"Yo, Xiangling~"
It was a little past noon, still a long way from evening.
Wanmin Restaurant wasn't very busy at this hour. There were only a few servers in the main hall, clearing bowls and chopsticks, wiping down tables, and tidying up.
The moment Hu Tao stepped inside, she made a beeline for the back kitchen—then darted out through the rear door.
At a glance, she spotted Xiangling and Guoba in the back courtyard, still sorting and prepping ingredients.
"Hu Tao?" Xiangling looked up, paused for a beat, then blinked. "What brings you all the way here? How come you've got time to drop by?"
"Heh~" Hu Tao rubbed her hands together. "I brought you three huge clients."
"You got time to cook right now?"
Three huge clients?
"I'm organizing ingredients for tonight," Xiangling said, pointing at the pile in front of her. "That aside… what kind of 'huge clients' are we talking about, for you, Hu Tao, to come in person?"
"Hmph hmph~" Hu Tao folded her arms with a smug look. "I'm afraid I'll scare you if I say it."
"Two Qixing, plus Taro-sensei… and me."
"…"
Two Qixing?!
And Taro-sensei came too?!
Then she absolutely had time!!!
"Quick, quick, quick—where's the menu? Where's the menu?" Xiangling wiped her hands on her apron and immediately held out her hand toward Hu Tao. "Did you order yet? What did you pick?"
"We haven't ordered yet~" Hu Tao spread her hands and shrugged. "I ran ahead of them. They should be walking in right about now."
"Then what are you waiting for~" Xiangling grabbed Hu Tao by the wrist and yanked her toward the dining hall. "Let's go, let's go!"
"Guoba, Guoba—help me start the fire!"
"Lu~ lu~!"
Guoba nodded on instinct, tossed aside the Jueyun Chili he'd been holding, and zipped into the back kitchen.
He moved with practiced ease—adding wood, stoking the flame—so smooth it looked like he'd done it a thousand times.
At the same time…
The instant he recognized who had just entered, Chef Mao—who'd been doing the accounts at the counter—shot out from behind the register like a gust of wind.
Those were Qixing.
You could not afford to slight any one of them… let alone two at once.
And today's guests were Tianquan and Yuheng—two of the most powerful positions in the Qixing, the ones who held terrifyingly real authority over laws, taxation, land, and construction.
Even more reason not to mess up.
"Yo, Tianquan-sama, Yuheng-sama, Taro-sensei—what an honor. Your presence truly brightens my humble place." Chef Mao's face was full of smiles. "Same as usual—private room on the second floor?"
Whether they were here to eat or for something else didn't matter.
First priority: seat them properly.
A quiet private room with good soundproofing and a good location—mandatory.
There was no way he was letting those three sit out in the open hall.
"Thank you for the trouble, Chef Mao," Keqing said first, nodding.
"Much appreciated," Ningguang added with a nod, then turned slightly. "Taro-sensei, shall we start with a pot of fine wine?"
"You can tell we all have time today," Taro said, nodding. "A couple of drinks is fine."
"Chef Mao, bring a few light appetizers and one pot of good wine first. The rest can wait until they choose what they want to eat."
"Of course…"
Hearing that, Chef Mao's heart jumped—then he nodded quickly.
"Please, the three of you."
He'd always felt Taro was extraordinary.
But even so, seeing this today still shook him.
In Liyue Harbor, the number of people who could make the Qixing treat them with this much regard… was truly small.
And this wasn't just "respect" anymore.
Still—he didn't ask, and he didn't get curious.
Just as the group reached the staircase…
Xiangling came charging out, still dragging Hu Tao along.
"Dad, Dad! Leave the rest to me!" Xiangling announced. "You go back to the accounts—I'll handle the guests!"
"…"
Chef Mao instinctively turned his head.
The three of them, almost in perfect unison, nodded.
"All right." Chef Mao gave a small nod of understanding. "Then I'll leave it to you, Xiangling. Make sure you take good care of them."
"Dad, come on—don't you trust me?" Xiangling thumped her chest in promise, smiling brightly. "Everyone, this way!"
With that, Xiangling tugged Hu Tao and hurried up to the second floor first.
Hu Tao twisted her head back with a completely innocent look on her face, like she'd done nothing at all.
"Let's go." Taro couldn't help but laugh quietly and followed the two girls.
Keqing and Ningguang gave Chef Mao a polite nod as well, then went after them.
"…"
Chef Mao wiped a cold sweat off his brow.
He could only hope Xiangling would manage it.
He didn't even feel at ease when it was normal customers.
Now? He was even more worried.
But… it should be fine.
Probably.
As soon as Chef Mao returned to the counter, the remaining diners in the hall looked at each other.
Good grief.
Old Mao really made it in life.
Xiangling, that kid… in a way, she'd basically gotten a direct line to the very top, hadn't she?
The Qixing—people you almost never saw in daily life—had started becoming regulars at Wanmin Restaurant.
"Old Mao, shouldn't we have a little drink to celebrate this?" someone teased.
"Exactly, exactly—best with a couple of cold appetizers."
"Tsk tsk… at this rate, Wanmin Restaurant's gonna become the place with the toughest backing in all of Liyue Harbor."
"Cut it out…" Chef Mao rolled his eyes. "You bunch of old gluttons—talk big at the table if you want, but don't let it spread outside."
"Last time you almost dragged the General Affairs Department to my door."
"I still haven't settled the score with you for that."
"…"
The old foodies laughed awkwardly.
Last time, the joke had gotten too out of hand and nearly turned into a rumor—so much so that it even drew in two Millelith soldiers to question them.
This time…
Yeah. Table talk only.
If they started running their mouths again outside, the General Affairs Department would definitely come knocking with "warmth."
Up in the private room—
After setting the menu down, Taro asked, visibly interested, a rather specific question:
"Xiangling, have you been working on any new dishes lately?"
"Huh?" Xiangling froze mid-note. "I mean… yes, I have, but the technique isn't mature yet."
"Once I've got it down, then we can try it?"
New dishes always needed taste-testers.
Normally she used her friends… or she'd spend a bit of Mora and ask familiar regulars.
But asking Tianquan-sama and Yuheng-sama to taste-test?
Even Xiangling didn't have the guts to play it like that.
If it caused trouble, that was one thing…
But if her dad found out?
A "bamboo shoot stir-fry" from him would be more than enough to make her regret being born.
No way. Absolutely no way.
"I can do it~" Hu Tao wiggled her eyebrows mischievously. "Wasn't your trip to Qingce Village this time all about gathering ingredients for a new dish?"
"Perfect chance to test it out, right?"
"…"
Hu Tao, you little—
I treat you like a best friend and you dig a pit for me like this?!
Bring an unfinished dish to this table?
Are you trying to send me to my grave?!
"No, no, no~" Xiangling shook her head hard. "I'll wait a bit longer."
"But Hu Tao—since you're so enthusiastic, why don't you stay tonight and help me test it?"
Good sisters share blessings and hardships, right?
If Xiangling was going to test it herself anyway, Hu Tao was absolutely coming along for the ride too.
"Nope, not doing that~" Hu Tao shook her head so fast she nearly rattled. She looked guilty as she spoke. "I've got important business tonight. I can't get delayed."
"Let's talk about the dish after you've perfected it."
"Fine~" Xiangling shot Hu Tao a look, then turned back to the others. "Please wait a moment. I'll go light the stove. The dishes will be out soon."
"No rush," Keqing said with a smile. "Good food is worth the wait."
"Besides, we happen to be free today. Take your time."
"Ah—got it!" Xiangling answered brightly, then hurried off.
(End of Chapter)
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