Chang’an Small Restaurant Chapter 61 (Part 2)
Translated by Pure
Chapter 61.2 Plausible Romantic Rival
Following his encounter with the proprietress, during which he sampled several varieties of floral cakes and enjoyed a jug of iced sour plum beverage, Shao Jie reached a decision.
"With your esteemed family's renowned establishment, Guixiang Delights in the East Market, what aspect of our floral cake recipes captures your interest?" Shen Shaoguang inquired, her smile radiant with curiosity.
Recalling her visit to Guixiang Delights in the East Market due to its reputation, Shen Shaoguang had sampled several of their signature floral cakes. Each one proved delectable, particularly their celebrated osmanthus cake. Its sweetness was perfectly balanced, not cloying, and possessed a delightful osmanthus aroma that lingered pleasantly—a unique delight even for her, hailing from the northern regions.
While the pastries she crafted were undeniably exquisite, the process of creating them were not overly intricate. For discerning connoisseurs, a few attempts at replication would likely yield similar results. In an era devoid of patents, it seemed peculiar that this young man would entertain the notion of expending a hundred taels of silver to acquire the recipes for sweet pea pudding and mini fruit cake.
"Miss, you are too modest!" Shao Jie smiled, "Allow me to be honest with you. While these two cakes are delectable, it's your ingenious ideas that truly shine. Your maid mentioned how the floral cakes are crafted according to the seasons and holidays. You offer a variety of floral cake gift boxes like the 'Bright Prospects' set, 'Conjugal Bliss' set, and 'Luck, Prosperity, Longevity, and Happiness' set, each containing cakes decorated with fitting patterns..."
"Although I haven't seen them in person, tasting the pastries and examining the outward appearance makes it easy for me to visualize these gift sets," Shao Jie remarked. "It's a shame I don’t like joining the crowds during the new year and other festivals, or else I wouldn't have to rely on imagination. I hoped to draw inspiration from your ideas, but I feel awkward taking them for nothing..." Shao Jie chuckled, revealing his two canine teeth.
Observing the young man's endearing smile and hearing his candid words, Shen Shaoguang almost felt as if she had been transported back to modern times. Indeed, the reserved and implicit nature of the people in this dynasty, exemplified by Deputy Magistrate Lin's tendency to ramble incoherently, contrasted starkly with this young man's directness. Even ordinary people here seldom expressed themselves so openly.
To reiterate, this ‘creativity’ was not even as valuable as a cake recipe and could be replicated by anyone at will. Yet, Sir Shao was willing to exchange it for a hundred taels of silver. Whether it was due to the century-old shop cherishing its reputation or the young man still possessing a shred of conscience, he showed respect, which made him very likable—especially compared to Incoming Cloud Tavern in the same Lane. They were all competitors, but this person's attitude was truly praiseworthy!
Shen Shaoguang, also straightforward by nature, responded, "In that case, thank you for your appreciation, Sir."
She spread out a piece of paper and wrote down the recipes for the two cakes. Then, generously, she instructed A’Yuan to find the remaining packaging boxes and filled two of them with the ready-made cakes from the store. "Our establishment usually offers a limited variety of cakes, mostly home-style ones. I hope these meet your expectations, Sir."
Shao Jie smiled and commented, "How upfront! You are a woman who stands on equal ground with any man, Miss!"
After receiving the paper from Miss Shen, Shao Jie winced as if afflicted by a sudden pang upon beholding the robust and spirited characters adorning it. "Truly a woman who stands on equal ground with any man. Your calligraphy is also so good... If only my script possessed such finesse, I would undoubtedly boast among my kin."
Shao Jie then revealed a family secret, confiding, "To tell you the truth, Miss, my family has been skillful for generations, but this skill does not extend to reading and writing..." He chuckled heartily after sharing this tidbit.
Shen Shaoguang really liked this young man. Without enough self-confidence, it would be difficult to cheerfully mock oneself like this.
With a playful grin, Shen Shaoguang confided, "Allow me to share a secret, Sir. While my hands are deft, my needlework and embroidery skills leave much to be desired. Fortunately, the New Year's Day spring banners were raised high, sparing me from embarrassment..."
Shao Jie cackled.
Shen Shaoguang joined in, their laughter intertwining harmoniously.
Yu San, who returned from the backyard with cured meat: "..."
Lin Yan, who had just entered the door: "..."
Shao Jie's surprise was palpable as he laid eyes on Lin Yan. With swift reflexes, he rose from his seat and respectfully greeted, "Salutations, Deputy Magistrate Lin."
Given their establishment's proximity to the Imperial Palace and occasional interactions with the government repository, Shao Jie had encountered the capital's Deputy Magistrate on two prior occasions, albeit without exchanging words.
Lin Yan regarded him with a faint smile. "Sir, you are…?"
Shao Jie promptly introduced himself, to which Lin Yan nodded in acknowledgment before returning to his customary spot by the window.
