#also Marilla you need brown sugar for cookies

[abigailspinach]

The very next evening Matthew betook himself to Carmody to buy the dress, determined to get the worst over and have done with it. It would be, he felt assured, no trifling ordeal. There were some things Matthew could buy and prove himself no mean bargainer; but he knew he would be at the mercy of shopkeepers when it came to buying a girl’s dress.

After much cogitation Matthew resolved to go to Samuel Lawson’s store instead of William Blair’s. To be sure, the Cuthberts always had gone to William Blair’s; it was almost as much a matter of conscience with them as to attend the Presbyterian church and vote Conservative. But William Blair’s two daughters frequently waited on customers there and Matthew held them in absolute dread. He could contrive to deal with them when he knew exactly what he wanted and could point it out; but in such a matter as this, requiring explanation and consultation, Matthew felt that he must be sure of a man behind the counter. So he would go to Lawson’s, where Samuel or his son would wait on him.

Alas! Matthew did not know that Samuel, in the recent expansion of his business, had set up a lady clerk also; she was a niece of his wife’s and a very dashing young person indeed, with a huge, drooping pompadour, big, rolling brown eyes, and a most extensive and bewildering smile. She was dressed with exceeding smartness and wore several bangle bracelets that glittered and rattled and tinkled with every movement of her hands. Matthew was covered with confusion at finding her there at all; and those bangles completely wrecked his wits at one fell swoop.

“What can I do for you this evening, Mr. Cuthbert?” Miss Lucilla Harris inquired, briskly and ingratiatingly, tapping the counter with both hands.

“Have you any—any—any—well now, say any garden rakes?” stammered Matthew.

Miss Harris looked somewhat surprised, as well she might, to hear a man inquiring for garden rakes in the middle of December.

“I believe we have one or two left over,” she said, “but they’re upstairs in the lumber room. I’ll go and see.” During her absence Matthew collected his scattered senses for another effort.

When Miss Harris returned with the rake and cheerfully inquired: “Anything else tonight, Mr. Cuthbert?” Matthew took his courage in both hands and replied: “Well now, since you suggest it, I might as well—take—that is—look at—buy some—some hayseed.”

Miss Harris had heard Matthew Cuthbert called odd. She now concluded that he was entirely crazy.

“We only keep hayseed in the spring,” she explained loftily. “We’ve none on hand just now.”

“Oh, certainly—certainly—just as you say,” stammered unhappy Matthew, seizing the rake and making for the door. At the threshold he recollected that he had not paid for it and he turned miserably back. While Miss Harris was counting out his change he rallied his powers for a final desperate attempt.

“Well now—if it isn’t too much trouble—I might as well—that is—I’d like to look at—at—some sugar.”

“White or brown?” queried Miss Harris patiently.

“Oh—well now—brown,” said Matthew feebly.

“There’s a barrel of it over there,” said Miss Harris, shaking her bangles at it. “It’s the only kind we have.”

“I’ll—I’ll take twenty pounds of it,” said Matthew, with beads of perspiration standing on his forehead.

Matthew had driven halfway home before he was his own man again. It had been a gruesome experience, but it served him right, he thought, for committing the heresy of going to a strange store. When he reached home he hid the rake in the tool house, but the sugar he carried in to Marilla.

“Brown sugar!” exclaimed Marilla. “Whatever possessed you to get so much? You know I never use it except for the hired man’s porridge or black fruit cake. Jerry’s gone and I’ve made my cake long ago. It’s not good sugar, either—it’s coarse and dark—William Blair doesn’t usually keep sugar like that.”

“I—I thought it might come in handy sometime,” said Matthew, making good his escape.

[imitranslates]

Honjitsu no Kami Oroshi Ch. 1

New series I’ve decided to translate on a whim. I’ll be playing catch-up as the 3rd chapter comes out tomorrow, but this series will be translated on a more relaxed schedule when I do get caught up, prob within 1-2 weeks of the release. This won’t affect my Mononokean translations, so no worries.

Honjitsu no Kami Oroshi (or, “Today’s Divine Revelation,” as I’ve decided to translate it) is a slice of life-y/cooking manga by Yata Midori that just started serialization in Gangan Online last month. In it, established author Takatsuki Ryuunosuke hires his younger brother, Rintarou, to cook menus inspired by literary works in order to spark his ideas!

You can read the first chapter at http://www.ganganonline.com/contents/honzitsu/ by clicking “[1話] 赤毛のアン“  in the chapter listing!

Today's Divine Revelation Chapter 1 – Anne of Green Gables

Page 1

[Raspberry cordial, two types of cookies, fruit and nut pound cake,]

[A layer cake, and cherry pie.]

