MTLNOVEL Chapter 143: Chapter 143
Xia Zhi took out the silver treasure chest from his inventory and chose to open it.
A small white bottle appeared before him.
[White Jade Honey]
Quality: Silver
Type: Consumable
Property: None
Effect: Contains unique life force, consuming it can improve positive emotions and enhance constitution.
Hidden Effect: None
A bottle of decent honey, also sold in the [Shop] for 70 points.
Xia Zhi opened the bottle, and immediately a sweet fragrance of rich flowers wafted from the opening, making him feel his mood improving just from the smell.
This honey was recorded in the [Basic Alchemy Materials Guide], from another world, one of those precious things that were rare and priceless.
He could keep this, add some [White Jade Honey] when making desserts, both improving the taste and enhancing everyone's constitution.
Especially for Zhu Zi and Yaoyao - one with constantly sore legs, one still growing - they both needed the nourishment.
Xia Zhi put away the bottle and tried enhancing the [Hourglass of Time] again.
Fail. Fail. Fail. Fail. Fail.
Seems he hadn't done enough good deeds yet. If he had luck as high as Miss Ganyu's, he probably would have succeeded in enhancing already.
Xia Zhi shook his head, finished his daily basic tasks, bought a [Shark Fin Mushroom], and went downstairs to wash up.
Today was Saturday, the shop was closed. Only Shenhe was downstairs now; Zhu Zi and Ganyu had gone out early to buy groceries.
Since Miss Yanfei was invited for lunch, they needed to make frost-fall tofu. Last night, Xia Zhi had soaked some [Great Tuna Belly Soybeans] in the kitchen and had Shenhe help grind them with the stone mill.
He then soaked the [Shark Fin Mushroom] in hot water and kneaded a dough to let it rest.
Only when Zhu Zi and Ganyu returned with groceries did he start making noodles.
"Boss, I told Xiangling, and she said she'll come to our shop for lunch today!"
"Mm."
"I also gave the Sunsettia rolls to Boss Liu, and he gave us two fish in return."
"Just leave them there for now. We'll deal with the ingredients after breakfast."
"Okay!... Ah! Boss, do we have shark fin mushroom again today?"
"Yes, it's the same vegetarian noodles we made before."
"Great!"
Soon, four bowls of steaming noodles were ready, their fragrance filling the air.
Xia Zhi took out a jar of homemade Jueyun chili sauce and added a small spoon to his bowl, instantly turning the clear soup slightly red.
Zhu Zi and Shenhe also wanted a small spoon.
Ganyu hesitated before asking for a small spoon too, but when eating, she had tears in her eyes and a dramatically red face.
Despite being overwhelmed by the spiciness, she still drank all the soup, not wasting any.
After finishing the noodles, while making tofu, Qiqi came.
Her face was no longer paper-white like before, looking almost like a normal person now.
Her expression was no longer stiff either; she could actually smile while greeting everyone and spoke fluently.
Except for the coolness around her body, people who didn't know would probably never guess she was a zombie.
"Miss Qiqi can come play with us at the shop anytime, don't worry about anything else."
"Mm..."
Qiqi nodded, saw everyone working in the kitchen, and came to help wash vegetables.
With her, a walking air conditioner, the kitchen that should have been very hot from the scorching weather and burning stove became surprisingly cool.
After a while, Granny Ping, Yanfei, and Yaoyao came together.
The little girl also eagerly helped in the kitchen.
Having people willing to help was good, but too many people made the small kitchen crowded.
Xia Zhi felt a bit helpless and had to ask Miss Ganyu and Yaoyao to go out first, as they were guests after all.
Although Qiqi was also a guest, she was responsible for air conditioning, so she had to stay.
Ganyu and Yaoyao looked at Qiqi, both leaving with slightly disappointed expressions.
Xia Zhi felt a faint sense of guilt, but moments later, he heard the clear sound of mahjong tiles from the front hall, and his guilt instantly vanished.
Hope Moon Carver can handle Ganyu's terrifying mahjong luck.
Near noon, Xiangling and Guoba arrived, following the food aroma straight into the kitchen.
"Smells so good! What dishes is Mr. Xia making?"
"Just some home cooking."
"This doesn't smell like home cooking at all!... Mr. Xia hasn't come to Wanmin Restaurant to eat these past few days."
"Mainly because Wanmin Restaurant is too busy, couldn't get a table, so I didn't come. Miss Xiangling and Chef Mao must have been very busy these days?"
"Yes! Almost worked to death. Customers all specifically ask for my dishes when they come in, especially the Treasure Mountain Flying Dragon Pot I made in the cooking competition - it's basically ordered every time. They keep praising me as worthy of being the Cooking Champion, it makes me feel so embarrassed."
"Embarrassed?"
"Because I've tasted Mr. Xia's cooking and know I'm still far from being a true Cooking Champion. Besides, this cooking championship was held quite hastily, many skilled chefs didn't get to participate. Although Wanmin Restaurant's business improved greatly because of the competition, I don't think this can continue."
"Oh?"
"There are too many customers, and they always order the same dishes. So from morning to night, I can only make one or two dishes, feeling like I'm trapped in the kitchen. It's exhausting, and I have no time or energy to create new recipes."
"Is that why Miss Xiangling wants to travel outside for a while?"
"Yes! Temporarily leaving Wanmin Restaurant will free me from these constraints. If I'm not there, fewer customers will come specially for me, and Dad won't have to work so hard. This is actually a tradition of our restaurant - my dad also traveled when he was young. Wanmin Restaurant's name means 'gathering the tastes of all people under one roof.' I want to do like our ancestors, go out and try cuisines from different places."
"Learning from various styles, that's indeed one way, though it's quite challenging."
"I'm not afraid of challenges!"
"There are many monsters roaming outside, Miss Xiangling needs to be careful when traveling."
"Don't worry, Mr. Xia, I'm very skilled with my spear! And I have Guoba with me!"
"Mm!"
"That's good. Where does Miss Xiangling plan to go?"
"I want to visit Mondstadt!"
"When will you leave?"
"Master has finished making the Serenitea Pot. I'll pack tonight and leave tomorrow! I'll be back before the Lantern Rite."
"Then I wish Miss Xiangling a safe journey."
"Mm! When I return, I'll invite Mr. Xia to taste my cooking and see how much I've improved!"
"Looking forward to it."
--
Mondstadt, Cat's Tail Tavern.
The first customer who had entered Summer Shop pushed open the tavern's door and walked in.
The customers drinking inside saw him and greeted with smiles.
"Salute, you're back!"
"Salute, heard you took a commission to Liyue and missed the Windblume Festival!"
"Salute, was Liyue's Lantern Rite fun?"
Salute smiled without speaking, walking straight to the bar.
A customer sitting at the bar raised a full glass and smiled: "Salute! Welcome home! Let me buy you a drink!"
"Thanks, but I've quit drinking now."
???
The noisy tavern suddenly fell silent.
By Barbatos! The drunk who once danced in the plaza is saying he's quit drinking?!
Salute looked at the cat-eared girl behind the bar who was staring at him with wide eyes.
"Miss Diona, could you lend me some clean glasses?"
"How did you quit drinking?"
"This is how, look at this pot."
"Pot?"
"It contains something that tastes better than wine."
"What is it?"
"A mixed fruit juice, a new beverage from Liyue. The taste is wonderful, truly unforgettable."
Salute opened his wine pot, and an indescribable fruit fragrance spread out.
"I specially chilled it and brought it from Liyue to Mondstadt, wanting you all to try this excellent drink."
----
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