The warmth nourished the World Tree within her body, and Xi Xi could clearly feel the connection that had been severed for thirty years being re-established.
Although it was extremely weak and fragile, as if it would die at any moment, but it felt like a small life was being conceived anew within her body, reminding her of the child in her womb years ago, and filling her heart with a sense of happiness.
The World Tree was conceived within her body and accompanied her like a child for decades. Later, when she was critically injured and on the verge of death, the World Tree voluntarily channeled all its life essence into her body, saving her life.
Now that the child has come back to life, it is a very special feeling for her, and the deep wound in her heart is slowly healing with the revival of the World Tree.
Lu Lu sat quietly across from her, occasionally picking up the chopsticks to serve food to Xi Xi. After Xi Xi finished eating, he would give her a bowl of rice, but he didn't eat any himself.
"Lu Lu, you should eat too. There's plenty of rice." Xi Xi said to Lu Lu with her mouth full of rice.
"It's okay, you eat first. I'm not hungry. Eating more is good for your health." Lu Lu smiled and shook his head, looking towards the kitchen. Watching Mai Ge's busy figure, he sighed, "This boss is really amazing. He can make a dish so delicious and with such magical effects. If the World Tree can grow by eating Braised Chicken Rice, then when we have children in the future, we can bring them here to eat Braised Chicken Rice everyday. Their cultivation and growth speed will definitely increase a lot."
"Yes, it's so delicious! And it makes me feel warm and cozy all over. I think I could eat ten more bowls!" Xi Xi swallowed the rice in her mouth and said happily, then lowered her head and continued to eat happily.
Looking at Xi Xi's smile, Lu Lu turned to look outside the restaurant, a hint of wariness and worry in his eyes. Those guys… he wondered when they might appear.
"Burp..."
Robert and Luther both let out a burp at the same time, looked at the bowls in front of them that looked as clean as if they had been licked clean, and then looked at each other with a hint of embarrassment on their faces.
"Lord, this... this Sweet Tofu Pudding is absolutely delicious! It's on the same level as the Rou Jia Mo. I think these two dishes would easily be ranked first or second. They're so good that you'll want to keep eating them. 200 or 300 copper coins is such a great deal!" Luther said earnestly to Robert. All his previous guesses and doubts before entering the restaurant had been forgotten. However, he looked a little embarrassed, since it takes courage to contradict himself.
However, as a self-proclaimed upright person, Luther couldn't bring himself to say that the delicious Rou Jia Mo and tofu pudding were not tasty after personally tasting them. This would have been even more offensive to him than contradicting himself.
"I agree with your assessment of the Rou Jia Mo, but if I had to pick a top two, I think Savory Tofu Pudding and Braised Chicken Rice would be more appropriate. Tofu pudding, being such a delicate and soft dish, is definitely better enjoyed with a savory flavor." Robert said, shaking his head.
"Lord, that's because you haven't tasted this Sweet Tofu Pudding that's so sweet yet not cloying at all. If this flavor was savory, I can't imagine what a strange taste it would be." This time, Luther showed no intention of backing down and argued his case forcefully.
"You're wrong to say that. This tofu pudding itself has the fragrance and sweetness of soybeans. Drizzled with a refreshing sauce, and topped with chopped pickled vegetables and small shrimp, it's incredibly delicious. It's an absolute delicacy." Robert shook his head, still insisting on his point. However, being a leader, he naturally couldn't argue with Luther in the restaurant. He raised his hand and smiled, saying, "Alright, you eat your sweet one, and I'll eat my savory one. Let's not argue in the restaurant."
Luther, a man of principle, knew when to back down, and upon hearing this, he quieted down. However, judging from his expression, he still showed no intention of compromising his taste in the tofu pudding because of Robert's status.
"Waiter, the bill, two people." Robert said.
"You ate one serving of Braised Chicken Rice with extra rice, two servings of tofu pudding, and one Rou Jia Mo, which totals... 1550 copper coins." Amy walked over carrying the Ugly Duckling, counted the bowls on the table, and stretched out her little hand in a slightly childish voice.
"Okay." Robert looked at Amy with some surprise, took out a dragon coin, five gold coins, and five silver coins from his money bag, and put them in her little hand. He didn't expect that the little girl not only knew how to eat, but was also very good at arithmetic at such a young age. She calculated how much money it cost in just a short while. Most adults couldn't do it as quickly as her.
"Okay." Amy nodded, put the Ugly Duckling on the ground, and walked towards the counter with the money in her hands. More than a dozen coins were a lot for her.
As Robert was about to get up, he flipped through the menu beside him and suddenly noticed a lot of writing on the back. His eyes lit up with interest as he glanced at it.
The menu prominently lists a series of rules:
1. Loud noises are strictly prohibited in the restaurant;
2. All transactions are cash only, credit is not available;
3. Fighting, threatening the owner or employees, is strictly prohibited in the restaurant. Violators will be blacklisted and permanently banned from the restaurant…
The rules were written in gold lettering, which not only surprised him but also caught his eye.
It's not unusual for restaurants to have rules, but the rules in restaurants in Aden Square are usually things like prohibiting certain races or not allowing outside drinks. Robert had never seen a restaurant like Restaurant Mai Mi that set rules for its customers like this before.
"A restaurant owner who dares to employ half-racial waiter, a restaurant that dares to make its own demands on its customers, a chef who can create dishes that are not only incredibly flavorful but also have health benefits—this is the kind of restaurant that should be at the top of the food rankings." Robert put down the menu in his hand, glanced at Mai Ge busy in the kitchen, and thought to himself before getting up and walking towards the door. After leaving the door, he stopped and looked back at Restaurant Mai Mi, a smile playing on his lips, and said, "Luther, don't you think it would be very interesting if one day a restaurant that doesn't belong to the Aden Square Merchants' Union occupied all five spots on the food rankings?"
"If such delicious food can't even be in the top five, I think our food ranking list has completely lost its credibility." Luther said seriously, also looking at the sign for the Restaurant Mai Mi.
"Yes, whether customers are still willing to choose restaurants based on food rankings depends most importantly on credibility, and we are losing that now." Robert nodded solemnly, his gaze shifting from the restaurant, but a smile appeared on his face. "But things are different now. The sudden emergence of Restaurant Mai Mi might be a way to break the deadlock. Customers are discerning. If angry customers vote with their feet, the association might have to launch a new round of reforms, a war with the Aden Square Merchants' Union. Perhaps this will be a sharp knife."
"A war?" Luther watched Robert stride away, his eyes gradually becoming fervent, and he quickly followed.