A quarter of an hour later.
From a distance, Cheng Bu Zheng saw a luxurious restaurant. On the huge plaque above its entrance were three gilded characters: 'Liu Xian Lou'. This building not only covered an area of one hundred zhang, but its pavilion was also six stories high, making it the most luxurious restaurant in the town.
At this moment, the restaurant's main entrance was wide open, with people occasionally entering and exiting in small groups.
According to market rumors, this restaurant was not initially called 'Liu Xian Lou'. Later, an Immortal descended and dined there. The owner, overjoyed upon hearing this, immediately commissioned a plaque overnight.
The rumors of Liu Xian Lou gradually spread throughout the town, told with great detail and conviction.
Cheng Bu Zheng once heard about it and couldn't help but sigh, remarking that the restaurant owner was truly a business genius. Because rumors of Immortals and monsters were very popular among the common folk, the restaurant owner had, without a teacher, learned how to ride on popular trends.
Thinking about it now, it's likely that those rumors were largely true. He didn't believe the restaurant owner would dare to make fun of an Immortal.
The wrath of an Immortal was not something a small restaurant owner could bear.
Cheng Bu Zheng glanced at the three gilded characters and strode directly towards the restaurant.
As he stepped into the Hall of the restaurant, a waiter quickly scurried over to Cheng Bu Zheng, bowing and smiling as he spoke.
"Guest, would you like to order our signature dishes?"
The waiter knew that this young man, dressed in coarse cloth, would almost certainly not order signature dishes, but he still said it instinctively. After all, introducing a guest to order a signature dish would earn him a commission.
As a result, this phrase had almost become his catchphrase.
Cheng Bu Zheng looked at the waiter, seemingly seeing his past self, whose back was broken by the pressures of life. How similar the two were.
"Which private room is the Young Master in?"
The waiter looked at him in surprise, not expecting that the gentle young man in front of him actually had a connection with the Young Master. He silently mumbled to himself.
He felt quite envious, but his expression showed no trace of it.
The waiter quickly put on a professional fake smile, extending his right hand in a gesture, "The Young Master is dining in the Wealthy Hall on the third floor. Please follow me."
Led by the waiter, they arrived outside the Wealthy Hall on the third floor. Looking at the closed purple wooden door, which was carved with beautiful lines, the waiter, having completed his escort, bid him farewell and withdrew.
Cheng Bu Zheng directly pushed open the purple wooden door. Inside the private room, he saw a huge round table in the center. The four walls were made of precious wood, carved with various patterns.
Overall, it looked not only grand but also much more elegant.
Sitting on a chair beside the round table was a slender young man dressed in a white robe with a delicate face. However, his thin lips marred that touch of gentleness, instead adding a hint of harshness.
This person was Qian Zhe, the Young Master Qian, Cheng Bu Zheng's recently befriended good friend.
"Bu Zheng, look at this good stuff!" Qian Zhe said, his face beaming with joy, as he pointed with his right hand.
Cheng Bu Zheng's gaze fell on the solid wood round table, which was laden with various dishes, including the signature dishes the waiter had just mentioned: Dragon and Tiger Battle, Immortal's Aftertaste, Three Rolls of Dragon Meat.
Suddenly.
His heart stirred as he saw, in the center of all the dishes, a huge tray holding a nearly one-meter-long lobster of an unknown species.
He had never seen such a large lobster before; it was either a monster or not far from becoming one.
Seeing the crimson-shelled lobster, Cheng Bu Zheng couldn't help but swallow, forcing his gaze away. He looked at Qian Zhe, a smile on his face, and said,
"Such a giant creature, how did you get it? It truly exceeds my expectations."
Qian Zhe seemed very pleased with Cheng Bu Zheng's reaction. When he first saw such a giant creature, he was also greatly surprised. He usually saw lobsters no bigger than a palm; when had he ever seen such a huge lobster?
"If you hadn't told me, how would I have known there was such a delicacy in this world! You know I love to eat, and I, Qian Zhe, am determined to be your friend!"
