Chapter 42.1 Everyone’s Own Little New Year
Shen Shaoguang carefully took out the multi-layered osmanthus cake from the mold, placed it on a large plate, and garnished it with chopped walnuts, hazelnut, pine nuts, red dates and various dried fruits. After adding these toppings, she drizzled a layer of osmanthus honey on top, adding a sweet fragrance and glistening shin.
This was a commission for one of her diners to be used as a sacrifice to the kitchen god[1].
A’Yuan circled around the table and said, "This massive cake must weigh at least five kilograms."
Shen Shaoguang teased her while pouring the rest of the nectar, "How is this considered massive? It’s nothing compared to a four hundred kilogram cake."
A’Yuan looked at her with round eyes, her whole face read ‘Miss is trying to fool me again’.
"During the previous dynasty, an Empress Dowager was about to celebrate her birthday. There was a floral cake shop in the capital that wanted to please the Empress Dowager with an original cake. However this was the imperial palace they were trying to compete with, how could they make something that will wow their eyes?"
A’Chang and A’Yuan both turned their heads to listen to Shen Shaoguang's narration. Yu San only gave them a glance but didn’t stop his work at hand, though he also listened with open ears.
"The Floral Cake Shop pondered and pondered. Since decorations and varieties are hard to make original, then the difference in size will do! A grand size was a magnificent sight, and would also match quite well with the Celestial Empire, no?"
"And with this thought, a 400 kilogram longevity peach was created. Then a problem arised, how were they supposed to send this to the Empress Dowager? By the time they finish making their connections and bribing through the ranks of the palace, this longevity peach would already have molded.”
A’Yuan asked, "So what happened?"
"They threw it away." Shen Shaoguang glanced at her.
A’Yuan stamped her feet and pouted.
Shen Shaoguang smiled and asked A’Yuan for help to place the decorated sweet-scented osmanthus cake into a large food box.
After it was fully sealed, Shen Shaoguang concluded the ending of the story. "Then a phrase subsequently was created, which went 'Four hundred kilogram longevity peach - a waste of a pastry'."
A’Yuan bursted into laughter. "Miss, you are too mischievous!"
A’Chang laughed as well, and Yu San also raised the corners of his lips.
Shen Shaoguang faintly chuckled. The moral of the story was to act upon unrealistic aspirations like the floral cake shop owner—such as buying back her former residence.
Ever since she returned from the Lin Residence, Shen Shaoguang dreamt about her original body’s past for several consecutive days. Most of them were about her childhood, catching butterflies, fishing, swinging, writing, painting, and eating cakes. Her parents looked youthful, and her brother was a cute little boy, but after awakening Shen Shaoguang would be filled with a tinge of melancholy.
In her previous life, Shen Shaoguang's sleep quality was very good. Could these excess dreams be a postdrome from time traveling?
Speaking of which, Shen Shaoguang even dreamt of an absurd and comical event. In that dream, she had all grown up, but her parents were still young.
Father looked displeased.
Mother asked him what’s wrong, while Father replied, "A’Ji is getting married, but I’m still reluctant."
Mother was helpless. "The young man was the best of the batch. He is a son of an aristocratic family and a successful candidate in the highest imperial civil service examination. His appearance and calm temperament, what else more can you ask for? Moreover, he’s also from the capital, so it’s very convenient to meet whenever you like."
Her older brother, who still retained his teenage appearance, shook his head with Father. "In the end, she’s marrying out, and can no longer stay at home."
In the dream, she was smiling happily when she suddenly caught a glimpse of a tall figure in the shadow of the flowers.
...Hah, it turned out to be a spring dream.
While reminiscing, the ‘alone and single’ Shen Shaoguang looked at the kitchen full of pots, pans, colorful cakes and pastries, and felt even more melancholy. It was a pity that the flowers and leaves were so dense that she had trouble making out what her fiancé looked like in the dream. What if he was a younger version of Louis Koo[2]?
A customer suddenly stepped into the store. "Proprietress?"
Shen Shaoguang responded and left the kitchen. The person who ordered the big osmanthus cake had come to pick up his order.
Shen Shaoguang opened the lid of the food box and allowed the man to inspect it. She placed the other cakes he ordered in another food box and cautioned him to be careful as the pastries are fairly delicate.
The housekeeper-like guest paid the due bill and thanked Shen Shaoguang with a smile. After promising the food box will be returned later, he asked the servant next to him to carry the cake and bid farewell.
Those who ordered floral cakes and honey offerings came one after another. By the time the first evening drum sounded, all the pastry orders had been picked up.
Shen Shaoguang asked A’Yuan to put out the ‘Closed’ sign outside before she and Yu San went to prepare their own offerings to the kitchen god, as well as their dinner.
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Footnotes:
[1] sacrifice to the kitchen god - Is a custom done during the Little New Year ( 小年), also known as the Festival of the Kitchen God, is a festival in the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. It honors the Kitchen God and takes place roughly a week before the Chinese New Year. In northern China the Little New Year is celebrated on the 23rd day of the twelfth month of the Chinese calendar, while in southern China it is celebrated on the 24th day.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_New_Year
[2] Louis Koo - A Hong Kong actor, singer and film producer. He began his professional career as an actor in local television series, winning TVB's Best Actor award in 1999 and 2001. After 2001, he fully focused on film career and became one of the stalwarts of the Hong Kong film industry. He's 52 years old this year. Haha, our MC clearly likes her men mature.
Here's a more recent film he's acted in - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kD-02fpnquk