Chapter 241: Rice Noodles

Chapter 241: Rice Noodles

When Song Tingzhou, holding A Yan, found Meng Wan, he was hosting Chi Yu under the bamboo structure. From a distance, he could see that Meng Wan, clad in Yao attire with a broad headband tied around his head, was handsome, and even his subtle aura marked him as extraordinary.

Some Yao people would secretly cast glances at Meng Wan, their gazes free of any ill intent or desire, simply filled with pure admiration.

Song Tingzhou felt a subtle sense of pride. He cleared his throat and walked closer, calling out, "Wan'er."

Meng Wan turned around, and the colorful tassels tied at the back of his head brushed against his bare, delicate neck. Song Tingzhou could clearly see his eyes, originally indifferent, instantly brimmed with joy.

"Zhou Lang!"

Meng Wan left Chi Yu behind and hurried over to Song Tingzhou. His voice was clear, with a slight upward inflection at the end. "Are the matters in Deqing County resolved?"

Holding A Yan with one hand, Song Tingzhou took Meng Wan's hand with the other. "Resolved. The situation with the Miao people is also mostly resolved."

Meng Wan complained softly, "That's good. I'll tell you about the Yao people's affairs later. I'm almost tired of staying here. You handle the rest." With the many insects in the mountains, even with A Xun's powder, the dampness was worse than down the mountain. Meng Wan had long wanted to leave.

Only in front of his beloved could he let down his guard, rely entirely on Song Tingzhou, and show his weary state.

Song Tingzhou gently stroked Meng Wan's gaunt, tired face. "Leave it all to me. Take a few days to rest, then go home with A Yan and Xiao Ci first."

Meng Wan's eyes curved into a smile. He raised his hand and lightly touched the stubble on Song Tingzhou's chin, bringing a tingling, numb sensation. "I doubt it’s more than a few days. It’ll be fine to stay a few days in the town at the foot of the mountain. Then we’ll go home together."

They exchanged a few tender words, after which Meng Wan decisively instructed Huang Ye to pack up. Huang Ye nodded silently out of habit.

Meng Wan let out a sudden laugh. "The master is back. You don’t have to pretend to be mute anymore."

"Ah, right." Huang Ye came to his senses and laughed along with Meng Wan, his packing exuding a sense of ease.

Chu Ci greeted Meng Wan and then went to find A Xun. Meng Wan felt that the two, having grown up together, might have something brewing, but to him, it looked more like a middle school crush.

Forget it, let nature take its course.

Song Tingzhou took over the Yao village forcefully in the name of the government. Under the current state, which could be described as a state of disarray, and with garrison troops scattered everywhere, he smoothly dealt with a few troublemakers and began re-registering the households.

Many clerks came from the government office. With everyone dividing the work, the registration proceeded quickly. The Yao village was different from the Miao village; the total population reached over six thousand eight hundred households. It was clearly impossible to relocate them all to the outskirts of the city as had been done with the Miao.

Fortunately, Gu Yao had done one good deed by gathering everyone together. The outermost part wasn’t far from the town at the foot of the mountain.

Song Tingzhou didn’t want to drag things out. He decided immediately to first build a road from the town up into the mountain. At the same time, he would help these Yao people settle down quickly. The entire clan, regardless of which stockaded village, would be split by drawing lots by household, and bamboo structures would be constructed from the foot of the mountain upward.

The cost of building bamboo houses was low; the main issue was the labor, which the garrison troops and government runners conveniently solved.

The Yao people had originally harbored a vague resentment toward the arrival of the government officials. These people were going to split them apart, and they didn’t know what was being done. Moreover, the officials were forceful. At Yanlin Village, they had at least found an excuse, but here the officials just demanded obedience.

Then, the next day, their anxiety turned to shock. The government officials were actually helping them build houses and roads!

Moreover, compared to the simple bamboo houses of the past, they were transporting cartloads of a grayish-black soil up the mountain, mixing it to make foundations for the bamboo houses. The first floor also used a lot of this material, while only the second floor resembled the original bamboo structure.

Although the Yao people felt a vague strangeness inside, having someone help build houses was already very good. Everyone pitched in enthusiastically.

With so many people, a month passed. The road was completed first, and bamboo houses had been built from the foot of the mountain up to the summit.

Households that drew lots for the lower areas were initially dissatisfied. The Yao people were skilled hunters and preferred to live deeper in the mountains. But now they became the first to move into houses.

These could no longer be called bamboo houses; they could only be described as stilt houses. After only a few days of living in them, the Yao people at the foot of the mountain noticed the convenience brought by these oddly shaped dwellings.

The weather was starting to get hot. Whether it was an illusion or not, the rooms felt cooler than in previous years.

