"Since Madam Shen is literate and runs a business as a woman supporting her household, you might as well spend some spare time studying legal texts. That way, even if you encounter injustice, you’ll know your rights. Don’t take this as me lecturing you with my age."
Lawyer Deng, having accepted one string of cash from Shen Miao, cheerfully washed his face, combed his beard, and changed into a dark blue gauze robe before accompanying her to the government office to file a report. As the two walked along the Imperial Street near the Kaifeng Prefecture, the marketplace grew increasingly crowded, forcing them to weave through vendors while chatting.
Holding up the hem of his robe, Lawyer Deng sidestepped a melon peddler and continued,
"As the saying goes, 'A gentleman broadens his learning through literature and restrains himself with propriety.' But how many of the people you deal with in the marketplace are truly gentlemen? Take today’s matter, for instance. Had you been familiar with the law and understood the legal statutes, you wouldn’t have delayed reporting it. Who knows—the kidnapper might already be caught by now."
He was right. If not for the delay, the patrols might have tightened in those few days, and with luck, they could have caught the culprit, possibly even leading them to Chen Chuan’s home. Shen Miao took his words to heart and nodded. "Thank you for your earnest advice. I’ll make sure to buy a few books and study them properly."
Lawyer Deng stroked his beard and chuckled. "If you’re serious, Madam Shen, there’s no need to buy from elsewhere. I have copies here—handwritten by me, no less, complete with my annotations. The 'Song Penal Code' and the 'Great Song Legal Commentary' are all you need. Since we’re acquainted, I’d be ashamed to charge you too much. Seeing a woman so eager to learn brings me joy—I’d even take a loss for it. Just two strings of cash, and these handwritten volumes are yours."
Shen Miao: "..." So that’s how it is.
And… why did this sales pitch sound so familiar? Wasn’t this the same tactic she had used to haggle with Old Man Yang? Had Lawyer Deng been eavesdropping while drafting contracts, secretly taking notes on her bargaining skills?
By the time they reached the government office, Shen Miao was glad she had brought Lawyer Deng along. As an ordinary commoner, she didn’t need to beat the grievance drum to file a report—simply submitting Lawyer Deng’s written complaint was enough to await summons.
So Shen Miao stood by the stone lions at the yamen entrance, watching with amusement as Lawyer Deng bantered with the clerks, patrolmen, and constables on duty. One moment, they were arranging a drinking outing; the next, they were planning a "salt scrub" at the bathhouse. Then, he mentioned having acquired fine southern tobacco and promptly sent an errand boy to fetch it for them to sample.
Truly a master of social maneuvering.
And… Shen Miao couldn’t shake the feeling that this lawyer’s behavior mirrored many professions in later eras. Even when not actively seeking favors, one had to constantly "burn incense"—maintaining connections with clients, superiors, and those in positions of authority.
Some things never change, it seemed.
After about half an hour, they were called inside. Shen Miao and Lawyer Deng entered a side room adjacent to the main hall. As mere commoners involved in neither an urgent nor major case, they had no business meeting the Kaifeng Prefect. Following the clerk inside, they were met with dim lighting and the pungent smell of cheap ink.
Several overworked clerks were buried under mountains of paperwork—copying records, issuing summons, or cross-referencing documents. Their eyes were glazed, exuding the faint aura of ancient wage slaves. Half-eaten meat buns sat beside some, long gone cold with congealed grease.
After Lawyer Deng explained their purpose, one clerk—his hair disheveled and a bald brush stuck in his bun—grabbed a blank ledger without looking up and instructed Lawyer Deng to fill in Chen Chuan’s description: appearance, accent, clothing, and other clues. He then had Shen Miao leave her name and address before dismissively waving them off. "That’s it. We’ll notify you if we find anything."
Next, the clerk lethargically pulled out a ledger labeled "Referrals," dug out a seal from under a pile of documents, breathed on it for moisture, and stamped Shen Miao’s paperwork with a thud. She was told to take the child to the orphanage herself.
