Chang’an Small Restaurant Chapter 91 (Part 2)
Translated by Pure
Chapter 91.2 Deputy Magistrate's Confession
Shen Shaoguang took up a piece of paper and began calculating the profits from each branch, as well as the potential store’s down payment, the outstanding balance, reimbursement schedule, and interest. Shao Jie watched her work with ease and chuckled, “Even if you weren’t a cook, you’d make an excellent bookkeeper.”
“That sounds too tiresome,” Shen Shaoguang replied with a smile. “Haven’t I told you? If I weren’t running a kitchen and tavern, I’d probably have become a Taoist or a Buddhist nun, spending my days reciting scriptures and helping people with divinations. That would be quite satisfying.”
She continued, “If we repay 200,000 per month, not counting the profits from the new store, each of the four old stores would contribute 50,000, so according to current profits, each store would still have a turnover of…”
After going through the calculations, discussing terms, and even skipping their routine future projections and mutual flattery, Shao Jie was already restless with anxiety. “We must seize this opportunity before someone else does.”
Shen Shaoguang laughed as she saw him out. “If we gain it, it’s my our fortune; if we lose it, it’s our fate. Just be careful not to hurt yourself in the process.”
“What do you mean, ‘it’s our fate’?” Shao Jie laughed. “Heaven sees my efforts and should help me out.”
Shen Shaoguang chuckled, noting that Sir Shao had a bit of Confucian optimism about him. Before she could return to the rear residence, another follower of the Confucian School of Thought arrived.
She turned back to greet him, and they walked together toward the rear residence.
“Does your head hurt?” Lin Yan asked.
Shen Shaoguang smiled. “Just a little.”
“Have you had breakfast?”
“Yes, I had some arrowroot powder congee.”
Lin Yan nodded, glanced at her complexion, and reiterated, “In the future, you mustn’t indulge in alcohol like that.”
Shen Shaoguang nodded, feeling a bit guilty. “I was drunk yesterday and might have said some thoughtless things. Please don’t take them to heart.”
Lin Yan stopped and looked at her, then continued walking. “What? Are you regretting it?”
Shen Shaoguang hesitated. “...Re—Regretting what?”
“Your esteemed father and the Administrative Division Governor Shen of Dengzhou are close paternal cousins. Since Administrative Division Governor Shen’s term will conclude next year and he will return to the capital, we should seize the opportunity to request his participation in standing in for the Six Etiquettes[1]. Although I am not personally acquainted with him, I understand that your father and Administrative Division Governor Shen shared a strong bond, making it likely that he would agree. I will write to him to make the inquiry, and you should notify your clan in Luoyang, as well as Sir Chu.”
Shen Shaoguang’s eyes widened in surprise. No wait, how did we jump straight to the “Six Etiquettes” stage?
Lin Yan lightly added, “You already agreed yesterday.”
Shen Shaoguang felt a wave of dismay from her intoxicated state, though she quickly forced a smile. "Well, one can’t be held accountable for the nonsense they utter when drunk." After all, someone completely inebriated is hardly capable of proper decorum.
As the maidservants drew aside the curtain, Lin Yan cast her a brief glance before stepping inside. Shen Shaoguang followed close behind, her expression composed once more.
Lin Yan settled comfortably into the large lounging chair, the very one where Shen Shaoguang usually found her repose, leaving her no choice but to take the seat across from him. The maidservants quietly brought tea, and quietly filled the table in front of them.
Lin Yan’s gaze lingered on her, and Shen Shaoguang, feeling the weight of his scrutiny, quickly mustered an apologetic smile. In this moment, she truly felt like the embodiment of a true scumbag. Her usual sharp wit failed her, leaving her grasping for words she couldn’t quite find.
This rare display of vulnerability amused Lin Yan. After a fleeting moment of sternness, his expression softened into a smile.
Puzzled, Shen Shaoguang tilted her head and asked, “Were you toying with me?”
Lin Yan's demeanor turned somber. "A'Ji, what is it that troubles you? Is it your background, being the daughter of a convicted official? Or perhaps you're concerned about my career?"
Shen Shaoguang hesitated, her thoughts weighing heavy. After a pause, she nodded.
"The Prince of Wu's case is riddled with uncertainties," Lin Yan continued, his voice steady. "It’s not beyond reason that your father's name could be cleared."
Shen Shaoguang's eyes widened slightly. "You're investigating my father's case?"
Lin Yan met her gaze and nodded.
Shen Shaoguang felt a twinge of gratitude for his efforts and said softly, “Thank you very much.”
