Chapter 63: Noodle Workshop

Chapter 63: The Noodle Workshop

The mountains stretch endlessly, blanketed in snow.

October should still be at the tail end of autumn, but due to its high altitude, Juyong Pass has already welcomed its first snow of the year. The wind, carrying snowflakes, whistles into Dinghao Beacon Tower, squeezing through the gaps in the bricks and stones, changing its tune, wailing incessantly.

The beacon tower at Juyong Pass, strategically positioned, is manned by eight soldiers, led by Captain Chen Zhong. He was once a soldier under General Xi and was promoted to captain by General Xi Junior, the elder brother of Xi, after he bravely charged during a border raid by the starving Liao people a few years ago, earning the title of "breaking the enemy formation," though he was left with a limp.

Since then, he has been stationed at Juyong Pass, guarding this beacon tower day after day.

The sky has darkened to the point where the time is indiscernible. He and his soldiers have just returned from a patrol below the city walls, all frozen stiff, their clothes soaked through with snow. Shivering, they quickly change out of their heavy armor into well-worn, patched cotton clothes and light a brazier.

The soldiers huddle together, only now realizing that their hands and feet are numb from the cold. Wu Da tightens his tattered clothes, which are leaking cotton, and asks his comrades who are better at sewing to help mend them while complaining, "This blasted weather, it's only late autumn and it's already this cold. Just two months ago, it was so hot that dogs were panting, and now it's snowing. My bones are about to freeze and fall apart."

Another soldier, Li Shi, still shivering and not yet recovered, chimes in, "The cold has come too early this year. The camp hasn't even sent anyone to deliver the cotton clothes yet. How are we going to survive the night?" As he speaks, he moves his hands closer to the charcoal brazier, but due to prolonged exposure to sweat and snow, his old frostbite has flared up again, causing a sharp pain as soon as he feels the heat. He can't help but hiss in pain.

Chen Zhong also takes off his helmet, removes the mouse fur ear flaps on both sides, and wipes his face casually: "It's been overcast for so many days, I felt something was off, and I guessed there would be snow. I already sent Feimao to rush a letter back to Youzhou. We should hear back soon."

Only then does Li Shi realize that Feimao, who usually loves to joke around, is missing. It turns out he was sent to deliver the letter. He can't help but start to worry for him: "It's such heavy snow, and Feimao is only wearing a lined jacket. Poor fellow."

Feimao is the youngest of the eight soldiers guarding Dinghao Beacon Tower at Juyong Pass, only seventeen, and of mixed Hu and Han descent. His background is also unusual; his father was a Liao man, and his mother was a Han border resident who had been captured. It is said that after his mother died, he couldn't stand his father's beatings and ran away. Two years ago, he risked his life to cross the border and defect to the Song. He was almost executed as a spy, but he revealed more than a dozen Liao soldiers' lookout points outside the border, making a great contribution. General Xi Junior decided to spare him and, after receiving permission from the Emperor in Bianjing, promoted him to Chengxin Lang, assigning him to guard the Great Wall.

It is said that when he led the Song army to raid the Liao soldiers' lookout points, the first place he went was his father's cavalry squad. He watched as his father cursed and was disgracefully taken away by the Song army, not shedding a single tear. Instead, he walked alone into the vast wilderness to retrieve his mother's discarded remains.

He tied his mother's remains tightly to his back and carried them all the way back inside the Great Wall, finding a hillside blanketed with wild apricot blossoms to rebury her.

Because he could run fast and could even stand on horseback without holding the reins, and because he didn't want to use his Liao name anymore, he asked Li Shi and his comrades to give him a new name. These rough men couldn't come up with anything good, and after arguing for a while, they named him Feimao because he ran as fast as a "flying leg."

He didn't mind. Ever since returning to the Song, he has been cheerful.

Just as Li Shi finishes speaking, the urgent sound of hoofbeats is heard in the distance. Chen Zhong immediately grips his sword and stands alert, peering out from the narrow arrow slit in the beacon tower. He sees a team of carriages and horses approaching rapidly through the swirling snow.

Wu Da's face darkens as he prepares a repeating crossbow.

As they get closer, Chen Zhong relaxes and waves for Wu Da to release the trigger—the person leading the charge, wearing Song army armor, has a large five-colored flag of the Song Dynasty tied to his back, with a big "Xi" character embroidered on it.

At Juyong Pass, the soldiers might not even recognize their own names, but they would never forget this complex "Xi" character.

