Yummy Yummy Yummy

The next day, Chu Di came alone to Shen Ji Tavern.

"A Qi—" Chu Di called out as he entered, smiling at Shen Shaoguang behind the counter.

Shen Shaoguang bit her lip slightly before stepping forward to properly perform the junior's salute: "This child greets Uncle."

A Chang nearly dropped the stack of plates in his hands—since when did the young mistress have such an uncle? Wasn't this the guest from yesterday?

Yu San, peeking through the kitchen curtain, also had a change of expression at the sight. A Yuan, however, remained perfectly composed. With someone like our young mistress, it wouldn't be strange even if she had two noble relatives, let alone being a princess lost among the common folk.

Though he had been certain before, hearing her acknowledge it personally still moved Chu Di deeply: "Good, very good. Our little A Qi has grown into a fine young lady."

"Uncle still looks just as he did back then."

Chu Di studied Shen Shaoguang carefully, and she did the same to him.

How could he still look the same? Compared to the image in her memory, Uncle Chu now had more wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, even some silver strands at his temples. The once high-spirited young official had transformed into this composed and serene scholar in plain clothes.

Both felt a pang of nostalgia.

Shen Shaoguang invited him to sit in the rear residence.

Looking at the peach tree, cucumber trellis, eggplant seedlings, and clucking hens in the small courtyard, Chu Di smiled wistfully. "Your father always dreamed of retiring to a pastoral life—building a thatched cottage, planting peach and plum trees in front, growing melons and vegetables in the backyard. He even drew plans for it." But alas...

Shen Shaoguang thought of the poem in his books—"Resigning at fifty, returning to forest and spring"—and smiled faintly. "This child's vegetable-growing skills are probably slightly better than Father's."

Chu Di laughed heartily.

Shen Shaoguang lifted the curtain for Chu Di, and they entered the main hall.

Unlike official residences, ordinary homes were modest—shallow and narrow with plain walls on three sides. Sturdy-legged elm furniture stood casually about: low tables, couches, and stools. On a table lay an overturned book, a half-finished knot, and a cup of leftover tea. Though simple, it had a comfortable ease.

Chu Di glanced at the book's cover—Travels in Aphro—and couldn't help smiling.

Shen Shaoguang tidied up somewhat sheepishly, invited Chu Di to sit, and personally served him chilled sour plum fruit drink from the well.

Chu Di's gaze settled on a painting hanging on the side wall—a faintly rendered white wall with black gates, from behind which half a crabapple tree extended, scattering petals everywhere. Untitled and unsigned, it bore only a seal reading "Retaining Spring."

"Is that the crabapple tree from the backyard?"

Though deliberately blurred, it couldn't deceive those who knew. Shen Shaoguang nodded with a smile. "Passing by the old house wall this spring, I saw these blossoms growing even more splendid."

Once the mistress, now she could only view them from outside the wall. Chu Di exhaled slowly and smiled. "A Qi paints beautifully—more delicate than your father's work. His calligraphy and paintings seemed to come from different hands."

Shen Shaoguang laughed and looked back at the painting. Combining meticulous detail with freehand brushwork, it balanced ink-wash spontaneity with the vivid delicacy of fine brushwork—truly well done. She grinned at Chu Di. "My proudest work. I wouldn't display it otherwise."

Chu Di chuckled and pointed at her in mock admonishment.

After some pleasantries, Shen Shaoguang inquired about Chu Di's family before they turned to discussing how she left the palace and her life in the inner courts.Times had changed, so Shen Shaoguang naturally chose the pleasant parts to share. She spoke of the Imperial Academy Instructors in the inner court: "Doctor Zhao loved wine, claiming that if he ever sold his calligraphy for income, seventy percent of the earnings should be offered to the god of wine... Doctor Fang was a man of few words but extremely particular. Once, he refused to teach the zither because the eunuchs had burned the wrong incense... Doctor Liu was rather long-winded, often saying, 'Though you won't take imperial exams, you should still grasp the gist of these classical commentaries...'" Shen Shaoguang mimicked Doctor Liu's tone as she spoke.

