Chapter 12: Jingqin Restaurant

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

“We won’t dare again,” they promised. “No more!”

Ah Shu and Hu Dapao walked back over as they chuckled, looking at Su Jiu in awe and reverence.

“Did you two hear that? If you disrespect Chief again, I’ll fight you!” Chang Huan raised his chin defiantly as he flattered Su Jiu.

Chang Huan was good-looking to begin with, now that he was wearing an attendant’s outfit and had cleaned up, he looked even more handsome.

Ah Shu and Hu Dapao looked at each other, rubbed their palms together and approached Chang Huan. “Look at your sissy face. We can’t defeat Chief, but we can defeat you!”

The moment they finished speaking, they lunged at Chang Huan.

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Chang Huan ran immediately. Fortunately his qinggong was good, and the two could not catch him. However, he was barely able to get by. So he yelled, “Chief, save me!”

As the others fought playfully, Qiao An’s gaze was glued to the book. In the midst of this, he closed it and stood up. “Since Chief is awake, let’s eat!”

The chaos in the yard immediately quieted down.

To the Dragon Conqueror Gang, food was always the most important thing.

The nanny had woken up early to steam the buns, and had prepared some simple dishes. She also boiled a large pot of plain porridge.

The buns were served. The tempting smell of food wafted out with the heat, as the five stared unblinkingly.

Ah Shu gulped as he asked, “Chief, will we have buns in every meal from now?”

“Not only buns, we will also have meat!”

Su Jiu slapped Hu Dapao’s hand which was reaching for the buns. “Go help Nanny serve the porridge!” she ordered sternly.

“Yes, ma’am!” Hu Dapao’s gaze didn’t leave the buns as he wiped at his mouth and ran off towards the kitchen.

After the porridge was served, Su Jiu left a seat for Nanny and said, “Let’s eat together!”

“It’s alright,” the nanny said, “I can eat in the kitchen!”

“Alright, we’ll get started then!” Su Jiu said, grabbing a bun.

When the others saw her, they used both hands to grab one bun in each. Leaving the porridge untouched, they stuffed their mouths with buns as they swallowed them all in two bites.

Only Qiao An ate a little more respectfully. But after a long time in the bandit’s den, he did not eat much more gracefully than the average man.

Su Jiu was no better: she had one foot on the chair, chewing steamed bun in her mouth, looking entirely like a bandit and ruffian.

Seeing how they gobbled up the food, more than disdain, the nanny felt utterly exasperated.

If the Ji Family could see how Miss Su behaves, they would think they had welcomed in a wild animal! They already didn’t have a good impression of the Su Family, if they see this, they would just throw them out of Shengjing straight.

——-

After eating, they lounged in the yard to bathe in the sunlight.

Su Jiu leaned against the osmanthus tree with her hands behind her head. She leapt down elegantly as a fallen leaf, sat down in a chair, and asked, “Master An, do we now wait for the Ji Family to come to our door?”

Qiao An nodded slowly. “These two days we should check out any actions by the Ji Family to see if they have any intention of marrying Miss Su.”

If they’re not going to marry her, he thought, we are wasting time here!

The others gathered around.

“We have never come to Shengjing. Let’s have fun first!” Ah Shu said.

Chang Huan’s eyes lit up. “I want to go too!”

Su Jiu weighed the money bag in her hand. “Where do you guys want to play?”

“I heard from the Eight Dragons Gang that Shengjing has a Drunken Joy Pavilion. The ladies in there are so beautiful, may we go take a look?” Ah Shu grinned perversely.

“What, to look at women?” Hu Dapao pursed his mouth in disdain. “I think we should go drinking. After entering the city, we ate meat buns, we ate steamed buns, but we haven’t drank any wine! The Jingqin Restaurant looks like they have good wine!”

“Jingqin Restaurant, Drunken Joy Pavilion, which one should we go to?” Su Jiu asked.

