Chapter 126 Yellow Crystal Money Tree

There are several similar comments, all from customers who dined at the restaurant at lunchtime. They left heartfelt reviews and praises in the comments section, and the pictures they posted were all fresh off the press.

Even without any food filters or photo editing techniques, and without paying attention to lighting or composition, just casually taking a picture with your phone, and every food photo you post is so tempting and makes your mouth water.

Because Gu's Private Kitchen can only serve a limited number of customers per meal, although there seem to be many long reviews, sharing of their dining experiences and photos, the actual number is still quite small. Most of the people who are actually envious and complaining about how much they're craving the food are just a few.

Clicking on any highly-rated, long comment within a thread will reveal numerous passionate remarks.

[Gold and Jewelry Lover: Help! This is poisoning my eyes at midday! I must have been stupid to click on it during my lunch break, and I even enjoyed it so much I gave it a like, comment, and share!]

[Food Expert: Waaaaah! How can there be such savory and juicy braised pig's trotters? How can there be such rich and reddish-brown braised beef shank? How can there be such evenly shaped, beautifully presented braised chicken and duck? How can there be such a diverse variety of braised vegetables? How can there be such a fresh and sweet seaweed and egg drop soup?]

[The Game Changer: Ever since I started following Gu's Private Kitchen and browsing the comments section of every post, I've never been so envious. You know, there was once an opportunity right in front of me that I didn't cherish, simply because I slept in a little longer after my alarm went off (yes, I was that unlucky guy who rushed to the entrance of Gu's Private Kitchen but didn't get a number)]

[...]

Gu Qingqiu found it quite interesting as she scrolled through the page, but she also felt a little guilty when she saw some netizens lamenting that they were unlucky because they had queued up but hadn't gotten a number.

But the restaurant's capacity is limited. If she serves more customers, she won't be able to cook more dishes. Rather than working hard and getting tired later, it's better to limit the quantity from the beginning and stop when it's sold out.

As the restaurant's business flourished, the lines outside grew longer and longer, with people arriving earlier each time it opened. Gu Qingqiu began to consider the restaurant's future positioning, ultimately deciding to continue with its traditional private kitchen concept.

We use fresh, high-quality ingredients to cook delicious dishes. You need to queue up on-site and take a number to be admitted. We will sell out while supplies last.

If there are enough people in line, the on-site numbering will end quickly after opening each day, allowing customers who regretfully miss out on their dining number at the back of the line to leave promptly after knowing the result, thus avoiding wasting too much time.

After Zhou and her two companions finished eating and chatting, they worked together to take the empty bowls, chopsticks, and plates from the table into the kitchen.

Sister Tang stayed in the kitchen to wash dishes, Sister Zhou came out with a dishcloth soaked in dish soap to wipe the dining table, and Wang Meiyu carried a canvas bag to go home to rest.

Gu Qingqiu nodded: "Go back and get some rest. If you'd like, please come over at three o'clock this afternoon. We need to prepare all the chickens and ducks before we can start making the braising liquid."

The chicken and duck are all freshly braised. In the morning, we are in a rush and don't have time to prepare all the ingredients needed for the afternoon. We can only come early in the afternoon to help prepare them so that we can ensure that there is enough time for braising and cooking, so that the braised chicken and duck are not ready when we open at five o'clock.

The cooking time for vegetables should be shorter. You can wait until the chicken and duck are all prepared and then put them into the pot to braise before preparing the vegetables. There's plenty of time.

Wang Meiyu nodded in agreement: "Okay, boss, I understand. I'll definitely be here on time this afternoon."

She thought she should try to come as early as possible in the afternoon, even earlier than three o'clock. After a busy morning, she knew how complicated the preparations for making braised pork were, so she had no complaints about coming an hour earlier than usual.

Gu Qingqiu nodded in agreement. After Wang Meiyu left, she looked at her phone for a while, mainly interacting with netizens in the comments section by liking and commenting.

After interacting on Xiaohongshu, she then clicked into the comment section of the Weibo post she made today to interact with others; this has become part of her daily routine.

It has to be said that interacting with netizens through my official account has indeed inspired more netizens' enthusiasm, brought the restaurant and its customers closer together, and encouraged everyone to speak their minds more freely. When I have time, I will also selectively reply to some of the questions.

After completing the operation, another ten minutes or so passed. Gu Qingqiu knew that she still had a lot of work to do in the afternoon, so she didn't stay there idly. After saying goodbye to Sister Zhou and Sister Tang, she went upstairs for a nap.

