Chang’an Small Restaurant

Chapter 18 Love Triangle under the Lanterns

"Miss! Miss! Look at those goose-shaped lanterns! When it flutters in the wind, they really look like they're flying."

"This lotus lantern is bigger than the one in Guangming Nunnery!"

"Miss! Miss! Could this be a Phoenix?" A’Yuan prattled excitedly in Shen Shaoguang's ear. It seemed she was a loquacious child but was previously suppressed, now she was becoming more in tune with her innate tendency.

Shen Shaoguang carefully looked at the lantern and then turned to take an even more closer look at A’Yuan. Child, your vision is a little questionable... The legend had stated the beautiful Phoenix to be a vibrantly colorful creature.

"This is an ostrich. The Tocharians’ envoy once presented the holy majesty with one. It walked very fast but couldn't fly." Shen Shaoguang quietly explained.

A’Yuan was finally enlightened and explained, "I just thought it was a glutinous fat Phoenix."

A glutinous fat Phoenix... fat Phoenix.... Shen Shaoguang was rendered speechless.

A ‘pfft’ sounded behind them, followed by laughter. Shen Shaoguang and A’Yuan turned their heads to see that it was Court Scribe Liu.

Shen Shaoguang smiled at him.

Liu Feng withdrew the playful smile on his face, and returned a salute solemnly.

After leaving the opening gift that day, Court Scribe Liu avoided coming to her eatery for several days. Afterwards, he slowly came back to buy breakfast as usual, and gradually increased the visits to eat mini soup buns at night. When she advertised her Double Seventh Cakes, he also ordered several boxes. His spendings caused Shen Shaoguang to become a little worried about his wallet; a ninth-rank official was only given a monthly salary of about 10,000 wen coins, it really wouldn’t be able to withstand any longer if he continued to eat like this...

Shen Shaoguang’s income was also 10,000 wen a month, and this was not including the profits she made selling those Double Seventh Cakes– those festive cakes, although only on a limited time sale, earned her over a month’s worth of income. Shen Shaoguang’s earnings were high but she spent very little of it, she was a true miser. When she saw this youth spending money so lavishly, her motherly instincts couldn’t help but kick in.

The worrisome ‘foolish child’ smiled and said, "There’s some carousel lanterns[1] at the entrance of the street. Miss, you should go and see it."

Shen Shaoguang nodded aloofly, gave a small curtsy, and continued walking with A’Yuan. Unexpectedly, Court Scribe Liu leisurely walked behind them with his young servant. He seemed to be accompanying them but looked as if he was just taking the same road.

Shen Shaoguang wanted to put an end to this awkward situation, but it was difficult for her to speak up. Hmm, why not stop and buy some snacks for A’Yuan?

However, she couldn’t help recalling A’Yuan words of a glutinous fat Phoenix turning into an ostrich and inadvertently looked down at A’Yuan's expanding waist... Forget it, it’s better to just keep moving on.

With a ‘this is fine’ face, by the Forest of Flowers (花千树), on the streets of Chang'an where the dragon fish danced[2], the only thing that occupied her mind was her eatery’s profits and the fat on her maid’s stomach. Shen Shaoguang was truly unconventional; she really had no standards for the time or place.

Just as she let down her guard, their next turn at the intersection brought upon an unexpected scene. Under the crape myrtle tree by the roadside, stood Deputy Magistrate Lin supporting an elderly lady. Fifth Young Lady Qin and Second Young Lady Pang were a short distance away slowly approaching them. A  dignified and handsome man, the ladies were as beautiful as flowers. With the night wind, the delicate lanterns sway, and the petals descend; such a scene looked straight out of a painting.

Just as Shen Shaoguang saw them, the other side naturally also noticed Shen Shaoguang and Liu Feng.

Shen Shaoguang didn't come close, but saluted him from afar. Behind her, Liu Feng noted that his superior was with his family member, so he also bowed in the distance. He then continued to follow Shen Shaoguang, who was heading in another direction.

"Who might that couple be?" Elder Madam Jiang asked with a smile.

"That is our office’s Court Scribe Liu." Lin Yan answered softly.

Elder Madam Jiang nodded. "His wife is magnificent."

Lin Yan glanced at the shadows by the street corner and faintly smiled slightly but didn’t explain.

Fifth Young Lady Qin also just smiled, while Second Young Lady Pang was dumbstruck by Lin Yan's smile.

Elder Madam Jiang smiled at Fifth Young Lady Qin and Second Young Lady Pang. "It's a blessing to chance upon such beautiful ladies."

Fifth Young Lady Qin smiled and replied, "It’s also a pleasure for me to meet Elder Madam Jiang. The last time I saw you was several years ago."

Elder Madam Jiang took a look at her grandson. Really? She then fell into a momentary stupor. Which family are these two little ladies from again?

"The night wind is getting cold. It’s exhausting to be standing for so long, let me help you back." Lin Yan softly suggested.

Elder Madam Jiang's legs were susceptible to the cold and she couldn't stand for a long time in such weather. At this time, she really felt that her legs were becoming increasingly heavy. Although she wanted to keep strolling around, her body could no longer keep up with her mental enthusiasm, so she nodded. "Fair enough, let's go back."

