Chang’an Small Restaurant Chapter 59 (Part 1)
Translated by Pure
Chapter 59.1 Deputy Magistrate Lin’s Derailment
After finishing breakfast, Lin Yan proceeded to court. While the morning air retained its coolness, Elder Madam Jiang instructed the maidservants to assist her in strolling to the garden for relaxation. Following the previous night's rain, the garden was adorned with lush greenery, while some flowers were beginning to fade, lending it a fresh and pristine ambiance.
Gesturing towards the withered begonias nestled beneath the railing, Elder Madam Jiang smiled and remarked, "It's a pity that there is no lady in the household to appreciate them or make use of them. It would be wonderful if they were given to Miss Shen; at least she would be able to create them into edible flower essences."
A’Su and her fellow personal maidservants chuckled in unison, "There you go again with your quaint sayings."
Suddenly halting in her tracks, Elder Madam Jiang instructed, "Retrieve my old essence steamer set from the warehouse. I recall there's also a fruit juicer along with small silver kettles, jade bowls, and jade cups, all part of the same set. These are all little trinkets the girls like to tinker with. Arrange them in a decorative gift box and present them to Miss Shen." Elder Madam Jiang sighed, "Otherwise, it would be a shame to let them gather dust here."
Observing the expression on Elder Madam's face, A’Su bowed respectfully and replied before departing with another maidservant.
Meanwhile, a maid had prepared a brocade mattress atop a finely woven grass mat on the stone couch within the pavilion. Elder Madam Jiang grasped her maid's hand as they ascended the steps and settled onto the couch. Other maids retrieved small pots and cups from their baskets, pouring a bowl of buttermilk and offering it to her.
One of the maids, youthful and spirited, noticed Elder Madam's slight emotional demeanor. With a smile, she remarked, "Are you concerned that there won't be any good floral essences to enjoy in the future? Don't fret. Once the Master gets married, his wife will surely provide for you well."
Elder Madam Jiang let out a soft sigh. "Whether she does or not is inconsequential. As long as they lead a harmonious life together, I'll be content."
The maid chuckled and reassured, "The Master is a fine gentleman, and his chosen wife is equally commendable. When two virtuous individuals come together, how could their union not be prosperous? Elder Madam simply tends to worry unnecessarily."
Taking another sip of buttermilk, Elder Madam Jiang gazed at the verdant foliage in the garden. Occasionally, despite individual virtues, when merged together, they might form a discordant blend, resulting in an unhappy couple...
The items were delivered personally by Elder Madam Jiang's personal maid, leaving no doubt as to their authenticity. As Shen Shaoguang beheld the two boxes of exquisite gadgets, she felt as though her head might explode. This was unmistakably the handiwork of Elder Madam, who had a passion for culinary art and possessed a warm and intriguing personality. Then the folding screen previously...
Shen Shaoguang, declining the double honorarium, expressed with a smile, "Your Residence has already presented me with a token of gratitude, so I hesitate to accept another generous gift. If possible, please convey my gratitude to Elder Madam and kindly ask her to retract this offering."
Maidservant A'Su smiled warmly and replied, "While the previous gift was from our Residence, this one is directly from Elder Madam. She specifically intended it for the young lady. Elder Madam mentioned that she hasn't savored such a concentrated, rich, and mellow fragrance in many years. Furthermore, she requested that in the autumn, she would rely on your expertise to create osmanthus essence. So, please do not decline."
Ha, it seems that everyone in the household, aside from the Master, possesses a knack for eloquence. As for the Master of the house... Shen Shaoguang couldn't bring herself to mention that the previous gift was also bestowed by the 'Elder Madam.' Furthermore, given that these gifts transcended ordinary gold and silver, she could only offer a dry smile and accept this historically significant, exquisitely crafted, or perhaps even decadent offering.
Upon bidding farewell to the maidservant from the Lin Residence, Shen Shaoguang carefully examined the gift bestowed by Elder Madam Jiang. Among them were items crafted from copper, porcelain, silver, and jade, each possessing a delicate and refined charm. These were the kind of treasures that future generations could proudly display upon the shelves of an oriental cabinet, serving as elegant decorations. Through these gifts, one could catch a glimpse of the leisurely and refined lifestyle of a young lady from a prestigious noble family. While the palace possessions were undoubtedly exquisite, they tended to lean towards ornateness, lacking the understated elegance characteristic of this aristocratic household.
