Ye Jiujiu calmly showed the staff the photographs she had taken at noon. The images clearly displayed restaurant-style portions, generous servings, and beautifully presented dishes.
The staff member flipped through the records again.
"Salted egg yolk baked mantis shrimp—nine hundred and eighty-eight yuan?"
Ye Jiujiu took out another photo and gestured to it.
"This arm," she said lightly, "is this long."
The staff member studied the image and nodded. "That does seem reasonable. But what about the cold seaweed salad and the steamed eggs with clams? Aren't those a bit expensive?"
"We operate a private kitchen," Ye Jiujiu replied patiently. "The recipes are family-inherited, the ingredients are fresh, and the taste speaks for itself."
As she spoke, she placed a plate of freshly made takoyaki in front of them.
"You can try it."
The staff initially wanted to decline, but the rich aroma was impossible to ignore. After hesitating briefly, one of them picked up a piece and took a bite.
The thin outer layer was crisp, the inside soft and chewy, and the filling generous.
Everyone froze for a second.
Takoyaki was something they had all eaten before from roadside stalls—usually drowned in sauces that failed to mask the fishy taste. But this was completely different. The first bite was clean and fresh, with only the faintest hint of the sea and a subtle sweetness at the end.
Such freshness could only come from seafood raised in extremely pure seawater.
One of them nodded involuntarily.
"It really is very fresh."
Ye Jiujiu smiled at the staff member who had already eaten two pieces.
"That's what every customer who's tried it says."
Then she asked calmly,
"Given the ingredient quality, the cooking techniques, and the private, refined environment—doesn't this pricing seem reasonable?"
The staff member hesitated. "The prices can't be too outrageous."
"This is a private restaurant with clearly marked prices," Ye Jiujiu said evenly. "Customers who come here do so willingly. The people who reported me probably haven't even eaten here. If they had, I believe they'd be satisfied."
The staff exchanged glances. The ambiance, service, and food quality all met the standards. With no violations to cite, they could only offer a verbal reminder.
"Thank you for your cooperation," they said as they stood to leave.
Before they left, Ye Jiujiu handed them a neatly packed box of takoyaki.
"It's hot today. Thank you for making the trip."
"We can't just take it for free," one of them protested.
She waved her hand. "It's fine."
Still uneasy about procedures, the staff insisted on paying. They placed 288 yuan on the counter, planning to share it with colleagues at the office—and to double-check the ingredients as well.
After seeing them off, Ye Jiujiu let out a long breath.
That should be the end of it… right?
She was wrong.
As the weather cooled slightly, several people appeared outside the restaurant, phones raised, snapping photos while whispering loudly.
"This is the place where a steamed egg costs 188 yuan."
"The name is Jiu Jiu. It looks antique and charming from the outside, but that price is ridiculous."
"Let's get some shots and interview people later. Maybe we'll catch a trending topic."
Hearing the chatter, Ye Jiujiu put on a mask and stepped outside.
"This alley is very narrow," she said calmly. "Please don't linger here and block others from passing."
The group scoffed.
"Do you own this alley? Why can't we stand here?"
"We're not blocking your door. Why are you so nosy?"
Ye Jiujiu clenched her jaw, holding back irritation.
"The area two meters in front of the shop is restaurant property. Please step back. Also, don't photograph the restaurant or customers. Thank you."
"Why can't we film? Who gave you that right?"
"You've got no customers anyway—what business could you possibly be losing?"
"With prices like yours, who could afford to eat here? Maybe you won't even sell a few tables tonight."
"Are you afraid of being exposed? We're standing up for justice."
Ye Jiujiu pressed her lips together.
"Don't you people have jobs?"
One of them smirked and aimed his phone at the street.
"It's 4:30. Let's see how many 'suckers' will be eating here tonight."
She stared at his smug expression, utterly speechless.
Incredible.
The heat was unbearable, and reasoning was clearly pointless. Ye Jiujiu turned around and went back inside.
They were still outside minutes later.
Since they insisted on being disgusting, she decided to respond properly.
She headed into the kitchen, took out all the squid, cuttlefish, and octopus from the ice buckets, cleaned them thoroughly, and marinated them with salt and spices.
Then she called Grandma Liu and Lele's mother.
"I made some squid snacks," she said. "Bring the kids by around five."
Afterwards, she slipped out the back door to the supermarket, bought bamboo skewers and a few tools, and returned. She threaded the marinated squid onto skewers and stir-fried a rich, spicy sauce.
When everything was ready, she carried the teppanyaki grill from storage, washed it, and set it up right outside the dining area.
The people filming froze.
What was she doing?
Ignoring all stares, Ye Jiujiu lit the fire. Once the iron plate was nearly hot, she brushed on oil, scattered chopped onions, and stir-fried until fragrant. She placed the skewered squid onto the surface—
Hiss—
The sound was instant and sizzling.
With practiced movements, she flipped the squid, brushed on oil, sprinkled seasonings, and turned them again and again. In no time, the rich aroma of grilled squid spread through the alley.
The group filming fell silent.
Several of them swallowed unconsciously.
Suddenly… they were very, very hungry.