Yummy Yummy Yummy

Another year's Start of Summer arrived. Days before the festival, the four at Shen Ji had already immersed themselves in the busy preparations for making Flower Cakes.

True to her word, Shen Shaoguang had a sign made for "Third Rank Flower Cake" and hung it beside the shop entrance. New and regular customers couldn't help but ask about it, and soon they heard the story of how the Flower Picking Envoy had favored Shen Ji's Flower Cakes during this year's Shangsi Festival.

The main storyteller was A Yuan—the one who had personally served the Third Rank Scholar that day.

At first, A Yuan’s tale went like this: "That Third Rank Scholar bought our cakes and even praised them, saying, 'The cakes outshine the flowers.'"

Hearing A Yuan tell the story this way, Shen Shaoguang quickly stepped in for some professional training. Soon, the customers heard a much richer version—how dashingly handsome the Third Rank Scholar was, how he had spotted Shen Ji’s Flower Cake stall at first glance while roaming Qujiang, how he fell in love at first sight and lavished praise, which cakes he bought, and what he said after tasting them... With a proper narrative arc, vivid descriptions, and seamless transitions, it was practically a Romance.

Many customers, after hearing it once, would ask again on their next visit. A Yuan would oblige, and though she stumbled at first, she soon grew fluent, delivering the tale with such earnestness that it seemed utterly real.

Shen Shaoguang wondered—did this girl have a natural talent for embellishment, or had she repeated the lie so often that she now believed it herself?

When Shen Shaoguang asked her, A Yuan blinked. "But that’s how it really happened... I just couldn’t describe it in such detail before."

A Yuan was also puzzled. "Young Mistress, you weren’t even there. How did you know all this?"

Shen Shaoguang: "..."

Not only did I know, but I could also slap a few more sensational titles on this story, like Shocking! The New Third Rank Scholar Actually Said This , The Secret History of the Flower Picking Envoy , Honeyed Love of the Third Rank Scholar , Doting: The Third Rank Scholar and His Sweetheart , or Tasting Cakes at Qujiang, the True Joy Lies in Simple Pleasures ... Depending on the medium, the options were endless.

Once again, Shen Shaoguang felt life was as lonely as snow. Clearly, she was better suited for spinning tales, yet here she was, making a living with her hands instead. Truly born in the wrong era...

But A Yuan wasn’t done. "Those people have already heard the story from me. Why do they keep asking?"

Shen Shaoguang analyzed the psychology of their audience. "Perhaps they feel that eating the cakes while listening to this little anecdote lets them savor a hint of the Third Rank Scholar’s charm? Graceful and refined, leaving a lingering fragrance on the palate."

For once, A Yuan didn’t immediately agree. She muttered, "Our cakes are delicious on their own."

Shen Shaoguang: "..." Fair enough. That was also true.

Lin Yan entered the tavern and took his usual seat by the window. A faint smile played on his lips as he listened to Shen Ji’s slightly naive-looking maid vividly recount The Tale of the Flower Picking Envoy Buying Cakes to the customers. Without even asking, he knew exactly who had crafted this story.

He had to admit—even without her exceptional culinary skills, the young lady could have thrived in Chang’an. She might even have become a celebrated guest on that half-street of bookshops in the East Market, with crowds eagerly awaiting the next Romance she penned. Never had he seen a young lady so clever and quick-witted...

Thinking of writing Romances reminded Lin Yan of his childhood self, who would see an ant hole and imagine it as a kingdom, spinning tales of rise and fall, joy and sorrow in his mind. If... Lin Yan licked his lips and turned his attention back to the Flower Cake legend, refusing to let his thoughts wander further.Shen Shaoguang noticed that Lord Lin had been visiting more frequently these days, almost daily, yet never for proper meals. Sometimes he came in the mid-afternoon for some snacks, other times near closing time for late-night suppers. Moreover, he had become increasingly unparticular about what he ate—whenever asked, his answer was invariably "Fine."

She guessed it was due to summer lethargy—he wasn't eating proper meals, so he came at odd hours to fill his stomach.

