Chapter 5 Day Off—You died a terrible death! ...
When Lin Yan stepped into the house carrying two heavy vermilion food boxes, his steps were so light they could make drumbeats. The last trace of fatigue on his face was completely covered by an almost silly smile, his mouth stretching to his ears.
"Father! Mother! Come quick!" Lin Yan's voice pierced through the front yard, filled with barely suppressed excitement, as he rushed straight to the main hall. "It's a gift from His Majesty! It's just come out of the imperial kitchen!"
Lin Chengji was sitting at the eight-immortal table in the main room, drinking his morning porridge, with a piece of steamed bun in his hand. Hearing his son's excited shout, he slowly put down the steamed bun with teeth marks on it and looked up.
Wen Yun hurried out from the inner room, holding an unfinished padded jacket in her hand: "Yan'er is back? Did the audience with the Emperor go smoothly? Did nothing go wrong?"
Her gentle face showed obvious tension. She first scanned her son from head to toe to make sure he was all right and his expression was acceptable before her gaze fell on the two overly ornate food boxes.
Lin Yan slammed the food box onto the table with a dull thud, making the rough porcelain bowls and plates on the table jump.
He wiped non-existent sweat from his forehead, his tone as relaxed as if he had just met with the emperor who held the power of life and death: "Sure! His Majesty seems... well, quite good."
While opening the delicate gold clasp of the food box, he continued, "Whether it's true or not, at least they gave us face, spoke politely, and even gave us these pastries to take back." He paused, then, remembering the unexpected windfall, raised his voice even higher, "Oh, by the way, Father, His Majesty also said that I get an extra tael of silver every month for my job as a bodyguard."
With a soft "click," the lid of the food box was lifted.
The rich aroma exploded as if it were a tangible thing. Lin Yan felt a wave of heat, a mixture of oil, honey, nuts, and a sweet floral and fruity scent he had never smelled before, wash over him and forcefully invade all his senses.
Wen Yun exclaimed "Wow!" and leaned closer to take a look.
The food box was divided into three layers, each lined with a clean white cotton cloth, on which various exquisite pastries were neatly arranged. The variety of their shapes and colors far exceeded Lin Yan's limited vocabulary of pastries.
The top layer consists of several translucent crystal dumplings filled with pink shrimp and emerald green peas, their skins so thin they allow light to pass through. The middle layer is made of golden-brown, crispy pastries shaped like small ingots, with the dark fillings inside faintly visible. At the bottom are several snow-white, soft steamed cakes adorned with bright red candied fruit, with a few small, delicate pastries shaped like flower petals squeezed around them.
"What are all these things?" Wen Yun was dazzled by the sight, not daring to touch them easily for fear of ruining their shape. "They look so precious."
Lin Chengji also put down his chopsticks, leaned forward slightly, and looked over the pile of food that he had only seen similar descriptions on the list of offerings for the New Year's Grand Festival.
His Adam's apple bobbed almost imperceptibly before he spoke, his voice still steady: "His Majesty bestowed such a generous gift, and the audience with the Emperor... was it truly all alright?"
Lin Yan carefully opened another food box, inside which were several kinds of meat dishes neatly arranged: dark brown and glossy braised pork slices, golden and tempting roasted quail, and a plate of translucent crystal pork jelly.
"It's really nothing, Father, don't worry. His Majesty seems quite reasonable." He vaguely brushed aside the duties of the secret guards, "Anyway, the reward was real, and the money was really given."
Lin Chengji carefully observed his son's expression and saw that his brows showed only the relaxation and joy of having gained something, without any feigned fear or hidden worry. Only then did his heart, which had been hanging in suspense since receiving the imperial edict yesterday, truly settle down.
He slowly let out a long breath and nodded: "It's good that you're alright. Since it was a gift from His Majesty, we must not let it go to waste."
The family sat down around the octagonal table, and the steamed buns that were originally on the table were quickly removed and replaced with delicacies bestowed by the emperor.
Lin Yan was so hungry that her stomach was sticking to her back, so she picked up a crystal dumpling and stuffed it into her mouth.
The paper-thin skin cracked between his teeth, and the sweet shrimp and refreshing pea puree, mixed with an indescribable broth, instantly filled his mouth. It was so delicious that he almost swallowed his tongue.
"Hmm, Mother, please try this." He mumbled incoherently, then eagerly reached for the golden ingot-shaped pastry with his chopsticks.
One bite reveals a crispy, crumbly outer layer filled with a delicate and sweet chestnut paste, along with large pine nuts, creating a fragrant and delightful experience.
Wen Yun took a small bite of half a snow-white steamed cake. The soft texture was accompanied by a rich aroma of eggs and milk, and the red candied fruit sandwiched in the middle was sweet and sour.
