After they were seated, the waiter brought the tea and then asked, "What would you like to order, honored guests? Our signature dishes include roasted spiced pigeon, West Lake vinegar fish, roasted suckling pig, dried bamboo shoots with three kinds of seafood, chicken in tomato sauce. honey lotus root, drunken shrimp, mei dried pork belly, clear soup chicken, clear soup softshell turtle, honey duck, and soy beef. What would you like to try?"
"A portion of braised pork, a portion of stir-fried shredded pork with mushrooms, another portion of steamed egg custard, and two bowls of rice," Feng Xi said.
The waiter repeated the orders to confirm them and then said, "Alright, please wait for a bit, your dishes will be ready soon." After that, he turned and ran back to the kitchen.
It was Feng Xuxu's first time dining at an ancient restaurant, and her eyes curiously scanned the ancient inn. Suddenly, a red bonsai on the windowsill caught her attention, and she stood up to see if it was the species she was thinking of. Feng Xi saw Feng Xuxu stand up and quickly asked as he pulled her back, "Little sister, what's wrong?" He followed her gaze but didn't notice anything, and he asked with a puzzled look.
"Big brother, you sit for a while. I want to check the bonsai on the window. I'll be right back," she replied.
"Okay, go on, but come right back after you're done. Your meal is waiting," Feng Xi said softly.
"Got it," Feng Xuxu responded and briskly walked toward the window before he could finish speaking.
Feng Xuxu held the bonsai with one hand while examining the leaves and fruits of the chili plant. Although it was not the chili's fruit-bearing season, the well-cared-for potted plant had already started to bear fruit early.
Carrying the bonsai, Feng Xuxu found the waiter and asked where the Shopkeeper was. She wanted to buy the bonsai she held. The waiter, upon seeing that the bonsai was the one the Shopkeeper had just placed yesterday, led Feng Xuxu to a study room on the third floor. It didn't take long for the waiter to come out and tell Feng Xuxu the Shopkeeper was waiting for her inside the room and asked her to go in. She thanked the waiter and then knocked on the door twice before she heard a loud voice saying, "Come in."
Carrying the bonsai, Feng Xuxu entered the room, where she saw a row of bookshelves to the right of the door, all filled with books. In front of the bookshelves, there was a desk.
Sitting in front of the desk was a man in red, about twenty years old from his profile. He was looking down, seemingly lost in thought. Behind the man in red stood someone dressed in a tight black robe with a pair of black boots, his face cool and expressionless. Standing outside the desk was a man in his forties, with a round belly and a dark complexion, sporting a goatee and small, sharp eyes.
"Young lady, did my boy tell me you were looking for me?" The man with the goatee spoke up.
"Yes, Uncle Shopkeeper, I would like to buy this bonsai," Feng Xuxu said straightforwardly.
"Oh? Do you know what this little tree is?" the Shopkeeper asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Uncle Shopkeeper, this bonsai is not merely for ornamental purpose, but it's actually a type of vegetable, and I just happen to know this vegetable," said Feng Xuxu, placing the bonsai on the desk. She turned around to talk to the Uncle but didn't pay any attention to the man in red. After she turned her back, the man in red took a glance at Feng Xuxu, his eyebrows twitching and his eyes quickly sparkling before the gleam vanished. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, indicating he was in a very good mood.
The Shopkeeper, surprised, said, "You're saying this bonsai is actually a vegetable?"
"Yes, this plant is called chili, part of the dicot family. There are many types of chili, such as facing-heaven chili, bird's eye chili, Hangzhou chili, bell pepper, Qin chili, ghost pepper, and so on. This one is just a common red chili. With a large quantity of chilies, one can create many delicious dishes," Feng Xuxu explained at length, leaving the Shopkeeper dizzy, only understanding that this thing could also be used to make delicious food.
"Well, young friend, if you can use this chili to make a delicious dish, then I'll give it to you as a gift," the Shopkeeper pointed at the chili sprout as he spoke.
"Shopkeeper, do you mean what you say?" Feng Xuxu asked with a smile, revealing her little tiger teeth.
"Young friend, I'm older than your father; would I deceive a child like you!" the Shopkeeper replied, his mustache curling as he stared back.