Shen Shaoguang and Shao Jie were having tea and conversing in the back quarters of the Shen family tavern in the East Market.
“Who would have thought someone would come to steal books from our place!” Shao Jie remarked with mixed amusement and exasperation.
He told Shen Shaoguang about what had just happened. A scholar had come in for a bowl of chive dumpling soup, spending less than the amount required for the store’s complimentary book. Yet he had secretly taken a book and tucked it into his sleeve. Being inexperienced at theft, he nervously bumped into someone at the doorway, causing the book to fall out and expose his deed.
Shao Jie happened to be there at the time. Being a businessman who valued harmony, he simply decided to gift the book to the scholar, saying, “Young scholar, it’s our shop’s honor that you find our compiled books worthy of reading.”
The scholar became even more embarrassed and apologized again for attempting to steal the book.
Shao Jie consoled him further: “It’s just taking a book home to read, how can that be considered theft? When you become an official in the future, this will make for an amusing anecdote.”
Shen Shaoguang laughed, surprised that Master Shao turned out to be a kindred spirit of Kong Yiji.
Shao Jie also laughed, feeling that although he wasn’t blessed with a scholar’s mind, he truly had a heart that respected scholars.
After some thought, Shen Shaoguang smiled and said, “Let’s do this: anyone who leaves a poem in our shop’s poetry collection will receive a free book.” This would provide an opportunity for impoverished scholars.
Ever since the Emperor’s half-day tour of the East Market and his contribution of a poem, the poetry collection had been selling quickly. Those who didn’t appreciate poetry or regular customers who had already received a copy wouldn’t take one, but now it had become an essential item for household display, travel souvenirs, gifts for friends and family, and a status symbol for casual conversations. Whether they wrote poetry or not, loved poetry or not, or had received a copy before, as long as they spent enough, everyone would take a copy.
This was even without the “Imperial Poem” version. One could imagine the excitement if they were to add the Emperor’s poem and print a second edition.
When Shen Shaoguang discussed the additional printing with Shao Jie, the latter clapped his hands: “I was about to mention this too, it’s very appropriate.”
Shen Shaoguang was cautious, saying, “Let’s select the best of the recently collected poems to include, and set the deadline at the Lantern Festival.” Including only the Emperor’s poem would be too obvious, but they could place it as the finale.
Shao Jie pointed at Shen Shaoguang, “Clever! Prudent!”
Shen Shaoguang laughed heartily, wondering if they were starting their mutual flattery session again.
However, Shao Jie became sullen, “Why wasn’t I there that day? If I had been, I could have talked about it for years, perhaps it would even have made it into my family genealogy. No matter how much money one makes, it can’t compare to such honor.”
Shen Shaoguang responded, “Speaking of honor, there are even more honorable things. For instance, what if our poetry collection becomes increasingly popular among scholars, making hot pot seem trivial in comparison to literary pursuits?”
Shao Jie turned his head and sprayed tea everywhere.
But Shen Shaoguang didn’t laugh, “For another example, during natural disasters or calamities, we could set up porridge stalls; when there’s trouble at the borders and troops are dispatched, we could donate money and grain; if we learn of an academy lacking funds, space, or resources, we could use the tavern’s name or your name to build a ‘Shao Lang Hall’…”
Shao Jie stopped laughing and after some contemplation, slowly nodded.
“These are truly beneficial acts for the country and its people – these are real honors worthy of prominence in your family genealogy,” Shen Shaoguang said solemnly, then coughed lightly and sipped his tea, “Of course, reaping some benefits that come with being a ‘righteous merchant’ is also our due.”
Shao Jie roared with laughter, pointing at Shen Shaoguang, “Cunning, too cunning!”
Shen Shaoguang chuckled, accepting this different kind of flattery.
She didn’t know that later, Shao Jie would indeed pursue philanthropic endeavors, earning him an honorary fifth-rank title of Court Gentleman for Consultation from the Emperor, surpassing his grandfather’s previous rank. The Shao family would flourish under his leadership, and he would indeed become a prominently recorded figure in their family genealogy.
While Shen Shaoguang and Shao Jie were envisioning their path as righteous merchants, Lin Yan was discussing some unfinished matters from recently transferred criminal cases with Minister Song from the Ministry of Justice.
After completing their official business, they left the imperial city together. The sky was somewhat overcast, with a cold north wind blowing. Minister Song smiled and said, “This weather is perfect for hot pot.”
Lin Yan nodded.
Remembering their previous meals together, Minister Song said half-jokingly, half-complainingly, “I used to show off to you about hot pot, not knowing your family was the master of it!”
Last summer, when they caught criminals at the Shen family tavern in Chongxian Ward, it was jointly investigated by the capital prefecture and the Ministry of Justice, with Lin Yan and Minister Song as the chief investigators. Thus, Minister Song learned about his friend’s relationship with the female proprietor of the Shen establishment. More coincidentally, that shop had been part of his wife’s dowry, and he had met this Miss Shen before, vaguely remembering her as a quite glamorous lady. No wonder Lin Anran was so devoted, putting his heart and soul into matters concerning the Shen family…
Recalling how he seemed rather unimpressed with hot pot, only dipping some fish slices when eating, Minister Song was quite curious, “You’re so picky with food, doesn’t Miss Shen mind?”
Lin Yan smiled and said, “She doesn’t mind.”
Minister Song nodded, seeing that Miss Shen must be a gentle person.
Minister Song smiled again and asked, “Anran’s happy day is approaching?”
Lin Yan’s smile grew warmer, “Soon, probably around early summer.”
