The System Wanted Me to Be a Landlady (GL) - Chapter 55: Cooking

Chapter 55: Cooking

Tang Haogen had originally thought that Liu Chuo was taking him to some improper places, but in fact, Liu Chuo had a banquet with colleagues to attend during the Lantern Festival, and he brought his family along with Tang Haogen to the feast.

The location of the banquet was a restaurant near Neng’en Temple, and those attending included the Vice Prefect’s family, the Judge, the Magistrate of Yin County, and military officials such as the Commander of Military Affairs.

Among these people, Liu Chuo held the highest official position, so Tang Haogen, staying by his side, also drew some attention. Liu Chuo had specifically instructed him not to wear the clothes of a clerk; if he did, others would surely take him for Liu Chuo’s servant, and then no one would look favorably on him no matter what.

After three rounds of drinks, the civil officials, led by Liu Chuo, inevitably began discussing literature with one another, while the military officials like the Commander of Military Affairs, though they also held eighth-rank positions, had always been looked down upon by the literati, so at this moment they had nothing much to say.

Tang Haogen did not have this bad habit of civil officials, and he chatted very congenially with the subordinates of the Commander of Military Affairs, so the Commander of Military Affairs took notice of him.

Earlier, when the banquet had just started, Liu Chuo had also mentioned that he was a clerk in the prefectural yamen; although he was similarly at the bottom of the disdain chain, his manner of speaking and attitude made the Commander of Military Affairs set aside his prejudices and call him over for a talk.

As Tang Haogen chatted on, he even forgot the real purpose for which Liu Chuo had brought him, and by the time the banquet was nearly over, Tang Haogen had built up a good impression with the Commander of Military Affairs. Then Liu Chuo came over to discuss prefectural affairs with the Commander of Military Affairs and casually mentioned that Tang Haogen was currently single and waiting to marry.

Liu Chuo did not hide his favor toward Tang Haogen; on the contrary, as Tang Haogen was Liu Chuo’s subordinate and had no parents or elders to arrange his lifelong matters, it was only natural for him, as the superior, to worry about it a bit—others would all say he was considerate of his subordinates.

The Commander of Military Affairs perceived Liu Chuo’s intention. He did not think there was anything wrong with what Liu Chuo was doing; after all, he often did such things himself, but he just did not have a daughter of marriageable age suitable for Tang Haogen.

Just then, his subordinate, Inspector Chen from Mingzhou, came to report on the Lantern Festival patrol matters, and he remembered that Inspector Chen still had a daughter at home waiting to be married, so he asked him, “Has your daughter found a suitable family yet?”

When it came to this matter, Inspector Chen felt a headache. Although he was also a ninth-rank minor official, only in charge of training soldiers in Mingzhou, patrolling the towns and villages, and capturing thieves, he was after all from a military background, and in this officialdom that valued civil over all, he faced the most exclusion and discrimination. So when he wanted to find a family from civil official households, they looked down on him; but if he went looking among ordinary people, he despised them for being commoners with no status.

After searching this way and that, he could not find anyone suitable, and his daughter had been delayed until nineteen years old without marrying.

The Commander of Military Affairs then introduced Tang Haogen to him, saying that although this young fellow was only a clerk in the yamen, he was a very upright person who had helped the Prefect solve quite a few difficult problems; more importantly, in his spare time these years, he had been borrowing books from the yamen to read at home, so as long as he did not remain a clerk, he could still return to the path of the imperial examinations in the future.

Upon first hearing this, Inspector Chen was not too satisfied with his background—even if he found a poor scholar, he could not find a clerk! But since it was a recommendation from both his superior and the Prefect, he could not openly say anything bad about Tang Haogen, so he just laughed it off and said that this matter was up to his wife; he had to go back and discuss it with her first before deciding.

Liu Chuo and the Commander of Military Affairs did not mind his polite refusal and only glanced at Tang Haogen.

It was Tang Haogen’s first time on a blind date, and his heart was still very tense, but he had not thought of aiming too high anyway, so he had long prepared himself for the possibility of failure. At this moment, although he felt a bit frustrated, he did not show it on his face.

The Commander of Military Affairs nodded approvingly; he was still very satisfied with his performance. From this matter alone, one could see that he was different from those clerks who had not read books—at least he would not cause his superior to lose face.

With this one banquet, Liu Chuo had thoroughly integrated into the official circles of Mingzhou; he was no longer as rash as when he had just arrived last year, and now he rubbed his fists and prepared to reimplement his plan.

