Hotpot Restaurant Chapter 11
Meng Xiaoni was oblivious to the events of the night.
She woke up refreshed, washed up, and changed her clothes; she felt full of energy and exuded the youthful vigour that was very much in line with her fresh graduate age.
Downstairs, breakfast was already laid out on the table; Meng Xiaoni ate her share, then took some cherry tomatoes for Guifeng.
The remaining hot pot base she made yesterday had been sealed well and kept in the freezer. She intended to offer it as a new product these couple of days; if the feedback is positive, it would be used as the eatery’s signature hot pot base after the renovation.
Meng Xiaoni hummed a little tune happily as she assessed the progress of her plans for the eatery.
The tune was light and rhythmic, like a little deer running in the countryside.
Guifeng pecked at a cherry tomato, heard the tune and raised his head, “What are you singing?”
Meng Xiaoni brought a cherry tomato to Guifeng’s beak. “I don’t know. Just humming randomly. I’ve quite the talent for music; I can create my own songs.”
Guifeng had just finished the cherry tomato he was pecking at, and proceeded to peck at the one between Meng Xiaoni’s fingers.
Meng Xiaoni looked at the Guifeng as he ate. “For my junior high final music exam, I was completely out of tune and it became my own song. In the end, the music teacher said that seeing how my voice was not bad, she’d give me a B.”
Guifeng was stunned. Could this be considered as having ‘talent for music’?
Meng Xiaoni saw Guifeng’s expression and laughed happily, “At that time, the people who got an A grade was about 80%”
Guifeng, “……”
‘Talent for music’— disproved.
After breakfast, Meng Xiaoni checked the status of her online purchases.
There were several deliveries arriving today.
She glanced at Guifeng and decided to quietly move the deliveries to her room later.
For things like birdcages, even if Guifeng didn’t want to sleep in one, it’s still better to have one just in case.
Anyway, judging from the past two days, Guifeng indeed would not just go to the toilet anywhere, unlike regular parrots. Meng Xiaoni knows too little about Bourke’s parrots, so although puzzled, she thought it was probably a coincidence, and didn’t think too much of it.
“Ding ding dong ding dong~ ding ding dong ding dong~~”
Meng Xiaoni was slightly startled when she saw the number that had suddenly appeared on her phone. She hurriedly accepted the call, “Hello, good morning, this is Meng Xiaoni.”
“Hello, this is the Forestry Bureau.” The Forestry Bureau’s staff explained the situation in a friendly tone, “I have reflected your situation to my superior. Unfortunately, we will not be able to issue you a temporary permit.”
Meng Xiaoni looked at the Guifeng, who’d just begun his post-meal ‘marching exercise’, and her heart sank. “…… Is that so……”
“Yes. We will hand the parrot over to a nearby parrot breeding centre or a zoo. This parrot needs to be registered with the Forestry Bureau. We will also require a medical examination report and proof of vaccination from a breeding centre or veterinarian.”
The staff went on to give some precautionary advice and various complicated breeding requirements. “All the conditions need to be met to qualify as a parrot breeder. If Miss Meng satisfies all the conditions, the breeding centre will be able to help you to apply for the relevant permit.”
Meng Xiaoni’s sinking heart lifted again.
Does this mean that as long as she fulfilled all the conditions, the breeding centre will find a way to let her keep Guifeng?
“As long as you don’t engage in the buying and selling of these parrots, there should be no issues. If there is any involvement in such trade, the sentence will be based on the species of the parrot and the amount involved,” the staff concluded. “This is not a trivial matter.”
Meng Xiaoni’s gripped her phone, “I understand.”
“So, regarding the parrot, is it convenient for us to come and take it today?” the Forestry Bureau staff asked.
Meng Xiaoni looked at Guifeng.
Guifeng had good hearing; he looked warily at Meng Xiaoni, “Don’t even think about it.”
His crisp, clear voice was heard by the staff through the phone.
The staff asked hesitantly, “What was that just now?”
Meng Xiaoni was at a loss for words. “Um……”
Guifeng flapped his wings and flew onto Meng Xiaoni’s shoulder. “I’m that…… bird.”
