Outside, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled. The wind rattled the window frames, and raindrops as big as beans hammered down. Shen Shaoguang went to close the window, then took a small folding stool to sit by the doorway, watching the rain while rolling glutinous rice balls—planning to add fermented rice and cook them for breakfast.
Shen Shaoguang was from the North and first encountered Southern cuisine during university. There was a girl from Jiangnan in her dormitory, with dewy skin and a soft, gentle voice, who loved experimenting with dormitory cooking. She could almost create an imperial feast with just a rice cooker, playing a clever game of cat and mouse with the dorm supervisor.
These fermented rice balls were learned from that clever girl from the water town. At first taste, they weren’t particularly impressive, but later Shen Shaoguang grew to love their subtle sweetness—different from the bold flavors of Northern cuisine, yet so comforting in the stomach. Nothing was better than having a bowl of this as a late-night snack after evening self-study.
Thinking of those happy times, Shen Shaoguang sighed. Rainy days always made one particularly prone to reminiscing.
The rain continued falling, forming puddles in the courtyard with bubbles on their surface. Shen Shaoguang tilted her head, squinting at the sky to gauge the weather. The sky seemed to be brightening—the rain would likely stop soon. It had lasted exactly through the morning drum time, disrupting her morning street vending.
Since the Dragon Boat Festival, heaven seemed to suddenly wake up and make up for all the previously owed rain. It rained heavily every three days and lightly every two days. Strangely, the summer heat didn’t retreat despite the frequent rain; instead, it attacked people in an even more unbearable way—humid heat, what future generations would call sauna weather.
Because of this weather, Shen Shaoguang’s street vending money-making plan had been significantly disrupted. Fortunately, she had saved some money earlier, especially during the Dragon Boat Festival at Qujiang’s dragon boat race, where she had earned almost a season’s worth of profit. So there was no need to be too anxious—what use would anxiety be anyway?
As Shen Shaoguang held her bowl, eating glutinous rice balls and drinking the fermented rice soup with candied osmanthus, the rain finally stopped. Along with the end of the rain came a visitor.
Broad-shouldered, long-legged, with a dark complexion, his sturdy frame filled out his brown round-necked robe. Shen Shaoguang squinted, remembering—it was that military officer who had bought all her sour plum drink that day!
Hopefully, he hadn’t come because of stomach problems from the drink…
The guest receptionist Jingci showed a curious, probing expression. Shen Shaoguang didn’t rush her away, just smiled and asked, “What brings the General here?”
The officer was merely an eighth-rank Xuanjie School Captain, and when this young woman addressed him as general, raising his rank by more than ten levels, he felt somewhat embarrassed. However, he didn’t correct her, just smiled and said, “That day, young lady’s plum drink was excellent. My fellow officers kept thinking about it and made many inquiries before discovering you lived in this temple in Chongxian Ward. I happened to pass by the ward entrance and wanted to buy more.”
Hearing he was a general, Jingci’s expression brightened, but when she heard he was buying a sour plum drink, her distinctive eyebrows drooped disappointedly—that Shen would make money again!
However, unexpectedly, Shen Shaoguang directed the business away: “General doesn’t know, that was specially brewed for the Dragon Boat Festival; we don’t have it normally. If the General wants it for personal consumption, tell me a day in advance, and I can prepare it. However, if it’s for—sending to the military, please forgive my inability to comply.”
The officer frowned, “Why is that?”
“Judging by the General’s uniform that day, you seem to be from the Imperial Guard. The Imperial Guard protects the Emperor and defends the capital, a truly significant responsibility. There must be established rules for food procurement. I’m just a commoner, and dare not interfere.” The Imperial Guard’s waters were too deep; selling occasionally in public was one thing, but it would be unwise to push further now. Shen Shaoguang had always valued her life.
The officer hadn’t expected Shen Shaoguang to be so cautious and couldn’t help but study her more carefully.
Shen Shaoguang smiled, allowing his scrutiny.
“Since the young lady is unwilling, I won’t insist. Farewell!” The officer put on his bamboo hat, preparing to leave.
“There might be a way—” Shen Shaoguang smiled.
The officer frowned, turning his head to look at her.
“Whether these plums are cooked in my pot or the Imperial Guard’s kitchen, they’ll turn out the same. Why not let the official kitchen staff cook it?”
Naturally, they hadn’t achieved this flavor before! The kitchen had tried before.
Suddenly, the officer realized, “Lady, you mean—”
Shen Shaoguang smiled with narrowed eyes, “I’m willing to offer this plum drink recipe. Then the official kitchen can cook it whenever they want, as much as they want. It’s clean and safe, and the General won’t have to worry about any responsibility. Isn’t that perfect?” Moving past retail and wholesale straight to the recipe buyout stage.
The officer slowly nodded, understanding the cleverness of the young woman before him. He knew she wasn’t truly “offering” it, so he asked, “How much does the young lady want?”
Shen Shaoguang pondered briefly, “How about twenty taels of silver?”
Shen Shaoguang believed she hadn’t asked for too much. While twenty taels was a year’s living expenses for common people, for the wealthy it was merely the price of two medium-quality silk pieces. All government offices had specially allocated food expenses called “food capital,” and various government offices also “invested capital for profit.” Food expenses were never fully used, so officials often split the surplus. The Imperial Guard, as the emperor’s direct military force, had even more resources—would they care about twenty taels?
The officer was in his thirties and had reached the eighth rank, earning only about ten taels monthly salary. Hearing Shen Shaoguang ask for twenty taels, he couldn’t help but frown, but thinking of the kitchen’s expenses and his superiors’ prestige, perhaps those above might accept?
Shen Shaoguang knew he was a minor official who probably couldn’t make this decision, so she smiled and said, “Though it’s a small matter, it still involves Imperial Guard provisions. The General should consider it carefully.”
The officer nodded to Shen Shaoguang, put on his bamboo hat, picked up his rain cape, and left.
Jingci beside her looked at Shen Shaoguang as if seeing a whole new world.
Shen Shaoguang thought it was just a sour plum drink, not dragon meat from heaven. How much more could one earn from monopolizing it? Besides, she needed money now—street vending was too weather-dependent, and the space by the ward gate was too small to even set up a table. With just a small stove making pancakes every day, how long would it take to earn enough retirement money? So, why not open a small shop instead?
The next afternoon, seeing the officer’s figure, Shen Shaoguang knew the matter was settled.
The officer wasn’t one for many words. Since his superior had approved, he paid Shen Shaoguang twenty taels of silver and told the servant-dressed person behind him, “Learn how to make the plum drink from this young lady.”
Shen Shaoguang took out the ingredients and taught wholeheartedly. By the time the evening bell was about to ring, a small pot of sour plum juice was finally ready. After cooling it in the temple’s backyard well, she took small bowls for the officer and servant to taste.
The officer nodded, “This is the taste.” Then asked the servant, “Have you learned it?”
The servant was quite young, about twenty, with clever laughing eyes. Hearing the officer’s question, he quickly smiled and said, “Don’t worry, School Captain, I’ve learned it all.”
Shen Shaoguang had intended to write down the recipe—having received payment, she should provide clear delivery of goods. But on second thought, out of paranoid caution, she didn’t write it after all, just smiled and said, “If there’s anything you’re unclear about, feel free to come ask me.”
The officer nodded and left with the servant. Shen Shaoguang weighed the twenty taels of silver in her hand and happily returned to her room.