Chang’an Small Restaurant

Chapter 77.2 Misjudged Rival in Love

To be honest, Miss Shen was truly remarkable. She was knowledgeable, adept at making money, eloquent, resourceful, straightforward, interesting, and undeniably beautiful. Yet, for some reason, Shao Jie harbored no romantic feelings for her. Instead, he admired her as one might admire a particularly gifted classmate in school.

Soon, Shao Jie realized that it was fortunate he didn’t harbor any romantic thoughts about her; otherwise, he might have ended up quite heartbroken.

With the patriarch of the Shao Residence agreeing, the plan to open a branch moved forward. To avoid suspicion, Shao Jie was reluctant to participate in the management, but Shen Shaoguang did not let him have his way—it would be a waste not to utilize such free labor.

Shao Jie, being straightforward, decided to get involved since Miss Shen didn't mind. Previously, his focus had been on ‘preserving one's heritage’, but now it felt like they were ‘beginning an undertaking’. This shift excited Shao Jie.

The two of them roughly divided the tasks. Shen Shaoguang took charge of menu formulation, food quality control, service training, brand planning, and marketing, while Shao Jie handled the ‘external affairs’, such as purchasing more servants, selecting sites, procuring property, and liaising with suppliers.

Site selection was the top priority. For this, Shao Jie rode around Chang'an City in his free time, meeting with real estate merchants. He noted down any promising locations. He believed in thorough comparison shopping and, given their partnership, he always sought Miss Shen's opinion on the final decisions.

…

That day, Shao Jie visited Shen Shaoguang with the blueprints of several new shops he had scouted.

Shen Shaoguang invited him to sit and served him some tea and fruit.

Feeling a bit hot from all the horse riding, Shao Jie smiled when he saw the bowl of chilled honey bean curdled milk. "Miss, you truly know how to come in clutch!"

Without needing a spoon, he lifted the bowl and drank half of it in one go, the bottom adorned with honey beans. Shao Jie then delicately spooned up the rest, savoring each bite. "Sweet and flavorful! Not as unctuous as Red Bean Paste Bread."

Shen Shaoguang smiled with satisfaction. "Sir Shao, now try this 'Fisherman's Three Delicacies(渔父三鲜)'."

Shao Jie laughed.

The so-called "Fisherman's Three Delicacies" derived its name from its ingredients: water chestnuts, lotus roots, and lotus seeds, commonly enjoyed by fishermen. This name was not Shen Shaoguang's idea, but something she had encountered in the book <Shan Jia Qing Gong(山家清供)>. She was merely parroting another person's words.

"Even without cooking skills, your talent for naming could sustain you," Shao Jie remarked with a hint of humor.

Shen Shaoguang waved her hand, saying, "This name was borrowed from a book. However, I've pondered similar dilemmas before. If I weren't a cook, I might have pursued a life as a Buddhist or Taoist nun, earning my keep with lofty and impractical words—interpreting kau chims and such. Perhaps I could make a living that way."

Shao Jie chuckled heartily.

As the seventh lunar month drew to a close, the water chestnuts, lotus roots, and lotus seeds were exceptionally fresh and tender, infused with the moist vapor from the pond, making them exceptionally delicious.

Shen Shaoguang then asked Shao Jie to sample the Gorgon Fruit and Chestnut Flat Cake from another plate.

After taking a bite, Shao Jie exclaimed, "Delicious! How are these made?"

He asked without hesitation, so Shen Shaoguang answered directly, "Grind the gorgon fruit into powder and sauté it in a pot until cooked. Then mix it with cooked glutinous rice flour and a little sugar to make the dough. The filling is made from the first batch of chestnuts harvested this autumn. Don't add too much sugar or it will become too sweet."

Shao Jie nodded, recalling that gorgon fruit also grows in water, and smiled, "So, along with water chestnuts and the like, should we call it the 'Fisherman's Four Delicacies'?"

Shen Shaoguang calmly raised a finger and gestured side to side. "No, no, there are chestnuts in it. Chestnuts grow in the mountains, while gorgon fruits grow in the water. So, this cake is called 'Fisherman's and Woodman’s Flat Cake'."

Shao Jie remained silent. He felt a similar frustration to when he faced classmates who excelled at memorization and consistently received high marks on their compositions. ‘I really wanted to cover their heads with a sack and give them a good beating,’ he thought, but then he looked at Miss Shen's lovely face... ‘Forget it.’

‘High Achieving Student’ Shen raised her eyebrows at ‘Low Achieving Student’ Shao, who was clearly gritting his teeth in frustration.