At the same time, she didn’t want to be a joykill for the younger generation. Although she couldn't remember who these girls were, Elder Madam Jiang still had some sense left to recall that her A’Yan was at a marriageable age. "Just have A’Su and the others take me back, you—"

However, Lin Yan had already bid farewell to Fifth Young Lady Qin and Second Young Lady Pang. "We won’t be delaying your sightseeing any longer, goodbye."

Fifth Young Lady Qin smiled and cursited towards Elder Madam Jiang. Though reluctant, Second Young Lady Pang had no choice but to follow suit.

Elder Madam Jiang smiled and nodded, "Have fun."

Lin Yan supported his grandmother and walked back slowly, while their servants followed closely behind.

Entering the Lin Residence, Elder Madam Jiang laughed. "A’Yan, I think those two young ladies are quite nice, especially the one in the crimson shirt. Which family was that girl from again?"

"That's Chancellor Qin's granddaughter."

Elder Madam Jiang furrowed her brows but couldn’t recall anything, so she just asked, "Is she unsuitable?" 

Lin Yan was amused by his grandmother's straightforwardness, and Elder Madam Jiang also laughed along. "I’m not trying to annoy you. My mind spasmodically switches between being clear headed to being confused, so I can't help you make the decision. I’m aware you have your own opinion, but this bride-to-be matter must be given considerable thought. There’s no lady in the house, no children in the family, just us two, a grandmother and her grandson..." After speaking, her expression filled with melancholy and loneliness.

Lin Yan replied softly: "Yes, grandmother."

…

Shen Shaoguang walked around the street and felt that the scenery had been overpraised and exaggerated. Tang Dynasty’s Lantern Festival wasn’t any way different or special. Maybe the streets during the Lantern Festival would be more beautiful? Even if it was a sight to behold, Shen Shaoguang didn’t plan to go spectating that day. There were many people attending the lantern festival, which meant it was an excellent opportunity to make money. Just look at the candy sellers on the street today, they were selling like crazy.

She bought one skewer each for her and A’Yuan to try. Hmm, it’s not as good as the one we make at home. A’Yuan finished Shen Shaoguang's leftover skewer and gave the same evaluation.

Shen Shaoguang soon returned to the nunnery. Before she went in, she courteously nodded at Liu Feng, who was not far away, and dashed inside. A’Yuan, however, didn’t give Liu Feng any face and closed the door with a bang!

Truthfully, Shen Shaoguang had also run out of patience. This surnamed Liu was just like those boys in her previous life who only knew how to send a ‘good night’ message every night. What are you even trying to achieve?

There was another lantern festival on the 16th, but Shen Shaoguang was too lazy to go out. She decided to attend to her eatery and gave A’Yuan some money so that she could go out by herself.

Due to the time constraints, her eatery had only prepared some sugar rose cakes and aiwowo rice cakes in the evening of the sixteenth. When her regulars saw that her store was still open, they all rushed to come. There were not many in stock, so the cakes were all quickly sold out. Looking at the money in the coin basket, Shen Shaoguang once again demonstrated that it was more fun to make money.

After the Ghost Festival were several consecutive days of rainfall. Afterwards, the weather was showing hints of autumn.

Shen Shaoguang was preparing herself for battle. It was time to commence her ‘hyperphagia without hibernation’ plan.

Since her mini soup buns became an instant hit, Shen Shaoguang thought about adding more pork dishes.

After the Wei and Jin Dynasties, the tastes of the civilians of the central plains of China were altered by cohabitation of the non-Han people. The once age-old popular pork actually declined and mutton was now in trend, along with a variety of fish. Of course, beef was also good, but there were many government passed restrictions on the slaughter of cattle.

As a great admirer of pork, Shen Shaoguang believed she had to shoulder the important task of revitalizing pork dishes. She soon recalled another pork enthusiast, the great Su Shi[3]. During the Song Dynasty(960-1279), pork was still "cheap as dirt. The rich overlooked whilst the poor weren’t cooks[4]."

Hmm, then why not start from Dongpo pork?

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Footnotes

[1] carousel lanterns (走马灯)- or otherwise known as rotating lanterns; this is without the use of electricity. Basically manipulating the rising air radiated from the candle inside, the lantern would turn by itself. Better with a video than to explain in words:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCY8Sz7x0kY 

[2] dragon fish dance 鱼龙舞 - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/vZN2vFVW0Pk 

[3] Su Shi (苏轼) - courtesy name Zizhan(子瞻), art name Dongpo, is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished figures in classical Chinese literature, having produced some of the most well-known poems, lyrics, prose, and essays. Among the topics he wrote on was cuisine, where he is considered to have had a profound influence. Su is called one of the four classical gastronomes. There is a legend, for which there is no evidence, that by accident he invented Dongpo Pork, a famous dish in later centuries. 

[4] ‘cheap as dirt. The rich overlooked whilst the poor weren’t cooks’ - This is one of Su Shi's poems 'Ode to Pork', you can read a good translation of it here - https://lyricstranslate.com/en/zhu-rou-song-ode-pork.html