Before long, a tableful of dishes was ready.
Little Girl pushed the table. "Mm, hurry and eat."
The youth said, "You should eat too. I can't finish this much by myself."
"...Oh, how could we?"
Little Girl had already learned to make polite protests she did not mean.
"Moo!"
Old Ox had already plopped down and dug in with gusto. Someone else was paying, after all.
Li Ping'an sat on the counter and brewed himself a cup of chrysanthemum tea to cut through the grease.
"Phew, phew~"
"Didn't you say you'd only just arrived? How did you suddenly become the owners of this place?" the youth asked curiously.
"Mm~"
Little Girl looked at Li Ping'an.
Li Ping'an said, "A friend rented it to us. We're helping look after the place."
The youth nodded and thanked them again for what had happened earlier.
Before long, all the food was gone.
He was at the age when a growing boy could eat his father out of house and home, and Kitten and Old Ox could put away enormous amounts too.
They chatted a little longer.
The youth wiped his mouth. "I'll be off, then. I've been out too long. My brother will scold me again when I get back."
"We won't see you out."
Before leaving, the youth glanced at Li Ping'an again.
"Hiss~"
The youth muttered as he walked.
"Why does he keep looking so familiar...?"
Little Girl leaned against the doorway and called out reluctantly, "Come again! This Fairy has lots more special dishes."
The youth left.
The inn fell quiet again.
Little Girl looked at their only earnings since opening several days ago and could not help sinking into thought.
Li Ping'an did not particularly concern himself with business. Good wine need not fear being hidden deep in an