As noon approached, Su Han went to find Ningguang. It was clearly time for their appointment, yet the woman was still in her office, discussing the "Starlit Prosperity" plan with her secretaries.
"Tell those craftsmen that if any of them dare to raise the price of raw materials during the construction of the laboratory, they won't need to bother coming to the next merchant's guild meeting."
"Yes, my lady."
As she spoke, the corner of Ningguang's eye caught Su Han's figure. She turned and smiled. "Why have you come?"
Su Han was speechless. "It's almost noon. Did you forget that Hu Tao invited us all for a meal? If you stand her up, I doubt she'll be so easy to deal with next time."
At his reminder, Ningguang finally realized what he was talking about. Today was the day of their little group get-together. She slapped her forehead and gave a bitter smile. "I've been so busy, it completely slipped my mind." There had been too many things to handle these past few days, leading to her working late into the night without any sleep.
Su Han glanced at the exhausted Baixiao and her two colleagues. "Then why don't you select more people to assist you?"
"It's not that simple. In my position, there can be absolutely no room for personal bias." Ningguang walked over to her dressing table and began to freshen up. Cultivating a qualified secretary required not only capability but also an impartial heart. If one of them were to leak information to the merchants of Liyue, her authority would be completely undermined.
About half an hour later, Su Han, Ningguang, and the others finally descended from the Jade Chamber. The group chatted and laughed as they quickly made their way to Wanmin Restaurant. Just as they arrived, a figure suddenly leaped out from a dark corner and landed in front of Su Han, puffing out her cheeks. "What took you guys so long? I've been waiting forever!"
"Sorry, Tao-tao, I accidentally fell asleep. Is the food for today ready?" Su Han replied smoothly.
"Of course! I booked it with Xiangling a long time ago. This cost me a fortune, you know!" Hu Tao placed her hands on her hips, her face brimming with pride. Getting to eat a meal cooked by Xiangling was no easy feat. Only a close friend like her could manage to find her. For anyone else, it was a matter of pure luck, because Xiangling was out of town eight days out of ten. She was often away on trips to gather ingredients, sometimes for a month at a time. Even her father, Chef Mao, could do nothing about it.
Hearing this, Ningguang's eyes lit up. "Then we are truly in for a treat. I believe the last time I had a dish made by Xiangling was two months ago," she said with a smile. She was extremely particular when it came to food. While Chef Mao's cooking was good, it still lacked a certain something when compared to his daughter's. Keqing's eyes also flashed with anticipation, wondering if she would get to eat her favorite dish.
When they entered the private room, Zhongli was already there, sipping tea and reading a book. Su Han sat down directly beside him and asked in a low voice, "Are the Maoshan arts useful for the Yakshas?"
"There is some minor effect, but… the results are limited. Still, it has at least shown me a glimmer of hope," Zhongli replied, a faint hint of ease in his voice. If there were techniques even more powerful than the Maoshan arts, perhaps the affliction within Xiao's body could finally be suppressed. When Ningguang and the others arrived, the two of them seamlessly changed the topic.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the first course was served: Water-Boiled Fish with a side of Shrimp Dumplings.
"Wow… the very first dish is my favorite!" Hu Tao's eyes lit up as she looked at the food, a wide grin spreading across her face. This was her absolute favorite.
Seeing her happy, Xiangling chuckled. "I'm glad you like it. There are many more dishes to come! And among them is one I made specially for you!"
"Specially?" Hu Tao's expression immediately turned grim. Although she and Xiangling were good friends, Xiangling was always making her taste-test some bizarre new creations.
Xiangling nodded. "Yep, don't tell me you forgot. Don't worry, you'll find out soon enough."
Next, the second dish arrived. When the plate was placed on the table, Keqing's eyes brightened considerably. It was Golden Shrimp Balls, and not only that, but the dish had been placed directly in front of her. After that, Boiled Cabbage, Sweet Tofu, and various other delicacies were served one after another. Without exception, every dish was a personal favorite of one of the guests.
Ningguang glanced at Su Han without a word. There was more to this table of food than met the eye. Every single dish was someone's favorite. She didn't believe for a second that this was a coincidence. If she wasn't mistaken, he must have been the one who arranged it. He's quite thoughtful, she mused.
As cups were raised and conversation flowed, the atmosphere grew lively. Just then, Xiangling came over carrying a dish and placed it in front of Hu Tao with a wide grin. "Tao-tao, look! This is what I prepared specially for you. Go on, have a taste!"
"!!!" Hu Tao's expression froze instantly, the smile on her face locking in place. She looked up and asked tentatively, "Can… can I not eat it?"
Xiangling's face immediately fell, and she pouted. "Of course not! You're the one who made the deal. You said that as long as you get a discount, you'll help me test my new dishes. Otherwise, I wouldn't be giving you a thirty-percent discount. I'm already selling to you at a loss!"
"Fine… I just hope it's not Stir-fried Slime with Qingxin." Once, in her quest to prove that slimes were edible, Xiangling had gone through a series of culinary experiments. The result was that she had terrorized all of her friends, especially with the "Stir-fried Slime with Qingxin," which was nothing short of a culinary tragedy. It had given Hu Tao diarrhea for three days straight.