Chang’an Small Restaurant Chapter 100 (Part 2)
Shoutout to lilac for supporting me on ko-fi!
Translated by Pure
Chapter 100.2 Whispers of Paranoia
Seeing the beautiful proprietress looking at him in such a manner, Sir Ji smiled again and inquired, "I’ve heard that even the current reigning emperor has visited your establishment?"
Shen Shaoguang chuckled, "That’s what they say, but we can’t be sure of its veracity."
"I believe it’s true. Your hot pot truly is delightful."
Shen Shaoguang gratefully replied, "After you achieve top marks in the imperial examinations and you find yourself obtaining a post in Chang’an, do visit us often, sir."
"Certainly," Sir Ji responded readily. Then, with a casual tone, he asked, "What did his majesty order on that occasion? We’d like to try the same."
Shen Shaoguang furrowed her brows and said regretfully, "I’d like to know too! Afterward, I asked a few of the servers, and some said it was the milky broth, others said it was the clear broth, and some mentioned it was the medicinal broth. With so many customers, how could they remember? While it may be excusable for them to forget the orders of other patrons, how could they fail to recall the order of such an esteemed customer?"
"Don’t you keep a record in your ledger?" Sir Ji asked as he sipped his curdled milk.
"We originally thought that since the prices were the same, it didn’t matter much whether we recorded or not… But now, having learned our lesson, we record everything in detail," Shen Shaoguang shook her head in regret.
Sir Ji smiled in response.
After chatting for a while, Sir Ji ordered the classic milky broth, along with slices of lamb and fish balls, along with various other meats and vegetables.
Shen Shaoguang asked with a smile, "Shall we serve some botuo noodles after you finish the meat and vegetables, sir?"
Sir Ji nodded in agreement, a smile gracing his face.
Turning to his companion, she inquired, "And what about you, sir?"
His friend remained aloof, offering no additional commentary.
"What about the wine? Our establishment offers Xinfeng wine, Daughter’s Wine, as well as locally made jasper wine and amber wine…" Despite the menu listing these options, Shen Shaoguang reiterated them.
As before, Sir Ji replied, "I’ll have the Xinfeng wine."
Shen Shaoguang asked them to wait a moment and then went downstairs.
A few ethnic Hu people had arrived, standing at the door and looking around. One of them asked the steward loudly, "I’ve heard that even His Majesty the Emperor has been here?"
The customers in the store, as well as the steward and waiters, all laughed. Shen Shaoguang joined in the laughter, finding the straightforwardness of these Hu people quite refreshing.
"Come on, give us the same dishes that His Majesty the Emperor had!"
The listeners laughed even more.
The Hu people laughed boisterously as they ascended the stairs.
Shen Shaoguang made her way to the kitchen to relay the orders. Before long, the hot pots and dipping dishes were prepared, and the waitstaff carried large trays laden with the meals for the two Suzhou scholars and several Hu guests upstairs.
After a moment's contemplation, Shen Shaoguang decided to head upstairs once more. She greeted Sir Ji and his companion before approaching the table of the Hu guests to politely inquire if they required anything further.
The leader of the Hu people smiled at Shen Shaoguang and remarked, "It’s a pity your establishment doesn’t have any sing-song girls."
Shen Shaoguang’s nostrils flared faintly as she smiled and said, "But we do have a young man who enjoys jesting."
The Hu people guffawed.
With a cheerful "Enjoy your meal," Shen Shaoguang nodded toward Sir Ji and his companion in the distance before gracefully making her way downstairs.
Once she was back downstairs, Shen Shaoguang went behind the counter and frowned slightly. She glanced up at the second floor, her sense of paranoia flaring once more.
Once the East Market closed for the evening, Shen Shaoguang took a carriage home. Upon her arrival, she received a message from Lin Yan—having not seen him for several days, she suspected he might have been preoccupied with something important.