[This is

The divine revelation menu for entering the world of "Anne of Green Gables."]

Page 4

Ryuunosuke: Haa...

No ideas are coming to me...

Ryuu: How...

Ryuu: Many days ago did I last leave the house, again...?

Page 5

Woman: Eh?

You ended up firing that kid?

Man: No...

When I told him, "You should serve customers with more of a smile," he told me he couldn't...

Man: He said, "If it's going to be an issue, I'll quit."

Woman2: How inflexible!!!

Woman: He always had a sour look on his face, didn't he.

High school students should act more carefree.

Woman2: But, he was such a diligent worker. It's a shame.

What was his name again... Takasugi-kun?

Man: Takatsuki.

Page 6

Man: Takatsuki Rintarou-kun.

[This job wasn't any good either...]

Rintarou: (I thought I'd be able to manage if it was a bookstore...

Well...)

Rin: (The bookstore worker...

Said it was part of customer service. [But it's impossible])

Ryuu: Wha?

Page 7

Ryuu: What, now?

You ended up fired at another job!?

Rin: That's bad manners, Ryuunosuke.

Don't stand up while we're having a meal.

And don't point your chopsticks at people.

Rin: Lastly, a grain of rice! It's stuck to your face.

Ryuu: Ah, sorry.

Ryuu: ...That said, you shouldn't just call me by my name like that. I'm still your big brother, you know.

Rin: I didn't technically get fired.

Rin: I wasn't able to fulfill my employer's demands, so I quit.

Ryuu: Demands?

Rin: .......

Rin: A smile.

Page 8

Ryuu: (Bahaha!) That...

Ryuu: That was the demand...!?

Rin: ...

Ryuu: You can at least smile, can't you!?

Rin: Impossible.

I can't give one of those fake smiles.

But... Selfishly saying "I can't" at work is also unforgivable.

Rin: Therefore, I quit.

It was totally logical!!

Ryuu: How strict!!!

Ryuu: You're so strict, or should I say stubborn!

Ryuu: Are you really my younger brother...?

Ryuu: In the first place, why did you suddenly start looking for a part-time job?

Page 9

Rin:......

No real reason.

Rin: I just thought I should earn my own spending money since I'm a high school student, now.

Rin: Unlike my older bro, who's a shut-in with no talent for normal work.

Ryuu: !

Ryuu: Hey, hold up.

Ryuu: You know I'm a novelist!

Since my workplace is at home, it's not like I'm shutting myself in!

Rin: How many days has it been since you left the house?

Ryuu: If you're gonna say it like that...

Ryuu: Two weeks...?

Rin: Then you're a real shut-in, aren't you!?

Go outside a little! Don't you know your legs are gonna degenerate!?

Ryuu: No way!!

If there's nothing I have to do, there's no way I'm leaving the house!

Page 10

Ryuu: I hate the cold and stifling feeling of the outside world.

Society is overflowing with facades and fabrications.

Ryuu: Unending desires in transient abundance, false love...

The state of all those things wounds my heart.

Ryuu: That's why I've decided...

"I'll do my best not to leave the house."

Rin: Are you a hermit?

Ryuu: I have no discomfort. For I have the wings called "imagination"!

With these wings, I can go anywhere.

Rin: There's no helping you, huh.

Page 11

Rin: (Sigh...) Hey, bro...

It's a really good thing you found your current work as an author.

Ryuu: It's my calling!

I think... it's my calling, but...

Ryuu: ........

Recently, I've been in a little slump...

Ryuu: "A short story commemorating the 10 years since my debut."

Ryuu: Is the story I'm doing, but...

I'm not getting any good ideas.

Rin: They've dried up, huh? (All of them).

Ryuu: Haa... How nice...

Unlike me, the apple blossoms are in full bloom...

Rin: Don't get jealous of a tree.

Ryuu: Whenever the apple tree blooms, it reminds me of Anne of Green Gables...

Rin: Green Gables? What's that?

Page 12

Ryuu: "Anne of Green Gables" is a Canadian coming-of-age story about an orphan with red hair named Anne Shirley.

Ryuu: The highly imaginative protagonist Anne causes a stir with all sorts of incidents.

Ryuu: Friendship, family, and the old-fashioned daily life are all vibrantly written about in that masterpiece.

Ryuu: In the start of the series, before Anne is adopted, when she heads toward the "Green Gables"...

Ryuu: She passes through the rows of dreamily beautiful apple trees...

Ryuu: I really love that scene...

Ryuu: Ahh...

Ryuu: I want to visit Anne's world.

Page 13

Ryuu: If I could visit that world, if I could meet with Anne and happily chat with her...

