Chapter 76: 捧場
[Support]
Ji Ling worked with remarkable speed, and with the hired laborers pulling their weight, Tang Xiaobao’s shop opened its doors in no time. The opening day was celebrated with great fanfare, though the unique location meant few customers were drawn in. Some curious passersby stopped to glance at the shop, intrigued by its peculiar decor, but very few actually entered. Even fewer stayed after seeing the prices, quickly making excuses to leave.
Seeing this, Tang Xiaobao didn’t get upset. He cheerfully prepared food for the few customers who did come. When he first took over his parents’ shop, business was slow too. Many customers only came because they couldn’t find anywhere else to eat. But after trying his food once, they’d inevitably choose his place again. He trusted his skills, so he didn’t let it bother him.
Seeing how few people were at Tang Xiaobao’s door, he wondered if he felt discouraged. But observing his consistently cheerful demeanor, he felt reassured. Still, he couldn’t help but occasionally bring him a few customers.
Leading Huang Gongzi and Lei Ming down the alley toward Tang Xiaobao’s shop, Ji Ling walked ahead with remarkable composure. The two following him, however, were puzzled. They knew this area had good food, but wondered why he’d brought them here. They knew all the famous eateries in the city, but had no idea when a shop had appeared in this deep alleyway. Trusting Ji Ling, they kept their questions to themselves.
Only upon reaching Tang Xiaobao’s shopfront did they begin to believe Ji Ling’s words. The shop’s entrance was exquisitely crafted. No main hall or inner rooms were visible at first glance. Only an elderly man, who appeared to be the proprietor, sat before a massive carved screen. A counter stood before him. He gazed kindly at the newcomers and, upon seeing them, inquired with a smile, “May I ask, is this your first visit, or have you been here before?”
Lei Ming found the old man’s words rather amusing. Before the others could speak, he blurted out, “Is there some special procedure for first-timers?”
Hearing Lei Ming’s blunt question, the old man didn’t seem annoyed. He remained cheerful as ever and replied, “Of course there are formalities. For first-time guests, we assign our most knowledgeable attendant to give you a proper introduction. For regulars, no need for explanations—just take them straight to whichever room they prefer.”
Surprised by these unspoken rules, Lei Ming scratched his head and turned to Huang Gongzi behind him, seeking his opinion. Huang Gongzi, clearly caught off guard by this turn of events, looked at Ji Ling. Since Ji Ling had brought them here, he naturally knew the ropes.
Observing the sequence of actions, the proprietor instantly recognized who held the authority. His gaze settled on Ji Ling. He remained silent—he recognized this man as his most important patron. But seeing that the patron didn’t wish to speak, the proprietor kept quiet as well. Ji Ling looked directly at the old proprietor and stated plainly, “Give us Room Number One.”
“Alright.” Upon hearing this, the proprietor pulled several hanging cords beside him. The cords were of different colors, and he selected the green one. Shortly after he finished pulling the cord, a smartly dressed young waiter emerged from the back. Spotting the guests, he smiled warmly and said, “Gentlemen, please follow me.”
He then led them around an intricately carved screen into the rear courtyard, revealing an unremarkable space. To the left stood an exquisitely crafted rockery pond with flowing water. On the right towered a massive paulownia tree, beneath which a large red parasol shaded a table large enough for four diners. The waiter led the three guests along the courtyard’s stone path, through an intricately carved round gate, and down an exquisitely decorated corridor. At the end, he opened a door and ushered them inside.
The interior decor was no different from that of ordinary restaurants, though it carried a more homely feel than specialized banquet halls. Immediately upon entering, they saw a square table with a carved chair placed at each corner, each topped with a soft cushion. Several landscape paintings hung on the surrounding walls. The tabletop in front displayed miniature plants—diminutive lotus leaves, small rockeries even adorned with tiny plants and miniature figures—creating a rather whimsical scene.
Upon entering, Lei Ming and Young Master Huang both glanced around. Unlike Young Master Huang’s reserved manner, Lei Ming was more direct. He walked straight to the miniature potted plants, gently nudging the lotus leaves floating in the water. Watching the roots sway in the small bowl, he couldn’t help but exclaim, “These little things are actually alive!”
