Chang’an Small Restaurant Chapter 54 (Part 2)
Translated by Pure
Chapter 54.2 Wisteria Pisces’ Postlude to Spring
In her youth, Shen Shaoguang indeed attempted raising chickens on the balcony, albeit with limited success. However, her amateurish endeavors resulted in the premature demise of the fowl, sparing the household from the unintended consequence of creating a biochemical nuisance. The chickens were a far cry from reaching the dinner table—yet, this did not deter Shen Shaoguang from asserting her opinions on all matters.
A’Yuan, ever obedient to her Miss's directives, nodded in concurrence. In response, Yu San's laughter echoed from the adjacent room.
Beneath the paper windows of the tiled house, a gentle breeze wafted through. Confronted by a table adorned with exquisite tea beverages, redolent of the essence of spring, the chirping of chicks and Miss Shen's 'Chicken Raising Sutra' resonated in Lin Yan's ears. A smile graced his lips; bidding farewell to spring could evoke a sense of wistfulness, yet, at the mention of chicken feed, water dishes, and bowls…Miss Shen truly…
"As they grow larger, you can confine them within a fence. The enclosure should be meticulously constructed; otherwise, the chickens may pose a threat to the vegetable garden should they manage to escape."
"There are insects in the vegetable garden. Wouldn’t it be better to use the chicken to catch those pests?"
"Regrettably, chickens can prove more detrimental to our plants than the insects. By the way, kindly remind me later to thin out the sunflower seedlings and prepare the cucumber trellis ahead of time."
"The grape vines transplanted by Miss have sprouted new leaves. Will we have grapes to eat this year?"
"Alas, that's not feasible. Patience is required, likely two or three years."
"I am willing to wait for two or three years."
"You can craft wine by adding sugar to grapes. While I have never attempted winemaking, we can explore it if our plants produce excess fruit. Cooking meat with wine is truly delectable."
...
As Lin Yan listened to the Miss and maid duo conversing animatedly, delving into intricate details, and observed the depiction of a mountain village and a rustic shop adorning the wall, he took a sip of the arrowroot powder beverage. In that moment, he gained a small measure of appreciation for Meng of Xiangyang District's 'And cup in hand, we talk of crops of grain[1].'
"Miss Shen—" Lane Guards Liu Jin and Wang Qing entered.
Shen Shaoguang went to greet them.
"Miss, your household registration—" Liu Jin noticed Lin Yan seated beneath the window and promptly beckoned Wang Qing to join him in paying homage.
"You two are…?"
"Deputy Magistrate Lin, we have come to deliver Miss Shen's household registration book," Liu Jin reported with deference.
"Miss just bought these two houses and just happened to have left her household registrations." Wang Qing explained with a foolish smile.
Liu Jin cast a sidelong glance at his companion. Attempting to ingratiate himself but failing miserably. How could Deputy Magistrate Lin be unaware that Miss Shen had acquired a house? It appeared that Chamberlain Liu was indeed acting on behalf of his master, and Miss Shen had genuine ties to Deputy Magistrate Lin.
Lin Yan glanced at Shen Shaoguang. He truly hadn't anticipated her swift acquisition of property in the capital city. While household registrations typically went through the capital's government repository, it was inconceivable for the Deputy Magistrate to personally affix stamps to each application. A dedicated Court Scribe would typically handle such administrative tasks.
Lin Yan couldn't help but recall the day he first encountered her at the palace gate...
As soon as Liu Jin raised his eyes, he hastily averted his gaze once again. Tsk, tsk, exchanging flirtatious glances already? This Deputy Magistrate seems to be quite smitten...
Observing that the higher-ranking official had concluded his conversation with his sub-sub-sub-subordinates several layers down the hierarchy, Shen Shaoguang expressed her gratitude to the two Lane Guards and received her household registration books. While she wished to extend an invitation for them to join for a midday drink at the tavern, the presence of Deputy Magistrate Lin likely dissuaded them. Consequently, she had no choice but to express her gratitude and suggest they return on another occasion.