Shen Shaoguang first served tea and asked what he'd like, offering several suggestions. As expected, she received Lin's classic one-word reply: "Fine." She went to prepare the order and soon returned with a tray bearing a bowl of Honeydew Cheese Drink and several freshly made Flower Cakes.

The Flower Cakes were ordinary, but recently Shen Shaoguang had become quite enamored with the Honeydew Cheese Drink.

Making the honeyed beans wasn't troublesome—soak red beans for several hours, boil until tender, add sugar, and reduce the liquid. The key was not to overcook them into paste; they needed to retain their shape with a slight chewiness.

They were excellent wrapped in rice balls or as instant snacks, but best of all when served in the Cheese Drink, chilled with well water from the backyard—a supreme summer delicacy.

"Lord Lin, please try our signature Honeydew Cheese Drink," Shen Shaoguang said with a smile.

The bowl still carried the cool dampness from the well water. Lin Yan held it, scooped a spoonful of the cheese and beans into his mouth, chewed slowly, then looked up with a faint smile. "Delightfully sweet."

Noticing the faint traces of white cheese on his lips, Shen Shaoguang's eyes sparkled with mischief, though her tone remained perfectly proper. "Drinking Honeydew Cheese Drink in summer helps relieve heat, stimulate appetite, and dispel dampness. It's especially suitable for someone like Lord Lin, who works hard with his mind and deals with documents daily."

Lin Yan set down the bowl and wiped his mouth with a handkerchief.

Shen Shaoguang regretfully averted her gaze. Lord Lin's lips were so beautifully shaped—neither too thin nor too thick, with distinct peaks and a delicate cupid's bow, now rosy after eating...

"Signature Cheese Drink—" Lin Yan's eyes curved slightly, though he didn't look at her. "Does it also come with some anecdote?"

Shen Shaoguang raised an eyebrow. Oh? Had Lord Lin learned to tease now? What was wrong with inventing a Third Rank Flower Cake? Besides, it was based on a true story—just slightly embellished.

"If the Lord visits daily for a bowl, it will become an anecdote soon enough. We could call it 'Third Rank Honeydew Cheese Drink' or 'Lord Lin's Honeydew Cheese Drink.' What does Lord Lin think?" Shen Shaoguang asked, beaming.

Lin Yan glanced at her and pressed his lips together.

Shen Shaoguang chuckled inwardly—this man was far too proper!

"The latter, then," Lin Yan said, picking up the bowl and taking another spoonful of honeyed beans.

Shen Shaoguang paused, then smiled. "Very well."

Lin Yan's lips also quirked upward.

Stealing another glance at his mouth, Shen Shaoguang bid him, "Please enjoy, Lord Lin," before turning to attend to her tasks. Such distracting male beauty—she still had work to finish!

Before Lin Yan finished his snacks, his attendant arrived. Lin Yan stood, exchanged a few words with him, then nodded slightly to Shen Shaoguang before leaving.

Liu Chang approached Shen Shaoguang with a smile. "Young Mistress's snacks and dishes are truly excellent—my lord finds them very much to his liking. Would it be possible to settle the bill monthly in one payment, or perhaps leave some silver in advance at the counter? This would spare him the trouble of carrying coins each time."Apart from disliking ordering dishes, he also never carries money when going out... Lord Lin truly has the temper of a nobleman. Shen Shaoguang silently grumbled in her heart but agreed with a smile on her face.

Liu Chang respectfully clasped his hands in farewell to Young Lady Shen and left the shop, shaking his head. A Lang, ah, men...

Liu Chang was merely sighing to himself, but the Lin household's kitchen staff were in a panic. Although A Lang had never been one to complain much, he wasn't particularly picky either—he always ate normally. Recently, however, his appetite had noticeably decreased, and he no longer wanted evening snacks. Did A Lang dislike the food? Was he tired of the same old dishes?

Grand Madam Jiang had noticed something similar. "A Yan, you're eating so little. Does the food not suit your taste?"

"Just a bit of summer fatigue," Lin Yan replied with a smile.

Grand Madam Jiang frowned. "If you can't eat properly right after the start of summer, how will you endure the dog days ahead?" She scrutinized Lin Yan's face. "You do seem a bit thinner."

Lin Yan smiled and explained, "I snack a little when I get hungry in between meals."

