The Fu family's carriage drove around several streets in Yuzhou City but couldn't find an inn to stay in. They asked to be downgraded from a spacious superior room to a regular superior room, and then from a regular superior room to a standard guest room, but there wasn't a single room available.
Feeling extremely frustrated, Madam Cheng simply found a relatively quiet restaurant to eat at while waiting for her attendants to bring back news from the government office.
Although the restaurant was quiet, the food was really mediocre. Cheng put down his chopsticks after only a few bites, his face long and drawn.
The head maid, Bizhu, grew angrier the more she thought about it. While massaging Cheng's shoulders, she huffed and puffed, "Everyone says that Jiang's private cuisine is the best in Chongqing. I never expected that woman surnamed Jiang would be so ungrateful, even refusing to let the madam in. It's outrageous!"
Cheng's face grew increasingly ugly, and she sneered, "How can you expect an ignorant country woman to know manners and have a sense of propriety? She's just a lowly concubine, not a proper wife. Why bother with all this!"
Bizhu mumbled a reply, but her bright eyes kept darting around.
Granny Cheng paused for a moment, then said, "Madam, after all, the woman surnamed Jiang gave birth to the young master, and the eldest young master has been very protective of them. It would be better to be tactful and not hurt the relationship between you and the eldest young master."
Madam Cheng thought about it and realized that it made sense. Her purpose in coming to Yuzhou was to bring her grandson back. If that woman knew her place and knew when to back down, she could also back down and let Yuan'er take her into the household.
Bizhu lowered her head slightly and gave her a cold look where Granny Cheng couldn't see her.
After waiting for more than an hour, the servants from the manor rushed over to report that the eldest young master had gone to the trade fair with the prefect and would not be back for a while, so they had to leave someone there to wait for him to return.
There was no charcoal fire in the restaurant's lobby, and a cold wind blew in from the doorway, making Cheng Shi shiver.
Seeing this, Granny Cheng gently advised, "Madam, why don't we go to the Jiang family's shop to wait for the eldest young master? Before it's time for dinner, let's make a reservation, sit down and eat something hot, and then wait for the eldest young master to return, okay?"
Madam Cheng was frozen stiff and, without thinking, nodded in agreement with what Granny Cheng said.
The group then drove to Jiang's Private Kitchen.
Just past 3:45 PM, people were already making reservations inside the shop.
The same waiter who greeted us at the door at noon smiled politely and said, "Welcome! Do you have a reservation?"
Cheng said coldly, "No!"
The waiter smiled even more broadly, gestured for the guests to enter, and asked as he led them inside, "Would you like a private room or a table in the main hall? Would you prefer a buffet, hot pot, or stir-fries? Would you like to order from the menu or would you like us to make recommendations?"
Madam Cheng paused for a moment, then turned to Granny Cheng.
After thinking for a moment, Granny Cheng said, "Please prepare a spacious private room for my mistress. As for the hot pot... bring over the menus and let my mistress choose for herself!"
"Good guest, this way please!"
Upon arriving at the private room, Cheng looked at the spacious and bright room and finally breathed a sigh of satisfaction before sitting down on a row of orange benches with backrests.
The moment she sat down, she was startled.
The chair was actually soft! Even softer and more comfortable than the mink cushions in her mansion!
She curiously touched the sofa, then slowly leaned back against the backrest; the cushions were soft too!
So soft and warm, so comfortable!
“The style here is quite different from other places, Granny Cheng, feel this chair!” Madam Cheng couldn’t help but say.
Granny Cheng touched it and sighed, "It's even softer than an animal skin cushion!"
The waiter lit the candles inside and said with a smile, "These are sofas designed by our boss; there's no one who doesn't like them. Please wait a moment, our tea and menu will be served shortly."
As soon as he finished speaking, another waiter brought over steaming hot tea and four thick menus.
"This is caramel milk tea, this is green tea, and this is fruit and herbal tea. Please enjoy your meal." The waiter put down the tea and stepped outside.
Normally, waiters wouldn't serve three different cups of tea to guests, but the Cheng family's combination was a bit special—one master and two servants—they didn't seem like people who could dine together.
In order not to neglect the guests, the waiter had to prepare three cups of tea. However, in order to highlight Cheng's status, she could not be allowed to drink the same tea as the two servants, so the waiter came up with this solution.
Cheng's gaze swept over the three teacups of different colors. She first chose the most beautiful fruit tea, took a few sips, and reluctantly put it down. Then she picked up the green tea, took a sip, and put it down again. Finally, she picked up the caramel milk tea, took a sip, and held it tightly in her hand.
During this time, she glanced at the fruit tea a few times with some hesitation, but finally said decisively and as if bestowing a favor, "You should try these two cups of tea too, they taste good!"
Bizhu thanked the lady happily and snatched the cup of fruit tea away.
Granny Cheng curtsied and turned to pick up the remaining green tea.
After taking a couple of sips, Granny Cheng put down her teacup and said, "Madam, let's order some dishes first. You haven't eaten much all day!"
Only then did Mrs. Cheng remember to order food.
She was stunned when she opened the beautifully presented menu.
These strangely shaped marine creatures, arranged in red and white platters, are beautiful, but are they really meant to be eaten?
Also, there are only two soups in such a big pot. Are you suggesting we let them cook their own soup?
These stir-fried dishes... I've never heard of them before, and they look quite appetizing.
Mr. Cheng flipped through all the menus, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.
Granny Cheng asked in confusion, "Madam, what's wrong?"
Cheng would never say that she had never seen, heard of, or eaten the food. Instead, she casually pushed the menu out and said, "Waiter, come here!"
The waiter waiting outside the door knocked and came in upon hearing the noise.
He glanced at Madam Cheng and said with a charming smile, "Guest, have you ordered? Would you like me to recommend something?"
With an air of elegance, Madam Cheng dabbed the tea stains from the corner of her lips with a handkerchief and said, "This lady prefers sweet things, but please don't make them too bland. What are some of the restaurant's signature dishes? Please make a few and bring them up."
The waiter nodded with a smile, then asked, "For a meal for three, I'd like to suggest a hot pot with two separate broths, a squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, a spicy crab, and a pipa tofu. What do you think, Madam?"
Cheng didn't understand, but still nodded proudly.
Soon, the hot pot arrived. It was a half-and-half hot pot with several delicate side dishes, a platter of beef, lamb, and pork, a seafood platter, and three plates of vegetables.
After the waiter gave a detailed explanation of how to eat hot pot, he left.
Once the soup in the pot boiled, the aroma filled the entire private room, instantly awakening Cheng's cravings.
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