The private room was classically elegant and very spacious, with chairs and tea tables arranged along the walls. A dressing room was set behind a screen, and by the window, there was a soft couch with a small square table for chess. In the corner, a tall pedestal held an incense burner, filling the room with a fragrant aroma. It was indeed the most expensive restaurant, not only comfortable in its furnishings but also considerate and humanized, dividing different areas for different functions. Steward Zhu watched the group of young people making merry with a smile and was the first to sit at the tea table. The accompanying tea master, with keen eyes, was already preparing the tea.
A large round table for ten was placed in the center of the room, with nine people already seated, leaving one empty spot. As soon as Ju Yin entered, she sat on the couch. Ji Wu Ye’s eyes followed his sister, and he sat on the other side.
"Sister, a game of chess, how about it?" Ji Wu Ye’s interest was piqued upon seeing the chessboard.
Ju Yin was also in the mood for a game and happily agreed.
Xiao Bai, without hesitation, asked the shopkeeper to list all the restaurant’s signature dishes and delicious dim sum. Ji Chen Mu looked at Xiao Bai’s ordering style with a bad premonition, patting the spiritual stone pouch at his waist. Feeling confident, he wondered if he would really eat through this entire pouch of spiritual stones.
A You frequently looked at Ji Chen Mu, wanting to speak but stopping. He really wanted to tell him that if they could, they might eat all the restaurant’s stored food. Zhi Meng and Xiao Wang You watched the excitement from the side. Chi Zu looked at his wife and grinned foolishly. Master Bai was the best at ordering, he just had to wait and eat.
The shopkeeper and the waiter smiled until their faces were creased with wrinkles, one listing the dishes and the other taking notes. Their coordination was seamless. The shopkeeper himself was immensely grateful that he had personally led the group. The quantity ordered was almost equivalent to a banquet. Fortunately, his restaurant always kept sufficient ingredients.
The shopkeeper and the waiter scurried into the kitchen, their steps filled with excitement. A You also followed them down, knowing that the fairy master was picky, and went to the kitchen to offer some guidance.
From the moment Xiao Bai ordered the first dish until the final dim sum, Ji Chen Mu was petrified! Could he still back out now?
Before Ju Yin and Ji Wu Ye finished their game of chess, the dishes began to arrive. Ji Wu Ye initially feared his sister’s chess skills were not good and went easy on her. When half of his white stones were taken, and he was completely cornered with no escape, he looked up and saw his sister raise an eyebrow at him, her smiling eyes looking at him mischievously. His competitive spirit flared, and he wanted to play again, but Xiao Bai began calling them.
"Sister, Brother Ye, come quickly and eat the good food, or you’ll miss out!" Xiao Bai shouted, holding a braised chicken leg in each hand.
Everyone gathered around the table. The dishes were exquisite and looked good. By the time A You came up from the kitchen to the private room, more than half of the food on the table had disappeared. Ju Yin picked up her favorite dish, and as the familiar taste rushed into her mouth, she knew A You must have gone to the kitchen to guide them again. The little one knew she liked the dishes he made and took the initiative to prepare them himself, which truly warmed Ju Yin’s heart!
Ji Wu Ye and Ji Chen Mu sat together. From the first bite, they exchanged surprised glances. When did the dishes at this restaurant become so delicious? They had been treated to a meal here by an employer before, but it was never so amazing. Seeing Xiao Bai and the others eat so quickly, they involuntarily sped up their own eating. Their table manners were better than the few opposite them. Ju Yin shook her head, thinking it was embarrassing, and resolved to improve their etiquette in the future.
The food disappeared at a visible rate. The waiter had initially worried they wouldn't finish, but when the second round of dishes was served, he realized he had underestimated the guests in the "饕餮" (Tao Tie) private room. That was correct, the room Ju Yin entered was named "Tao Tie." It truly lived up to its name!
By the third round of dishes, Ji Chen Mu found the food less appetizing. Why were they still serving dishes? His poor wallet was getting thinner... He already felt his stomach distended and full. Opposite him, Fairy Xiao Bai, Xi Mo, and Chi Zu were still eating, their mouths constantly opening, chewing, and swallowing... Sisters and Brother Ji, and Ji Wu Ye, had long since put down their chopsticks and returned to their chess battle. Steward Zhu and Zhi Meng Ye sat at the tea table, drinking tea. A You looked sympathetically at Ji Chen Mu, his wallet bleeding heavily, how tragic...
He dejectedly stood up and awkwardly sat next to Ji Wu Ye, secretly tugging at his hem with his hand. He transmitted his voice:
"Wu Ye, lend your brother some spiritual stones. My purse won't be enough for this meal!"
Ji Wu Ye was engrossed in his game. Without thinking much, he grabbed his own pouch and threw it to him, then turned back to focus on the chess game. His sister was truly a genius, her offense and defense were fluid, and her plays were subtly varied. Before he knew it, he had fallen into her trap, resulting in a complete loss!
Ju Yin pretended not to notice the brothers’ subtle actions and leisurely picked up a small wine cup, drinking it down one by one. The wine was quite good.
After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, it was time to pay. Ji Chen Mu not only used up all his spiritual stones but also paid nearly half of his good brother Ji Wu Ye's. He watched the group walking ahead, looking like their spirits had left them. Were these people reincarnated Tao Ties? They could eat so much! This one meal had eaten up five years of his food expenses. Now, his pockets were emptier than his face.
Nine Wild City also prohibited sword flight. Steward Zhu had rented two carriages in advance. The group left the restaurant and boarded the carriages, heading directly to Steward Zhu’s villa.
The villa was in the west of the city. Those who could afford residences there were mostly wealthy and influential. The environment was quiet and serene, and security was excellent. Unauthorized personnel and hooligans were not allowed to approach.
Steward Zhu had not been to this villa for a long time, only staying there when he occasionally visited Nine Wild City to purchase goods. Only the loyal servant, Steward Zhu’s family, lived there. The gatekeeper was Steward Zhu’s son. Hearing the commotion, he cautiously looked outside from the peephole.
Steward Zhu stepped forward and knocked. Steward Zhu’s son, Zhu An, saw his master returning and, with joy, immediately opened the large gate.
"Master, you're back, that's great. My father just went out, and only my mother is here!"
"An'er, come here. This is Fairy Ye. Go and ask your mother to tidy up the main room for the fairy to rest. You don't need to worry about me," Steward Zhu instructed Zhu An.
"Certainly! I'll go now."
Everyone alighted from the carriages. Steward Zhu and A You each drove a carriage through the side gate into the stable. Ji Wu Ye and Ji Chen Mu had grown up in Nine Wild City and knew that houses in the west of the city could not be bought with money alone. They both felt that Steward Zhu was a man of hidden depths.
As Ju Yin entered the main gate, she was greeted by a very ancient-style screen wall. Passing the screen wall, she saw a spacious courtyard. The house was a three-courtyard residence, with east and west wing rooms on either side. Entering the innermost courtyard revealed a garden with a small bridge, flowing water, and rock formations, resembling a modern Suzhou garden style, full of artistic conception.
Steward Zhu followed behind, introducing his house and arranging accommodations for others. Mother Zhu had already tidied up the main house in the third courtyard and prepared tea, inviting everyone to gather there.
As soon as Ju Yin saw the garden, she fell in love with it. She immediately decided to have tea at a stone table in the pavilion in the courtyard. Mother Zhu looked to be over sixty, but she was very healthy and agile, walking as if flying. Her smile was kind, and when she saw Ju Yin, she exclaimed that the fairy was very beautiful! This made everyone burst into laughter.