I Have a Countryside Gourmet Restaurant

Chapter 232: Chapter 228: Let’s Also Have a Drink Tonight

In the film crew’s group chat, Yu Hai announced their dinner plans.

The chat quickly burst into a flurry of activity.

Someone was confused, asking why they had to go so far just to eat.

Someone else chimed in, ”Could it be that restaurant Director Wei Yang’s crew went to last time? I heard them say it has the best food and wine in the country.”

”I heard that too. They also said the place isn’t in the city, but out in some remote, mountainous area.”

”In a remote, mountainous area? A restaurant in the middle of nowhere has the best food and wine in the country? That’s bullshit.”

”I think it sounds like bullshit too. But the people from Wei Yang’s crew were all so certain about it. They even strongly recommended that if we were going to eat out, we should go there. They said it would be an incredible surprise. I can’t believe we’re actually going.”

”You don’t think Director Wei Yang’s crew got scammed and now they want us to get scammed too, do you?”

”That’s probably not it.”

”Whatever the case, since Director Zhang decided we’re eating there, we’ll just go. It’s only about 600 kilometers, which isn’t that outrageous.”

”I heard even Master Guyi ate there. And he painted a picture on the spot, right in the restaurant. Then he gave the painting to the owner. It’s supposedly on display there now.”

”For real? No way! Hasn’t Master Guyi not released any new work in almost ten years? If that’s true, that’s insane!”

”Who knows? That’s just what the people from Director Wei Yang’s crew said. They also said Master Guyi called the wine there something that ’should only exist in the heavens.’ In any case, it seems there really is something unusual about that place.”

”Hearing you guys talk about it, I’m getting pretty curious about that restaurant myself.”

”Well, this is the perfect chance to go check it out then.”

”That’s true.”

”...”

As they talked, fewer and fewer people complained about the long journey. Instead, everyone was growing curious about the restaurant.

They all wanted to go and see it for themselves.

...

「Jiulong Gorge」

Li You was resting in the rocking chair by the restaurant’s entrance.

Ye Shengge and Ling Xiaoru walked out of the restaurant one after the other.

Seeing them, Li You said, ”It’s still early. Don’t you want to rest a little longer?”

Ling Xiaoru replied, ”I’ve rested enough. By the way, Boss, have you planted vegetables in that new plot of land we cleared a couple of days ago?”

Li You nodded. ”All planted. There’s celtuce, peas, eggplant, edamame, okra, and cauliflower. The seedlings should start sprouting in another day or two.”

Ling Xiaoru said, ”Those are all good choices. They’re all delicious.”

Ye Shengge glanced at Ling Xiaoru and said, ”Boss, have you finished eating all the mushrooms we found in the mountains last time? The ones I took back were gone in less than two days.”

Li You hadn’t finished the mushrooms yet. The rest were all stored in the Storage Pavilion.

In the Storage Pavilion, all sorts of mushrooms could be kept fresh forever.

However, he couldn’t say that. He had to claim he’d finished his long ago as well.

After all, fresh mushrooms couldn’t be preserved for long.

So, Li You said he had also finished his long ago.

Hearing this, Ye Shengge nodded. ”Then when should we go back into the mountains to find more?”

Li You nodded. ”Sounds good.”

The three of them continued to chat idly, and the time slowly ticked by until five in the afternoon.

It was about time to start thinking about dinner.

Li You turned to Ling Xiaoru. ”Miss Xiaoru, are you heading back tonight?”

Ling Xiaoru shook her head. ”Nope. Today is my first day renting a room here. I’m staying.”

Li You nodded. ”Alright. So, are the three of us having dinner together again?”

Ling Xiaoru said, ”We can. But I’m paying tonight. Just so we’re clear.”

Li You said, ”I don’t know about that. How about I treat you both tonight?”

Ling Xiaoru shook her head. ”Nope. If you want to treat us, Boss, you can do it another day. But tonight, it’s my treat.”

Li You looked at Ye Shengge. ”What do you think, Miss Ye?”

