"Master, I, I, I can't do it. I'll bring shame to Master's shop," Tadokoro Megumi said, so nervous she was almost crying, shaking her head continuously.
"You have to do it even if you can't. Do you know why I made this arrangement? Your personality is too timid; you get nervous over the smallest things. I'm trying to build your self-confidence. I won't give any evaluation to the dishes placed here; good or bad, it's all up to the customers."
"Master!" Tadokoro Megumi looked at Liu Ming with teary eyes.
Liu Ming grinned, "Do you think that's the end of it? You're my disciple; with this level of skill, you'd only embarrass me out there. For the next period, prepare to go through hell."
"What about me? What about me?" Kanna kicked her short legs hard, raising her small hand.
"Kanna, just be a mascot," Liu Ming said, gently patting her head.
"I'll work hard!" Kanna said seriously, clenching her small fists.
Kanna didn't know what a mascot was, but since it was her job, she would work hard to do it well.
...
When opening the shop, Liu Ming didn't make a big spectacle.
He merely placed two flower pots on each side of the entrance and called it a day.
For this, Tadokoro Megumi even complained to him, saying that this was Master's shop, after all, how could it be so shabby?
But even so, the restaurant was still very lively.
This Chinese Restaurant had been open for over thirty years, after all.
The neighbors were all very familiar with each other.
Almost everyone with free time came to show their support.
It was only when they saw the prices on the menu that they were all stunned.
"Xiao Ming, come here for a moment," an old woman with white hair waved to Liu Ming.
"Grandma Doma, I didn't expect you to come too!" Liu Ming walked over with a laugh.
Grandma Doma secretly looked around. Seeing no one was paying attention, she pulled Liu Ming to a corner.
"Xiao Ming, are the prices on your menu wrong?" Grandma Doma said tactfully, afraid Liu Ming would misunderstand.
Liu Ming saw her being so mysterious and thought she was going to say something important. It turned out to be about this.
Actually, she wasn't the only one who had asked.
"Grandma Doma, that is the price; it's not written incorrectly," Liu Ming could only explain once again.
"How could it not be written incorrectly? Look at this Egg Fried Rice; wasn't it 700 before? Now it's 3000! Xiao Ming, you have to be honest in business. If you do this, it will be hard to get repeat customers," Grandma Doma said earnestly.
"Grandma Doma, I've practically grown up under your watch. Am I that kind of person? This price really isn't wrong; in fact, I even think it's too low. If I hadn't lived here for over twenty years, I probably would have priced it even higher."
"Really?" Grandma Doma, of course, knew Liu Ming wasn't that kind of person, but others might not think so.
"Today, it's my treat. Grandma Doma, order whatever you want. After you eat it, you'll know if I'm right or wrong."
"Then I won't be polite. I'll just have a bowl of Clear Noodle Soup. Grandma is old and prefers light food."
"Clear Noodle Soup, right? It'll be ready soon, Grandma Doma. Please have a seat first."
"Friends, today Liu's Chinese Restaurant officially opens! I'm truly happy you could all make time to come. So, for today only, all dishes are 90% off! Once you taste the dishes I make, you'll find that the prices really aren't expensive," Liu Ming said loudly, clapping his hands.
"Is that so? Your cooking skills weren't that great before!" Ryuji Danma teased.
"Oh, it's Ryuji! I didn't expect you to come too. Is your motorcycle shop out of business?" Liu Ming retorted, not to be outdone.
Haha.
Hehe.
The people around them immediately burst into good-natured laughter.
"Hmph, my skills are excellent! Countless people beg me to fix their bikes," Ryuji Danma argued.
"Oh~~ Is that so? Perfect, my car hasn't been driven for a while. Could you help me check it?" Liu Ming immediately showed a triumphant smile, having achieved his cunning plan.
Ryuji Danma's expression froze. He quickly refused, "I run a motorcycle shop, and that's a car you have."
"Who just said his skills were good? You're not bluffing, are you? Nagisa Nagase, you can't have a boyfriend like this; break up with him early," Liu Ming said, winking at the woman next to Ryuji Danma.
Nagisa Nagase understood their relationship and knew they were joking, so she didn't mind at all. Instead, she cooperated, looking at her boyfriend with an amused expression.
Ryuji Danma knew Liu Ming was needling him, but in front of so many people, he had to put on a confident front, "It's just a car, leave it to me."
"Hehe," Liu Ming stopped teasing him. He said to everyone, "Now I'll go to the kitchen to prepare a dish. You all just wait for a good show."
After Liu Ming arrived in the kitchen, he immediately got to work.
"Master, do you need my help?" Tadokoro Megumi asked.
"No need. Your only task today is to keep an eye on that pot of soup."
"Master, what kind of soup is this? Why does it smell so bad?"
"That's a secret. It wouldn't be fun if I told you," Liu Ming said, smiling mysteriously at Tadokoro Megumi.
What was simmering there was the Appetizer Soup. He had prepared all the ingredients before going to bed last night, and it had been simmering for over ten hours already. It would be ready in just seven more hours.
Of course, he didn't tell Tadokoro Megumi about this. Otherwise, with her personality, he didn't know if she could handle it calmly.
If she messed it up, he didn't want to prepare another batch of ingredients.
Ten minutes later, the Clear Noodle Soup was also ready. He personally carried it out. "Grandma Doma, here's your Clear Noodle Soup."
At this moment, everyone was stunned.
"This is..." Grandma Doma looked at the bowl of noodles in front of her in surprise.
A clear, translucent broth, noodles as white as a painting, green vegetables like a river crossing through them, and the occasional faint fragrance that awakened the mind—what a beautiful bowl of noodles, what a comforting bowl of noodles.
"Come and try it, see how it tastes," Liu Ming took a pair of clean chopsticks and handed them to Grandma Doma.
Grandma Doma didn't stand on ceremony. She gently picked up the noodles and put them into her mouth.
The fresh and elegant taste instantly spread across her tongue. Her throat involuntarily moved, and her body craved the soup. She picked up the spoon and took a small sip. The soup flowed down her esophagus into her stomach.
What kind of feeling was this? It was like parched earth receiving the nourishment of clear water. Suddenly, her whole body became warm.
"A very delicious Clear Noodle Soup," Grandma Doma said, her face full of smiles.
"I want two bowls!" Seeing Grandma Doma's genuine expression, Ryuji Danma immediately spoke up, even ordering a portion for his girlfriend.
"Then I'll have a Golden Egg Fried Rice."
Since that's the case, then I want....
I'm a meat-eater, so I'll definitely order....
After personally seeing Liu Ming's cooking, everyone felt relieved. One by one, they rushed to order.
Liu Ming had just said that today was 90% off. Once this village was gone, there would be no such shop. They didn't hold back with Liu Ming at all.