NOVEL NEXT Chapter 121: Hot Pot
“Senior Tang’s visit is naturally welcome,” Qi Han responded quickly, though a bit surprised. “I wasn’t aware of Senior Tang’s presence in Star Luo City. Today, I invited the Shrek Academy’s team members to taste the new dishes at the new store. Since Senior Tang is here, why not join us?”
“Sounds good,” Tang Qianqiu’s eyes lit up at the mention of new dishes.
More new dishes?
He had come at the right time.
Among the crowd, Fu Ya frowned slightly as she glanced at the two twins in work uniforms in the small shop.
Were these the new waitresses? They seemed a bit clueless. Hopefully, they wouldn’t hinder the boss’s work.
But she didn’t say anything, silently considering her options.
After all, I’m just a member of the reserve team. I don’t need much preparation before the match. How about coming to help out at the small shop in my spare time?
Soon, everyone found the price list in the new shop and couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise after looking it over.
Crab Stuffed with Orange.
Ginkgo Biloba Dish.
Two new dishes!
Yue Lengxin’s heart trembled slightly. Although she hadn’t heard of these two dishes, just from their names, they seemed impressive. The Ginkgo Biloba Dish was as rare as Dongpo Pork in the small shop.
So, would she be able to taste Qi Han’s new dishes today?
Yue Lengxin inadvertently glanced at Qi Han for a moment, then quickly looked away nervously.
“Little Qi, why isn’t the Fish Belly Stuffed with Lamb on the menu?” Tang Qianqiu, more concerned about the Fish Belly Stuffed with Lamb than the two new dishes in the small shop, asked why it suddenly disappeared from the menu.
“As Senior knows, the Fish Belly Stuffed with Lamb caused quite a stir when it was served,” Qi Han chuckled wryly. “I just arrived in Star Luo City, and being so conspicuous isn’t ideal. It’s better to keep a low profile for now.”
“Oh?” Tang Qianqiu’s eyes flashed with a hint of curiosity.
Could it be that being high-profile in Shrek City was okay, but not here?
Did this mean that Qi Han’s backing in Star Luo City wasn’t as strong?
On one hand, this was an important clue for Tang Qianqiu to investigate Qi Han’s backing. On the other hand, it was also an opportunity for Tang Sect to express goodwill.
“No problem!” Tang Qianqiu waved his hand. “Keep selling it. I’ve been in Star Luo City all this time. Let me see who dares to mess with you!”
His words were domineering, but of course, Tang Qianqiu had the power to back them up.
Under Tang Qianqiu’s watchful eye, daring to harm the people he protected was a rare occurrence on the Douluo Continent.
Qi Han wasn’t aware that his simple desire to avoid trouble for the time being had been interpreted by Tang Qianqiu as something else entirely. Nonetheless, he was deeply grateful for Tang Qianqiu’s goodwill. “Thank you, Senior Tang, but let’s leave it for a few days.”
When business picked up at the small shop, they could reintroduce the Fish Belly Stuffed with Lamb.
“Alright.” Tang Qianqiu didn’t press further, quickly shifting his attention to the two unfamiliar dishes. “So, these Crab Stuffed with Orange and Ginkgo Biloba Dish are what you’re treating us to today, Mr. Qi?”
As Tang Qianqiu spoke, the others couldn’t help but also look at Qi Han, clearly sharing Tang Qianqiu’s curiosity.
“Not exactly,” Qi Han smiled faintly. “Certainly, these two new dishes will be served for everyone to taste, but they are not the main attraction today.”
“Oh?” Tang Qianqiu’s eyes showed a hint of surprise. At his level, there were few things that could exceed his control, but every time he visited the small shop, he seemed to be pleasantly surprised.
Perhaps this unexpected surprise was the reason he liked coming here.
Seeing the puzzled looks of the others, Qi Han pointed to the staircase leading to the second floor. “Let’s dine on the second floor. Follow me up.”
As everyone followed Qi Han upstairs, Qin Yue suddenly pushed Qin Yao next to her. “Sister, aren’t those the contestants from Shrek Academy?”
“Yes,” Qin Yao nodded somewhat absentmindedly.
At noon, the two girls had gone to watch the matches at Shrek Academy out of boredom. The strength of the students from Shrek had left a deep impression on her.
Having studied at the Star Luo Royal Academy before, Qin Yao naturally had a broader perspective than Qin Yue. These geniuses were far beyond her level. And now, Qi Han had casually invited them to the small shop?
His friends were the contestants and the head teacher from Shrek Academy?
The moment the two girls recognized the identities of the others, they were stunned in place, which was why Fu Ya had thought they looked a bit clueless.
Tang Qianqiu, dressed in casual clothes, was unknown to the two girls. If they knew that the person in front of them was not only a contestant from Shrek Academy but also the Sect Master of the number one sect in the world, they would have been even more shocked.
“Quick, let’s catch up!” Qin Yue suddenly realized, hastily pulling Qin Yao’s hand and hurrying up to the second floor.
In the second-floor dining area, everyone was stunned by the stunning interior design. Even Tang Qianqiu couldn’t help but inhale sharply.
Reaching out to touch the slightly uneven wall, Tang Qianqiu couldn’t help but chuckle helplessly. “I’ve traveled to many places, but I’ve never seen such a magical decor.”
If it weren’t for his spiritual sense instantly detecting the truth of this place, Tang Qianqiu would have almost thought he had entered some kind of independent space.
As for those from Shrek, except for Cao Rang and Yue Lengxin, who quickly caught on, the others were all dumbfounded.
Fu Ya stared around in a daze, suddenly having a thought.
With such a wonderful environment in this new shop, would the boss really return to the small shop in Shrek City?
Qi Han smiled and didn’t mind the confusion. “Let’s find seats first, everyone.”
Shrek Academy brought a total of sixteen people. However, as Cao Rang, being the senior dean, felt it would be awkward to sit with his junior colleagues, he and Tang Qianqiu sat together at one table. The other fifteen people, including Yue Lengxin, were divided into four tables and seated separately.
“Each of you has a menu in the drawer in front of you. Feel free to take a look,” Qi Han said, taking out a menu from the drawer at an empty table.
Opening the menu revealed 18 types of hotpot bases, each accompanied by exquisite pictures and detailed descriptions. Following the hotpot bases were hundreds of varieties of hotpot ingredients, each with detailed descriptions and thoughtful notes on the best ways to eat them.
Each ingredient was priced individually and calculated per portion, ranging from 1 Silver Coin to 10 Gold Coins. The prices for the 18 hotpot bases were all the same, each costing 20 Gold Coins per portion. Diners could choose a single base or mix up to four different ones for their hotpot.
As for dipping sauces and various condiments… Well, those were complimentary.
It’s worth mentioning that while the pricing was set by the system, the option to mix multiple hotpot bases was a result of negotiations between Qi Han and the system.
The hotpot flavor at the original Hai Di Lao Hotpot Restaurant in his previous life wasn’t particularly outstanding, but Qi Han loved the concept of mixing different bases. Now, with the opportunity to showcase the charm of hotpot in this world, he hoped diners would enjoy tasting various flavors of hotpot.