Chapter 22: Second Uncle Wants It Too

She remembered that she had been told before—her second uncle, Min Chengjun, owned businesses all over the world, and surely there was more than just this one restaurant!

"There is indeed more than one. Whenever you see the sign for Golden Prosperity Restaurant outside, that's your second uncle's establishment." Her second senior brother spoke with such confidence.

No one else could open a Golden Prosperity Restaurant; in the end, the sign became uniquely his.

"Let's go, we're heading inside." Nie Xingyuan took Ji Jiuxuan by the hand and led her into the restaurant, directly upstairs.

They stopped in front of a room, and Ji Jiuxuan glanced at the plaque beside the door, where three characters were engraved: Heavenly Number.

Nie Xingyuan produced a golden token from his spatial pouch—its material was rare black iron, with intricate array patterns carved on it, clearly a precious item.

He pressed the token against the Heavenly Number plaque, and the door opened at once.

Only then did Ji Jiuxuan notice that the plaque itself bore array patterns as well. Since she hadn't yet studied arrays, she couldn't discern their purpose.

Upon entering the room, she saw a large round table at its center. The decor was elegant yet opulent, fresh and tasteful—a blend of understated luxury.

No sooner had they entered than the restaurant manager arrived, accompanied by a middle-aged man in chef's attire.

"Master Nie, Little Daoist, this is our restaurant's Head Chef Wang. The master has instructed us—whatever you care to eat today, just tell us, and we'll make sure it's prepared to perfection." The manager introduced the chef with a smile, and Chef Wang respectfully greeted Nie Xingyuan and Ji Jiuxuan.

The manager was, in truth, curious about the little girl before him. To have Nie Xingyuan personally bring her here and make such requests—and the master agreed—she must be someone extraordinary.

But to have served as the manager of Golden Prosperity Restaurant for so many years and earned Min Chengjun's trust, this man possessed considerable ability, though none of it showed on his face.

Chef Wang bowed and waited respectfully at the side.

Ji Jiuxuan noticed that both men possessed cultivation, and not to a minor degree, though her own was too low to gauge their exact level.

"If you want anything, just say so," Nie Xingyuan turned to Ji Jiuxuan, his voice gentle.

The manager was even more astonished by Nie Xingyuan's demeanor. This gentleman was famously aloof and ruthless, yet here he was, so attentive to a child—her identity must truly be remarkable.

Ji Jiuxuan happily retrieved the bucket containing fish from her spatial pouch. "Master Wang, could you please handle these?"

"It's no trouble at all," Chef Wang replied, though he hesitated as he looked at Ji Jiuxuan. "This Misty Rosy Carp is quite sour and astringent—the flavor is usually poor when cooked."

---

Previously, Ji Jiuxuan had disassembled one of the fish and discovered a transparent thread inside—the very cause of the meat's sourness.

If that thread were removed, the flesh should be much improved.

In this world, people focused on cultivation; most preferred fasting pills, and few researched ingredients in depth.

"Just remove the thread inside the fish." Then Ji Jiuxuan handed Chef Wang a slip of paper detailing the recipes for pickled fish and sweet-and-sour fish. "Please, follow these instructions."

Chef Wang was not displeased; in fact, he was intrigued. He selected several Misty Rosy Carp from the bucket and departed to begin preparations.

Ji Jiuxuan had originally wanted to watch him cook, but recalled that such things were often proprietary, so she refrained from asking.

She sat quietly, waiting for her meal. Nie Xingyuan, typically a cold and emotionless man, couldn't help but smile upon seeing her so well-behaved.

It wasn't long before Chef Wang returned, excitedly carrying a food box.

"Little Daoist, it worked! Once I removed the thread and followed the recipe, the fish tasted wonderful."

It was his first time using such a method, and the results were unexpectedly delicious.

Nie Xingyuan was surprised, but not overly so. His senior sister had been much the same—clever and mischievous, always coming up with odd ideas.

If she hadn't married their senior brother and mellowed out, they would have suffered from her eccentricities far more often.

Ji Jiuxuan looked eagerly at the food box. "Let me try!"

The box was small, but it was a spatial food box, with preservation enchantments; dishes placed inside remained fresh and unchanged.

Chef Wang set it on the table and brought out several plates, each vibrant in color, aroma, and taste. The two fish dishes stood out most, accompanied by several other signature items.

"These are the restaurant's specialties. Please, try them if you like."

"Thank you," Nie Xingyuan nodded, which made Chef Wang feel unexpectedly honored.

"Go on, taste it." Nie Xingyuan used the communal chopsticks to serve her a piece of fish, watching her eager expression and smiling in spite of himself.

Just from the aroma, Ji Jiuxuan's mouth watered. "Uncle, you should eat too!"

---

Golden Prosperity Restaurant truly deserved its reputation as the finest establishment; Chef Wang's skills were exceptional. The textures were exquisite—she could have eaten her tongue along with the food, so delicious was it.

Watching her enjoy it so much, Nie Xingyuan couldn't help but dig in as well.

The first bite of fish astonished him. He had tasted Misty Rosy Carp before, but the flavor had always been indescribably unpleasant. Now, it was entirely different—fresh, tender, sweet and sour, with a hint of spiritual energy lingering in the meat.

"Uncle, isn't it delicious?" Ji Jiuxuan asked Nie Xingyuan with a smile, once her cravings had been satisfied.

"It is indeed." An elegant man remained elegant even while eating; Ji Jiuxuan found herself unconsciously sitting up straighter, mimicking his posture.

"When I learn to control fire and purify the ingredients, I'll cook for you next time, Uncle." The fish tasted wonderful, and Chef Wang had handled it perfectly, his craftsmanship unmatched.

But Ji Jiuxuan believed she could remove the impurities from the ingredients even more thoroughly herself.

She kept this thought to herself, and Nie Xingyuan didn't give it much consideration, assuming that this experience had sparked her interest in cooking.

"Very well, Uncle will wait."

Just then, another voice entered the room, "If Little Ji is cooking for your uncle, how can your second uncle be left out?"

As he spoke, a young man dressed in white, embroidered with gold, entered the room, holding a folding fan and exuding a natural charm.

He carried an air of a scholar, subtle yet unmistakable.

Anyone judging by appearance alone would surely mistake him for a wealthy, frail scholar—and be gravely mistaken.

Min Chengjun's ruthlessness matched his business acumen; his swordsmanship was exquisite, ranking him among the best of his peers.

Upon seeing him, Nie Xingyuan stood up. Though his manner was calm, Ji Jiuxuan glimpsed excitement in his eyes. "Senior brother, you've returned."

Ji Jiuxuan looked curiously at Min Chengjun, knowing him as the famed second uncle. After all, one must reciprocate kindness, and she was currently enjoying his hospitality, so she sweetly called out, "Second Uncle."

Min Chengjun closed his fan and walked over, sitting beside Ji Jiuxuan. "Little Ji still hasn't answered your uncle's question—your second uncle wants some as well."