Chapter 165 Qingmei Restaurant

Chapter 165 Qingmei Restaurant

Chapter 165 Qingmei Restaurant
Pingkangfang was a place where fireworks flourished during the Sui and Tang dynasties. It was not very noticeable during the day, but it began to shine brightly at night. There were many brothels and restaurants, and every house had bright lights, making the night as bright as day, so that the noise continued until dawn and all night long.

Xiao Qingmei Restaurant is a medium-sized restaurant. The Xiao Qingmei wine it brews is very famous, so the restaurant was simply renamed Xiao Qingmei Restaurant.

Shenshi is 5 o'clock in the afternoon, and all the restaurants start to get busy. Generally, customers will go to brothels after they have eaten and drunk their fill, so the brothels will gradually reach their climax after Haishi.

Xiao Qingmei Restaurant was already full of diners at this time. The lobbies on the first and second floors were full, and all the dozen or so elegant rooms on the third floor were occupied.

The Huashan Room was also full of drinkers. There were five people including Dou Dexuan, Yuan Ping, Xiao Xia and Xiao Zhurong, a total of seven people sitting around a large couch with a soft backrest. They could lie down directly when they drank too much. In the middle was a rectangular table filled with various wines and fruits. There was space under the table to make it convenient for everyone to put their feet.

There were two pipa girls sitting at the door, playing the pipa and singing softly. Next to them was a good-looking bartender, who was responsible for heating up wine and distributing food to everyone. When a dish was served, it would be divided into seven portions and served on seven plates.

So there is also a maid who is responsible for serving the dishes and collecting the plates, otherwise there will be a pile of plates in front of each person. This is the system of separate dining. Any dish must be divided into several portions, one for each person, which requires a large number of bowls and plates.

In poor families, they eat pickled radish and brown rice all day long. They have another kind of separate dining system, which is the origin of the separate dining system. Food should be divided into several portions at one time to ensure that everyone in the family has food to eat.

Everyone was very interested. Dugu Huai'en said with a smile, "I heard that there will be a martial arts exam in late September or early October. Brother Dou, is that true?"

Dou Dexuan nodded, "It is true. I heard that it was the prince's suggestion. This is also the first time since the establishment of the Sui Dynasty. It will be a grand event for all warriors."

Xiao Xia stopped drinking and asked, "What's the difference between the martial arts exam and the martial arts exam?"

Dou Dexuan's father Dou Yan is currently serving as the Minister of War, and Dou Dexuan is well-informed.

Dou Dexuan smiled and said, "Of course there is a difference. Passing the martial arts exam does not bring any honors, it is just a qualification to work in the profession.

However, the military examination has merits and is divided into two levels, A and B. Those who pass the examination can be appointed as officials and become reserve generals of the imperial court. If they are willing to join the army, they can at least be colonels or above.

If your family has connections and a strong backing, then there is no difference between martial arts and the military examination, but if you don’t have strong connections and a strong backing, the military examination is just a chance to become a general in the Sui army.”

"Are there any conditions for registration?" Xiao Zhurong couldn't help but ask.

"Of course there are conditions. You must be at least 4th rank in martial arts. If you don't pass the 4th rank, you have to lift weights on the spot. If you lift 250 kilograms, you can sign up."

Xiao Zhurong was immediately surprised and asked, "Doesn't that mean you can sign up if you are at the third level of martial arts?"

Dou Dexuan shook his head. "Third rank martial arts is not enough. You must be fourth rank martial arts qualified. However, if you can reach third rank martial arts, you can also take the test on site. This is mainly because military officers rarely take martial arts tests. Give them a chance."

“There will be a lot of people from the military participating!”

"That's for sure. At least half of the applicants are generals in the army."

After drinking for half an hour, Yu Xiaoyan and Houmo Chenfeng went to the toilet. Dou Dexuan found an opportunity and whispered to Xiao Xia, "My brother asked me to ask you if we can put those five dishes in Qingfeng Restaurant. In return, we will give you 10% of the share of Wanhuhou Restaurant."

Half a month ago, Xiao Xia brought out five main dishes: shredded pork with fish flavor, Kung Pao chicken, pork with garlic sauce, mapo tofu and braised lion head.

Wanhuhou Restaurant suddenly became very popular and it was difficult to get a seat. It even did not close in the afternoon and remained open until late at night.

But according to the agreement between Xiao Xia and the Dou family, these five dishes can only be used in the Wanhuhou Restaurant, and the three chefs are all servants of the Dou family, and no one else can poach them.

The Dou family already has the secret recipe, but due to the agreement, they cannot use the money-making secret recipe in the other three Qingfeng restaurants of the Dou family, so they can only ask Xiao Xia to make concessions.

Since the other party has shown his sincerity, Xiao Xia said with a smile: "Then it's limited to Qingfeng Restaurant!"

Dou Dexuan was overjoyed and said quickly: "Of course, we don't want to leak this secret recipe for making money!"

At this moment, a scream was heard outside, and Hou Mo Chen Feng suddenly rushed in and said, "Xiao Yu was beaten!"

Dou Dexuan's face changed, and he immediately stood up and rushed out. Dugu Huai'en and Yuan Ping also stood up and ran out. Xiao Xia waved to Xiao Zhurong, "Don't come out, sit here, I'll go and take a look!"

Xiao Xia walked out and saw a large group of people gathered in the corridor outside. Yu Xiaoyan was supported by Hou Mochenfeng, with blood all over his mouth and nose, and his eyes were bruised and swollen.

Dou Dexuan grabbed a Turkic man by the collar. The Turkic man was extremely strong and also grabbed Dou Dexuan by the collar. The two were at a stalemate, and a large group of people around them tried to stop the fight.

"What's going on?" Xiao Xia asked Dugu Huai'en beside him in a low voice.

"It was the drinkers next door to us, who seemed to be Turks. A young lady playing the pipa escaped and was chased by the Turkic guards. Xiao Yu blocked her and the lady ran away. Several guards took out their anger on Xiao Yu and surrounded and beat him up."

A dozen Turkic warriors surrounded Dou Dexuan from three directions. Yuan Ping and Dugu Huai'en immediately stepped forward to guard Dou Dexuan. Xiao Xia immediately found something wrong. A dozen Turkic warriors were originally standing far away and distributed in several directions. Now they suddenly walked forward at the same time. There must be someone commanding them.

He turned around and found a young Turkic noble standing at the door of the next room, holding a wine glass and staring at Dou Dexuan and others with cold eyes.

Xiao Xia stepped forward, patted the young Turkic nobleman on the shoulder and said, "Call your men back!"

"What are you talking about? I don't know you."

The Turkic noble turned around to go into the house, but Xiao Xia grabbed his arm and dragged him aside.

"What are you doing?" the young Turkic noble suddenly yelled.

Xiao Xia stretched out his hand and grabbed his neck like grabbing a chicken, and the Turkic noble was unable to move.

The young nobleman's roar immediately alarmed a dozen Turkic warriors. They suddenly discovered that their master was controlled by a young Han Chinese. They were horrified and rushed forward with their swords drawn.

Originally, Dou Dexuan and his two companions were surrounded by a dozen Turkic warriors. Xiao Xia used the tactic of "besieging Wei to save Zhao" and immediately attracted a dozen guards over.

A dozen Turkic warriors were about to rush up, but Xiao Xia quickly pulled out a dagger, pressed it against the neck of the Turkic noble, and looked at everyone coldly.

A dozen Turkic warriors did not dare to act rashly and remained in a stalemate. At this time, five or six Han companions walked out of the room. One of them made Xiao Xia stunned for a moment, it was Yang Ling.

Yang Ling also recognized Xiao Xia and looked a little embarrassed. He whispered something to an official in his thirties next to him.

The official stepped forward and clasped his fists, saying, "Master Xiao, there is a misunderstanding. This is Qimin Khan's son, Shilifushe, who is stationed in Chang'an. Please let him go, Master Xiao, and don't cause any disputes between the two countries."

Xiao Xia said coldly: "The dispute between the two countries has nothing to do with me, but his men beat my friends for no reason, so he should give us an explanation!"

"Mr. Xiao, please put the overall situation first!"

"Who are you? What qualifications do you have to tell me what to do?"

"I am Xie Huai, the chief clerk of the Honglu Temple. I beg you to release him!"

Xiao Xia ignored him and said to the young Turkic noble: "Your men injured my brother, pay one thousand strings of money!"

The young Turkic noble was no more than sixteen or seventeen years old. He was anxious to get away, so he nodded and agreed quickly.

Xiao Xia let him go, and the young Turkic nobleman broke free and ran back, glaring at Xiao Xia.

Several Turkic warriors were about to rush over to deal with Xiao Xia, but Xiao Xia drew out his Frost Dagger and sneered, "I used this sword to chop off Buqa Khan's head. If your neck is harder than his, come and give it a try!"

The Turkic nobleman's face changed and he shouted, "Don't mess around!"

He gave his subordinates a command, and they immediately returned to their rooms to fetch a bag of gold and placed it in front of Xiao Xia. The Turkic noble bowed and said, "My father often praised Young Master Xiao for his bravery. I will give you this hundred taels of gold as compensation to clear up any misunderstandings."

Xiao Xia nodded, "I can feel the sincerity of the young chief, and the misunderstanding is wiped out!"

The Turkic noble nodded, "Let's go!"

He bowed to Xiao Xia again, then went downstairs with a dozen warriors and friends.

Yang Ling glanced at Xiao Xia and hurriedly followed him downstairs.

Xiao Xia felt a little puzzled. How could Yang Ling be mixing with the Turks?
He suddenly guessed that his father might want to seek support from the Turks.

Xiao Xia walked into the room carrying a bag of gold, placed the gold in front of Yu Xiaoyan and said with a smile: "One hundred taels of gold, the Turkic people's apology to you!"

Yu Xiaoyan thanked Xiao Xia again and again. His father and grandfather would not take the hundred gold pieces seriously, but getting back this face from the Turks was much more important than a hundred taels of gold.

Xiao Xia used both soft and hard tactics to solve this big problem very beautifully, and also earned enough face for everyone. Everyone was convinced by him after this incident.

Xiao Xia's reputation gradually spread among the Guanlong nobles.

(End of this chapter)