She savored it carefully, a genuine look of admiration on her face: "I've never tasted anything like this before, I wonder how many good ingredients they used."
Lin Chengji picked up a paper-thin slice of braised meat, held it up to the light to examine its even and beautiful brown marbling, and then put it in his mouth. The meat was tender and flavorful, with a perfect balance of salty and savory sweetness, clearly made with high-quality old braising liquid and rock sugar.
He chewed slowly without saying a word, but then picked up another piece.
The two large food boxes were quite substantial, and the family ate to their hearts' content, even skipping lunch. Lin Yan used a steamed bun dipped in the oil at the bottom of the food box to clean up the last crumbs.
Lin Yan touched her round belly, feeling warm all over. Even the fatigue from staying up late and running around for half a day seemed to be soothed by this imperial meal.
He yawned widely, and a few tears welled up in the corners of his eyes: "Dad, Mom, I'm going to take a nap. I'm so sleepy I can't keep my eyes open."
Wen Yun nodded with concern: "Go quickly, go quickly, get some rest, it's so early in the morning."
Lin Yan practically floated back to his small bedroom. Too lazy to even take off his outer robe, he collapsed onto the bed. Less than three breaths after his head hit the pillow, his even, long breaths filled the small room as he drifted off into a deep sleep.
Lin Yan slept soundly until the bright sunlight streamed in through the window, making the bedding feel hot, before being awakened by the hunger in his stomach.
He opened his eyes groggily, staring at the bright light streaming through the window paper—clearly midday—and it took him a while to process what was happening before he slowly sat up.
Ah! A day off! A precious day off...
Did you lose half a day just like that?
Lin Yan put on his shoes, strolled leisurely to the table, and picked up the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone that he had prepared the night before.
Today is his day off. He doesn't have to go to the Ministry of Rites to report for duty, doesn't have to see Wu Haimin's face, and doesn't have to clean up Zheng Jing's mess. He plans to write a letter to his younger sister, Lin Mo, who is studying at his uncle's girls' school.
After grinding the ink and spreading out the slightly rough paper, Lin Yan picked up his brush.
"My dear sister Mo'er, it's as if I'm seeing you in person as I read this letter. Everything is fine at home, and our parents are healthy, so please don't worry. It's getting colder in the capital, and I imagine it's already autumn where your uncle's family lives as well. Please make sure to wear warm clothes in the mornings and evenings, and don't let the cold get to you..."
He paused for a moment as he wrote this.
This little brat, in her last letter she said something like "I still have enough paper and pens, no need to rush for new clothes," worrying so much at such a young age, who are you trying to fool? My uncle's family may be noble, but just like our own, we all live on a salary.
She probably couldn't bear to use new paper or wear her newly made padded jacket, and the money she saved was probably secretly given to some classmate who couldn't afford tuition.
Lin Yan shook his head and continued writing.
"Studying is important, but health is fundamental. Don't be overly frugal. Eat when you should eat, and use what you need. We have everything at home. Although your father and brother's salaries are meager, they are more than enough to support your sister's clothing, food, and education. You must not deprive yourself..."
When writing about salaries, Lin Yan's pen hovered in mid-air, and the ink almost dripped onto the paper.
Should we mention the tael or two of silver to the bodyguard?
Forget it! It's better to avoid trouble.
This job doesn't sound like it could be done in the open. What if Mo'er is young and doesn't understand, and accidentally lets slip even half a sentence in the letter...
It's safer to keep it inside.
He quickly wrote down the word "salary," skipping over all thoughts about "part-time job" and "raise," without mentioning them at all. The latter half of the letter was filled with trivial matters in the capital, such as the weather and what new fruits were available in the market. He also urged her to study hard and not to be naughty.
After finishing the letter, blowing away the ink, and carefully sealing it, Lin Yan stretched out a big yawn, his joints cracking softly.
The setting sun cast long shadows of the old locust tree in the courtyard through the window.
A huge, familiar resentment slowly rose from the bottom of his heart and pressed down heavily.
Tomorrow I have to go to the Ministry of Rites again, meet with Wu Haimin again, write those nonsensical auspicious omen reports and budget sheets... and also keep an eye on those slackers.
As Lin Yan gazed at the fading light outside the window, he felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, as if he could already see the miserable scene of himself, with dark circles under his eyes, drifting into the gates of the Ministry of Rites like a walking corpse at 3:45 AM the next day.
He let out a wail, not with his mouth, but from the depths of his heart, a silent, ultimate cry from the soul of a corporate slave.
Day off—you died a terrible death!
A note from the author:
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