bestfiction Chapter 310: Making fun of Little 2
Chapter 310: Making fun of Little 2
Chapter 310: Teasing the Waiter
The man walked off the stage and stopped beside Shen Bin, who was still eating. The man slammed his hand on the table and said menacingly, "Shen Bin, we'll settle this score later." He then turned and left. Those present, including those on stage, had no idea what grudge Shen Bin had against this bully, and each harbored their own thoughts.
The sound of gongs and drums rang out again on the stage. Ji Meiqing quickly smoothed things over. Zhao Ning'er and Zhao Lei both came out from behind the screen. Ji Meiqing cupped her hands in a gesture of respect and said, "Today is the grand opening of Zuixianlou. It is an honor that everyone could come to watch our performance and patronize our business. There was a small accident, and I hope you will not mind." After saying this, Ji Meiqing bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle and then retreated behind the screen on the stage.
"I wonder if you all enjoyed my performance?" Zhao Ning'er said in a theatrical tone. The guests below the stage all said in unison, "We thoroughly enjoyed it!"
Zhao Ning'er smiled sweetly and said, "Could you gentlemen please give me some money to help me make ends meet?" Sure enough, the mention of money silenced everyone present. Zhao Ning'er's smile stiffened slightly. Someone tossed a silver ingot onto the stage, saying, "Young lady, your acting is excellent!" Following this, the other guests also began to tossing money. Zhao Ning'er hadn't expected so much silver. Perhaps due to her long-standing poverty, she couldn't hide her joy at seeing so much money.
He kept thanking the guests. It was past midnight when the guests gradually dispersed. Although the restaurant was empty, it wasn't as quiet as before; at least the lively atmosphere remained.
Downstairs, Shen Bin, Lu Yu, Uncle Yin, and the servants and waiters were all sitting at a table. Ji Meiqing walked over, and the table was covered with silver coins and banknotes. Ji Meiqing found a place to sit down and asked, "Uncle Yin, how much did you earn today?" Yin Lie was still calculating and it took him a while to say, "Miss Li, there were no empty seats upstairs or downstairs tonight, and the income was over seven thousand taels."
Ji Meiqing was somewhat disappointed upon hearing the figure. She had estimated it to be ten thousand, but since some people couldn't afford anything too expensive, most of the dishes were relatively inexpensive. Zhao Ning'er and Zhao Lei, having changed their clothes upstairs, came downstairs and saw several people gathered together. They said to Ji Meiqing, "Sister Ji, the guests just gave us over two thousand taels in tips." As Zhao Ning'er spoke, she handed Ji Meiqing a bundle. Ji Meiqing took the bundle; it was quite heavy, and she couldn't help but marvel at the generosity of wealthy young men in ancient times.
Ji Meiqing didn't open the bundle but returned it to Zhao Ning'er. Zhao Ning'er looked at Ji Meiqing with some confusion. Only Lu Yu knew the reason for Ji Meiqing's actions, and everyone else present also looked at Ji Meiqing with strange eyes. Shen Bin remained expressionless but was very curious about what Ji Meiqing was up to.
"This money is all earned by you, so it belongs to you. I have no right to interfere," Ji Meiqing said to Zhao Lei and Zhao Ning'er. Zhao Ning'er wanted to refuse, but a fierce look from Ji Meiqing frightened her, so she had no choice but to take the bundle in her hands. Zhao Ning'er and Zhao Lei also found a place to sit down.
Yin Lie counted several times, arriving at over seven thousand taels. No matter how much Ji Meiqing couldn't accept it, she eventually acknowledged the amount. Shen Bin took out three thousand five hundred taels and gave it to Ji Meiqing, but she scoffed, "Why is Young Master Shen in such a hurry? Our cooperation is permanent. Give me the money at the end of each month, not a penny less." Shen Bin paused, realizing his actions were inappropriate, and quickly took back the silver, awkwardly smiling as he said, "Miss Ji is right. The accounts will be settled at the end of the month; you won't be shortchanged a single penny."