Ye Shengge smiled faintly. ”It’s always a good thing when someone’s treating. In that case, thank you, Miss Xiaoru.”

Ling Xiaoru replied, ”Don’t mention it, Miss Ye.”

Seeing this, Li You had no choice but to ask, ”Alright, what do you two want to eat?”

Ling Xiaoru said, ”Braised chicken and crucian carp with patchouli.”

Ye Shengge said, ”I haven’t had stir-fried shredded potatoes in a while. I’d like that, and some tomato and egg soup.”

Li You nodded. ”Alright.”

Just then, the first wave of dinner customers arrived.

Li You went into the kitchen and got busy.

Meanwhile, Ye Shengge and Ling Xiaoru went upstairs.

Customers came one wave after another, and Li You remained busy in the kitchen.

It wasn’t until nearly eight in the evening, after the last group of customers had finished eating and left, that Li You finally started preparing their own meal.

He had specially saved a braised chicken and then prepared three servings of crucian carp with patchouli, one serving of stir-fried shredded potatoes, and one serving of tomato and egg soup.

Even if they decided to drink, this should be enough food.

’They’ll probably want to drink.’

’I’ll just have to make sure Ling Xiaoru doesn’t drink too much.’

Soon, all the dishes were ready.

Li You locked the restaurant’s front door and carried all the food upstairs on a tray.

The lights were on in the living room. Ye Shengge and Ling Xiaoru were both in their own rooms, with their doors left open.

”Miss Ye, Miss Xiaoru, dinner’s ready!” Li You called out.

”Okay, coming!” the two replied almost in unison.

Placing the dishes on the coffee table, Li You sat down on the sofa and turned on the TV.

’What should we watch tonight? Slam Dunk again?’

’I’ll ask Ling Xiaoru if she likes it in a bit.’

Soon, both Ye Shengge and Ling Xiaoru came out of their rooms and sat down next to Li You, one on his left and one on his right.

Li You sat in the middle, flanked by a beauty on either side. He felt pretty good about the situation.

”Miss Xiaoru, do you like Slam Dunk?” Li You asked.

”Slam Dunk? That’s an old one. But it’s pretty good. I’ve seen it before. It might be nice to rewatch it,” Ling Xiaoru said.

Li You said, ”Slam Dunk it is, then. Miss Ye and I both like watching it.”

Ling Xiaoru nodded.

After a moment, she added, ”Let’s have a drink tonight, too.”

Li You knew this was coming. He said, ”We can have a little. But let’s stick to just one bowl each, no more.”

Ling Xiaoru said, ”It’s fine to drink a little more in the evening.”

Li You looked at Ling Xiaoru and thought, ’Is this girl really trying to compete with Ye Shengge’s drinking tolerance?’

’She’s picked the completely wrong opponent. Even ten Ling Xiaorus probably wouldn’t be a match for her.’

Then he said aloud, ”I’d like to drink more too, but I just can’t outdrink Miss Ye. The two of us combined are definitely no match for her.”

’This is the only way I can warn this silly girl.’

Ling Xiaoru was a little surprised. She turned to look at Ye Shengge and said, ”Is Miss Ye really that good?”

Ye Shengge smiled slightly. ”It’s not as exaggerated as the boss makes it sound. But, if Miss Xiaoru wants to have a drink, I’d be happy to keep you company.”

Ling Xiaoru felt a little dejected inside; she believed what Li You had said. On the surface, however, she remained composed and said, ”Thank you, Miss Ye. But it’s true that one shouldn’t drink too much. I’ll listen to the boss. One bowl just for the occasion is enough.”

Li You breathed a sigh of relief. ’Good, the girl didn’t try to test fate.’

Ye Shengge smiled again. ”I’m fine with whatever.”

Ling Xiaoru pouted but didn’t say anything more.

Li You smiled. ”Let’s eat first. I’ll have Da Bai bring up three bowls of wine.”

Both Ye Shengge and Ling Xiaoru nodded.

Soon, Da Bai came up carrying a tray with three bowls of wine.

The three of them ate and drank, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

...