This winter's snow isn't as heavy as last year's, or perhaps it's because Yu State isn't part of the North, so the snow hasn't swept through. The earth is covered by a thin layer of snow, like a pure maiden draped in a light veil.

The air is chilly and fresh, making people want to take deep breaths to feel its biting cold and purity.

Since Chen Mo lives in the government office in Longmen County, and it is guarded by troops, the safety level in Longmen County is far higher than in other counties across Yu State. This has led to a gradual increase in population, with houses in short supply.

Construction has even begun in the west of the city, building housing for accommodation.

On the streets, people come and go, and folks wear thick clothes, with their hands tucked into sleeves, exhaling to warmth. When they meet acquaintances, they quickly stand aside, hunching over for chatter.

At that moment, an aroma wafts over from not far away.

It is a spicy fragrance that they have never smelled before.

"The smell is so fragrant."

"It's coming from over there. When I passed by earlier, I noticed a new restaurant opened there."

"A new restaurant? What dishes smell so good, let's have a look."

The two walked off together.

However, for Chen Mo, this aroma might not be pleasing, but for the people in this world who are even stingy about using oil and eat quite blandly—let alone spices—such "deep flavors" are perceptible to them.

"Fu Ze Hot Pot? This name is so odd." Compared to the lower-class populace, the family's circumstances of the two friends are rather well-off, with extra money at hand, and they can read. One of them looked at the sign hanging on the restaurant and was taken aback.

Other restaurants are named after someone, but Fu Ze Hot Pot seems somewhat fascinating.

"Let's go in and take a look," said the companion.

The two entered Fu Ze Hot Pot, and as soon as they stepped inside, they felt a wave of warmth disperse the cold from their bodies.

Fu Ze Hot Pot has three floors. The main hall on the first floor is already full of people, bustling with liveliness, the spicy aroma is overwhelming.

An open space is left in the middle, with a screen placed on it. The screen depicts a landscape painting and in front of it sits a table where a middle-aged man with a folding fan in hand sits behind it.

The middle-aged man lightly tapped the folding fan on the table and exclaimed, "And thus, the tale goes that Zhao Zilong rode seven times in and out, rescuing Dou from the army of thousands…"

All the patrons eating hotpot in the hall turned their gaze and perked up their ears.

The storyteller recited the account of Zhao Zilong, which was written by Chen Mo for the "Three Kingdoms" narrative script, placed in the restaurant for the storyteller to recite, aiming to attract customers and increase restaurant income.

This suggestion was proposed by Ning Wan.

Seeing this scene, the two were somewhat glued to their spots, not wanting to leave.

"Welcome to Fu Ze Hot Pot. Are you two the distinguished guests?"

Just then, a waiter came over, slightly bowing and smiling as he spoke.

"Hmm...two guests," the somewhat older one replied.

"The first floor is already fully seated. The VIP lounge on the second floor and the private rooms on the third floor still have vacancies. Would you like to go to the VIP lounge or a private room?" the waiter asked.

The elder man looked at his companion, who then asked the waiter, "What's the difference between the VIP lounge and the private rooms?"

"The VIP lounge isn't much different from the first-floor hall; the only difference is that the first floor features storytelling while the second covers musical performances. Naturally, the second floor costs slightly more. The third-floor private rooms offer private elegant seating and are more expensive than the second floor," the waiter patiently explained.

At that moment, across the way, another waiter hailed, "VIP on the second floor, for three."

A gracefully-featured young woman descended from the second floor and greeted the three newly arrived patrons.

In Qingzhou, both Yu and Lin States, the female population exceeds that of males, with widows being particularly numerous. Widows without male support find it extremely difficult to survive, thus Ning Wan suggested recruiting them for work, which can also attract customers.

Of course, those with appealing physiques and features would work the forefront, while ones less so would work as assistants or cooks in the back kitchen.

Instantly, the eyes of everyone in the first-floor hall were fixed on the three.

The three felt numerous gazes upon them, straightening their backs, with an added sense of pride.

The companion of the older man was about to speak, but the older man directly stated, "We want a third-floor private room."

The elder man's companion: "..."

"Alright," the waiter replied, his face flushed slightly, knowing that guests choosing the third-floor private room would surely offer a generous tip.

The waiter loudly announced, "Third-floor private room, two esteemed guests."

Upon hearing this, all the waiters in the first-floor hall halted their movements, fixating their gaze on the elder man and his companion, "Third-floor private room, two esteemed guests."

Following the fall of all these declarations, the storyteller clapped the folding fan on the table and respectfully extended his greetings to the two, "Zhao Zilong of Shu Kingdom congratulates the two esteemed guests on having a prosperous new year, with wishes for auspicious success and serenity."

Immediately, everyone's attention was drawn towards them.

A slender-bodied woman, cradling a lute, descended from the upper floor.

This was a courtesan Chen Mo borrowed from a high-end brothel, skilled in a full range of musical instruments.

After all, it's the opening day of Fu Ze Hot Pot's first establishment, so naturally, the event has to be grand.

The two gazed upon the graceful courtesan, momentarily wide-eyed.

Not just them; everyone in the living room did as well.

