Chapter 16 – Delicious, Looks Good, But a Bit Expensive
Si Xu opened the video and saw a young man wearing a hat and mask being stopped by a suited man. The suited man tried to pull him back and even reached for the bag the young man was holding. A group of people rushed out from the Blue Duke store; the security dragged the suited man away, and another person quickly escorted the young man into the store. Many people were watching, and the scene was chaotic.
No wonder Wen Qin suspected that the person was Lin Jiu; his long, smooth hair was very distinctive, even with the mask.
Si Xu called Ji Anchen to ask why the video hadn’t been suppressed.
Ji Anchen said, “I asked him if he needed my help, but he said no. I’m not sure if he wants the video to be more widely known. If his identity is exposed, many jewelers will likely come after him…”
“He wouldn’t want people to know. We need to suppress it quickly and prevent the situation from escalating.” Si Xu ended the call and began arranging for the news to be suppressed, hoping it wasn’t too late.
Before long, Ji Anchen called again. “How do you know he doesn’t want people to know? Do you know him?”
Si Xu replied, “If he wanted people to know, he wouldn’t be hiding his identity.”
Ji Anchen thought for a moment. “That doesn’t seem right. He came today to return my money and was adamant about not accepting any extra payment. When I mentioned it was my family’s request and that I couldn’t refuse, he hesitated. Then, when I mentioned my cousin’s illness and how the Black Star Pearls helped him sleep, he ended up giving me 12 more pearls, saying they were compensation. Doesn’t that seem strange to you?”
Si Xu chuckled. “Not strange.”
He figured Lin Jiu must have seen the video and guessed who the “cousin” was.
“Honestly, do you know him? If you do, could you introduce me? I’ve tried several times to get exclusive rights to sell Black Star Pearls, but he’s always refused. I’m worried he might sell them to someone else, and all the reputation we’ve built at Blue Duke would be for nothing.” Ji Anchen sounded troubled.
“He probably won’t,” Si Xu said. “Focus on suppressing the news; let’s not get sidetracked.”
“I’ve already sent people to handle it. I don’t want his identity exposed more than anyone else. You really do know him. Who exactly is he? Please introduce me.”
“It depends on his own wishes. If he doesn’t want his identity known, don’t force it.”
Both parties acted quickly, and the video’s popularity was soon suppressed. The video was taken down, and the news about the “Black Star Pearl Original Merchant” quickly disappeared from the internet, disappearing so fast that Lin Jiu, the person involved, didn’t even realize a video about him had gone viral and then vanished.
Lin Jiu was at the store, trimming and arranging flowers.
The laundromat owner was right; fresh flowers wilt easily. He disassembled the flower baskets, bought some vases, and planned to keep the flowers alive longer with proper maintenance.
That evening, when Si Xu came by, he only saw two ugly flower baskets by the window; the other baskets were gone.
“I came by at noon and thought these two flower baskets were all there was. It was only when I asked Lin Jiu that I found out all the fresh flowers had been taken. What’s going on? I always feel like he’ll be bullied in this store,” Jiang Ge said, tagging along for a meal because he realized that following Si Xu meant more seafood.
When they entered, they saw numerous vases arranged throughout the store—one on each table, in the wooden grid, the cashier counter, and the bar. Any place that could hold a vase had one. The vases varied in size, and the bouquets were different, creating a vibrant and engaging atmosphere.
Lin Jiu looked up, saw Si Xu coming in, and quickly averted his gaze. “Please go to the private room. I’ll be with you soon.”
The kitchen was filled with a fragrant steam as Lin Jiu moved about methodically. Each motion was smooth and natural, as if he had done it countless times before. Watching him prepare the food was truly enjoyable.
Si Xu, wearing a mask, couldn’t be seen clearly, but his eyes were definitely smiling.
Jiang Ge leaned on the bar, asking, “We haven’t ordered yet. How do we know what we’re eating? Is there a new dish?”
“Today is the grand opening. Thank you for the flower baskets. I’ve specially prepared some new dishes for you,” Lin Jiu replied. Despite the limited ingredients, he managed to create a variety of flavors. Different methods of preparation brought out new tastes from the same ingredients.
Jiang Ge was surprised. “So the flower baskets were from Si Xu? Why didn’t you say anything? We could have sent them together.”
Si Xu chuckled lightly, “Send the same flower basket together?”
“What’s wrong with that?” Jiang Ge didn’t understand why it mattered to send the same flower basket.
It was indeed a problem for Si Xu; he didn’t want to send the same flower basket.
Si Xu moved to the bar. “Do you need any help?”
Lin Jiu’s knife wobbled slightly, nearly cutting his finger. “No need, you can go to the private room. It will be ready soon.”
Si Xu noticed Lin Jiu’s awkwardness but didn’t let it affect him and went to wait in the private room.
Soon, Lin Jiu arrived with a large tray, laden with dishes that left Jiang Ge in awe.
Lin Jiu placed a clay pot on a bamboo mat and lifted the lid. The aroma wafted out with the steam.
“Crab porridge is soft and easy to digest, good for the stomach.”
The golden crab porridge, garnished with a bit of green, had an enticing smell that made one’s mouth water.
Lin Jiu used a wooden spoon to serve two bowls and placed them in front of Si Xu and Jiang Ge.
