Chang’an Small Restaurant Chapter 109 (Part 2)
Please note before reading—the term Ancestor (祖宗) in chinese was originally referred to a young master in the context of a servant expressing anxiousness, but over time, it has evolved into a term used by parents or adults to express a mix of exasperation and affection toward a person/child. The term carries a complex, ambivalent emotional tone—expressing both frustration and fondness. It can refer to a child who does not listen to instructions but whose actions are not severe enough to warrant harsh punishment. The adult may feel helpless but must yield to the child's wishes, unable to "reprimand" them in a serious way. It is a way of both scolding and showing care.
Translated by Pure
Chapter 109.2 Extra Two
<The Hundred Day Celebration>
Much like the reasoning behind giving children cheap names for ease of raising them, the Lin Residence, a prominent gentry clan, referred to their child merely as ‘eldest child’ without assigning any pet name. The Hundred Day Celebration banquet for the Lin Residence's eldest child was not particularly extravagant, but the attendees were of the highest caliber—chancellors, ministers, and deputy ministers, all esteemed figures from the court.
Numerous gifts flooded in, including one sent by the Emperor himself via a eunuch.
In the inner chambers, Princess Imperial of Fuhui and the other noble madams gathered. Shen Shaoguang brought her baby out for them to admire. At a hundred days old, the child had already moved past the red-skinned stage and was now a plump little thing. With such good-looking parents, how could the child be anything less than adorable?
The older madams eagerly wanted to hold him, while the younger ones playfully teased him. Eldest Young Master Lin furrowed his tiny brow, wearing a serious expression.
Princess Imperial of Fuhui chuckled and remarked to Shen Shaoguang, "He doesn't resemble you at all."
The madam of Li Yue added with a laugh, "He's a spitting image of his father." She then turned to Elder Madam Jiang, saying, "In just a few years, we'll have another Tanghua Envoy on our hands."
However, Shen Shaoguang knew that this was merely the prelude to the little ancestor's impending cries, and sure enough, he let out a loud "Wah—!"
The madam of Li Yue quickly patted him and returned the baby to Shen Shaoguang.
Shen Shaoguang smiled and said, "He must be hungry."
The women urged in unison, "Quick, go feed him! Don’t let him go hungry."
Shen Shaoguang offered a slight bow to Princess Imperial of Fuhui and the senior ladies, nodding to the younger ones before returning to the inner chamber with her maids.
Among the young ladies was a familiar face—Fifth Young Lady Qin. Although she had been betrothed early, the grandson of the Duke of Xinyang was in filial mourning for an extended ancestor, her marriage occurred somewhat later than that of Lin Yan and Shen Shaoguang. Reflecting on the moment when the little infant frowned just now, it did indeed resemble... As she reminisced, Fifth Young Lady Qin smiled softly—those were the days of pure foolishness.
After the Hundred Day Celebration banquet, the servants and maids began to tidy up the various gifts brought by guests. Shen Shaoguang's gaze landed on a remarkably lifelike jade monkey carving from Shao Jie, and she couldn’t help but laugh. Was this his way of wishing that my son would be just as mischievous?
Among the gifts was one from Li Xu, the fourth son of the late Prince of Wu, who had recently been granted the title of Commandery Prince of Huainan.
Following the reexamination of the Prince of Wu case, the court sent emissaries south to bring back the vassal king's sons—only the fourth and fifth son remained. Unfortunately, they could only locate the fifth son, as Li Xu had only arrived in Chang'an this spring.
Shen Shaoguang had met him once; their connection stemmed not only from the ties between the Prince of Wu and the Shen Residence, but also because of Yu San.
Although Shen Shaoguang had returned his life contract to Yu San, he continued to live in her residence, managing various affairs for her.
Li Xu had the traditional good looks associated with the Li Clan, yet he lacked the dandy, dissipated air that Shen Shaoguang had anticipated—she could never forget Princess Yu San’s remark about the ‘exchange for a Feast of Fish’.
Upon seeing Li Xu, Yu San's eyes lit up momentarily before he reverted to his usual nonchalance, embodying the attitude of "Who are you? Who am I? Who cares?"
Shen Shaoguang left them to catch up and made her way to the door, where faint voices drifted from within.
