Chang’an Small Restaurant Chapter 57 (Part 1)
Translated by Pure
Chapter 57.1 Deputy Magistrate’s Elaborate Manipulation
The private kitchen of Lin Residence found itself in an employment crisis, growing increasingly anxious. In desperation, they sought assistance from those who typically accompanied their Master.
Liu Chang received a substantial assortment of pastries from the private kitchen and reassured them with a smile, "It's truly not an issue; Master is simply—experiencing a bit of a summertime appetite loss."
"But I'm genuinely concerned and unsure of what to prepare for Master."
Liu Chang thought about what he observed when picking up their Master at Shen Indelible, and he instinctively blurted out, "Prepare some seasonal dishes, like Scholar Tree Cold Wash topped with minced meat sauce and accompanied by shredded vegetables such as cowcumber, bean sprouts, cowpeas, and celtuce.”
The chef nodded appreciatively but felt a sense of trepidation. In the previous years, the Master hadn't shown much enthusiasm for cold wash and preferred lighter porridge with simple sides. However, given the recommendations from those around Master, he had no option but to give it a try.
As a result, cold wash became a regular feature in the evening meals at Lin Residence.
Elder Madam Jiang appreciated the change. "The combination of these vegetables is delightful. We didn't have such variety in the past when having cold wash. The fish filet topping resembles the one served in Abled Immortal from Bian Prefecture. Our kitchen staff has become more attentive these days."
Although only two masters resided in the family, the kitchen had meticulously prepared six distinct toppings—minced swine meat sauce, minced mutton meat sauce, mushroom sauce, bass filet sauce, diced chicken breast and tender bamboo shoots sauce, and shredded duck meat and pickled cucumber sauce. Numerous side dishes adorned the table, each in its separate small dish, creating a tableau that nearly covered the entire table tray.
Lin Yan, with a small serving of cold wash noodles, deftly changed the topping, introduced a new combination of vegetables, and added a hint of minced garlic with a drizzle of sesame oil. He mixed the dish personally and presented it to Elder Madam Jiang with a faint smile. "Since grandmother enjoys it, we can have the kitchen prepare this more frequently."
Elder Madam Jiang shared fond memories with her grandson, "The fish at Abled Immortal was truly exceptional as the establishment was nestled beside a lively lake, interconnected with a canal. Despite being a lake, the water remained fresh and dynamic. Abled Immortal would store live fish in a basket submerged in the lake. Whenever a fish order came in, they would fetch one and prepare it on the spot, ensuring unparalleled freshness."
Lin Yan nodded, his mind suddenly drifted to Miss Shen, a maestro of crafting delightful food narratives. If she were present, she might have engaged in a lively conversation with his grandmother. The recollection of her animated discussion with Elder Madam Jiang during the delivery of Walnut Puree flashed in his mind. Though a mere puree, they transformed it into an eloquent discourse on the principle of refined gentlemen... Lin Yan gently curled the corners of his lips into a wistful smile.
After the meal, Lin Yan strolled out of his grandmother's courtyard. Once they were out of the perimeter of her yard, he looked at Liu Chang, who was accompanying him.
Liu Chang, realizing the gravity of his actions, offered a wry smile, cupping his hands as he apologized, "This servant didn’t dare to say anything else but merely advised the chef to experiment with the cold wash... This—This servant is willing to be punished."
Lin Yan regarded him with a calm gaze and spoke evenly, "Keep in mind your error. If you repeat the same oversight in the future, be prepared to face the consequences yourself."
Liu Chang, feeling a sense of relief, promptly cupped his hands in compliance.
"I have a task for you," Lin Yan said after a light cough.
Within two days, Shen Shaoguang received a large box of roses from Liu Chang.
Shen Shaoguang: "..."
"Miss, those honey-soaked flowers of yours were an absolute delight, but alas, our kitchen failed to replicate the exquisite flavor. Would you consider soaking these flowers for us?"
Shen Shaoguang chuckled, feeling a little more at ease. For a moment, I thought Deputy Magistrate Lin was struck by lightning and wanted to chase me, hahaha...
Upon further contemplation, in this dynasty, if someone wished to present flowers to a lady, they typically opted for begonias or peonies. This was due to the tradition that originated from the <Book of Songs> era, where 'By Wei River's gentle flow, A youth and maiden in banter stow. Amidst the jests from a gallant's heart, They share peonies, a scene apart[1].' Roses, in this dynasty, lacked the same romantic connotations.
"Are all these meant to be pickled with sugar or honey?" Shen Shaoguang inquired. And how long will it take to finish consuming them?
In the 1 by .75 by .75-meter wooden box, roses filled the space. All the stems had been meticulously removed, leaving only the flowers, creating quite a striking sight.
Shen Shaoguang couldn't help but suspect that someone's entire rose garden had been pruned clean—solely for the purpose of consumption!
Truly cooking the crane for meat and burning the zither for fuel! How could Deputy Magistrate Lin, an esteemed subordinate of the Emperor and a distinguished gentry, engage in such actions reminiscent of the bald warlords of the Republic of China[2]?
Though accepting this sizable request could potentially lead to a significant compensation later on.
"Do as you see fit, Miss," Liu Chang said with a smile.
"Then… I’ll extract essence from them," Shen Shaoguang declared.
Liu Chang smiled and saluted, saying, "It's entirely up to the Miss to make the decision."
Shen Shaoguang nodded, agreeing to undertake the task.
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Footnotes:
[1] ‘By Wei River's gentle flow, A youth and maiden in banter stow. Amidst the jests from a gallant's heart, They share peonies, a scene apart’ (维士与女，伊其将谑，赠之以芍药) - This is from the poem Riverside Rendezvous (溱洧), which was one of the poems listed in the <Book of Songs> collection. There's a translation of this poem available for anyone who wants to read it - https://e-info.org.tw/node/36419
[2] bald warlords of the Republic of China - This is referring to the Warlord Era, a period in the history of the Republic of China when control of the country was divided among former military cliques of the Beiyang Army and other regional factions from 1916 to 1928. And the bald warlord is most likely satirizing Yuan Shikai. Yuan was criticized in Chinese culture for taking advantage of both the Qing imperial court and the Republicans. He is known in Chinese history for his authoritarian control based on military dictatorship.
Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUvTSyUTK6Y&ab_channel=PaleoPH
