106: Chapter 95: at Soup 106: Chapter 95: at Soup Zhou Wulang had brought a large cauldron, originally intended for boiling water to bathe at ho.
The other one for boiling the broth was smaller.
Zhou Wulang started a fire, knowing that the bones would need to stew for quite so ti to release their flavor.
But it was still early, and there was plenty of ti before the al, so he wasn’t in a hurry.
So as soon as the fire was lit, he let Sixth watch it while he went across to gather so firewood.
Boiling broth consus a lot of wood, and if they found more than needed, they could keep so for the next day or take it back ho—too much was never a concern.
Manbao was curious about everything and ended up following Zhou Wulang into the woods because Keke urged her to.
She dug up quite a few unfamiliar plants and tossed them to Keke, not caring whether the system had already recorded them or not.
The water boiled, and the bones tumbled around inside, slowly leaching out their rich oils.
Zhou Wulang sliced the fat with a bit of lean at into thin pieces and dropped them into the pot.
When the fragrance began to waft into the air, he then threw in the radishes he had prepared and covered the pot to continue simring.
The laborers who had slowly worked their way out on the road, slling the scent of at drifting in the air, felt their stomachs grumble and their limbs grow weak, their minds wandering from their work.
The yan runners cracked their whips and barked, “Back to work!
There’s still a long ti before we eat.
Hurry it up!”
In reality, there wasn’t much ti left.
Usually, everyone only ate two als a day, but servitude involved hard labor, so food was provided at three different tis each day.
The morning al relied on dry food everyone brought from ho.
The midday and the slightly later evening al were provided by the County Governntal Office, although the portions were small, and most still needed to rely on food brought from ho.
So couldn’t bring that much at once.
Every ten days, the County Governntal Office would give a half-day break to let people go ho to fetch more food.
They didn’t want laborers dying on the road either.
The reduction of local population would equally affect the performance review of a county magistrate.
The laborers mustered their remaining energy for one last burst of effort.
Finally, the al distributors arrived.
The yan runners, eager for their own als, banged their gongs, calling people to bring their bowls and chopsticks to collect their buns.
They dispersed hurriedly, running even faster than usual.
After collecting their buns, everyone headed back, all making their way towards the stove where Zhou Wulang and his group were cooking.
They didn’t say whether they would buy or not, but at least sniffing the aroma would make their cold buns taste better.
Zhou Sanlang actually wanted to leave as well, but he ran a bit slower.
By the ti it was his turn to get his bun, his co-workers had already run ahead.
Having retrieved his bun, he too started running towards that direction.
The yan runner, with a stern face, oversaw everyone collecting their buns.
Each person was checked off on a roster after receiving one, ensuring that there was no confusion and that the leftovers would be theirs.
The yan runner who brought the als also caught the sll of at in the air and asked, “Where’s this coming from?”
The yan runner replied, “It’s specially made by the family of a laborer, who’s worried about him suffering hardships.”
The yan runner scoffed, “What, they have too much money to spend?
With that money, they might as well pay for a substitute service.”
“Five taels of silver!
Who else but rich families can afford that kind of money?” The yan runner reluctantly said, “That’s from a poor family, they just know how to care about others, that’s all.”
The inquisitive yan runner didn’t ask further but cautioned, “Keep a close watch on them.
Don’t let anything go wrong.
Last year in the neighboring county, it’s said a laborer couldn’t bear it and tried to flee.
Hmph, they’re all registered with nas and addresses, so can they escape?
The monks may run, but can the monastery run as well?
Turned out, two county clerks got injured.
You better not let your n start rebelling too.”
“Don’t worry, it won’t happen.
They are all really honest,” the runner assured.
After this exchange, the yan runner watched the al distributor leave and then took the remaining cold buns for himself and went over with his own bowl.
Though they were yan runners, their food was no different from the laborers’.
The only difference was that, while the laborers had to bring their own dry food to fill their stomachs, the runners didn’t need to, subsisting on the buns provided by the County Governntal Office.
Cold buns and cold water all the sa.
Only those assigned to the county town and township had it slightly better, with so colleagues from well-to-do hos bringing at-filled buns for themselves.
Manbao had been eagerly waiting.
As soon as the gong rang, she had Zhou Wulang ladle out the richest broth into a bowl, with several pieces of at and radish in it.
Then she set it aside, intending to save it for her favorite Third Brother.
No sooner had she placed the bowl on the donkey cart than the laborers who had dashed over arrived.
They ca quickly, but upon reaching the stove, they peered longingly, not buying anything.
Zhou Wulang, having sold goods in the county town before, thickened his skin and called out to them, “Big brothers, would any of you like to buy a bowl to try?”
One of the laborers called out loudly, “Does it really have at, or are you just fooling us?”
But he couldn’t help sniffing the rich aroma in the air and swallowing his saliva.
Another laborer pushed forward bluntly, eager to see the at in the cauldron for himself.
His rough movent jostled Zhou Liulang standing by, causing him to stagger and nearly fall to the ground.
Watching this, Manbao suddenly felt afraid for so reason.
In her mind, Keke clanged a warning, “Host, you need to calm them down.”
The hungry laborers behind the man, seeing him push soone, were about to reach for the ladle.
They too stepped forward restlessly, squeezing closer.
Zhou Wulang’s expression changed slightly.
Without bothering to help his brother up, he grabbed the ladle the laborer was holding, preventing him from acting rashly.
Manbao charged over from where she was waiting by the donkey cart like a small calf, bridging the short distance in just a few strides.
She stood in front of the laborer, raising her face to him, “Big brother Lu, do you want to buy so at soup?
Two wen a bowl, nice and hot.”
Bai Shanbao, who had just learned how to tend the fire and had been squatting at the front of the cauldron, stood by Zhou Wulang’s feet.
He raised his cat-like face towards the laborer, showing a row of tiny teeth, “Big brother Lu, this at soup is cooked by us.
It’s really delicious.
You’ve definitely never tasted anything so good.
When you finish your service and go ho, you can even take a bowl back for your son.”
Manbao added, “And for your father and mother too.”
The two children had precisely inquired about him; they both had good mories, thus they rembered his na and family situation.
Big brother Lu looked down at the two children whose eyes were clear and earnest, their pupils gleaming.
A sudden sense of unease welled up in him, and he subconsciously reached into his pocket.
Producing two wen, he said, “Well then, I’ll try a bowl.”
Indeed, he had co to buy soup.
How nice would it be to have sothing warm in such cold weather, and besides, two wen wasn’t expensive.
Manbao took the money, looked up and smiled sweetly at him, then asked Fifth Brother to serve him the soup.
Zhou Wulang’s palms were sweaty, but now he wore a cheerful smile as he took Big brother Lu’s bowl and stirred the soup before ladling out a serving.
Seeing soone make a purchase, everyone instantly stopped pressing forward, though they were not in a hurry to buy.
Instead, they eagerly watched Big brother Lu, waiting to hear his opinion.
While two wen weren’t much, and everyone could afford it, the soup had to be worth the money.
Big brother Lu cautiously sipped the soup, his eyes lighting up as he smiled and said, “It’s really quite good.”
Those who knew him squeezed in closer to take a look.
Seeing the grease floating on the surface and a piece of at in the soup, their eyes brightened, and they eagerly pushed forward to get a bowl.
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