Now seated, Ji Ling handed the menu he’d taken to Young Master Huang. Noticing Lei Ming’s keen interest, he remarked, “If you like it, I’ll ask the owner if they have any extras. I’ll have one sent over for you another day.”
Lei Ming listened, feeling a bit embarrassed, but didn’t refuse.
Huang Gongzi scanned the dishes listed on his menu, along with the several set meals offered. Observing the waiter standing respectfully nearby, he inquired casually, “Are there any particular rules for ordering here? The dishes look rather pricey.”
The waiter, quick to understand, promptly replied, “All dishes here are the proprietor’s signature creations, prepared with the finest ingredients, hence the higher price. Those set menus are also the proprietor’s recommended pairings of the best dishes. If you’re interested, you might want to try them.”
After a moment’s consideration, the three ultimately chose the most expensive set menu, wanting to see what made it different from the others. The waiter took their order, bowed respectfully, and departed.
He carried the order slip directly to Tang Xiaobao, who was already preparing in the kitchen. After relaying the customers’ preferences to his boss, he stood by, waiting for Tang Xiaobao to finish cooking before returning to report. Glancing at the order, Tang Xiaobao’s confidence surged. Business during the opening week had been sluggish; even customers who stumbled in by chance to sample the cuisine tended to order the most basic dishes. It wasn’t that Tang Xiaobao thought those wouldn’t turn a profit—even the simplest dishes here carried a hefty price tag. What concerned him was that without patrons ordering these premium combinations, his true culinary skill would remain unseen.
Watching Tang Xiaobao start bustling about, the waiter paused for a moment before deciding to mention what he’d seen with Ji Ling. He recognized the owner inside, but the man didn’t seem to want to reveal his identity, so the waiter hadn’t approached. But now, facing the man who paid his wages, the waiter knew exactly what to do. He stepped forward to a spot where he wouldn’t disturb Tang Xiaobao’s cooking and announced clearly, “Master, one of the three guests who arrive today is the young master.”
Hearing the waiter’s words, Tang Xiaobao froze for a moment before realizing Ji Ling must have brought guests to assist him. After a moment’s thought, he instructed the servants nearby to bring out the freshly steamed pastries prepared that day to serve alongside the dishes, as a complimentary offering.
Since the portions were modest, each dish was arranged on its own delicate small plate. Every course was accompanied by a portion of broth prepared earlier. The exquisite servingware lent the presentation a pleasingly elegant appearance. Once everything was prepared, Tang Xiaobao wiped the nonexistent sweat from his brow before instructing the waiter and several maids to carry the dishes over.
The three, who had expected a long wait for these dishes, sipped the tea brought by another attendant after the waiter left, discussing their plans. Observing Ji Ling’s expressionless yet incisive remarks, Young Master Huang began to take a liking to this man. His initial collaboration with Ji Ling stemmed from two motivations: first, he believed the plan was viable; second, he was curious to meet someone his tutor had praised so lavishly, yet whom he himself had never encountered.
However, he ultimately did not disappoint himself. Young Master Huang was thoroughly satisfied and began contemplating how likely it was to recruit this man as his personal moneybag. Before he could devise a concrete plan to lure this seemingly self-sufficient individual,a few respectful knocks sounded at the door.
Recognizing the voice as the waiter outside inquiring if the meal could be served, Ji Ling glanced at the two men. Seeing no objection, he responded, “Come in.”
The attendant guarding the doorway pushed it open. The lead waiter stepped in first, followed by several women dressed uniformly, each carrying a tray. The faint aroma wafting from the dishes was almost palpable.
The waiter first murmured an apology before placing his own tray before the three guests. Only after completing his own service did he proceed to arrange the dishes from the trays carried by the women behind him, placing them before everyone in order. Each dish came in triplicate, neatly categorized before them. The serving bowls were exquisitely crafted, so that even when crowded on the table, they remained a pleasing sight.
