Chapter 114

An hour later, Zhu Zi and Ganyu returned from outside, carrying lots of ingredients.

"Boss, we bought shrimp and mountain products!"

"Mm, I'll make Jueyun Flying Dragon Pot for lunch."

"We bought the shrimp from Old Liu's shop, caught fresh this morning. We also got two fish. Old Liu said the mooncakes we gave him the other day were delicious."

"Did you pay?"

"I tried, but Old Liu wouldn't take the money!"

"That's fine. When we make pastries next time, we'll send some to Brother Liu."

"We also bought a chicken. The vendor was very helpful and butchered it for us."

"We can make white-cut chicken."

"What's white-cut chicken?"

"Something delicious."

"Oh!"

"Put all the vegetables in the kitchen. We'll wash them later. I just made some tofu pudding, would you like some?"

"Yes!"

Xia Zhi took out two large bowls, scooped in two spoonfuls of smooth, snow-white tofu pudding, poured in heated brown sugar water, sprinkled some crushed walnuts and peanuts, and finally added a touch of osmanthus.

"Here, try it."

"Thank you, Boss"

Zhu Zi and Ganyu held the large bowls, scooped up a spoonful, watched the smooth tofu pudding gently wobble, and carefully put it in their mouths.

"Mmm~"

"How is it?"

"Delicious! The bean flavor is so rich! But not at all greasy!"

"This is vegetarian sweet tofu pudding. There's another way to eat it with chili oil."

"I want to try!"

"I'll make mapo tofu for lunch. The taste isn't too different."

"Yay!"

Ganyu looked at Shenhe, who was cutting bamboo shoots by the stove, and asked, "Junior Sister, have you tried it?"

Shenhe continued working while softly replying, "Yes, three bowls."

"..."

Ganyu silently lowered her head, and after finishing hers, asked for another bowl.

It's fine, it's just tofu pudding, this won't make me fat!

After eating the tofu pudding, the three girls helped wash and cut vegetables while Xia Zhi made mooncakes alone.

There was a knock from the front.

"Big Brother! Yaoyao is here!"

Xia Zhi smiled, wiped his hands, and went out with Shenhe to greet them.

"Madame Ping, Yaoyao, you've come. Please come in!"

"Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Xia."

"Oh, what disturbance? It's an honor that Madame Ping would visit. We don't have much to offer guests, but we just made some tofu pudding. Would Madame Ping and Yaoyao like to try some?"

"Yaoyao wants to eat!"

"Yes, we'll try some."

"Mm."

Xia Zhi invited Madame Ping and Yaoyao to sit down, then went to the kitchen to make two bowls of tofu pudding.

Madame Ping tasted a spoonful: "Mm... Mr. Xia's culinary skills are excellent. This is the best tofu pudding I've ever had."

"Madame Ping is too kind."

Xia Zhi smiled modestly.

After finishing the bowl of tofu pudding, Xia Zhi saw Madame Ping's platinum progress bar increase from [22%] to [32%].

Another one-tenth.

Besides massage-level physical contact interactions, feeding glowing cuisine seemed to be the fastest and most stable way to increase progress bars currently.

Xia Zhi sat and chatted with Madame Ping for a while, then stood up: "Madame Ping, I need to return to the kitchen to cook. Please excuse me."

Madame Ping smiled and shook her head: "Go ahead, Mr. Xia, don't mind us."

Xia Zhi went to the back.

Soon after, the aroma of baking pastries wafted out.

Yaoyao cutely sniffed the air, her eyes brightening: "It's mooncakes!"

Indeed, moments later, Ganyu came out carrying a plate of freshly baked exquisite mooncakes: "Streetward Rambler, Yaoyao, please help yourselves."

Madame Ping looked at Ganyu and nodded: "Your complexion looks much better. You used to work too hard, staying up late every night, your spirit was in poor condition. Ningguang told me she's considering changing Liyue's civil service system. Once specific measures are implemented, you shouldn't be so busy."