Lin Yan then earnestly asked Minister Song, as someone with experience, about the details of wedding preparations and the formal ceremony. Minister Song inwardly clicked his tongue, thinking how even the usually serious and composed Lin Anran had such a day…
“Judging by Anran’s expression, it seems you wish the wedding was tomorrow…” Minister Song teased.
Lin Yan smiled in tacit agreement.
Minister Song showed an understanding expression – as men, they understood.
During the approaching Lantern Festival, Lin Yan’s desire to marry immediately grew even stronger.
Despite the Lantern Festival being a time of lantern displays and nighttime revelry for scholars and ladies, the weather was truly unfavorable. The sky was heavily overcast, and the wind was quite harsh.
Lin Yan wasn’t on duty and had already arranged with Shen Shaoguang to accompany her to see the lanterns. He had little interest in lantern viewing, but knowing that young ladies seemed to enjoy it and that Aji had a playful nature, he didn’t want to dampen her spirits.
When he arrived at the Shen residence, she was already prepared, and they set out together.
The lanterns hanging at the entrance of the Shen residence swayed in the wind. In the lantern light, Lin Yan helped Shen Shaoguang adjust her hood and tightened the collar of her cloak, then took her hand and tucked it into his own cloak sleeve, saying, “Let’s go.”
The wind made the lantern frames on the street creak and sway, with some paper lanterns even being torn. Although lantern viewers were all bundled up thickly, they still hunched their shoulders and furrowed their brows – it was truly a unique Lantern Festival scene.
Shen Shaoguang laughed, and Lin Yan looked down at her laugh, joining in himself.
“Master Yan, let me suggest something – why don’t we go home and light a lantern to look at? Why must we come out here to suffer?”
Lin Yan touched her cold nose and cheeks.
“Don’t touch, do I have a runny nose?” Shen Shaoguang frowned.
Lin Yan laughed, simply untied his sash, and wrapped her in his cloak, holding her as they walked back.
Not far behind, Liu Chang and Zhou Kui thought their master must enjoy this weather.
Back indoors, Shen Shaoguang removed her shoes, climbed onto the couch, and covered her legs with a sheepskin blanket. The maid Aqing brought her a hand warmer and served hot tea. The servants had all gone out to see the lanterns, leaving only a few to watch the house.
Lin Yan sat across from her, also drinking hot tea.
Shen Shaoguang couldn’t help but tease. She lifted the sheepskin blanket and smiled, “Earlier you shared half your cloak with me, now I can share half my blanket with you…”
Lin Yan coughed lightly, still too embarrassed to accept her returned favor.
But Shen Shaoguang became even more playful, her almond eyes twinkling as she mumbled softly, “It’s not like we’re ‘sharing garments’…”
‘Sharing garments’ referred to intimate clothing. Lin Yan didn’t know how to respond to her, and just as he was about to put on a stern face, she was already smiling with narrowed eyes.
“Ah Yan, let’s play dice together?” Shen Shaoguang picked up the dice the maids had been playing with earlier and asked with a smile.
Lin Yan naturally agreed.
They chose the simplest game, comparing the size of numbers, best two out of three. The loser could either recite a poem, sing a song, or tell a joke, as any would do.
Though Shen Shaoguang was excellent at playing cards, she was quite ordinary at dice, and Lin Yan wasn’t skilled at it either. The two relied purely on luck.
However, today Shen Shaoguang’s gambling luck was particularly poor, losing again and again. After telling four or five stories and singing a tune, Shen Shaoguang saw she had rolled another “one” and started to act up, “No more! No more!”
Lin Yan laughed.
Shen Shaoguang felt there was a good reason why Young Master Lin hadn’t married at his age – only someone as generous and tolerant as herself could handle him…
Aqing brought up two bowls of tangyuan (sweet rice balls), saving Shen Shaoguang from her predicament.
The small bowls contained just a few tangyuan, but they were different colors and had different fillings. The yellow rice ones contained sweet red bean paste, the glutinous rice ones had meat filling, the ones mixed with mung bean had osmanthus filling, and the ones with perilla had black sesame filling.
On such a winter night, eating such fragrant and sweet tangyuan and drinking some soup made one feel very content.
Shen Shaoguang leaned against the cushion, playing with the dice in one hand, and smiled at Lin Yan who had just washed his hands and returned, “Didn’t I still owe you one round?”
Lin Yan nodded with a smile.
“To match the festival spirit, let me give you a lantern riddle,” Shen Shaoguang cleared her throat, “The riddle is two meat tangyuan getting married.”
Lin Yan smiled and frowned slightly.
“Can’t guess?” Shen Shaoguang gave a mischievous smile and beckoned to him, “Let me tell you.”
Lin Yan walked to her couch.
Shen Shaoguang sat up straight and said with a light laugh, “The answer is – two meatballs.”
Lin Yan pressed his lips together, while Shen Shaoguang had already fallen back onto the cushion, laughing.
After watching her for a moment, Lin Yan leaned over, pressing against her, one hand around her slender waist, the other behind her head.
Looking at the handsome face so close to her eyes, Shen Shaoguang was quite stunned – she had only been joking around.
“Be good, close your eyes,” By saying this, Lin Yan had already covered her lips with his own.
Shen Shaoguang obediently closed her eyes, her hands climbing up to his neck.
After quite a while, Lin Yan stopped, breathing somewhat heavily, and after another moment, finally steadied his emotions. Looking at the charming young lady in his arms, thinking of the distant summer, he felt deep regret – actually, having Elder Shen Pu perform the six ceremonies would have been fine too, Luoyang was so close, that way they could have chosen an auspicious date in spring…
Author’s Note: The tangyuan wedding riddle originally came from an old joke about dumplings/meat tangyuan taking off their clothes to become meatballs.