On the day of the Start of Summer, Lin Yan returned from the government office only when the evening bell was struck. His grandmother was waiting for him to have dinner together.
After washing his hands and face and changing into casual clothes, Lin Yan went to his grandmother’s courtyard.
“A Xiong, you’re back!” Grand Madam Jiang greeted him with a joyful smile.
Lin Yan chuckled, “I told you not to wait for me. You shouldn’t go hungry on my account.”
“How could I not wait? With A Ye and A Niang gone, eating alone is so dull.” Grand Madam Jiang pouted at first, then smiled again.
Lin Yan had long, slender eyes with slightly upturned outer corners, but the middle part was unusually straight—an atypical phoenix eye that made him seem somewhat unapproachable when he wasn’t smiling. Now, with his eyes curved, his entire face softened. “What did you do at home today?”
“I sewed sachets with A Chang. It’s the Start of Summer today, after all.”
“Oh, is that so?” Lin Yan served his grandmother a bowl of vegetable and egg drop soup.
Since it was just the two of them dining, they sat together at a large table instead of eating separately, much like in later times, to make the meal livelier.
“I knew you’d be too busy to remember!” Grand Madam Jiang pushed two plates of cakes toward him. “These are the red date cakes we steamed ourselves, and these were sent by others. I picked one or two from each—try them and see which you like best.”
At the morning court’s Corridor Food, the Emperor had bestowed seasonal cakes. Back at the Jingzhao Prefecture, the midday meal in the official kitchen also featured cakes. Now, returning home, he was faced with two more plates of cakes. Meeting his grandmother’s eager gaze, Lin Yan smiled and picked up a piece.
“Our family’s date cakes this year are quite good, though the Cheese Drink is a bit heavy.” Not just the Cheese Drink—the sugar was excessive too. As his grandmother had grown older, her sense of taste had dulled, so the kitchen catered to her preferences with stronger flavors.
Lin Yan discreetly took a sip of light tea to wash down the overly sweet cake, then picked up a white round one. With a bite, the chewy glutinous rice skin and smooth bean paste filling reminded him of the imperial rouge cakes, though less sweet—surprisingly delicious. “Which family sent these?”
A maidservant behind Grand Madam Jiang replied, “They’re from the Luminous Nunnery at the back gate.”
Grand Madam Jiang also smiled. “Their Abbess Ciming makes excellent mixed wontons. I didn’t expect her cakes to be so good too.”
No one corrected Grand Madam Jiang that the Abbess of the Luminous Nunnery was Yuanjue, nor that Abbess Ciming was from the Jingxin Nunnery in Hedong and had passed away twenty years ago. Just as no one told her that the man before her was her grandson, not the elder brother she believed him to be.
Grand Madam Jiang went on to describe the Milk Soup with crucian carp made by Abbess Ciming. “The broth was rich and milky white, sprinkled with tender scallion tips—absolutely delicious.”
“Next time we have fresh crucian carp, we’ll have them stew a soup for you too.” Lin Yan placed some shredded bamboo shoots into his grandmother’s small plate.
After the meal, Lin Yan stayed to chat with his grandmother for a while before excusing himself.
In the study, Steward Zhou presented the gift lists from various families that day, along with their own return gifts. Though nominally sent for the Start of Summer cakes, who would send only cakes? Each gift was a long list of items.
Steward Zhou, experienced in such matters, handled the receiving and returning of gifts with discretion. Lin Yan merely skimmed the lists before handing them back.
Steward Zhou added with a smile, “Two temples and nunneries also sent cakes. As per custom, we gave them basket money.” The master neither revered Buddhism nor followed Daoism, so for these visiting clergy, they simply adhered to the capital’s general practices.
Lin Yan nodded indifferently. “Handle it as you see fit.”Steward Zhou, presuming on their closeness, couldn't help adding with a smile, "A Lang should take a new wife. Social interactions and gift exchanges would be more proper with a mistress managing them."
Lin Yan responded with an "Mm" before lowering his head to read.
Steward Zhou was left somewhat puzzled by his master's noncommittal response—was that an acknowledgment or just an absent-minded reply?
Today, Shen Shaoguang also spent the day eating pastries. Many devotees had come to the nunnery to burn incense and make offerings, and afterward, these offerings naturally went to the nuns. Some were sent out as return gifts in baskets, while others were summer pastries, resulting in a considerable variety of treats accumulating in the nunnery.
Jingqing picked out the finest and most delicate ones, arranging two plates to personally deliver to Shen Shaoguang. She smiled and said, "These past two days, thanks to Benefactor Shen's guidance, we were able to make such excellent summer pastries, earning much face for our nunnery. The wife of Duke Luguo and the wife of Vice Minister Ye both praised them personally, saying they rivaled the pastries served at imperial banquets." What she didn’t mention was that the "basket weights" given in return were also more generous than in previous years.
During festivals, temples and nunneries would send food to households—partly to maintain relationships and partly to solicit donations. Respectable families would never let them return with empty baskets, instead placing some money or goods inside, known as "basket weights," a customary way for temples to earn income.
Shen Shaoguang naturally told her not to stand on ceremony.
"In the past, I’ve enjoyed so many of Benefactor Shen’s delicacies. Today, I’ve saved the best offerings for you to taste ours as well."
Shen Shaoguang laughed. "Then I’ll try them and see which ones stand out. Later, I might try to replicate them."
Jingqing grinned. "I’m not boasting, but in my opinion, none can compare to ours."
Shen Shaoguang laughed even harder. She knew Jingqing was expressing gratitude for her help. As a nun, Jingqing wasn’t particularly profound in her understanding of Buddhist teachings, nor was she especially sharp-witted, but she was honest and sincere, earning the respect of the other nuns.
Shen Shaoguang brewed tea with the last of her preserved peonies and shared it with Jingqing while enjoying the pastries.
"Did you deliver these pastries yourself, Reverend Jingqing?"
"How could I manage them all? I only visited a few households in our ward and some familiar ones outside. The rest were delivered by my fellow sisters."
Shen Shaoguang nodded.
Perhaps because she was in high spirits today, Jingqing went on to share some gossip about noble households in the capital.
"The Duke of Luguo’s household has grown even more prestigious. If not for our long-standing connection, we might not even have been allowed through their gates. It shows how favored Consort Shu is in the palace."
Shen Shaoguang nodded—Consort Shu was indeed favored.
"I wonder what kind of peerless beauty Consort Shu is?" Jingqing murmured. "The current Duchess of Luguo is dignified, but not particularly striking. However, their second daughter is quite the beauty."
When engaging in gossip, it’s best not to just listen without contributing. Shen Shaoguang enlightened her: "The current Duchess of Luguo is a stepmother. Consort Shu is the daughter of the previous duchess. As for the second daughter, I’m not sure which wife bore her."
Jingqing feigned sudden understanding and added, "Judging by their looks, they don’t seem like mother and daughter, but their interactions are very affectionate." She sighed. "The duchess is truly virtuous and kind!"
Shen Shaoguang echoed, "Truly virtuous and kind."
"The second daughter has not only grown more beautiful but has also become more devoted to Buddhist practices. Hearing that our nunnery is in Chongxian Ward, close to the duke’s residence, she said she’d come stay for a few days to pray and seek blessings."
Shen Shaoguang obliged with polite praise: "She sounds like a devout young lady."
Not long after, Shen Shaoguang found herself neighbors with this devout young lady.
OpenNovel