In his past life, Leon experienced only two types of restaurant dining; fast food and places with generous portions of reasonable food with low prices. Nothing fancy or expensive. Ah but the cheap restaurants would share similarities to fine dining establishments in which there was a menu, waiter and chefs in the kitchen.When he and Jin Li went on their first date, the place they visited was a quaint tavern that was tucked away in the streets of the old town, but due to its bear-like owner, usually frequented only by old men, who"d been regulars for years and their sons, who"d be the same in the future. The fair had been a bit coa.r.s.e, mutton stew and bread and a boiled egg. Just enough to sate Jin Li"s monstrous appet.i.te. It had only cost a few handful of bra.s.s with weak mead included.
The place that Ursam dragged them and poor Mr Clawse too (the latter had been carried over the formers" shoulder, so not to keep the youths waiting) was not like that small tavern. Leon felt that this place would likely be more in keeping with those fine dining restaurant"s he"d never visited. It was a building of three floors. Upon the ground floor were a smattering of round tables and chairs as well as a small stage area to one side. The second floor was home to a balcony which happened to be shaped in a squared "u" that diners could see down to the stage below from all seats. And the highest floor had private rooms where the elite often partook of food and beverages while discussing business. These rooms had paper windows that could be opened should these guests wish to witness plays on stage or amuse themselves by looking down on those who could not afford a private room.
Seats upon the balcony and the private rooms incurred an additional fee for the privilege of usage, to be paid prior. This restaurant had been bitten before by Second generation n.o.bles who happened to speak big, but lacked the silver to back up their claims. A n.o.ble household was not necessarily a wealthy one, and even were it, doesn"t mean that n.o.ble fathers would had out silver unchecked to their spendthrift children.
In all honesty, although a private room commanded a fair sum of silver, a balcony seat was just ten silver. Otherwise this restaurant, which was located in a town with a good amount of money, but not a city with a lot, would always have empty s.p.a.ces upon it. Ursam coughed up the ten silver on hearing that there was still a table available up there. The middle-aged waiter took the coin and lead them up the first flight of stairs onto the balcony which used tall pillars of wood to create some divide between the tables between guests along with a few folding embroidered screens here and there. The balcony was not wide, just enough s.p.a.ce for a line of tables that bent around with the shape of the area and a walkway along its length. The stairs came out in the middle of the shaped "u".
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The table that the waiter lead them to was close to the left corner and partially hidden by a screen decorated with bamboo shapes and a paG.o.da. Unlike the tavern in which the policy was "this is what there is to eat, take it or leave it", there was a menu, which was printed upon slates of bamboo. Upon it were listed the restaurant"s specialities, other meat dishes, vegetable dishes and rice and noodle dishes and lastly soup dishes. Ursam rattled off a few requests to which Jin Li added to, these being mostly meat dishes, while Leon"s eyes widened and thoughts of the cost of this meal caused him a bit of panic. But before he could protest, the waiter had already disappeared with their order.
"So just for what reason," Clawse finally said at that moment, "have I been brought here without notice?"
"We are celebrating!" Ursam replied in a booming voice. Leon felt rather than saw the eyes of numerous guests glancing their way with high pointed noses and sneers. Ursam did not seem to care, however, pouring the jug of wine brought by another server, into the bowls upon the table.
"Yes, that you did say before unceremoniously dragged me here," Clawse added. "But why? What are you celebrating?"
"Did I not mention it?" Ursam asked, looking suddenly bewildered, before his expression resumed its bright, happy go lucky usualness with a shrug. "We are celebrating the day that you were smart enough to introduce me to this young alchemist of course!"
Clawse turned to Leon and said earnestly; "I am so sorry."
Jin Li smirked before picking up the small bowl of wine and sniffing it. It was fragrant and aromatic, a fruit wine meant to stimulate appet.i.te. His small alchemist should not feel the ill effects too soon, but just in case; "Don"t drink it on an empty stomach. Wait until you eat."
"Alright," Leon agreed and placed the bowl back onto the table.
In the meantime, Ursam decided to use his quota of discretion for the month and quietly informed Clawse just what the youth had accomplished of late. However, he was disappointed by the fact that Clawse remained stoic. "You are not surprised?" Ursam pouted, poking the prominent cheekbones of his friend.
Clawse slapped his hand away before lifting his bowl to sip from it. "No, I am not," the pharmacist admitted. How could he be when that same small alchemist had once brought him one heart Pills and Blood Pills that were a vast improvement on that which had been around for centuries. Creating such might satisfy a different alchemist that sought money and fame, but Leon was definitely not like that. Clawse had been certain of this fact ever since he came to trade the clear spiritual pills with reduced impurities; that boy was still seeking to improve the pills he knew.
Leon may have worried about the cost, but he came to realise that all of the dishes were in bowls no bigger than a western soup bowl, which were placed in the centre of the table for them to help themselves to. He felt the heat in his cheeks increase as Jin Li deftly filled his bowl with less greasy foods as he usually favoured, while he more clumsily tried to return the favour with meat, carefully picking up each piece with his chopsticks. Jin Li smiled happily at first, that his small lover sought to serve him, but his mood fell slight as Leon was so slow about it! Thus he still filled his own plate in the end.