Chang’an Small Restaurant

Chapter 21 The Eatery Also Serves Alcohol 

Shen Shaoguang brought the carpenter to her store, wanting to maximize the use of the limited dozen square meters of space.

Her original layout had the tables set up similar to a classroom. Shen Shaoguang one day, suddenly recalled a design she had seen in the home improvement forum in her previous life. The poster had bought an apartment that had limited space, so instead of the usual dining table setup, countertops, similar to those in bars, were used as alternatives to save space. After studying the eatery for a while, Shen Shaoguang decided to ask the carpenter to make a couple long tables that would be placed right beside the walls. She wanted something similar to those counters in modern bars but about knee-height.

With more seating available, it would look rather messy if the floor was scattered with many stools. Hence, Shen Shaoguang decided to forgo the stools and spread a large bamboo woven carpet on the ground, and replaced all the stools with bamboo zabuton cushions. Candle holders, decorations, potted plants, and other items that can be attached to the wall were all done so. 

It wasn’t a large project so the construction was completed within five days. Two sides of the eatery’s white walls were trailed by log-colored, long counter-like tables, and in the middle were two shorter tables of the same color. Although they varied in length, the whole setup didn’t look the least bit crowded. A brown carpet covered the entire premise, the pale yellow zabuton cushions were neatly arranged on top. There was a tall shelf on one of the walls, upon it were blanc de chine porcelain pots with four-season orchid, jasmine, and other varieties of floral plants. Large areas of white with specks of varied brown and a little bit of green, these combinations of colors emitted a sense of aesthetic literature. Maybe the other wall can display a painting with a calligraphed poem on it? Leaving it as is was also a possibility.

Shen Shaoguang patted the dirt off her hands, and proudly asked A’Yuan, "What do you think?"

A’Yuan nodded. "It would be even better if it was bigger."

Shen Shaoguang clenched her teeth, and used her thumb to press down on her silly maid’s head. She was really getting better and better at rubbing salt into other people’s wounds!

She bitterly promised herself– One day I will open the largest restaurant in Chang'an City! The lobby would be several hundred square meters wide and with dozens of private rooms available. There will also be a stage in the middle of the lobby; performances such as sword swallowing, acrobatics, jumping through rings of fire, Sogdian Whirl Dance[1], Dance of the Thorned Tree[2], and sword dance[3], none of them can shorted!

"Miss, a steamer of Sharpened Mutton Jade!"

"Okay!" Shen Shaoguang replied happily. She put the freshly steamed mini soup buns into the plate the guest had personally bought, collected a handful of coins, and threw them into the money basket.

Shopkeeping Shen’s mentality was truly praiseworthy; she had no probleming jumping in and out of her grand dream of a big restaurant to manage the small handful of copper coins in front of her.

Regardless, the store now had a place to sit and have a drink.

After everything was set and down, Shen Shaoguang went to the winery to order some alcohol. On top of Shen Indelible Eatery’s signature dishes, she also added some simple sides, such as okra, fried salted fish, orchid (broad) beans, braised pig's head, braised pig's trotters, and other simple dishes that pair well with wine. And just like that, Shen Indelible Eatery began to provide wines for their diners.

The guests were quite accepting of Shen Shaoguang's pocket-sized ‘bar’, it was clean and a bit humble, but the key point was that there was no more need to look around for a place to drink with Lion’s Head and Cornelian Meat.

After trying Shen Indelible sides, the guests all shared one thought: Delicious! It was right to come here.

Miss Shen's craftsmanship was commendable. There was nothing much to say about the crepes, but every one was fresh and hygienic. However, her Sharpened Mutton Jade and floral cakes were truly exquisite. According to the knowledgeable people, such dishes shared similar qualities to the imperial cuisine in the palace. Lion’s Head and Cornelian Meat were also in this category; they all could be regarded as a ‘wonderful delicacy’. 

What they hadn’t expected was that her simple home-cooked dishes would also be just as wonderful.

"Shopkeeper, another plate of salted fish!"

A’Yuan quickly served the dishes and orders as if the soles of her feet were propelled by the wind.

"Miss, how is your place’s salted fish made so fragrant?"

"This maid isn’t sure either" A’Yuan smiled foolishly, "If it’s delicious, feel free to eat more, Sir." Her answer was in the same realm as Shen Shaoguang's answer of ‘can come wherever you like, why trouble yourself making it’.

Shen Shaoguang, who was making Sharpened Mutton Jade in the kitchen, smiled when she heard her words. In fact, there was no trickery, she just added sweet fermented rice to the marinade. These salted fish were from the same batch she had made during the summertime. 

