It's Just a Sausage, Right?
When they arrived back at the Glacier Falls, it was nighttime.
They had just entered the city and were currently walking around the night market.
On the way back, the group had been discussing which restaurant to go to and what dishes they wanted to eat. They had agreed to go to the city's second best restaurant, The Napping Tiger.
It was located near the red light district of town. What made it so popular were the foods that it served to the various patrons who were lacking in stamina.
They entered an alley that was full of nightlife. It was decorated with many lanterns and women flocked the streets begging for men to enter their establishments. It was a typical marketing scheme that Chu Fan had seen in his past life; using pretty girls to lure customers in.
Chu Fan would constantly be in amazement as he saw passed by the many establishments and its many patrons.
"Eh, did you miss me already? Come in and let's have a drink or two?"
The many girls would speak these kinds of lines to the four bodyguards of Yi Gui.
"Oh, these seniors. Are you loyal patrons of these places? Will your wives be happy to know of this?"
They began to scratch their heads in embarrassment.
"Young master Chu, please don't kid. Our wives can never know of this."
Chu Fan raised his eyebrows.
"Oh, I was just teasing. Besides, I don't even know where you live. But he does."
He pointed at Yi Gui who was not amused. He didn't like places like these because he didn't like these women; they allowed themselves to become nothing more than an object of lust and entertainment for men.
"Young master, we will stop coming here in the future."
"Right, we promise to not ever come here in the future."
They swore with their palms held high.
"Hahahaha! With fingers crossed right? They mean specifically this establishment."
Chu Fan pointed at the place with the least amount of pretty gals. Yi Gui looked over and turned back with a gaze of fury. The guards only smirked as they had been found out by Chu Fan.
"Whatever, enough of this. Let's be on our way. I'm hungry."
The guards were a little frustrated with Chu Fan at the moment, but they would rather not offend him. He was simply a person that they couldn't underestimate or infuriate. Their young master Yi Gui, though, could be pleased later on; and he would forgive them eventually.
They arrived at the restaurant. It was a tall building that stood three stories tall. It was wide and grand with many decorations. The tables were clean and The atmosphere was lively as the many male customers ate happily while flirting with the many pretty waitresses.
"Hello customers. A table for six? Oh, master Yi Qianbi's people. Right this way."
They were greeted by the curvaceous owner/hostess who wore very loose fitting clothing; it left very little to the imagination of the many male patrons.
"This is young master Yi Gui, Yi Qianbi's son. Give us your best table."
"Oh, right. Sorry for not recognizing young master Yi. We of the Napping Tiger are honored to be graced with your presence tonight. Please, follow me."
The hostess brought them to the third floor of the restaurant. It was quieter here and the room had barriers, separating guests and giving them privacy.
A young girl came to greet them. She was about the same age as Chu Fan and Yi Gui. She was of a fair complexion. Her cheeks still retained a bit of baby fat, her lips and nose were small, and her eyes were light brown; her most noticeable feature. She had a timid nature.
"G-greetings, esteemed customers. I am called Ling Er. I shall be your server tonight."
"Ah, this is Ling Er, she is still a trainee here. We hope you will be patient with her. She has many things to learn."
They had kept her in the third floor as a way of allowing her to learn how to be a waitress with a smaller, more controlled amount of customers. With time and experience, she would lose her stutter and make a promising waitress like her seniors.
"M-may I please take your orders. Or would you like more time to choose?"
Chu Fan and the others placed their orders and started chatting.
"Wow, that girl is so young and she's working in this kind of place already. Her family situation must be rough."
Chu Fan sipped on his cup of tea as he thought of the many situations that a beauty went through to end up selling herself.
"Right, many women working here come from the slums if they were not sold off."
"They live a pitiful life indeed."
The guards shook their heads and sighed. They pitied the girls they had met; they had all learned the sob stories of the women they spent time with.
"Aigh. If only a certain young master and son of the minister of finance could save this one girl from a pitiful life. What a hero he would be to me."
Chu Fan turned to Yi Gui.
"Hmph! Don't try to trick me to take a silly little girl in. I won't have it with your tricks tonight. We came here to eat. Miss Ling, where's our food?"
"Ah, coming!"
Ling Er carried a tray full of food. Running, she tripped on herself and the food went flying through the air.
*Crash*
All the food landed on the table, splattering all of her guests.
"Hahaha, she's definitely not fit for being a waitress. Yi Gui, you had better rethink what you said. If she continues messing up, who knows what kind of punishments this girl will have to endure."
Chu Fan teased her. Ling Er got up from the ground and bowed repeatedly.
"Sorry! I am so sorry! Let me clean up."
"It's fine little girl. Just clean up the mess and we'll forget it even happened."
She began to clean everything up. While picking up the pieces of food off the guests, she arrived before Yi Gui where she stopped.
On top of his head was a very long piece of meat.
"What's wrong? It's just a sausage, right?"
Chu Fan moved in closer to see. His eyes widened as he knew exactly what was on Yi Gui's head. It was not a sausage, but a certain aphrodisiac ingredient from a specific beast, a Copper-Toned Tiger.
"Bwahaha. It's a sausage alright, but it's out of its casing and on your head."
The guards covered their mouths so as to not laugh out loud.
Yi Gui turned red from embarrassment and anger. This scared Ling Er.
"Sorry! I'll get it off you right away!"
She reached for it with her hands when out of nowhere, a pair of chopsticks had already pinched it.
"This is not for young girls of your age to be touching."
Chu Fan placed the "sausage" on her trash pile and she ran off to throw away the dropped food.
"I am sorry for her clumsiness. I hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive this girl."
The hostess had heard the commotion of broken plates and spilled food. She had rushed over to see what had happened.
"Miss hostess. Can you please tell us her story? I believe that a young lady like Ling Er would not come here looking for work if she were not desperate enough."
The hostess gave Chu Fan a surprised look. He didn't look like a very perceptive person to her.
"Okay, then."
The others leaned in to hear the story. Yi Gui acted like he wasn't going to hear any of it and sat quietly with his head turned towards the window.
Chu Fan knew he was secretly listening, as his head tilted a bit towards the others when things went silent.
Ling Er's story was similar to Chu Fan's. Her parents were medicinal experts that had died a year ago when they. she had been left alone to care for her two younger siblings. She lived off her inheritance while working odd jobs. Her money was had almost ran out at this point; in her desperation, she came here to beg for work. After winning the pity of the owner of the Napping Tiger, she was taken in as a small time waiter.
"Oh, so her story is rather pitiful."
Ling Er returned with newly cooked food; carrying them as if they were treasures this time. She slowly placed the food down, one plate at a time.
Chu Fan helped her place the food onto the table. His hand accidentally touched hers as they grabbed the last plate of food.
"Damn insolent pervert!"
Chu Fan's dropped the plate of food as he turned to see who was speaking such a familiar set of words. He was surprised to see Yao Lingyan staring at him, breathing heavily.
"Hehe. My sweetness, have you come here to eat also?"