[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-my-life-as-a-literary-giant-in-russia":3,"chapter-my-life-as-a-literary-giant-in-russia-my-life-as-a-literary-giant-in-russia-chapter-98":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","My Life as a Literary Giant in Russia",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2317273,4531,"Chapter 98: Diet, Politics, and Mikhail","my-life-as-a-literary-giant-in-russia-chapter-98",98,"\u003Cp>After sending the letter to Nadezhda, Mikhail devoted himself entirely to preparing for the banquet, and in recent days he minimized going out and avoided the publishing house altogether, barely reading letters from readers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Mikhail knew the angry men in those letters probably wouldn’t carry out their threats, seeing them often still made him uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for hosting the guests, aside from purchasing supplies, several other issues gave Mikhail a headache.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of these issues was determining the appropriate standard for entertaining guests: in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Russia, what a person ate in public often determined their social rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During this period, Russian nobility remained as consistently foreign-adoring and abstract as ever—for instance, the upper class frequently dismissed certain foods, dishes, and drinks as “vulgar,” and since Peter the Great began emulating Europe one hundred fifty years ago, they considered “vulgar” food to be Russian cuisine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who couldn’t resist eating such “vulgar” foods were seen by high society as oddities, misers, or commoners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, during this era, every respectable wealthy Russian noble household required a French chef, and beyond French cuisine, Russian nobles gradually introduced other European dishes, such as cod and trout.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Russian staples like porridge, kvass, medovukha, and cabbage soup were forbidden at formal lunches and dinners; nuts and beer were similarly despised—in Pushkin’s time, these two foods were regarded as markers of vulgarity and lack of education.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the nuts being despised referred to their unprocessed state; once ground into crumbs by French chefs and sprinkled over cakes, they instantly became favorites at noble banquets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Russia fought France in 1812, patriotic sentiment surged domestically, and some aristocrats deliberately drank native drinks like kvass in public to demonstrate their love for the homeland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, food sometimes aligned with political leanings—for instance, at the secret meetings held by Decembrist Kondraty in his home, he served cabbage and rye bread to fellow sympathizers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By Mikhail’s current era, the earliest Slavophiles gathered in similar performative acts, mixing Russian kvass with French champagne in a large silver barrel and drinking the blend to signify immersion among the common people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although French cuisine’s popularity had waned somewhat by this time, some old-established St. Petersburg nobles still adhered strictly to the tradition—like when Mikhail attended the General’s gathering, where only authentic French dishes were served, though Mikhail ate so quickly he barely tasted anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I mention all this because Mikhail’s friends spanned a wide class spectrum—from maids to the wealthiest second-generation heirs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, some were strongly class-conscious; even if they didn’t show it outwardly, they still felt uneasy inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a common ailment among aristocratic youths of the era: the ideas and education they absorbed made them emotionally drawn to the masses, yet their upbringing and deep environmental influences caused them to unconsciously display aristocratic postures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As time progressed, the inner struggles and contradictions of such individuals grew more pronounced, giving rise to another classic Russian literary archetype: the “superfluous man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless something unexpected happens, Mikhail will likely write about such characters soon, and perhaps summarize the related literary phenomenon, since this figure was already vividly portrayed in Pushkin’s *Eugene Onegin*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such writing might influence certain progressive young nobles, for literature always carries a warning function—even if its impact on some is slight, as long as it affects even a few, that influence will become strikingly evident at critical moments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, very few people actually knew Mikhail had moved; upon careful reflection, he realized his closest friends were truly a group of poor comrades, with Old Belyinsky as the quintessential example—even though they’d grown somewhat wealthier since joining Mikhail, they hadn’t yet adjusted to their changed status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seems the only ones worth giving a little thought to are Panayev and Turgenev, who’s about to return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But frankly, although Mikhail is now considerably better off, the magazine is still in its infancy and expenses are high—he hasn’t yet reached the point of profiting as a publisher, so he certainly couldn’t afford a proper French chef; he could only hire a well-regarded cook and serve slightly higher-quality ingredients.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mikhail briefly explained this to Panayev and the soon-returning Turgenev.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing his small concern, both laughed heartily: “Don’t worry, Mikhail, we know your situation—your thinking is unnecessary; don’t you think we know your financial state?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mikhail: “?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just wait—I’ll surpass you both.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sorting out these slightly tedious matters, despite some flustered haste, Mikhail’s first banquet at home was finally about to begin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was scheduled for late evening, when his apartment’s friends could finally free themselves from daily labor and enjoy a moment of rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mikhail’s current residence was much larger, but he hadn’t hired additional staff—he still had no maid or other servants common in wealthier households—so although the parlor was brightly decorated for the guests, it still looked strangely empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as time passed, Mikhail’s guests began arriving one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First to appear were the burly landlady Pavlovna and the timid old maid Nastasya; upon seeing Mikhail’s lively new home, Pavlovna was happy for him—but couldn’t help sighing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her regretful expression, Mikhail wisely didn’t press, instead smiling at the visibly nervous Nastasya: “What’s wrong? Find a seat. Didn’t you once bring a cat to my place? Why do you look like you don’t recognize me now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You already look like a master, Mikhail!