Ryuu: I might get a revelation from god...

Rin: Why don't you go?

Ryuu: Eh...?

Rin: You have wings called imagination, don't you?

Then, why not go visit? Canada.

Why not visit that world?

Rin: In your head.

Ryuu: !

Ah...

Page 14

Ryuu: That's right! You're totally right, Rintarou!

Hey, why don't you do some work here at my place?

Rin: Wha? Work here?!

Ryuu: Yeah! See, your cooking's good, right?

Rin: Cooking...?

I mean, I can do a certain amount, but...

Ryuu: In Anne's story, all sorts of delicious food shows up.

Please let me have a taste of that moment's joy! While sitting in the comfort of my own home.

Rin: ...?

In your own home?

Ryuu: Yes! The title is!!

Ryuu: Under the Apple Tree!

Rin: !

Ryuu: A wonderful picnic that will take us to the world of Anne of Green Gables!!

Page 15

Rin: ....

Rin: Ehh...?!

Rin: Eh?

(An unforeseen development)

Ryuu: How about it?

Ryuu: One thousand yen an hour!!

Rin: ........

.....

Rin: Are...

Rin: Are you serious...

Girl1: Hey...

Takatsuki-kun is acting weird today, isn't he?

Girl2: Weird?

...He's eating lunch alone while reading, just like always.

Girl1: No, not that.

The book he's reading is what's weird! Look!

Page 16

Girls: A..

Anne of Green Gables...!!!

(Girl1: And with such a scary expression...)

Rin: (It's not like...)

Rin: (I want money so bad I need it from Aniki...)

(But, if I say "I can't" to everything...

I'll become a person that can't do anything.)

Rin: (Above all...)

Page 17

(When he was my age,)

(Aniki had already become an author.)

Rin: (I have to do something, too!!!)

Rin: Uhhh...

Two kinds of cookies, a fruit and nut pound cake, a layer cake...

Raspberry cordial, and a cherry pie. All together, six dishes.

Rin: If it's like that, any idiot should be satisfied.

Rin: The beginning of the tea party is at one o'oclock.

So, in five hours... Okay.

Page 18

Rin: (I'll make this order a success!!)

Rin: Uh, first off...

I'll cut the dough I made and refrigerated last night into cookies and bake them.

Rin: The classic cookies need a little assembly.

Place some jam in the middle of the plain cookies...

Rin: While they're baking, the raspberry cordial.

It seems a lot like raspberry juice...

Rin: The berries are mixed with sugar and put over heat,

And lemon juice and water are added. Once it reaches a boil, the mixture is strained.

(Rin: Incidentally, there's equal parts berries and sugar..)

[Sugar, 500g]

(Rin: The calories must be crazy...)

Rin: I did that part last night, so I just have to add water and soda to taste and it's ready.

Page 19

Rin: Next, the pound cake.

Rin: Beat together room temperature butter and sugar until it turns pale,

Then incorporate beaten eggs a little bit at a time.

(Rin: Looks like it's coming together...)

Rin: Then the flour,

Raisins, walnuts, orange zest, and almonds go in.

Rin: Stir to distribute evenly.

[All right? This cake tastes horrible! Is this the fault of the baking powder?]

[(Oh, Marilla!)]

Rin: (...Is how that scene went in the story, I think.)

Rin: (I guess things would really go wrong if the baking powder was bad back then.)

Rin: (But I'll be fine. I used good baking powder...)

[170C for 40-50 minutes.]

Rin: Oops, onto the next! (The cherry pie!)

Rin: I mean, I should clean up a little.

Uwah! It's already this late!?

(Crash!)

Rin: Ow!

Page 20

Rin: !

Rin: Uwah...

It's a success!!

Rin: (It rose nicely,

Has a golden brown color, and it smells great!!)

Rin: (It's going well!!!)

Rin: (Alright, let's keep this mood up!

The last obstacle for today!

The layer cake!!)

[Slice the sponge cake into layers and fill with jam and cream.]

(Basically, a shortcake.)

Page 21

Rin: Beat the eggs and sugar over heat over heat for 5 minutes until frothy.

Keep going until fluffy and airy.

[Ideal]

Rin: You can tell when it's finished when the mixture leaves tracks behind... (Or so it says...)

Rin: Huh?

This isn't any good...

Rin: Ehhhh~~?

The egg isn't whipping up at all...

Ryuu: (I thought it'd be any moment now, so I came to check...

But it looks like making sweets is pretty rough...)

Page 22

[20 minutes later.]

Rin: I...

Rin: I did it somehow...?

Rin: Haa... haa....

Rin: Gently mix flour into the whipped eggs using a sifter...

Then add milk to the finished batter and mix again.