She was referring to the proper Imperial Academy Instructors, not the later makeshift teachers among the eunuchs and palace maids.

Among them was Zhao Sinian, whom Chu Di had once approached to inquire about the Shen mother and daughter. Hearing her mention him now brought back those memories.

Shen Shaoguang also shared snippets about the inner court's kitchens: "With so many eunuchs and maids, there was actually some redundancy. Most of the time, they'd be listening to old eunuchs tell tales—stories like the Lotus spirit of Taiye Pond or the Kitchen rat monster..."

The life she described in the inner court sounded peaceful and idyllic. Yet the more she spoke this way, the more sorrowful Chu Di felt. How much hardship must this little girl have endured to consider such mundane leisure worth mentioning?

As for how she left the palace, the story was simpler. Shen Shaoguang smiled: "Last year's drought led to the release of some palace maids. I bribed the eunuch in charge of dismissals, reported an illness, and that was that." She suddenly recalled Lord Lin—back then, the man's icy expression had been quite intimidating. Who would have thought they'd now be discussing matters of the heart?

Chu Di didn't ask why she hadn't returned to Luoyang. Clearly, little A Qi was decisive—not some delicate maiden who'd weep helplessly at adversity. Since she could support herself, why burden others and make life difficult for everyone?

After sharing her own circumstances, Shen Shaoguang asked: "How did Uncle recognize me?" Lord Li certainly hadn't.

Chu Di chuckled: "I used to work in the Ministry of Justice. Once identified a male criminal disguised as a woman based on a portrait that was at best fifty percent accurate."

Shen Shaoguang widened her eyes, wondering whether such observational skills were innate or the result of rigorous training.

What Chu Di didn't say was that he'd known Shen Qian since their youth—unlike Li Xiang who only met him after becoming an official. Their families had been neighbors and close friends, so he'd been familiar with Shen's wife too. A Qi's eyes resembled her mother's, while her mouth took after her father.

Seizing the opportunity, Shen Shaoguang made a request: "Please don't tell Li Xiang about me, Uncle. As an official, he's under constant scrutiny. Someone with my background shouldn't cause him unnecessary complications." The key point was avoiding awkwardness for him. Nostalgia for old friends was one thing; inheriting their lasting troubles was another. Better to preserve that unchanged friendship as it was.

Chu Di nodded slowly, meeting her gaze: "But I have no such concerns."

Shen Shaoguang smiled slyly: "Don't you think my current life is wonderful, Uncle? With my thatched cottage, peach and plum trees, melons and vegetables..." She borrowed Chu Di's earlier words about Shen Qian's pastoral dreams.

Chu Di frowned with mock sternness: "If you were a boy, I'd wash my hands of you."Speaking of this, Chu Di recalled the "suspicious-looking" Lord Lin. Although such topics were inappropriate for an uncle to discuss with his niece, given the circumstances, there was no alternative but to make an exception. Besides, A Qi was not the shy type. "You and that Lord Lin—"

Shen Shaoguang thought this former Vice Minister of Justice was truly remarkable. Had he not resigned early, he might have made it into the history books, with future generations perhaps even writing novels and TV dramas centered around him—titles like The Cases of Lord Chu or Detective Chu Di .

Shen Shaoguang didn’t bother with formalities. "That Lord Lin is too cold by nature, and I’m too carefree. We’re not a good match."

Personality incompatibility was a timeless excuse. Chu Di swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue and raised an eyebrow at her. Shen Shaoguang smiled.

After a long pause, Shen Shaoguang finally composed herself. "Whether I go to Luoyang, follow Uncle, or stay under Lord Li’s care, I will always be my late father’s daughter. Since I can’t erase this identity, it makes no difference where I am. These are burdens I ought to bear, and bear them I shall."

Chu Di remembered over a decade ago, in a nearby residence, that perpetually composed yet carefree man wearing a resolute expression: "I only do what I must."

Chu Di gave Shen Shaoguang a deep look. Truly her father’s daughter!