On their way out, Shen Miao considered fetching Chen Chuan immediately, but Lawyer Deng gave her a meaningful smile. "What I told you earlier was the standard procedure. But if you’re willing to spend money, things can be expedited."
Shen Miao blinked, mentally counting the coins she had brought. In the end, she chose to head straight to the orphanage with Lawyer Deng.
After another round of form-filling, Lawyer Deng drafted a lengthy page, then instructed Shen Miao to hand over the divorce certificate she carried and about three strings of cash. He stepped out to buy a pouch of premium tobacco and two jars of good wine. Within a quarter-hour of presenting these, he returned with a freshly stamped household registration document, ink still wet.
Shen Miao was astounded. "That’s all it took?"
Lawyer Deng returned the divorce certificate with a smile. "Naturally. Let’s go. If the child’s family is never found, he’ll legally remain part of your Shen household. Does this seem too casual? Don’t be surprised. Once you study the legal texts, you’ll understand—the law on paper is rigid, but people aren’t. Stubbornly adhering to statutes would leave many matters unresolved. Above the law, there’s human sentiment. If only the law is followed without regard for sentiment, injustices arise. But if only sentiment is considered without the law, chaos ensues. That’s why our profession exists."
He lifted his chin slightly, puffing out his chest with pride. "The law may be unfeeling, but we lawyers must navigate its strictures with discernment, balancing justice and humanity. That is the true purpose of our craft."
Who would’ve thought the shrewd, loophole-exploiting Lawyer Deng was an idealist at heart? Shen Miao gave him a thumbs-up and ventured, "How noble of you, Lawyer Deng! In that case… could the fee for today’s services be waived?"
Hiring a lawyer was expensive. One string just for accompanying her, plus another hundred coins each for the two documents he drafted.
"No." Lawyer Deng snapped out of his lofty reverie, eyes widening. "Not a single coin less."
With the day’s most important task settled—though costly—Shen Miao felt a weight lift from her shoulders and could now leisurely run other errands. Walking along Imperial Street toward Yongkang Lane, she stopped near Golden Beam Bridge to order three grass carp from a familiar fishmonger. While waiting for the fish to be gutted, she spotted a familiar striped-arm tabby—leading the little orange kitten along!
Two cats crouched by the fish stall—one, a striped tabby, licked its paws while the other, an orange tabby, lazily yawned, stepping on its own tail with its front paws.
Seizing the moment, Shen Miao crouched down to pet them. The striped tabby actually recognized her, narrowing its eyes in pleasure as she scratched it, its throat rumbling with a purr. Then, as if falling back into an old habit, it instinctively raised its hindquarters, meowing in a high-pitched voice, eagerly inviting Shen Miao to pat its behind.
Shen Miao… Shen Miao obliged, delivering firm pats that echoed with a satisfying thump-thump.
Once the fish was ready, Shen Miao took the straw rope, shook off the blood, and waved goodbye to the two cats. She then headed to the pottery kiln to order the clay stove and large ceramic plate she needed, specifying the dimensions and quantity. After arranging a date for the sample delivery with the potter, she continued on to Old Man Yang’s house.
At his home, among the long-unsold stock, she indeed found a sturdy elmwood wheelchair, covered in a thick layer of dust. When pulled out, the dust cloud was so dense it made her cough. But after a thorough wipe-down and a fresh coat of oil on the axles, it looked as good as new.
Since it had been gathering dust for ages with no buyers, Shen Miao didn’t hold back with her haggling. "Eighty coins is far too expensive! My cart only cost two hundred coins! Honestly, if you keep this sitting around, it’ll just rot from insects and termites. Why not clear it out and sell it to me? At least you’ll make some profit. If not for sheer coincidence, I wouldn’t even be buying this thing! If you don’t sell it now, who knows when the next chance will come? Oh, and—hammer two thick wooden blocks onto the outer sides of the wheels. That way, when you need to stop, just press the blocks against the wheels to brake."
In the end, she secured it for just forty coins.
