Butcher Fulang’s Noodle Shop - Chapter 41
Zhang Nanyan served in the Salt Department, holding only a seventh-rank official position, notably low in significance, especially in Yuezhou City. In the capital, he felt as inconspicuous as a sesame mung bean, never even having the chance to embark on a pilgrimage.
However, officials of the Salt Department, responsible for salt affairs, recognized its paramount importance. Today, over half of the imperial court’s annual fiscal revenue derives from the salt department, establishing its key role from the lower department to the high-rank official.
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Old Madam Zhang’s birthday celebration spanned the entire day, showcasing a meticulously organized grand event.
Upon arriving at the Zhang Mansion, Xu Zhongyue and Song Shi’an witnessed a lively scene with decorated carriages and horses. The eaves adorned with birthday lanterns, while housekeepers from various mansions, delivering birthday gifts, came and went. Despite the noon banquet being a while away, guests were already coming in.
From a distance, the concierge observed two well-dressed young couple on a horse. After dismounting, they presented their name card.
While quietly scrutinizing the origin of their descriptions, the concierge slowly opened the name card. Seeing Zhang Nanming’s signature, he was secretly surprised. The Zhang family knew about the eldest and second master’s breakup. As an old member of the Zhang family, he recalled Zhang Nanming scolding Zhang Nanyan, for tarnishing the family’s reputation. Their ancestors wouldn’t take the money Zhang Nanyan gave during worship.
The concierge refrained from making any comments about the two masters’ disagreement. However, after hearing Zhang Nanming’s angry words, he mused that the ancestors would rather endure a looted ever-burning lamp than see their descendants too poor for incense.
“Since you two are delivering birthday gifts from the second master, please come with me,” the concierge directed.
Song Shi’an and Xu Zhongyue followed.
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The current housekeeper of the Zhang Mansion, Zhang Nanyan’s wife, Madam Lin, had diligently followed her husband from the capital to Yuezhou City, taking good care of the old lady. Praised as a filial daughter-in-law among official wives, Madam Lin had prepared for the old lady’s birthday several days in advance, being too busy to relax.
Setting aside everything else, discussing the dishes at the birthday banquet proves quite troublesome.
Before the Zhang family’s two sons succeeded in their exams and gained fame, their family fortunes had already declined. The old lady empathized with her sons and stayed close whenever they had a good meal. However, when the sons finally found success and had time to honor their old mother, Old Madam Zhang was already advanced in age and no longer accustomed to elaborate dishes from mountains and seas, finding them dull.
At this birthday banquet, the prefect of Yuezhou City, along with officials of various ranks and their families, attended. To maintain the momentum, Madam Lin had instructed her servants to spend a considerable amount hiring an old imperial chef.
He had visited the Zhang Mansion several times, preparing dishes like bird’s nest, shark’s fin, sea cucumber, and abalone. The ingredients were pricey, and the banquet was adorned with flowers. Despite this, the old lady took a few bites and decided to let Madam Lin make the decisions.
Learning that the birthday gift came from her brother-in-law, Madam Lin, carrying a food box, nodded in acknowledgment. Sitting by the flower window in the outer room, she sipped her tea.
As Madam Lin enjoyed her tea, Song Shi’an, carrying the food box, entered. The three-layered box, crafted by Uncle Sun, contained gaps filled with cotton wool and ice cubes, preventing spillage. Opening the lid released a burst of cold air.
Madam Lin, though initially intrigued, felt a bit disappointed when presented with spicy stir-fried pig intestines, stir-fried shredded eels with wild vegetables, and multigrain buns with spicy and sour potato noodles. Additionally, there was a large box of exquisitely made after-dinner snacks—bright red mahjong-sized squares translucent like rouge.
Song Shi’an introduced the hawthorn cold cake, suggesting it as a refreshing option in the hot weather. Madam Lin, though not familiar with this method, found the ingredients ordinary.
Expressing gratitude, Song Shi’an proposed putting their items down and thanked Madam Lin. Despite any discord between the brothers, propriety demanded acknowledgment. Madam Lin instructed the housekeeper to guide Song Shi’an to the accountant for payment.
Song Shi’an received a sum of two taels, and another sum of fifty taels was given to him to bring to Zhang Nanming.
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As female guests gradually arrived, Madam Lin, busy receiving guests, completely forgot about the dishes Zhang Nanming had sent.
