Chang’an Small Restaurant Chapter 41 (Part 2)
Translated by Pure
Chapter 41.2 Knowledge of Deputy Magistrate’s Residence
The two silently made their way to the Elder Madam's courtyard.
Elder Madam Jiang's eyes lit up at the sight of Shen Shaoguang. "Is this the proprietress of Shen Indelible?" Elder Madam Jiang was very clear headed today and did not mistake Shen Indelible for another tavern from Kaifeng, Jiangnan, or Hedong that had existed decades ago.
Shen Shaoguang had recently grown habituated to the worshiping gaze gourmands would give when they meet a ‘michelin’ chef. She stepped forward and calmly performed the proper ceremonies. "Great blessings to you, Elder Madam."
"Miss is of magnificent character and great graceful bearing." Elder Madam Jiang grasped with high praise.
Shen Shaoguang curved her eyes. "You flatter me."
Elder Madam Jiang looked at Shen Shaoguang and smiled. "I am of advanced age, and my appetite has also deteriorated, but every time they purchase something from your establishment, I can always eat a little more. This time I’ve troubled you to personally cook congee and deliver it over, I can’t thank you enough, Miss.”
"It brings me great joy that my culinary skills have earned Elder Madam’s favor."
As they continued to speak to and fro, Chef Shen Shaoguang and the Diner Elder Madam Jiang’s topic soon turned to food.
From the few specialty dishes of Shen Indelible, to dangerous food combinations, to the correct order of eating meals, to holiday meals, the two jubilantly chatted back and forth. Elder Madam Jiang’s face beamed with delight and Shen Shaoguang also faintly smiled, not forgetting to add some witty remarks from time to time.
Lin Yan watched and listened. It was a rare sight for his grandmother to speak in such high spirits; Miss Shen's gentle, respectful and considerate demeanor was also surprising. Compared to her way with words in the corridor just now, Lin Yan reflected on himself— Could the problem be perhaps me?
Shen Shaoguang then instructed Elder Madam Jiang and her servants how to make walnut puree, as well as her revised method of eight-treasure congee. Lest one day the old lady would have another craving, putting their private kitchen in a bind again.
"The taste is off because the ingredients were cooked in the incorrect order."
"The beans, gorgon nut, adlay millet, and other tougher grains must be cooked first. After about an hour, add rice, corn, and other ordinary cereals into the boil. Once two more hours pass, the red dates can be added into the mixture..."
The servants and maids all listened carefully, trying to memorize it to heart, so that they could repeat it to the cook later.
"...Once the concoction has thickened in consistency, then it should be just about done, you can then add some sugar to taste. As for pine nuts, hazelnuts, and other fruits, these are added as toppings prior to serving the congee. In this way, the things that need to be soft are soft, and then crunchy bits remain crunchy. This way, the various ingredients are 'harmonized, but still distinct’. If they were thrown together all at the same time, then it would have been ‘indistinctive, but lacking harmony’." Shen Shaoguang, as a former gourmet food editor, habitually wrapped up her ideas with a theoretical conclusion.
Elder Madam Jiang applauded and praised, "Your words are akin to a philosopher's expression of opinion, Miss. It’s no wonder ordinary chefs find it difficult to hold a candle to you!" She then added, "It’s practical to call this congee ‘Eight Treasure Congee’, but it would be better to call it 'Gentlemens’ Congee'. ‘Harmonized, but still distinct’, that is the way of a gentleman[1]."
Shen Shaoguang truly believed that Elder Madam Jiang had a knack for naming dishes; both her interpretations and name designation paid particular attention to ‘faithfulness, expressiveness and elegance’. As soon as the name 'Gentlemens’ Congee' is publicized, would the people who consume this congee also conscientiously envelop a sense of noble character?
Grandma and Miss Shen actually spoke about food to the <Doctrine Of The Mean>, akin to the Qingtan Discussions[2] during the Wei (220-265) and Jin (265-420) Dynasties. Lin Yan looked at the two people chatting happily and smiled helplessly.
After chatting with Elder Madam Jiang for some time, Shen Shaoguang looked at the darkening before getting up to bid goodbye.
Elder Madam Jiang personally walked her to the door and said with a smile, "I haven't been able to talk so happily for a while. If you ever are bored, please feel free to frequent my place, Miss."
