Chapter 58.1 Bonding Over Barbecue
During the evening meal, Elder Madam Jiang inquired with a smile, "Was the rose essence a reward from His Majesty? Why isn't there a yellow inscription? As expected from the palace, it possesses a concentrated, rich, and mellow fragrance."
During the New Year and other festivals, the Emperor would bestow gifts upon his esteemed ministers. In the summer, it might be whey and cherries, while in the winter, lip balm and facial creams. The various meats, vegetables, wines, and delicacies for each festival were not exorbitantly expensive, but rather a gesture expressing necessity and intimacy. Since Lin Yan's return from his foreign post and subsequent appointment as Deputy Magistrate, he had frequently received such gifts.
"They are not from His Majesty," Lin Yan clarified as he served a small bowl of fish filets for his grandmother, meticulously removing the peppercorns. "I inadvertently received some roses, and not wanting to waste them, I asked Shen Indelible Tavern to transform them into honey-soaked and sugar-sweetened floral brines."
Lin Yan paused and continued, "Miss Shen didn't mind the trouble and even crafted some into floral essence."
Elder Madam Jiang smiled and exclaimed, "No wonder! No wonder I didn't see any yellow inscription! So, the maidens of this generation also enjoy steaming floral essences? Miss Shen's craftsmanship is truly commendable. In my youth, my close friends and I also indulged in such activities. Jasmines in spring, roses in summer, and osmanthuses in autumn. Some even attempted to extract plum blossom essence, claiming it had a cold fragrance." Elder Madam Jiang was reminiscing about her unmarried days spent in her boudoir.
"When your grandfather took post in Hangzhou, I experimented with steaming various flowers together, and it turned out quite delightful. I distributed them to our relatives and close friends, naming it 'Hundred Flower Essence.'" This matter had happened after she had gotten married.
"Over time, the endeavors became less frequent, as matters grew more complex. Your mother also..." Elder Madam Jiang paused and steered the conversation with a smile. "I can recall these antiquated or seemingly inconsequential memories vividly, yet the details of today's breakfast elude me. My muddle-headedness is indeed an unusual affliction."
Lin Yan presented the bowl with warmth in his voice, "With the modified prescription from Imperial Physician Fang, there seems to be a marked improvement. Moreover, whether you recall the morning meal or not holds little significance."
"Of course, forgetting the morning meal is inconsequential, but it becomes concerning if people and important matters slip from my memory. In good health, I could also assist in finding a suitable bride for you."
Lin Yan lowered his eyes and faintly smiled, "That matter is also of little significance."
Elder Madam Jiang shook her head disapprovingly.
Lin Yan presented the half-cut polished glutinous rice zongzi on a small plate—acknowledging its digestibility challenges, he allowed the elderly to savor only a small portion. The Dragon Boat Festival was approaching, marking the debut of the first steamed stuffing-filled zongzi of the year.
Gazing at the polished glutinous rice zongzi on the small plate, Elder Madam Jiang unexpectedly remarked, "Our Residence's Young Master is so considerate and handsome; why would he worry about not finding a suitable wife?"
The maidservants were momentarily stunned, but soon laughter echoed through the room. Even Lin Yan joined in the laughter.
Observing her grandson, who had blossomed into a handsome man, Elder Madam Jiang felt a mix of melancholy and contentment. She sighed inwardly, and then, embracing the warmth of the moment, she too began to chuckle.
After dinner, Elder Madam Jiang offered a reminder once more, "Be cautious, the road is slippery." Lin Yan acknowledged her, bowed, and made his way out. Donning wooden clogs on the piazza and holding an umbrella, he left his grandmother's courtyard, strolling back to his study.
…
The evening rain had a dampening effect on Shen Indelible's business. Shortly after the first quarter of the 11th earthly branch (20:15), no more guests entered the establishment.
As the four of them tidied up, Yu San inquired, "What shall we have for dinner tonight?" No matter how skilled the cook, there were times when he was uncertain about what to prepare.
Shen Shaoguang smiled and suggested, "Didn't we recently introduce a new menu item – the meat skewers? I believe there's still some meat left today, so how about having barbecue for dinner?"
Yu San frowned, "Isn't there a specific stove for roasting meat? It will take another two days for the stove to be delivered."
Shen Shaoguang smiled and retorted, "Fool! Just use the charcoal basin we used for heating in winter."
Yu San: "..."
Aware that their Miss acted upon her thoughts without heeding others' opinions, especially with A’Yuan already on her way to fetch the charcoal basin, Yu San resigned himself to his task of cutting and marinating the meat.
Shen Shaoguang also joined in the effort. After Yu San completed the cutting, she seasoned the meat with pepper, salt, sugar, soy essence, mulled rice wine, cornstarch, and other ingredients. The cumin powder would be added only during the roasting process.
Cumin was referred to as sleeping fennel during this time. Like wolfberry and hawthorn, it was purchased from medicine stores, believed to have the effects of rectifying qi, stimulating the appetite, dispelling pathogenic wind, and relieving pain. Shen Shaoguang wasn't certain about its ability to dispel pathogenic wind and relieve pain, but she was confident it could enhance appetite. Sprinkling it on barbecue could boost its aroma by 30%.