"Mm."

"You should have some time for yourself. Spend more time with Shenhe - it helps both her and you."

"Alright."

Madame Ping picked up a mooncake and put it in her mouth.

Fresh mooncakes, compared to cooled ones, had less oil reabsorption, so the texture wasn't as smooth and sweet, tending more towards crumbly and crisp, but still delicious.

Meanwhile, her platinum progress bar was quietly increasing.

Ganyu remembered something and, after hesitating, spoke up: "Madame Ping, I saw Miss Yelan come to Mr. Xia's shop yesterday."

Madame Ping smiled: "Don't worry, I've already spoken with Ningguang. Yelan probably just came for a routine investigation. Nothing will happen to Mr. Xia."

Ganyu felt relieved: "That's good. I'll go help in the kitchen."

Ganyu turned to leave.

At this moment, there was another gentle knock at the door.

Yaoyao obediently ran to open it.

"Qiqi, you're here too!"

"Mm... where's Mr. Xia?"

"Big Brother is busy in the kitchen. Come in quickly!"

"Okay."

"I'll go tell Big Brother you're here!"

Qiqi walked into the shop, saw Madame Ping, and politely greeted her softly: "Hello, Madame Ping."

Madame Ping looked at her and smiled gently: "Mm, Qiqi's here."

For some reason, Qiqi felt Madame Ping's gaze was somewhat strange, seeming to contain hints of guilt and helplessness.

She had met Madame Ping before but hadn't noticed this.

Perhaps... it was because her mind wasn't clear before, and she couldn't notice such details.

Qiqi paused briefly, lowered her head, and quietly sat down at the table.

Xia Zhi came out with Yaoyao and smiled: "Miss Qiqi is here."

Qiqi said softly: "Hello, Mr. Xia."

"We just made mooncakes, but since Miss Qiqi doesn't like hot food, let me light some incense for you instead."

"Thank you, Mr. Xia."

Xia Zhi took the incense burner and put in a whole piece of [Perfect Calming Incense], lit it, and placed it on the table.

A strange fragrance spread throughout the shop.

Qiqi smelled the incense, her small face showing satisfaction.

This was Madame Ping's first time smelling such incense, and she was inwardly surprised.

Such excellent calming effects must mean some spiritual herbs were used in its making.

This was practically spiritual incense, no wonder Qiqi liked it.

First the rainbow juice containing Vitality that could nourish the body, then this strange incense that could calm spirits and please gods - Mr. Xia really had quite a collection of good things.

As Madame Ping thought this, she heard Xia Zhi say to Qiqi: "Miss Qiqi, I have a gift for you."

"Mm? Is it incense? I haven't used up the last..."

"No."

Xia Zhi took out a cold, snow-white round pearl.

"It's this."

As if greatly attracted, Qiqi's gaze fixed on it and couldn't move away.

Her expressionless little face showed desire for the first time.

Qiqi didn't know what the pearl was, but her body instinctively told her she needed it, that with it she could become more "complete."

Xia Zhi took one of Qiqi's hands and placed the pearl in it.

"This is a pearl I found before. It can make the surrounding environment cooler. It's not very useful for me, at most for summer heat relief. But Miss Qiqi likes cool environments, so wearing it would be perfect."

"I..."

"I've been meaning to give it to Miss Qiqi, but I forgot where I put it. I found it a few days ago, and since it's the festival today, let me give it to Miss Qiqi as a gift. I hope Miss Qiqi won't mind."

"Not at all, I like it very much. Thank you, Mr. Xia."

"I'm glad Miss Qiqi likes it. I need to go back to the kitchen now."

"Mm..."

Qiqi held the pearl, watching Xia Zhi's figure disappear, still not looking away.

Beside her, Madame Ping looked at the pearl in Qiqi's hand, her expression very quiet.

Mr. Xia really had... so many good things.

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