Chang’an Small Restaurant Chapter 99 (Part 2)
Translated by Pure
Chapter 99.2 Uncanny Guests
Among the scholars, there were those grappling with pre-exam jitters, but there were also others who remained remarkably composed. For instance, two scholars from Suzhou stood out. One, barely over twenty, was strikingly handsome. Though dressed modestly, he exuded an air of authority that could easily be mistaken for someone of noble birth if he were dressed in finery. His companion, in his thirties, was reserved and appeared rather simple and frank; they seemed like a rather odd match of friends.
The steward approached them with a sales pitch, "Our establishment can handle the 'Burnt Tail Feast' for you, Sirs."
The younger scholar raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Oh? If we truly succeed, it will indeed be necessary to trouble your esteemed tavern." His voice carried the rich tone and proper dialect, almost as if he were just another noble of the capital.
Shen Shaoguang, who had honed her skills in reading people during her time in the palace, was adept at handling such interactions. It was rare to encounter scholars who approached the 'Burnt Tail Feast' with such casualness.
Shen Shaoguang had initially assumed that this scholar would be aloof like Deputy Magistrate Lin, but to her surprise, he took the initiative to greet her, "And this miss is?"
The steward promptly introduced her, "This is the owner of our establishment."
The scholar displayed a surprise expression before smiling. "Indeed, the misses from the capital are remarkably gifted and capable. To be so young and already the proprietress of such a fine tavern is truly impressive and humbling for us men from the remote regions."
His flattery took Shen Shaoguang by surprise. Nevertheless, everyone enjoys a kind word, so she welcomed the compliment. She personally guided the two scholars to a table upstairs and handed them the menu.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Shen Shaoguang learned that they were from Suzhou. She realized that southern visitors might find the northern winter challenging, especially this year, as it had been unusually long and cold. Even now, snow from the Lantern Festival had yet to completely melt.
However, as a “resident of Chang'an” since her transmigration, Shen Shaoguang felt compelled to defend the capital’s reputation. "It’s not usually this cold. I remember that last year around this time, the winter jasmines were already blooming."
Indeed, it wasn’t just the winter jasmines that were delayed; so were the Spring Platters. Last year, Spring Platters had already become popular, but this year, hotpot remained in the spotlight—perhaps in part due to the Emperor's visit, which had served as a significant endorsement.
The young scholar, who introduced himself as (surname) Ji, smiled and said, "I’ve heard from my contemporaries that your esteemed tavern serves a meat dish in a small dǐng, known as ‘hot pot,’ is exceptional and perfect for this time of year."
"Indeed, hot pot is quite suitable for this weather," Shen Shaoguang agreed with a smile. "Our patrons particularly enjoy the milky broth and clear broth pots. The milky broth is rich and creamy, as white as milk, while the clear broth is pure and transparent, resembling clear water. Both are flavorful, perfect for fish, meat, and vegetables. We also offer options with herbal additions…"
Shen Shaoguang gave a brief introduction and highly recommended the lamb spine hot pot of the day, which had just been prepared in the kitchen and smelled incredibly delicious. However, she thought her efforts were likely in vain; it seemed improbable that someone like the gentleman before her would enthusiastically dig into a lamb spine with chopsticks, and she presumed that as southerners, they might not be accustomed to it.
To her surprise, Sir Ji actually nodded and said, "Yes, we’ll have the lamb spine hot pot."
Shen Shaoguang smiled and nodded in agreement. She then turned to the more reserved scholar and asked, "And for you, sir?"
"Same as Sir Ji," came the reply.
She then inquired about their choice of wine and tea. The two scholars casually selected Xinfeng wine and buttermilk.
Shen Shaoguang smiled and nodded to the two, saying, "Please wait a moment, sir."
It wasn’t long before the hot pot arrived. Shen Shaoguang helped arrange the cooker, tofu, vermicelli, napa cabbage, mushrooms, and other ingredients. She cheerfully added, "To make the lamb spine hotpot complete, we’ll add some wheat flour botuo noodles at the end. It’s the perfect way to enjoy the meal."
Sir Ji nodded with a faint smile, and Shen Shaoguang returned to her own tasks.
Later, when Shen Shaoguang returned to the second floor, she saw Sir Ji elegantly extracting the marrow from a lamb spine. It was the first time she had witnessed someone savoring bone marrow with such grace. She couldn’t help but imagine offering Deputy Magistrate Lin a chance to try the lamb spine hot pot in the near future, picturing him delicately sucking the marrow from the bones with his cupid's bow lips. A chuckle escaped her as she reveled in this mischievous daydream.
After a while, Sir Ji's friend indeed ordered a serving of botuo noodles. At Shen Indelible Tavern, these noodles were freshly crafted by the kitchen staff right before the customers' eyes. The chefs would stretch and pull large chunks of dough into various shapes, depending on the patrons' preferences—thick or thin, shaped like chive leaves, flower petals, or rings. This process resembled a live cooking show, often earning enthusiastic applause from the diners.
When Shen Shaoguang went to the kitchen, she asked, "How did those sirs find our botuo noodles?"
The cook replied honestly, "There wasn’t any applause."
Shen Shaoguang laughed and reassured him, "Perhaps they’re preoccupied with their own thoughts. Not everyone will applaud. It’s already an achievement if we manage to make six or seven out of ten people genuinely satisfied."
After leaving the kitchen, A'Yuan said to Shen Shaoguang, "I think ten out of ten people like you, Miss."
Shen Shaoguang ruffled her hair playfully, "You should cut that number down! Just think of Lu Sanniang, Incoming Cloud Tavern, or even the evildoers who wanted to slit my throat…."
"Then, it’s still nine out of ten," A'Yuan countered.
Shen Shaoguang: "..."
One can’t reason with their admirers, and Shen Shaoguang didn’t particularly wish to debate with her own. "Alright, nine out of ten. What should we have for dinner tonight? The lamb spine pot is excellent, but we won’t have time to stew more at home. How about lamb soup noodles? We can add some cornel dogwood sauce and pepper when we eat..."
Just then, the scholar surnamed Ji and his friend descended from the second floor, offering Shen Shaoguang a slight nod. She returned the gesture, saying, "Safe travels, sirs."
After bidding them farewell, Shen Shaoguang ascended the stairs. The waiters were tidying up, and as she glanced at the bottom of the pot, an idea struck her. She opened the small jars of vinegar and cornel dogwood sauce on the table. The vinegar was nearly empty, and a significant amount of the cornel dogwood sauce had been used—unexpectedly, these guests from Suzhou had quite a penchant for sour and spicy flavors.
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T/N: As Suzhou has a humid and mild climate, locals tend to favor the lighter, more sweet and sour tastes. They are near water, so people of Suzhou also are more familiar with aquatic foods. So yes, these two scholars are just a little sus.