Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 420: The Chatty Waiter, Rectifying the Tavern
The server glanced at Jin Zha and then reluctantly came back, "Don’t worry, patron, our food is the tastiest in the whole town. Look, even the beggars hanging around our inn are more numerous than anywhere else."
"Exactly, look at those beggars by the door, all rosy-cheeked. It’s clear they’re well-fed by your establishment," Jin Zha also praised, "Your boss must be a good person."
"No kidding, the boss treats us really well. He never docks our pay, and we have been working here for quite a long time," said the server.
Chen Nuo wasn’t interested in their chitchat and directly asked, "After all that talking, aren’t you thirsty? Do you want to sit down and talk?"
The server might not have been great at reading facial expressions, but he was quick-witted enough to realize that Chen Nuo was getting a bit angry when he said this, so he hurriedly waved his hands, "Ah, listen to you, patron, it’s my fault for being so talkative. I just can’t stop myself once I get going, and I would be so embarrassed if it caused a delay in you placing your order."
But Jin Zha, who was not good at reading faces either, also smiled and waved his hands.
"Ah, no problem, I’m a chatterbox too. If I get started, I can keep going for three days and nights. People around me all find me annoying, but luckily, I have many friends. If one gets sick of me, I just go to another friend to talk, and that’s why I have friends all over the Four Seas now," he said.
"Really? Young master, you carry yourself with such distinction, it’s apparent you’re no ordinary person, and even your way of speaking is extraordinary," the server flattered, "Having someone like you dine in our little inn truly brings us honor!"
"Ah, you’re quite the smooth talker yourself, making sure all the patrons who come to your inn have something to talk about."
The two of them went back and forth, completely engrossed in their conversation, forgetting about the people around them.
Chen Nuo grew more and more restless sitting there. Jin Zha had brought him here to eat as a favor, to help him change his mood.
But here he was, Jin Zha practically becoming brothers with the server, and the more passionate their conversation got, the angrier Chen Nuo became until he couldn’t sit still any longer and stood up.
"Hey, what’s wrong? Why are you getting up?" Jin Zha asked, "Where are you going?"
"Is the young master perhaps going to the washroom?" the server also asked, "Shall I show you the way?"
Jin Zha chuckled at the server, "No, he’s not going to the washroom. Let me ask him."
"I see you’re all having a good chat, so how about this—I’ll take a stroll outside," Chen Nuo said, holding back his anger.
"Ah, don’t be like that. Didn’t we agree to come here to eat? Why say you’re going to take a walk outside just after ordering?" Jin Zha quickly tried to persuade him, "Don’t be like that. It’s such a killjoy."
"You’re calling me a killjoy? Who exactly is being a killjoy here?" Chen Nuo held back his fury.
Jin Zha really was clueless at picking up cues. Even after all they’d said, he still didn’t realize there was an issue. It was fortunate he wasn’t Chen Nuo’s friend because if he were, they would surely have ended up parting ways. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎
It was just too bad that if Jin Zha could’ve realized something was wrong, he wouldn’t be Jin Zha. He looked at Chen Nuo blankly, "What’s wrong? Why get angry all of a sudden?"
"I’m not angry. I’ve said I’m going for a walk," said Chen Nuo as he got up only to be pulled down again by Jin Zha.
"But I can tell you are angry. You’re just like my dad when he gets angry, fuming yet denying it."
Chen Nuo inexplicably found himself being spoken to like an elder, and now he was even angrier. But having already claimed he wasn’t angry, he swallowed his rage and insisted on leaving.
Jin Zha didn’t understand why Chen Nuo was angry, thus was even more reluctant to let him leave. The two were at a standstill, one wanting to sit, the other wanting to leave, neither willing to give in.
Luckily, the server who had seen so many people was able to guess why Chen Nuo was angry.
He picked up the teapot and poured tea into the cups for the two guests, "Alright, alright, please forgive me, esteemed customers. It’s all my fault for not being able to read the atmosphere, getting caught up in conversation and neglecting to take your order. Let’s order now."
It was only after the waiter said this that Jin Zha realized the issue, so he smiled at Chen Nuo and said, "Ah, it’s indeed my oversight for not noticing these things. How about this, when the dishes arrive, I’ll drink three cups as self-punishment. Does that sound good?"
"Right, didn’t you ask me to introduce our restaurant’s specials, sir? Please have a seat, and I’ll introduce them right away," said the waiter eagerly.
The two guests looked wealthy and noble just from their appearances. Judging by how they ordered earlier, they must be quite lavish.
If one guest were to leave, the other certainly wouldn’t stay in the restaurant, and that would surely spoil the business. Even if his boss were the most amiable person, wages would be deducted without fail.
Chen Nuo was just momentarily upset. Now that they were all speaking to him in such a friendly and coaxing manner, he naturally couldn’t remain angry either. Continuing to do so would make him seem rather petty.
"Alright then, go on with your introduction. I’m listening."
Seeing Chen Nuo allowing the introduction, the waiter grinned and introduced their signature dish, "Our number one dish is the steamed carp. You should try it. The flesh is tender and exquisite, the best dish in our restaurant."
"Carp? Steamed?" Chen Nuo was taken aback. Carp naturally has a strong fishy taste, yet they want to steam it?
It would certainly taste fishy without exceptionally high culinary skills.
"Yes, it’s steamed carp. Our restaurant uses hundreds of carp every day. Please try it, and you’ll surely want to come back for more," boasted the waiter.
Since he put it that way, Chen Nuo didn’t think too much about it. It seemed the chef of this restaurant must be quite skilled, "Then bring us one."
"Right away!" The waiter said, holding the menu and continued, "We also have our special potato stewed chicken. The potatoes are soft, and the chicken is tender. Would you like a bowl?"
This dish was incredibly easy to prepare, and its taste wasn’t likely to be bad. Chen Nuo nodded, "Bring one."
"There’s also our stir-fried mutton. All the sheep are raised by us, so there’s no gamey taste. The meat is chewy and flavorful, dear customer..."
"Good, bring one portion," Chen Nuo nodded.
The waiter was recommending some of the heavy dishes, but though the meat might be delicious, eating only meat could become cloying. Chen Nuo then asked, "Do you have any vegetarian dishes? It might be overwhelming to eat only meat."
"We have vegetarian dishes, yes. There’s cucumber salad, stir-fried yuba, spicy and sour shredded potatoes. Would you like one of each, or all of them?"
"Bring one of each," Chen Nuo said with a nod.
"Alright, esteemed customer, please wait a moment, and your dishes will be served shortly."
The waiter put away the order sheet, thinking that this order would surely bring in a good profit, and the boss would definitely praise him for it.
"Wait a moment, waiter," Chen Nuo called out to him, "Bring me a copy of the menu. I’d like to see what else you have."
The waiter was stunned for a moment before realizing what Chen Nuo was asking for. He scratched his head, "I’m truly sorry, but we don’t have a menu in this establishment."
"No menu?" Now it was Chen Nuo’s turn to be stunned, "You’re running a restaurant and you don’t even have a menu? Do the customers just order verbally?"
"Ah?" The waiter, who had worked here for so long, had never heard of such a thing. He nodded, "My apologies, I’ve never heard of a ’menu’ before. We don’t use one here."