As he handed his grandmother half a bowl of vegetable porridge, Lin Yan casually added, "The Flower Cakes and pastries from Shen's Shop are quite delicious."

Grand Madam Jiang laughed. "I thought you didn’t like overly sweet things?" Without waiting for Lin Yan to respond, she continued, "Young Lady Shen’s Flower Cakes are indeed delicious, and there’s a great variety. No wonder you like them too."

Lin Yan smiled faintly, lowered his eyes, and slowly sipped his porridge with a spoon.

"Young Lady Shen is clever and skilled, far beyond what ordinary women can achieve," Grand Madam Jiang mused, recalling the summer cakes she had eaten the past few days.

"She is, after all, the descendant of a distinguished family," Lin Yan remarked lightly.

Grand Madam Jiang nodded in agreement.

The maidservant A Su, however, glanced at Lin Yan. A Lang was acting rather strange today—normally, he never chimed in when the topic of young ladies came up.

Regardless of what his family thought, Lin Yan continued his regimen of eating smaller, more frequent meals—a scientifically sound approach.

As for Lord Lin’s habit of treating the tavern like his own kitchen, Yu San could only scoff. Coming in without ordering and leaving without paying—did he think he was the master of this household?

Suddenly, Yu San understood Lord Lin’s intentions. After a long pause, he snorted inwardly. Men, ah...

Glancing at the young lady, who diligently prepared meals, snacks, and Cheese Drinks for Lord Lin every day, Yu San curled his lip and went back to his own work in the kitchen.

If Lin Yan came in the afternoon, Shen Shaoguang would serve him pastries, Cheese Drinks, or even fruit salad on occasion. If he came in the evening, she would prepare light dishes like clear porridge with side dishes—vegetable porridge, lean meat porridge, red bean and barley porridge, or rice and mung bean porridge—paired with cucumber and dried tofu salad, stir-fried bean sprouts with cured sausage, or sometimes, if she was in a particularly good mood, Fish Sashimi.

No matter what she served, Lord Lin ate with earnest appreciation, never picking or complaining. Shen Shaoguang began to feel rather pleased with herself—her culinary skills and thoughtful pairings must be truly exceptional to satisfy someone accustomed to such luxury.

Lord Lin was a guest, so his meals were always prepared separately. But this day was different—it happened to coincide with the usual dinner time for the four members of Shen's Shop.

Running a tavern meant irregular meal times. During peak hours, they had to serve others first, so their own meals were either taken in shifts or eaten early or late. Because the days were longer and hotter now, the staff at Shen's Tavern often waited until the customers had left before eating.

Just as the food was being laid out, Lord Lin walked in.Shen Shaoguang stood up to greet him and asked with a smile, "What would you like to order today, Lord Lin?" She was about to mention the fresh mandarin fish available that could be made into sliced fish congee when Lord Lin spoke first, "Just share a bowl of your cold noodles with me."

Shen Shaoguang looked up and suddenly remembered how he had snatched the congee from her and A Yuan last year. Did he find others' food more appetizing? Hmm, so this Lord Lin had such a... childishly adorable side to him. How nice, how very nice.

The four regulars of Shen Ji usually pushed their dining tables together in the main hall to eat as a group. Now that a guest had arrived, A Chang was the first to pick up his bowl and retreat to the kitchen. Yu San glanced at Lin Yan, then at Shen Shaoguang, and stood up expressionlessly. A Yuan seemed inclined to stay seated but was pulled away by the collar by Yu San and dragged off to the kitchen.

Lin Yan didn't take his usual seat by the window but instead sat opposite where Shen Shaoguang had been sitting, waiting for her to serve him the cold noodles.

Shen Shaoguang smiled and sat back down, filling a bowl of noodles for him. "You can add the condiments yourself," she said.

"Alright," Lin Yan nodded.

Shen Shaoguang then mixed her own bowl of cold noodles and began eating across from Lin Yan.

The lamplight flickered slightly. Looking up at the young lady sitting properly across from him as she ate the simplest of home-cooked meals, the corners of Lin Yan's eyes curved upward in a smile.

Author's Note:

Sighing in unison with Yu San: Lord Lin is truly a scheming boy, isn't he...