“Jingqin Restaurant!””Drunken Joy Pavilion!” Ah Shu and Hu Dapao shouted at each other.

Chang Huang gave Su Jiu’s knee a squeeze as he smiled obediently. “I’ll go wherever Chief says!”

Su Jiu blinked. “Then, let’s go to Jingqin Restaurant!”

“Mmhmm!” Qiao An nodded in agreement. “Jingqin Restaurant is owned by the Ji Family. We might be able to get some news. We can go to other places next time!”

Since Su Jiu had decided on Jingqin Restaurant, Ah Shu could not object to it. Thinking about alcohol, he cheered up.

Without hesitation, Chang Huan drove the carriage and the party headed to Jingqin Restaurant.

The nanny followed along.

The streets were as lively as they had been when they entered town yesterday. Chang Huan and Ah Shu sat in front of the carriage, looking around excitedly. Everything was novel to them, and they even wanted to buy one of the sugar figurines to try.

It was noon when they arrived at Jingqin Restaurant. There were many people who were eating, and there were a lot of people in front of the building.

Su Jiu got off the carriage, looked up at the elegant architecture, and walked inside.

The first floor was the lobby, already full of diners. They played Jiuling and finger-guessing games as they drank, the place bustling.

The waiter appraised Su Jiu. A nanny and four attendants followed her, so she should be a young noble lady. He came forward to greet her, “Miss, may I expect that you’re eating alone?”

“Are you blind, am I not a person?” Hu Dapao glared, his voice booming. The entire lobby quieted down.

The nanny was embarrassed as she intervened carefully, “The waiter didn’t mean that!”

She replied to the waiter, “Yes, it’s for my young lady. Please give us a room!”

They had wanted to sit in the lobby to gather news, but now it was more appropriate to stay in a separate room.

If these people wreak havoc, she thought, Miss Su’s reputation will be tarnished!

The waiter was shocked by Hu Dapao, but he finally reacted hurriedly. “Alright, please follow me, Miss!”

Su Jiu stepped up as everyone followed.

The waiter frowned, and was about to say that the attendants should wait outside. However, seeing how ferocious they were, he didn’t dare say anything but bowed and led the way.

The Jingqin Restaurant shopkeeper at the counter saw them. He frowned as they walked past.

The waiter led them to the third floor and into a spacious room. “Take a seat, Miss. What do you feel like having today?”

The waiter smiled, as he poured tea for Su Jiu. As he served the tea, he froze. Not only Su Jiu took a seat, everyone else did too, as they stared at the fruit platter on the table.

“Can this be eaten?” Hu Dapao asked.

“Yes, yes it can!” The waiter nodded, stunned.

Immediately, everyone reached over and snatched the plate clean.

These fruits and pastries were complimentary dishes of Jingqin Restaurant. It was just for aesthetic purposes. Those who frequented the restaurant were rich and powerful and didn’t care for the fruits.

It was the first time that the waiter saw the fruits being snatched up, as he stood dumbfounded.

The nanny stood behind Su Jiu, frowning. She tugged at Su Jiu’s robes.

Swallowing her grape, Su Jiu coughed lightly, “What dishes are good here?”

The waiter came to his senses, and he glanced at Su Jiu weirdly, no longer like before. What kind of young lady is this? he thought.

She looks beautiful, but she eats together with her male attendants. The way she gobbles her food is horrifying too.

The waiter smiled forcefully and replied, “We have many signature dishes, and they are prepared by the best cooks in Shengjing. There’s Tianxiang abalone, roast duck, drunken crab and steamed deer…”

“Alright, alright!” Su Jiu interrupted. I have never heard of any of them before, she thought.

“I want all those you have mentioned. Serve them quick. And…” She counted how many people there were, “And five vats of your best wine!”

The waiter was shocked once again. However, he hurriedly reacted and nodded.

“Alright, please wait a moment, Miss. They’ll be served right away!”