They never anticipated the distinguished guests of the third-floor private room would have such a grand experience. Had they known, they would have chosen the third floor too.

The waiter whispered softly to the elder man, "She's called Qing Dance, just call her Xiaoqing, she's a courtesan."

To emphasize the point, the waiter pronounced the title "courtesan" more sharply to prevent any misconduct.

"Gentlemen, Qing Dance greets you both." Qing Dance held the pipa, bowed slightly to the two of them, and then said, "May I ask how to address you both?"

Truly well-trained, her voice was like a clear flowing spring.

This made the two of them feel a bit embarrassed. The older man quickly said, "I am called Li Xian, and he is called Lin Qingsheng."

"Young Master Li, Young Master Lin." Qing Dance bowed again.

...

The three of them went up to the third-floor private room.

The room was decorated with great elegance.

"Please have a seat, gentlemen." Qing Dance closed the door of the private room and invited them to sit down.

The hotpot stove was an iron stove fueled by coal. To prevent the scent of coal from being overwhelming, there was an iron pipe leading outside the room, beside which a wooden table was placed.

Qing Dance set down the pipa, opened a box in the corner of the room, used tongs to pick up a piece of honeycomb coal, and then opened the iron stove to place the coal inside.

There were three pieces of honeycomb coal already burning at the base of the iron stove, and the new piece caught fire quickly.

Li Xian mumbled to Lin Qingsheng beside him, "Isn't this the honeycomb coal that Li San bought recently?"

"Looks a bit like it," Lin Qingsheng replied.

Qing Dance heard their conversation and said, "It's as the gentlemen said, this is honeycomb coal."

Having said this, Qing Dance took out a mandarin duck pot from the table and placed it on the iron stove. Then she grabbed a boiling iron kettle from the nearby brazier and poured the hot water into the mandarin duck pot.

The two watched Qing Dance bustling about and actually felt a bit guilty, wanting to help.

Qing Dance said, "Please, gentlemen, just stay seated. Qing Dance will handle it."

After finishing with the hot water, Qing Dance followed the procedures she had been taught. She took out a menu and asked, "What would the gentlemen like to eat?"

"What do you have?" Lin Qingsheng asked.

"We have everything," Qing Dance replied. "Pardon me for asking, but do the gentlemen know how to read?"

Li Xian lifted his head and, feigning seriousness, said, "I have a Scholar's title, and Brother Lin is a Child Student."

"That's wonderful. Please, gentlemen, order for yourselves." Qing Dance handed the menu to them and added, "Each dish on this menu is half a pound. If the gentlemen think it's not enough, you may note two or three servings at the end."

Looking at the neatly arrayed beef slices, lamb slices, tiger meat, and venison on the menu, Li Xian felt quite curious listening to Qing Dance's words and silently thought that the owner of Fu Ze Hot Pot Restaurant was quite capable.

In these tumultuous times, although both Li Xian's and Lin Qingsheng's families had some wealth, it was relative to common folks.

Although they had never tasted tiger meat, they knew it was expensive.

Thus, they only ordered pork, lamb, and beef.

They didn't even order venison and only ordered one serving each of beef and lamb.

Under Qing Dance's guidance, they finished ordering their dishes.

Initially, they thought ordering so many varieties would mean a long wait, but no sooner had they finished ordering, before even half an hour had passed, the dishes were served.

All the meat dishes were sliced and neatly placed on plates, looking very clean and tidy.

"Why is everything raw?" Lin Qingsheng said in surprise.

Qing Dance had just put the hotpot base into the mandarin duck pot and was now preparing the condiments for the two.

Hearing Lin Qingsheng's doubt, Qing Dance said, "Young Master Lin, please wait a moment, you'll soon find out."

Then, after preparing the condiments, she divided them into two small dishes and gave them to Li Xian and Lin Qingsheng.

By this time, the bone broth in the mandarin duck pot was boiling rapidly, and the hotpot base had fully dissolved, filling the room with a rich aroma.

"Smells delicious," Li Xian couldn't help but say.

"Alright, what would the gentlemen like to eat first?" Qing Dance asked.

"Lamb."

"Beef."

Li Xian and Lin Qingsheng said simultaneously.

Qing Dance covered her mouth and chuckled slightly, then picked up and dipped a piece of lamb and a piece of beef into the spicy pot, stirring them seven or eight times, then placed them into the two's condiment bowls, saying with a smile, "Gentlemen, you may eat now."

"Is it cooked already?" Li Xian and Lin Qingsheng exchanged glances, their faces full of surprise.

Qing Dance smiled and nodded.

The two picked up the meat from their bowls and began to eat.

Upon discovering that it was indeed cooked and tasted quite good, their expressions were like those of someone discovering a new continent.

Afterward, Li Xian and Lin Qingsheng really didn't need to do anything, as Qing Dance served them like a servant.

Finally, when the two couldn't bear it any longer and indicated they understood and could do it themselves, Qing Dance was relieved.

Qing Dance sat down beside them and said with a smile, "Then let me play a tune on the pipa for the gentlemen."

In the steamy warmth of the private room, the melodious sound of the pipa filled the air.

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