Do not betray good food.
The waiter knocked on the door, interrupting Xiangbei's fanciful thoughts. He informed her that someone claiming to be Tong Chen was downstairs looking for Miss Tong Xiangbei. "It's Tong Chen, my brother. I arranged to meet him at Fuhai Lou after he finishes selling the mountain goods. I won't be eating; you two enjoy your meal." Xiangbei quickly got up, wiped her hands and face, and prepared to leave.
"How much have you eaten? If he's here, let him join us. Why the rush?" Cheng Mo stopped her.
"I've already discussed it with Uncle Zhong. I still need to teach the kitchen staff new dishes. I need to go quickly; once I've finished teaching, I can head back to the mountains."
"Have you seen the current weather outside? If you finish teaching and go back to the mountains now, what will the conditions be like? Do you plan to stay outdoors?" Cheng Mo urgently grabbed Xiangbei's sleeve.
"It's alright; every time I came to town before, my father or Tong Chen and I would stay overnight at the water pavilion outside Zebei Manor. We'd be able to reach home by noon the next day."
"Staying outdoors worries me. Tomorrow morning, I want to send you off. How about this – I'll talk to Tong Chen. Tonight, I'll arrange two rooms for you both in the inn so you can rest comfortably. You can set off tomorrow morning. How does that sound?" Qiao Er also stood up, persuading her.
"Yes, yes, what Brother Ziqiu said is right. Your belongings are still in the room. Fuhai Lou is both a restaurant and an inn. I'll have someone arrange for Tong Chen. Let's go down together and see how your cooking is, alright?"
"Alright, I'll go to the kitchen first. You guys talk to him."
Heading downstairs, Tong Chen briefly instructed with Uncle Zhong and went to the kitchen, leaving the two who pulled him to find a nearby seat. They indulged in food, drinks, and casual conversation, prying into the details about the Tong family. It wasn't that Xiangbei intentionally ignored Tong Chen, but facing someone so close to Tong Xiangbei on their first meeting, all the understanding was pieced together from fragments in her mind. Feeling nervous, Xiangbei instinctively chose to withdraw. It's unclear what they discussed or how much they drank, but Tong Chen, in a carefree manner, declared, "I'll follow Miss Bei's lead. Gentlemen, please take care of the rest." A waiter assisted him to the upstairs room, and the two refreshed individuals circled to the kitchen.
Earlier, Xiangbei had planned to innovate fish dishes continuously, aiming to make it the star series of the season. The renowned chef Yang Diewu, whose knife skills in cutting and chopping were mesmerizing, couldn't go to waste. Therefore, Xiangbei selected dishes like Chrysanthemum Sugar Vinegar Fish, Shunde Thousand-Layer Boneless Fish, and Ginger Silk Steamed Back-flower Scale. Starting with different cooking methods like frying, boiling, and steaming, she unexpectedly encountered a delightful surprise with the appearance of spiral red peppers. Tongbei's taste buds tingled, and various spicy and flavorful dishes crowded her mind. Regardless, today, she decided to treat her lonely heart with a Spicy and Sour Boiled Fish, adhering to her father's saying: "No matter when, where, or under what circumstances, one must not forsake good food."