At 3 p.m., the kitchen of Gu's Private Kitchen was busy again.

At four o'clock, Sister Tang and Sister Zhou arrived at the store one after the other. Sister Zhou also brought Fangfang with her.

Gu Qingqiu was happy to see Fangfang come over, and even took the time to come out to the main hall to say a few words to her.

Fangfang gave her a small gift: "Boss sister, this is a pretty little ornament I saw when I went shopping with my mom last time. I thought it would suit you, so I bought it for you with my allowance!"

She held a small potted plant in her hands. The pot was a delicate, small, brown ceramic plate with crackled ice patterns. Inside, there were small pebbles of different colors and shapes. Instead of flowers, the pot depicted a tree in bloom, made of yellow crystal.

Gu Qingqiu fell in love with the small potted plant as soon as she saw it; it was exquisite and beautiful in every way.

As she gazed at the pieces of yellow crystal hanging on the tree trunk wrapped with gold thread, like thousands of branches and leaves in full bloom, she instantly thought of Xin Qiji's line, "The east wind releases a thousand trees of flowers at night, and blows down stars like rain."

Gu Qingqiu accepted it with delight: "Wow, thank you Fangfang! I didn't expect to receive a gift. I really like this gift!"

Fangfang said happily, "I'm so glad you like it, boss! This potted plant is actually a money tree. You can put it on your desk as a decoration, or anywhere else you like. The yellow crystal also symbolizes wealth. I wish you a prosperous business and lots of money!"

These words made Gu Qingqiu laugh, and Tang Jie and Wang Meiyu, who had come out to join in the fun, also praised the child for being thoughtful and eloquent.

Sister Zhou stood to the side watching, smiling broadly, her face full of pride.

Gu Qingqiu smiled and nodded: "Thank you, Fangfang, I received your blessing. I really like this yellow crystal money tree and will keep it safe. I plan to put it on my desk so that I can see it every night when I'm making the restaurant menu."

Fangfang was very happy to see that the shop owner genuinely liked the gift she had given her. She nodded emphatically, "Okay, this yellow crystal money tree will definitely bring you good luck!"

Gu Qingqiu smiled and agreed. Her slightly busy work time was brightened by the beautiful gift she received unexpectedly and the little girl's warm wishes.

Given the tight schedule and the many things to do, Gu Qingqiu told Fangfang to sit in the main hall for a while, and they could have a proper chat later when they ate dinner.

Fangfang nodded obediently: "Okay, boss sister, you all go ahead and do your work. I'll just play here by myself."

Gu Qingqiu smiled and agreed. After carefully placing the newly acquired yellow crystal money tree, she and Wang Meiyu immediately returned to the kitchen to continue preparing vegetarian dishes. Meanwhile, chicken and duck were being braised in two large iron pots over high heat.

Sister Tang also started to get busy with her responsibilities, while Sister Zhou handed the phone to Fangfang: "You can play around with it yourself, but you have to relax your eyes after a while, don't play for too long. When the restaurant starts welcoming guests later, you should sit here quietly and not go with anyone."

Fangfang nodded and smiled, "Mom, I know. I'm not a little kid anymore, so don't worry."

"You'd better do it the way you said."

Sister Zhou watched as Fangfang walked to the innermost part of the hall and sat on the high chair she always sat on when she came back, playing with her mobile phone with great interest, before she went to attend to her own business.

Gu's Private Kitchen reopened at 5 p.m., and the door was packed with waiting customers.

Sister Tang and Sister Zhou were serving customers in the dining area, and the seven groups of customers in front of them were led into the restaurant to sit down and eat in order.

Because restaurants have different sizes of tables, a large table can accommodate a small number of people, while a small table cannot accommodate a large number of people. Of course, if there are more than four people, you can add a few more chairs to squeeze them in.

At this point, Sister Zhou would ask the group of customers for their opinions, whether they wanted to squeeze in and sit down, or postpone their dining until a large table became available and they could be seated as soon as possible.

At this point, the choices vary, but no matter what, they can be arranged to have a meal.

After welcoming the first seven groups of customers into the restaurant and seating them, Sister Tang took turns serving them food, bowls, chopsticks, teacups, and tea, while Sister Zhou stood at the door handing out queuing slips.

After the slips of paper were handed out, Sister Zhou apologetically announced the unfortunate news to the customers who were waiting behind her.