Almost all the wine for today has been sold, with only two jars of Nu'er Hong left. Nu'er Hong is expensive, and only wine connoisseurs and wealthy people buy it; everyone else drinks ordinary, cheaper wines. The vegetables in the kitchen are also almost sold out, with only some vegetarian dishes, a few eggs, and the smallest crucian carp left. Two bags of rice have also been used. All things considered, today's harvest is just enough to break even. Ji Meiqing was quite pleased with herself.
Ji Meiqing asked the cook to prepare some dishes for everyone to eat together. Because there were too many guests today, there were very few dishes available. The only meat dish was the smallest crucian carp that was left, along with an egg drop soup, stir-fried eggplant, green beans, and cabbage. The cook also prepared a dish of fried peanuts.
Ji Meiqing said, "Waiter, go get a jar of Nu'er Hong (a type of red wine)." The waiter, knowing the price of Nu'er Hong, hesitated, waiting for Shen Bin to speak. Shen Bin remained silent, and Ji Meiqing, sensing the tension, said, "Go ahead, it's a new opening day, you won't be able to drink this Nu'er Hong again. It's on me, go ahead." As soon as Ji Meiqing finished speaking, the waiter excitedly went to fetch a jar of Nu'er Hong and placed it on the table.
The waiter and a few other servants went to get the bowls and chopsticks and set them out. After setting them out, they went to the kitchen, where the cook was busy running around, sweating profusely, but he didn't seem tired at all. He was happy that others liked the food he made.
The dishes were all on the table, and the fire in the room was extinguished, except for the coal stove which was still burning, with fluffy white rice in the pot. Ji Meiqing invited them to eat together, and so the master and servants ate in a lively atmosphere. Ji Meiqing opened the wine, and its fragrant aroma filled the air. Those who knew wine would salivate at the smell, while those who didn't would only want to taste it.
Ji Meiqing glanced at the people sitting there. Apart from the waiter who was drooling, the others didn't seem to have much of an expression. She chuckled and said, "Waiter, bring me a bowl, you go first." The waiter, who had been looking at the wine in Ji Meiqing's hand, suddenly wiped his mouth and realized he had lost his composure. Everyone else was laughing at him, and he stood there with a red face.
Ji Meiqing jokingly added, "If you don't come over soon, there won't be any left, or very little left." Upon hearing this, the waiter quickly moved towards Ji Meiqing, staring intently at the wine in her hand, almost tripping and falling, which made everyone burst into laughter. Ji Meiqing couldn't help but laugh too. Despite being laughed at, the waiter shamelessly handed the bowl to Ji Meiqing.
Seeing the waiter's frustration with the wine, Ji Meiqing poured him a full bowl. The waiter didn't rush to drink it, but savored it slowly, while everyone else laughed heartily. Ji Meiqing poured a bowl for everyone, and just like that, the entire jar of wine was empty.
They ate and drank, chatting and enjoying themselves immensely. When the food was ready in the kitchen, the waiter turned off the fire and brought the food to the front hall, serving a bowl of rice to everyone.
After the meal, while the waiter and two servants were clearing away the dishes, Yin Lie, Zhao Ning'er, Zhao Lei, and Uncle Lin went to the inn. The three young ladies, having nowhere else to go, had no choice but to follow them. Ji Meiqing asked the waiter to arrange accommodations for the cook and the other two servants.
Shen Bin found a seat and sat down, then invited Ji Meiqing and Lu Yu to join him.
"Miss Ji, we can no longer cooperate with this restaurant," Shen Bin said apologetically.
"Why? You saw today's revenue and customers," Ji Meiqing asked anxiously. Shen Bin didn't want to talk, and Ji Meiqing didn't know if it was something he couldn't say or something else, but whatever it was, she wanted to know the reason.
Shen Bin was reluctant to speak, but not wanting to disappoint Ji Meiqing, he said, "The person who came to cause trouble today is the eldest son of the Minister of Rites, and he is my father's sworn enemy in court. He will definitely have his father submit a memorial to the emperor about this matter." He stopped there and remained silent. Although it was only a few words, everyone understood what he meant.