Chapter 27: The Matter of Breathing

 

Shen Shaoguang's determination to expand her menu led her down unexpected paths.

Two days after purchasing the catfish, she encountered the fish seller again and hurried over to speak with him.

The man lived in the suburbs. With autumn harvest complete, he had time to cast his nets in the small river channels. When his catch was plentiful, he'd keep the fish in large vats and bring them to the city market the following morning.

"How many do you typically catch?" Shen Shaoguang asked.

The seller laughed good-naturedly. "Young lady, that's like asking how many stars are in the sky! Sometimes I land six or seven fish, each two or three feet long. The smaller ones—palm-sized—come more frequently, but there are days I only catch fingerlings." He explained that his nets usually yielded silver carp, common carp, and crucian carp.

"So I was fortunate to get those two large catfish?" Shen Shaoguang smiled.

"You were indeed. Catfish are clever creatures, especially the big ones. We don't catch them often."

Shen Shaoguang proposed an arrangement: she would buy whatever he caught, regardless of size or species, provided the fish were fresh and alive.

The seller agreed enthusiastically. No more hawking his wares through the streets.

Since the catch varied daily in both size and type, listing specific dishes seemed impractical. After careful consideration, Shen Shaoguang created two broad menu categories: "Silver Jade Scales" for large fish and "Brocade Fresh" for small ones. She wouldn't specify species or preparation methods—pricing would be straightforward, based solely on size.

Today's delivery included three silver carp, each about a foot long, along with several inch-long crucian carp.

The small fish would be pickled, as always.

As for the silver carp, the head was the prize—large and tender. In her previous life, she would have steamed it with chopped chilies and drizzled it with Sichuan pepper oil, creating layers of numbing heat and savory depth. Without chilies available, she would braise it with tofu in a clay pot instead. The bodies would become fish meatballs.

Braising silver carp head with tofu required no secret technique, yet many cooks failed to achieve that rich, milky-white broth that made the dish visually appealing.

The secret lay in the preparation: fry in oil first, then add water and boil vigorously over high heat.

The milk-white appearance resulted from oil emulsification. Vigorous boiling caused fat particles to emulsify and blend completely with the water, creating a stable suspension. Without sufficient oil, or if simmered gently over low heat, one could never achieve that distinctive color.

Gazing at the pure white broth before her, rich as cream, Shen Shaoguang clicked her tongue. This wasn't just soup—this was liquid indulgence.

But undoubtedly delicious. The most flavorful foods in the world contain cholesterol; the least appetizing are those labeled healthy. These words held undeniable truth.

Ward runners Liu Jin and Wang Qing ordered wine, fried lotus beans, cold-dressed celery, and two large pork trotters. They ate until their chins glistened with oil.

A Yuan brought over a bowl of fish head with tofu.

Though Liu Jin had drunk considerably, his mind remained sharp. "We didn't order this."

Shen Shaoguang approached with a warm smile. "Compliments of the house, gentlemen. Your regular patronage helps us conduct business peacefully." She referred to the incident when they had removed the troublemakers.

Liu Jin, a short man with an angular face and prominent eyes, served as head of the Wuhou Bureau in Chongxian Ward. His shrewd features softened as he laughed. "Young lady, you're too gracious."

Shen Shaoguang took two empty bowls and personally ladled soup for them.

Liu Jin rose quickly, embarrassed. "Please, let me help myself."

His companion Wang Qing stood as well, belatedly remembering his manners.

Shen Shaoguang finished serving them both. "Please taste it. I hope it meets your expectations."

Liu Jin smiled. "If this isn't excellent, everything sold on these streets should be tossed in the gutters."

Both men tasted the soup. Though their tongues had been numbed by wine and rich pork moments before, the savory depth struck them immediately. "Excellent! Truly excellent!"

While Wang Qing bent over his bowl enthusiastically, Liu Jin set his spoon down and regarded Shen Shaoguang thoughtfully. "Young lady, you needn't worry excessively. You're a blessed person, with auspicious clouds watching over you."

Shen Shaoguang raised an eyebrow, smiling. What did he mean?

