Chapter 49 I Don’t Know How to Order
The next morning, my sister and I discussed that we would go to the top luxury box 1008 in "Little Song City" to have a "Quan Song Meal" at noon.
My sister frowned and said, "I don't know if we can book that private room."
I deliberately said, "You are an entrepreneur, you have face."
She seemed embarrassed: "Let's try it."
After she left, I called Xiao Liming and asked him to book the private room. Then I said to my parents, "I'm going to report to Master first."
When Master saw me, he was surprised: "You're back so soon?"
I reported to him what had happened over the past few days.
The master smiled and said, "You should call Wang Er and explain to him that, first, you won't be opening a shop in town, and second, you welcome them to visit the city when they're free. After all, your parents will be living back home in the future."
I looked ashamed and said, "You are so thoughtful."
"This is called tolerance. You can have a quarrel with someone, and then take the initiative to greet them when you meet them the next day. Wouldn't that resolve the conflict?" After the master said this, he went for a walk outside the yard.
My face turned even redder. I called my hometown three times before I found Wang Er's cell phone number. I called him.
"Master Wang? I'm Wan Shanhong."
It took him a long time to react, and he stammered: "Wan... Oh... Master Shanhong."
"Don't yell like that, it's too embarrassing. I just came back here from my hometown yesterday. I feel bad that I didn't treat you well yesterday. In this life, there are not many opportunities to ask you for advice in person. We are separated by mountains and rivers. But if you came here without telling me, I would be dissatisfied."
When he heard that, he realized that I wouldn't go back to my hometown to develop, so he asked, "Don't you love your hometown that much?"
I burst out laughing: "After all, the income here is higher. I plan to buy an apartment and settle down here."
His tone was much more enthusiastic: "Okay, okay. I will definitely tell Master Zhang and Master Li and convey your hospitality to them."
The master wandered around outside for a while, then came in and asked, "When are your parents free? I'd like to invite them to my house for dinner."
I blushed and said quickly, "I'll bring them to visit you."
At this time, Xiao Liming called and I walked aside to answer the call.
Xiao Liming said, "Brother, it took me half an hour to get it done. It turned out that the room was already reserved, and I even put up your master's sign. Then they said since it was the master who wanted it, they should give it up."
I said, "Thank you for your hard work, Director. You will be promoted."
I occasionally use this phrase—"You will rise higher"—as a polite way of expressing encouragement. If an ordinary person said it, they would just smile and take it as a blessing. But when it comes from Master or me, it sparks a certain expectation—because we can read faces.
So, this is not just a polite remark, but it gives people the feeling that they will definitely win the prize.
This sentence really has magic power. Xiao Liming said quickly:
"Brother Shanhong, I have three free quotas a year. This time, let me show my appreciation for your parents. Come on time and I'll definitely provide perfect service."
After hanging up the phone, I smiled and said, "I'll go back early and go shopping with the two elders."
The master nodded and said, "Go quickly."
We drove to the noodle shop and my sister took my parents shopping.
I called my sister and said casually, "1008 has been confirmed."
"You're amazing. I was worried you wouldn't be able to book it, so I asked Director Li from the Economic Commission to call, but he still couldn't get it."
I teased her: "Sister, my name is Wan Shanhong."
She dragged out her voice and said, "Oh—you are embarrassed to say that you are a master, right? Sister will satisfy you, Master Wan—"
I smiled and said, "I dare not. My full name is Wan Shuixiu's younger brother Wan Shanhong."
After driving to "Xiao Songcheng", I contacted them to meet at the entrance of "Wa Chu".
"Wa Chu" was named by the master. "Wa" refers to the place where operas were performed in the Song Dynasty. "Chu" is, of course, the place where people ate. Together, it means a restaurant where one can both listen to opera and dine.
After gathering, we took the elevator straight to the tenth floor.
As soon as I arrived, I saw two women in Song Dynasty costumes standing at the elevator entrance. They wore scarves on their heads, long sleeves with slits under their arms, and below their knees. They also wore red flowered vests. They bowed and said, "Please welcome Mr. Wan—"
After saying that, the two of them led the way and walked slowly.
Near the door, two boys stood. Holding the rope, they sang loudly: "The master has arrived—"
Someone inside responded: Beat the drum—blow the horn—welcome the official.
Suddenly, there were three drum beats and a suona sound. About ten women who looked like palace maids stood on both sides, bent one knee, half-kneeling, and shouted in unison: "Long live the master and the old lady, and good luck to all the officials."
My parents were at a loss for a moment, not knowing whether to return the gift. I whispered:
"This is acting, leave them alone."
After the ten maids had performed their formalities, they led us to the table. They treated the two elders like their own parents, inviting them to the main seat and then returning to invite us to the table.
Everyone sat down, and a young man came in, stood beside me, and read out the dishes like frying beans: mother-and-child dumplings, bamboo shoot and pork buns, various fried dishes, bream sashimi, fresh sashimi, spicy white crab, roasted chicken, burdock, cucumber, tripe and radish, braised ox trotters, honey-pickled tofu, yilishao, and fragrant herbs to fill the lungs...
My mother was completely bewildered. My father, after all, had been a cadre and had more experience, so he feigned composure, chain-smoking non-stop. My sister was even more pretentious, folding her arms like a queen, as if this was all my responsibility as a servant.
After all, my brother-in-law has taught history and is well-educated. He asked slowly:
"Is this Southern Song cuisine or Northern Song cuisine?"
The young man standing by replied:
"It's a mix of north and south, with Kaifeng cuisine showing nostalgia for the old capital, and Huaiyang cuisine showing the integration of migration south and local cuisine."
This was my first time in this luxurious private room, my first time facing so many ancient dishes, and my first time feeling so embarrassed I couldn't even order. It was poverty that limited my choices. Besides, there were only five of us. How much could we possibly eat? I took the menu and pretended to look at it.
Suddenly, I heard someone singing outside the door: The waiter is here——
I turned around and saw it was Xiao Liming.
He walked in and bowed, saying, "Uncle and Aunt, Xiao Xiao is late." He then said to the young man, "I've ordered all the dishes first."
I introduced him to my parents, sister, and brother-in-law: "This is Director Xiao from the Fengqing Group Office."
Xiao Liming stepped forward and shook hands with everyone, then said, "I have an event to attend, so I'll come back for a toast later."
He turned to his men and said, "Be careful and serve our distinguished guests."
Since Director Xiao has made all the arrangements, there is no need to worry. At this time, the boy at the door sang:
Top Seven Grade Gunlong Tea——
A man came in, the spout of the teapot was a meter long. He sifted the tea with his backhand, without looking, and surprisingly filled the cup without spilling a drop.
My mother said: Do you need martial arts skills to sift tea?
Someone at the door sang again: Bring us some plum blossom wine soaked with dates.
I thought they were being delivered in bottles, but it turned out that several women who looked like palace maids were carrying out several wooden barrels, scooping dates and flowers from the barrels and putting them into a funnel.
Singing at the door: Warm wine——
They poured the contents of the funnel into a large pot, boiled the water three times, then poured it into small pots and filtered the wine for us one by one.
At this time, my brother-in-law became lively and looked very pleased: "Dad, Mom, don't worry about drinking. In ancient times, there was no white wine or rice wine. Their wine was just a drink with a very low alcohol content."
After everyone tasted it, they found that it was not like wine, nor like a drink. It was sweet with a hint of bitterness, but very delicious.
Singing at the door: Delicious food——
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