Cheng Bu Zheng smiled slightly and said:
"Young Master Qian, this giant creature needs to be eaten with dipping sauce to be truly delicious, otherwise it would be a bit of a waste! I'll go prepare some!"
"No need, I've already prepared it!"
Saying that, Qian Zhe waved his hand and opened two white porcelain bowls that were stacked together. Inside the white porcelain bowls were precisely the ingredients he had mentioned.
Cheng Bu Zheng quickly ran over, divided the ingredients into two portions, poured them into the white porcelain bowls, then picked up a pair of scissors from the side and walked to the giant shrimp. He forcefully cut off the front claw along the joint.
"Young Master Qian, try it and see. I guarantee it's incredibly delicious!"
Cheng Bu Zheng then cut an opening in the shell, revealing the tender, translucent, clearly textured white meat inside.
A delicious fragrance emanated from the translucent white meat. Then, Cheng Bu Zheng placed the giant shrimp's front claw on the dining plate in front of Young Master Qian.
"I'm sure you wouldn't dare to deceive me, you rascal!" Qian Zhe dipped it in the sauce, chewed slightly, then his eyes lit up, and he cursed with a smile:
"This is truly a delicacy! How did you come up with this, you rascal, or rather, how do you know how to eat so well!
Let's eat together, I can't finish such a huge shrimp by myself!"
Cheng Bu Zheng smiled and said:
"Then it would be disrespectful not to accept.
This is also my first time eating such a giant creature. What I used to eat were all palm-sized, and there wasn't much meat.
It's still Young Master Qian, your power is great!"
Afterward, he wrote down the entire process and various details for making stir-fried small lobsters and handed it to Qian Zhe.
Immediately, the Wealthy Hall was filled with continuous laughter and joy. With Cheng Bu Zheng's intentional flattery, Young Master Qian ate to his heart's content.
After eating and drinking to their fill.
Young Master Qian half-reclined lazily in the grand armchair, looking at Cheng Bu Zheng and slowly began to speak:
"You know that Liu Xian Lou is owned by my old man. By offering me this secret recipe for such a delicacy, you're essentially giving me a money tree.
Bu Zheng, just ask for whatever you need."
Although Qian Zhe spoke grandly, Cheng Bu Zheng knew he was just being polite. He knew what kind of Heart-Nature this person truly possessed. He was not an impetuous youth who understood nothing.
Cheng Bu Zheng had already made his calculations. Then he unhurriedly said:
"Young Master Qian, we are friends. Talking about these things means you don't consider me a friend!"
Saying that, he showed a displeased expression.
This was merely his psychological tactic of retreating to advance. He had deliberately flattered him earlier, coupled with his own identity.
At this moment, Qian Zhe would absolutely not turn hostile. After all, Young Master Qian was only a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy and had not yet reached the point of being ruthless and cold-hearted.
As expected.
"Brother was wrong. If you have any troubles in the future, tell your brother. Your brother still has a little influence in town!"
Qian Zhe said with a face full of sincerity, but in his heart, he didn't take it seriously. A small favor was, of course, a trivial matter, but for troublesome matters, he would be powerless to help.
At the same time, he also thought highly of this young man. He knew that the young man in front of him was the most favored medicine boy of the town's doctor. To say medicine boy was actually to say Disciple.
According to the information he had gathered, this person's medical skills already had seventy to eighty percent of the Bai Ren Hall doctor's proficiency.
In the future, his medical skills would certainly surpass his teacher. Otherwise, a mere medicine boy wouldn't be able to befriend him.
He wasn't that cheap.
Qian Zhe's calculations were rattling loudly in his mind.
And Cheng Bu Zheng was well aware of Qian Zhe's calculations. Otherwise, how could his plan succeed!
PS: Reader Grandpa, happy pre-National Day! The editor is still working hard on typing. Please give some motivation to make the editor type with more energy. Old rules, begging bowl, polite three requests (for collection, for recommendation, for tickets)
Fellow Daoist who truly like the medicine boy, you can join the group: 547741836