Twilight arrived, and the villagers happily carried lamb meat and lamb soup back home. Li Yao's family also sat together around the table.
Li Yao had a carpenter make a round table with a hole in the middle, and asked a blacksmith to make a pot. Now the pot sat on the table above a coal fire. The soup had started boiling, and the familiar smell of hot pot made Li Yao feel like her soul would leave her body.
"Let's eat!"
Li Yao picked up a slice of tripe and put it in the pot, silently counting to 10 seconds, then quickly fished it out.
She dipped it in the small dish of scallions, garlic paste, and sesame oil, then immediately put it in her mouth.
The familiar numb, spicy, crispy sensation.
But she suddenly realized the children and Song Zhe still hadn't picked up their chopsticks.
"Why aren't you eating?"
"Can we really eat it after just scalding it briefly?" He Xiaoya asked. "Won't it be raw?"
Looks like she'd have to eat and teach at the same time.
"Different foods need to be cooked for different lengths of time. Scald the tripe for 10 counts."
He Xiaoya followed her instructions, scalding a slice of tripe, then carefully put it in her mouth. Her expression then became rather strange, a bit pained, a bit enjoying it, but mostly surprised.
"Although it's spicy and numb, it's so fragrant and crispy. Makes me want to keep eating it."
Seeing she wasn't afraid, the others also followed suit.
At first they ate carefully, not quite used to the spicy flavor, but gradually they got over their fear.
Just like He Xiaoya said, it made them want to keep eating!
The table full of ingredients visibly decreased at a rapid pace.
"Mother, how many counts for the lamb?"
"What about the goose intestine?"
"The duck stomach is cooked, hurry and eat it!"
...
"Mrs. Li! Open the door!"
Right after finishing the delicious hot pot, a woman's voice sounded outside the door.
Dazhuang opened the door to find it was the maid Xiaocui of the county magistrate's wife.
"I have an urgent matter to discuss with Mrs. Li."
Dazhuang led Xiaocui inside, but she refused to speak in front of everyone. Li Yao then called her into the bedroom.
"Mrs. Li," Xiaocui said anxiously, "the county magistrate has run into trouble!"
It turned out when the county magistrate returned today, he discovered the official county seal was missing. He knew someone must be trying to frame him, and could guess who was behind it, but unfortunately he absolutely could not make a big fuss about this.
If the theft of the county seal got out and was verified, not only would he lose his position, but he'd also end up in prison.
And the thief who stole the seal must also clearly understand this, which is why they dared to act so boldly.
After thinking hard, the county magistrate still couldn't come up with a good solution, so later under the prompting of his wife, he sent Xiaocui to find Li Yao.
"The mistress said that Mrs. Li is extremely wise, and certainly could come up with a good plan. Also, in Baichuan County, she's the only one we can trust," Xiaocui said. "I beg Mrs. Li to please help the master, I kneel before you..."
"Don't kneel!" Li Yao quickly helped her up. "It's not that big of a deal."
Xiaocui was overjoyed: "So Mrs. Li already has a plan?"
It was just an official seal. As long as she knew the general goal, Li Yao could easily take it back.
Also, this county magistrate really was a rare good official.
"Let's go to the county office now."
When Li Yao arrived, the county magistrate couple was anxious as ants on a hot pan.
The county magistrate's wife had cried so much even her eyes were swollen. The county magistrate also kept sighing: "I really didn't expect that in order to overthrow me, someone would dare to act so recklessly!"
"Miss Li," the county magistrate's wife tightly grasped Li Yao's hands. "This time whether our family's master lives or dies all depends on you."
"It's no big deal for me, at worst I'd be exiled 3,000 li," the county magistrate said. "But with me gone, I'm afraid those unfinished roads and reservoirs will..." In the end the common people will suffer."
"Lord County Magistrate," Li Yao said, "don't be overly worried. I have a plan that will not only safely retrieve the official seal..."
"Truly?"
"You just need to tell me who is most likely to have stolen the seal."
The county magistrate couple exchanged a glance, then finally said: "Today every person at the county office went out with me, only the vice magistrate Yu took leave."
Vice Magistrate Yu?
In Li Yao's mind instantly appeared a rat-eyed face.
The vice magistrate was also an official appointed by the court, chosen from among the local examination graduates and tribute students. But in a remote place like Baichuan County where almost no one had ever passed the exams, the position was generally filled by prestigious local gentry and external officials.
Vice Magistrate Yu was a famous wealthy gentry of Baichuan County and had held the position for over 10 years.
Li Yao described her plan. The county magistrate couple was overjoyed to hear it.
"Mrs. Li, such an ingenious plan could only be thought of by you!" the county magistrate said. "But that Yu fellow will surely be on guard. I wonder who Mrs. Li plans to send to retrieve the seal?"
"You needn't worry about that. I'll make arrangements."
...
Li Yao left the county office by a back door, then under the night's cover went to Vice Magistrate Yu's residence.
As a wealthy gentry, Yu's home was a massive five-section courtyard residence. She climbed over the back wall onto the roof, and found Yu's study.
At that time there were several oil lamps lit in the study, and voices could be heard talking inside. Li Yao gently lifted a few roof tiles to get a full view of the scene below.
"Congratulations Vice Magistrate Yu, you've achieved great merit this time!" It was Zhang Guangsheng, owner of Zhang's Restaurant.
"I've already sent someone to swiftly pass on the news, the prefect will know about it tomorrow," Zhang Liao said. "By then the prefect can easily convict him of crimes!"
"That Song fellow will never get back on his feet again in this life!"
...
Listening to their conversation, Li Yao roughly grasped what was going on. No wonder Yu dared to act so boldly, even stealing the official seal. It turned out he had the covert support of the prefect.
Li Yao waited on the roof until midnight, then soundlessly sneaked into the study and took the official seal locked in a box. She then swiftly returned to the county office.
The county magistrate couple had made preparations. Seeing her finally return, they hurriedly asked: "Did you succeed?"
Li Yao handed the seal to the county magistrate. Only then did the huge stone weighing down the couple's hearts finally land on the ground.
"But the prefect secretly orchestrated this matter."
The county magistrate was shocked to find the prefect was also involved.
"It's the same everywhere, I see," the county magistrate sighed lightly. "Although my office is lowly, I cannot allow him to act so improperly. I will petition this to His Majesty right away!"
"Wait until we obtain evidence," Li Yao said. "Have you found the person you asked for?"
"He's been waiting a while."
Li Yao had the county magistrate find a blacksmith. She wanted to make a replica of the official seal to look as real as possible.
The one found was an old blacksmith surnamed Xu. In his youth he had been the most famous artisan in Baichuan County, but now over 60 years old, his strength and skills had long declined. He had languished idle at home for several years.
Old Man Xu didn't ask many questions. As he melted the brass, he used the real seal to make a mold. Soon a replica seal was produced.
Next was polishing and artificial aging.
With abundant experience and consummate skills, he finished it before dawn.
Li Yao took the two seals, along with a forged letter, and once again went to Vice Magistrate Yu's residence. She put the fake seal back in its original place in the study, and hid the real seal and letter in a cabinet in Yu's bedroom.
After completing this, her mission was accomplished.
"Mr. Xu," after returning to the county office, Li Yao said to the old blacksmith. "My home happens to need some items made. Please come stay with us for a few days."
Old Man Xu understood she was worried he might let something slip, so without hesitation he followed Li Yao back to Hejiang Village.
Meanwhile, the county magistrate's side busily made arrangements according to Li Yao's plan.