations! The expenses for childbirth and baby-related items will indeed be significant.”