Chang’an Small Restaurant

Chapter 4 Breakfast Straw Buyer

After practicing for a few days, Shen Shaoguang's crepes-making skills improved immensely. Instead of using both hands, she could now crack eggs with just one hand. With barely any strength, the egg white and yolk would trickle down from its protective casing, without any residue egg shells either. Then, with a flick of her hand, the egg shell would accurately land into the small disposal container. No longer did she have to use her other hand to assist when flipping over the crepe, with a fluid turn of her spatula, the crepe would flip over without any breakages. The toppings were also evenly spread on top– So this was what it felt like when Celestial Master turned beans into soldiers.

Her business was also getting better and better. Other than her regular customers, there would be new faces coming to try her creation everyday. Even some homebodies would specially send their servants to buy crepes for them.

"Our Lady likes your crepe very much. We tried to recreate it but can’t seem to replicate this taste." A merry young maidservant chatted with Shen Shaoguang while waiting. She looked about ten years old and had a cute round face.

"Our Lady says that your sauce is very delicious. What’s inside it?"

Shen Shaoguang smiled, "I am at the gate of this Lane every day so you can come wherever you like, why trouble yourself making it?"

The little maidservant tilted her head and thought: That’s true.

The men, on the other hand, came with ulterior motives: "What's your surname, young miss?" or "Where are you from, young miss?" Those who strike up such a conversation were either self-proclaimed wealthy businessmen or flirtatious servants of wealthy families.

In response, she would raise her eyebrows at them. Just when the other party thought she was going to be angry, Shen Shaoguang would smile and ask, "Do you want hot sauce or sweet sauce?"

Her avoidance would often garner annoyance, but for a man to act out on a smiling lady would be unpoised, so most would just give up.

Of course, Shen Shaoguang wasn't angry. Afterall, this was much less direct than a "Hey girl, can I get your number?"

The person who striked up a conversation with her today was different; he was neither sleek or pretentious. He was blushing, obviously shy; a young man about the age of twenty, wearing a ninth-rank, light blue official uniform. With a tall stature, croaking voice, and acne scars on his face, Shen Shaoguang was suddenly reminded of a typical university boy.

Goodbye my past life. Shen Shaoguang sighed.

Because of this nostalgia, Shen Shaoguang was particularly patient with him. "Of course this is not just white flour. The white flour sticks to the teeth, then we’ll have to use a charcoal tong to free it out[1]."

The young man froze for a moment, then laughed.

Shen Shaoguang smiled and asked, "Do you want hot sauce or sweet sauce?"

People his age were rather indecisive. Of course, it may have also been his way to please Shen Shaoguang, the young man brought one of each. He thanked Shen Shaoguang with a smile, put the crepes in a portable leather bag and left.

The next day, the young man came again, and this time he ordered five crepes at once.

Shen Shaoguang glanced at him. Are you sure you aren’t from a university, bringing breakfast for all your roommates?

However money was money and she shouldn’t be judging. Shen Shaoguang quickly made three spicy and two non-spicy crepes. While handing over the order, she joked: "If you buy ten, I will give you one free."

The young man gave Shen Shaoguang a shy look, then licked his lips and replied, "Thank you."

His honest reply caused Shen Shaoguang to feel somewhat embarrassed to continue teasing.

On the third day, although he didn’t order ten, the amount increased to seven crepes.

Shen Shaoguang didn't know what to say anymore, she just hoped the young man was acting as a breakfast straw buyer. If this was all for himself, then the salary of the ninth-rank official would not be enough to sustain him for long.

…

In Capital City’s government repository, several young officials huddled together to enjoy their crepe.

"Fortunately there’s Scribe Liu, otherwise I would have to go to work hungry." One man, who still had gunk in his eyes, said.

Young people often enjoyed an engaging nightlife; they would sleep late and naturally wake up late. Everyday, they would only rise from bed at the last moment, rush to tidy up, and rush to work at the city government office. Where could they find time to enjoy morning breakfast?

Liu Feng, a Court Scribe[2], lived close by. One time, he bought an extra crepe and was eaten by one of his hungry colleagues who immediately ascended from its fine taste. It was then this folded savory egg crepe became an instant hit among the middle and lower officials in the city. At the same time, Court Scribe Liu embarked on the road as a breakfast delivery boy.

"This spicy one really tastes good. Just eating one just stimulates my appetite even further. Liu Feng, bring me another one next time."

"The crucial point is that this crepe is presented tastefully. Have you ever seen street food packaged in a paper? Look, there's even a small seal script[3] 'Shen' on the corner of each packaging."

The well-mannered young man wiped the sauce from the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief and folded the empty paper package slowly. He then pointed to the word on the corner and stated, "Elegant and graceful, yet full of spirit; unlike the regular calligraphic script most use now. This seal character is somewhat similar to Li Shaojian’s style."

