Great Tang Idyll

Book 1: Chapter 94

In the middle of the night, Magistrate Cheng sent everyone off to rest, and he was finally able to let out a sigh of relief. Now, he did not need to worry that someone would step out and stir up trouble. When the two Deputy Chiefs came here, they said they wanted to investigate some things, but they didn't do much nor say much nor ask much.

While the other officials were arranged to rest at night, the two Deputy Chiefs told their people that there was no need to rush and that they could take their time to handle the matters at the county. They already had some preliminary understanding of the situation--- the county was indeed affected by the drought. In particular, the Deputy Chief of the Ministry of Work said that after he returns to the Capital, he will send in a report to ask for more money to be given to the San'shui County.

After hearing the two Deputy Chiefs' promise, Magistrate Cheng took a hot bath and fell deeply asleep while he was being massaged by his servants. He needed to maintain a high spirit every day and especially for tomorrow morning. He heard from Zhou Kong that the Zhang manor will send people to deliver 1500 taels of silver.

Although these silvers were not given for nothing; this would taint his image as the County Magistrate since it would be embarrassing that he, a government official, needed donations from a manor. If this news spread, then people will think that he is an unreliable official.

What's on the north shore? As the County Magistrate, of course he knew that it was just a barren mountain; it occupied a lot of space, but it was impossible to grow anything on it. Even the trees were sparse, and they were only a few. If that place was worth 1500 tales of silver, then wouldn't the other places be worth a dozen times more?

He had to deal with this matter himself. For one, he had to properly broadcast to the people in the county that the Zhang Manor had purchased the mountain--- this way, the people would know that there is a manor that is willing to do business at a loss. As for the other, he had to let the people know that when the administrative office received the money, they were neither greedy for the manor's money, nor were they trying to randomly levy taxes from the people.

The next morning, Magistrate Cheng got up. Before he had to ask, a servant said to him, "My master, other than those two officials who are able to get up, the rest have fallen ill. Last night, doctors looked at them already. They are alright; they just need to rest for a few days. My master, should you go check on them."

"Are they really okay? That's fine, let them rest, and don't bother the other two. Even if they don't get sick, they won't be able to stir up any trouble for a while. Of course I have to go check on them. Go prepare some light food. Oh, prepare some fungus too. These people are our boss; each of them has given out a few hundred taels of silver, let them drink and eat their worth."

Magistrate Cheng became happy when he thought of what these people said at the beginning. It was great now. The Zhang Manor's soy sauce can be used to keep the prices down, and he had that 1500 taels of silver, plus these officials' money. More money can be made when the officials buy some wood fungus from the Zhang Manor before they leave.

The rest of the money can be used to further lower the price inflation caused by the drought. In particular, they could not let those evil merchants raise the cost of grains, or else the people will starve.

After he tidied himself up and ate some breakfast, Magistrate Cheng asked his servant to help him carry food when he went to visit the area where the officials were.

The ill people remained resting, while the rest who were not ill forced themselves up. Their bodies were sore and aching all over. After the servants helped them get ready, they still didn't have the energy to eat. When Magistrate Cheng came over with food, two people were in the middle of a conversion. They were discussing what happened this time--- it was torture.

After a few words were replied back to Magistrate Cheng, he left. The two people sat next to the table, and were spoon-fed by people. The two of them didn't carry water, but they were asked to clear up the wasteland. They had to swing a pickaxe over and over again. Now, both of their arms were thicker than usual, and their arms were drooping there. They took in a sharp breath every time they moved their arms just a little bit. However, exercise enthusiasts would describe that sensation as satisfying.

After Magistrate Cheng was done arranging these things, he began to wait for people from the Zhang Manor to arrive. At the same time, he got people to write notices to let the commoners in the county know about this matter. As for those who were illiterate, he didn't worry about it since there are always people who want to show off their literary skills by telling others what was written on the notice board.

Before the people of Zhang Manor came over, the majority of the people in the county learned about this. Some people called the Zhang Manor stupid, while others called the Zhang Manor benevolent. Regardless, no one said that the Zhang Manor will make money from buying that mountain, and that it would be good enough if they didn't lose all their money over it.

At a quarter past 9 in the morning, Er'niu from the Zhang Manor finally came over. He came by himself, and the 1,500 taels of silver was transported behind him. However, it wasn't just silvers, there were also coins and cloth. All of these filled up two entire carriages. If it was just silvers, then only a few boxes will be needed.

"Er Niu, I remember that you did a lot of things for the Zhang Manor, right?" Magistrate Cheng arranged a place for Er'niu to dine, and prepared food for him to eat. He came here so early in the day, so he mustn't have had breakfast yet. Also, he could take this opportunity to chat with him casually.

