novelzi Chapter 68.1
Chapter 68.1
As soon as customers walked inside the freshly opened hot pot restaurant, there were two rows of women dressed identically with flawless makeup, yet devoid of any trace of artificial scent. They all wore warm smiles on their faces, radiating genuine kindness and sincerity.
An observant person counted them and found exactly eight.
Qing Ning led the group inside one by one, providing customers with basic service and handing out menus for their orders.
Their demeanor was warm and gentle, their service thoughtful and considerate, making the customers felt at ease without being overly fawning.@@@@
Jiang Zhou personally experienced this and couldn’t help but marvel. Maids trained by wealthy families truly excel in making people felt comfortable. They were adept at reading cues and responding appropriately, never making anyone felt uneasy. It was just right.
Had the townsfolk ever experienced such attentive care?
Having grown up as simple farmers, they had never been pampered so sincerely. To them, this level of service was typically reserved for the affluent – suddenly, the modest sum they paid felt remarkably worthwhile!
This sentiment solidified further when Qing Ning and her colleagues gently explained that the customers had to choose their own soup base, but the mushroom soup base at the center of the table was complimentary.
The hearty mountain-fresh soup base, paired with succulent meat cubes dipped in savory sauces, proved immensely satisfying.
Of all the options, the wolf peach soup base stood out with its robust flavor. Unlike the ones they cooked at home, lacking with a hint of bitterness, this soup base seemed to feature only the finest wolf peaches, cooked down to a rich, flavorful soup base.
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When Jiang Zhou delved into Lu Heng’s memories, he developed a craving for the crispy fried pork of modern cuisine. Its exceptional taste lingered in his memory, prompting him to recreate the recipe, experimenting with various techniques.
His approach differed from the conventional method; he marinated the meat in fermented bean curd before frying. Initially, he used spice powder for seasoning, but upon finding it clashed with the pepper powder he enjoyed, he switched to fermented bean curd, which imparted a stronger flavor.
Anticipating Liu Lin’s persistence, Jiang Zhou instructed Qing Ning, “Be vigilant in the restaurant during the week, and don’t allow anyone to cause trouble.”
Qing Ning assured him, “Don’t worry, nothing escapes our eyes.”
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Despite their assurances, a major incident occurred shortly thereafter.
Just a little after a customer entered the restaurant to dine, he began foaming at the mouth.
With dinner service in full swing and a queue forming outside, the sight of a man collapsing sent shockwaves through the whole restaurant.
Reacting swiftly, Qing Ning summoned Qing Ju. Qing Ju, as someone who had once served the old madam of noble family and had picked up a few medical skills from a local doctor to care for the elderly. However, upon her approach, Qing Ju was shoved aside.
A distraught woman clung to her husband on the ground, wailing, “Get away! Your soup base is poisonous! My husband’s been poisoned by you! What more harm do you intend to cause?”
Her cries were genuine, stirring sympathy among those who heard. The accusation of poisoned soup base grabbed everyone’s attention.
Concerned customers around them demanded evidence, “You claim the soup base is poisoned, but do you have proof?”
Amidst her tears, the woman protested, “My husband was fine when he arrived. He’s like this after just two bites. If it’s not poison, what else could it be?”
Stepping forward, Qing Ning refuted, “That’s impossible. Our soup base is prepared from the same pot. Why would it poison only you and not others?”
Undeterred, the woman retorted, “Who knows what you’re up to. Regardless of the reason, my husband was poisoned after dining here. Don’t bother with excuses!” Her words sparked a flurry of discussion among the onlookers.