The kitchen downstairs no longer required careful fire prevention. The second floor had greater load-bearing capacity, allowing heavier items to be stored. Walking around no longer produced the familiar creaking sounds of bamboo houses.

Everyone excitedly moved into new homes with their new neighbors. After a few days, they started to build fences for small yards on their own. The government only handled house construction; they left such minor details up to them.

By this time, they had already perceived the difference between the government and Yanlin Village. Since they couldn’t communicate verbally, they just focused on working and didn’t bother each other. Aside from the officials appearing somewhat stern, they had actually built houses for them—this alone won the Yao people’s goodwill.

Sometimes, villagers from down the mountain came up to socialize, bravely striking up conversations. Before long, some clever Yao people learned a few words of official language.

Although they still dared not go down to the town to see it, the longing and curiosity in their eyes grew day by day. It was only a matter of time before they left the mountain.

Song Tingzhou had been at Yanlin Village overseeing things until now, with only finishing touches remained, which could be handled by other officials. Meng Wan had also lived in the town for a month. It was time for them to go home.

Before leaving, Meng Wan said to Na Tuo, who had been working at Yanlin Village, "Once these houses are built, it’s time to build the road for your Fengtong Village. You’ve participated in this reconstruction yourself, so you understand that the closer a settlement is to the foot of the mountain, the more convenient it will be in the future. For those villages near Fengtong that are too remote, you’ll need to persuade them to move out a bit."

Na Tuo had never imagined the Yao villages would develop in a way they had never imagined. He didn’t know whether it was good or bad, but he responded with a complex expression, "Okay."

Meng Wan then said to him, "Anyway, we’ll pass through Heiye County on our way back. Travel with us. I have some things to ask you on the road."

Though he said this, along the way, he didn’t actually talk much to Na Tuo. Instead, Na Tuo overheard the animated conversation between Meng Wan and Song Tingzhou.

The couple spoke in official language, occasionally pulling out a notebook to write and draw. Song Tingzhou did the writing, and Meng Wan did the illustrating.

Na Tuo glanced at it a few times… but couldn’t understand it. He blushed inwardly.

The carriage arrived back at Heiye County. Song Tingzhou went to the county office on business, while Meng Wan took the children into town for a walk.

"I really want to take you to see Heshan County," Meng Wan suddenly said to Na Tuo, a sparkle in his eyes. Then, seeing Na Tuo’s puzzled expression, he smiled. "Maybe there will be a chance in the future."

"Heshan County?" Na Tuo silently memorized the name.

They came to the entrance of a small alley where many children were playing with sandbags. A Yan was itching to join.

"Go ahead. Xue Sheng, go in and keep an eye on A Yan." As soon as Meng Wan set A Yan down, the boy shot into the alley like a little firecracker, with Xue Sheng close behind.

From the adjacent alley came the sound of reading aloud. Meng Wan stood on tiptoes outside the courtyard, peering in. Na Tuo, puzzled, followed and asked, "What are you doing?"

"There are children studying inside," Meng Wan said. This was a small, beginner-level private school. The teachers were mostly student candidates, some not even having passed that exam.

"Studying? What’s the use?" Na Tuo didn’t understand.

Meng Wan had patience today, so he decided to explain. Slowly, he said, "People aren’t born knowing everything. If a newborn baby were thrown into the forest to be raised by wild beasts, then when it grew up, it would be like a beast—eating raw meat and drinking raw blood."

"Our Yao people would never abandon a child to wild beasts," Na Tuo said, feeling a bit uncomfortable. But he was beginning to grasp what Meng Wan meant.

"I know. Your Yao people are self-sufficient in the mountains, with few upheavals in life, and everyone is content with the status quo." Meng Wan looked directly into Na Tuo's eyes and continued, "But in the future, more and more young people will want to venture out. Not everyone wants to live an ordinary life."

"In every world, every country, every nation, there is always a forerunner who moves faster than others. He or she will lead others forward step by step. If you can’t keep up with their pace, you will gradually be forgotten by the world."

Meng Wan asked the stunned Na Tuo, calmly delivering the final words, "Do you want the Yao people to become a race no one has heard of, slowly disappearing from the land of Yu?"

—

On the third day of the sixth month, the sun slanted toward the western horizon, painting the familiar city gate in a warm gold.

A Yan stretched a small hand out of the carriage window, followed by half of his little head. Huang Ye held him from behind, afraid he might fall.

"Father! We’re home!"

Meng Wan was half-leaning against the carriage wall, his gaze passing through the heavy city gate and settling on the distant street where wisps of cooking smoke curled upward.

The shop closest to the city gate was his trading post; further down the street was Chang Jinhua's fried chicken shop.

