C25

On the first day, at dinner time, there were a few customers inside the restaurant. The waiter enthusiastically greeted them. After a while, the stove was filled with the sound of a hot spoon cooking. The hot dishes were quickly served to the guests. The customers either ate by themselves or drank from their tables. There were also some customers who hurried back after eating. Everything seemed so normal, and there was nothing strange happening to the guests.

At this time, a well-dressed old man arrived with a white jade hairpin in his bun and a jade belt around his waist. On the jade belt hung a delicate butterfly shaped scented bag, and on his feet were small, flowery boots, and he was leaning on a crutch as he slowly and unsteadily walked into the main hall. When the waiter saw that another guest had arrived, he quickly greeted him with a smile, and seeing that the old man's leg was inconvenient, he quickly led him to a seat at the side, where the old man sat down, and leaned over to the table. The old man narrowed his eyes and took a look at the dishes one by one. He took a sniff at them and nodded his head in satisfaction, then moved his chopsticks and began to eat with relish. The way he ate was really crafty, the chicken only ate wings, the fish only ate seeds, the hooves only ate the tendons, and the duck only ate the head.

Seeing the table full of good food, he said, "What a waste, this old man." Li Xian'er couldn't help but blurt out.

Li Xian'er looked at this old man who was very old, with his hair and skin like a crane, but his eyes were bright and full of spirit. As he ate, his eyes constantly scanned the surroundings, and it didn't seem like he had used his walking stick for a long time.

In the time it took for half an incense stick to burn, the restaurant's customers started to feel dizzy and nauseous. Seeing this, the old man took out a brocade handkerchief and wiped his mouth.

The next day, it was time for dinner again. A young, elegant woman dressed in beautiful clothing walked into the restaurant, and after taking her seat, she ordered a few dishes with the waiter, which were not too unusual, but the names of the dishes the waiter ordered were actually almost identical to the one the old man ordered yesterday. After a while, the dishes the woman ordered were served, and when Li Xian'er observed carefully, she was actually just as picky as the old man she had been yesterday, and after about half an incense's worth of time, the guests in the restaurant were poisoned again, and after looking at the dishes again, the girl quickly took out a silver ingot and placed it on the table.

Seeing that, Li Xian'er did not have the time to inform Qian Huanhuan as she hurriedly followed him out.

The two of them were about ten meters apart. The woman turned and walked in circles towards the restaurant that was just opened. After passing the lobby, she immediately went up the stairs. Li Xian'er also entered the restaurant and followed the woman upstairs, not wanting to be stopped by the bartender.

At this moment, the woman swept a glance at Li Xian'er from the corner of her eye before entering the first room on the second floor. In the course of her argument with the bartender, Li Xian'er learned that the second floor only had private rooms for high-ranking guests.

Helpless, Li Xian'er could only descend the stairs. At this moment, she heard a creaking sound from the door upstairs, and raised her head to look, only to see that it was the woman from just now coming out of the room with a brocade bag in her hand. She carried the brocade bag with her as she descended.

Li Xian'er didn't know what she was doing, but the moment she turned around, she received so much silver. Just as she was stunned, the woman glanced at Li Xian'er and smiled as she brushed past her. Li Xian'er looked again and saw a butterfly shaped sachet embroidered with emerald jade hanging from the silk sash on the woman's waist. Her eyes suddenly lit up. "This …" "This scented sachet …" Li Xian'er cried out in alarm. This unique scented sachet was worn by the old man who had come to eat at the Hibiscus Courtyard the other day. Thinking of the accessories, the same crafty and crafty way of eating, "Is this a coincidence or …" Only then did Li Xian'er regain her senses and chased after him. However, when she arrived on the street, she couldn't find a single trace of that woman.

Li Xian'er returned to the Hibiscus Inn listlessly. She went to the kitchen and saw Qian Huanhuan sitting by the stove, eating heartily. Her brows slightly furrowed as she said, "Eldest Miss, you're really good. I work so hard outside, yet you're so free and leisurely."

Before Qian Huanhuan could find the time to refute, the shop assistant hurriedly stepped forward to curry her favor and said, "Young Master might not know this, but Eldest Miss has an extraordinary way of eating. Eldest Miss does not care about her own safety and tested her poison, her courage is truly admirable!"

Hearing the assistant's words, Qian Huanhuan puckered her lips and proudly said, "Did you hear that? I'm not slacking off. I'm risking my life to try out this dish."

Li Xian'er helplessly looked at the mess on the ground and thought to herself, this doesn't seem like a test meal at all. What she said was indeed grand and dignified, but at this moment, she didn't have the time to complain, and quickly explained the situation to Qian Huanhuan. After discussing it, the two decided to head over to the Ju Yi Restaurant the next day to investigate.

On the afternoon of the third day, at lunchtime, the customers of the Ju Yi Restaurant gradually increased, the bartenders were extremely busy, the sounds of singing rose and fell incessantly, the sound of cooking spoons on the stove were constantly ringing, in the blink of an eye, the hot dishes were already served to the customers, while the customers were happily eating, drinking, and drinking while the wine.

At this moment, a fat man and a thin man came walking in through the lobby without looking at each other. The bartender saw two of them heading for the second floor and quickly called out, "Two, two guests, please stay here for now …"

The two of them stopped and turned around. Seeing that it was the bartender, the fat guy suppressed his voice and said impatiently, "What's wrong, what rules do you have for eating here?"

The bartender came in front of them and said, "It's like this, the rooms upstairs are all booked. I don't know the names of the two guests, otherwise, once the conflict is settled, it would ruin the mood of the two of you, right?"

What the bartender said was reasonable, but the fat man said rudely, "We just arrived, so we don't understand your rules. What do you want me to do? You can always tell first come first serve. I came first serve, so don't be long-winded." The two of them walked to the first room on the second floor and were about to enter, but were stopped by the bartender. The bartender said with a troubled expression, "Two guests, you are not allowed to enter this room."

"Why can't I? "Are you afraid that I won't have the money to give you?" The fat guy said angrily.

"This, this is the room our boss specially used. Without his permission, no one is allowed to enter."

The fat man wanted to argue, but the thin man gave him a look. He suppressed the fire in his heart and said: "Since that's the case, it won't be difficult for you. Then hurry up and make the arrangements, don't waste any more time, lest it ruin my mood."