"It's Feimao! He's outdone himself this time, managing to grab such a large cart from the stingy hands of the military supply depot!" Li Shi also sees it and jumps up in joy, no longer feeling the cold. He hurries down to open the gate. Outside, the snow has already piled up more than a foot deep. Feimao, wearing thick cotton clothes and armor made of tanned leather and iron plates, is still covered in snow, resembling a snowman as he enters the Great Wall tower, his eyelashes frozen with frost.

He is panting from the cold, leaning on Li Shi for a while before raising his face with a smile: "Brother Li, I've brought back some good stuff!"

"What good stuff?" Li Shi frowns, "What good food can the camp's kitchen make? More flatbread?" He pauses, then suddenly looks hopeful, "Did you manage to get mare's milk? If we have mare's milk, that wouldn't be bad."

The Great Wall is so long, and there are hundreds of soldiers guarding it. Whether you can get something like mare's milk depends on two things: the face and connections of your captain, and whether your comrades can beat the soldiers from other beacon towers. Li Shi feels a pang of sadness at the thought of mare's milk. Poor them, most of their eight are skinny archers, and when they collide with the broad-shouldered soldiers from the neighboring beacon tower, they can be sent flying. They've lost the battle for mare's milk for a whole year.

"Better than mare's milk!" Feimao seems to have already had a feast at the camp, and he's salivating as he speaks.

Li Shi can't help but be curious, his curiosity piqued, but he still pretends not to care: "Look at you! So inexperienced!"

"You've never seen it either!"

Soon, the sound of knocking is heard below. Li Shi quickly starts to vigorously turn the thick lifting arm. The soldiers delivering the supplies, unable to keep up with Feimao, almost died chasing after him. They are panting heavily, hauling large baskets filled with winter clothes, charcoal, and enough food for eight people for a month, which are hoisted up with a creak on the wooden gear ropes.

Then they continue through the snow to the next beacon tower.

Li Shi and the others take turns hauling the baskets to the narrow watchtower. They open one chest, and sure enough, inside lie thick winter clothes, fur vests, hats, and nailed boots! Li Shi's eyes light up, and he can't bear to let go of the fabric: "This is incredible! We got exactly what we needed! Wow, it feels like new cotton! Feimao has really done it again!"

Chen Zhong laughs: "Let's commend him! This year, we won't have to freeze."

Feimao removed his armor, the wind and snow biting like knives, his face red from the cold. As soon as he stepped into the warmth, several bloody cracks split his face. He nonchalantly wiped the blood away, using some ashes from the fire to staunch the bleeding, then boasted with a grin, "I almost got squashed by that fat Hei Zhu while scrambling for these new cotton coats! The Xuhao post folks came early this year, and it was a close shave!"

Wu Da clenched his teeth, "When the cold hits, every post sends runners back to camp to hustle for supplies. That sly Captain Meng from Xuhao always sends Hei Zhu! Damn it, thanks to Hei Zhu's bulk, they get to guzzle horse milk and munch on milk curds every year! Not only do they not shed any weight over the winter, they might even pack on a few pounds."

But at least they had Feimao, who could ride like the wind and never got lost, even in a blizzard, often beating everyone to the punch. In the supply depot, prized items like new cotton coats and horse milk had to be closely guarded; otherwise, their own watchtower would end up with the old ones, and the good stuff would be snatched by others.

Compared to horse milk, Feimao always went for the cotton coats first.

"What’s with the extra basket? Feimao, you’ve outdone yourself this year. What’s in it?" Li Shi, itching to don the thick cotton coats, spotted a huge basket nearby and eagerly went to investigate. "Did you really outmaneuver Hei Zhu and snag all this horse milk curd?"

"Take a peek," Feimao teased, crossing his arms and keeping mum.

Chen Zhong stepped up, lifted the lid, and saw something rather odd inside. Inside were round, fried soup cakes wrapped in oil paper, along with some pottery jars. Some jars held dried vegetable bits, while others were filled with solidified, aromatic fat that seemed to contain chunks of meat! There were also jars packed with ground dried ginger and zanthoxylum, which released a spicy scent as soon as they were opened, making him sneeze repeatedly.

Hearing Chen Zhong sneeze, Li Shi and the others crowded around, baffled, flipping the soup cakes and jars over and over, still clueless. Then Chen Zhong, with his sharp eyes, spotted a picture with words at the bottom of the basket. The eight of them, who could barely decipher four characters, craned their necks, huddling together to peer at the picture.