Seated separately, men and women were divided by cascading screens. At the main table where the old lady sat, accompanied by old ladies with good relations in Yuezhou City, were the wives of the prefect and other official female guests. Refreshing rose-flavored fruit wine filled the cups as they shared auspicious words and wished Old Madam Zhang a happy birthday.
The grand banquet featured a dazzling array of dishes, including a main highlight—an Eight Immortals offering birthdays carved from various precious raw fish, shrimps, and shells. The immortals were lifelike, carved skillfully, with layers of ice emitting a fairy-like cold air.
The prefect’s wife handed a piece of raw fish to Old Madam Zhang with chopsticks, who, feeling embarrassed, took a few bites and then put down the chopsticks.
Zhang Nanyan and his three sons arrived to toast the old lady. Seeing her lack of appetite, concern crept onto Zhang Nanyan’s face. Madam Lin knew her husband’s thoughts, often saying privately that despite the old lady wearing silk and gold, delicious food was more satisfying. A hearty meal with ordinary ingredients could make them filial to her.
Seeing Madam Lin’s distress, a maid reminded her of the forgotten dishes in the flower hall, prompting Madam Lin to take action.
Spotting the served dish, Zhang Nanyan inquired, “Where does this dish come from?”
Embarrassed, Madam Lin whispered, “It’s a special birthday dish for the old lady, sent by brother-in-law from Qingjiang Town.”
Old Madam Zhang, seemingly regaining her appetite, quickly raised her chopsticks to try the pig intestines.
Reheated in the kitchen with careful heating precautions, the three dishes retained their flavors. The pig intestines were crispy and tender, infused with mild spiciness. The shredded eel, cut thicker than usual, retained its fresh and tender game flavor, complemented by chewy spicy and sour potato noodle.
Although the dishes had a diluted taste, the old lady stammered her delight, particularly enjoying the multi-grain steamed buns filled with mushrooms and meat fillings, where each bite released fragrant soup.
The old lady nodded repeatedly, saying, “It’s delicious, it’s delicious!”
Zhang Nanyan looked conflicted and sighed, “The second brother is determined.”
During their studies, the Zhang family faced financial difficulties, losing all school funds after the father’s death. Piecing together what they could from the clan, they lived frugally, relying on begged scraps and unwanted pig offal. They went barefoot in fields to catch eels and loaches for meat, and wild vegetables and grains became their daily staple.
In their Beijing outskirts residence, they once lived with a neighbor from southern Xinjiang who excelled at cooking spicy and sour dishes. Zhang Nanyan, after becoming an official, couldn’t locate the neighbor’s family, missing the unique flavors.
Despite the difficulty in acquiring pig intestines, the old lady never tasted them again.
Concerned about his mother’s stomach, Zhang Nanyan grabbed two chopsticks, surprised to find the taste even better than before. The lighter seasoning removed the fishy smell, offering a delightful spicy, sour, and numbing aftertaste. The flour for steamed buns, a blend of buckwheat and yam powder, was not only soft but also appetizing, aiding the elderly’s digestion.
As the old lady enjoyed her meal, other ladies at the table, curious and encouraged, sampled dishes they hadn’t liked before. Their eyes lit up, and mouths became greedy after tasting.
Observing her mother-in-law happily eating, Madam Lin felt a mix of joy and concern. To avoid discomfort, she smiled, placing a piece of hawthorn cake from Song Shi’an in the old lady’s bowl.
Song Shi’an made of jelly with a shiny and cute appearance, arousing curiosity.
The prefect’s wife inquired, “What is this made of? It’s red and beautiful.”
Madam Lin explained, “It’s called hawthorn cake. It’s not a valuable thing but is delightful after dinner.”
Old Madam Zhang loved it, finding the sweet and sour treat even more tender than egg custard.
Curious about the unique dishes, the old lady asked their origin, shedding tears silently upon learning. She expressed her desire to see the person who brought the items, leading to Song Shi’an’s return.
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Before meeting the old lady, Song Shi’an knew about the family’s situation from Zhang Nanming. He shared that Zhang Nanming was thriving in Hongwen Academy, emphasizing his filial thoughts. Old Madam Zhang felt a mix of happiness and sadness, expressing uncertainty about seeing her second son again.
Zhang Nanyan felt shame, bowing his head.
As Song Shi’an conversed with the women’s family inside, Xu Zhongyue waited by the moon cave door, surrounded by the scenic beauty of bamboos, plantains, and begonias.
The drunk prefect of Yuezhou City, exiting to relieve himself, was stunned to see a familiar figure. It was still midday, or had he seen a ghost?