As head of the Wuhou Bureau, Liu Jin understood exactly why the young proprietress was offering complimentary dishes and personal service. He had connections with the Legal Assistant Secretary of Chang'an County who had tried the two ruffians, and knew their sentences.

Having accepted her hospitality, Liu Jin spoke plainly. "Those two received rod punishment. They won't dare cause trouble again."

From her time in the palace, Shen Shaoguang knew Tang Dynasty law distinguished between beating punishments: under fifty strokes were classified as chi, while sixty to one hundred were zhang. These men had received severe sentences.

She nodded. "I suspect they targeted my shop because I'm a woman. They thought me vulnerable." She shook her head with a sigh. "It's difficult for a woman to make her way in this world."

Perhaps it was the wine, or perhaps sympathy for a beautiful woman's troubles—or more likely, the desire to curry favor—but Liu Jin glanced around to ensure privacy, then leaned in and spoke quietly. "Young lady, be careful. I've heard rumors that because your food shop sells wine and meat, and does such excellent business, you've made the large wine houses uncomfortable." He dipped his finger in wine and traced a character on the table: yun. Cloud.

Shen Shaoguang had been probing cautiously, but this confirmed her suspicions. Her small establishment couldn't possibly threaten Cloud Come Wine House—was this vendetta truly necessary?

When she tried to ask more about these "auspicious clouds" protecting her, Liu Jin simply smiled. How could he explain? Guard Liu from Junior Governor Lin's mansion had visited him personally. The Legal Assistant Secretary had sentenced those ruffians so harshly because someone influential had intervened. This shop owner was young and beautiful, Guard Liu was in his prime—well, one could draw conclusions.

Even a minister's doorkeeper holds the equivalent rank of a seventh-grade official. Though Junior Governor Lin wasn't quite a minister, he wore crimson robes and served in the Capital Prefecture. Even the Legal Assistant Secretary deferred to his household guard. More importantly, the Lin mansion stood in this very ward. Maintaining good relations served everyone's interests.

Perhaps Guard Liu acted on behalf of someone even more powerful. Liu Jin squinted at Shen Shaoguang through wine-hazed eyes. Indeed a beautiful woman. Who knew what fortune awaited her? Chang'an never lacked for extraordinary people and remarkable events.

Seeing he would say no more, Shen Shaoguang let it rest. Perhaps some customer was a hidden dignitary—a current minister, perhaps—who had felt moved to protect two women from injustice.

The "weak woman" A Yuan entered carrying two bags of rice and flour, one in each hand. "Young lady, please inspect the rice."

Shen Shaoguang excused herself, exchanged final pleasantries with Liu Jin and his companion, then headed to the kitchen.

That evening while soaking their feet at home, Shen Shaoguang told A Yuan how the wine houses had sent those ruffians.

Though brave enough to confront individual troublemakers, A Yuan grew timid at the mention of powerful establishments. "What if they try something else?"

"Should we stop farming because crickets chirp in the field?" Shen Shaoguang smiled. "We'll continue as before, just more carefully."

A Yuan hesitated, then voiced her concern. "Perhaps we should reduce our wine and meat offerings?"

Shen Shaoguang explained patiently. "If we followed their wishes, we'd only sell pancakes at the ward gate. Though even selling pancakes offends certain people." She gave A Yuan a meaningful look.

A Yuan laughed, understanding the reference to Lu Sanniang.

"Some people in this world feel you're breathing air they want for themselves. But we can't stop breathing to accommodate them, can we?"

A Yuan considered this. Indeed—stopping breathing meant death.

"We must not only breathe, but breathe openly and righteously. Breathe deeply. Breathe boldly!" Shen Shaoguang declared fiercely.

After a pause, A Yuan said quietly, "I've heard that breathing too deeply and boldly is called asthma..."

Shen Shaoguang gritted her teeth and grabbed a discarded sock, threatening to throw it. A Yuan dissolved into laughter.

Shen Shaoguang laughed too, setting down the sock. She contemplated how to "breathe boldly." Since a food shop selling wine and meat seemed improper, they might as well expand the premises and officially rename it a wine house. Make it legitimate.

Of course, she prepared herself for attempts to crush this ambition. In that case, they'd simply relocate and start fresh, perhaps selling pancakes from a stall. It wouldn't be their first time starting over.