Chapter 83

Although Zui Xian Ju (Drunken Immortal Residence) could not compare to Fanlou or Feicui Xuan (Emerald Pavilion) in terms of being a top-notch restaurant of the Northern Song Dynasty, it was still considered a high-end establishment. Moreover, the prices of its wine and dishes were not lower than those of Feicui Xuan. Ordinary people generally could not afford to dine there.

As soon as the fisherman entered, he immediately drew the attention of everyone present.

However, Li Qi had specifically instructed these waiters not to judge people by their appearance. Whoever entered Zui Xian Ju was to be treated as a god.

"Sir, how many guests are you with?" a female waiter approached with a smile.

The fisherman glanced back and retorted, "Do you see anyone behind me?"

The female waiter was slightly taken aback but quickly recovered, smiling, "Sir, please follow me."

With that, the female waiter tried to guide the fisherman to a table on the side. However, the fisherman ignored her and walked straight to an empty table in the center, throwing his fish basket, fishing rod, and straw hat onto the table, clearly showing his low manners.

Seeing this, the female waiter did not show any dissatisfaction on her face. She walked back to the fisherman and asked, "Sir, what would you like to order?"

The fisherman looked up at the three couplets and said, "First, bring me a pot of Tianxia Wushuang ( peerless in the world) to moisten my throat."

"Please wait a moment."

The female waiter quickly brought a pot of Tianxia Wushuang to the fisherman and handed him a menu, saying, "Sir, this is our menu. Please take a look. What else would you like? Our restaurant's specialty is—"

"Is it the Hot Pot?" the fisherman interrupted the female waiter. Seeing her constant smile, he smiled slightly and said, "They say the waiters at Zui Xian Ju are eloquent. Today, I see it's true." He suddenly changed his tone, "However, I had my fortune told a few days ago, and the fortune-teller said I should avoid fire. So, I'll pass on the Hot Pot."

"Then what would you like to eat?"

The fisherman smiled and suddenly picked up the fish basket, placing it in front of the female waiter, saying, "Eat these."

The female waiter had never encountered such a situation before and was at a loss, staring blankly at the fish basket.

At this moment, a voice came from the side, "Hey, you're a strange fisherman, bringing your own ingredients to a restaurant. Let me see what you've got."

As he spoke, a hand reached out from behind and took the fish basket.

The fisherman turned his head and saw a young man.

This young man was Hong Tianjiu. He always loved the hustle and bustle, so he preferred to eat in the first-floor hall rather than in a private room on the third floor.

Hong Tianjiu curiously peered into the fish basket and saw only four small shrimps, disappointedly saying, "I thought it was something special, but it's just a few stinky shrimps."

The fisherman, realizing what had happened, immediately snatched the fish basket back, angrily saying, "Young man, that's very impolite. If you kill my shrimps, can you afford to compensate me?"

Hong Tianjiu, seeing the fisherman treat the shrimps like treasures, laughed instead of getting angry, "I know it's impolite, so I just wanted to take a look. If I were polite, I would have thrown your broken fish basket out long ago. The fishy smell is making it hard for people to eat. If I don't have a good meal today, can you afford to compensate me?"

The fisherman, seeing that Hong Tianjiu was a tough customer, did not dare to provoke him further. He turned to the female waiter and said, "Take these shrimps to the kitchen. This is my lunch for today."

The female waiter was taken aback and said, "Sir, I'm sorry, are you a gold member of our restaurant?"

The fisherman was puzzled, "What does this have to do with being a gold member?"

The female waiter nodded and smiled, "Only gold members can taste Chef Li's dishes."

The fisherman was slightly taken aback and said, "It seems your chef is quite precious."

Hong Tianjiu interjected, "I think you should pay for the wine and go elsewhere. A gold membership card costs sixty guan. Do you have that much money?"

The fisherman smiled slightly and suddenly took out four silver ingots from his chest, each weighing twenty taels, totaling eighty taels, and said to the waiter, "Is this enough?"