Old Man Yang wiped the sweat from his brow after nailing the blocks in place. "Madam Shen, you’re as sharp at bargaining as ever."
He had finally learned and even mastered some of Shen Miao’s haggling techniques, but every time she returned, she had a new approach that left him dazed and outmaneuvered.
The chair had originally been custom-ordered years ago, but the buyer backed out after it was finished. Since he’d only taken a small deposit, Old Man Yang had suffered a heavy loss. At least today, he’d managed to sell it—even if it was at a rock-bottom price, he’d recouped the cost of the wood.
Strangely enough, he found himself echoing Shen Miao’s words to console himself.
Shen Miao happily wheeled the chair home, fish in hand. Ji Brother was teaching Sister Xiang a few simple characters, while Chen Chuan sat nearby, listening in. His face was still pale, and his brows twitched occasionally—no doubt his leg was still causing him pain. Shen Miao pushed the wheelchair over and ruffled his short-cropped hair. "Come, give it a try."
Both Chen Chuan and Sister Xiang looked up. Chen Chuan merely seemed curious, but Sister Xiang threw down her brush in excitement. "Wow! This is amazing! It’s a chair that can move on its own!"
She circled the wheelchair twice before eagerly patting the seat. "Chen Chuan, come sit! I’ll push you!"
Shen Miao went inside to fetch a blanket, folded it into a square cushion for the seat, then lifted Chen Chuan onto it. Instantly, Sister Xiang transformed into a little coachman, shouting "Giddy-up!" as she gleefully pushed Chen Chuan around the courtyard. The wind tousled their hair, and even Zhuifeng, the dog from the chicken coop, dashed out to bark and chase after the wheelchair.
"Slow down!" Shen Miao called out to Sister Xiang, who was laughing boisterously.
Sister Xiang cheerfully complied, easing her pace.
Chen Chuan gripped the armrests tightly, a mix of fear and excitement on his face. Unbeknownst to him, a faint smile had appeared for the first time. When Sister Xiang picked up speed again, the wind rushed past, cooling his battered little body as if it could blow right through him.
After watching for a while, Shen Miao glanced at Ji Brother. Before she could even speak, he was already gathering the paper and brushes. "Go ahead, Elder Sister. I’ll keep an eye on them—nothing will happen."
She smiled in relief. At least there was one responsible person in this household.
With that, Shen Miao headed to the kitchen to prepare the evening feast. She stoked the fire in the stove first, then began preparing the fish.
The fish had already been scaled and gutted at the stall, and Shen Miao had even asked the vendor to split it open along the back. The head had been halved, and the innards removed—most of which had been left for the tabby and its feline companion, except for the swim bladder, which she kept.
Back home, all she needed to do was remove the fish’s teeth and scrub away the black membrane and bloodline inside the belly with a loofah sponge—these steps alone eliminated most of the fishy odor.
After rinsing it clean, she made shallow cuts along the fish’s body, careful not to slice too deeply near the back or tail, as that would cause the fish to break apart while cooking. She then trimmed the fins and even tidied up the tail—not for any practical reason, just for aesthetics.
Once prepped, she rubbed the fish generously with scallions, ginger, garlic, salt, and yellow wine, letting it marinate for a while.
In the meantime, she chopped napa cabbage, loofah, lettuce, celery, tofu skin, and fried eggs, then picked through bean sprouts. She also prepared a mix of seasonings: Sichuan peppercorns, cumin, fermented black beans, soybean paste, soy sauce, and spices.
With the ingredients ready, Shen Miao wiped her hands and headed to the Gu household.
Earlier that morning, she’d mentioned the dinner to Aunt Gu, who had waved her off with an "Oh, there’s no need!" But as dusk approached, Shen Miao decided to remind them, inviting them to come over around evening.
However, when she stepped into the courtyard, she found Ji Brother, Sister Xiang, and Chen Chuan missing. She spotted them in the alley—Ji Brother was carefully helping Chen Chuan sit by the roadside while Sister Xiang, ever resourceful, had somehow dug up two cloth strips and a hemp rope. She’d fashioned a makeshift harness for Lei Ting, looping the cloth around the dog’s chest and tying the wheelchair to him.
Lei Ting, a muscular and powerful dog, lived up to Madam Wu’s description—he was thrilled to pull the cart. Normally steady and composed, today he romped around like an overexcited pup, dashing back and forth with Sister Xiang in tow. The girl bounced and swayed in the seat, laughing uproariously and waving her arms.
At times, Lei Ting pulled so hard the wheelchair nearly lifted off the ground, tilting dangerously on turns. Shen Miao’s heart nearly stopped, but Sister Xiang, utterly fearless, shrieked with delight, her laughter loud enough to shake the rooftops. She even tried to persuade Ji Brother and Chen Chuan to take a turn.
Ji Brother rolled his eyes skyward and pointed at Chen Chuan’s leg, firmly rejecting the absurd idea.
The "new toy" quickly drew a crowd of neighborhood children. Liu Douhua from the tofu shop begged for a ride, and from afar, Shen Miao heard Sister Xiang declare with merciless authority, "One ride costs one coin."
Liu Douhua stomped her foot. "Why do we have to pay?"
"It’s for Lei Ting—pulling is hard work!" Sister Xiang retorted, entirely unapologetic. "Lei Ting’s only doing three rounds, so there are only three spots. I won’t overwork him. Who’s next? First come, first served! My elder sister’s busy, so I can mess around now—who knows if there’ll be another chance later?"
Well, at least she knew she was messing around.
The boy from the Zeng charcoal-selling family grew anxious at once and immediately raised his hand, shouting, "I want a ride! I'll go first!" With that, he even ran home clamoring for money: "Granny, Granny, give me a coin! Quick, give me a coin!"
Ji Brother and Chen Chuan, sitting by the alley watching the scene: "..."
Shen Miao: "..."
What a masterclass in scarcity marketing—could Sister Xiang be a natural-born business prodigy?
Well, it wouldn’t hurt to let Lei Ting stretch his legs. Lately, he’d only been walked once in the morning and evening, and sometimes just once a day when Shen Miao was too busy. He’d even grown a little plump.
Shaking her head, Shen Miao headed to the Gu household. She chatted with Aunt Gu in the courtyard for a while, helping her wind a couple of skeins of thread, and repeatedly insisted that the whole family come over for dinner that evening before finally taking her leave.
By then, Sister Xiang’s "dog-powered wheelchair" business had also wrapped up. She returned the wheelchair to Chen Chuan, pocketed the three coins, removed the cloth straps from Lei Ting, and hugged the dog’s head with a grin. "Lei Ting, this is what you earned. Come on, I’ll buy you a big bone to chew on."
Lei Ting seemed to understand, his almond-shaped eyes glistening as he wagged his tail.
Since Shen Miao still needed to take Chen Chuan to Chief Physician Zhao’s for a follow-up, she decided to bring the whole gaggle of children along. First, they wheeled the chair to the physician’s house for a dressing change. The old doctor examined Chen Chuan and nodded approvingly, saying the swelling wasn’t severe and that rest would suffice.
He even praised Chen Chuan: "This boy has a strong constitution—he’ll heal up nicely in no time."
The whole family breathed a sigh of relief. What a relief!
Truthfully, Shen Miao hadn’t slept well the night before, sneaking out twice to check on Chen Chuan—perhaps the physician’s medicine had a sedative effect, because this time, the boy didn’t wake when she entered. Her mind had been plagued with worries: What if the wound got infected? What if it healed crooked? What if it didn’t close properly?
Thankfully, none of those fears came to pass today.
Shen Miao also asked the physician in detail whether Chen Chuan could eat fish. After some thought, the old man replied that while he usually advised against it for others, this boy was too thin, weakened by prolonged hunger. His organs were colder and weaker than most, so fish—nutritious and easy to digest—would actually benefit him greatly.