Reflecting on the equally elegant folding screen, Shen Shaoguang found it difficult to convince herself this time. Deputy Magistrate Lin, were you truly struck by lightning?
Contemplating Deputy Magistrate Lin's smile, reminiscent of a gentle breeze carrying the scent of fresh spring mountain greens, his subtly arched eyebrows, his captivating lips, and the coziness of his embrace, Shen Shaoguang couldn't help but smile wistfully before letting out a quiet sigh. It's indeed quite lovely, she admitted to herself, yet it's unfortunate that she isn't fated to fully embrace it...
Yu San emerged and observed their Miss, smiling and sighing amidst a collection of trinkets sent by the Lin Residence, her demeanor tinged with melancholy. He pursed his lips. Hah, Miss, no matter how intrepid you are, you can't outrun your emotions. Though Deputy Magistrate Lin is merely a bit more handsome, hailing from a superior background, and holding a higher official position than most...
Shaking his head, Yu San proceeded to the back garden to harvest some onions.
Shen Shaoguang instructed A'Yuan to assist in storing these items in the warehouse. Regardless of whether they would eventually be returned to Deputy Magistrate Lin or not, these gadgets would never find their way into the kitchen. The risk of damaging such works of art was too great; future generations of cultural relic collectors would undoubtedly invent time travel just to seek vengeance upon her. It was far more practical to utilize coarser tools, better suited for daily tasks.
Shen Shaoguang pushed aside thoughts of the Lin Residence's troubles and donned her apron before stepping into the kitchen. Surveying the fish, shrimp, and clams in the bucket, she declared inwardly, ‘I shall operate on you guys today.’
Unlike the usual large fish deliveries, today the fish seller arrived with an assortment of clams, small fish, and shrimp. He even included a few loaches, mentioning that he had ventured to a new fishing spot that day.
Knowing that the loaches and clams required purging to remove any grit, Shen Shaoguang decided to use the shrimp for lunch. Fresh and small, they were ideal for frying in oil.
First, Shen Shaoguang severed the heads and tails of the shrimp, cleaning them thoroughly. Then, she added more oil to the pot and heated it up. Next, she tossed in pepper, green onion, and ginger, allowing their flavors to infuse the oil. Once fragrant, she added the shrimp and stir-fried them over high heat until they turned red. To season, she sprinkled in salt, sugar, and soy sauce according to taste. Just before serving, she tossed in a handful of leek segments, giving them a quick stir-fry before transferring the dish to a serving plate.
Mmm, fresh! Mmm, smells wonderful!
The early arriving guests were fortunate enough to enjoy a portion, while the remaining servings disappeared into the mouths of the Shen Indelible’s proprietress, chef, and the waitstaff. Among them, Shen Shaoguang indulged the most, thoroughly relishing the delectable shrimp.
A'Yuan even restrained herself from consuming too many shrimp, remarking, "It's rare to see Miss enjoy something so much."
The meal was complemented with minced meat flower rolls, stuffed fried tofu, simmer-fried eggplant, sesame and garlic paste cowcumber, and a bowl of congee made from rice cooked until soft. Shen Shaoguang overindulged, thoroughly savoring every dish.
Shen Shaoguang pondered why people always tend to overstuff themselves when served home-style dishes, considering it to be one of the most perplexing puzzles in the culinary world.
After satisfying her hunger and thirst, she settled behind the counter, meticulously tallying the small coins and attending to her accounting duties. The once-troubling image of Deputy Magistrate Lin's handsome visage, reminiscent of a bright moon and cool breeze, no longer occupied Shen Shaoguang's thoughts. There was truly nothing that a delicious meal could not solve...
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Foods:
Fried Shrimp (油爆虾) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmliFCM2fao&t=1s
Minced meat flower rolls (肉末花卷) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iibQVRpDKo&t=11s
Stuffed Fried Tofu (煎豆腐盒子) https://youtu.be/IgAhY3lZNxE?si=S63KAqyTVCoZPXWa&t=702
Simmer-fried eggplant (红烧紫茄) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvb13J341Cc
sesame and garlic paste cowcumber (麻酱蒜泥胡瓜)
