All the effort spent over the last few days had finally been paying off. After Chijin had signed a lease contract with the owner, they moved in and started fixing up the shop. Chijin, Karei and Amai had worked day and night for the past six days to get to a point where they could distinguish it was a shop.
"I think it looks great! Now all we need are customers. And a name." Karei said to herself, standing at the door of their restaurant looking inside.
"How about the Pi-Shou Café?"
Karei turned suddenly and saw the old man that worked in the tea shop approaching her. He marveled at their shop and stood beside Karei.
"That's a really good name." Karei stood and looked at the shop and tried to figure how big the sign should be.
"Is the shop open yet?" He asked.
"Yes. Amai is inside waiting for customers." Karei answered and showed the old man inside. As the old man entered, Amai was standing at the entrance of the kitchen looking at someone else. Then she recognized the old man and immediately greeted him.
"Sir. Welcome." Amai smiled and took one menu off the counter and handed it to him.
"Please, call me Mushi. Sir is so formal." The old man smiled and took the menu.
"Well Mushi, I should offer you a free bowl of our herbed garden soup as repayment for that honeysuckle tea, which was delicious I might add."
Mushi laughed heartily and sat at a table in the middle of the shop.
"It's the deal breaker for any person who dislikes tea." Mushi said, and looked at the menu. Amai was on her way to the kitchen to get a bowl of soup, Karei right behind her with a bowl of paint and a brush.
"Oh I'll take some of these sweet dumplings for dessert." Mushi said loudly to Amai who had already entered the kitchen.
"No problem."Amai said as she exited the kitchen with a steaming bowl of soup. She placed in front of Mushi, and he took a whiff of the soup.
"It smells delicious. And so familiar. Where did you get the recipe?" Mushi asked as he took the spoon and sampled it.
"My guardian, Chijin. She's been making it for us for a long time. But she won't give us the recipe. She says it's been in her family for years." Amai said. Mushi almost choked on his soup when Amai told him the story.
"Oh sorry, must I get some water?" Amai jumped from fright and ran to the kitchen. She was back just as quickly, putting the glass in Mushi's hands.
"Thank you." Mushi gasped and sipped on the water.
"Is the soup too hot? Too salty?" Amai asked quickly.
"No, no, not in the least. I was eager to try it, a little too eager I guess."
Amai laughed loudly and went back to the kitchen for the sweet dumplings. When she came back, Mushi had eaten all of his of his soup and was smiling happily.
"The soup was delicious. I can't wait to try the dumplings." Mushi smiled, and took the plate from Amai. He smelt it eagerly and popped one in his mouth.
"Oh delicious. Your shop will definitely do well if you keep on cooking like this." Amai smiled broadly and took his empty bowl to the kitchen.