Song Tingzhou's face was the best passport. He led the way on horseback. After entering the city, the other shops had already closed up, but Chang Jinhua's place was still bustling with activity.

The shop was packed to the gills inside, but there were still empty tables outside. Song Tingzhou lifted A Yan down from the carriage, then reached for Meng Wan.

"Waiter, bring me the menu," Meng Wan called out as he sat on a long wooden bench.

Chang Jinhua had her back to him, settling bills for a customer. The moment she heard that familiar voice, a smile spread across her face before she even turned around. "Menu? As if you don't know what we sell in this shop?"

"Grandma! Grandma!!" A Yan shouted excitedly.

Chang Jinhua responded cheerfully, "Eh, Grandma's here. Our A Yan is finally back. Grandma missed you so much she couldn't sleep."

A Yan spoke up first, resting his chin on his hands and saying, "Grandma, look, A Yan has lost weight. I want to eat the big chicken legs you make."

Chang Jinhua studied him carefully, then glanced at the silent Chu Ci, furrowing her brow. "Oh my, it's true—both of you have lost weight. Grandma will go inside right now and make you some chicken legs. Wait for me!"

With that, she didn't spare Song Tingzhou or Meng Wan another glance, her heart entirely set on her precious grandsons.

Meng Wan pointed at himself incredulously and asked Song Tingzhou, "Mother didn't see me?"

Song Tingzhou chuckled, grabbing his hand and pulling him close. "She must be teasing you."

A Xun, who was away from home for the first time and for so long, couldn't wait to go back. Meng Wan instructed the others to escort him to the Miao family home and also take their luggage and the snow wolf. Only their own family and Xue Sheng stayed behind.

"Wan'er, come see what the new cook I hired can make." Chang Jinhua personally carried a tray over, and Xue Sheng hurried to take it from her.

Meng Wan took a look. On the tray were three large bowls and one small bowl, filled with milky-white round rice noodles. On top, half was covered with slices of braised meat, and the other half was topped with diced pickled beans, pickled bamboo shoots, diced radish, and crispy soybeans. Along the edge, each bowl had a spoonful of fragrant braising sauce poured over it.

Except for A Yan's small bowl, Chu Ci's bowl was slightly larger, while Meng Wan and Xue Sheng had the same size.

"Rice noodles!" Meng Wan blurted out.

Chang Jinhua looked puzzled. "How did you know?" She had been planning to keep it a secret for a bit.

Meng Wan quickly made up an excuse. "I read about it in some miscellaneous book. Mother, how did you learn to make it?"

Seeing them all set the noodles on the table, Chang Jinhua collected the tray. "A while ago, I ran into a pair of beggars—a grandmother and grandson. I bought them a few buns and gave them two packs of our store's crispy chicken. The old woman saw that I seemed kind and took the courage to ask if the shop was hiring. She said her grandson could work. They seemed so miserable, and the shop was really short-staffed lately, so I let the kid give it a try."

Chang Jinhua pointed to a child bustling around the shop. "That short one right there—his name is Lai Xi."

Meng Wan followed her gaze and, sure enough, saw a small child, barely over four feet tall, nimbly moving through the crowd, serving dishes and clearing tables.

"How old is he, Mother? He looks a bit young," Meng Wan asked.

Chang Jinhua helped mix A Yan's noodles and set them in front of him. "He's fourteen, just two years younger than our Xiao Ci. Her grandmother is an honest woman. When she saw I really took Lai Xi in, she kept bowing and scraping. She refused to move into the back alley with him and wouldn't even let Lai Xi eat at the shop. She said just giving him a job was already a huge kindness. I saw Lai Xi was skinny and hungry but refused to eat at the shop, so I followed him home to persuade his grandmother. It turned out she was living in a dry well in the alley next door. You guys have no idea—the dry well was half-covered with straw, and his grandmother was huddled down there..."

How much space can a dry well have? That old woman was at least fifty or sixty years old. It was easy to imagine how hard her life was.

Chang Jinhua was soft-hearted. Having been through hardship herself, she felt more for poor people.

"I took her to the back alley and gave her and Lai Xi a room to live in. She felt guilty, so she did odd jobs every day, but she absolutely refused to take any wages. Not wanting to take advantage of her for nothing, I planned to give her fifteen pounds of coarse rice every month. When she received the rice, she started crying again. The next day, she made me a big bowl of rice noodles. It was my first time eating them. They turned out to be bouncy and smooth, even more delicious and chewy than noodles!" Chang Jinhua's eyes lit up as she spoke. With Meng Wan's guidance, she immediately thought these rice noodles could also be made into a dish to sell at the shop.