It was the beginning of Summer once again. Several days before this seasonal point, the four people at Shen’s had immersed themselves in the busy preparation of flower cakes.
Shen Shaoguang had someone create a sign reading “Top Scholar’s Flower Cakes” and hang it beside the door. New and regular customers inevitably inquired about it, leading them to hear how this year’s Top Scholar favored Shen’s flower cakes during the Shangsi Festival.
The main storyteller was Yuan—who had been in charge of serving the Top Scholar that day.
Initially, Yuan’s story went: “The Top Scholar bought our cakes and praised them, saying ‘these cakes surpass flowers in beauty.'”
Upon hearing Yuan tell the story this way, Shen Shaoguang promptly conducted some professional training. Afterward, customers heard about how devastatingly handsome and refined the Top Scholar was, how he instantly spotted Shen’s cake stall at Qujiang, how he was immediately captivated and offered praise, which varieties of cakes he purchased, and his words after tasting them… The tale unfolded with proper structure and vivid scenes interwoven, like a proper romantic narrative.
Many customers who heard it once would request to listen to it again on their next visit. Yuan would retell it, initially stumbling but gradually becoming more fluent, narrating with such genuine sincerity that it couldn’t appear more authentic.
Shen Shaoguang wondered whether this girl possessed a natural talent for fabrication or if she had told the tale so many times that she had begun believing it herself.
When Shen Shaoguang questioned her, Yuan blinked and responded, “That’s truly how it happened… I couldn’t describe it in such detail before.”
Yuan appeared confused: “Young Miss, how did you know all this when you weren’t even present?”
Shen Shaoguang: “…”
Not only did she know, but she could also assign this story several titles, such as “Shocking! The New Top Scholar’s Unexpected Words,” “The Secret History of the Top Scholar’s Cake Tasting,” “The Top Scholar’s Sweet Love,” “Cherished: The Top Scholar and His Sweet Heart,” “Tasting Cakes at Qujiang: Life’s True Pleasure”… The title could be freely chosen depending on the medium.
Shen Shaoguang once again felt life’s profound loneliness. Though clearly more skilled at verbal artistry, she now could only earn her living through culinary expertise—truly born in the wrong era…
Yuan wasn’t finished: “Those people have already heard my story, why do they continue asking?”
Shen Shaoguang analyzed the psychology of advertisement audiences for her: “Perhaps they feel that eating while listening to this little tale allows them to taste something of the Top Scholar’s essence? Refined and elegant, with a lingering fragrance.”
Unusually, Yuan didn’t agree with Shen Shaoguang, muttering, “Our cakes are already fragrant enough by themselves.”
Shen Shaoguang: “…” Well, that statement was equally valid.
Deputy Magistrate Lin entered the tavern and took his usual window seat, smiling as he listened to Shen’s somewhat simple-looking maid vividly recounting “The Tale of the Top Scholar Buying Cakes.” Without asking, he knew who had crafted this story.
He had to admit that even without her excellent culinary skills, the young miss could thrive quite well in Chang’an, perhaps even becoming an honored guest among half the bookstore street in the East Market, with many eagerly awaiting her romantic tales. He had never encountered such a clever and witty young miss…
Thinking of writing romantic tales reminded Lin Yan of his childhood self, how he would see an ant hole and imagine it as a kingdom, mentally crafting stories of rise and fall, glory and shame, joy, and sorrow. If… Lin Yan licked his lips, turned his head to continue listening to the flower cake tale, and didn’t pursue that train of thought further.
Shen Shaoguang noticed that Deputy Magistrate Lin had been visiting more frequently these days, appearing almost daily, though not for proper meals. Sometimes he came in the mid-afternoon for just some snacks, other times near closing for late-night fare. Moreover, he had become increasingly unopinionated about food—when asked what he’d like to eat, he always simply responded with “good.”
She suspected it was due to summer lethargy, eating less during proper mealtimes, and instead supplementing with snacks at odd hours.
Shen Shaoguang first served tea and asked what he’d like to eat, offering several suggestions, and predictably received Lin’s characteristic “good” in response. She went to prepare and shortly returned with a tray bearing a bowl of sweet bean curd soup and several newly made flower cakes.
