Outside, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled. The wind howled, making the window frames creak, while raindrops as big as beans pelted down. Shen Shaoguang went to close the window, then took a small stool and sat by the door, watching the rain as she kneaded glutinous rice dumplings—she would add fermented rice later and cook them for breakfast.
Shen Shaoguang was from the north and first encountered southern cuisine during university. Her roommate was a delicate Jiangnan girl with dewy skin and a soft, sweet voice, who loved experimenting with dormitory cooking. With just an electric rice cooker, she could whip up a feast worthy of an imperial banquet, all while skillfully evading the dorm supervisor.
It was from this clever and nimble-fingered girl from the water towns that Shen Shaoguang learned to make Sweet Fermented Rice Soup with Dumplings. At first, she didn’t think much of it, but later she grew to love its subtle sweetness—unlike the bold, heavy flavors of northern dishes. It was comforting in the stomach, and a bowl of it as a late-night snack after evening self-study was simply perfect.
Thinking of those happy times, Shen Shaoguang sighed. Rainy days always made nostalgia weigh heavier.
The rain continued, and the courtyard began to flood, bubbles forming on the water’s surface. Shen Shaoguang tilted her head, squinting at the sky and the rain. It seemed to be clearing up—it would likely stop soon, just in time to miss the Morning Drum and delay her morning stall setup.
After the Dragon Boat Festival, it was as if the heavens had suddenly awakened and decided to make up for all the missed rainfall—pouring heavily every few days. Strangely, the summer heat didn’t relent despite the frequent rain. Instead, it clung to everyone in an even more unbearable way—damp and stifling, what later generations would call a sauna day.
Because of this weather, Shen Shaoguang’s stall business had suffered quite a bit. Fortunately, she had saved up some money earlier, especially during the Qujiang Dragon Boat Festival, where she nearly earned a season’s worth of profits. So there was no need to rush—not that rushing would help anyway.
As Shen Shaoguang held her bowl, eating the glutinous rice dumplings and sipping the sweet fermented rice soup with osmanthus syrup, the rain finally stopped. Along with the cessation of rain came a visitor.
Broad-shouldered, long-legged, with a dark complexion, his sturdy frame filled out his brown round-collared robe. Shen Shaoguang narrowed her eyes slightly—she remembered him. That officer who had bought all her Smoked Plum Drink that day!
Surely he wasn’t here to complain about an upset stomach...
The attendant Jing Ci looked on with curious interest, and Shen Shaoguang didn’t shoo her away, merely smiling as she asked, “What brings the General here?”
The officer was merely an eighth-rank Xuanjie Commandant, and the young woman’s immediate promotion of his rank by a dozen levels left him somewhat embarrassed. Still, he didn’t correct her, only smiling faintly as he replied, “The Smoked Plum Drink you made that day was excellent. My comrades have been craving it ever since. After much asking around, we learned you live in this nunnery in Chongxian Ward. I happened to be passing by and wanted to buy more.”
Hearing the man was a general, Jing Ci perked up with interest. But upon learning he was here to buy Smoked Plum Drink, her brows drooped in disappointment—another opportunity for that Shen woman to make money!
Unexpectedly, Shen Shaoguang turned down the business: “General, you may not know, but that was specially brewed for the Dragon Boat Festival. We don’t usually have it. If you’d like some for yourself, just let me know a day in advance, and I’ll prepare it. But if you’re thinking of—delivering it to the army, I’m afraid I must decline.”
The officer frowned. “Why is that?”"Judging by the uniform that day, the general must be from the Imperial Guards. The Imperial Guards protect the Son of Heaven and defend the capital—their responsibilities are truly weighty. Their food procurement also follows strict regulations. As a mere commoner, I dare not interfere." The waters of the Imperial Guards ran too deep. It was one thing to occasionally sell to them in public, but now was not the time to court disaster. Shen Shaoguang had always valued her life.