On the way back, he asked Tang Haogen whether he felt disappointed for not finding a suitable family today.

How could Tang Haogen possibly admit it! The greatest gain from today’s banquet for him was showing his face in front of so many Mingzhou officials; he should not and would not only keep his own marriage in mind.

Liu Chuo smiled; he had indeed not misjudged the person. If Tang Haogen only kept his own marriage in mind, he might even think Tang Haogen had a narrow view and would not dare to entrust him with important tasks anymore.

Tang Haogen, however, secretly let out a sigh of relief: It was good that he had not told A’zhi and the others the truth; otherwise, with today’s failed match, would they not laugh at him? Then he, as the big brother, would have no face left! He did not know how A’zhi and Little Ye were doing at home…

_____

Compared to her older brother’s failed blind date and the great setback it brought, Tang Zhi had a full and enjoyable day out with Song Yuyan today.

She no longer envied the lively prosperity of Kaoyuan Temple in Shaoxing, because she felt that this year’s Lantern Festival, even if it was only in a small county town like Cixi, could still leave her with unforgettable beautiful memories.

After the shadow puppet show ended, it was already quite late, so she went back with Song Yuyan. When they reached the entrance of the alley, Tang Zhi quickly pulled her hand away from Song Yuyan’s, and without looking at Song Yuyan, she explained, “If someone sees it, they will gossip.”

Song Yuyan smiled apologetically. “I was careless; it will not happen next time.”

Tang Zhi hoped there would be a next time—how could she let her really mean that! So she said, “Forget it; you were just worried I would get squeezed away by the crowd.”

A smile hung on Song Yuyan’s lips, but in her heart, she pondered the idea that had just come to her.

Tang Zhi liked shadow puppet shows, but shadow puppet shows were not performed every year or festival; only some prosperous big cities had fixed stages, so in Cixi County, it was still very difficult to see shadow puppet shows on ordinary days.

And although she did not dare say she knew all traditional handicraft arts, shadow puppetry, this traditional art that still had considerable fame even in later generations, she had mastered some production techniques for.

Since shadow puppet shows could make Miss Tang happy, she might as well make some shadow puppets and give them to Miss Tang.

It was just that her work time for the past half year was fully scheduled, so to make shadow puppets, she would probably have to wait until the vegetable garden’s yields came up and the wax garden could smoothly pass its first hurdle.

Although she could not immediately free up time to make shadow puppets, Song Yuyan still regarded it as a task that must be accomplished and kept it in her heart.

_____

A few days later, Li Sigu came to the door at the time agreed with Song Yuyan. When he saw that pile of processed bamboo at the Song house, he had basically already believed that she was Lu Fang. Then, upon seeing the engraved green bamboo carving that Song Yuyan had made, he felt a sense of shame for “how could I have doubted that he is not Lu Fang.”

Today, he had brought his own painting, first to discuss and exchange painting techniques with Song Yuyan, and second, because he had a request for Song Yuyan.

Although his paintings had received quite a few good reviews in literati circles, because in his early years he had been too arrogant and this mouth of his offended people too easily, gradually many literati were unwilling to associate with him.

By the time he came to his senses, he realized that because the literati were unwilling to associate with him, the fellow painters who shared his profession were eager to see him excluded from the circle and would not exchange with him at all; gradually, his paintings lost their fame, and in the end, he had no choice but to set up a stall on the street to sell paintings.

Yet even so, ordinary commoners did not understand how to appreciate paintings, and for his livelihood, he had to satisfy the various strange requests of those seeking paintings, drawing content he had previously despised entirely, even some vulgar paintings.

He who had once been immensely proud of his own paintings, now fallen to ruining his own pride and confidence for his livelihood—in these years of setbacks, he had learned to reflect and change. But when he wanted to mend ties with old friends, he could never find such an opportunity.

Later, by a stroke of chance, he saw Song Yuyan’s bamboo carving, and he heard people say that the painting on it was drawn by Lu Fang himself, while the brush holder that the Prefect always carried was a famous painting by Li Cheng.

Upon hearing this, he had an idea—could he borrow Lu Fang’s hand to let himself return to his former glory?!

…

Li Sigu was the first one to think of using Song Yuyan’s bamboo carvings to advertise for himself, and moreover, he was the kind who could not afford the advertising sponsorship fee.

