Chang’an Small Restaurant

Chapter 22.1 Hoodlums’ Extortion

Shen Shaoguang squatted next to the small water tank in a narrow alley behind the eatery, with a tweezer in her hands, looking for hair on the pig's head.

In this dynasty, where pork was not high-end nor classy, pigs' heads and other offals were considered bottom tier. However, Shen Shaoguang loved these ‘bottom tier’ extremities.

Back when she was still a child, there was a delicatessen near her home that sold all kinds of pig offal, sausages, smoked chicken, and occasionally stewed beef. Shen Shaoguang loved meat from a young age. Whenever her parents gave her pocket money, other than the small trinkets that most girls liked, she spent most of her money on cold drinks during summer, and patronized the deli when it was cold.

Shen Shaoguang didn’t like stewed beef; it was just not delicate enough and always got stuff in her teeth, moreover the flavor was quite bland. The smoked chicken was only sold as a whole, and the limited pocket money of hers couldn't afford it, so the remaining choices became pork head or sausages. Of the two, Shen Shaoguang enjoyed pig’s head meat the most.

The pork head meat in that deli was first marinated and then smoked. It wasn’t overpowering in flavor but always had a particular burnt aroma.

After school, Shen Shaoguang would first buy herself a sesame flat bread, she would make sure it was just fresh off the pan, the kind that would still be emitting steam when bitten into. Holding the flat bread, she would make her way to the deli and buy a small piece of pork head meat. She would request the delicatessen’s owner to slice the meat into thin slices and then stuff it into her flat bread. With her two hands, the little her would hold the stuffed flat bread and take a big bite every time.

This handy snack allowed her to eat and run around the streets with her friends, play chinese jump rope[1], or throw sandbags, and would only return home after dark. After a quick lecture from her parents, she would hurriedly wash up, eat dinner, finish homework, and get ready for bed...

After Shen Shaoguang graduated, she became a part of the gourmet industry. She had sampled countless famous chefs’ creations but would always reminisce about the pig’s head from that deli. Every time she visited her hometown, Shen Shaoguang made sure to always patronize that store. She even wanted to write a short article to promote that auntie’s delicatessen, and was curious to find out what kind of smoking method she used and why it was so different from the other delis.

This matter was kept pushed back and procrastinated until the day she finally went back to find that the deli and the grocery store next door had merged and turned into a rather large real estate agency office. That elderly auntie was said to have left overseas and settled in with her son who lived here. Hence the question as to how the meat was smoked remained an unsolved mystery.

Shen Shaoguang looked at the wisps of white clouds in the blue sky and sighed. She then lowered her head and continued to tidy up the pig's head. Although she didn't know how to process meat through smoking, Shen Shaoguang was very confident in her stewed pork. It's roughly the same process as simmering red braised pork. The spices and seasoning had to be added generously, and with enough patience when stewing, the end result couldn't be bad—it's just a hassle to clean up.

Shen Shaoguang deliberately gave the butcher shop a heavy tip so that they would be more thorough when shaving off the pig hair. Even so, she was not at ease, and would always give it another check when she bought it back to the eatery. If the guests were to find pig hairs when eating... that would be rather disgusting.

What she hadn’t expected was for something to still happen even after all her meticulous planning. 

The sun was still high when the drum signaling the evening began to beat. It was this day that two strangers came into her eatery, one in a blue tussah silk gown and the other in a brown. Both of them had high nose bridges, deep set eyes, and curly hair– mostly likely northern Chinese.

There were many people of minor ethnic groups in Chang'an City, so Shen Shaoguang didn’t show any prejudice, greeted them with a smile, and allowed them to sit wherever they pleased.

The two ordered the signature Cornelian Meat, Lion's Head, braised pig’s head, and pork trotters, all of the meat dishes that were available along with three jugs of wine.

A single jug contained four liters of wine, and a young man such as Deputy Magistrate Lin would only drink one liter, but these two actually wanted to drink twelve...

Owners of food service establishments never feared big eaters; and so Shen Shaoguang quickly prepared the order and asked A’Yuan to serve the food.

More and more customers began to frequent their eatery, and soon the seats were all occupied. Some left after eating which were soon replaced by new orders. Some people were just here to drink while others solely came for the soup buns or meat dishes; it was a crowded scene.

Suddenly, a commotion was heard in the eatery.

Shen Shaoguang stopped her preparation and walked over to check.

It was the two northern Chinese who had ordered three jugs of wine. One of them pointed to the plate and said accusingly, "There’s hair in the meat! Your eatery serves dirty food!"

Shen Shaoguang always wore an apron, sleeve covers, and bunched her hair in a cloth scarf when cooking; the same goes for A’Yuan. She believed they were quite hygienic, but there may always be contingency. Therefore, Shen Shaoguang stepped forward and said with an apologetic smile. "Guests, there is no need to be anxious. Where is the dirty thing you speak of?"

The man in blue studied Shen Shaoguang with squinted eyes, raised one corner of his mouth, and pointed to the plate of Cornelian Meat. "Here it is."

The meat on the plate had been eaten up, only the sauce remained, and in the sauce was indeed a piece of hair.

Many of the other guests stopped eating and turned their heads or came over to spectate.

The man in blue burped, and the unpleasant smell of alcohol sprayed upon Shen Shaoguang's face. "So what now, little missy?"

The Cornelian Meat were all stewed in the same earthenware pot, and would be plated on order. A spoonful of sauce, for the red color and to enhance the taste, was only added at the every end. In such a process, unless Shen Shaoguang and A Yuan were blind, there should never be a plate with hair being served out.