The salted fish would then go through a double-fried process. The first time was to cook it thoroughly. On the second fry, the oil temperature was increased to allow the fish to achieve extra crispiness. There was nothing else to it.

Out of all the sides,Shen Shaoguang actually enjoyed the fried broad beans most. It's first boiled and then fried, the crispy and crunchy texture reminded Shen Shaoguang of the fried peanuts she loved in her previous life.

This was Shen Shaoguang's greatest sadness besides the lack of chili peppers—peanuts were not introduced to China until hundreds of years later, during the Ming Dynasty. 

It was said that the great scholar Jin Shengtan had mentioned before his execution that ‘eating fried extra-firm tofu with peanuts tastes like ham.’ The sentimental writer Eileen Chang enjoyed ‘the majestic feeling of the breeze blowing while sitting on a rattan chair and eating salted peanuts’. While the two novelists, Zhou Shuren and Shu Qingchun, took pleasure in eating peanuts while reading.

It seemed that literati all shared a common love for peanuts. Shen Shaoguang also had a deep affection for peanuts, but this did not prevent her from satisfying her craving with fried broad beans when peanuts weren’t available. Though this behavior reminded Shen Shaoguang of the image of a scumbag who missed his first love but would never hesitate finding a girlfriend.

What she hadn’t expected was that the devoted Deputy Magistrate, who missed his first love but didn't find a girlfriend, would come to her eatery; and the first thing he ordered was the fried broad beans.

Shen Shaoguang mulled over the two vastly different visualizations and inadvertently looked at Lin Yan's hand pointing at the menu. It was slender and delicate with distinct joints; what a pair of good-looking hands!

"Shopkeeper?" Lin Yan raised his brows.

"These beans are called orchids because after they are fried, they look a little like a blooming orchid." Shen Shaoguang calmly moved her eyes away from his hands and answered Lin Yan's question with a smile.

Lin Yan nodded, and also ordered okra slaw, salted duck eggs, braised pig's ears, and all of the other popular side dishes.

Most people shared an inherent flaw, whenever something beautiful caught their eye, they would likely want to destroy it. For example, Shen Shaoguang hoped to see this elegant gentleman do something opposite of elegant. "Sir, would you care to try our eatery’s pig’s trotters? Eat them hot, it’s decadent, soft, and tender. Eat them cold, the texture is chewy and springy. It pairs perfectly with wine."

Lin Yan looked at Shen Shaoguang.

Shen Shaoguang's eyes were filled with a smile. With her waist slightly bent, she extruded a courteous deportment.

"No need, that's all." Lin Yan handed the menu back to Shen Shaoguang.

Shen Shaoguang regretfully received it. Won’t be seeing the Deputy Magistrate of Chang’an gnawing pig’s hooves today. It's ok, there are more days ahead. There’ll be chicken feet, lamb trotters, and the likes in the future...

Lin Yan thought back to the menu made of floral paper. On it were condensed regular script, the penmanship didn’t seem that of a lady’s usual style, but somewhat resemble Li Shaowen's enthusiasm. It was more distinct than the seal script ‘Shen’ on the crepe packaging and the lanterns in the front of the store.

Lin Yan couldn't help turning his head to look at the shopkeeper, who was busy in the kitchen. Her almond eyes narrowed slightly, with the corners of her mouth raised, her appearance looked gentle and merry. It was completely different from the rigorous style of her calligraphy. He then thought back to the many times he had encountered her use of clever and eloquent speech… Such is a person of multiple faces, disguised behind ‘false rhetorics and flowery speech’!

Shen Shaoguang was unaware that she had been just ridiculed as she asked, "Would you like your wine warmed, sir?"

She also added, "We are out of Sharpened Mutton Jade, can I get you a bowl of vegetables botuo noodles instead?"

Lin Yan retracted his eyes. "That's fine."

Deputy Magistrate Lin visited during the hours of late. As such, there were no other guests, so Shen Shaoguang was able to manage by herself. During the mealtime, even with the help of A’Yuan, and with most of the food and drinks prepared in advance, they still would run around without any time to rest.

While serving the dishes, Shen Shaoguang made another addition to her dream–in the future, she will build a team of chefs and hire 180 waiters!

.

.

.

The author has something to say: Once again, looking forward to Deputy Magistrate Lin slapping his own face…

—

Footnotes:

[1] Sogdian Whirl Dance - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcTOuHMGHgg