Yang Jing smiled at Shao Jie: “This is the tavern!”

Shao Jie laughed in surprise: “Here?”

Yang Jing raised an eyebrow, “What? Looking down on a small tavern? Even Minister Li has praised the food here.”

Shao Jie smiled: “How dare I look down on it? Our shop’s flower cakes have been selling better lately, thanks to Young Miss Shen.”

Yang Jing also smiled: “That I believe. Shen’s flower cakes are excellent too.” His tone was quite proud.

Shao Jie laughed—this Zhi was still so naive. Fortunately, Minister Li was magnanimous, otherwise his future might have been difficult. Shao Jie sighed, remembering how Yang had written poetry on the tavern’s outer wall, which happened to be seen by Minister Li in disguise eating there, leading to his summons to the Prime Minister’s mansion. This tavern was Shen’s. In that sense, this place was lucky ground for both of them.

Now that “poetry wall” had been replaced with Zhou Zhi’s “Ode to Vinegar Fish.” Yang Jing offered some literary criticism, while Shao Jie could only listen.

Near the poetry wall, under the cool shade of the entrance eaves were several sitting couches. Three or four people were fanning themselves—one sipping tea, one reading, and two playing chess. What was this? Shao Jie was curious.

As soon as the two entered, they saw how busy the small tavern was. No table was empty—some drinking alone, some in pairs, others dining in boisterous groups with cups crossing. Young Miss Shen and her plump maid were both busy.

Shen Shaoguang looked up, “Young Lord Shao, Young Lord Yang—” These two, the young master of the flower cake shop and the poetry-loving scholar, were friends?

Both smiled and greeted Shen Shaoguang: “Young Miss.”

Though one was a patron who had given a hundred taels of silver and the other was the shop’s part-time advertising strategy director, Shen Shaoguang could only smile apologetically at them, “I’m afraid the two young lords will have to wait a while.”

Yang Jing, already familiar with the place, went straight to take a waiting token from the counter, “No matter, we’ll just wait a bit.”

Shen Shaoguang brought them two bowls of iced milk drink, “There are fans outside on the couches, and new stories from the East Market bookstore. It’s quite cool in the shade—the young lords can rest there.”

Only then did Shao Jie realize the couches outside were for waiting customers. Last time he came there hadn’t been any couches—clearly Shen’s business was getting better and better.

Shen Shaoguang also didn’t understand why business was getting even better in this hot weather—was it because when it’s hot, people lose their appetite and want to come to restaurants and taverns for stronger flavors?

After waiting a while, Shao Jie and Yang Jing finally got seats. Yang Jing, considering himself a regular and being naturally generous with money, ordered many of the shop’s signature dishes to treat his friend, along with a pot of the finest amber wine. Shao Jie wasn’t stingy either and let him do as he pleased.

Shao Jie tasted a bite of the “agate meat,” but wasn’t satisfied and stuffed the whole piece in his mouth. After finishing, he smiled: “Mm, so rich and tender! It immediately opened my appetite. I’ve never seen anyone cook pork so deliciously and beautifully. What’s this dish called?”

Yang Jing told him the name.

“‘Agate meat’ is a good name—it does look like agate,” Shao Jie praised.

Yang Jing smiled, “You’ve hit on it—that’s another specialty here. Many dish names are both elegant and interesting. Just hearing the names makes one imagine so much.”

He pointed to the tofu soup nearby, “This is called ‘Reed Soup’—it has egg and shrimp paste in it, all finely shredded. Doesn’t it look like frost-covered reeds? There’s another tofu dish, smooth as jade, called ‘Soft Jade Soup’—very fitting.”

Shao Jie nodded, thinking their flower cakes should change names too. Osmanthus and date paste cake… too plain.

The two came late and finished late. Slowly, the ship passed its peak hours. Shen Shaoguang breathed a sigh of relief, drank some clear tea, and came over to attend to them.

The two had been discussing recent events, but seeing Shen Shaoguang’s approach, Shao Jie smiled: “Every time I come to Shen’s, I gain some insight. I only regret not living in the district like Zhi, so I could come often.”

Shen Shaoguang joked: “Young Lord Shao shouldn’t let our cook Yu San hear that—he’d be heartbroken that what attracts you isn’t the taste of the food…”

Shao Jie laughed, “The taste is excellent too, but Young Miss’s business methods are even more brilliant.”

Shen Shaoguang smiled: “The former is substance, the latter is form.”

Though not very familiar with her, they knew this young miss wasn’t simply “honest.” Shao Jie asked with a smile: “How do you mean?”

“If one only pursues form, one might gain temporary fame but can’t sustain it; if one only pursues substance, it’s too practical—it would be hard to grow big.”

Shao Jie clapped: “Young Miss speaks so well!”

His family’s cake workshop had grown large and lasted generations—was it just because their cake-making skills were good? The skills were indeed good, but it was also related to how his grandfather had used them to become an Honorary Officer. Though the title was merely honorary, the story spread everywhere, and who wouldn’t want to try the Honorary Officer’s flower cakes? Those workshops from his grandfather’s time that only focused on honestly making cakes, and those that couldn’t even manage that, had long since vanished without a trace.

Even Yang Jing said, “Young Miss’s words align well with the principle that ‘without refinement, words cannot travel far,’ and what Master Han of our time calls ‘literature as a vehicle for the Way’…”

Seeing his friend about to launch into a long discourse, Shao Jie made a pained expression and wiped his face, “Zhi, Zhi, spare me!”

Yang Jing laughed and had to stop his preaching.

Shen Shaoguang grinned—a real-life example of how scholar and non-scholar good friends get along.

But Shao Jie turned serious: “Honestly, with this tavern’s food and Young Miss’s talent, such a small shop seems beneath you. Have you considered opening a larger establishment in the East or West Market?”

