Chapter 83.1 Bargaining for Love
Shen Shaoguang’s eyes widened momentarily, betraying her surprise.
Lin Yan looked at her with a smile.
Shen Shaoguang narrowed her eyes and responded, "Yes, I do meet and converse with Princess Imperial of Fuhui from time to time. She is truly an extraordinary person."
Lin Yan gazed at her in silence, while Shen Shaoguang lowered her head, focusing on her crab.
After a long pause, Lin Yan spoke softly, "A’Ji, how about I send a matchmaker to propose marriage?"
Though Shen Shaoguang was adept at playing hoodlum, the question made her uneasy. She forced a laugh, "If love lasts forever, why must it be penned on paper in a wedding contract? Don’t you think so?" After a moment, she added, "Sir Yan."
Lin Yan continued to peel crabs with his head down. Sure enough, the absurd and uninhibited Princess Imperial had said something to her! Thinking of the Princess Imperial's former handsome male companions, Lin Yan's face turned darker and darker. She might have also said something else to A’Ji...
Shen Shaoguang observed his changing expression, "—Sir Yan?"
"Hmm," Lin Yan responded, his face devoid of any expression.
Shen Shaoguang felt a fleeting sense of relief. If he accepted the appellation, it meant she hadn't completely misstepped.
But Lin Yan quickly crushed her relief. "No, I don’t agree," he said firmly.
Shen Shaoguang: "..."
"Love is like a bird, and marriage is its nest. Love without marriage is akin to a bird without a home—how can such a thing exist in this world?" Lin Yan looked at her earnestly, his gaze unwavering.
Facing such a torturous question of virtue and morality, Shen Shaoguang blushed with shame.
Lin Yan's expression softened, and he said gently, "A’Ji, we will get married in the end."
Shen Shaoguang finally understood the helplessness Princess Imperial must have felt. There was a reason why Deputy Magistrate Lin and Sir Pei were friends. She just wanted to hug, cuddle, and share a simple, platonic love. Though, if it progressed to what the Princess had previously alluded to—‘sleeping together’—that would be quite nice as well. But since he disagreed, it was best to let it go.
However, Shen Shaoguang's mouth seemed to have a mind of its own. "Speaking of birds, we have some excellent quails today. In autumn, quails feast on grass seeds and grains, making them very plump. They are best roasted. Would you like to try some, Sir? Roasted until they're crispy and fragrant, then sandwiched between flat cakes. It's a perfect complement to the crabs. And we could follow it up with a serving of this crab’s Large Shell Soup."
"Sir, you may not have experienced Large Shell Soup before. After preparing a rich, milky broth, you add the crab shells you've peeled, along with minced coriander and ground pepper. It’s even better if you soak some hooped flat cake or Fried Noodles in it—absolutely delicious! And don't mistake it for coarse fare. There's an old saying, 'original soup digests original food[1],' which holds a lot of truth. The best part is, this bowl of Large Shell Soup won't leave you feeling bloated afterward."
Shen Shaoguang's spirits quickly lifted. There are many birds without nests in this world. Such naivety is due to ignorance! What's wrong with simply having a love affair? Li Bai once said, "Do enjoy life while in prime you run high; Not to the moon just your empty cup ply!"
Lin Yan, observing her radiant smile and her enthusiastic discussion of the food, realized that his earlier words had fallen on deaf ears. He felt a twinge of frustration; indeed, Princess Imperial was quite a calamity!
He sampled the roasted quail sandwich with flat cake and savored the 'Large Shell Soup'—the very dish she had described as complementing the crabs so perfectly.
Shen Shaoguang inquired with genuine interest, "Is it to your taste?"
Lin Yan, ever the gentleman, nodded in appreciation. "It is indeed delicious."
Shen Shaoguang beamed with pride. Although everything seemed to have come full circle, there was an unmistakable difference now.
…
That evening, Lin Yan dined with Elder Madam Jiang, partaking only in a modest serving of congee.
Elder Madam Jiang did not press him to eat more. After dinner, the maids brought tea, and the grandmother and grandson settled down to converse while they digested their meal.
"Did Miss Shen consent to your proposal?" Elder Madam Jiang inquired.