Liu Jin repeatedly expressed his gratitude, emphasizing that Shen Shaoguang need not be overly polite.
Liu and Wang respectfully bowed to Lin Yan, bidding farewell to Shen Shaoguang with equal courtesy. They extended their politeness to A’Yuan, who was playing with the chickens at the door, before departing from Shen Indelible Tavern.
Shen Shaoguang reflected on the commendable qualities of the lower-ranking officials in the capital, pondering whether it was a result of effective leadership and management. Although she was inclined to offer compliments to the Deputy Magistrate, the reality was that the two Lane Guards may have held their positions longer than the Deputy Magistrate himself. The frequent turnover of officials in the capital city was indeed a notable observation.
Shen Shaoguang genuinely wished for Deputy Magistrate Lin to maintain his current position for an extended period. Despite his poker face, he was a good person. Moreover, his appointment to such a role indicated the Emperor's approval, and considering his youth, there was potential for steady promotion, possibly leading to a future position as Chancellor.
As Shen Shaoguang contemplated Lin Yan's official trajectory, Lin Yan found himself entertaining the notion of presenting Miss Shen with a housewarming gift. This idea took him by surprise, as their relationship was, at most, that of a more acquainted shopkeeper and diner.
Shen Shaoguang observed Lin Yan frowning and lost in thought. She couldn't help but smirk, realizing that a higher official position might not be all it's cracked up to be. Even during a simple meal, he seemed burdened with concerns about the national economy, people's livelihoods, or perhaps more narrowly political matters. Commoners like us, who live from hand to mouth, don't have such weighty worries!
However, Shen Shaoguang swiftly reconsidered her stance. No, I want to be a commoner who can afford silk clothes, relish barbecue, own a villa in Zhongnan Mountain, and possess a spacious house in the city!
Prior to Deputy Magistrate Lin's departure, Shen Shaoguang presented him with a petite jar of honey-soaked wisteria. She explained, "Considering the Elder Madam's spring fever, it's best to avoid overly oily foods. You can mix this with water for a refreshing drink, or hand it over to your chef to incorporate into snacks. This can be considered a fresh, seasonal treat."
On the same day, Shen Shaoguang received a return gift from Elder Madam Jiang— a tapestry from Xuanzhou district. Almost two meters long, and more than a meter wide. Woven on the tapestry, was a spring scene of Jiāngnan—apricot blossoms in misty rain, shepherd boy herding his cattle, and inlaid with elegant brown Su Embroidery[2] edging. It looked like an old antique.
Shen Shaoguang had encountered a grand tapestry from Xuanzhou district featuring tree peonies in the imperial palace, which was more opulent and majestic. However, it lacked the refined elegance of the current scene.
As she observed the shepherd boy depicted on the tapestry and then glanced at the young boy in front of the village shop in her own drawing, the similarity in expression and spirit was unmistakable. No reminder was needed—they bore a striking resemblance.
The return gift from Elder Madam Jiang, no, Deputy Magistrate Lin, is a bit of a hot potato...
.
.
.
Footnotes:
[1] ‘And cup in hand, we talk of crops of grain(把酒话桑麻)' - This is qouted from Meng Haoran’s ‘Visiting an Old Friend’s Cottage (过故人庄)’ poem. Meng Haoran (孟浩然) was a major Tang dynasty poet, and a somewhat older contemporary of Wang Wei, Li Bai and Du Fu. Meng Haoran was born in Xiangyang District, Xiangfan.
Sources:
[2] Su Embroidery - If you read my other translations, Assassin Farmer, you might be familiar with Su Embroidery or otherwise known as Suzhou Embroidery (苏绣). It is one of the oldest embroidery techniques in the world and is the most representative type of art in Chinese embroidery. One of the well-known "four great embroideries of China" along with Cantonese embroidery, Sichuan embroidery and Xiang embroidery. Suzhou Su Embroidery has a history of more than two thousand years. It was recorded as early as the era of Three Kingdoms.