The flower cakes were fine, but recently Shen Shaoguang had become fascinated with sweet bean curd soup.
The sweet beans weren’t difficult to prepare—soak the red beans for several hours, cook until tender, add sugar, and reduce the liquid, but be careful not to make it into a paste, maintaining the beans’ intact shape and slight chewiness.
It was excellent wrapped in rice balls or as an instant snack, but best when added to curd soup and chilled with well water from the backyard—truly the ultimate summer refreshment.
“Master Lin, please try our signature sweet bean curd soup,” Shen Shaoguang said with a smile.
The bowl still carried the dampness of well water. Lin Yan lifted it, used a spoon to scoop some curd and beans into his mouth, chewed slowly, then looked up with a slight smile: “Deliciously sweet.”
Shen Shaoguang noticed the slight white curd on his lips, her eyes flickering with mischief though her tone remained proper: “Having some sweet bean curd soup in summer relieves heat, stimulates appetite, and dispels dampness—most suitable for someone like Master Lin who regularly strains his mind with administrative duties.”
Lin Yan set down the bowl and wiped his mouth with a handkerchief.
Shen Shaoguang regretfully averted her eyes. Deputy Magistrate Lin had such attractive lips, neither thin nor thick, with a defined cupid’s bow and philtrum, appearing particularly rosy after eating…
“Signature curd soup—” Lin Yan curved his brows and eyes slightly, not looking at Shen Shaoguang, “Perhaps there’s some story behind this too?”
Shen Shaoguang raised an eyebrow. Ha! Deputy Magistrate Lin had learned to tease? What was wrong with creating the Top Scholar’s flower cake story? Besides, it was true, merely embellished with some artistic license.
“If the Deputy Magistrate comes to enjoy a bowl daily, that will become the story. We could call it ‘Top Scholar’s Sweet Bean Curd Soup’ or ‘Deputy Magistrate’s Sweet Bean Curd Soup’—which does Master Lin prefer?” Shen Shaoguang asked with a smile.
Lin Yan glanced at her and pressed his lips together.
Shen Shaoguang inwardly laughed sheepishly—this man was too serious!
“The latter would be better,” Lin Yan lifted his bowl and spooned another helping of sweet beans into his mouth.
Shen Shaoguang paused briefly, then smiled: “Very well.”
Lin Yan’s lips also curved upward.
After another glance at his mouth, Shen Shaoguang said “Please enjoy, Master Lin” and turned to attend to her duties. Male beauty was truly distracting—she still had work to finish!
Before Lin Yan finished his snacks, his attendant came looking for him. Lin Yan stood up, exchanged a few words with his attendant, nodded slightly to Shen Shaoguang, and left the shop.
Liu Chang approached Shen Shaoguang with a smile: “Young Miss’s dishes and snacks are truly excellent, my master finds them very agreeable. Young Miss, would it be possible to arrange it this way—each month I’ll bring silver to settle the account, or we could leave money in advance at the counter? This way, the master won’t need to bring his money pouch each time.”
Besides not liking to order dishes, he doesn’t like carrying money when going out… Deputy Magistrate Lin truly has noble person’s habits. Shen Shaoguang thought privately while smilingly agreeing.
After respectfully clasping his hands and bidding farewell to Young Miss Shen, Liu Chang left the shop shaking his head—ah, master, men…
Liu Chang merely sighed, but the Lin household’s kitchen staff were anxious. Though the master had never been particular before, he had eaten normally. Lately, his appetite had decreased significantly, and he no longer wanted evening snacks. Was the master dissatisfied? Did he find the food tasteless?
Madam Jiang also noticed something similar. “Yan’er, you’re eating so little—is the food not to your taste?”
“Just some summer lethargy,” Lin Yan smiled.
Madam Jiang frowned, “If you’re already eating poorly at the Beginning of Summer, how will you endure the hottest days ahead?” She looked carefully at Lin Yan’s face, “You seem to have lost some weight.”
Lin Yan explained with a smile, “I supplement with snacks when hungry between meals.”