The first picture showed a steaming teapot, with two characters beside it that they couldn’t make out. Chen Zhong squinted at it and said, "It seems to be about water. Look, isn’t this the character for water? How come you don’t know water?"

Everyone shook their heads, clueless.

Feimao then swaggered over, chin up, and said, "Don’t get it, do you? Those two characters mean ‘boiling water’!"

The second picture showed the dry soup cake in a bowl, with a handful of veggie bits and a dollop of fat, with four characters beside it. This time, even Chen Zhong was stumped; it was too tricky. Feimao got even cockier, pointing at the characters and saying, "This says ‘pour boiling water’! And the water has to cover the soup cake."

Li Shi was puzzled, "You were only gone for half a day, how did you learn so many characters?"

Feimao said, "I’m smart."

Wu Da rolled his eyes, "No need to ask, he doesn’t recognize characters. This kid must have already eaten this so-called boiling water soup cake at the camp! Naturally, he knows what it’s about."

The third picture showed covering the bowl with a plate or dish, counting to two hundred.

The fourth picture showed uncovering and stirring, turning it into a steaming bowl of soup cake, ready to eat!

The rough men all tilted their heads back, eyes wide, "Just pour water on it, wait, and it becomes hot soup cake? Is it really that magical?"

Feimao pointed at them, grinning, "Never seen the world, have you?"

Chen Zhong kicked him in the butt.

So everyone asked Feimao to teach them how to make this boiling water soup cake. Wu Da hurried down to get some cow dung. On the Great Wall, there was a tradition of accumulating fuel, as in case of sudden disasters, they needed to immediately light a beacon to warn Youzhou. This was something that had to be checked daily, like weapons and equipment, with no room for error.

The soldiers would start stockpiling firewood and charcoal in spring and summer, and Youzhou city would also send supplies regularly. They had also developed the habit of collecting and drying cow and horse dung for fuel, like the Liao people, so they never lacked firewood.

Soon, a large pot of hot water made from melted snow was ready.

Everyone found their own large pottery bowls, following Feimao’s instructions and the pictures. They first took the dry soup cake, then a handful of mixed vegetables, and a scoop of fat—the fat was so fragrant that Li Shi could smell it even before adding water, and he silently began to salivate.

They passed the jars around, all prepared, then passed the teapot, adding boiling water one by one.

As the boiling water was poured, the dry soup cake sizzled slightly, and the brown fat immediately melted from the heat. Li Shi and his companions rummaged for something to cover the bowls. Chen Zhong, seeing their foolishness, almost wanted to use a helmet to cover them, but instead went down to the kitchen and directly took the lid from the big pot on the stove, telling everyone to place their bowls neatly and cover them with the big pot lid.

With just one big pot lid, all eight bowls were covered.

Counting to two hundred beats, Li Shi eagerly lifted the lid, and the rich aroma filled the small watchtower with the rising steam, so fragrant that their souls seemed to fly away. Except for Feimao, the seven of them were momentarily stunned, and for a moment, no one reached for their bowls.

The journey to Juyong Pass was difficult, especially in winter, with the desolate plains outside devoid of grass, and snow that could cover a horse’s legs. It was hard to transport any military rations, so most of the time it was dehydrated naan bread, which was light and could be stored for a long time. But even when heated, it wouldn’t soften. It could be eaten after soaking in hot water, but that made it even worse. The hateful Xuhao watchtower, however, had plenty of horse milk to soak the naan bread.

Not to mention such a hot bowl of noodle soup, with chunks of meat and vegetables inside.

"It smells amazing, like something out of a dream," Li Shi rubbed his eyes blurred by the rising steam, slowly reaching out to touch the clay bowl. It was warm, almost scalding!

"It's like magic—just add water and it's ready, and it smells so strangely good!" Wu Da also swallowed his saliva, his small eyes turning green with anticipation, eager to move. "Brothers, let's not just look at it, let's try it!"

With that, he reached out to pick up the bowl, took a bite with his chopsticks, and once he tasted it, it was incredible. He couldn't bear to swallow, the flavor was so rich he could barely speak: "So good! So good! Even better than the lamb noodle soup they only make during the New Year in the camp..."

The others also started eating with their chopsticks. Li Shi, after just one bite, exclaimed: "What... what is this flavor? Is this pork? Marinated pork? I think I'm tasting marinated pork, how is it so delicious, without any hint of gaminess... I've never tasted anything this good in my entire life!"

