“No problem!” Boss Wang waved his hand. “Anyone dares to rush you, I’ll beat them!”
Saying that, he plopped down on a nearby rock, keeping his eyes fixed on Shen Shuangshuang as she worked.
The surrounding people were stunned. Shen Yaozu muttered, “This Shen Shuangshuang really knows how to curry favor—she even dares to serve the officials.”
Li pulled at him quickly. “Don’t speak carelessly, or the officials might hear you and beat you.”
Shen Shuangshuang first let the frozen pork thaw by the fire, then added some water to the pot to bring it to a boil.
While doing this, she secretly dropped two drops of spiritual spring water into the pot.
It would remove the meat’s raw smell and make it cook more tender.
Boss Wang didn’t notice her small trick, only impatiently urging, “Hurry up! I’m starving!”
“No rush, good food doesn’t fear being late,” Shen Shuangshuang replied calmly.
Once the meat thawed, she cut it into pieces, blanched it briefly in boiling water to remove blood foam, then stir-fried it to release the fat before adding the officials’ coarse soy sauce and salt.
Though the seasonings were simple, the spiritual spring water quickly brought out a rich aroma.
Just as the meat was stewing, Shen Jiaojiao timidly approached. “Shuangshuang… can I help with the fire? I don’t need pay, I just want to smell the meat.”
Before Shen Shuangshuang could respond, Boss Wang kicked her. “What little brat is this? Get out of here! Don’t be in the way!”
Shen Jiaojiao cried loudly, running back to Zhang.
Zhang, distressed but afraid to make trouble with the officials, snapped at Shen Shuangshuang, “You little wretch, you’re letting the officials bully my daughter!”
Shen Shuangshuang paused, giving her a cold glance. “She came over herself. What’s it got to do with me? Besides, if your daughter wants meat, why don’t you cook it?”
“We don’t have any meat!” Zhang stomped her feet. “It’s all your fault! You hid all the Hou mansion’s silver—otherwise, how could we not even afford meat?”
Boss Wang overheard that and his eyes narrowed. “What did you say? They hid the Hou mansion’s silver?”
Zhang straightened, eager to explain. “Yes, Boss Wang! During the Hou mansion’s raid, Yaowen hid 500,000 taels of gold, surely stolen by their branch! Otherwise, where would they get money for buns and meat?”
Zhou quickly chimed in: “Exactly! That girl even said she saw Yaowen’s secret room—it was full of treasures. Now it must be in their hands!”
Boss Wang’s gaze sharpened, locking onto Shen Shuangshuang. “Is that true? You really hid gold?”
Shen Yaozong sprang up, the shackles clanging against the stone. “Pure nonsense! Anyone knows what life was like in our branch of the Hou mansion. We ate rotten food and wore rags. How could we hide gold?”
“Exactly.”
Shen Shuangshuang rested the spatula in the pot. “Boss Wang, think about it—if we really had 500,000 taels of gold, would we be cooking meat for you here? We’d have run far away already! They just saw us buy buns and meat, got jealous, and made up lies to frame us.”
Boss Wang stroked his chin, finding her logic reasonable.
He glanced at Zhang and Zhou—both in rags, even without decent shoes. If they really had gold, they wouldn’t look so destitute.
Shen Shuangshuang’s family looked ordinary, but healthy and rosy-faced. Especially Xiang Meimei, pregnant yet looking well—hardly the appearance of someone hoarding treasures.
“I think you’re just trying to swindle people,” Boss Wang said.
He stood, kicking Zhang’s backside. “If you keep lying, I’ll add ten pounds to your shackles!”
Zhang dropped to the ground in fright. Zhou shut her mouth, both seething with resentment toward Shen Shuangshuang.
Shen Shuangshuang used the opportunity to ladle the braised pork into the officials’ bowl. “Boss Wang, the meat is ready. Simple seasonings, but not bad.”
Boss Wang took a bite, the tender, juicy pork going down smoothly. His eyes lit up. “Not bad, not bad. Better than the old cooks in the kitchen.”
The tall official joined, and soon both devoured the bowl of meat and five buns.
Boss Wang wiped his mouth, handing Shen Shuangshuang the remaining buns. “This is for the meat. From now on, you cook for us—we won’t forget your help.”
Shen Shuangshuang smiled, refusing the buns. “Boss Wang, this meat isn’t worth paying for. If you need anything on the road, just ask. We’re poor, but we can help.”
She knew those buns were trivial; cultivating goodwill with the officials was far more valuable.
Boss Wang’s eyes brightened. “Smart girl! From now on, mention my name if you need anything.”
He pulled out keys from his waist, approached Shen Yaozong, and said, “Your shackles are rubbed raw. Let me loosen them.”
Click! The shackles opened. Shen Yaozong immediately felt relief, gratefully thanking him.
He moved his neck, relieved of the twenty-pound weight.
Grinning at Shen Shuangshuang and Xiang Meimei, he said, “Nothing beats this comfort—thanks to my daughter’s braised pork.”
The surrounding prisoners stared, especially the other branches of the Shen family. Seeing Shen Yaozong’s empty neck, their faces turned green.
The earlier aroma of cooking had already made them envious. Now, seeing the officials loosen the shackles just for Shen Yaozong, tempers flared.
“Why him? We can cook too!”
“My wife’s cooking is ten times better than hers. Officer, let her make you a good meal and loosen my shackles!”
“Me too! My concubine can cook a full Manchu-Han feast—try it, officer!”
The men crowded around Boss Wang, eager to push their women forward, jealous beyond measure.
Boss Wang, full from the braised pork and enjoying himself, got annoyed. He kicked the frontmost person. “Quiet! This isn’t a tavern! What were you doing before? Only now you want attention?”
He glanced at the remaining meat sauce in the pot, voice sharper: “Not every dish gets my approval! Clear out, or I’ll add ten pounds to your shackles!”
The prisoners didn’t dare speak, stepping aside but still eyeing Shen Yaozong jealously.
Shen Shuangshuang ignored them, swiftly packing up the stove. “Father, help load the things onto the cart. The officials will urge us soon.”
Xiang Meimei also rose, supporting her belly. “Right, better finish while it’s still calm, or the officer will get impatient.”