Records of the Cattle and Horses of Chang'an

The next morning, before the street drums sounded in Chang'an City, the door of Jiang Shangxian's room in the Jiang family in Yong'anfang opened.

"Hey, Nian Nu, why are you up so early?" Jiang's mother, who was making breakfast in the kitchen, heard the creaking of the old wooden door. She poked her head out to take a look, then glanced at the still dark sky in disbelief. Her face was full of disbelief: "Could it be that the sun is about to rise from the west today?"

Jiang Shangxian, holding a small basin, moved calmly to the water tank in the yard to fetch water. He spoke casually, as if saying he was getting up to have a big bath today: "Mother, I'm going to go out and look for a job."

Jiang's mother, who had just retreated into the kitchen, poked her head out again, this time holding a bowl of torn Hu pancakes. She frowned and asked, "What kind of work are you looking for? You're a young woman, and you're going to work outside? Isn't there enough mutton at home for you to sell?"

"I originally wanted to use the money I saved to rent a shop to sell food, but after thinking about it carefully, I think it's not a good idea. If I really do this business, even as a businessman, I will lose my status."

Jiang Shangxian wiped his face and, using the dim light from the kitchen, combed his hair over the water in the tub. "Erlang is getting older, and he'll have more expenses to spend. He doesn't have any skills to rely on, so let's leave this mutton business to him. Go find a job and earn some extra money."

"What nonsense are you talking about? This house is ours, and we have never borrowed any money. As long as the money in the family is enough for our own food and drink, it is enough." When Jiang's mother said this, she put one hand on her waist, full of confidence.

She wasn't wrong. The Jiang family had a house like this, which made them much better off than others. People are judged by comparison. Those who rent are not as good as those who buy, and those who borrow money are not as good as those who pay outright.

The chain of contempt is so naked.

But Jiang Shangxian had to find a job. How could he become famous just by selling braised mutton? A mutton beauty?

"Mother, if we can save up some money, we can send Erlang to learn martial arts. He's not good at studying, and he's always wanted to join the Southern Yamen Imperial Guards. If we're lucky enough..."

Jiang Shangxian paused, then said with a hint of temptation, "Mother, if this can be accomplished, it will not only bring honor to our family, but even if my father knew about it in the afterlife, I wonder how glorious it would be."

Jiang's mother's sullen expression softened slightly, and she sighed softly, "That being said, it's not that easy to get into that place... You're almost at the age where you're supposed to get married. If you go out to work, what's going to happen to you in the future?"

Jiang Shangxian knew that she was softening. The preference for boys over girls has existed since ancient times. As a daughter, she naturally could not compare to Jiang Wangri, who continued the family line, in Jiang's mother's heart. That was why she kept bringing up her younger brother.

Walking over and taking the bowl of Hu Bing from her hand, Jiang Shangxian spoke earnestly, "Mother, if I get married, I'll definitely need a dowry. If I can find a good job, I can both help support the family and save up for a dowry. How can marriage be that difficult?"

Jiang's mother said nothing more and turned back into the kitchen.

Jiang Shangxian understood that she had been persuaded.

*****

Jiang Shangxian, carrying a small bag, stepped out of Yong'anfang just in time with the first sound of the street drum. It took him nearly half an hour to walk through ten blocks, with a thin layer of sweat on his body, before he arrived at the destination of this trip - Chongrenfang.

To the west is the imperial city Daming Palace. If you want to satisfy your shopping desire, the southeast corner is Chang'an CBD East Market. If you want to find beautiful geishas to watch the stars and the moon, talk about the past and current affairs, and talk about the loneliness in your heart, to the south is Chang'an's largest red-light district Pingkangfang.

Such an excellent geographical location naturally became the residence of scholars from other places who came to Chang'an to be selected as officials and to take the imperial examinations. The astute Chang'an merchants had a sharp eye and opened restaurants, hotels and other service industries here one after another. The lights here were on day and night, and the bustling sounds could be heard two or three blocks away.

Chang'an's nightlife also starts from here.

This was her first time visiting this place, and it was indeed very different from ordinary residential areas like Yong'anfang.