There were many regular script manuscripts available in this dynasty. The current scholars often wrote in regular script, while seal script was no longer as commonly used; small seal scripts were last popularized by Li Yangbing during the reign of Emperor Xuánzong of Tang.

Though the rest of the group did not studied seal script as extensively, as learned erudites, they all simultaneously looked at their own crepe packaging

One of them joked, "This word is somewhat feminine, could the engraver be a young lady?"

Everyone laughed.

Liu Feng blushed slightly, a trace of doubt flashed in his eyes.

Just when the young man finished his joke about the ‘feminine’ script, he looked up and noticed the capital city’s Magistrate and the Deputy Magistrate passing by. He put down the crepe, stood up, and saluted.

The capital city’s Magistrate, Bai Jingshan, was an amiable person. He smiled and waved to the flustered young men while Deputy Magistrate Lin Yan nodded slightly. They made their way over.

The young officials raised their brows and silently signaled each other with their eyes. After eating what was left in just a couple of bites, they chugged their tea, and ran back to their respective departments.

Magistrate Bai smiled and asked, "It smells weirdly appetizing, what were these young fellas having?"

Smelling the familiar scent, Lin Yan smiled and replied, "Probably some type of pastries."

"Back in the days, I also snuck in breakfast to the anteroom. Alas, young people will always feel as if they never have enough time to sleep or eat."

Lin Yan responded with another smile.

Magistrate Bai turned his eyes to look at the young deputy beside him, "But I have never seen An Ran[1] in such a state. Could it be that you have no interest in those street ‘goods’?"

"This junior official is numbed to all flavors, all foods taste insipid; it is simply sustenance."

Magistrate Bai laughed, "An Ran was born into a life of extravagance, presumably your taste buds have already been spoiled."

Lin Yan smiled mildly.

***

The Lane Gate had already opened and breakfast time was just about over; Shen Shaoguang was finally given a breather. She grabbed a towel and leisurely wiped her countertop, skillet, spilled sauces and chopped toppings.

Lu Sanniang, who sold fried noodles, walked over with a smile, "A’Shen's business is getting better and better."

Shen Shaoguang looked up but didn’t stop her movements. She smiled and replied, "It’s all thanks to Missus Lu, for making such good fried noodles."

Fried Noodles were also known as Sangza. It was made by pulling wheat flour dough into thin ropes, which is then deep-fried. It was usually made into a twisted pyramid shape and could be stored for several days; it was an essential winter storage food. It was also regularly brought to allay hunger.

Shen Shaoguang had commissioned Lu Sanniang to fry thinner crisps similar to the modern fried noodles. It came out quite similar, except Missus Lu had added a bit of sugar into the dough, so the final result ended up a little sweeter. It would be too inappropriate for her to ask for the noodle recipe to be changed, so Shen Shaoguang adjusted the ingredients of her own sauce accordingly. With the two’s cooperation, the newly created crepe came out quite nice.

Since the day she set up her stall, Shen Shaoguang's business had maintained its prosperity, so how could her neighboring vendors not be envious? Although Lu Sanniang also felt this way, she sold a lot more of her own fried noodles because of her suggestion, so she didn't dare to show any jealousy. Now that there were so many youths coming to buy Shen Shaoguang's savory crepes, naturally she had to use this opportunity to tease the girl to her heart’s content.

"No matter how well I fry these fried noodles, I don't see those young lads coming to buy from me every day." Missus Lu winked and laughed.

Shen Shaoguang stopped wiping and seriously pondered over her words. "Oh? Then my crepes-making skills must be very good."

Missus Lu chuckled, "Just keep pretending."

Shen Shaoguang smiled faintly, then continued to wipe.

After everything was cleaned, she put the stove back onto her cart.

Qiu Da, her neighbor vendor who sold flat cakes, helped her put the stove on the cart.

Shen Shaoguang thanked him politely. Qiu Da mumbled, nodded at her, and walked away with his remaining basket of flat cakes.

Lu Sanniang sighed inwardly, how nice it was to be young and beautiful. When I was younger, there were also people who, just to see me, would come to buy all three of their meals from me.

.

.

.

Footnotes:

[1] charcoal tong to free it out - referencing one of Guo Degang's jokes. Guo Degang is a modern Chinese crosstalk comedian. It’s too long to explain, but basically about a servant doing stupid things.

[2] Court Scribe - 錄事/ 录事. Name of an ancient Chinese official. Court Scribe are in charge of keeping a record of court proceedings by recording all the statements of judges and witnesses as they happen. Or whenever the magistrate or any other higher ranked official needs someone to scribe words for them.

[3] seal script - Seal script, also sigillary script is an ancient style of writing Chinese characters that was common throughout the latter half of the 1st millennium BC

[4] An Ran - Doesn't explain in the text, but I'm sure it's our ML’s courtesy name. ‘A courtesy name, also known as a style name, is a name bestowed upon one at adulthood in addition to one's given name.’ If not, then it’s just a cute nickname.