Holding their still-warm ID cards, the three of them felt their backs straighten considerably.
Although this freedom is still accompanied by a thousand-meter "dog leash," it is at least a historic step forward!
"Celebrate! We must celebrate!"
Zhang Shaozhong was in high spirits, scrolling through apps on his phone at lightning speed. "This is it! 'Shuxiang Mendi'! Five stars! Let's go!"
I took a taxi and headed straight to the commercial district.
Throughout the journey, Ling Qingxue watched the bustling traffic and skyscrapers rushing past the window, her eyes still carrying a sense of detachment and scrutiny.
Ye Meier looked around excitedly, curious about everything, especially the girls dressed in revealing clothes, which she would comment on, making Zhang Shaozhong quickly tell her to be quiet.
Upon arriving at the hot pot restaurant, the bright red signboard and the rich aroma wafting from inside made Ye Meier unable to move.
"It smells so good! It's even better than spicy hot pot!" She sniffed, her eyes shining.
Ling Qingxue frowned slightly: "This kind of lively atmosphere is too noisy."
Zhang Shaozhong quickly smoothed things over: "It's lively! Lively is festive! Come on, let's go, to the private room! We've booked a private room!"
Upon entering the private room, the environment was indeed much more elegant.
The antique-style decor and screen partitions softened Ling Qingxue's expression somewhat.
The waiter came in with the menu, all smiles: "What kind of hot pot base would you three like?"
Just as Zhang Shaozhong was about to say "Yuan Yang hot pot," Ye Meier interrupted, "Red! The redder the better! The spicier the better!"
Waiter: "Okay, how about our signature extra spicy beef tallow hot pot base?" Night Enchantress: "Sure! That's it!"
Zhang Shaozhong weakly added, "Um... how about another hot pot with mushroom soup in two broths?" He had to consider the fairy's stomach.
Ling Qingxue did not object, which can be considered as tacit approval.
The ordering process was even more chaotic.
Waiter: "Would you like some tripe?"
Night Enchantress: "Yes! It sounds delicious!"
Waiter: "Would you like some duck intestines?"
Night Enchantress: "I want it!"
Waiter: "Would you like some beef tripe?"
Night Enchantress: "What is yellow throat? Never mind, I want it!"
Zhang Shaozhong's heart bled as he watched the prices on the menu skyrocket, but remembering it was a joyous occasion, he gritted his teeth and said, "Order! Order whatever you want!"
Ling Qingxue only ordered a plate of vegetables and tofu, looking as if she were untouched by worldly concerns.
The broth and ingredients arrived quickly.
The bubbling red oil in the pot was so enticing that the aroma of chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns filled the air and made one's scalp tingle just looking at it.
The mushroom hot pot is much lighter in flavor.
How do you eat it?
Ye Meier looked at the table full of raw meat and vegetables, somewhat bewildered.
In their time, food was always served cooked by roasting or boiling.
Zhang Shaozhong quickly demonstrated: "Watch me! Use chopsticks to pick it up and dip it in the pot! Count to ten in your head, and it's ready to eat when it changes color!"
He picked up a piece of tripe, dipped it in the hot oil broth a few times, then dipped it in the oil sauce, and popped it into his mouth with a satisfied look on his face.
Ye Meier learned quickly and followed suit, picking up a large piece of tripe and throwing it into the hot oil pot, then staring at it longingly.
After counting to ten, I scooped it up, not even bothering with dipping sauce, and stuffed it directly into my mouth.
The next second—
"Hiss—Ha!!!!"
Ye Meier's face flushed crimson in an instant, almost bursting into tears and snot! She opened her mouth wide, fanning herself vigorously with her hand, her tongue nearly sticking out:
"Water! Water! It's so spicy it's killing me!!"
Zhang Shaozhong quickly handed over the iced plum juice. Ye Meier snatched it and gulped down more than half a cup before she could catch her breath. Her lips were swollen, but her eyes shone even brighter:
"That's awesome! Absolutely awesome! So satisfying!!"
She has an amazing ability to adapt. After recovering, she became even more energetic and started eating hot pot like crazy. She was gasping for breath as she ate, sweating profusely and thoroughly enjoying herself. She was incredibly bold and unrestrained.
When the waiter came in to serve the food, he was stunned by the way she ate.
In contrast, Ling Qingxue's side was much more elegant.
She stared at the bubbling red pot, her brow furrowed so deeply it could trap a fly.
After hesitating for a long time, I finally picked up a piece of thin, cicada-wing-like green vegetable with the tip of my chopsticks and carefully reached towards... the mushroom hot pot.
I simmered it in the clear broth for a full minute to make sure it was cooked through before taking it out.
Then, she looked at the pile of dipping sauces in front of her (sesame oil, minced garlic, oyster sauce, cilantro, etc.) and was at a loss.
"What is this?" she asked Zhang Shaozhong, pointing to the sesame oil dish.
"It's a dipping sauce! It enhances the flavor! Would you like to try it?" Zhang Shaozhong recommended.
Ling Qingxue hesitated for a moment, then very lightly dipped a leaf of green vegetable in a little sesame oil and put it in her mouth.
After tasting it carefully, she commented, "It's greasy and masks the original flavor of the ingredients." After that, she never touched the dipping sauce again and ate boiled vegetables directly.
After eating a few pieces of green vegetables, she turned her attention to the plate of tender beef.
This time, she tried picking up a slice of beef and reaching for the mushroom hot pot again.
But beef is not like vegetables; it gets tough if you cook it in clear broth for too long.
She scooped it out after half a minute of cooking, took a bite, and frowned again: "The meat is okay, but it's overcooked and a bit tough."
Zhang Shaozhong watched anxiously: "Fairy, beef shouldn't be cooked for so long! Just a dozen seconds is enough! Why don't you try the spicy broth? It's even more delicious!"
Ling Qingxue immediately shook her head, her eyes filled with disdain: "Spicy and greasy, it's not good for cultivation."
She put down her chopsticks, looked at Ye Meier who was eating heartily and without any regard for her image, and then looked at the pitifully bland food in front of her. She sighed softly.
These earthly foods are ultimately unpalatable.
She simply picked up her teacup and began to sip, as if this would allow her to distance herself from the "mundane world."
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