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Mikhail’s smile, unchanged from before, Nastasya—whose status in Russia was still low—relaxed slightly and cheerfully said: “If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, no one would believe it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recently Pavlovna has been trying to rent out your old attic, but no one believes you ever lived there! They say: ‘You mean *that* Mikhail lived in such a place? I admit the joke’s funny, but if it’s *that* gentleman, with his talent, he could’ve moved into a place ten times better with just a flick of his finger!’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mikhail: “?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s not that easy—young people are still too young.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carefully counting, Mikhail had endured over half a year of hardship since the beginning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Too many people didn’t believe her, which infuriated Pavlovna—so finally she just decided not to rent it out at all, and plans to seal the room shut until your fame grows, then charge anyone who wants to see it ten kopecks!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mikhail: “.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geez, top-tier thinking—and it might actually work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mikhail chatted with them for a while; once he saw they’d relaxed, he invited them inside to sit, and soon after, the minor official Smirnov arrived with his family, still bickering with the merchant Versilov as they walked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon seeing Mikhail, Smirnov immediately said: “Look here—this gentleman just told me on the way that he gave you a whole set of furniture for free! If I hadn’t asked you about it beforehand, I might’ve believed him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But one good thing: now I’ve got more jokes—I’ve got a new funny story about a ridiculous merchant!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s not funny, Smirnov.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Versilov, habitually inflating numbers but unprepared to be exposed, flushed slightly but continued: “At the price I gave dear Mikhail, I might as well have given it away! If you bought it, I’d charge you five times more!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go to hell!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this familiar quarrel, Mikhail only shook his head and smiled, then led them to the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The banquet table was custom-made by Mikhail—a long table seating nearly twenty, more than enough for his guests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After they sat down, not long after, Belinsky, Nekrasov, and Turgenev—who’d just returned from the countryside—along with the ever-present Dostoevsky, arrived at Mikhail’s door, all dressed far more formally than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their arrival instantly silenced everyone already seated—even the usually cheerful Smirnov seemed momentarily at a loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d all seen Mikhail’s friends before, but only from afar; to meet them so formally was unprecedented.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this awkward silence didn’t last long: after Mikhail invited Belinsky and the others to sit, eased the tension, and poured out vodka and other drinks for everyone to drink freely, a few glasses down, the atmosphere naturally warmed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with this rare scene in contemporary Russia, Belinsky seemed deeply moved, constantly speaking to those beside him, then turning to Mikhail:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look, Mikhail—if everyone could someday sit together like this, talk, laugh, drink, and discuss all kinds of things, then the best of times would surely come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, Belinsky truly had much to discuss with Mikhail’s apartment friends—after all, in a certain sense, his own situation had been nearly identical to theirs, just another form of hired labor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Turgenev, who’d just returned from the countryside, this scene felt unfamiliar—he, a noble youth who’d always strived to enter high society, found this moment almost astonishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without Mikhail, he likely never would’ve had such an opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet despite his discomfort, Turgenev didn’t appear uneasy; instead, he wore a thoughtful expression. Since Mikhail had mentioned *A Sportsman’s Sketches* to him, Turgenev had begun writing, but because he hadn’t returned home in so long, he’d been unable to proceed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But seeing today’s scene, Turgenev seemed to finally understand what he’d been missing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he snapped out of his deep thoughts, he spoke briefly with those present, then suddenly grew pensive and quietly approached Mikhail: “Mikhail, why does Vissarion keep staring at me like I’ve done something terrible? I swear, I’ve done nothing but read lately!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I really don’t know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Mikhail’s gaze drifted slightly, new guests kept arriving—and when a very familiar person appeared, strong arms locked tightly around Mikhail, and Dmitri’s joyful voice rang out:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Long time no see, Mikhail! Seeing you like this makes me so happy! I’m sorry I’m late with my congratulations, but I’ve come today with good news—I’ll tell you after the banquet: it’s the thing you loved most before!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mikhail, eyes darkening: “.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell are you babbling about? I can’t hear a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1638,"2026-06-20T14:41:53.633Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c81861d02835c619a5720e57fc7d4d082f6d956a34747c23b742e52b47ccf6ad","my-life-as-a-literary-giant-in-russia-chapter-99","my-life-as-a-literary-giant-in-russia-chapter-97",105,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmy-life-as-a-literary-giant-in-russia-cover.jpg"]