In broad daylight, all kinds of exquisite lanterns of various shapes were lit as if they were free. Before even stepping into the gate, I could hear occasional laughter coming from inside.

For those who have been enjoying themselves all night, this is the time to sleep soundly, but there are still many people walking around, and the shop owners are ready to welcome the new day.

Everyone who came and went looked very arrogant. Jiang Shangxian, who was only 1.6 meters tall, had the opportunity to see quite a few nostrils.

There were countless famous scholars in the Tang Dynasty. Anyone who had a talent far superior to that of ordinary people in any of the arts, such as music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and songs, could be called a famous scholar.

If a celebrity also likes to chat, drink and be unrestrained with young ladies, then he is a romantic celebrity.

Jiang Shangxian has no other skills except cooking, which she is very good at. Today she is looking for a restaurant to introduce herself and use her cooking skills to increase her popularity.

How can a famous chef known to everyone in Chang'an not become famous?

The source of her self-confidence is the 5,000-year-old accumulation of the nation's cuisine and her own tireless foodie spirit. In order to satisfy her own appetite, Jiang Shangxian worked hard in modern times and delved into the art of cooking, which is why she was able to pass her professional courses by a narrow margin and barely graduate.

As for the cuisine of the Tang Dynasty, after more than half a year of exploring it, she can be 100% sure: it's terrible.

There are numerous restaurants and hotels in Chongrenfang, but the one that does the best business is Lexianlou.

Even a Chang'an native like Jiang Shangxian has heard of the fame of Lexianlou!

Jiang Shangxian easily found this three-story restaurant with a fishtail-shaped gargoyle-shaped roof, which was elegant and luxurious yet had a simple and rustic atmosphere.

It was still morning, and the guests who had been hungover all night had already left one after another. The restaurant felt a bit lonely after a hearty meal. The waiters, with white cotton cloth draped over their shoulders, came and went, sweeping and tidying up. The shopkeeper stood behind the high platform, the abacus in his hand clacking.

Jiang Shangxian squeezed the bag in his hand and strode in.

"The shopkeeper's."

"Hey! Sir... Hmm?" The shopkeeper thought it was a customer who had arrived early in the morning. He put down his pen and looked up with a smile on his face, but found it was a young woman in ordinary clothes. He was puzzled: "What are you doing here...?"

"Sir, I'm sorry to bother you. I'd like to ask if your restaurant is hiring a chef." (Chef)

"We at Lexianlou are always looking for good chefs, but I wonder who you are asking for, young lady?" The shopkeeper plucked the short mustache on his lips, his attitude was quite gentle, and he thought she was asking for an elder in her family.

"I'm asking this on my own behalf."

"This..." The shopkeeper was stunned for a moment, then put down his hand and frowned slightly: "Young lady, please don't make fun of me. If you want to find a job, you might as well look at the wealthy families."

He meant well. There were women working as cooks in the Tang Dynasty, but they were mostly in the kitchens of wealthy families. In restaurants and hotels, most of the people who came and went were men, which was not good for their reputation. Only elderly women would do cleaning work.

Jiang Shangxian had anticipated this reaction and didn't flinch. A smile played on his face, yet his attitude was resolute and confident. "The shopkeeper just said that we're always looking for good chefs. Although I'm young, I believe my cooking skills are top-notch in Chang'an."

When the young men beside him heard this, they couldn't help laughing, saying: "Where did this little lady come from? Such a small person, but she has such a big mouth."

Jiang Shangxian raised his chin when he heard this, and a sly intelligence flickered in his eyes. "If you don't believe me, boss, please borrow the kitchen. I'll just cook a few dishes. If they're not good, I'll turn around and leave without saying anything."

The shopkeeper was not tempted. In a place like Lexianlou, chefs come to recommend themselves almost every day. If everyone cooks a few dishes, the whole place will be annoyed.

Jiang Shangxian noticed his reaction and spoke again, "The food and drinks at Lexianlou are not much different from those elsewhere. In this neighborhood alone, there are countless restaurants and hotels whose menus are 95% identical to Lexianlou's. But what I'm going to make is a dish that has never been seen in Chang'an before. If the owner doesn't like my dishes, I'll pay for them. How do you do that?"