Shen Shaoguang attended to him in her usual manner, offering him a beverage and inquiring about his dining preferences, as they followed their customary exchange.
Shao Jie took care not to disturb the esteemed guest's meal, especially since his servant had already delivered the agreed-upon hundred taels of silver. After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Shen Shaoguang, he bid farewell to Deputy Magistrate Lin and departed from the tavern.
When Deputy Magistrate Lin first arrived at the tavern, his demeanor appeared rather serious. However, as Shen Shaoguang served the dishes, she noticed a gradual softening in his expression. Heh, the intricacies of a man's mind were as vast and mysterious as the sea itself. With the Deputy Magistrate's mood shifting as swiftly as June weather, Shen Shaoguang couldn't help but wonder when this Deputy Magistrate will resemble Sir Shao. Although it seemed improbable, changing one's inherent disposition was indeed a formidable task.
Having allocated the presentable floral cakes to Sir Shao, Shen Shaoguang instructed Yu San to prepare a variety of quick dishes for Lin Yan: crispy deep-fried quail, stir-fried celery and lily, sautéed shrimp with cowcumber, salted-egg-yolk-coated fried tofu, and a bowl of mung bean husked rice congee accompanied by two small scallion flower-rolls, which were initially intended for their evening meal.
The portions were modest, yet the small plates adorned the table with vibrant hues of red, white, green, and yellow, creating a visually pleasing and refreshing display. Shen Shaoguang took care not to overdo the sweetness in the small bowl of congee, as she noted the Deputy Magistrate's preference for lighter flavors and aversion to excessive sweetness. Besides, the other dishes already offered ample savory indulgence.
As Lin Yan savored a spoonful of congee, he found the rice and beans cooked to perfection, offering a delicate hint of sweetness that complemented the porridge's flavor without overpowering it. A subtle smile graced Lin Yan's lips as he relished the taste.
Shen Shaoguang's keen observation skills didn't fail her in this instance. With a single glance, she noticed the Longevity Bracelet adorning Lin Yan's wrist as he reached for the flower roll. Her silent teasing transformed into a flutter of emotions, stirring within her heart.
As Shen Shaoguang gazed upon Deputy Magistrate Lin's handsome visage, broad shoulders, and slender yet strong hands, she couldn't help but recall another well endowed beauty—Sister Bao, with her demure demeanor when adorned with red musk beads. And, of course, Baoyu's lamentation over not being able to caress her fair wrist[1].
A sense of regret also washed over Shen Shaoguang. She thought back to their recent embrace; the sensation had been undeniably pleasant. Despite his slim appearance when clothed, she imagined he must possess a certain robustness beneath his garments.
Lin Yan lifted his gaze to meet Shen Shaoguang's intense stare. Shen Shaoguang narrowed her eyes slightly, a smile gracing her lips. Lin Yan glanced away, but the corners of his mouth also curved up.
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Footnote:
[1] (羞笼红麝串的宝姐姐) - This is a <Dream of the Red Chamber> reference. Sister Bao, or Xue Baochai (薛宝钗), one of the principal characters in the novel, is portrayed as a perspicacious and talented woman whose marriage became a tragedy because Jia Baoyu, her husband, is never able to truly forget Lin Daiyu, his true love, after the latter died before they could get married.
Jia Baoyu (賈寶玉), another key character, lacks interest in studying Confucian texts, disappointing his father, Jia Zheng. He prefers reading, writing poetry, and spending time with many female relatives. Baoyu is naturally compassionate and considerate. His relationships with Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai are central to the story, but other women also play significant roles in his life.
The reference is to an excerpt in chapter 28, which I copied out for ya’ll to enjoy:
By a strange coincidence, Baochai wore the string of beads round her left wrist so she had no alternative, when Baoyu asked her for it, than to take it off. Baochai, however, was naturally inclined to embonpoint, and it proved therefore no easy matter for her to get the beads off; and while Baoyu stood by watching her snow-white arm, feelings of admiration were quickly stirred up in his heart. "Were this arm attached to Miss Lin's person," he secretly pondered, "I might, possibly have been able to caress it! But it is, as it happens, part and parcel of her body; how I really do deplore this lack of good fortune."
Sources:
Pure: For those who are interested, there are multiple english translations of this classic on amazon. This one is the one I highly recommend - https://amzn.to/3wLute6. The scene mentioned above is in volume two as there are 4 volumes in this classic.
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Foods:
Crispy deep-fried quail (炸鹌鹑) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK_Bc45seEQ
Stir-fried celery and lily (芹菜百合) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1coJ2XmUPI
Sautéed shrimp with cowcumber (虾仁胡瓜) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxEa5zt4E14
Salted-egg-yolk-coated fried tofu (咸蛋黄焗豆腐) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTgA7_Minsc&t=48s
Mung bean and husked rice congee (绿豆大米粥) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIZuq8l9IXo
Scallion flower-rolls (葱油卷) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYHXIIkyuLE
