Great Tang Idyll - Chapter 24

The distance from Luoshui River to Xiaoniu Zhuang outside Xinping City is quite far. In order to find out the reason sooner, Song Jinggong has to get on the carriage. The ride is bumpy the whole way, and it is almost noon by the time he climbs out of the carriage, feeling as if he is falling apart. With a pale complexion, he turns back to look and sees that the foolish stalker has actually hired a carriage as well. Song Jinggong fully understands now; the other party isn’t just following him; they are monitoring him, afraid he will run away.

With no time to think about it, he quickens his pace with the person leading the way toward the Xiaoniu household. After twisting and turning for about a quarter of an hour, the person stops in front of a very small courtyard.

In the middle of a half-person-high fence made of branches is a small wooden door that is not locked. When the wind blows, it swings back and forth. Inside the courtyard stands a person whom Song Jinggong recognizes; this is someone who used to stay beside Song Jinggong Rini. Since he is here, it is likely that Song Jinggong Rini is inside the house.

“If there really are chicks in that egg, I’ll buy ten thousand of them when I go back,” Song Jinggong thinks. Before he can step in, he hears Song Jinggong Rini’s familiar voice from inside, and from what he says, it is clear that the chicks have not yet hatched. This further indicates that the chicks are a scam.

Feeling reassured, Song Jinggong straightens his clothes, smiles, and walks in. As soon as he enters, he says, “Who is selling chicks for two coins each? I’ll buy as many as you have.”

Once he settles in, he sees an old man, two young men, and a woman facing Song Jinggong Rini. The woman’s face is partially covered by cloth, and from the slightly exposed area, one can see a green birthmark, which is why she wants to hide it.

The two young men stand, while the old man sits on something that is hard to define, which takes up part of the room and connects to the wall on the other end.

“Scholar Song Jinggong, you’ve come here too, just in time. Look at this; this is called a kang. It’s specifically used to replace a hen for hatching. This woman says that in two or three days, chicks will come out of the eggs. I plan to stay here until the chicks hatch, and then I’ll buy ten thousand to take back and raise,” says a robust man inside, who is none other than Song Jinggong Rini, a barbarian.

Song Jinggong smiles and replies, “Song Jinggong Rini, how can you believe such a thing? If this thing called a kang can help hens hatch, wouldn’t that mean we only need hens to lay eggs in the future? Come on, let’s go back and sort out our goods.”

Hearing Song Jinggong’s words, Song Jinggong Rini shakes his head and insists, “No, I must see if it can really produce chicks. There are two hundred on the kang, and I have already paid a deposit. If no chicks hatch, they have to compensate me tenfold. We’ll know in two days.”

Song Jinggong looks at the kang; it is covered with a quilt, and he guesses that the eggs must be underneath. Could it really hatch?

Song Jinggong has already observed the courtyard when he enters; there are no chickens being raised there. If it were truly possible to hatch chicks using this method, wouldn’t it be better to make more of these kangs and just buy eggs from elsewhere? Two coins for a chick is indeed too cheap; selling them for three coins would still attract buyers, and it could really turn into a profitable venture.

After considering for a moment, Song Jinggong says to the old man, “Old sir, could I also take a look at those eggs?”

The old man glances at Song Jinggong and then at the woman, saying, “You need to ask my daughter-in-law about that; she’s the one handling the eggs.”

Following the old man’s gaze, Song Jinggong looks at the woman again. She is quite agreeable, nods, walks to the edge of the kang, and gently lifts the mattress. Indeed, there are quite a few eggs stacked inside.

“Song Jinggong Rini, since you want to see, I’ll stay here with you for two days,” a thought flashes through Song Jinggong’s mind as he decides to stay.

As for where to stay, it is simple. With the weather hot, any random place to rest will do. Meals can be eaten at this house, and if he offers some food money, this family likely won’t refuse. Song Jinggong has already gotten used to suffering these past few days, so he can manage another two days. He wants to see if this household can truly hatch chicks.

The old man does not refuse; not only does he agree to cook for Song Jinggong and the others, but he also offers a room for them to stay in. The payment is not much—six coins per person per day, just enough for some vegetables. If they want meat, they can buy it themselves, and the old man will cook it.

The three of them prepare to settle in. Song Jinggong remembers the person who is watching him, goes to the door, and looks outside. Sure enough, that person has not left and is standing just outside the courtyard, closely watching the door.

Seeing this, Song Jinggong is not angry. If that person wants to stay, then so be it. He takes out some money and hands it to the old man to buy some wine and dishes, planning to eat here at noon.

“Don’t cut the skin together; first, remove the skin, cut it into strips, fry it, and continue.”

In Tuqiao Village, in the back kitchen of Zhang’s homestead, Zhang Xiaobao directs two cooks who are busy working there. If it weren’t for the fact that Zhang Xiaobao feels he can’t handle the chef’s knife, he wouldn’t need anyone else to cook. He believes his skills are a bit better.

“Alright, Xiaobao, your theory sounds impressive. You talk as if you know exactly what you’re doing,” Wang Juan says, watching Zhang Xiaobao frantically direct everything with a genuine smile of praise.

“I don’t think those words should come from you, General Wang, who learned to command. Do you mean that all those who study tactics at the military academy just rush to the front with guns in hand? I’m starting to worry that if we actually find some people to teach tactics, the most likely scenario is that the general won’t be sitting at the back holding the fort, but rather riding into battle and calling for messengers at the same time.” Zhang Xiaobao doesn’t mind at all. While directing how to cook, he still finds time to retort with body language.

“You’re right. It just occurred to me that there’s no real-time intelligence display system here, not even a map. The firepower deployment is also different, so I’ll have to rethink everything. That said, the focus right now should be on individual or small group combat matters. We must have strong long-range strike capabilities to effectively conduct infiltration and encirclement. Comrade Xiaobao, can you draw a map?” Wang Juan surprisingly does not argue back and nods to acknowledge her shortcomings.

“I can’t; I’ve never learned this stuff,” Zhang Xiaobao replies, sensing trouble based on his years of experience in deception.

Wang Juan leans her face close to Zhang Xiaobao and threatens, “Really can’t do it? Did you forget how to learn it back then? After a few more tries, you might get the hang of it. It’s okay if you can’t; I’ll teach you; I can do it.”

Wang Juan leans her face close to Zhang Xiaobao again and warns, “Enough of that. Don’t wait for the oil to heat up before adding the sugar, or it will burn. Put in the eggplant. Alright, once the last dish is finished, prepare some cold water and clear the table.”

Zhang Xiaobao chooses to selectively forget Wang Juan’s presence, giving one last order before turning to leave. As he passes the threshold, his usual vigilance falters, causing him to trip and almost fall. Fortunately, Wang Juan catches him.

“See, that’s what happens when you’re unfamiliar with the terrain,” Wang Juan says with a smile, pulling Zhang Xiaobao along.

The lunch is extraordinarily lavish, with eight dishes, a soup, and staple food.

When everything is served, apart from Wang Juan and Zhang Xiaobao, the four adults are dumbfounded—not because all the dishes contain eggplant, but because they can’t understand how Xiaobao manages to make so many different eggplant dishes.

“Eat, Mother, you eat. Wang Juan and I can handle ourselves. Except for the fried stuffed eggplant and the dry-fried eggplant, which aren’t easy to eat, everything else is fine,” Zhang Xiaobao says, directly picking up an eggplant box and placing it on his mother’s plate, encouraging her to eat.

Zhang Wangshi looks at the table full of eggplant dishes and nods, praising, “My son is impressive! What child can make eggplant look so dazzling?”

Zhang Xiaobao’s grandfather and grandmother also smile in agreement with Zhang Wangshi’s words. As a result, the four adults and two children finish off more than half of the dishes on the table.

Seeing that there is still some left, Zhang Xiaobao immediately regrets it. He just can’t bear to waste food after being hungry during those years of wandering.

“We can stew it together tonight; the two of us will eat,” Wang Juan understands Zhang Xiaobao and gestures from the side.

“Forget it; I’ll pay more attention in the future and try not to waste. Let’s handle it the way we used to,” Zhang Xiaobao replies helplessly.

Following the previous method, they pour out the leftover food to feed the pigs, some of which are eaten by the servants. This is something Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan do not want to see; after all, the servants are also human.

“We can eat this kind of food; it’s much better than when we were training,” Wang Juan continues to persuade him.

“I know. I once hide in the mountains while being wanted, surviving on wild roots and tree bark, but who would let us eat like that now?” Zhang Xiaobao doesn’t want to think about it any further. He stands up, greets his relatives, and walks out.

Two days might feel long or short, but when the first chick breaks free from its eggshell on the kang in that room at Xiaoniu estate, any wait seems acceptable.

Song Jinggong can hardly believe his eyes. It really is possible to use this thing called a kang to replace a hen in hatching chicks. In that moment, the chicks become golden to him. He doesn’t care how much each chick costs; what matters is that they have a method to hatch chicks.

He understands that this process is not as simple as it seems. There must be some trick to it. Imagining a future of great wealth, Song Jinggong looks at the woman with the birthmark on her face and finds her to possess a unique beauty.

Song Jinggong Rini also stares blankly as the chicks slowly dry off. Even if only two hundred chicks emerge, he will be happy. A thousand chicks seem to be within reach.

While everyone is gathered around watching the chicks, a voice suddenly calls out from outside.

“Is this the place? Can a thing called a kang really replace a hen for hatching?”

“Yes, sir, you’re right; it’s here,” comes the voice of what sounds like a servant.

Song Jinggong is taken aback and quickly reacts, turning to the old man sitting calmly and saying, “Old man, please don’t reveal this. I’ll pay you.”

“Isn’t that a bit inappropriate, Scholar Song Jinggong? Guests are guests when they enter,” the old man replies with narrowed eyes, just as another chick’s head pops out of one of the eggs on the kang.