Qiaan Xue’an’s grand words left Wang Shouzhe stunned.
Meanwhile, Wang Lici naturally laughed until her eyes became slits, sweetly saying, "Thank you, Uncle Qian, you’re truly a good person."
Wang Shouzhe hurriedly stopped him, "Brother Qiaan, since you’re hosting, it’s not right to let the guest order the food, is it?"
"No worries, we’re like family, don’t bother with these formalities, let the big niece order. Consider today’s meal a celebration from your humble brother." Qiaan Xue’an had just advanced to the Spirit Platform Realm and became the Deputy Shopkeeper of Qiaan’s Trading Company’s Changning Guard Branch, with prospects of becoming a full manager in the future, so he was at his most ambitious and exuberant.
Wang Shouzhe knew that if he continued to persuade, it would hurt Qiaan Xue’an’s pride.
Immediately, he winked repeatedly at Wang Lici, hinting that she should take it easy today. Worst case, Uncle will take her for another meal tomorrow.
Fortunately, even as greedy as Wang Lici was, after Wang Shouzhe’s hint, she understood she couldn’t act recklessly. Otherwise, she feared her uncle wouldn’t spare her when they got back.
She hesitated and timidly ordered two dishes she heard were good but never tried, which together only cost dozens of Large Copper.
"Big niece, are you looking down on Uncle Qian? Cancel, cancel, today we won’t eat anything other than Spiritual Food." Qiaan Xue’an insisted on throwing money about.
Since Uncle Qian insisted multiple times, Wang Lici finally "braced herself" and ordered five or six Spiritual Foods. They were all Spirit Fish and Spirit Meat she hadn’t tried, plus a platter of Spirit Fruits worth several Qian Gold.
Qiaan Xue’an frowned slightly.
Even combined, it’s only two to three dozen Qian Gold.
Then, Qiaan Xue’an waved his big hand, grabbed the exquisite menu, and ordered another five or six signature dishes from the Hundred Flavors Inn and two types of Spirit Wine.
One was a Fire Element Spirit Wine called Red Flame Mist, made from Red Crystal Spirit Rice and Spiritual Spring, it burns like a fiery steam when swallowed, most suitable for men.
The other was Ice Crystal Dew Fruit Wine, brewed from the famous Water Element Crystal Dew Grass, with low alcohol content, more like an iced beverage, suitable for women.
Crystal Dew Grass includes "grass" in its name, but it’s actually a Water Element Spirit Fruit, which needs to grow in the Spirit Fields with a Water Element Spiritual Vein.
Wang Shouzhe’s maternal family, the Yingxiu Lu Family, produces small quantities of Crystal Dew Grass and makes quite a profit from it.
By the end of this meal, it would likely cost seventy to eighty Qian Gold.
On Earth, that would be comparable to a million-coin luxury bill.
It showed how ambitious and exuberant Qiaan Xue’an was.
But his feelings were understandable. The position of Deputy Shopkeeper of the Changning Branch of Qiaan’s Trading Company was far from an ordinary person’s reach.
The Clan Leaders of some minor families had a hard time even qualifying to have him entertain them. Thıs text ıs hosted at 𝗇𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗅•𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾•𝗇𝖾𝗍
Only when each family’s ancestor made an appearance would he also appear, reluctantly taking the time to meet them.
"Brother Shouzhe, big niece Lici, Miss Luoyi." Qiaan Xue’an raised his glass, "I, Qian, toast to the Ping’an Wang Family’s suppression of enemies and their awe-inspiring presence in Changning."
"Thank you, Brother Qian."
Everyone drank the fine wine and started eating.
It had to be admitted, the cuisine at the Hundred Flavors Inn was top-notch within the Changning Guard area.
Not only did Wang Shouzhe praise it highly, but even the usually reserved Ancestor Longyan could not help but frequently pick up her chopsticks, showing how finely crafted these meticulously prepared dishes were.
As for Wang Lici, she was eating so much that her eyes were nearly popping out.
She had eaten a lot of Spiritual Food recently, but she had never had such a diverse array of meticulously cooked dishes.
The chefs and cooks of the Wang Race did not possess such culinary skills.
Delicious, just too delicious.
"Brother Qian, I, Shouzhe, toast with borrowed flowers, wishing you a bright future and step-by-step promotions."
"Thank you, Shouzhe, for your auspicious words."
The two men exchanged several more drinks, their cups filled to the brim.
With some tipsiness, Qiaan Xue’an lamented, "Younger Brother Shouzhe, as a mere Direct Lineage Son, it’s been no easy road to where I am today. On my return this time, I’m tasked with taking over this Deputy Shopkeeper position, and it’s not easy."
"Oh, the fallout from the Insecticide Powder hasn’t been resolved? Are the various noble families collaborating to cause trouble?" Wang Shouzhe actually had heard something about this matter.
The current Wang Family was no longer as disconnected as before.
"Indeed, especially the Huangfu and Lei Celestial Human Families, who are particularly aggressive," Qiaan Xue’an frowned, "They actually led the way in demanding our Qiaan Family compensate for last season’s losses, or else they will stop using the Insecticide Powder, and might as well hire Spirit Insect Masters. Other noble families started watching this development. It’s laughable, considering this Insecticide Powder is a creation from the Purple Mansion Academy and our Qiaan Family is merely the distributor."
"Isn’t your Qiaan Family unafraid of the Huangfu and Lei Families?" Wang Shouzhe hesitated slightly.
"Naturally, we do not fear them, but as the saying goes, even a strong dragon cannot crush a local snake. Our Qiaan Family is here in Changning Guard to do business, and business thrives on harmony. If we cannot get through this obstacle, I’m afraid I’ll never have the chance to become a full manager," Qiaan Xue’an said with a self-deprecating smile.
Wang Shouzhe understood.
This time, Qiaan Xue’an invited him over with this hope in mind, wishing Wang Shouzhe could help by offering some advice. After all, Wang Shouzhe’s capabilities had long convinced Qiaan Xue’an.
"Brother Qian, you’re too close to the issue, unable to see the forest for the trees," Wang Shouzhe pondered, "The Academy selling the new Insecticide Powder at a low price not only to reclaim its reputation, but more importantly, to compensate the ordinary civilians for their losses, as more civilians than not suffered from it, whereas even the less fortunate families could still endure."
"So Shouzhe suggests... bypassing the noble families?" Qiaan Xue’an’s eyes lit up slightly. Indeed, the noble families were formidable, but the majority of Insecticide Powder’s sales depended on ordinary civilians.