Hongdou

Biodata

Appearance

• Clothing: Wears a qipao with a slit that exposes her long, fair legs 6.
• Accessory: Carries a fan, described as a palm-leaf fan when Xu An borrows her kitchen. She also uses it to conceal her flushed face during their first meeting 6 19.

Personality

Hongdou combines welcoming customer service with playful teasing. She greets the Yunkui Summit disciples respectfully as “masters,” invites them to sample new tea and pastries, and gives Xu An a flirtatious wink during his first visit. His appearance initially distracts her enough that she has to compose herself before addressing her employee 6.

She is generous toward familiar customers. When Xu An asks to borrow her kitchen, she teases him about making something for his sweetheart, then waives the fee and asks only that he clean up afterward. After learning that he left far too much money for his pastries, she reflects that Yunkui Summit’s disciples are good people 19.

Business and Commission Work

Yin Tea House

• Customer service: Personally welcomes guests, serves food, and advertises both dine-in and takeaway service 6 22 28.
• Staff supervision: Coaches Xiaohu to greet customers more loudly and incorporate kung fu poses into his sales routine 6.
• Hollow commissions: The teahouse displays commissions prominently in its main hall, attracting capable people willing to undertake them 21.
• Yunkui Summit cooperation: Turns to the Summit for difficult retrieval work because its disciples can dispel obstructions in Lemnian Hollow that deter ordinary commission-takers 21.

History

Meeting Xu An and Belle

Hongdou first meets Xu An and Belle when Ju Fufu shows them around Chenghui Terrace. Recognizing Fufu, she correctly guesses that her companions are Yunkui Summit’s new disciples. She offers them freshly arrived tea, but Fufu postpones the visit so she can get the newcomers settled at the temple 6.

Lending Her Kitchen

Xu An later approaches Hongdou because the temple kitchen lacks the ingredients he wants for dessert. She allows him to use Yin Tea House’s kitchen without charge, enabling him to prepare chocolate mousse for Ye Shunguang. Although he also buys the day’s special pastries, he deliberately leaves excess Denny at the counter while Hongdou is elsewhere; a waiter reports the overpayment after failing to catch him 19.

Commission Partnership

Hongdou sends word to Ju Fufu about a special supply-recovery commission. Xu An and Belle visit in Fufu’s place, and Hongdou explains the assignment 21.

Afterward, Hongdou tells Xu An that increasing numbers of people are posting commissions at the teahouse and encourages him to accept more. With Fufu leaving future coordination to him, Xu An exchanges Knock Knock contacts with Hongdou. Belle joins them and adds her as well 24.

Relationships

• Xu An — Customer and commission partner. Hongdou shows an initial attraction to him, lends him her kitchen, and later establishes direct contact for commission updates 6 19 24.
• Belle — Welcomes her as a new Yunkui Summit disciple. Belle addresses her as “Sister Hongdou” and requests her Knock Knock contact 6 21 24.
• Ju Fufu — An established acquaintance who has handled a previous commission. Hongdou initially expects Fufu to attend personally when she sends for help with the Huiling Stone retrieval 6 21.
• Xiaohu — Her employee at Yin Tea House, whom she coaches on attracting customers 6.