Next, Lin Jiu brought out a rectangular stone plate with two roasted crab legs. The legs were so large that they filled the entire plate. The shells had been opened, and the succulent white crab meat was topped with a thick, flavorful sauce, making it irresistible just by the smell.
“Roasted crab legs with sauce.”
Lin Jiu then presented two palm-sized scallop shells, each containing a clear broth with a piece of square Black Star clam meat and a few pomegranate red fish roe on top.
“Fish roe clam meat soup.”
Lin Jiu placed a black stone slab on the table and laid a thick slice of grilled silver carp on it. The slab sizzled as the cod cooked, filling the air with a delightful aroma. Lin Jiu pressed down lightly with tongs, flipped the carp, and continued to cook until the fish was golden and crispy. He then plated it and brushed a special sauce onto the grilled carp.
“Stone-grilled silver carp.”
Finally, Lin Jiu brought out two small, elegant cups. Despite their small size, they were rich in content: a spoonful of jadeite rice, a small piece of green lettuce, a slice of silver cod, a horn shrimp, and three pieces of rock skull fish roe, all drizzled with special sauce.
“Assorted sashimi cup.”
Lin Jiu carefully portioned the food, ensuring they would have enough to eat without waste.
After setting up the dishes, Lin Jiu invited them to enjoy their meal.
Jiang Ge was thrilled. “I’m glad I came tonight. Following Si Xu has led to such wonderful food. Looking at these dishes and presentation, I’m starting to feel disappointed with my own Bai Ge Wan.”
Jiang Ge excitedly took several photos with his phone, planning to show them to Fang Qiankun. He wondered why, as a chef himself, Lin Jiu’s dishes looked so exquisite and delicious, while they couldn’t achieve the same.
Lin Jiu, wearing a mask, had his expression hidden, but his ears were secretly turning red.
Si Xu smiled. “Let’s sit down and eat together.”
“You go ahead. I still have work to do.”
At that moment, a bell rang. Lin Jiu picked up a tray and went out, seeing two young girls standing at the door.
“Are you the owner?”
The two girls were surprised. The owner was tall with a great figure. With such a good figure, they assumed the owner would be attractive, but the mask hid their face. The long hair was quite noticeable though, styled loosely and looking casual.
“Hello, I’m the owner of Demon Fish,” Lin Jiu said as he walked into the kitchen.
The voice was very pleasant too!
The two girls, who had just graduated from college, were in the age where they appreciated handsome men.
Han Yao Yao leaned on the bar and said with a grin, “We live next door and just got off work. We were planning to go out for dinner. We heard from Grandpa Xu that a seafood restaurant opened next door, and the decor is really nice, though a bit pricey. We just came to see what makes it so expensive.”
Lin Jiu gestured to the left wall. “Please check the dining rules.”
The girls looked puzzled and then turned to see the rules. They were taken aback. “The owner has quite a personality.”
They looked at the menu on the small blackboard, which only listed seafood rice at three different prices.
“Wow, it’s really expensive!”
Han Yao Yao asked with a smile, “Owner, is your seafood rice tasty? Given the price, it should guarantee great flavor, right?”
Lin Jiu replied, “That’s for you to decide. I can’t make the call.”
Han Yao Yao leaned over the bar. “Owner, what do you look like? If you’re handsome enough, I’ll order a large seafood rice even if I have to eat nothing but dirt for the rest of the month. Could you take off your mask and let us see?”
In the private room, Si Xu’s chopsticks paused.
The store was quiet, and the soundproofing of the private room was average, so the conversation outside was clearly audible.
Si Xu heard Lin Jiu’s response, “One bowl of seafood rice won’t last a month; it’s best to eat according to your means.”
Si Xu smiled and continued eating.
Han Yao Yao puffed up her cheeks. “So, why is your seafood rice so expensive? As neighbors, could you give us a discount?”
Lin Jiu pointed to the dining rules on the opposite wall. “No bargaining.”
Han Yao Yao exaggerated, “Wow, the owner is so ruthless with girls. Be careful not to end up without a girlfriend.”
Lin Jiu didn’t respond.
Han Yao Yao continued teasing, “How about introducing us to the seafood in the seafood rice?”
Lin Jiu pointed to the wall again, indicating her to check the third item herself without asking about the ingredients.
Han Yao Yao didn’t look at the dining rules but continued to gaze at the owner. “Your voice sounds so pleasant. Why don’t you talk more? And your eyes are really beautiful; you must be very handsome, right?”
Lin Jiu remained silent, but Han Yao Yao kept trying to provoke a response.
In the private room, Jiang Ge found it hard to believe. “Is Lin Jiu being flirted with?”
Si Xu put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and put on his mask before heading out.
“Hey, where are you going?” Jiang Ge got up to follow.
“Keep eating,” Si Xu said as he closed the door, almost catching Jiang Ge’s nose.
“The seafood rice is delicious; once you try it, you’ll never forget it. Do you want to give it a go?” Si Xu approached.
The two girls were surprised, looking at the man who was also tall and well-built, even taller than the owner. He wore a mask, but his eyes were striking and had a cold edge, giving off an intimidating aura, quite different from the playful demeanor of the owner.