He couldn’t bring himself to say that he was a parrot.
The staff on the other end of the phone was momentarily stunned. He then turned on the speaker mode and hurriedly called out to the people around him, “Hey, you guys, listen to this.”
Hearing the commotion on the other side, Guifeng leaned towards the phone and said, “I can undergo all the necessary medical examinations in the company of Meng Xiaoni. But I will not agree to go to a breeding centre or a zoo. Even if I’m brought there, I will escape. And if I can’t escape, I will go on a hunger and water strike.”
He spoke coherently in a clear voice.
The Forestry Bureau, “……?”
Guifeng thought back to all the plays he’d watched before. “Even if I become a ghost, I will not let you off.”
Meng Xiaoni, “……?”
The Forestry Bureau staff, “…… Miss Meng?”
Meng Xiaoni subconsciously turned her head, wanting to get a look at Guifeng. However, she was unable to see the little one on her shoulder clearly, because they were too close.
On the other end of the phone, another member of the staff asked curiously, “Is it the parrot we’ve been talking about for the past two days? Is it male or female?”
Guifeng, “My name is Guifeng. Feng.”
The two characters for ‘phoenix’ are Fenghuang1; Feng refers to the male, while Huang, the female. This was common sense, but perhaps not all humans knew about it.
Guifeng paused, then continued, “Male.”
As the staff listened while Guifeng spoke, they became increasingly excited. One of them, a bird research specialist, leaned forward, “Is that a Bourke’s parrot? It’s IQ is extraordinary.”
“At this level, it’s probably exceeded the IQ of the average human child.”
“Say something else, quick.”
Guifeng gave Meng Xiaoni’s hand a peck.
Meng Xiaoni realised what he wanted, and quickly turned on the speaker mode on her own phone.
The Forestry Bureau staff explained in a peaceable tone, “Guifeng, Miss Meng picked you up by chance. But she is not equipped with the right conditions to keep you; if you get sick, even if it’s very serious, she wouldn’t be able to find you a vet in time.”
Indeed, Meng Xiaoni didn’t know of any avian veterinarians, but she could try to make some contacts.
Guifeng glanced at the perturbed expression on Meng Xiaoni’s face. “I’m more likely to get sick if I’m not with her.”
The staff laughed, and continued to ask, “How old is Guifeng?”
Guifeng replied calmly, “Too old, I don’t remember.”
There was a burst of laughter from the Forestry Bureau. “Guifeng and Miss Meng haven’t known each other for a long time, right?”
Without batting an eyelid, Guifeng repied, “Love at first sight; adoration at second sight; a lifelong promise at third sight.”
Upon hearing a parrot say such words with such clarity, all the staff to burst into rapturous laughter. This was the same as when adults hear children speak— their faces would be full of amused indulgence, but none would take the words of a child seriously.
Even Meng Xiaoni, who was on an emotional rollercoaster, laughed as well.
Guifeng did just say it casually, but when he saw Meng Xiaoni laugh, he couldn’t help but peck her, “Why are you laughing too?”
Hearing its serious tone, Meng Xiaoni laughed even harder, “It’s just that, this is the first time a parrot has confessed to me.”
Guifeng couldn’t help but pecked her again, “Who confessed to you? Young child, it seems like you have rather beautiful daydreams.”
The staff went crazy with laughter.
One of the staff spoke as he laughed, “It’s like this, Miss. On our side, all conversations are recorded. We will ask again about the issue of raising Guifeng. This parrot is special, it seems to have an IQ beyond the average Bourke’s parrot. Special circumstances will have to be dealt with specially; if everything goes well, we will send one of our staff to your place in the afternoon.”
This person probably held a higher position; after he spoke, a few others could be heard shouting, “Boss is the best!”
Meng Xiaoni wasn’t expecting this sudden development; she hurriedly responded, “Okay, okay.”
This was her first experience with the public services.
The staff laughed and said a few more words before hanging up.
Meng Xiaoni put away her phone, raised her hand and rubbed Guifend’s little pink head happily. “I might be able to keep you!”
His feathers a ruffled mess, Guifeng almost exploded.