Who wouldn’t want to open a luxury hotel in the CBD? But… Shen Shaoguang smiled: “I may be both greedy and hungry, but I can only eat one bite at a time.”

Shao Jie understood her meaning—it wasn’t that she lacked ambition, just that it wasn’t possible yet. The young miss was both clever and cautious; perhaps one day she really could become a notable figure among Chang’an’s wealthy merchants.

The three chatted for a while, and seeing they had drunk enough, Shen Shaoguang asked: “Shall I bring the two young lords a bowl of sweet fragrant eight-treasure rice?”

Naturally, neither objected.

Eight-treasure rice was a common dessert at the end of banquets in later times. When Shen Shaoguang went to banquets as a child, even if she was full, she would still eat a couple of bites of eight-treasure rice.

Eight-treasure rice wasn’t difficult to steam. Oil the bottom of the bowl, lay out cooked lotus seeds, ginkgo nuts, longan, raisins, and other dried fruits on the bottom, then add glutinous rice cooked to 80% done—cooking before steaming makes the rice more sticky and soft. On the rice, put red bean paste mixed with lard and sugar, cover with more glutinous rice until the bowl is full, then steam.

Keep it warm in the steamer, and when ready to serve, turn it out onto a large plate and pour over a layer of milk sauce—in later times it was usually sweet syrup, sometimes blueberry sauce, strawberry sauce, or other fruit sauces. Either way, it was sweet and fragrant.

Shen Shaoguang brought the eight-treasure rice and was about to serve portions with large and small spoons when both Shao and Yang insisted on serving themselves, telling her not to be so polite.

As Shen Shaoguang was about to leave, she heard some drunk people at the neighboring table discussing the weather and current affairs.

“Last year’s drought exposed the stone auspicious beasts in the moat. I heard the Emperor went to the Round Altar to pray for rain and made great vows—that’s why it rained. Who would have thought this year wouldn’t lack rain, but it’s too hot? I think…” The speaker shook his head disapprovingly.

“Strange weather omens—who knows what will happen,” another sighed, quite affected by the times.

Another said: “Haven’t you heard? The toads in Toad Gully in the northwest of the city have stopped croaking. There’s a children’s rhyme: ‘When toads are lazy, the realm will rebel’…”

“They say in the late former Emperor’s time…”

Yang Jing was about to stand up but was pulled back by Shao Jie. Shen Shaoguang had already walked over first, smiling and asking: “Our shop has excellent eight-treasure rice—would the young lords like to try some?”

The melancholic one smiled: “Indeed we should eat something. We’ve troubled Eighth Brother today. Next month when I return from Bianzhou, I’ll host a meal here to repay you.” He squinted his drunk eyes and smiled at Shen Shaoguang: “Young Miss makes good food.”

Shen Shaoguang smiled and thanked him.

These people did order a bowl of eight-treasure rice, but their tongues were too drunk to taste anything. They ate messily and staggered away from the table.

Shen Shaoguang stood at the door smiling as she saw them off. When she returned, she heard Yang Jing say: “The Emperor has the Mandate of Heaven—what do toads have to do with it? This is absurd! If you hadn’t stopped me, I would have argued it out with them.”

Shao Jie said: “What’s the point of arguing with drunk people? Even if you won the argument, they’d keep saying what they say. Wisdom and brains aren’t things everyone has.”

Shen Shaoguang snickered—this Young Lord Shao could be quite sharp with his mockery.

Seeing Shen Shaoguang laugh, Shao Jie turned serious: “I’ve heard there was even worse weather in the Kaiyuan years—thousands of li of fertile land were struck by drought, and the ground cracked open. But what happened? The great peace and prosperity still came afterward.” It was remarkable that this young lord who didn’t much like studying had cited historical facts.

Shen Shaoguang nodded and shared her speculation: “I fear there are hidden hands behind these rumors. Think about books hidden in fish bellies, foxes crying by bonfires—such things occur throughout history…” Shen Shaoguang wasn’t afraid to assume the worst about rumor-mongers.

Yang Jing and Shao Jie’s expressions both changed as they pondered this. After a while, Yang Jing stood and bowed formally to Shen Shaoguang: “Young Miss sees the big picture in small details—we cannot match you. I will certainly report this to Minister Li for careful investigation.”

Shen Shaoguang quickly stepped aside and returned the courtesy politely.

With such matters at hand, the two didn’t even finish their tea before paying and leaving. Shen Shaoguang saw them out.

Standing at the entrance, Shao Jie smiled at Shen Shaoguang: “I haven’t properly thanked Young Miss yet. Since learning your method of selling flower cakes, our shop’s business has improved greatly. None of my elder brothers managed the cake shop so well—I’ve gained face among my grandfather, uncles, and brothers because of this.”

Shen Shaoguang smiled congratulations, then said seriously: “This is mainly because you have good judgment. ‘There are always thousand-li horses, but Bo Le[experts who can recognize talent] are rare.'”

Shao Jie laughed heartily—he’d never met such a bright and mischievous young miss. “Indeed, indeed.”

Even Yang Jing, despite his deep concern for the country, was made to laugh by them.

When Lin Yan finished his court duties and discussed matters with Prefect Bai and Officer Zhao who was responsible for public opinion, he took his carriage home. Passing by Shen’s, he habitually looked over and immediately saw Young Miss Shen grinning and squinting with delight, with two young men beside her, one being that flower cake shop young lord he’d seen before, also laughing.

Lin Yan’s brows furrowed slightly, though with a hint of a smile—what were they talking about that was so amusing?

Author’s Note: ①Referenced Mr. Liang Shiqiu’s “Eight-Treasure Rice” and online recipes.