It was a shame that its good companion, chili pepper, was not available; otherwise, the fragrance would have wafted for kilometers. The tantalizing aroma would surely have enticed everyone in the Lane.
Through the window, Shen Shaoguang gazed at the precipitation outside. Rain had been frequent this year. If it weren't for the rain, it would have been delightful to barbecue in the yard. Barbecuing indoors might make the smell a bit overpowering...
As luck would have it, after the meat was marinated and the vegetables were prepped, the rain gradually ceased, and a few stars even emerged on the horizon.
Shen Shaoguang relocated the table, charcoal basin, meat, vegetables, and everything else to the yard.
After the rain, the temperature subsided, and the clay brick flooring had been washed clean. Shen Shaoguang retrieved the bamboo mats, once used as carpets in the eating area of the tavern, and repurposed them. The table was positioned atop the mats, accompanied by a few woven cattail cushions.
Shen Shaoguang also brought out a reclining chair, leaned against it, and fanned herself with a small round fan as she observed Yu San barbecuing the meat.
A’Yuan, unable to contain her excitement, began smashing walnuts with a nearby hammer to stay occupied. Shen Shaoguang occasionally extended her hand, and A’Yuan willingly shared half a piece.
Shen Shaoguang suddenly found inspiration from the verse, 'In night’s dim light, the marble steps look like a coldish bay; She sits to watch two longing stars there by the Milky Way.[1]' However, that poem was set during the Double Seventh Festival, and the Dragon Boat Festival had not yet arrived. Furthermore, the poem referred to a serene night, but at present, the aroma of barbecue filled the air... 'Autumn has chilled the painted screen in silver moonlight[1]'... Should she bring out the folding screen that Lin Residence had gifted her to enhance the setting?
Though Shen Shaoguang suspected that the 'painted screen' in the poem referred to a small headboard screen standing in front of the pillow on the bed to block the wind, unlike the framed folding screens that were set on the ground. Similarly, expressions like 'Bamboo pillow silk and small delicate silk canvas,[2]' or 'the autumn scenery on the mountains upon the bedside,[3]' or 'On stone pillow in bamboo bed with paper screen, Tired, I throw my book away and take a nap long[4]' were all mentions of headboard screens...
The headboard screen was an intimate item, adorned with diverse art. She had even come across a chuánqí where the beautiful woman depicted on the scholar's headboard screen had miraculously come to life... Shen Shaoguang couldn't help but smile suggestively, thinking that the scholar's headboard screen was perhaps in the same set as the Precious Mirror of Voluptuousness[5] mentioned in the <Dream of the Red Chamber>.
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Footnotes:
[1] Both verses are from the same poem, An Autumn Night (秋夕), written by Du Mu. Du Mu was a Chinese calligrapher, poet, and politician who lived during the late Tang dynasty. There’s multiple translations of this poem, and to make it work, I took the verses from two separate translations. You can read the entries here- https://www.tjxz.cc/30184
[2] Bamboo pillow silk and small delicate silk canvas (竹枕绸衾素屏小) - Verse from <感皇恩·枕上> by Li Gang. Li Gang (李綱) was a politician serving during the transition from the Northern Song to the Southern Song dynasty in the 1130s. He served as Grand Chancellor of Northern Song at its fall in 1127.[1] He was also a general. There’s unfortunately no translation of this poem.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Gang_(Song_dynasty)
[3] the autumn scenery on the mountains upon the bedside (床头秋色小屏山) - is from the poem <烛影摇红·松窗午梦初觉> by Mao Pang. He was a well-known poet in the Northern Song Dynasty. Again, unfortunately, there’s no translation of this poem.
Source: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E6%AF%9B%E6%BB%82
[4] On stone pillow in bamboo bed with paper screen, Tired, I throw my book away and take a nap long (纸屏石枕竹方床，手倦抛书午梦长) - from the poem <A Summer Day in the Pavilion(夏日登车盖亭)> by Cai Que. He was a Northern Song Dynasty poet. There’s a translation of the poem for anyone who is interested - https://www.istudy-china.com/poem-a-summer-day-in-the-pavilion/
[5] Precious Mirror of Voluptuousness (风月宝鉴) - mentioned in chapter 12 of Dream of the Red Chamber. Basically, Jia Rui attempts to woo Wang Xifeng, who isn't interested. Xifeng tricks him into spending a freezing night in a courtyard during winter. Apologizing later, she arranges another meeting, but a mistaken identity leads to a humiliating incident. Suffering from a cold, humiliation, and unrequited love, Jia Rui falls ill. Desperately sick, he turns to a passing Taoist monk who lends him a mirror. Although instructed to only view one side for three days, Jia Rui is disgusted by the skeleton in the reflection, he defiantly flips the mirror, only to become obsessed by the beauty within and eventually dies from over exhaustion.
Source: https://dream-of-the-red-chamber.fandom.com/wiki/Jia_Rui