After saying this, he himself was stunned, his eyes inexplicably moist. This one bite of noodles brought back all the hardships he had endured over the years.

Fei Mao had already tried this once in the camp, so having another bowl wasn't as thrilling for him, but it was still delicious. The cuts on his face still hurt, but he couldn't help slurping up the noodles soaked in the rich broth. Seeing Li Shi on the verge of tears, he teased: "Brother Li, are you about to cry? It's just a bowl of hot noodles, is it really that exciting?" But even as he said this, his chopsticks didn't stop, and soon the bowl of hot noodles was empty. He even licked the edge of the bowl, seemingly still savoring the flavor.

This dish never gets old no matter how many times you eat it, and this time he was even more impressive, grabbing three different flavored oil jars. They had just eaten the brown marinated pork flavor, but there was also a yellow chicken bone flavor, and another green oil block with Sichuan peppercorns and pickled cabbage. He opened each lid to smell them, and they all smelled so good, so he took them all!

This made the military supply officer roll his eyes at him.

Chen Zhong, with his belly full and warm, still had a bit of hot soup left in his bowl, not willing to finish it all at once, so he sipped it slowly. Looking at the snowflakes drifting in from outside, he thought, it's really good, it's been so many years since he had such a good bowl of hot noodles in the snow. With this warmth, it felt like he could endure any hardship or cold.

And where did this delicious and convenient hot noodle dish come from? The chef who made this must be really clever!

No, not just clever, but also incredibly skilled!

Could it be that General Xi Junior had invited a talented new chef to the camp? But what chef would be willing to stay in such a harsh place?

When asked, Fei Mao didn't know either, but he knew there was no new chef in the camp: "They're still making flatbread! The person who delivered the supplies said that General Xi Junior led the troops out for a raid, stole fifty horses from the Liao and thirty cows from the Jin. The Liao horses are tall and strong, selling for seventy taels each. General Xi Junior sold them to the cattle and horse merchants and got several thousand taels. He then handed the silver to the military supply officer, ordering him to buy these from a newly built noodle workshop outside. The workshop was just built, and it's run by a young lady!"

Li Shi was also licking his bowl, sighing: "General Xi Junior went out for a raid again. Our General Xi Junior is quite clever, only taking a little each year, never wiping them out entirely. Then the next year, they have new calves and lambs, and we can go steal again. Sometimes we hit one pasture this year, and next year we go to another. When I was farming with my father back home, it was the same. You can't farm the same field every year, or the crops won't thrive."

"That's right. Otherwise, like the Yue family army in Yanzhou, they always end up hitting too hard, going straight to their lairs. The Liao and Jin emperors have to write letters scolding the emperor, saying we agreed to friendly trade between the two countries, how can you be so untrustworthy. I heard the emperor gets scolded every year for this, and then he has to send a golden plaque to Yanzhou to call back General Yue, who's all fired up."

"It's quite funny, how many golden plaques have they collected now?"

"At least five or six."

"That's not bad, are they pure gold?" Fei Mao chuckled, "Such a large piece of gold, melted down, could buy a lot of supplies!"

"How do you know? General Yue really did melt them down, just recently he exchanged them for a batch of steel knives for the Yue family army!"

"Hahaha... Brother Li, rub my head, I'm laughing so hard it hurts!"

"Rub your own head."

Everyone laughed heartily, only Chen Zhong noticed Wu Da's eyes gleaming as he stared at the basket of noodles. He immediately reacted, pouncing to cover the basket, scanning the room warily: "Since it's extra, there probably isn't much. Wu Da! Let go! This good stuff is only one basket, how can we eat it every day? Next month the snow will be heavier, the roads will be harder, Fei Mao will have to go to the camp to grab... I mean, get provisions, who knows if there will be any, let's save it! Three days... no, five days between meals, tomorrow we'll just eat flatbread!"

The group groaned, a mix of complaint and anticipation in their voices.

The sounds of their groans drifted out through the slightly lit window, mingling with the occasional belch in the snowy night.

***

Shen Miao also received news from Zheng Neizhi that the noodle workshop had started operating. The letter from Youzhou was brief, essentially stating "everything is proceeding smoothly." She was naturally thrilled, as this meant that if things continued this way, they might be able to start making profits next year!