The female waiter was taken aback and then nodded, "Enough, enough."

"Where did you steal this silver from?" Hong Tianjiu exclaimed in shock.

The fisherman rolled his eyes and pretended not to hear.

At this moment, Wu Furong, who had been watching for a while, realized something was amiss and walked over to the female waiter, saying, "Take the fish basket to the kitchen. I'll help this guest apply for a gold card."

Whether it was a regular member or a gold member, detailed records had to be kept, and the guest had to sign personally.

The female waiter responded and picked up the fish basket, turning to head for the kitchen.

"Hold on."

The fisherman suddenly raised his hand to stop the female waiter, smiling, "Did I say how to prepare them?"

The female waiter was stunned and looked at the fisherman with a questioning gaze.

The fisherman rubbed his stomach and said, "I'm quite hungry now, and one dish won't be enough. How about this: ask your chef to make six dishes from these shrimps."

"Hey! Are you here to cause trouble? Four tiny shrimps, and you want six dishes? Show me how to do it, and I'll pay you even if it costs a hundred taels," Hong Tianjiu frowned and said angrily.

The fisherman was at a loss, but he did not dare to respond. He shrugged at Wu Furong and said, "I've put the silver here. If your chef can't handle a few shrimps, I'll go elsewhere."

Wu Furong frowned. With so many guests watching, if he let the fisherman leave, it would be like telling everyone that Zui Xian Ju's chef couldn't handle a few shrimps. He nodded at the female waiter, "Take the fish basket to the kitchen."

However, he did not process the fisherman's membership application because he was unsure if Li Qi could make six dishes from four shrimps.

The fisherman seemed to understand Wu Furong's thoughts but did not say more. He smiled slightly, took a small sip of Tianxia Wushuang, and praised, "Good wine, good wine. Tianxia Wushuang, indeed, lives up to its name."

In the kitchen.

Wu Xiaoliu held the fish basket, looked at the four small shrimps inside, and said irritably, "These few shrimps can't even fill a pot, let alone make six dishes. How can this be done?"

Li Qi gave Wu Xiaoliu a dirty look and asked the waiter, "You said the man is a fisherman and he took out eighty taels of silver?"

The female waiter nodded.

Li Qi squinted and thought for a moment, then glanced at the fish basket and suddenly smiled, "Tell him that making six dishes is no problem, but each dish will cost five taels of silver, totaling thirty taels. If he agrees, we'll do it. If not, tell him to go elsewhere. Remember, make him decide quickly. We don't have many tables at Zui Xian Ju, and we don't want anyone occupying a table without eating."

The female waiter remembered Li Qi's words and walked out.

"Brother Li, your plan is brilliant. Five taels per dish, he definitely won't agree. This way, you won't lose your reputation, and you can drive him away. Truly a two-pronged strategy, amazing!"

"Amazing, my foot."

Li Qi glared at him and coldly laughed, "Watch, he will definitely agree to pay."

"What?"

Wu Xiaoliu exclaimed in surprise, "Brother Li, you really plan to make six dishes from these four shrimps?"

Li Qi smiled slightly, "Why not? We make money by cooking. If the guest is willing to pay, we should do it. If we can't handle a few shrimps, I might as well go home and farm. Get the ingredients ready for me."

In the hall.

The onlookers, hearing the female waiter say each dish would cost five taels, were amazed. This was not cheap at all.

Hong Tianjiu also thought Li Qi was deliberately trying to drive the fisherman away with a high price and laughed smugly, "Did you hear that? Thirty taels, not thirty coins."

The fisherman laughed heartily, "It seems your chef wants to keep me. If he said each dish would cost fifteen taels, I would have gone elsewhere." He immediately took out sixty taels and handed them to Wu Furong, saying, "Old shopkeeper, please help me."

Everyone was stunned to see him willing to pay thirty taels.

Hong Tianjiu was completely baffled. He thought he was good at spending money, but compared to this man, he felt ashamed.

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{Piaotian Literature}