A mixture of joy and sorrow filled the restaurant entrance. People who had been queuing in the same line earlier had now split into two groups.

Some left dejectedly, some took a picture of the restaurant entrance with their phones to prove they'd been there before striding away, and some muttered a few words before leaving, expressing their understanding...

Soon, only customers who had successfully obtained a number were queuing outside the restaurant. Everyone was excitedly discussing what to eat, and some were texting their friends and family to share their good luck.

As the restaurant served dishes like braised pig's feet and braised beef shank, the irresistible aroma of braised meat wafted through the air to the doorway. The customers, upon smelling it, lost all interest in anything else, focusing only on calming their rumbling stomachs and telling themselves not to rush or be greedy, that they would be able to eat soon.

During the busiest time at the restaurant, bowls, chopsticks, teacups, and tea were constantly being served. This was because the braised pig's feet were already cooked, sliced, and ready to be plated and served. Several dishes were being displayed at the glass window one after another. Sister Zhou and Sister Tang were busy serving customers and helping them pay their bills, so they were a little overwhelmed.

So Fangfang, the free temporary worker, went online and, imitating how her mother and Aunt Tang had served dishes, took the braised meat and dishes placed on this side of the glass window and carried them to the table number slips under the plates to serve the dishes.

She's small but has a sweet tongue. After serving the dishes, she'll smile and say to the customers, "Uncles, aunts, brothers, and sisters, please have a meal."

When the customers saw that it was her coming to serve the food, they all smiled and thanked her.

When Sister Zhou saw this, she pulled the child aside and first gave her some words of encouragement: "Fangfang, Sister Tang and I were too busy to get the dishes to the table through the glass window as soon as possible. Thanks to your help, the customers were able to enjoy the delicious braised meat and dishes sooner."

Fangfang laughed and said, "Hehe, I saw that you guys were too busy for a while, and I had been watching how you served the dishes before, so I thought I'd help you take the ones from the glass window to the customers."

Her words contained all of Zhou Jie's original concerns and what she wanted to say. Zhou Jie smiled and patted her daughter's head: "Fangfang is great, she can help her mother now. Tang Jie and I shouldn't be too busy next time, we can keep an eye on things by the glass window, so you can sit and play on your phone in peace."

Fangfang nodded: "Yes, I know. I can only help out, I can't work for too long. Otherwise, it would be bad if someone with ulterior motives saw it, took pictures, and uploaded them online saying that the boss was employing child labor."

Sister Zhou thought to herself that she wondered what the child had been watching online lately, but it was good that she had this awareness. She praised her, "Good job, Fangfang knows a lot and is very thoughtful. I have to go back to my work now."

"Go on, go on." Fangfang waved her hand and ran back to the high chair at the back of the hall to sit down and continue playing on her phone.

Inside the shop, customers were enjoying their meal with gusto, their conversation filled with praise and satisfaction for the braised meat, braised dishes, and seaweed and egg drop soup. The atmosphere was lively and bustling.

In such a setting, no one feels disturbed by the surrounding noise; on the contrary, they find it wonderful to be there and experience the atmosphere, much like the cartoon pattern on the takeout bag that was popular online for Gu's Private Kitchen—full of everyday life.

Around 8 p.m., after seeing off the last table of customers, Gu's Private Kitchen closed for the National Day holiday.

Sister Zhou closed the wooden door slightly and called to Fangfang that it was time to eat.

Wang Meiyu brought out the sliced ​​and plated meat and vegetables one after another. Just like at noon, all the dishes on the menu were available, so everyone could eat to their heart's content.

Sister Tang and Sister Zhou went to get bowls to serve rice. Gu Qingqiu came out of the kitchen and saw Fangfang standing in front of the dining table, her eyes sparkling with longing for the meat and dishes on the table.

She laughed and said, "Fangfang, eat more braised meat and dishes later, and see if my cooking skills have improved."

Last May Day, I had Sister Zhou take some braised meat back for Fangfang to eat. This was the second time the child had eaten meat and vegetables that I had braised myself.

Fangfang nodded, saying with great trust, "Okay, thank you, boss sister. These braised meats and dishes must be delicious. I've been sitting here all night smelling them and I'm almost drooling! I also heard many customers praising how fragrant the braised meats are, and even the braised vegetables and seaweed and egg drop soup are delicious."

Gu Qingqiu listened to her with a smile and said, "That's good. You should eat even more later."

Fangfang smiled and agreed.

After Sister Tang and Sister Zhou brought over five bowls of white rice, Wang Meiyu brought out all the meat and vegetables along with the soup, and the four adults and one child officially started eating.

Even though they had already eaten lunch, Zhou Jie and the other two still found the meat rice especially delicious and devoured it with great appetite.

Gu Qingqiu also felt that the braised pig's feet and braised beef shank were more flavorful than at noon. The salty and savory flavor of the braising liquid had thoroughly infused the pig's feet and beef shank with flavor, making them very satisfying and perfect with rice.

Fangfang, the child who had been smelling the food all night, finally got to eat it. It was also her first time eating it today, so she contributed a lot to the evening's food-related emotional value. She would sincerely and exaggeratedly share her thoughts after each braised meat or dish she tried. Even after drinking seaweed and egg drop soup, she didn't forget to praise how delicious the soup was.

Hearing this made Gu Qingqiu feel happy, as if she had eaten popping candy and her heart was dancing wildly.

Tang Jie and Wang Meiyu laughed when they heard this, and gave Fangfang a thumbs up, saying that Fangfang's praise was spot on and that it perfectly expressed their feelings.

Sister Zhou laughed and said, "If only this child could write essays as fluently and eloquently as he does now. Every time he comes back from an exam or a class essay, he complains to me that he has nothing to write about."

Fangfang wasn't upset at all when her mother pointed out her shortcomings. She stubbornly said, "How can that be the same? The essay topics the teacher gives are weird and strange. Unlike the braised meat and vegetables I'm eating right now, they're so delicious that I don't even need to think about it. I can describe the taste and texture as soon as I open my mouth."

Well, actually what she just said was somewhat influenced by the customers' conversation earlier, and she borrowed a little bit from it, but it was all her true feelings.

Her youthful appearance and innocent words, after comparison, revealed her sincerity even more, and the praise she had given earlier was not an exaggeration.

Gu Qingqiu said with a smile, "Thank you so much, Fangfang. Your writing is excellent. I'll be happy for days after hearing your words. If you put in a little effort when you get back, you'll discover your talent for writing sooner or later."

Fangfang's eyes lit up: "Really? Boss, do you really think I have a talent for this?"

She was instantly filled with fighting spirit. "Then I'll go back and work harder. I'll definitely listen carefully in Chinese class, read more classic essays, and see if I can discover my talent."

Gu Qingqiu nodded encouragingly, "Okay, I look forward to hearing your good news next time you come!"

Fangfang nodded emphatically.

Watching the boss and her daughter talk back and forth, Sister Zhou's daughter's interest in learning was piqued. Despite her repeated attempts to persuade her to listen attentively in class and read the essay collection, Fangfang finally agreed with a bright smile.

This child is always obedient, and he always keeps his promises.

Sister Zhou smiled happily, but because the child was there, she couldn't say many words of thanks. She just gave the boss a grateful look.

Gu Qingqiu returned the look with a reassuring gaze.

Sister Tang and Wang Meiyu saw through the obvious trickery involved, but smiled and said nothing.

After finishing their meal, Zhou Jie and the other two worked together to collect all the bowls, chopsticks, and plates and put them in the kitchen sink to soak. Then, Zhou Jie and Tang Jie went about their own work.

Wang Meiyu packed her things, said goodbye, and left first.

With nothing else to do, Gu Qingqiu sat at the dining table in the main hall and chatted with Fangfang for quite a while, which was rather interesting.

After chatting for a while, seeing that Sister Zhou and Sister Tang were almost done with their work, Gu Qingqiu told Fangfang to sit there for a while while she went upstairs to get something.

The little girl's gift of a yellow crystal money tree brought Gu Qingqiu a pleasant surprise. Gu Qingqiu then took the gift upstairs to her room and placed the exquisite little yellow crystal money tree next to her computer stand on her desk. It was truly a delight to behold.

She could already imagine how happy she would be every night as she sat at her desk planning the next day's menu, looking up to see this exquisite and beautiful yellow crystal money tree, carrying the little girl's best wishes.

Gu Qingqiu couldn't help but take a few more glances before turning around and leaving into the kitchen.

Last night, she was bored and thought about how Fangfang hadn't come over in a long time. She missed the girl and was thinking about what she should bring her when she saw her today.

There were some leftover ingredients from making Osmanthus Tea Pudding during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Back then, it was just a trial at the shop, and there weren't any leftovers for Sister Zhou to take back for Fangfang to eat. Gu Qingqiu decided to make a few Osmanthus Tea Puddings for Fangfang to try.

The only missing ingredient was the Akizuki pear, which was easy to find. Gu Qingqiu simply ordered it via her phone and had it delivered. Afterwards, she relaxed and prepared the tea jelly and tea cream together, then put them in the refrigerator to chill.

Fortunately, I was prepared, so I didn't disappoint the girl's good intentions.

Gu Qingqiu took out the mold, opened the lid to thaw it, took a small saucepan, put it on the stove, and brewed some tea. After brewing, she used a disposable milk tea cup that she had casually taken from the place where she left takeout boxes on the first floor last night to make a cup of tea.

Leave the remaining tea in the small saucepan for now, put the lid on, and I'll drink it later.

Gu Qingqiu took a box of molds and a cup of tea downstairs. At this time, Sister Tang was still finishing up in the kitchen, and Sister Zhou was cleaning the floor in the dining area and then rinsing the tools in the toilet.

She first grabbed a takeout bag before returning to the table where she had been sitting. Fangfang was so engrossed in her phone that she only noticed her when she got right in front of her.

Fangfang looked up and said, "Boss, you're back."

Gu Qingqiu nodded and showed her what she was holding: "I also have a small gift for you."

Fangfang was both surprised and delighted: "I got a gift too? That's wonderful! Thank you, boss!"

Gu Qingqiu liked her frankness and smiled, "It's nothing valuable. We had a dessert called Osmanthus Tea Cheese for the Mid-Autumn Festival. You probably haven't tried it before."

She opened the mold lid to show Fangfang, "This is the finished Osmanthus Tea Jelly. It's made with milk and tea and tastes pretty good, with a faint osmanthus fragrance."

She then pointed to the disposable milk tea cup on the table, "This contains tea. When you get home and want to eat it, just take a golden osmanthus tea pudding out of the mold box, put it on a small plate, and then pour some of this tea around the golden osmanthus tea pudding onto the small plate, and you can eat it."

"There are six Osmanthus Tea Jellys in one mold. You definitely won't be able to finish them tonight. Put the rest in the freezer and thaw them whenever you want. If you don't finish the tea soup tonight, you have to get rid of it; it can't be left overnight. You can drink the Osmanthus Tea Jellys directly without the tea soup later."

Gu Qingqiu finished explaining everything in one go, and Fangfang listened attentively the whole time, her eyes practically sparkling with admiration.

The child kept glancing into the mold box, clearly amazed by the delicate and elegant Osmanthus Tea Jelly.

After the shop owner finished speaking, Fangfang thanked her sweetly, "Thank you, shop owner! This Osmanthus Tea Jelly looks so good, and it looks so delicious. I love it so much!"

"I've remembered everything you said. When I get home, I'll taste it first, and I'll finish the rest of the tea. Not a single drop can be wasted!"

Gu Qingqiu smiled and agreed, put the mold lid back on, put the whole box into the open packaging bag, and then put a cup of tea in as well. After thinking for a moment, she took two of the smallest disposable bowls and placed them vertically on either side to prevent the tea from spilling later.

After finishing, he sealed the bag, fastened the Velcro, and handed it to Fangfang: "This is for you. Take it home later."

Fangfang happily accepted it: "Okay, thank you, boss sister."

Sister Zhou and Sister Tang came out one after the other. Sister Zhou noticed that Fangfang was carrying a takeout bag from their own restaurant and asked, "What's this?"

Fangfang happily explained, "This is a gift from the boss, a sweet osmanthus tea cake she made herself."

Sister Zhou noticed how much the boss doted on Fangfang and was happy about it. So she didn't refuse, because of the friendship between Fangfang and the boss.

She just looked at the boss and smiled, saying, "Boss, thank you for being so kind to Fangfang."

Gu Qingqiu smiled and shook her head: "Fangfang is very good to me too, no need to be so polite."

Sister Tang stood aside watching with a smile, without any particular thoughts. If she did, it was just that she thought her boss had a really good personality.

After finishing their work, the two packed up and left, with Fangfang looking back every few steps, her face full of reluctance.

Gu Qingqiu smiled and waved goodbye to her. After the woman had gone far away, he closed the wooden door, locked the windows and doors, and went upstairs to wash up and prepare to rest.