Zheng Neizhi also urged her to come up with a few more flavor recipes, saying that the quick-cook noodles were incredibly popular in Youzhou City. They had only made a few batches, and they sold out in a day or two, unable to keep up with the demand—Madam Cui, whom she had met at the Xie household, had indeed gone to Youzhou to oversee the business above the noodle workshop. She went under the name Tang Wan, arrived in Youzhou in August, and immediately started networking with the major business owners in the city. In just two days, she had established sales channels.

Now, the noodle workshop not only supplied the military camp but also provided goods to major restaurants, food shops, grain stores, and general stores. In Youzhou City, where various ethnic groups lived together, many border residents who went out hunting or herding horses, as well as traveling merchants, were buying boxes of these noodles to take home.

This 'Madam Tang' was brimming with energy. After opening up sales channels in Youzhou City, she braved the snow, bringing her staff and gifts, and with a recommendation letter from General Xi Junior, went directly to the official horse farm thirty miles outside Youzhou City to discuss business.

Since the redemption of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, the Song Dynasty had also built thirty-two war horse farms in the border states, specifically to breed war horses for the court. Now, they had bred three hundred thousand horses. The breeding horses were primarily Qin horses from Shaanxi, Khitan horses seized from the Liao, and Jingdong horses from the Jingdong region; in addition, there were also Xixia horses, Guang horses, and Jurchen steeds seized from the Jin. These horses were treated like royalty; they couldn't be starved for a single day, while the people who raised them were less valued, often enduring cold and hunger during rotational grazing.

The supervisor of the horse pasture, after just one taste of the instant soup noodles, ordered two thousand boxes to be delivered in batches, and later signed a long-term supply contract with the workshop.

After all, the pastures are vast, and the horse herders take the herds to rotate pastures, often not returning for several days, making such convenient food essential.

It is said that the emperor has been determined to establish trade routes to the Western Regions in recent years, partly because he desires the famed Ferghana horses. If they could be brought back and crossbred with the Song Dynasty's warhorses, it would surely produce superior horses to those of the Liao and Jin.

Now, the three states of Liao, Jin, and Song are at a stalemate, but the emperor says, "The Song Dynasty has no immediate threats but must consider long-term challenges." He has repeatedly issued decrees to the military governors of various prefectures, urging them to take advantage of the current peace to diligently train troops, innovate weaponry, and breed (or acquire) more horses.

Shen Miao heard the first part from Zheng Neizhi and the latter part from customers drinking and boasting in her shop. She also deeply agrees that although this emperor is harsh on the noble families, his clear mind and foresight make him a promising candidate for a wise ruler!

And that Lady Cui, whom she briefly encountered at the Xie family estate, Shen Miao was astonished after hearing from Zheng Neizhi. Lady Cui, who seemed listless and fragile on the boat, is now thriving in Youzhou City, becoming so formidable in business! She is not old and knows that in a new place, even with backing, she must first extend some goodwill to the local authorities to let them know she is here to prosper together, firmly establishing her foothold before expanding new sales channels.

Moreover, Lady Cui has a keen eye, knowing to cooperate with the official horse pastures—backed by the Xi family in charge of the Youzhou camp, it is easy to collaborate with the official horse pastures! Most importantly, such official institutions are well-funded and generous.

Shen Miao has gained a new respect for her, deeply reconsidering her initial doubts about the judgment of the Xie family's lady.

After seeing off Zheng Neizhi, Ninth Geer and Ji Geer were still running around the city walls and had not returned yet. Taking advantage of the early hour and few customers, Shen Miao sat back behind the counter to balance the accounts. The clinking of the abacus beads was a soothing sound to her, as if a shower of copper coins was raining down before her eyes. Just thinking that every soup cake sold in Youzhou had her share, she couldn't help but secretly rejoice.

She was nearly laughing out loud while balancing the accounts.

After finishing yesterday's income, two familiar figures suddenly entered the shop. Shen Miao looked up, quickly put the ledger back in the drawer, and came out from behind the counter with a smile: "Mr. Wang, Elder Liang, the usual order? Three roast ducks, sliced to go?"

"Yes, please pick the tender ones."

"They're all tender, you can be sure."

This Mr. Wang, in his thirties, has a long, shiny black beard. He always wears simple, unadorned robes but is not stingy. Previously, he came to the shop with his wife to eat roast ducks and then took some away; later, he often came to buy but no longer ate in the shop; and now, he often comes with Elder Liang.

Elder Liang is very old, with sparse, gray hair, as if baldness has left him without even a beard, and a slightly hunched back. But he must be quite wealthy, dressed in the same understated fine cloth as Mr. Wang, but plump and fair-skinned, a stark contrast to ordinary folk.

Especially with a set of well-maintained teeth, which is rare. Shen Miao thought that by Elder Liang's age, most common people's teeth would have fallen out, but those who still have good teeth, from her experience, are invariably from wealthy families.

He seems naturally cheerful, always smiling, whether he's speaking or not, making him approachable, but Shen Miao always feels there's something odd about his demeanor. He appears to have enjoyed a lifetime of luxury, with a noble air, but when he speaks with Mr. Wang, he appears somewhat subservient.

Yet Mr. Wang respects him greatly and always defers to him.

It's quite contradictory.

But these are the customers' personal affairs, and Shen Miao never pries. She just sells ducks.

Tang Er sliced the ducks carefully and packed them into the three-tiered, mother-of-pearl inlaid treasure box that Elder Liang brought. The remaining duck carcass was also wrapped for him, as Elder Liang always takes it home to make soup, not fried.

Just looking at the box, Shen Miao knew they were not ordinary people, either wealthy like the Xie family or the Feng family.

But there doesn't seem to be a prominent Liang family in Bianjing?

Shen Miao was puzzled but didn't show it, smiling as she handed the packed box to Elder Liang. Usually, he would pay and leave, but this time after taking it, he did not leave but asked, "I heard that Lady Shen is commissioned to handle banquets at homes twice a month?"

"Yes, only twice a month, as I also have to manage my own shop," Shen Miao smiled. "Regular customers usually book in advance. But this month's dates are already booked."

Since being invited by the Feng family once, Shen Miao has had opportunities to earn extra money by handling banquets at homes. Recently, during the Mid-Autumn Festival and Double Ninth Festival, families were practically competing to invite her, especially the Feng family, who almost have monthly banquets and always invite her, completely winning her over with their generosity.

"Is Lady Shen available on the eighth of next month?"

"Yes, only one booking next month," Shen Miao thought, next month she was going to Bai Laosan's village in Chenliu Town to handle a banquet! Bai Laosan's brother, Bai Laosan's eldest daughter, was getting married that day.

Bai Laosan invited her to prepare only one main dish—roast whole lamb. Although Bai Laosan's payment was not as generous as the Feng family's, only a few strings of coins, Shen Miao agreed immediately. After all, on her first day setting up a stall in Bianjing, Bai Laosan was her first customer, and even after she opened her shop and expanded, he still frequented.

Shen Miao also wanted to take this opportunity to take Ji Geer and Xiang Jieer out of Bianjing for a walk, treating it as a fall excursion.

"Then it's settled with Shen Miao for the eighth day of the eleventh month. Here is the payment in advance." Elder Liang took out a small silver ingot from his pocket.

Shen Miao took it; it felt heavy—it must weigh at least five taels! Her smile grew warmer and more genuine: "Thank you, Elder Liang, for trusting me. May I ask where your residence is? So I know when to come and what carriage to take."

Elder Liang smiled: "Not far, just on the Imperial Avenue. I will send a carriage to pick you up later."

Perfect! That saves me the hassle and expense of hiring a carriage! Shen Miao thanked him again with a smile. Mr. Wang and Elder Liang nodded slightly in acknowledgment and then boarded the carriage and left.

Shen Miao eagerly escorted them to the door. The seemingly inconspicuous green-canopied carriage indeed headed towards the Imperial Avenue.

No wonder—families living on Imperial Avenue are so well-off!

Shen Miao fondly caressed the silver ingot, turned around, looked left and right, and seeing that everyone was busy and no one was paying attention, she quickly slipped into the cellar to hide the money.

In the carriage slowly heading towards the Imperial Avenue, the gentleman sitting inside was none other than Wang Yong, the Prefect of Kaifeng. When the carriage arrived at the gate of the Kaifeng Prefecture, he cupped his hands and bid farewell to "Elder Liang" before getting off: "Grand Eunuch Liang, I shall take my leave first."

"Not at all, Prefect Wang, take care." Liang Qian also got off the carriage to see him off, following proper etiquette. He watched Wang Yong enter the prefecture before boarding the carriage again.

The carriage then continued forward, passing the Imperial Avenue and turning into the vermilion lacquered, copper-studded gate to the east—the Donghua Gate, the eastern entrance to the imperial palace.