The teahouse by the roadside was built under a few big trees, and there was a cool breeze blowing. The waiter was warmly greeting the guests and a lot of them were sitting under the pergola. When Ling Chuxi and her companions arrived, the waiter immediately welcomed them, asking if they preferred herbal tea or sour plum soup, and if they wanted any cooked meat.
“There are dishes as well?” Ling Chuxi was surprised. “Isn’t this just a teahouse?”
“Hehe, this is our side income.” The waiter chuckled. “Would the distinguished guests like to order our specialty? Our lady boss is very skilled at cooking.”
“Alright, then give me the specialties. Bring me a bowl of sour plum soup first.” After Ling Chuxi the foodie heard the waiter’s words, she looked around at the other guests. Most of them had ordered dishes, and the dishes looked good so she was agreeable.
The waiter served Ling Chuxi her bowl of sour plum soup very quickly. Ling Chuxi drank a mouthful with her eyes narrowed. After swallowing it, she was full of praise for the soup.
“Waiter, why is this sour plum soup so cooling? It’s tasty,” Ling Chuxi exclaimed.
“Actually, this is made using the stream water from the mountains behind us. It’s cooling and quenches thirst,” the waiter explained proudly. “We go early every morning to collect it.”
“So that’s how it is.” Ling Chuxi now had high expectations of the dishes. ‘If the sour plum soup is made so well, the other dishes will certainly be delicious too. Looks like the lady boss’ cooking is pretty good.’
The envoy heard Ling Chuxi’s praise, and wanted to try the sour plum soup as well. The others ordered the herbal tea or sour plum soup.
The dishes Ling Chuxi ordered were also served very quickly. They were not mind-blowing, but they were definitely authentic specialty dishes from the mountain village. They were full of flavor, and just the savory aroma from the food could work up one’s appetite. The lady boss’ cooking skills were indeed impressive.
Ling Chuxi picked up her chopsticks, and without any hesitation, attacked the food. Once the food was in her mouth, she closed her eyes in satisfaction. The speed of picking up food with her chopsticks made the envoy who was sitting at the same table stare at her. Ling Yichen and Baili Han were trained in martial arts too, and they were not slow eaters either.
The envoy was in an unfortunate situation. He picked up his chopsticks and aimed for a dish, but before he could reach for it, it was gone. After a while, he had yet to pick up any food. At last, he could only cry in his heart, and held his bowl to have his meal at another table. The people at the other table felt sorry for him, and said to him: “Sir, you have suffered.” And they placed a piece of meat in his bowl. The envoy was deeply touched and almost teared up. He silently swore that he would never share a table with Ling Chuxi and her companions the next time they were eating.
Finally, they finished their meal but the heat was suffocating, so Ling Chuxi did not feel like moving. At last, it was decided that the envoy and his escorts would leave for the town ahead first to put up for the night. Ling Chuxi and her companions would arrive later. After a while, Baili Han and the envoy departed together.
Ling Chuxi leaned over the table lazily, and ordered another bowl of sour plum soup. She planned to rest for a little while longer before departing.
It was at this moment that an elegant melody drifted over with the wind. It was a pleasant sound that sounded like the voice of a fairy. Coupled with the picturesque scenery of the surrounding alpine forest, it gave off a mysterious yet dreamlike feel.
Ling Chuxi raised her head in wonder and looked in the direction of the music.
Not far away, a palanquin was slowly approaching. It was adorned with gold and silver and the four sides of the palanquin were covered with pure white silk veils. It looked exceptionally elegant and luxurious.
In a poor and secluded village like this, it was truly a surprise to see such an opulent palanquin. However, what was more surprising was that there were four handsome young men carrying the palanquin. They had such delicate features and fair skin that quite a few of the women there were envious.