It moved its petite body away with difficulty, “Human, you be more reserved.”
As a human who wasn’t reserved, Meng Xiaoni’s could not conceal her joy. “It’s fine.”
Guifeng, “……”
Following the Forestry Bureau’s call, came a call from the courier.
Meng Xiaoni received several deliveries one after another. She moved them all upstairs, feeling a little guilty.
If it were an ordinary parrot, buying a cage would just be standard procedure.
But this was a parrot with superior intelligence, one that even slept in a bed every day. Meng Xiaoni now felt that buying things like a birdcage and toys seemed a little…
If Meng Xiaoni were in Guifeng’s shoes, she’d definitely be displeased that someone had bought her a cage or these childish toys.
If he found out, he’d surely jump up and peck her head.
After Meng Xiaoni brought everything upstairs, she stuffed them all under her table.
Guifeng noticed Meng Xiaoni’s sneaky behaviour, but he did not care.
After all, it’s only natural for humans to have some of their own frivolous thoughts.
These frivolous thoughts have no impact on those with absolute power.
At present, there was no “absolute power” around, but Guifeng remained calm and mused idly.
At noon, Meng Xiaoni went downstairs to help out; she also wanted to take the opportunity to hear the regulars’ opinions about the new hot pot base.
Guifeng was forced to stay upstairs.
He listened to the remarks that were being made downstairs. “Oh wow, Nini, this hot pot base tastes pretty good”; “I like it, I like it”; “You can open a big restaurant in the future~”; “This child is promising huh!”; and so on. As he listened, he silently adjusted the power within his body.
Times were progressing; the rules between Hell and the human realm have become stricter than before, and the surveillance system was increasingly complete. All the food of the human realm needed to meet certain “conditions” before it could enter the underworld. In modern terms, it means that “conditions” need to be fulfilled for energy conversion to take place.
Meng Xiaoni was an accidental loophole; the food that she has handled did not require energy conversion.
Humans can eat them; ghosts can eat them; Guifeng can also eat them.
Guifeng tilted his head as he wondered: How can I get Meng Xiaoni to make more food for me?
He stretched his wings, a little disdainful of this pliable and delicate body.
“Da-da-da”; The sound of running steps came up.
Meng Xiaoni opened the door and brought in another large box.
There was no space under the table for this box, so she had no choice but to place it next to the table instead.
Meng Xiaoni looked at Guifeng guiltily, “I will go back downstairs to help out.”
After finishing her sentence, she closed the door and ran off.
Guifeng tilted his head to the other side.
He looked at the newly delivered box.
The guilty conscience of human beings…
Guifeng flapped his wings and flew to the box; with a “tok-tok-tok”, he began to tear open the box with his beak.
Inside the box was a ton of packing peanuts.
Guifeng continued to tear away with its sharp beak and claws.
Five minutes later, Guifeng looked at the small and cute pink wooden rocking horse before him, and fell into a bewildered silence.
In the middle of this pink wooden horse, there was a pole that was perfect for a bird’s claws to grab on to. No matter how you looked at it, it looked like it had been bought for him.
Guifeng, “……”
Humans, are really too bold.
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Translator’s Notes:
It exists. (ノ＞▽＜。)ノ
Footnotes:
1 Fenghuang: This explanation comes a little late, but here it is important to give more understanding about the Chinese phoenix, which is quite different from the one in Western mythology. Written 凤凰 (fenghuang), the males were originally called feng and the females huang but such a distinction of gender is often no longer made and they are blurred into a single feminine entity so that the bird can be paired with the Chinese dragon, which is traditionally deemed male.
Unlike the Western phoenix, the fenghuang is a composite of many different animals/ birds, which each different part symbolising various celestial bodies.
The fenghuang has very positive connotations. It is a symbol of high virtue and grace. The fenghuang also symbolizes the union of yin and yang (because of its male-female duality). The first chapter of the Classic of Mountains and Seas , the “Nanshang-jing“, records each part of fenghuang’s body symbolizes a word. The head represents virtue (德), the wing represents duty (義), the back represents propriety (禮), the abdomen says credibility (信) and the chest represents mercy (仁).