"My lord, I really didn't do much, I only listened to my master's instructions. I just did whatever my master told me to do. My lord, you don't have to prepare food for me to eat; I brought some myself. Have a look, it's all in my bag."

Er'niu was usually quite clever. When he saw the location that he was in, he knew what arrangements the county magistrate made. As he spoke, he put the bag he was carrying down onto the table and opened it up swiftly. Inside, there were some bamboo tubes.

"Oh? You also brought these things? It must have taken a lot of work to prepare these things before you left your house, right?" Magistrate Cheng asked curiously. In fact, he was not happy. How long did it take to prepare these things? If he didn't prepare these things, wouldn't he have been able to arrive here earlier?

"My lord is wrong this time, hehe. The items I have brought were not prepared at home, instead, they were made by my master. I got up early and rushed here with the things and I didn't stop for a single second." Of course, Er'niu understood the meaning behind Magistrate Cheng's words, and he explained himself while smiling.

While talking, he opened each item. A big bamboo tube was filled with silken tofu, which was prepared for him because this was his favorite food to eat. Some of the small bamboo tubes were filled with chives, or slices of boiled beef, and the smallest tube contained garlic sauce.

A paper package was ripped open, and inside there were three white plain steamed buns, a pair of bamboo chopsticks, and a copper spoon. These things were his breakfast and utensils.

The noodle stew1 can be poured onto the silken tofu, and then stirred a few times with chopsticks. After some chives were sprinkled on top, it was ready to eat.

"My lord, I'm really hungry right now, so I'm going to eat first. " Er Niu spoke apologetically to Magistrate Cheng, and began to eat.

Magistrate Cheng, who was standing on his side, looked stunned. To his surprise, there was sliced boiled beef paired with garlic sauce, and inside the noodle stew there were mushrooms, minced meat, fungus, coriander, and egg ribbons. Just this stew alone could be exchanged for hundreds of bowls of silken tofu.

"No, the food I normally eat is a little bit worse than this, but not by too much. It's because I'm out to do errands, I. Umm, the master family has said that staying thousands days at home is easy, but even a moment spent outside will be filled with hardships. One could be stingy at home, but should not be afraid to spend money when travelling outside. How could bought food be as carefully prepared as homemade food?'. That's why they told me to bring all of this, this way I can eat well even when I'm outside."

Er'niu scooped a spoon of silken tofu, swallowed it and responded to Magistrate Cheng while smiling earnestly.

As for Magistrate Cheng, he couldn't laugh at all. The master family was this considerate to a servant. This dialogue that Er'niu just quoted was not the words a master would tell their servants, instead, it sounded like what a parent would tell their child that was about to travel far away. If anyone wanted to bribe their servants, then it would be pointless. Even Magistrate Cheng himself would use his own life to protect the master family.

"Is it delicious?" Magistrate Cheng's mind wandered off as he was thinking. He couldn't help but ask this when he smelt the aroma of the noodle stew and bean fragrance of the tofu.

"It's delicious. My lord may not know, all of the food made by my master family is delicious. Have a look at this sliced boiled beef. It wasn't boiled directly in the water since that would make the meat tough. Look at how tender it is. When it was cooked, other ingredients were added in---it was the stuff used to make liang'pi.

Yes, it's a secret recipe. That ingredient was cooked together with the meat, and after cooking, it became tender like this. The garlic sauce is also different. The garlic sauce elsewhere is made by mashing the garlic and then adding soy sauce, while this one is made by soaking minced garlic in soy sauce for several days. After that, it is taken out and it will no longer have that pungent spicy taste, and it will also develop a unique flavor. If my lord doesn't believe it, have a taste. "

While talking, Er'niu pushed the barely touched sliced boiled beef and the garlic sauce towards Magistrate Cheng.

Magistrate Cheng looked at food and felt conflicted in his heart as to whether he should eat it or not? He was afraid of losing face if he ate it, but if he didn't eat it, he couldn't satisfy the craving that was elicited by Er'niu's words. In the end, he persuaded himself that it was food taken from his Shi'fu, so as their disciple, it was fine to eat some.

"Good, it really is extraordinary. My Shi'fu is really capable. Er'niu, has your master thought carefully about buying that mountain? Don't they think that it would be a waste of money? If it doesn't work out, I can change the place."

"Ah? Change? No, my lord, don't change it. When I was departing, the master has said that they have decided on that place. Could it be that you're going back on your words now?" When Er'niu heard this, he stopped moving his chopsticks and replied firmly. He didn't know why his Young Master wanted that place, but he knew that if his Young Master wanted it, then it was a good business deal.

Translator's Notes

1. Noodle stew

This is a noodle soup made by adding peanuts, seaweed, noodles, vinegar, bean paste and soy sauce. Add vegetables and meats can be added. The taste is smooth, fragrant, slightly sour and extremely flavourful.