Chapter 61

When Li Qi placed the fruit salad in front of Bai Shanno, she was instantly stunned, her eyes full of surprise. After a while, she finally reacted and asked curiously, "Is this a dish?"

"Of course."

Li Qi gave a bitter smile and introduced, "This dish is called 'Brow Unfurrowed, Eyes Smiling.'"

He had thought of this name long ago. If he had directly said it was a fruit salad, and Bai Shanno had asked why it was called a salad, he wouldn't have known how to explain it.

"Brow Unfurrowed, Eyes Smiling?"

Bai Shanno was slightly taken aback, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes. "This name sounds quite nice."

"It's just okay!"

Li Qi gave a rather showy smile and then said, "Try it quickly, and give me some feedback. You are the first person to taste it, you know."

Bai Shanno nodded and picked up the spoon, but hesitated to take a bite, her expression very hesitant.

Seeing this, Li Qi asked curiously, "What's wrong? Don't you like it?"

Bai Shanno shook her head and said, "It's all because you made it look too beautiful. I can't bear to mess it up."

It turned out that the smiley face Li Qi had made with the fruits had a bit of a cartoon style. This was the first time Bai Shanno had seen such a style, so she naturally wanted to look at it for a while longer.

Sweat! Li Qi gave a bitter smile and said, "I made it this way just to express my sincerity. If you don't eat it, then I really would have wasted my efforts."

"Oh."

Bai Shanno nodded, scooped a spoonful into her mouth, and chewed gently. Her eyes lit up, and she immediately scooped another spoonful into her mouth. Her eyes sparkled again, and the speed of her spoon became faster and faster. Gradually, she almost forgot Li Qi's existence, fully engrossed in the dish called 'Brow Unfurrowed, Eyes Smiling.'

Seeing her enjoying it, Li Qi didn't disturb her. He looked around; it was already dark, and in this era, there were no electric lights, only candlelight. The yellowish candlelight gently fell on Bai Shanno's fair and charming face, making her look very alluring.

Li Qi couldn't help but be captivated. After a while, he gave a bitter smile and shook his head, thinking that a candlelit dinner in ancient times had become so cheap.

In no time, Bai Shanno had completely finished the 'Brow Unfurrowed, Eyes Smiling.'

"How was it? Was it good?" Li Qi asked with a smile.

Bai Shanno shook her head.

No way! Don't tell me women in this era don't even like fruits? Li Qi was surprised and asked, "You don't like it?"

Bai Shanno shook her head again and said, "No. Um—It's just that I don't know how to describe the taste. Every bite tastes different, and each bite makes you look forward to the next. It's truly amazing. Perhaps, as you said, it is a dish that makes people happy."

Sweat! This is called not knowing how to describe it? You've said it all. Li Qi chuckled and said, "Are you not angry now?"

Bai Shanno pretended to think for a moment and then said, "Considering this 'Brow Unfurrowed, Eyes Smiling,' I won't hold it against you this time."

Li Qi felt a great relief and rubbed his hands, shyly saying, "What about our partnership in business?"

Bai Shanno was slightly taken aback, suddenly stood up, and turned to walk downstairs.

Damn! Want to run after eating? That's not very decent, is it?

Li Qi was taken aback and quickly stood up to block her, asking in surprise, "Madam Bai, what are you doing? Did I say something wrong?"

Bai Shanno turned her head and said indifferently, "Tomorrow at dawn, meet me at Wangchun Gate. It's getting late, and it's not appropriate for a lady to stay too long. I'll take my leave." With that, she walked around Li Qi and went downstairs.

Li Qi watched Bai Shanno's back, scratched his head, and thought, "This woman is acting strange. We were just talking fine, why did she suddenly change like this? Tomorrow at dawn? Why not in the evening?"

Li Qi stood at the stairway for a long time, unable to figure out why Bai Shanno had suddenly left. He couldn't help but sigh, "I didn't expect women in this patriarchal society to be so hard to please."

Just as he was about to go downstairs, he suddenly noticed four suspicious figures hiding at the corner of the stairs. Li Qi rolled his eyes and said, "Come out."

Thump thump thump thump!

Wu Xiaoliu and his gang emerged one by one, each with an awkward smile on their face.

Li Qi looked at these "disciples" and shook his head helplessly.

"Brother Li, why did that Madam Bai leave in a huff?" Wu Xiaoliu gave a dry laugh and asked with a gossiping look.

Li Qi gave him a cold glance and said coolly, "Maybe her period came."

"Period?"

Wu Xiaoliu blinked and asked the others, "Did any of you see Madam Bai's period?"

The others all shook their heads.

Li Qi barely suppressed his laughter, walked down, and as he passed Wu Xiaoliu, patted his shoulder and said, "You're in charge of the kitchen's cleaning tonight. Oh, and remember to clear the dishes upstairs." Then he left directly.

Wu Xiaoliu was stunned for a moment and then shouted hysterically at Li Qi's back, "Brother Li, I'm wrong—"

Just after Bai Shanno left, Wu Furong returned. He told Li Qi that the tofu matter had been settled and was easier than expected. Since Cai Yuwai had contacted several mills to grind the tofu, and Uncle Zhang's mill was among them, even if Cai Yuwai needed the goods tomorrow, it wouldn't be a problem.

Li Qi smiled and said, "It seems that Cai Yuwai is really my lucky star, deeply understanding my heart."

Using Cai Minde as a lucky star?

This could only be said by Li Qi.

Wu Furong shook his head, unable to laugh or cry, and asked, "How long do you plan to delay?"

Li Qi frowned and thought for a moment, saying, "A week—seven days. Anyway, Yanglou has been in the north city for so many years; it won't collapse in a day. But you must tell the lady that after the deal is settled, she must sign a contract with Cai Yuwai, confirming the quantity and price, and also make him pay a deposit in advance."

"Ah, I remember. I'll visit the mansion again tomorrow."

Wu Furong nodded, suddenly remembering something, and said, "Young Master Li, the lady also asked me to ask you when our Zui Xianju will open."

"Oh, I was just about to talk to you about that." Li Qi nodded.

Wu Furong's face lit up, and he asked, "Have you already decided on a date?"

"Not yet."

Li Qi waved his hand and said, "I want to renovate Zui Xianju first."

Wu Furong's eyes flashed with disappointment, and he said, "Young Master Li, we don't have much money right now. Perhaps we should delay this for a while."

Currently, all the capital for Zui Xianju was the more than 2,000 guan Li Qi had earned from stinky tofu, which wasn't much for a large restaurant.

Li Qi knew that Wu Furong was always cautious, so he patiently explained, "Since we are reopening, we must give the customers a fresh feeling, so they know that Zui Xianju is no longer the deserted place it used to be. So, we must spend this money. But don't worry, I only plan to do a simple renovation, which won't cost much."

Wu Furong listened and thought it made sense, thinking that a simple renovation wouldn't cost much.

However, when he heard Li Qi's "simple" renovation plan, he no longer thought so.

Li Qi said it was a simple renovation, but it was actually not simple at all.

First, he required all the tables, chairs, and benches to be repainted, and all the bowls and chopsticks to be replaced with new ones.

Second, the kitchen and the back storage room were to be combined, and five more stoves and four more windows were to be added.

Finally, he planned to set the first floor as a public dining area, the second floor as a private dining room, and the third floor as a VIP room. Especially for the VIP rooms on the third floor, he required that every item on the third floor must be of the highest quality.

Wu Furong was stunned for a long time, then suddenly stood up and walked to the counter with a blank expression.

Li Qi was surprised and asked, "Uncle Wu, where are you going?"

"To find an abacus."

Wu Furong answered without turning his head.