After filling the teapot on this table about three-quarters full, she looked around the dining hall and called out:
"Anyone else need hot water? This is the only kettle! Once it's gone, it's gone! It'll be a while before the next one's boiled!"
Someone in the distance raised a hand to signal her.
"Ma'am! We need hot water over here too!"
The proprietress glanced that way, grabbed a waiter who had just come over to serve a dish, and shoved the kettle into his hands.
"Here, here! Go top up the hot water at that table! Get a move on! I have to do everything myself every time! I'm docking your wages this month..."
The waiter was already run off his feet. Not daring to talk back, he could only lower his head and hurry over to refill that table's teapot.
Chen Jiu watched coldly from the sidelines.
He watched the men at the neighboring table drink their tea, laughing and chatting.
They even poured quite a bit into the water bottles they had brought.
Only then did he pick up the teapot in front of him and fill everyone's cup.
"Master, have something hot!"
They had swapped teapots with the neighboring table earlier, and there had been little tea left in it. What remained was cold.
They had been thirsty throughout the journey and had barely had enough to drink.
The temperature in the mountains was low to begin with. A cup of hot tea would make them feel much better now.
But while Zhou Yuanhang and the others each drank two cups in succession, Song Ning did not touch hers.
Zhou Yuanhang asked warily, "Why aren't you drinking? Aren't you thirsty?"
Song Ning glanced at him, then lowered her head.
Zhou Yuanhang picked up her cup, ready to