"Ancestor, I've finally found you. I genuinely thought you had been taken to Shouxiang City," Li Xu's voice drifted through.
"The court's people didn't locate you? Did you go to Shouxiang City? Weren't you supposed to marry a new wife? Duke Liu said—"
"Do you really believe that? Are you out of your mind? I mean, I am the one who's out of my mind..."
Shen Shaoguang chuckled softly, deciding to let it go; it was all just a part of their fates.
…
After some time, the Lin Residence received a belated gift for the Hundred Day Celebration banquet. It was sent by Cui Jing, son of the late Minister Cui. Lin Yan had no secrets from Shen Shaoguang and handed her the letter.
"…Arrival of a guest from the capital, bearing a letter from my junior brother, bearing the joyful news of the birth of a son. My heart swells with happiness… This senior brother has a scholar’s inkstone, a gift from the esteemed Teacher Suyuan from years past. Though it may not be a famous inkstone from the previous dynasty, it carries the legacy of a great scholar, and I wish to present it to your eldest son…" The letter featured a font often featured in wei steles[1], simple yet bearing a rustic-inelegance, with a heartfelt quality. It continued for several pages, sharing personal news and inquiring about Lin Yan's well-being. It was all quite casual, suggesting a deep and sincere friendship between the two.
Seeing Lord Cui Jing refer to himself as a "wretched body" in the letter, Shen Shaoguang recalled what she had heard from Uncle Chu about Lin Yan's assistance to the Cui family.
At that time, due to his poem "Criticizing the Imperial Carriage," Minister Cui was sentenced to two years in exile, while his son received a year’s sentence, both sent to the remote lands of the southwest. The women of the household was taken into the Lateral Courts. It was Lin Yan and several close friends who actively intervened, stirring the usually cautious Chancellor Chen's compassion. He pleaded their case before the Emperor, resulting in a reduced sentence for Minister Cui and his son to a location much closer, Ping Prefecture. Shen Shaoguang also recalled that at that time, Cui Jing had been suffering from malaria, which allowed him a reprieve; otherwise, he might not have survived the journey and could have lost his life. Not long after, the late emperor passed away, and the new ruler granted amnesty, allowing Cui Jing to return home. However, by then, Minister Cui had already passed away, and Young Lady Cui had also tragically succumbed.
This information was dug up by Chu Di after knowing the relationship between Lin Yan and Shen Shaoguang. His intent was to enlighten her about Lin Yan's character and his entanglements with the Cui Residence. Shen Shaoguang recalled that Uncle Chu had once remarked on Lin Yan, "He may appear aloof, but he is, in truth, a man of loyalty and deep affection."
Shen Shaoguang returned the letter to Lin Yan, smiling as she said, "We should remind that little rascal to take care of it and not waste such a fine gift."
Lin Yan smiled back, "If he breaks it, I'll give him a spanking."
…
<Father’s Return from His Travels>
When Eldest Young Master Lin turned three, he finally received his formal name: Changling (长龄; long life). This name surprised Shen Shaoguang; she had thought Lin Yan would want to bestow some expectation of virtue or achievement upon their child. Instead, it was so simple, reflecting a wish for nothing more than his safety and longevity.
Unfortunately, shortly after Lin Changling was named, his father was appointed Minister of Justice and tasked as an envoy to Jiangnan, which meant he would be away for more than a year.
Lin Changling was a handsome little boy, typically quiet but occasionally capable of endless chatter. Shen Shaoguang discovered that he had a particularly vivid imagination; upon seeing a group of ants carrying a plump caterpillar, he would spin tales of generals and soldiers, allies and enemies. This delighted Shen Shaoguang, as she felt proud of her genetic legacy, believing that even if their child didn't excel in other areas, he could always write chuánqí stories to make a living.
Lin Yan's colleagues were quite thoughtful; every so often, they would inquire if there were any letters to send to Jiangnan. Along with the family correspondence, they would include Lin Changling's little masterpiece—"The Ants' Hunting Adventure."
The drawing, created with charcoal sticks made from willow twigs, featured bold, expressive strokes that allowed for some recognition of the shapes. Alongside it were various annotations from Shen Shaoguang, which together with the illustrations managed to convey the little boy's story.
