Chapter 443 Who is fishing?
The storefront of Chengnan Liuji is not big, but the workshop behind the store is not small, occupying a large yard.
There are tools for making hot pot base on both sides of the yard, and a wide aisle in the middle.
A waiter led the three people to the door and shouted, "The boss invited three distinguished guests, please treat them well."
Immediately, another waiter came over, with a warm smile, and respectfully led the three people into the house, saying: "Our host would like to invite three distinguished guests to dinner. We are preparing it now. Please wait a moment."
As they were talking, the three of them were led to sit in the hall, and someone brought in plates and dishes of candied fruits, peanuts and melon seeds, fresh fruits, and large cups of iced sour plum soup.
Three other maids came over with small trays filled with shiny silver knives. "Do any of you need a manicure? We can also paint your nails for free."
There was another waiter over there who brought three hot water buckets, "Three distinguished guests, would you like to soak your feet?"
“…”
"Wow, this service is pretty good." Wang Longqi exclaimed.
The Wang family is a well-informed family in Hangzhou, but they have never experienced such a grand hotpot.
After enjoying it for half a day, someone finally brought a steaming hot pot to the table. The pot was divided into nine compartments, and it seemed to be specially designed for the convenience of hot pot with different ingredients. It was quite thoughtful.
At this time, the chubby shopkeeper Liu came out with a smile on his face, "I'm sorry, everyone. The store is closed and many people came to see me. I was a little neglectful for not greeting you right away."
"No neglect, no neglect..." Lao Du said with a smile: "Your service here is very considerate." He introduced Li Chu and Wang Longqi, "This is my master, from Jiangnan Deyun Temple, everyone calls him Taoist Priest Li. This is Wang Longqi, the Seventh Young Master. You know that Chu Men has become popular in Jixiang Mansion recently? The Seventh Young Master is in there... Hehe."
Strictly speaking, Wang Longqi's face is still the boss of Truman. But Lao Du didn't say much, just let Manager Liu know that he is a person of some weight and not just a freeloader, otherwise it would be embarrassing to let him show off his skills.
Although Wang Longqi was indeed here just to eat for free.
"Oh, it's an honor for you to visit our humble home..." Shopkeeper Liu quickly stood up to welcome him.
This is the black and white world.
After the welcome, Manager Liu asked again, "Is there anyone among you who has a birthday today? If it is a birthday, my family has prepared some extra singing and dancing to celebrate."
"No need, no need." Lao Du waved his hands quickly again.
The base ingredients are no longer available for sale, but we must still have some in stock, so the meal is still filled with fragrance.
Wang Longqi asked curiously, "Manager Liu, your service at home is so good, why don't you consider opening a hot pot restaurant?"
"Haha, my family has been in the hot pot business for generations, but we've never thought about expanding it." Shopkeeper Liu said with a smile, "As for these additional services, they're just what my ancestors passed down. Eating hot pot is a sacred thing, especially eating our own hot pot. We must have the best processes before and after to enjoy it to the fullest."
"I think it's great. You can have a hotpot and get your nails done at the same time. I'm sure everyone will want to come." Lao Du echoed from the side.
"Hahaha, everyone eats for the taste. Who would come here for a meal just for these odds and ends?" Shopkeeper Liu said, "Besides, the labor cost of running a store like this is too high. The monthly wages of my servants and maids are much higher than those of other families."
"It doesn't matter. If you increase the wages by 30%, you can increase the price by 100%. As long as you serve everyone well and make them comfortable, no one will mind and will praise you for being humane." Wang Longqi made the decision, "Old Liu, if you want to do it, I will invest in you."
"I've already thought of a name for you. Manager Liu, your surname is Liu, and Young Master Qi, your surname is Wang. The hot pot restaurant you two are opening together..." Old Du slapped his forehead and said with a smile, "How about calling it Hedi Lao?"
Shopkeeper Liu blinked: "Is this next to each other?"
The meal was a great pleasure for both the host and the guests, as they talked and boasted and ate to their heart's content.
Finally, Li Chu finished eating, put down his chopsticks, and said, "Should we talk about monsters?"
"right……"
The three people over there were discussing about opening three branches a year, dominating the north in three years, and dominating the whole country in ten years to become the king of hot pots. Only then did they realize that they came here for serious business.
"Ahem..." Shopkeeper Liu cleared his throat and said awkwardly, "This monster in Dongjiang Valley is really worrying us..."
"Outside Jixiang Prefecture there is a Donghua River, which nourishes the Dongjiang Valley, which has always been a place where flowers and plants flourish. There is a herb in my family's secret recipe that can only grow in the water and soil of the Dongjiang Valley within a hundred miles. For hundreds of years, it has been used there."
