Chapter 202: Hunger
Noticing the slightly embarrassed expression on Keke's face, Qin Yue blinked and simply sat beside him. "Come, I'll teach you how to use them."
Keke's face flushed red again.
As he took in the fragrance from the girl beside him, he couldn't help but feel a little distracted.
Keke wasn't stupid.
With Qin Yue's patient explanation, he quickly grasped how to use the utensils in front of him called chopsticks.
Though still a bit clumsy, he managed to pick up a Xiaolongbao.
Seeing this, Qin Yue smiled softly and returned to her seat.
As Keke brought the Xiaolongbao closer to his mouth and nose, the fragrance he had smelled earlier grew even more intense, slowly seeping into his senses, making his mouth water.
Following Qin Yue's advice, he carefully bit a small hole in the dumpling and gently blew into it.
As the small opening appeared, a richer aroma exploded from within, the scent of the meat mingling with the delicate fragrance of osmanthus, becoming even more tantalizing with each puff of air Keke blew.
He had never encountered such a marvelous smell before.
His eyes widened as he cautiously brought his lips to the opening and took a deep slurp.
"Slurp~"
As the broth flowed through the small opening and into Keke's mouth, the rich and layered flavors overwhelmed his taste buds. It was a sensation he had never experienced before.
Could there really be such delicious food in this world?
He looked at the Xiaolongbao held between his chopsticks, his eyes glowing with excitement.
The dumpling, slightly deflated after the broth was sucked out, revealed its tender meat filling glistening with broth. In his eyes, it was the most precious treasure in the world.
As the broth reached his stomach, bringing warmth, the savory taste lingered in his mouth, refusing to fade.
Keke couldn't resist dipping the dumpling in a dish of vinegar and quickly popped it into his mouth.
The chewy dough wrapped around the tender, flavorful meat filling, combined with the hint of tart and refreshing vinegar, all came together as he chewed, creating an unparalleled experience.
The small, delicate Xiaolongbao disappeared in a few bites, and the light in Keke's eyes grew even brighter.
It was so delicious. Could such food really be eaten every day?
His chopsticks began moving faster.
He had thought that, after going through times of feast and famine, he wouldn't feel "hunger" anymore.
He had become used to it.
But now, after swallowing just one Xiaolongbao, his stomach started churning madly, craving more of the delicious food, and he found himself eating faster and faster.
"Slow down, don't choke. Have some soup."
Qi Han, noticing how quickly Keke was eating, smiled helplessly and pointed to the Boiled Cabbage in Clear Broth.
"Okay… okay." Keke reluctantly swallowed the Xiaolongbao and picked up the Boiled Cabbage in Clear Broth, using a spoon to scoop up a portion with a piece of tender, jade-green vegetable, and brought it to his mouth.
This soup alone cost 1,000 Gold Coins. Just one sip might be worth dozens of Gold Coins, right?
As the broth entered his mouth, an incredibly fresh and rich flavor instantly enveloped his taste buds.
It was a flavor that quietly seeped in, with a crisp and lively texture.
As he savored it further, the taste evolved, each moment bringing a new sensation.
What a miraculous dish.
The taste constantly changing in his mouth eventually seemed to fuse together into something entirely new—a flavor far surpassing the broth of the Xiaolongbao, reaching a pinnacle of freshness and savoriness.
Even though Keke could recite famous verses from the Star Poetry Anthology, he couldn't find a single word to describe this taste.
The tender cabbage melted in his mouth, its leaf-shaped petals dissolving after absorbing the broth.
The natural sweetness of the vegetable, combined with the rich broth, created a completely different yet equally delicious sensation.
Just one sip left Keke completely entranced.
So this is what a dish worth 1,000 Gold Coins tastes like?
It was indeed worth the price.
As soon as this thought crossed his mind, even he was shocked.
Did he actually think a dish worth 1,000 Gold Coins was worth it?
That was terrifying.
Setting down the spoon, Keke's curious gaze moved to the Crab Stuffed with Orange and Dongpo Pork Knuckle.
What kind of deliciousness would these dishes offer?
…
The three of them soon finished their meal, and Keke rubbed his swollen belly, feeling like it was the first time he had ever eaten so much.
Thinking about the food in his stomach, worth over 1,000 Gold Coins, he couldn't resist patting it again.
Seeing the Qin sisters cleaning up their dishes, Keke followed suit.
Qin Yue took this opportunity to explain how to use the store's equipment, like the dishwasher, and what a server's responsibilities were.
Keke took note carefully, though he hadn't actually done this type of work before, which left him feeling a bit anxious.
"Don't worry. Follow me first and see how I do it, then you can try." After explaining everything in detail, Qin Yue smiled warmly when she noticed Keke's lack of confidence.
Everyone starts as a beginner. You'll improve over time.
"Okay."
The girl's bright smile made Keke feel a warmth in his heart, and his earlier insecurity began to fade.
"Well then, let's start business!"
As Qin Yao walked upstairs, Qin Yue smiled and pushed open the doors of Small Shop restaurant.
Countless customers streamed in, all dressed well, many of whom Keke found familiar.
Feeling nervous, Keke clenched his hands in front of him, unsure of what to do.
Luckily, now that Keke was cleaned up and wearing his work uniform, no one recognized him as the little beggar from before.
"Hey, kid, come over here."
A voice called out from not far behind him.
Turning around, Keke saw a tall man wearing the yellow uniform of Tang Sect, seated like a mountain, with a menacing scar on his face.
A Tang Sect spirit master!
Keke hesitated before speaking, "Are you calling me, sir?"
The man scratched his head with his large hand. "You must be the new waiter at Small Shop. I haven't seen you before. I'd like to order."
"Oh!" Keke suddenly remembered his duties as a server.
He pulled out the notepad Qin Yue had given him and quickly ran over. "What would you like to order, sir?"
"I'll have…" The Tang Sect disciple quickly listed four dishes, smiling warmly. "Make it quick. I'm hungry."
Despite the man's fearsome scar, his smile was kind.
Keke nodded vigorously. "Of course!"
The things Qin Yue had taught him about being a server started coming back to him.
He swiftly jotted down the order and ran to the divider, tearing off the order sheet and placing it where the kitchen collected them.
Then he hurried to the next customer.
"Excuse me, what would you like to order?"
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