Looking at the empty plates and jugs, Shen Shaoguang quickly discerned that these two wanted to dine and dash…

Chapter 22.2 Hoodlums’ Extortion

Looking at the empty plates and jugs, Shen Shaoguang quickly discerned that these two wanted to dine and dash...

The ethnic minority man continued to insist, "Miss, you better give us an explanation, otherwise if we go out and spread the news..." Then he said to the other diners around, "What do you guys think?"

Immediately, people frowned; some looked back at their plates while others looked at Shen Shaoguang.

A’Yuan anxiously exclaimed, "No! Our place is the cleanest, how could there be hair?"

The brown-clothed man scowled, "Then explain the hair on this plate."

Shen Shaoguang studied the hair carefully, and then said with a smile, "Guests, there is no need to be anxious. As to how this dirty thing got onto this plate, watch this little trick of mine and it will all be explained."

As soon as they heard that there was a trick, those who were checking their plates all turned to look at Shen Shaoguang.

"Go and get two white porcelain bowls, make sure one is full of water. Also bring a pair of bamboo chopsticks, some soap beans, and a clean white cloth towel." Shen Shaoguang instructed A’Yuan.

A’Yuan responded and quickly brought everything over.

Everyone looked at Shen Shaoguang intently.

What was Shen Shaoguang doing? 

She was just washing that piece of hair.

Like a performing magician, Shen Shaoguang first gave everyone a clear look of the hair beforehand. She washed it, rinsed it in the bowl of water, then lightly dried the hair with the cloth towel, and put it in the empty bowl.

"Can you see it?" Shen Shaoguang asked with a smile.

Some people were nearsighted and didn’t notice anything particular. Isn't this just a piece of hair? The people with sharper eyes quickly discern the difference, "The hair’s curly and a little yellow! It's the hair of these ethnic minorities!"

The sauce had masked most of the hair’s characteristics, but after it was cleaned, the truth quickly revealed itself.

Everyone looked at the two men, then at Shen Shaoguang's and A’Yuan's head, and compared it to the hair in the bowl. Even the most obtuse now understood, those men were trying to extort under false pretenses!

"Just because it’s slightly yellow, it has to be our hair?" The brown-clothed man retorted anxiously.

Another guest conscientiously mumbled, "Yeah, it could also be from an animal."

Everyone was taken aback for a moment, and quickly bursted out into laughter when looking at the two northern minorities.

The two of them were already inebriated, so the jeering of the crowd successfully provoked them. Seeing that Shen Shaoguang was just a woman, they simply dropped all pretenses. "This place is completely unhygienic, yet you insist on slandering us!?" As they spoke, one of the men was able to flip over the table.

Fortunately, the long table was fixed to the wall, and it didn't even budge when the man tried to lift it.

Immediately, some brave guests stepped forward to subdue them, but A’Yuan was a step ahead. She went up and grabbed the hair of the blue-clothed man, and grabbed the collar of the brown with the other hand. The two weren’t prepared and simultaneously staggered back by the chubby maid’s unexpected strength.

The two men wanted to struggle, but A’Yuan had a firm hold on them. Moreover, with so much alcohol in their system, it made it near impossible for them to break free.

The diners all took a step back to open up some space for A’Yuan, while those who wanted to help also shyly withdrew their hands.

Shen Shaoguang was only skilled at verbal altercations. She was actually quite nervous when she saw the men taking action just now, but she quickly regained her composure. "Drag them outside!"

While the altercation continued at their door, the Lane’s guards arrived to check out the commotion amongst the gathering crowd.

Shen Shaoguang hurriedly stepped forward to explain the situation, and the diners helped to validate her statement. Soon the Lane’s guards dragged the two cussing and scolding scoundrels away.

Before the onlookers dispersed, Shen Shaoguang hurriedly laid her own traps to eliminate any similar ‘framing incidents’ in the future. She cleared herself of all suspicions, and explained the whole situation, including her preventive measures and clothing. This way, the people would no longer believe such accusers going forward.

She first explained, "If it wasn't the ethnic minorities’ characteristic yellow and curly hair, if a scoundrel caught a fly or other insect and threw it into the sauce, how could I have explained myself out of such deceptive slander?"

Everyone nodded. It’s true.

Then explained, "In our small shop, even at the hottest time, my maid and I are always wearing a full set of protective garments. You can also go inside to see if we are hygienic."

Her regular customers all nodded again, her words were all indisputable facts.

Shen Shaoguang then played the sympathy card. "I'm just a wretch, wandering about the destitute. In this Lane, where all my neighbors are esteemed and acclaimed, I am only trying to get by selling pastries and cooked meals. Never in my life would I have expected to encounter such a thing..."

Everyone commiserated, and felt that it was really not easy for Miss Shen.

… 

A gray-clothed servant came to the carriage parked under the tree on the side of the street. He respectively reported in a quiet voice, "Master, I've relayed your words. They’ll be assiduously tried in court."

Lin Yan glanced at Shen Shaoguang, who maintained her grieving expression, at the door of her eatery not far away.

"Thank you all, for nobly helping me distinguish right from wrong..." Shen Shaoguang gave a deep bow.

Although everyone was just a spectator of ‘witnessing the miracle’, at this moment, they felt as if they had also participated in the activity of catching scoundrels and helping a poor damsel in distress. Hence, they all reciprocated the ceremony one after another.

"Master, do you still want to purchase a Lion’s Head and Orchid Beans?"

After pulling down the window curtain, Lin Yan ordered, "No, let's go."