"But about three days ago, Dongjiang Valley was suddenly covered with a layer of white fog. I heard that some people who went to the valley to collect herbs disappeared at that time. Later, my family sent three people out to collect herbs, but only one came back. He said that when the two people walked into the fog, they heard screams, dragging and biting sounds, as if they were captured by wild beasts. But...how could there be such a powerful wild beast that could kill two living people in an instant?"
"Because human lives were involved, we quickly reported it to Chaotianque, and there was no further news after that. I heard from a friend in the government that the cultivators from Chaotianque did not come out after entering the white fog, and they are now seeking help from experts."
Li Chu nodded.
That's possible.
In the north, due to the existence of the Han Palace, Chaotianque is not very powerful, and ordinary masters do not like to station here. In terms of strength, Chaotianque in Jixiang City may not be as strong as the gangs in the underworld combined.
"Eh?" Old Du asked again, "I heard that the Han Palace has many elite retainers, all of whom are recruited from the martial arts world. Among them, there are many people with outstanding cultivation, and they will also help the people of the North to eliminate monsters."
"Don't mention it." Shopkeeper Liu curled his lips and said, "Those people in Prince Han's Mansion only care about money. They say they are in charge of the Northland, and if you invite them, you will lose half your life. I am a small family, how can I afford it."
"I see." Lao Du nodded.
"How can this be possible?" Wang Longqi was filled with indignation.
"It's just a small family..." Li Chu felt a little disappointed.
I thought Manager Liu had a wealthy family, and this trip would definitely bring him a huge reward.
well.
"Don't worry, Lao Liu!" Wang Longqi held the hand of Manager Liu and said in a serious tone, "In order to keep eating such delicious hot pot ingredients, Li Chu, Lao Du and I will definitely do our best to exorcise the monster."
"Then I'll leave it to you, Brother Wang!" Shopkeeper Liu patted Wang Longqi's shoulder eagerly.
…
The three of them walked leisurely towards the Dongjiang Valley, planning to stroll along the river as a way to take a short break after dinner.
The strange thing is that along the way, I saw many passers-by walking in a hurry, carrying large and small bags of fishing gear, fishing rods, fishing nets and the like, all rushing in the same direction.
At a glance, it seemed as if most of the people in Jixiang Prefecture had gone fishing.
And regardless of gender.
"What's this for?" Wang Longqi was a little puzzled: "Is fishing so popular in Jixiang Mansion?"
"I remember it wasn't like this a few days ago..." Lao Du was also very curious, so he pulled an old man and asked, "My dear father-in-law, what's going on with them? Why are they so eager to go...fishing?"
"Don't you know?" The old man's legs and feet were not good, so he was not in a hurry to leave. He explained to them: "A few days ago, someone caught a two-foot-long golden carp from the Donghua River. Its scales glowed, and it looked extraordinary. The most amazing thing is that this fish can even blink!"
"At this time, a senior monk came over and told the man that the carp was spiritual and he was willing to spend a lot of money to buy it in the hope of releasing it. The fisherman sold the carp to him for 100 taels of silver, thinking it was a sky-high price."
"Who knew that as soon as the carp entered the water, it suddenly spoke in human language, saying that it was a dragon from the river, and that it had just accidentally left the water and lost its magical powers, and that it was all thanks to the monk who rescued it. It gave the monk a scale, saying that it had magical effects, and that if a man wore it, he would be able to regain his virility and strength, and if a woman wore it, it would invigorate blood circulation, nourish her complexion, and keep her youth forever."
"Wow, this is indeed attractive." Wang Longqi said, "But... the monk can't use it, right?"
"So now everyone goes fishing in the river in order to catch a dragon again?" Lao Du was also a little skeptical. "This story sounds... a bit mysterious."
"Whether this is true or not, no one knows. But the monk was invited to the palace of Prince Han the next day. Many people saw this on the street. It was Prince Han who took a fancy to his scale and was willing to pay several thousand taels of gold for it. In any case, he made a lot of money by reselling it."
"I see. No wonder so many people go fishing in the river. The intervention of Prince Han's Mansion is equivalent to a witness to this matter." Old Du nodded and said, "Money can move people's hearts. Everyone is attracted by the thousands of taels of gold."
“No…” The old man turned his head and took a step forward resolutely: “I am going there to make a comeback.”
The three of them looked at the elderly man, who was about 80 years old, with a staggering but determined back. They all gave him a respectful look and said, "Excuse me."
After seeing the old man off, Lao Du frowned again and looked at Li Chu: "Master, do you think this matter..."
"It's a bit strange." Li Chu also frowned.
Looking far towards the Donghua River.
Who is fishing? (End of this chapter)
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