Chapter 182 - Hospitality (1/2)
Lady Fang looked in the direction of her niece’s line of sight. Sure enough, Prince Jing’s second son, Zhu Junxi, was talking to someone who appeared to be a manager. At this time, there were several people, who looked like merchants, coming out of the restaurant with a disappointed expression.
“Forget it, Godmother will treat you to a meal at Fulin Restaurant to try their specialty dishes! In your godfather’s letters, he mentioned that there are a few long-established restaurants in Tanggu Town and they each have their own specialty dishes. You can just invite us to eat at Zhenxiu Restaurant on another day.” They had only just met, but Lady Fang felt that she was kindred spirits with this little girl. Thus, she provided a way for her to get out of this awkward situation.
Yu Xiaocao smiled genuinely at her godmother, held her hand, and stepped into the main entrance of Zhenxiu Restaurant.
“This guest, I’m really sorry! All our tables for today has been reserved three days ago. We really can’t get an empty table for you, let alone a private room…” The head manager had a keen eye for people. He was absolutely certain that the dignified and noble young man in front of him had an extraordinary family background. However, integrity was very important in business. He couldn’t cancel other people’s reservations, which they got with much difficulty, for him just because he was someone of high status. Wouldn’t that be ruining their own reputation? Hence, he could only sincerely apologize.
Zhu Junxi had a slightly unpleasant expression on his face. Generally, big restaurants would have a couple private rooms reserved for the owner’s friends. Although he didn’t know the owner of Zhenxiu Restaurant, there could be an exception for everything. He was willing to pay double the price to borrow the reserved private room for a one time use, but this manager wouldn’t agree no matter what…
He took in a deep breath and was about to say something when he was interrupted by a clear voice behind him, “Uncle Manager, is Third Young Master here today?”
The head manager smiled apologetically at Zhu Junxi and then looked at Xiaocao, who was behind him. He smiled until his eyes had narrowed into a line, “Miss Xiaocao, our boss went to send a batch of vermicelli and century eggs to the capital. He just left this morning! Are you looking for our boss?”
“It’s nothing! My godmother came from afar, so I wanted to borrow Third Young Master’s reserved private room to entertain her.” Yu Xiaocao bluntly stated her intention.
The head manager quickly said, “What do you mean by borrow? Our boss has already said that Miss Xiaocao can use his private room whenever you like!”
“Then thanks a lot Uncle Manager!” Yu Xiaocao showed a sweet smile, and then walked up the stairs beside the main hall to the second floor with familiarity!
Zhu Junxi finally couldn’t help but pull a long face and angrily said, “Manager, everything should be done on a ‘first come, first served’ basis! I just talked to you in a good-natured way for a long time and was also willing to pay double the price to use the private room, but you wouldn’t agree no matter what. Yet, you readily agree to let someone use it now?”
After all, he was the second son of Imperial Prince Jing. The dignified and imposing manner within his anger caused the head manager’s heart to become stagnant for a moment. In spite of the patron’s rage, the head manager explained, “That private room is our boss’s exclusive room, so except for entertaining friends and relatives, it won’t be lent to outsiders. Miss Xiaocao has a very special relationship with our boss. She can be considered a partial owner of Zhenxiu Restaurant, so…”
“Second Young Master, we don’t have a lot of people. If you don’t mind, let’s dine together!” Xia Furong didn’t expect that the wretch could really get a table, moreover, it was a private room. Seeing that Second Young Master Zhu had encountered an obstacle with the head manager, she felt that this was a rare chance, and thus she made an invitation.
Zhu Junxi had just noticed that Lady Fang was not far behind him. He faintly glanced at Xia Furong, and his impression of her became even worse. Disregarding the custom that men and women should dine at different table after the age of seven, Xia Furong wasn’t the one who got the private room and she also wasn’t the one paying for the meal. To make the invitation without asking the host first, she was seriously too rude!
He ignored Xia Furong; instead, he bobbed a greeting towards Lady Fang and said in a graceful manner, “Lady Fang, good to see you again!”
Lady Fang was quite displeased with her niece’s nearly fawning words. She suppressed the rage within her heart and said to Second Young Master Zhu, “Your mother isn’t in good health. After sitting in a carriage for such a long time, it’s a good idea to find a place to rest! What’s wrong? Was there some change in plans with the county magistrate’s wife?”
“No, my mother said that it’s almost noon, so we shouldn’t disturb the county magistrate’s family. We decided to eat lunch here before visiting the county yamen. But…” An unpleasant expression appeared on Zhu Junxi’s face again when he thought of the fatigue on his mother’s face.
Lady Fang looked at her goddaughter and asked for her opinion, “Xiaocao, Lady Zhu and Young Master Zhu took good care of me on the way here. She wants to take a short break here, so what do you...”
Xiaocao naturally wouldn’t reject her godmother’s request. With a bright smile, she said cheerfully, “Since she is Godmother’s friend, it is only proper that I shall treat her with the utmost hospitality. I’ll go with you to invite Lady Zhu to have a meal together.”
Zhu Junxi didn’t look down on Xiaocao because of her ordinary clothes. Instead, he gave her a solemn bow and said, “Thank you very much, miss!”
Princess Consort Jing had long been bored sitting inside the carriage. From time to time, she would raise the curtain of the carriage and look in the direction of Zhenxiu Restaurant. When she saw her son coming back, she asked in a soft voice, “How is it? Still can’t book a private room?”
They were traveling incognito this time, so Second Young Master Zhu just called his royal mother ‘Mother’ in front of outsiders. He explained softly, “Mother, the Zhenxiu Restaurant in Tanggu Town, like the one in the capital, must be booked seven to eight days in advance. Fortunately, Lady Fang’s goddaughter has some face at Zhenxiu Restaurant and was able to get a private room. Lady Fang wants to invite you to dine together!”