Lin Yan shook his head.
"Are you certain you don’t need Grandma’s assistance?"
Lin Yan shook his head once more.
"You’re so dull; it’s no wonder she isn’t interested," Elder Madam Jiang remarked. After a moment’s contemplation, she added, "Have a few more fine garments made tomorrow. Your everyday robes don’t even compare to your official uniform." She scrutinized Lin Yan closely, noting that despite his somewhat reserved demeanor, his appearance was certainly attractive enough to appeal to the ladies.
Lin Yan: "..."
"A virtuous woman might disdain excessive clinginess, yet there is a method to the clingingness. Merely visiting to sample the fare is insufficient—she might simply regard your presence as an appreciation of the cuisine."
"Miss Shen is the sole member of her family and a woman of considerable independence. Nonetheless, despite her intelligence, she remains a young lady at heart. Women delight in kind words. Don’t be reticent—shower her with compliments. This practice should continue not just now, but throughout your marriage as well. Frequent praise is essential."
"Compliment her on her culinary prowess, her conversational grace, and if your relationship allows, also acknowledge her appearance..."
Lin Yan coughed awkwardly, "Grandmother—"
Elder Madam Jiang sighed deeply, "At this rate, when will I have the pleasure of drinking my granddaughter-in-law's celebratory tea?"
Lin Yan stood up, offering Elder Madam Jiang a soothing digestive beverage as a means of apology.
Madam Jiang's spirits brightened once more. "Though I sometimes feel a bit muddled, it's nothing grave. Perhaps I'll still have the chance to see my great-grandson grow up. I wonder if he’ll be as chubby as you were as a child."
…
After spending some time with his grandmother, Lin Yan made his way back to his own quarters.
After Lin Yan departed, the maids assisted Elder Madam Jiang with her evening routine, helping her change and wash up.
Maidservant A’Su remarked, "Why does Master need to go through such trouble? Most people get married through their parents' arrangements and a matchmaker’s words. He should just send a matchmaker directly. Miss Shen is probably just shy; with her background, she’s fortunate to have someone like Master interested in her."
“Everyone has their moments of fortune. Family background is the most unreliable; you never know when it might crumble.”
Maidservant A’Su, slightly affronted, responded, “How can Elder Madam speak so discouragingly? Master is destined for nobility and a future as Chancellor.”
Elder Madam Jiang waved a dismissive hand. “Of course, I know that Eldest Child is an exceptional person. What I mean is that, in the end, character holds more weight than family background.”
“Miss Shen appears neither arrogant nor disheartened; she’s lively and approachable, yet fundamentally steady. Eldest Child may have a reserved demeanor, but he’s not a mere lump of wood. They should get along quite well.”
A’Su chuckled, “You always had a remarkable talent for reading people.”
Elder Madam Jiang sighed contentedly. “What truly matters is that he genuinely cares for her. Nothing surpasses the value of sincere affection.”
When his father was betrothed to his mother, their match seemed ideal on paper, with similar backgrounds, comparable talents, and matching appearances. Yet, their relationship turned out to be as frigid as ice. One partner, outwardly free-spirited and undisciplined, was in fact quite stubborn, while the other, though appearing solemn and dignified, harbored a great deal of inner turmoil. Later, when his father’s career faltered and he sought refuge from A’Qin by traveling to Jiangnan, he happened to encounter a flood...
Ah, such is the way of fate...
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Footnote:
[1] original soup digests original food (原汤化原食) - refers to a habit, especially in northern China, of drinking the cooking water or broth from starchy foods like dumplings or noodles after eating them. The term "原汤" means the water used for boiling, and "原食" refers to the starchy food itself. The idea is that the broth aids in digesting the starchy food. While some believe it helps digestion or is nourishing, others see it simply as a habit that avoids the need to cook separate soup.
Source: https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/27088/what-is-the-meaning-of-%E5%8E%9F%E6%B9%AF%E5%8C%96%E5%8E%9F%E9%A3%9F
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Food:
Hooped flat cake (环饼) There is no step to step video on this dish, only a informative talk about it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsrgBqSrzsY&t=304s