Though they’d seen grand scenes before, Lei Ming and Young Master Huang still found the spread before them somewhat novel. As the waiter bowed to take his leave, Lei Ming suddenly noticed something amiss with the quantity on the table. He looked at the waiter questioningly, “Isn’t there something extra here? I recall the set menu only included eight items.”
The waiter smiled at the guests before him and replied courteously, “Our proprietor has specially sent an additional pastry for your enjoyment. We hope you have a pleasant meal.”
He gestured toward the crystal-clear pastry in the center of the table, then bowed slightly before turning to leave with the maidservants.
After the waiter departed, Lei Ming surveyed the array before him and sighed, “Damn, these portions are ridiculously small. One piece wouldn’t even feed me and my wife.”
The other two merely chuckled at his remark. Young Master Huang, however, eyed the dishes—which looked like ordinary fare but were significantly smaller portions—and promptly picked up his chopsticks. He lifted a piece of the glistening, savory preserved vegetable pork belly, its aroma tantalizing. With just one bite, the melt-in-the-mouth texture and the deeply infused seasoning left him thoroughly satisfied.
Watching Young Master Huang’s satisfied expression, Lei Ming felt a twinge of doubt. But after tasting a bite himself, he said nothing more, only noticeably speeding up his own eating pace. By the time he realized it, everything on his plate was gone. What he’d thought wouldn’t fill him up had actually left him feeling pleasantly full. Glancing around, he saw Young Master Huang was in much the same state. Only Ji Ling, for some reason, seemed to have exercised a bit more restraint.
Noticing Lei Ming watching him, Young Master Huang seemed to realize he’d eaten rather more than usual today. Yet even after finishing, the lingering taste of the meal still lingered faintly on his palate. Instantly, a faint blush spread across his jade-like face before quickly fading. With restrained composure, he remarked, “The food here is quite delicious. We should come back to try more next time.”
Lei Ming hastily nodded in agreement, while Ji Ling simply watched from the side with a smile.
After the three had left, the waiter returned excitedly and reported to Tang Xiaobao, “Master, those three guests finished almost all their food and left a generous tip. They seemed quite satisfied.”
“Since the tips are for you, take them. Just don’t break the rules.” Hearing this, Tang Xiaobao felt quite satisfied and didn’t dwell on the matter of the tips. After all, the key to improving service awareness lay in personal initiative. As long as it didn’t violate principles, such tips were permissible to keep.
Hearing Tang Xiaobao’s words, the waiter was naturally filled with gratitude—after all, that customer had been exceptionally generous.
After seeing that table of guests off, only a handful of customers trickled in afterward. Yet even so, Tang Xiaobao continued stir-frying dishes with unwavering enthusiasm.
“Miss, the Fourth Young Master has sent another gift.” In Sang Jiayi’s courtyard, the maid cautiously eyed her mistress, her expression uneasy as she held the brocade box, unsure what to do.
Sang Jiayi glanced at the exquisite box and said indifferently, “Just put it somewhere.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The maid curtsied slightly, then, noticing her mistress’s poor complexion, bit her lip and left with the items. When she returned, she found her mistress pressing her fingers lightly against her forehead, looking utterly exhausted.
As if stirred by the sound, she opened her eyes to find the maid standing before her, hesitation etched on her face. Puzzled, she asked softly, “What is it?”
The maid glanced at Sang Jiayi, noticing how much more exhausted she looked than usual these past few days. She couldn’t help but suggest, “Miss, if you’re feeling down, why not go visit the Third Young Master’s wife?”
Upon hearing this suggestion, Sang Jiayi lowered her eyes, her thoughts unclear. She replied faintly, “I have considered it, but it never seems possible.”
Having served her young miss since childhood, the maid naturally understood her feelings. Yet as a woman, one must always consider her own future. Thinking of her young miss’s kindness and righteousness, she felt a pang of pity. Unable to resist, she offered a suggestion, her voice low and almost coaxing: “These past days, this servant has heard that the Third Young Mistress goes out every day and doesn’t return until after dinner. Young Miss, would you like to find out what exactly the Third Young Mistress is doing outside?”
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