Shen Shaoguang nodded. "Elder Madam, no need to see me out, I’ll come to visit you in the future."
The Elder Madam asked the maid beside her to see Shen Shaoguang out.
The maid carried the food box and only handed it to Shen Shaoguang when they reached the entrance of the Lin Residence. She thanked her with a smile, and Shen Shaoguang also politely responded.
After exiting the corner gate, Shen Shaoguang looked back one last time before slowly making her way back to the tavern.
After returning to the store, she opened the food box to find four small silver ingots in an embroidered coin purse. Two were in the shape of tree peonies, while the other pair were in the shape of small fish. They looked brand new, probably just made for the New Year. Each one weighed about half a tael, which totaled up to two taels all together.
When compared to the meal money and gratuity given by Deputy Magistrate Lin, Shen Shaoguang felt the distinct difference between the wisdom obtained from age. Elder Madam was just much more high class.
When she was dismissed from the imperial palace, Shen Shaoguang's savings had been reduced to a small fraction. Following the dismissal, she had spent money from left to right, to the point that not a single one of these easy-to-handle gold and silver ingots remained. Although she was in a profitable business now, none of the money in her possession was as fancy and beautiful as these. When the New Year comes around, I can give these to A’Yuan and the others as festive money.
Back in the Lin Residence, Lin Yan continued to spend time talking to his grandmother.
After her previous burst of energy, Elder Madam Jiang was actually a little tired now, but for her grandson, she was more than willing to chat.
Lin Yan helped adjust the deerskin blanket around her body, and slowly talked to his paternal grandmother with a smile.
"The maidens of this generation are all exceptional. For example, that young lady we met a while ago—what was her surname again, as well as the proprietress of Shen Indelible, they are both attractive and elegant."
The servant woman next to her chuckled and reminded, "Elder Madam you forgot again, her surname is Qin, and she is the fifth young lady of Chancellor Qin's family." She glanced at Lin Yan, and whispered to the Elder Madam not to mention a commoner on equal terms with a potential granddaughter-in-law candidate. "Although Miss Shen is good, she can't be compared with the young lady of the Qin Residence."
Elder Madam Jiang nodded and ruefully smiled. "Identity and family's social status can be changed at will; it’s rather boring. However, when it comes to marriage prospects, such matters can't be ignored. Such is a norm in every household, incomprehensible to all."
Lin Yan inexplicably had the urge to explain to his grandmother, "The proprietress of Shen Indelible is from the Shen Clan of Luoyang, it's just her family had suffered a reversal in fortune."
Not only Elder Madam Jiang, but even the present servants were all taken aback. Though the servants were not only surprised about Miss Shen's past history, but also— how was their Master aware of such matters?
On the contrary, Elder Madam Jiang recalled the trials and hardships she had experienced in the past. Although she was old and sometimes muddleheaded, there were some things that stayed with her like ever-lasting scars, things that couldn't be erased no matter how many years passed.
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The author has something to say:
Deputy Magistrate Lin: A’Ji, please forgive me! From now on, I will be your (bed) warmer, please don’t disdain me!
Shen Shaoguang: Ha!
—
Footnotes:
[1] ‘Harmonized, but still distinct’, that is the way of a gentleman’ (和而不同) - This phrase comes from the Analects of Confucius, but the known translation doesn't work well for food, so I changed it, most may recognize the official translation: 'affable, but not adulatory'. Just to dumb it down, Confucius believed that a superior man (gentleman) will unite with people on principle and will never follow others blindly, and he will agree with others without being an echo.
[2] Qingtan Discussions (清談) - A Chinese philosophical movement and social practice among political and intellectual elites which developed during the Wei-Jin period and continued on through the Southern and Northern dynasties. Originating among Daoist scholars, particularly those belonging to the syncretic Xuanxue school, Qingtan Discussions involved "pure conversation" concerning metaphysics and philosophy in the form of informal gatherings for discourse and debate. As their popularity increased, these conversations were enriched by the participation of Buddhist and Confucian scholars. Consequently, their scope broadened to include a greater variety of perspectives and topics, including the discussion of Confucian ethics and Buddhist sutras.