The officer hadn’t expected Shen Shaoguang to be so cautious and couldn’t help but scrutinize her a few times.
Shen Shaoguang smiled and let him look his fill.
"If the young lady is unwilling, I shall not press the matter. Farewell!" The officer put on his bamboo hat and turned to leave.
"Actually, there might still be a way—" Shen Shaoguang said with a smile.
The officer frowned and turned back to look at her.
"Whether these smoked plums are boiled in my pot or the Imperial Guards' kitchen, the result would be the same. Why not let their kitchen staff handle it?"
Naturally, because they hadn’t managed to recreate this flavor before! Their kitchen had tried before without success.
Suddenly, the officer caught on. "Are you suggesting—"
Shen Shaoguang smiled slyly. "I’m willing to offer this Smoked Plum Drink Recipe. That way, the kitchen can brew it whenever they like, as much as they like. It’s clean, safe, and the general won’t have to bear any responsibility. Isn’t that ideal?" She was skipping retail and wholesale altogether, going straight to selling the recipe outright.
The officer nodded slowly, now fully aware of the young lady’s shrewdness. He no longer believed she was truly "offering" it out of goodwill. "How much are you asking for it?" he inquired.
After a brief pause, Shen Shaoguang replied, "How about twenty taels of silver?"
She didn’t think she was asking for an exorbitant sum. For commoners, twenty taels might cover a year’s living expenses, but for the wealthy, it was merely the cost of two rolls of mid-grade silk. Government offices had dedicated "Food Allowance" funds for their kitchens, and since many offices practiced "Using Funds to Generate Profits," the food budgets often went unused, leading to officials frequently splitting the surplus. As the emperor’s direct forces, the Imperial Guards were even more flush—would they really balk at twenty taels?
The officer, in his thirties and holding an eighth-rank position, earned only a little over ten taels a month in salary. Hearing Shen Shaoguang ask for twenty made him frown, but considering the kitchen’s ample funds and the lavish habits of his superiors, perhaps they would agree?
Shen Shaoguang, aware that a minor officer like him likely lacked the authority to decide, smiled and said, "Though a small matter, it does concern the Imperial Guards' provisions. The general may wish to consider it carefully."
The officer nodded at her, put on his hat, and walked out, carrying his straw rain cape.
Beside them, Jing Ci stared at Shen Shaoguang as if she had just witnessed the opening of a new world.
Shen Shaoguang reasoned that this was just a plum drink, not some celestial delicacy—how much profit could monopolizing it really bring? Besides, she was in dire need of money. Setting up a stall outdoors was too weather-dependent, and the space at the neighborhood gate was too cramped—she couldn’t even set up a proper table. Just frying pancakes on a small portable stove every day—when would she ever save enough for retirement? Better to rent a small shop.
The next afternoon, when she spotted the officer’s figure, Shen Shaoguang knew the deal was sealed.
The officer wasn’t one for small talk. Since his superiors had approved, he handed over twenty taels to Shen Shaoguang and said to the attendant behind him, "You’ll learn how to brew the smoked plum drink from this young lady."
Shen Shaoguang brought out the ingredients and taught the method earnestly. By the time the evening temple bell rang, a small pot of plum drink was finally ready. After chilling it in the well at the nunnery’s backyard, she served small bowls to the officer and the attendant to taste.
The officer nodded. "This is the right flavor." Then he asked the attendant, "Did you learn it properly?"The attendant was quite young, around twenty years old, with a pair of clever, smiling eyes. Seeing the officer ask, he quickly replied with a grin, "Rest assured, Captain, I've learned it all."
Shen Shaoguang had initially intended to write down the recipe by hand—after all, when taking someone's money, it's only fair to deliver the goods openly and honestly. But then, out of cautious paranoia, she decided against it and simply smiled, saying, "If there's anything you can't remember, feel free to come ask me."
The officer nodded and left with the attendant. Shen Shaoguang weighed the twenty taels of silver in her hand and happily returned to her room.
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