Probably knowing that his request was very shameless, when Li Sigu spoke, he did not dare look directly at Song Yuyan, and his confidence was also insufficient.

Through the earlier viewing and appreciation, Song Yuyan discovered that Li Sigu’s landscape paintings were more outstanding in terms of layering and three-dimensional sense, giving people a strong sense of reality. And to engrave such a painting, how to embody the layering and three-dimensional sense was the most important.

Just right, the engraving technique that Song Yuyan was skilled in could best give people a visual sensory impact, and combined with his paintings, it would complement each other perfectly.

After hearing Li Sigu’s request, she thought it amusing that Li Sigu’s paintings did indeed have artistic standards; even she, who had studied traditional Chinese painting for over ten years, did not dare boast that her own paintings were definitely better than his. If it were in modern times, his paintings would surely have people paying high prices to buy from him, then used for mass production in bamboo carvings.

It was just that he wanted to borrow her fame to build his own popularity; he had thought her too saintly.

“Forgive me, but I cannot agree to Official Li’s request.”

Li Sigu got the answer he had expected, and disappointment filled his face. He still wanted to say something to make Song Yuyan change her mind, but after thinking for a long time, he could not come up with anything and could only regretfully propose to take his leave.

Song Yuyan did not keep him and saw him out the door, when suddenly she remembered his painting and said, “Official Li’s painting is left in the room; I will go fetch it.”

Li Sigu said闷闷地, “If Lu Fang does not mind, then I gift it to you, as a token of our acquaintance.”

Song Yuyan said, “In that case, I will accept it. However, courtesy calls for reciprocity, so I will use that painting of Official Li’s to engrave a green bamboo carving and return it to Official Li as a gift!”

Li Sigu was stunned for a moment, then his head jolted as if struck by lightning, and he said joyfully, “You mean you agree to it?”

Song Yuyan shook her head. “Only one piece, as a return gift.”

Li Sigu smiled wryly, then bowed again and said, “One piece is enough; many thanks!”

With the popularity of Song Yuyan’s bamboo carvings in Mingzhou, he believed that even if only one bamboo carving engraved with his work circulated, as long as there were people who understood appreciation, his popularity could slowly accumulate.

After he left, Ye’er then asked Song Yuyan, “You do not know what kind of person he is, yet you agree to help him; what if he uses your things to do bad deeds—would that not implicate you?”

Song Yuyan pinched his cheek in surprise and said, “Are you concerned about me?”

Ye’er was already twelve years old, and with improved diet over these two years, his body had developed rapidly; at this moment, he had reached Song Yuyan’s rib level, and she believed that when he grew to eighteen, he would surely tower half a head over her.

And as his height shot up like a bamboo sprout, the flesh on his face had also become much firmer; Song Yuyan could not pinch much meat and pondered whether she still needed to improve the meals a bit more.

But when she turned her head and saw Bing’er’s chubby cheeks, she felt she had found the “culprit” for Ye’er’s slimming down.

Ye’er dodged her devilish hand, rubbed his face hard, and said, “Who is concerned about you? I am going to prepare dinner!”

Bing’er immediately said, “Second Brother, I will help you!”

Song Yuyan grabbed her at once and pulled her back. “Are you going to help him, or to steal bites?”

Bing’er could not believe her big brother thought of her this way and immediately puffed up her cheeks in anger, hands on her hips, indicating that she was mad at Song Yuyan.

Song Yuyan ignored her and threw her back into her room to study—her room was the new west wing built by the Song family, consisting of two rooms: one as Bing’er’s bedroom, the other as a storage room. Although Ye’er, seeing how well she treated their siblings, offered to swap the room next to the hall for her, she disliked the poor lighting there and only renovated her own east room without moving out.

With the new storage room, her space had become much larger, so she had partitioned off a small single room by the window as her study for usual work, reading, and writing.

As for the side of this room, it was still the kitchen.

Tang Zhi had come to deliver two bundles of vegetables to the Song family as “tuition” for Tang Ye and happened to see Song Yuyan “exploiting” the child laborer Ye’er, so she shot Song Yuyan a white-eyed glare, then went straight into the kitchen to help Ye’er.

She saw that Ye’er seemed to be thinking about something, to the point of being absent-minded; when beating an egg, he had even put in too little salt, so she reminded him, “Ye’er, too little salt.”

Ye’er came back to his senses; although he felt he had not put in less salt, he had been distracted just now, so he was not too sure if the amount was right. Thus, he added another handful of salt into it.

