Elder Yang glanced at him, well aware of the bartender's intentions, and said with a smile, "Go ahead, young man, share your great idea. If your suggestions prove useful, this gold coin will be yours." Without making an overt move, a gleaming gold coin was already on the table. The Flame Love Bar's most famous cocktail, the Passionate Flame, cost just one gold coin. A single gold coin was enough to provide for a family of three in Li Fire City for a month.
What surprised everyone was that the little beggar didn't so much as glance at the gold coin but instead pointed to the central bar counter and arrogantly said, "If you want to taste a real Passionate Flame, let me go there and provide me with the necessary ingredients."
"You know how to mix drinks?" The bar owner and Elder Yang asked in unison. The nearby waiters even scoffed in disdain. The job of a bartender in the South Fire Empire was in high demand. But without time and experience, how could one become a skilled bartender? The words of the beggar child sounded like daydreaming.
Elder Yang's expression turned solemn, "Young man, honesty is the most important virtue, do you understand?"
The bar owner was now relaxed. In his mind, the boy in front of him was a mere boastful beggar, not a plant from another bar.
The little beggar pointedly said not looking at the gold coin, "Why not let the facts speak for themselves?"
Elder Yang frowned, "Can you really make a better cocktail than this Passionate Flame?"
A spark of anger flashed in the young beggar's eyes, and he shouted, "If I can't, you can have my life."
Seeing the anger in the little beggar's eyes, Elder Yang felt an undeniable confidence and pride emanating from his frail body. This was just a bottom-tier beggar, where did his confidence come from?
By this time, the unfolding event had attracted the attention of many individuals, and the beggar's words had aroused great interest amongst the bar-goers. Some even started shouting, letting him give it a try.
The bar owner regained his composure, bending over to whisper in Elder Yang's ear, "Let him try."
Elder Yang nodded slightly and said to the little beggar, "I hope you can surprise me. Boss Zhao, provide him with the necessary ingredients, and I shall bear the costs."
Boss Zhao responded with a pleasant smile, "It's nothing at all, how can we let you pay for this nonsense?" He waved to a waiter to take the little beggar over.
Upon hearing their talk, the little beggar immediately turned and headed towards the central bar counter. The bartenders did not see him as a threat, and they eagerly watched him while freeing up a workspace with various tools for him. The bartender who had previously made the Passionate Flame smirked and said, "Kid, do you want me to introduce you to the liquor here?" He pointed to the beautifully stocked liquor cabinet behind the bar.
Another young bartender snorted disdainfully, "Now even beggars dare to claim they can mix drinks. I don't know what the boss is thinking, allowing him in here. Isn't he afraid that he'll dirty the bar counter?"
The older bartender glanced at him and whispered, "Keep quiet, haven't you noticed Elder Yang seems interested in this kid? Otherwise, do you think the boss would have let him in?"
The little beggar seemed not to hear anything and didn't even glance at them. Although he was skinny, at this moment his back was straight, and the pride in his eyes was even stronger. He listed his requirements without turning back:
"One serving of tomato juice, one freshly squeezed lemon juice, one serving of Worcestershire sauce, one Tabasco and salt, and pepper."
The previous young bartender couldn't resist asking, "Are you cooking or mixing drinks?"
At this point, Boss Zhao and Elder Yang had also walked to the front of the central bar counter. Hearing the bartender's question, Boss Zhao frowned, "Do as he says, you have no manners."
The young bartender was still a little unwilling, muttering, "Let's see how this beggar embarrasses himself." He then turned and went to fetch the ingredients.
The little beggar seemed oblivious to it all, he turned and went to the sink specifically set up for the central bar counter and began to wash his hands. His washing was very meticulous, first wetting his filthy hands with water then applying soap, then scrubbing his hands and carefully washing each finger thoroughly, with meticulous attention to fingernails and even his wrists. The clean hands contrasted vividly with his dirty little face.
The middle-aged bartender who made the Passionate Flame was taken aback at first, then his surprise turned into solemnity and seriousness. As a bartender, one must be entirely focused and respect the drink one is preparing, a mark of respect to customers and oneself. He saw a glint of reverence in the young beggar's eyes. Clearly, the beggar was not paying any attention to the discussions going on around him and was fully focused on the drink he was about to prepare. Even for the middle-aged bartender, such concentration was not easy to achieve without deliberate effort, but it seemed so natural for this 11- or 12-year-old beggar. His washing process was seamless, as if he did it every day, and the fanaticism and dedication in his eyes when looking at the alcohol bottles were undeniably real. The middle-aged bartender felt that the devil was in the details and had gleaned much from observing the beggar's washing process.
A smile appeared on Elder Yang's face, and he muttered to himself, "This is interesting."
After washing his hands, the little beggar casually picked up a bottle of wine from the shelf, a bottle which he could barely reach. By the time he returned to the bar, the requested ingredients had already arrived. It was quite clear how long he had spent washing his hands.
The middle-aged bartender proactively handed a clean, crystal-polished wine mixing pot to the little beggar. He opened the pot, took out the strainer, and for a moment, his eyes seemed to lose focus, as if he was lost in memories.
By this time, a crowd of customers had already gathered around the bar, all curious to see what the little beggar could accomplish. At this point, the little beggar had already taken hold of the wine bottle in front of him and was beginning to pour it into the pot.