Passing half a bowl of vegetable porridge to his grandmother, Lin Yan casually added, “Shen’s flower cakes and snacks are very delicious.”
Madam Jiang smiled, “Weren’t you someone who disliked sweets?” Without waiting for Lin Yan’s response, she continued, “Young Miss Shen’s flower cakes are indeed delicious, with many varieties—no wonder you’ve come to like them.”
Lin Yan gave a slight smile, lowered his eyes, and slowly sipped his porridge.
“Young Miss Shen has both wisdom and skill, quite unlike ordinary young ladies,” Madam Jiang remarked, thinking of the Beginning of Summer cakes she had eaten these past days.
“She is, after all, from a noble family,” Lin Yan said mildly.
Madam Jiang nodded.
The servant woman Su, however, glanced at Lin Yan—the master was quite strange today, normally he never commented when Young Miss Shen was mentioned.
Regardless of what the household members thought, Lin Yan continued his scientific eating pattern of small, frequent meals.
Regarding Deputy Magistrate Lin’s treatment of the tavern as his kitchen—coming without ordering and leaving without paying—Yu San pursed his lips. Was he considering himself their master’s equal?
Yu San suddenly understood Deputy Magistrate Lin’s intentions and internally scoffed: “Heh, men…”
Looking at the young miss who carefully matched and served meals, snacks, and curd soup for Deputy Magistrate Lin daily, Yu San pursed his lips again and returned to his kitchen duties.
When Lin Yan came in the afternoon, Shen Shaoguang would serve him snacks, curd soup, and occasionally even fruit salad. If he came in the evening, she would serve light porridge dishes—vegetable porridge, lean meat porridge, red bean and barley porridge, rice, and mung bean porridge, accompanied by cucumber and dried tofu, stir-fried bean sprouts with preserved sausage, and sometimes when she was in a good mood, she might prepare raw fish.
Whatever she served, Deputy Magistrate Lin ate with thorough appreciation, never being picky, which made Shen Shaoguang feel quite pleased with herself. It must be her excellent culinary skills and good food combinations that satisfied someone accustomed to such fine dining.
Deputy Magistrate Lin was a customer, and his meals were always prepared separately. However, this day was special—it happened to coincide with when the four people at Shen’s were about to have their dinner.
Running a tavern meant irregular mealtimes—during regular dining hours they had to serve others, so they either ate in shifts or before or after the regular hours. Because it got dark later now and the days were hot, the people at Shen’s tavern usually ate after the customers had left.
Just as the dishes were being set out, Deputy Magistrate Lin walked in.
Shen Shaoguang stood up to greet him, smiling as she asked, “What would Master Lin like today?” She was about to mention they had fresh mandarin fish and could make fish slice porridge when Lin Yan said, “A bowl of Young Miss’s cold noodles would be fine.”
Shen Shaoguang looked up, suddenly remembering how last year he had snatched her and Yuan’s porridge. Did he think other people’s food tasted better? Hmm, this Deputy Magistrate Lin even had such a… childishly adorable side, very good, very good indeed.
The four at Shen’s usually pushed their dining tables together and ate in the main hall, but now with a customer present, Chang first carried his bowl to the kitchen. Yu San looked at Lin Yan, then at Shen Shaoguang, and stood up without expression. Yuan sat quite comfortably until Yu San tugged at her collar and dragged her to the kitchen as well.
Lin Yan didn’t go to his usual window seat, but sat opposite Shen Shaoguang’s previous position, waiting for her to serve the cold noodles.
Shen Shaoguang smiled and sat down, serving noodles before him, “Master Lin can add the various condiments as he prefers.”
“Good,” Lin Yan nodded.
Shen Shaoguang then mixed her cold noodles and sat eating opposite Lin Yan.
In the flickering lamplight, glancing up at the young miss sitting properly eating across from him, then lowering his head to eat the most ordinary of meals, Lin Yan’s eyes curved into a smile.
Author’s Note:
Along with Yu San’s sigh: Deputy Magistrate Lin is truly a scheming boy…
This is not chapter 56, but an earlier chapter reposted again.
Hi, We’ve update the correct chapter.