Chang’an Small Restaurant Chapter 92 (Part 2)
Translated by Pure
Chapter 92.2 The Tavern at East Market
After the Winter Solstice holiday, Shen Shaoguang spent less and less time experimenting with new dishes in the kitchen. Shao Jie, who had managed to obtain the deed to the tavern in East Market, was busy with renovations, organizing the layout, and staffing, aiming to open before the New Year.
In addition to managing the four existing taverns, Shen Shaoguang was focused on turning the East Market location into a flagship for Shen Indelible. The prime location had to be utilized to its fullest, and she was determined not to let the investment go to waste!
The East Market, located close to the imperial city, was surrounded by high-ranking officials’ residences and was near both the bustling Chongren Lane with its inns and lodging-houses, as well as the famous Tang Dynasty red-light district, Pingkang Lane. Unlike the more civilian-oriented West Market, the East Market was the epicenter of the commercial district.
To make Shen Indelible Tavern stand out in this prime location, Shen Shaoguang and Shao Jie made several modifications while maintaining Shen Indelible's unique style.
For example, private rooms were added. The second floor was partitioned into several large suites, designed for guests seeking a quieter dining experience. These private rooms were truly elegant, adorned with paintings that ranged from opulent to serene. The wooden floors were furnished with large dining tables or small snack tables, accompanied by sandalwood chairs, incense burner tables, silver-screen partitions, and reclining bags made of brocade from Sichuan. Potted wintersweet and burning incense added to the ambiance—eating in such a luxurious room, no one would dare to say it was overpriced even if a bowl of noodles cost a thousand taels.
Great care was taken in designing the elegant private rooms for the 'noble patrons,' while the 'entertainment' for the general customers was by no means neglected either. Shen Shaoguang and Shao Jie discussed and decided to set aside a space in the first-floor hall, constructing a stage where their own performers, like Zhang Two, could showcase acts such as the 'Menu Rap' and 'Leaving Shen Indelible While Being Supported.'”
Shao Jie clapped his hands in approval, saying, “This is exactly how it should be! Our performance is unique to the East and West Markets. It’s not like those places where they just have a couple of songstresses singing—barely anyone listens...”
Performances in the form of theatrical sketches during meals were not unheard of at the time, but they were mostly found at banquets hosted by the wealthy and powerful. In the taverns of the East and West Markets, some would invite courtesans from Pingkang Lane to play music and sing to attract customers. This was what Shao Jie was referring to.
"The other day, I accompanied my paternal grandfather to a banquet at the Zhou Residence, hosted by the head of the clan. There was some ‘performance’ during the meal, and I heard that those two performers used to serve in the royal residence. Frankly, I wasn't impressed, the main issue was—that their sketch was too outdated." Shao Jie curled his lip in disdain. The word "sketch" was clearly something he had picked up from Shen Shaoguang.
The "sketches" at Shen Indelible were indeed fresh, but it wasn’t because Shen Shaoguang had an extraordinary imagination, a talent for originality, or an impressive memory stocked with gigabytes of jokes. Instead, she mobilized the people.
Shen Shaoguang had long believed that the "screenplay" was the soul of such performances, much like the dishes themselves—only by continually innovating could they remain vibrant and appealing.
However, relying solely on recycled jokes from sources such as the <Collection of Classic Chinese Jokes> wasn’t going to last long, especially given Shen Shaoguang's own lack of creative humor. Remembering the story about Mr. Liaozhai, who exchanged tea for stories, Shen Shaoguang decided to implement a similar interactive feature—inviting diners to submit entries. The themes had to relate to dining, and the submissions were required to be humorous and entertaining. Anyone who participated would receive seasonal floral cakes as a token of appreciation.
This initiative was implemented across Shen Indelible’s four long-established taverns. As expected, the power of the public proved boundless, and many amusing anecdotes were collected. Shen Shaoguang compiled and adapted these stories, creating a diverse selection. In addition to the popular Zhang Two series about the miserly, gluttonous customer, there were also elegant jest stories favored by scholars, slightly risqué tales from the boudoir, and charmingly foolish narratives that entertained the masses. Most of these stories were related to food.
While Shen Shaoguang might not excel in creating original content, her skills in curating and compiling were proficient. She carefully excluded anything inappropriate, overly vulgar, or politically sensitive, focusing only on stories that were “suitable for family dining”—after all, the goal was simply to provide some light-hearted entertainment.
The diners who could come up with such humorous stories were clearly fond of this kind of entertainment. Seeing their jokes performed on stage made them quite proud. Some, feeling a bit narcissistic, would inquire about the exact performance times and repeatedly come to watch. They not only attended themselves but also invited family and friends, which led to Shen Indelible Tavern gaining additional revenue and a new group of fans.
Shao Jie, in particular, was a fan of the "sketches" and would listen to a few segments when he had free time. That’s precisely why he was particularly unimpressed with others' performances—simply put, his taste had been spoiled.
Shen Shaoguang then suggested, "Just having entertainment routines is too monotonous. Why don’t we make contracts with the performers from the East Market, like those who perform opera or Sogdian Whirl Dancers, and have them come once or twice every ten days? They can keep the tips from the customers, and we’ll pay them extra as well."
"That sounds wonderful!"
Shen Shaoguang didn't consider inviting courtesans from Pingkang Lane. It wasn’t due to her lofty ideals or sense of propriety, but because it was unaffordable—high-profile, beautiful, and talented performers would be too expensive for a single appearance, while those who weren’t as accomplished weren’t worth the trouble.
As the twelfth lunar month approached, Shen Indelible Tavern in the East Market finally opened.
Standing by the second-floor railing, watching the steady flow of customers and listening to Xu Silang's classic performance of "Menu Rap," Shen Shaoguang turned to Lin Yan, who had come specifically to show support, and asked, “Do you think it’s quite good?”
“It’s not just quite good, it’s excellent,” Lin Yan replied with a smile. “Particularly impressive.”
Shen Shaoguang felt a sense of fulfillment and smiled with her eyes squinted.
“All those cups of tea I drank while waiting at your place weren't done in vain.”
Shen Shaoguang turned to look at him. Lin Yan’s eyes were slightly crinkled at the corners, his expression a mix of teasing and a hint of grievance.
With the new tavern opening and the old tavern updating its seasonal menu for the New Year, Shen Shaoguang had indeed been very busy, even occasionally staying overnight away from home. Lin Yan, also busy, would visit her when he had the chance, but she would often be absent.
Shen Shaoguang licked her lips, adopting a player’s tone as she tilted her head and asked, “Do you feel ‘regret for the husband seeking fame far away[1]’?”
Lin Yan couldn’t help but laugh.
Shen Shaoguang thought he wouldn’t answer, but he chuckled and nodded, “I regret it very much.”
.
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The author has something to say: Just another chapter of Shaoguang busy working and taking liberties.
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Footnote:
[1] She regrets the husband seeking fame far away (悔教夫婿觅封侯) - This is a quote from Wang Changling’s poem ‘A Boudoir Regret(闺怨)’. Wang Changling (王昌齡) was a major Tang dynasty poet. This poem portrays the deep sorrow and loneliness of a woman left behind by her absent husband or lover. It highlights her feelings of isolation and yearning as she waits in vain for his return, reflecting themes of separation and emotional hardship. You can read the translation of this short poem here - https://m.kekenet.com/kouyi/201611/479989.shtml