Chapter 94: Lucky Pot (Part 2)
No one expected that the chief clerk could come out of the room safely, even with a dazed smile on his face. His colleagues who were familiar with him had already noticed that the documents in his hand were missing. They stepped forward to stop the chief clerk and dragged him away from the master's door. They lowered their voices and said, "Are you crazy?! Now the master has thrown away your letter and you have to rewrite it!"
"No, no." The chief clerk wiped his face, and a sense of fear surged from the bottom of his heart. Then it turned into ecstasy. He grabbed his colleague's shoulders and shook him, and said excitedly, "My lord, my lord has agreed!"
"What?!"
The chief clerk himself was a little bit unbelievable, his face flushed. The sweet-scented osmanthus wine that Si Li chose was not strong, and the smell of alcohol had dissipated by now. The memory of him rushing all the way to the Jingzhao Yin came back to him. Both the persuasive words and the paperwork were exactly the same as last time. He even offended the adults by not taking care of his appearance, but it happened!
"You... you are still thinking about this matter, don't go astray. I was thinking of unifying the change methods during the evaluation after the year, but you are so anxious that I can't put pressure on you any more."
Shangguan's words were still ringing in his ears, and the chief clerk's heart was pounding. When had the Jingzhao Yin ever been so kind and cheerful? Moreover, he said that he would do it after the new year, but in reality, when the time came, there were many other matters that came first. It was still unclear whether his idea could be implemented and win favor.
The servant who served Jingzhao Yin passed by the corridor carrying hot tea. The chief clerk grabbed him and asked, "My Lord, today——"
The officer was used to being asked questions, so he answered before the master finished speaking, "Your Excellency is so cheerful, don't you understand? If you have anything to say, please report it quickly while your Excellency is in a good mood! You'd better go and wash yourself off since you reek of alcohol. You're lucky you didn't run into him. If your Excellency sees you, I'm afraid you'll punish him."
The officer didn't know that the chief clerk had already gone to see Jingzhao Yin and gave him some kind advice. The chief clerk thought about it carefully for a moment, clapped his hands, and said happily, "That's right!" Isn't it just good luck? After eating at Wanglaiju, he entered the government office as if a stroke of luck came to him. The whole journey was unexpectedly smooth, and Jingzhao Yin was in a rare good mood, so he got what he wanted to do done in one go. Nothing has changed, but he got it done at a different time, so it can only be explained as good luck.
Without waiting for his colleagues to persuade him to stay, the chief clerk bowed his head, smiled twice, and said with a cupped hand, "I'll treat everyone to a drink some other day."
After leaving the government office, the chief clerk came and went quickly.
Mrs. Si sent the letter in an above-board way this time. Si Li couldn't ignore it like last time. He sat in the backyard for a long time biting the pen, and couldn't figure out how to reply. To be honest, Si Li was tired of saying one more word to her. When he was staring at the green plum in the vase in a daze, he suddenly heard a commotion in the front hall.
The afternoon business hours have arrived, but the customers who ordered a few limited-edition dishes have not yet arrived. The customers queuing in front of the door to buy fried food have always been orderly. Could something have happened?
Si Li listened attentively, but before she could hear a few words, Wang Ting came hurriedly from the front hall with a strange look on his face, "Boss, come and take a look. The guests who had lunch at noon are back again."
He frowned and thought for a moment before finding an appropriate description for the chief clerk's words, "He said he came... to thank our family for the good luck they had given him."
In fact, the chief clerk's words were much more exaggerated than his, but Wang Ting had also eaten the scorpion hotpot before, and apart from feeling a little hot, there was no obvious change, so he just thought the chief clerk was talking nonsense.
Si Li's heart moved after hearing this. What he meant by good luck? Maybe the bonus of the scorpion pot was triggered?
The head clerk of the front hall stood in the middle, looking around with a strange look, his face full of high spirits. When he saw Si Li coming out with a veil on his face, he took two steps forward and bowed to the ground, "It is said in gossip that when any skill reaches its peak, strange phenomena will occur. I have received the favor of Si, the keeper, and I am so lucky. I came here to thank you!"
Stories about supernatural powers were widely spread among the people, and people loved to hear such stories. Once the head clerk made a statement, the diners waiting in line in front of the door started to make a fuss, wanting to see what such good luck could be.
Si Li turned aside to avoid his greeting and smiled helplessly, "My Lord, please stand up quickly. Luck is an illusory thing. Let's not talk about it for now. How can it be related to the food in my house? Besides, even if there is good luck, it is the reward for your good deeds. I dare not take credit for it."
The chief clerk refused to listen and said seriously, "Yesterday, the superior rejected my petition. I was supposed to take a day off today, but because I was exhausted from discussing the petition, I felt depressed and drank two more cups. After eating the hot pot, I felt as if I was helped by God, so I went to find the superior. Others were worried that I would be reprimanded by the superior, but I didn't expect that I succeeded. I thought carefully, this feeling in my heart, isn't it because of eating the hot pot? I think it's better to call it a good luck hot pot instead of a scorpion hot pot. The storekeeper will definitely accept this thank you."
Seeing that he couldn't be convinced, Si Li gave up. After the chief clerk left, he explained again to the diners who were still queuing in front of the door with their ears perked up that good luck had nothing to do with socializing. As for whether the diners believed it or not, it was not something Si Li could control.
One side insisted on thanking him, the other side insisted that it was not true. Word of this miraculous incident spread quickly, and the story became more and more bizarre. When Xiao Que came back in the evening, the version he heard in the front hall had become "After eating the scorpion hotpot, a commoner was recognized and appointed an official."
The rumor spread and the scorpion hotpot, which was quietly put on the shelves, also gained some fame. However, in the rumor, the scorpion hotpot was mostly known as the "good luck hotpot", so that diners who came in could not find the name on the menu after searching for a long time.
With a one percent chance, none of her family members would run into this noisy person, and Si Li was helpless. Listening to Xiao Que retelling the stories of the neighbors that inexplicably carried a layer of mystery, she felt funny and had a headache at the same time.
There's nothing wrong with having something to do with ghosts and gods, but if every diners orders dishes for good luck, but doesn't encounter the probability trigger, and then comes back to complain that they are talking nonsense, what a loss that would be.
Si Li urgently gave additional training to A Zhuang and several other waiters in the front hall. When introducing the scorpion hotpot, he added a section to dispel rumors and anecdotes, hoping that this would have some effect.
Xiao Que squatted beside Princess Jinhe and ate some ice jelly. When she saw Si Li had finished her arrangements, she came up and said aggrievedly, "Why don't I have any good luck?"
Si Li smiled and poked her forehead, "What good luck do you want? You yourself are my lucky doll."
"That's right. Today, Master Di said that I'm lucky." Xiao Que was coaxed into smiling and swallowing the food Jiang Rufei fed her. She waved her hand to signal her to eat by herself. Jiang Rufei remained silent, listening to the people around her talking and laughing, and her posture holding the spoon was particularly correct.
"Aren't you still studying at the Mengxueshe? How come you chose Mr. Di's class?" Si Li was a little surprised.
Xiao Que said, "Master Di asked me to help him, and I am strong, which is just right. By the way, Master Di also asked me to ask the shopkeeper if I have time to be a lecturer again. Master Di has a lot of food, and he pays so much money for one visit, which I think is a good deal!"
The business of Wanglaiju cannot be put aside for the time being. It is also a good opportunity to teach at the girls' school and improve my reputation. Si Li pondered for a moment, "Let me think about it. There will be a flower show in a few days, and I really can't get away now."
As he was talking, the sound of wheels in the alley stopped and someone knocked on the back door of Wanglaiju. Si Li's eyes lit up and he asked someone to open the door and invite the visitor in.
Songnian entered the room holding two colored glass boxes, taking every step very carefully. The dim light from the sky shone on his hands, and the light green and light blue translucent colored glass boxes were fixed with silver wires around the edges, reflecting a faint halo of light.
"Wow--"
Xiao Que and several children in the yard were first attracted by Liuli and exclaimed in amazement.
"Thank you for fulfilling your mission." Songnian handed the glass box to Si Li with a smile. The glass was extremely clear and had almost no impurities. Except for the flaws in the color, its beauty was comparable to the glass cups purchased from overseas.
"Thank you." In Si Li's eyes, this handicraft was not a handicraft, but a pile of silver. The price of each of the two boxes was fifty taels, and they also had to pay for the profit after the glutinous rice cakes were sold. This time, the profit from the sale of glutinous rice cakes belonged to Jian Guan and Jian Guan alone. They did not take a penny from the transaction, and it was a complete loss-making business.
After checking that the boxes were intact, Si Li carefully put them back into the wooden box lined with silk cloth that Song Nian brought with him, and asked Wang Ting to keep it. Today's glutinous rice cakes have all been given away, and they only need to wait for the wooden boxes to be delivered tomorrow morning, and then the sales of glutinous rice cakes in gift boxes can begin.
The kids in South City had been running around for more than two days with the brainwashing songs provided by Si Li. Even the diners lining up in the morning could hum a few lines of the song when they saw the particularly conspicuous sign of Wanglaiju. And the diners who had never heard of this little tune would unconsciously repeat the melody of "I only accept gifts from Wanglaiju" in their minds after hearing it hummed two or three times. When they entered the door and saw the glass box in the middle of the lobby that was specially lit up to illuminate a bright light, they suddenly understood how valuable the gifts from Wanglaiju were.
The colored glass box was made of white jade, with a silver lining and brocade cloth. A closer look revealed that the three characters "Wanglaiju" were carved on the colored glass box using some unknown craftsmanship. It was extremely luxurious. If anyone could bring out such a gift, he would be very honored, whether in Taishan's home or in the Shangguan's residence.
Upon further inquiry, it turned out that it was a new gift box made by Guanji Bobopu, an old Beijing shop, and Wanglaiju. One box cost sixty-six taels of silver. The gift boxes were only made to order, and only two boxes were sold a day. The loose lava glutinous rice balls were also one tael of silver each. If they were the special flavor of taro, they would cost two taels of silver each. They were only sold to old customers, and only twenty were sold a day.
Compared with the price of the glutinous rice balls inside, the gift box may seem like a case of selling the pearl for the casket, but the glass box is so exquisite and unique. When we finished shopping and wanted to find the waiter at Wanglai Ju to place an order, we were told that it was sold out. It was too late for regret.
However, the diners who came to eat at Wanglaiju a few days ago felt like they got a great deal. One to three glutinous rice balls were given as a gift with each meal, which means they earned three silver dollars! Wanglaiju's generous treatment of regular diners is indeed considerate.
Because of the popularity accumulated from the free gifts given with meals, and the news that Guan Ji had reopened with the help of glutinous rice cake gift boxes, the name of glutinous rice cake Dafu in Beijing became famous in the streets and alleys.
The noble ladies who were interested in attending the flower show at the Prince of Yue's Palace had their eyes on the glutinous rice cake box. Even if the glutinous rice cake tasted ordinary, taking out such a beautiful glass box at the banquet was enough to stand out, not to mention that the taste of the glutinous rice cake was also quite tempting.
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I went home a little early, so I'll give you guys an extra update~
Thank you for following me all the way, I feel motivated to update after reading your comments. Love you~