However, Shen Shaoguang knew that a retrial of the Prince of Wu case would be exceedingly difficult. In the final years of the late Emperor’s reign, he had become obsessed with elixirs and eternal life, his temperament turning increasingly tyrannical. Had he not died early, the situation might have descended into chaos. The current Emperor ruled with “benevolence and filial piety,” and although he had corrected some of the former tyrannies, past misjudged legal cases remained suppressed. This was partly due to the “filial piety” principle of “a son should not speak ill of his father,” but more so because the current Emperor benefited from this. Several of his brothers were demoted, exiled, or poisoned in the late Emperor’s final years; otherwise, it’s unlikely that the not-particularly-distinguished current Emperor would have ascended the throne.
“Some things, it’s enough to try your best; there’s no need to involve more people. As for my father’s case, justice will be in the hearts of the people,” Shen Shaoguang said.
Lin Yan nodded. “A'Ji, even if Official Shen’s grievance isn’t redressed and your status remains unchanged, it won’t affect my career.”
Shen Shaoguang smiled slightly. How could it not affect him?
“This bureaucratic world is riddled with unseen currents and treacherous pitfalls—every word spoken, every political stance, every affair of state, every faction—each could easily bring ruin. In comparison, a wife’s past is of little consequence.”
Lin Yan's gaze softened as he continued, his voice steady yet filled with emotion. “For a man, both his career and his finances hold weight, but family—those closest to him—are just as vital. A'Ji, you are the one I hold dearest in my heart. To lose you over something like this... I fear the rest of my life would be consumed by regret.”
Shen Shaoguang pressed her lips together, fighting back the surge of emotions, afraid that if she spoke, she might lose control.
“A'Ji, you are always striving for perfection, but such flawless ideals don’t truly exist. Life is like navigating a boat—unpredictable, uncertain. What we can control is not the course of the waters but who we choose to share the journey with.”
“Last night, I dreamed you had married another. We passed each other on the road, and though you gave me a bow and a gentle smile, you walked away with him. When he asked who I was, you merely replied, ‘Just a former regular at our tavern.’ Even in the dream, I felt profound sorrow, as if I were the only one left in the world. Waking up and seeing the bed canopy, I was so relieved that it was just a dream, and there was still time to change things.”
“A'Ji, let's weave our lives together in your childhood home. I believe your parents, if watching from above, would be content with such a union. Our children could climb the same trees you once did, trace the same intricate floral carvings you used to count, and perhaps even share the same childhood fears—the snake in the bamboo grove, have you encountered it before? Venomous ones aren’t common here, but I’ll catch it, just in case.”
“In the spring, we’ll visit the Wei River; in summer, the Zhongnan Mountains. As for autumn, you can decide—wherever you wish to go, we will. My salary may not be much, but with some saving, we could afford another house or two. Besides, my A'Ji possesses the resourcefulness of Tao Zhu[1].”
……
As Lin Yan spoke, Shen Shaoguang’s tears began to flow freely once more.
He gently wiped away her tears, his own eyes reddened with emotion, yet his smile remained tender. “Will you marry me, A'Ji?”
Shen Shaoguang continued to dab at her tears, her heart awash with resolve. Forget it. Let her embrace the uncertainties of this life alongside him. Whether it would bring with it more greed, anger, sentiment, or complaint—whether it would stir confusion or make life more arduous—none of it mattered now.
“My name is Shen Shaoguang. I was born when the fields were covered with shepherd's purse.” Shen Shaoguang spoke slowly. It was the same in both lives, with her birthday differing by only a week, which was why both fathers chose the same name. This life, however, she had a more specific pet name.
Lin Yan smiled, and in that moment, it was as if a radiant and enchanting springtime landscape unfurled before him.
.
.
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The author has something to say: Even if a person is intoxicated, they are still fully responsible for their actions. Don’t take Shen Shaoguang’s words too seriously.
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T/N: Omggggg she finally gave her name.. Uh no… approval! They finally are planning to get married!!!! ahhhh1!!!!
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Footnotes:
[1] Six Etiquettes (六礼) - In ancient China, men married around 20 and girls at 16, with marriages arranged to connect families or improve status. The "three letters and six etiquettes," established by Prince Zhou Gong, outlined key steps: proposal, birthday matching, betrothal gifts, wedding date selection, sending the bridal sedan, and the ceremony itself. You can read more about it here - https://www.writtenchinese.com/the-6-etiquettes-of-a-traditional-chinese-wedding-ceremony/
[2] Tao Zhu (陶朱)- (fl. 5th-century BCE) from the Spring and Autumn period, was a Chinese businessman, military strategist, and politician. His real name is Fan Li, and he was an important political and military advisor to Goujian, the king of Yue. He later was known as Tao Zhu Gong (陶朱公) a name he took after achieving a decisive victory for Yue over the state of Wu and retiring to live a secluded life with his wife Xi Shi, one of the most famous beauties in Chinese history.
