Just as the waiter came over to serve the dishes, Qin Yunqian stopped him and asked curiously, "Waiter, which family does the young lady who just bought the roast chicken belong to?"
The waiter was momentarily taken aback, his eyes sweeping over the two men.
He hoped these two wealthy young gentlemen hadn't taken a fancy to Miss Song's beauty. Prominent families would never let a farm girl become the principal wife.
"Miss Song doesn't live within the city walls; her home is outside the city."
"Don't let her slender frame fool you, she possesses immense strength. She could punch a tiger to death with one blow."
Qin Yunqian raised an eyebrow slightly, finding the waiter's words utterly absurd.
"Waiter, you're lying, right? How could any young lady kill a tiger? She's just a girl!"
She looked even younger than himself.
Chu Liuyun was also somewhat astonished, pausing his chopsticks to gaze at the waiter.
The waiter's tone deliberately rose: "Don't doubt me, sirs. Ask around in this city. Ten days ago, Miss Song personally brought a tiger and a brown bear she had hunted to sell in the city."
"Our 'Food Friend's Record' restaurant bought the tiger, 'Stop-Cloud Pavilion' bought the brown bear. The county magistrate even used the bear's paws from that very bear to host a banquet for the city's merchants."
Seeing the two men sitting there speechless and stunned, the waiter continued: "A young lady as formidable as Miss Song would be a real 'tigress' even as a principal wife. If taken as a concubine, she'd surely turn the husband's household upside down. I don't think either of you young masters would be a match for her."
Noticing the waiter's look and the implied meaning in his words, while Qin Yunqian was still reeling in shock, Chu Liuyun was the first to catch on.
"Who would have thought such a remarkable young lady existed in Xining City. She's a world apart from the refined and gentle noble ladies of the capital."
The waiter's smile faded slightly as he patted his sleeve. "The borderlands are poor and harsh, naturally they can't compare to the capital. If those noble ladies were here, they probably wouldn't dare step outside."
What nonsense, looking down on her? With your scrawny build, you wouldn't last one hand against Miss Song.
Watching the waiter turn and leave, Qin Yunqian pointed at him. "Why do I feel the waiter's expression seemed a bit off?"
Chu Liuyun shook his head, finding it somewhat amusing. The waiter was both worried they might have designs on the young lady and displeased that he had belittled her.
It seemed this Miss Song frequented this place often and was on good terms with them.
"He's afraid we're a pair of spoiled young nobles who've taken a fancy to the girl and might try to kidnap her to be a concubine."
Qin Yunqian stared blankly, his expression one of disbelief. "Do I look like a villain to you?"
As if I'd snatch any woman I see to be a concubine.
Unaware of the events in the tavern, Song Jinzhao arrived at the private school carrying two roast chickens.
The main gate was shut tight. It was lunch break, and voices could be heard from inside.
She stepped forward and knocked. The one who opened the door was Song Gaoli.
"Qiming's elder sister, what brings you here?"
It was still early before school let out.
Song Jinzhao stood at the doorway without entering, smiling. "I'm looking for Qiming."
"I'll go call him for you."
Not long after, Song Qiming came pattering to the door, calling out happily, "Elder Sister!"
Song Jinzhao handed him one of the roast chickens.
"Shixue wanted roast chicken, and since it was lunchtime, I bought an extra one. Take this in and share it with your classmates."
Song Qiming took the roast chicken. "Sister, you don't need to buy this next time. I can eat at home in the evening."
Song Jinzhao pressed her lips together, a faint smile playing on them. This lad hadn't grasped her intention.
He could figure it out for himself later.
"Go on in. I'll head back now."
Song Qiming nodded and only closed the gate after Song Jinzhao had walked some distance away.
Song Yaozu, holding a vegetable-stuffed bun, came over. "Brother Qiming, what did Sister Zhaozhao bring you?"
"Roast chicken."
Song Qiming walked to the dining table, unwrapped the oiled paper packet, first gave a piece each to Song Yaozu and Song Yongnian, then invited the other classmates to join.
One roast chicken shared among twenty people was picked clean in just two pieces each.
A woman eating in the main hall remarked with feeling, "With parents gone so early, for an elder sister to care for her younger brother so dearly is truly not easy."
Scholar Zheng stared at Song Qiming, who was laughing and joking with his classmates. "This child is diligent and hardworking, with a good memory and keen understanding. In a few more years, he will certainly pass the imperial examination at the county level."
At least he won't fail his family's hopes and efforts.
His peripheral vision catching Song Yaozu, who was frantically gnawing on a chicken leg, Scholar Zheng shook his head helplessly.
Lazy and cunning, all his cleverness used in the wrong ways. The difference between these cousins is so vast, it's truly disappointing.
After selling the tiger, plus the previous sales of deer and fish, Song Jinzhao now had two hundred taels of silver saved up.
She felt secure and, unsure of the situation in the mountains, had refrained from going up there.
Song Shixue crouched in the vegetable garden, weeding the medicinal herb plot. "Sister, we've picked all the herbs we can find in the fields. There are still many herbs in the books we haven't found."
Song Jinzhao was mixing a recipe for a heat-relief drink, planning to sell it at the docks when the weather got hotter.
"Those herbs all grow in the mountains. We can't go up there now."
"After some time, I'll go into the mountains to have a look and dig up some herbs for you to plant."
Song Shixue lowered her head, pouting. "Then better not go. There are tigers in the mountains."
Song Jinzhao popped a dark plum into Song Shixue's mouth. "We can't just hide forever out of fear. We rely on the mountains for our livelihood. When the weather gets warmer, the wild beasts won't linger on the outskirts; they'll all retreat deeper into the mountains."
Thinking of the killed tiger and brown bear, and the herbs they couldn't find, Song Shixue pursed her lips and said nothing.
County Government Office.
The County Magistrate of Xining City, adjusting his black gauze cap, hurried out from an inner room, bowed with clasped hands, and knelt on the ground with a thud.
"Your Grace, Duke of Qing, your esteemed presence honors us. This humble official failed to welcome you from afar."
Chu Liuyun took a seat at the head of the room. "Magistrate Zhang, there's no need for such formality. Please rise."
Zhang Yuanzong stood up, wiping sweat from his temples. Why had no one informed him the Duke of Qing had arrived at the border?
"Magistrate Zhang, how many constables does the county office have?"
Zhang Yuanzong replied respectfully, "For courtroom duties and punishments, plus guards, patrols and arrests, and jail guards, altogether eighty-three men."
Chu Liuyun placed his hands behind his back. "This official has heard that Magistrate Zhang recently hosted a banquet for the city's merchants at Stop-Cloud Pavilion. Was this for the purpose of soliciting donations to purchase grain?"
Zhang Yuanzong instantly broke into a cold sweat, hastily explaining, "General Qin specifically sent an order. This humble official, in order to secure donations from the merchants, sent people to their doors multiple times but returned empty-handed. I had no choice but to invite everyone together and personally go to persuade them."
"The cost of the banquet came from this humble official's own pocket, absolutely not from county funds."
Seeing him drenched in sweat, Chu Liuyun shook his head with a smile. "This official does not mean that. This official wishes to ask about the progress of the matter."
Hearing this, Zhang Yuanzong's chest relaxed slightly, and he hurriedly wiped his sweat. "A total of thirteen merchants in the city made donations, raising a sum of seven thousand eight hundred taels of silver for grain. Once the grain funds from other prefectures arrive, we can send people together to the south to purchase grain."
Thirteen households only raised a little over seven thousand taels, averaging just six hundred taels per household.
Were they stingy, or were the merchants of Xining City truly not well-off?