Shen Shaoguang, however, laughed again and said with genuine sincerity, "To be honest, I really love my life as it is now. Look, Uncle, in just a year after leaving the palace, I’ve opened this tavern and even bought a small house. Given time, I might even become one of Chang’an’s wealthiest! Then I’ll buy a villa by Zhongnan Mountain and another by the Wei River. When you visit Chang’an again, we can go hunting in the mountains and fishing by the river..." Shen Shaoguang was used to painting grand visions for A Yuan and A Chang, and after doing it so often, she’d begun to believe them herself.

Chu Di couldn’t help but laugh. "Our A Qi not only has the culinary skills of Yi Ya but also the business acumen of Guan Zhong."

Shen Shaoguang boasted shamelessly, "What a pity I wasn’t born a man! Otherwise, I’d be a pillar of the state."

Chu Di chuckled, but inwardly, he felt even more regret. A Qi had been somewhat naive in her childhood, but now that naivety was only skin-deep.

Glancing at the sky outside, Shen Shaoguang realized it was nearly noon. "Yesterday’s meal was lacking in variety. Today, Uncle must try my cooking."

She fetched a few books for Chu Di to peruse at his leisure while she went to the front of the tavern to arrange the meal.

Though she had claimed it would be her cooking, it wasn’t proper to leave a guest alone for too long. Shen Shaoguang merely prepared a token dish of Fish Sashimi, leaving the rest to Princess Yu San. Today, the princess was unusually silent, not even sparing a glance. Such temper...

Shen Shaoguang returned to keep Chu Di company, this time discussing scholarly matters. By the end, she was sweating under the interrogation—like a poor student facing a teacher’s exam alone. Terrifying.

Chu Di, however, felt regret. For a woman her age, A Qi’s knowledge was quite impressive, but compared to that female scholar at the academy, there was still a gap. Otherwise, she might have spent some time there. A young woman running a business alone here was hardly appropriate. Then again, Chu Di thought of Lord Lin. Did A Qi truly have no feelings for him?

That Lord Lin was indeed too aloof... Chu Di frowned slightly.

"Uncle, try this white-cut chicken," Shen Shaoguang urged.The chicken pieces still had a slight pink hue near the bones. Shen Shaoguang smiled and explained, "This dish emphasizes 'cooked meat with uncooked bones.' It's blanched in boiling water to achieve that tender, silky texture."

Chu Di picked up a piece, dipped it in the sauce, and found the skin crisp and the meat tender—light yet flavorful.

Shen Shaogung then urged him to try the Fish Sashimi. "This dish is my own preparation, Uncle. Give it a taste."

Unlike the traditional Minced raw fish with golden sauce, this version mixed grass fish slices with shredded ginger, scallions, garlic slices, cilantro segments, soy sauce, sesame seeds, and vermicelli, seasoned with oil, salt, and sugar—similar to the later Shunde raw fish.

After running a restaurant for a year, Shen Shaoguang's knife skills had improved significantly. The fish slices were thin and even, and when tossed with the ingredients, they became smooth, tender, and refreshing—perfect for a scorching summer day.

She elaborated on the technique, "The key is to make a cut under the jaw and at the tail to drain all the blood. Otherwise, the color turns murky, and the flavor becomes fishy."

With a playful grin, she added, "Uncle, as a noble gentleman who stays far from the kitchen, I hope my description doesn't make you 'unable to bear eating its flesh.' Otherwise, this fish would have died in vain."

Watching the lively young woman and savoring the delicious Fish Sashimi, Chu Di suddenly felt that this simple, bustling life was truly wonderful.

Author's Note: The preparation methods for white-cut chicken and Shunde raw fish were referenced online.

———

Can't resist a crossover mention: Regarding Travels in Aphro, does anyone remember the line Pingping and Old Lu recited during the "Room Inspection Night"—"The people of Aphro have faces black as pots, eyes like bronze bells, and many stand on three legs"? Wonder when A Qi and Lord Lin will get as close as Pingping and Old Lu...

A Qi smirks: Looking forward to it. The red mole on Lord Lin's neck is quite charming.

Lord Lin clears his throat: When exactly?