With that reassurance, Shen Miao’s steps were lighter as she led the three children and one dog back home. Sister Xiang, still fixated on rewarding Lei Ting, detoured to Butcher Zheng’s stall to buy a meaty bone.
Overjoyed, Sister Xiang washed the bone as soon as they got home and handed it to Lei Ting to gnaw on. Zhuifeng kept trotting over, hoping for a bite, but each time, Sister Xiang shooed him away.
The girl was surprisingly principled. Turning to Zhuifeng, she lectured sternly, "You didn’t do any work, so you don’t get any. And no fussing—this is Lei Ting’s hard-earned reward. When you’re big enough to pull a cart, you’ll get your own bone. So behave! And stop sniffing chicken butts! Last time you licked my hand, the stench of chicken droppings lingered for two whole days!"
Zhuifeng barked indignantly.
Sister Xiang planted her hands on her hips. "Oh, so you’re talking back now?"
Thus, despite the language barrier, the girl and the dog somehow managed to escalate into a full-blown argument. Ji Brother, unable to bear it any longer, led the still-barking Zhuifeng away and tied him by the kitchen door. After washing his hands, he sliced a small piece of pork and brought it out for the dog—his sister would never allow dogs inside the kitchen.
Kneeling beside Zhuifeng as he quietly ate, Ji Brother initially reached out to pat his head but hesitated, recalling Sister Xiang’s chicken-droppings remark. Instead, he settled for pinching the dog’s ear and said earnestly, "You’re never starved here. Whatever Lei Ting gets, you get too. So why on earth do you keep eating that stuff? Promise me you’ll stop, alright?"
Zhuifeng whimpered, tail tucked and eyes darting guiltily. Well-fed and glossy-coated at the Shen household, his habit clearly wasn’t born of hunger. Shen Miao had caught him in the act multiple times, promptly clamping his snout shut, but nothing could deter him. It seemed to be pure preference.
Shen Miao, who had just started stir-frying spices in the kitchen, overheard Ji Brother’s lecture on canine hygiene through the window and chuckled. It also reminded her of something, so she leaned out and whispered, "Ji Brother, go ask Chen Chuan if he needs the privy. He won’t speak up even if it’s urgent, and we don’t want him straining himself. Since you’re home these days, keep an eye out for him, will you?"
Ji Brother agreed and went to fetch more water to wash his hands.
Now, Shen Miao could finally focus on cooking her grand dish.
With the days growing longer, she found herself reminiscing about summer evenings in her previous life—streets lined with night-market stalls, warm breezes carrying the aromas of grilled skewers, spicy crayfish, and sizzling fish, all paired with icy drinks.
She’d also realized that in this era, "grilled fish" meant skewered fish roasted like kebabs, not the bubbling, broth-filled hotpot version she knew. Today, she planned to test two versions and see if Aunt Gu’s family—true Song Dynasty natives—would take to it. If they liked it, she might set up a few low tables outside her shop, each with a small charcoal stove, so customers could enjoy the breeze, grilled fish, and chilled cypress-leaf wine.
Any fish would do—grass carp, perch, snakehead, or Qingjiang fish—but the latter two were unheard of here, and perch was pricey. So grass carp it was.
Having prepped the ingredients earlier, Shen Miao now layered sliced vegetables at the bottom of a deep, square ceramic dish.
Then came frying the fish.
She patted the fish dry and coated it with starch. Starch-making was already a refined craft in the Song Dynasty, extracted from fern roots or soaked rice through grinding, filtering, and sedimentation.
For instance, the famed "Double Ninth cakes" of Bianjing relied heavily on starch. Wealthy families even used starch paste to stiffen delicate fabrics, keeping them crisp and wrinkle-free.
Since opening her shop, Shen Miao had bought ready-made starch from the grocer. Though not as fine as modern varieties, it served its purpose.
With the fish ready, she heated the oil. The pan had to be scorching hot on all sides, or the fish wouldn’t crisp properly. Once the base turned faintly white, she drizzled in a spoonful of oil to coat it.
The oil used to season the wok was poured out, and a fresh spoonful of cool oil was added. Once the oil warmed slightly, the fish tail was fried first until golden brown. If the tail wasn’t fried properly from the start, it would stick to the wok. Once the tail crisped and curled upward, the upper half of the fish could be slid in gently.
When one side turned golden, the oil in the wok was poured into a small bowl. The fish was flipped, and the oil was returned to fry the other side. This method ensured the fish came out crispy and golden, not greasy, with tender flesh.
She placed the fried fish into an earthenware dish lined with vegetables.
The remaining oil from frying the fish was left in the wok—this was the most fragrant. She stir-fried fermented bean paste, Sichuan peppercorns, soy sauce, and other spices until they gleamed red and the aroma filled the air. Then, two large ladles of bone broth were added. Once the broth boiled vigorously, the spicy, rich soup was poured over the grilled fish.
A small stove was lit, and the earthenware dish was placed atop it to simmer gently over low heat, ensuring the fragrance lingered.
Gu Tusu, carrying a jar of recently brewed plum wine, trailed slowly behind his parents as they pushed open the loosely latched gate of the Shen residence. The aroma of grilled fish instantly enveloped him.
Lifting his gaze, he saw Sister Xiang, her sleeves rolled up to reveal slender yet strong arms, stepping out of the kitchen with a large earthenware dish in hand.
She walked naturally into the warm, hazy glow of the lantern light, her eyes curving into a smile as she greeted them, "Aunt Gu, Uncle Gu, Second Brother Gu, come quickly! Everything’s ready. I’ve made a new dish—you must try it."
"Ah, we smelled it the moment we stepped in! So fragrant! My mouth is watering before I’ve even taken a bite."
"Indeed, Sister Xiang, what is this? Oh, the fish is fried but sitting in broth? And there are so many vegetables in the soup? I’ve truly never eaten anything like this before."
"Not just eaten—I’ve never even seen such a dish!"
"Thanks to you, we’re in for a treat tonight."
Aunt Gu and Uncle Gu had already stepped forward, all smiles and praise.
But Gu Tusu suddenly felt dazed. His steps faltered slightly before he lowered his head, tightened his grip on the wine jar’s handle, and followed silently.
Under the lantern light, she smiled just as gently as she had before her marriage.
It felt like a lifetime ago.
Gu Tusu, caught in this indescribable melancholy, grew somber—until he drew closer and took a proper look.
In the Shen family courtyard, two tables had been pushed together. A small charcoal stove burned steadily beneath the grilled fish pot, the broth bubbling and steaming, the rich, charred aroma of the fish permeating every corner.
Thus, Gu Tusu, who had been lost in sentimental thoughts, found himself wrapped in the comforting embrace of the fragrance. Sitting on a low stool with his long legs bent, he stared at the golden, crispy fish head right in front of him and abruptly forgot what he had been sad about.
That image of a woman smiling softly under the lantern light vanished from his mind.
He swallowed hard, his thoughts now consumed entirely by the fish.
He wasn’t the only one. Sister Xiang had already picked up her chopsticks and bowl, sitting primly in anticipation. The children had their own table with a differently flavored grilled fish, and her eyes were fixed on the large basin of fish topped with scallions, cilantro, and fermented beans, waiting only for the adults to start before she dug in.
She was practically drooling from the aroma.
Meanwhile, Ji Brother brought over four or five pieces of instant soup noodles, using clean chopsticks to tuck them beneath the fish, letting them soak up the rich, spicy broth and slowly cook in the heat.
Shen Miao made one last trip to the kitchen, returning with a sizzling ladle of freshly fried green peppercorn oil, which she drizzled swiftly over the grilled fish in front of the Gu family. The fish crackled, and the peppercorn aroma burst forth, mingling with the fish’s fragrance.
Shen Miao nodded in satisfaction. "Now it’s perfect. Aunt Gu, Uncle Gu, Second Brother Gu, don’t just sit there—dig in! Try it and see if this green peppercorn crispy grilled fish suits your tastes."