When Lin Yan entered the room, he witnessed the two of them locking eyes.

Shen Shaoguang and Shao Jie rose from their seats. Shen greeted the guest while Shao Jie respectfully paid his respects.

Lin Yan's smile was faint as he remarked, "What a coincidence to meet you here again, Sir Shao."

Shao Jie smiled in agreement.

Shen Shaoguang seized the moment to inquire about Lin Yan's dining preferences. Observing the spread on Shao and Shen's table, Lin Yan smiled and replied, "I'll leave it to your recommendation."

Having spent considerable time with him, Shen Shaoguang understood his underlying meaning. She promptly served him the Fisherman’s and Woodcutter's set.

Shao Jie, in the midst of an unfinished conversation with Shen Shaoguang, hesitated on what to do next when Deputy Magistrate Lin invited him to sit with him. 

A naturally talkative person, Shao Jie felt a bit uneasy in the presence of Deputy Magistrate Lin, a high-ranking official known for his reserved demeanor. To break the silence, Shao Jie steered the conversation towards the food on the table. "Shen Shaoguang's 'Fisherman's Three Delicacies' is exceptionally tender, Deputy Magistrate Lin. Please, do try it."

Lin Yan nodded as he peeled a few lotus seeds to eat.

"This Gorgon Fruit and Chestnut Flat Cake is also quite delightful, sweet yet not overpowering." Suddenly recalling Shen Shaoguang's earlier explanation, he added, "Oh, this pastry also goes by another name, 'Fisherman's and Woodman’s Flat Cake'."

Lin Yan glanced at Shen Shaoguang, who was busy serving tea, and couldn't help but curl the corner of his lips into a faint smile. She was just as mischievous when naming dishes.

Shao Jie noticed Deputy Magistrate Lin's smile, akin to the early spring thawing ice and snow with its warmth. It reminded him once more of the importance of a well-chosen dish name.

"Does Sir Shao reside in this Lane as well? I haven’t seen you here often," Deputy Magistrate Lin inquired, breaking his usual silence. Shao Jie, finding no reason for discretion in the matter, proceeded to narrate the details.

Lin Yan nodded thoughtfully. "Which lanes have you settled on?"

Shao Jie was taken aback. Had the usually reserved Deputy Magistrate Lin shown genuine interest in this matter? Or was there a deeper significance to his question?

But then he heard Deputy Magistrate Lin address Miss Shen, who was preparing to leave with the tray. "Stop fussing about. Aren't you going to discuss the selection of a new store location with Sir Shao?"

Miss Shen actually took her seat on the opposite side of the table.

Shao Jie: "..." 

Shao Jie retrieved a personally-done sketch he had tucked inside his sleeve. It wasn't overly detailed, but it conveyed his ideas effectively. "This one is located in Yongchang Lane, situated at the main street corner. It offers about 50% more space than our current store, with a spacious interior, minimal internal pillars, and a favorable layout. However, the price is somewhat steep. On the other hand, this one in Yongle Lane isn't far from there, albeit a bit smaller. It previously operated as a grocery store and shows signs of age; we'd need to renovate the doors, windows, and floors if we purchase it..."

After listening to him, Shen Shaoguang was still contemplating when Lin Yan interjected, "The one in Yongchang Lane is not suitable. His Majesty plans to build a mansion for the Princess Imperial of guangping there."

The Princess Imperial of guangping was the current emperor's beloved younger sister from the same mother. Her mansion would undoubtedly be grand and extensive. Given that Yongchang Lane was not very large, the princess's mansion would likely occupy half the lane, severely limiting the potential customer base.

No imperial decree had been issued to announce this matter yet. Without someone like Deputy Magistrate Lin, a scarlet-robed official privy to such discussions, they would never have known.

Shao Jie was about to express his gratitude but felt something was rather odd. Looking up, he saw Deputy Magistrate Lin holding the store's calico cat, gently stroking its face, head, and chin, continuously smoothing its fur.

Shao Jie glanced at Miss Shen, who was seriously examining the picture, then at Deputy Magistrate Lin, who was leisurely holding the cat. A realization began to dawn on him. Fortunately, fortunately…

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Author has something to say: 

Shao Jie, who finally understood, thought: Fortunately, I like sweet and delicate girls.

Deputy Magistrate Lin, who had effortlessly dealt with a ‘rival in love’ and subtly flaunted his relationship, thought: Is my wife not sweet and delicate enough? Oh, you can't feel it? That’s good too.

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Foods:

Red Bean Paste Bread (红豆饼) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=See5pQpQhzQ