Later, they received a reply that included a revised version of his "homework," with additional plot elements added by his father. What had started as a simple tale now had a clear structure of exposition, development, and resolution. Lin Changling loved this revised version dearly, stammering and guessing as he tried to read the words accompanying the images. He would pester Shen Shaoguang to recount the story of the ants hunting, using both the drawings and the letter for reference, repeating it over and over.
Occasionally, Shen Shaoguang would embellish the tale, enriching it with more details and transforming the narrative from a children's cartoon into a comic book, and eventually into something akin to a novella.
Perhaps it was due to their correspondence, or perhaps because Shen Shaoguang often remarked, "Your father loves you the most, my dear eldest child," that Lin Changling, though initially feeling a bit estranged from his father, quickly grew comfortable again after sharing the story and playing a game.
As he played cuju[2] with Lin Yan, sweat poured down Lin Changling's forehead. Whenever Shen Shaoguang called out to him, wanting to wipe his brow and drink some water, he waved her off, eager to continue playing.
Shen Shaoguang teased him, "Your father has just returned, and yet you’re ignoring your mother!"
Lin Changling clutched the ball and reasoned with her, "I just want to play cuju!"
"But when you usually play with A'Yuan and A'Qing, you never behave like this."
Lin Changling finally spoke the truth: "It’s more fun to play with Father."
"Is it not fun to play with A'Yuan and the others?"
He liked A'Yuan as well but insisted, "It’s fun, but playing cuju with Father is even better."
Unfortunately, his affection for his father waned as bedtime approached. "It’s getting late; you should go to bed, Father," he said.
Lin Yan looked at his son. "I’ll sleep right here."
"But this is my and Mother’s bed."
Lin Yan reasoned with him, "Eldest child is already a big boy; it's not appropriate for you to sleep with your mother anymore."
"But Father is even bigger," Lin Changling replied, wrapping his arms around his mother's.
Seeing his defensive posture, Lin Yan couldn't help but laugh as he sat on the bed, contemplating a gentle approach.
Before he could respond, Lin Changling interjected, "As Mother says, ‘first come, first served’."
Lin Yan: "……"
Shen Shaoguang burst into hearty laughter.
Lin Changling furrowed his brow, casting a reproachful glance at his mother.
Shen Shaoguang quickly added, "Eldest child is right."
Lin Changling beamed with a smile reminiscent of his father's proud expression.
"With such a large bed, does eldest child truly not wish to share a bit with Father?" Lin Yan adjusted his approach.
Lin Changling, sensing his father's determination, thought it over and ultimately decided to make a concession. "Then—Father will sleep here? Is that alright, Mother?"
Shen Shaoguang ‘reluctantly’ nodded, "Alright, let him sleep here."
Lin Changling lay down between his parents. Initially harboring some resentment toward his father, he gradually let it go as he listened to the bedtime stories being told. Finally at peace, he grasped the hem of his father's clothing with one hand and wrapped the other around his mother's arm, drifting off to sleep.
Lin Yan gently carried him to the bed in the adjacent room, tucked him in, kissed his little face, and then returned to the couple's bedroom.
Shen Shaoguang chuckled.
Lin Yan gave a resigned smile in return. He stepped closer and tightly embraced his wife, pausing for a moment before saying, "A'Ji, I truly missed you."
Nestled in his arms, Shen Shaoguang replied softly, "Lin Yan, I missed you too."
.
.
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Footnotes:
[1] wei steles (魏碑) - refers to the calligraphic works of the Northern Wei Dynasty and other Northern Dynasties during the period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties in China. The surviving examples of Wei Stele are primarily in the regular script (楷书), which is why these works are sometimes referred to as "魏楷" (Wei regular script). These inscriptions primarily exist in the forms of "stone steles" (石碑), "epitaphs" (墓志铭), "cliff carvings" (摩崖), and "inscriptions on sculptures" (造像记), and they are important historical and cultural artifacts.
Source: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E9%AD%8F%E7%A2%91
[2] cuju (蹴鞠) - refers to an ancient Chinese ball game. The term "蹴" signifies actions like kicking, treading, or striking with the foot, while "鞠" originally referred to a ball made of leather with an inner filling of rice husks. The game was popular in ancient China, particularly during the Tang and Song dynasties, and is considered a precursor to modern football/soccer.