Rin: When you put it in the dish, gently hit the bottom of the pan to get out any air bubbles, and put it in the oven.

Rin: Now I'll pour the custard onto the cherry pie I baked earlier,

And line it with cherries.

Page 23

Rin: Once the sponge cake is cooled, decorate it.

Rin: Okay...

Rin: Done!

Ryuu: Rin!!

Rintarou! Over here, in the garden!

Page 24

Ryuu: Let's eat over here!!!

[This is...]

[The picnic menu for traveling to the world of Anne of Green Gables.]

Page 25

[1. Raspberry cordial]

[2. Jam cookie

3. Chocolate cookie]

[4. Dried fruit and nut pound cake]

[5. Layer cake]

[6. Cherry pie]

Ryuu: It...

Ryuu: It's so high quality!! (Amazing!!)

Ryuu: Rintarou...

You really are impressive, huh... (Was this really your first time making these sweets...?)

Rin: Yeah.

Now, what to start with?

Ryuu: Hmm... Anything's fine.

Rin: !

What's that mean, just pick one!

Ryuu: I don't mean it like that.

Page 26

Ryuu: These are the confections you worked hard to make, right?

I'm sure all of them are delicious.

Rin: Then...

The layer cake.

Rin: Here.

Page 27

Rin: Why don't you call it down.

Your revelation or whatever.

Ryuu: Yeah.

Thanks for the food.

Page 29

Ryuu: ......

Ryuu: Rows...

Of apple trees?

[Just when did I get here...]

[Is this exit...

This way?]

Page 30

[An apple tree.]

(That's right.)

(The apple tree in the garden... I planted it when I'd just become an author.)

(A charm)

[To bear fruit]

Page 31

[To all sorts of creative ideas, just like that girl.]

Page 32

Rin: ....?

Rin: (Was it bad...?)

Rin: Ryuunosuke?

Page 33

Ryuu: Mm!

Ryuu: Delicious...!

Rin: Eh?

Ryuu: It's delicious!

All of it's amazingly good!

Rin: R-

Really...?

Ryuu: Really, really!

Ryuu: I just remembered

How I felt when I was just starting as an author...

Page 34

Ryuu: It's all thanks to you, Rintarou!!

Ryuu: It's really wonderful! Thank you!!

(Huh...)

Rin: (Huh?)

Rin: Eh...

Rin: Uh...

Rin: (Huh, what's with that...)

Page 35

Rin: The... job...

Ryuu: ?

Rin: (Just now, he told me "thank you"...

Big bro's gratitude...)

Rin: Well, that job... my work...

Uh, that is...

Rin: (What...

What should I do?!!)

[Man: Takatsuki-kun.

Can't you try serving the customers with more of a smile?]

[Rin: ...

I can't.]

[Ah...

I...]

(This is the first time anyone's been pleased with my work, isn't it....)

Rin: Th...

Rin: ......

Thanks.

Page 36

Rin: !!

Rin: Uwa!

Rin: The wind's picked up, huh.

Should we move back inside? Ryuunosuke.

Page 37

[Oh.

It switched on.]

Page 38

Dad: Isn't that amazing, Rintarou?

Ryuunosuke won a big award for his novel.

Dad: Amazing...

[A 16 year old's break-out work!]

Rin: (Ryuunosuke is...)

(A shut-in with way too much imagination, and he can't acclimate to society...)

(Even so, he's made an incredible amount of people happy.)

(I really...

Wanted to know what I could do, and started doing part-time jobs...)

Page 39

Rin: ...Is it good?

Rin: (I'm still no match for him...

But...)

Ryuu: Hmm?

Ryuu: Oh, yeah...

Rin: (What an absent-minded reply.)

(Making others happy isn't so bad.)

Rin: ...

Uh-huh.

Page 40

[The next day]

Rin: Eh...

What's this "Divine Revelation" on the 27th?!

Ryuu: It's an appointment...

I realized it this time. I need your power.

Rin: You liar!

Don't just decide that on your own, it's a huge pain!

Eh?

Ryuu: For a writer, you know...

You should realize that I need a new revelation one after the other...

[<-A day before the deadline.]

Rin: Wh--

Ryuu: Don't you get it?!

Rin: ......

.....

Rin: I...

Rin: I get it....

Ryuu: (Alright!) I made my appointment. That's one thing off my mind.

Ah, but I'll probably have morning and night switched around by then, so it should be in the evening!

Ryuu: Oh, if I eat too much I'll get tired, so make something light.

Even so, I want something nutritious.

Rin: ......

Ryuu: But if it's hard to digest, my concentration will....

[That was the start of a pain-in-ass event in my regular life.]