Tang Zhi helped him wash the vegetables and asked him on the side, “What are you thinking about?”

Ye’er then told her about the matter between Song Yuyan and Li Sigu. Tang Zhi recalled what Song Yuyan had said that day and said, “She probably means that without having interacted with that person, how can one determine if the other party is a bad person? Whether the other party’s character is trustworthy still requires contact to know.”

Ye’er said, “That does sound like something he would say.”

After a pause, he looked at Tang Zhi again. “Sister Tang, you really understand Big Brother, even more than before.”

Tang Zhi smiled. “Are you not the same?”

In Ye’er’s pitch-black and bright eyes, a trace of complex emotion shone through; he said, “In the past, he would not tell us much at all; even living under the same roof, we were like strangers. But now… I have to admit, he is much more outstanding and capable than me.”

That he could sincerely voice his inner thoughts and admit he could not catch up to Song Yuyan was already a very big change. Tang Zhi felt deeply gratified and said sympathetically, “I will help you stir-fry the vegetables; you go read a book for a while.”

She would not admit that her hands were itching and she wanted to test if her cooking skills had improved, so she proposed it under the pretext of helping Ye’er.

Ye’er felt a bit tempted; in his heart, he actually somewhat wanted Sister Tang to become his sister-in-law, so that then someone would share the housework that Song Yuyan made him do!

“How about treating it as letting Sister Tang adapt in advance to life in the Song family?” Ye’er thought slyly to himself, then pretended to be very embarrassed as he handed the spatula to Tang Zhi.

When Song Yuyan discovered that Tang Zhi was actually helping her and her two siblings cook, she frowned and wanted to drag Ye’er out for some education. But Tang Zhi first mercilessly rolled her eyes at her. “This is me voluntarily helping Ye’er.”

Ye’er smugly flashed a provocative smile at Song Yuyan; Song Yuyan glanced at him, then turned to have Bing’er go call Tang Ye over to the house for dinner as well—after all, Tang Zhi had helped cook, so if she did not keep people for the meal, that would be too ungracious.

Tang Ye had thought dinner was made by Ye’er and did not think much of it, but when Bing’er served her some vegetables and said, “This is the dish stir-fried by Sister Tang; Sister Leaves, eat more,” Tang Ye’s chopsticks nearly slipped from her grasp—in the Tang family, all tasks involving salt like steaming, braising, stir-frying, and stewing were done by her, such as the fillings for dumplings and vegetable buns, while the wrapping was done by Tang Zhi.

This was not because Tang Zhi could not cook; it was just that her taste was heavier than ordinary people’s. She thought the flavor was just right, but Tang Ye basically needed a sip of water after two bites. So sometimes the salt in the Tang family ran out especially fast.

Song Yuyan had long noticed that Tang Zhi had a heavy taste; after all, several times when they had eaten out with her, Tang Zhi would feel the dishes made by others were too bland, but in her and most diners’ views, the flavors were just right.

Song Yuyan then knew that this was not her problem, but Tang Zhi’s issue with taste and palate.

Ye’er and Bing’er were eating a meal made by Tang Zhi for the first time, so how disastrous the dinner scene was could be entirely anticipated. Ye’er in particular quietly took back what he had said, and without needing Song Yuyan to urge him anymore, he became more proactive about cooking than anyone else.

Tang Zhi saw from their faces that her cooking skills still had not improved and felt a bit disappointed, but when she saw Song Yuyan eating it down with an unchanged expression, she said, “It is too salty, right? Do not eat it; I will go home and get some more vegetables—this time, let Little Ye make it.”

Song Yuyan said, “No need; it is a waste not to eat it.”

Then she looked at Ye’er, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “Ye’er, your Sister Tang kindly helped you cook; how can you disappoint her good intentions?”

Ye’er: “…”

He felt this was blatant mockery.

Song Yuyan looked at Bing’er again. “Bing’er, just eat a little less; skip a few meals, and your face will slim down.”

Bing’er: “…”

Not eating meant going hungry at night; this was naked threat!

Yielding to Song Yuyan’s tyranny, the two little radish heads obediently finished the vegetables, although afterward they drank half a pot of water, they still patted their round bellies and asked Song Yuyan, “Big Brother, when will we have a big sister-in-law?”

Song Yuyan said, “Little radish heads are not qualified to force a marriage.”