Upon reading the note, Shen Shaoguang learned that Elder Madam Jiang had fallen ill. It appeared that Lin Yan had been dividing his time between the government repository and caring for his grandmother at home. Concerned that she might worry, he had sent her a message.
"How is Elder Madam faring?" Shen Shaoguang inquired of Liu Chang.
"Elder Madam Jiang is in the twilight of her life but sometimes exhibits the temperament of a child. A few days ago, she spent too long in the garden and caught a chill."
Shen Shaoguang nodded. "It’s getting late today. Please extend my apologies to Elder Madam, and I will pay her a visit tomorrow." The customs of this era were no different from those in later generations, with very few choosing to visit the sick in the afternoon or evening.
Shen Shaoguang also penned a note for Lin Yan, which Liu Chang was to deliver. To her surprise, Lin Yan arrived after dinner.
"Is Elder Madam feeling any better?" Shen Shaoguang inquired.
Lin Yan appeared somewhat fatigued, yet he managed to offer a smile. "She’s doing better now. She had a slight fever over the past few days, but it has finally subsided today."
Shen Shaoguang moved closer, gently massaging his temples. "Have you been keeping vigil with her?"
"Yes," Lin Yan responded, drawing her into an embrace and resting his chin atop her hair.
Releasing his temples, Shen Shaoguang wrapped her arms around him in return.
After a moment of tenderness, Shen Shaoguang pulled him to sit down and personally served him a beverage. Smiling, she said, "I need to discuss something with you. Please listen and tell me if I’m overreacting."
Lin Yan’s expression turned serious. "Go ahead."
"Recently, two scholars from Suzhou visited our store. They spoke with an elegant accent and chose to indulge in the northern delicacy of curdled milk, despite the availability of tea. Even with the southern-style Daughter's wine at hand, they opted for Xinfeng wine instead. They relished the lamb spine pot, had a penchant for sour and spicy flavors, and enjoyed an array of noodles. One of them was notably handsome and dignified, while the other was more reserved and taciturn, presenting a dynamic that resembled that of a master and servant rather than the friends they purported to be."
Shen Shaoguang wrinkled her nose. "If it were merely these details, it wouldn’t raise much concern. However, this particular scholar used an incense that was strikingly similar to that of the leader among a group of Hu people who arrived at the tavern later." At that time, incense was typically a blend of various spices, and even a slight variation in one ingredient or its ratio could alter the aroma. Having spent years in the palace as a discerning maid and possessing a keen sense of smell, Shen Shaoguang had developed some expertise in this area.
"If they are acquainted, why did they not recognize each other?" she mused slowly. "What troubles me most is that they all inquired about what His Majesty had consumed on that day." While many were curious about the Emperor's meals, the combination of these elements raised a troubling suspicion.
"People from the north pretending to be from the south, colluding with the Hu people, and probing into the Emperor’s diet…" Lin Yan summarized Shen Shaoguang’s concerns. After a moment's contemplation, he nodded decisively. "You should start bringing more capable servants to accompany you when you go out and, if possible, avoid the East Market altogether. Ensure that the staff at your tavern are particularly vigilant; it seems something may be afoot."
He spoke with utmost seriousness regarding these pressing matters, reminding Shen Shaoguang of his stature as a scarlet-robed, high-ranking official—a man of substantial influence within the capital. She couldn't help but recall that rainy night when he had wielded a blade to swiftly end the life of one of the nefarious evildoers...
Sensing the gravity in his tone, Lin Yan smiled again, reaching out to gently ruffle her hair as he tenderly advised, "Be good and listen to me."
Shen Shaoguang met his gaze and said, "On the third day before the Ministry of Rites exam, there will be an ‘Attaining Ding Banquet’ at the East Market tavern, where numerous scholars are expected to gather."
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TL Note: When I spotted that the author described another man as handsome, I got a little scared we might have another rival on our hands! But phew, it's a relief to know he’s not. Hehe, it looks like there’s one last big event coming up before this story comes to an end… ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡
