Once all the ingredients were in the shaker, Li Xiao picked it up and placed it under the ice maker.
The ice maker’s portion sizes had already been adjusted; large, medium, and small cups each dispensed different amounts.
If customers wanted less ice or no ice, they could simply press the corresponding buttons.
After adding all the necessary ingredients, Li Xiao secured the lid on the shaker and placed it into the semi-automatic shaking machine.
He pressed the switch, and the machine began to rock frantically.
Ten seconds later, the machine slowly came to a halt.
Li Xiao took out the shaker and poured the drink into three small disposable cups.
Picking up two of the cups, he handed them to Wenchu People and Huang Cuilian.
"Give it a try. This is a new recipe I came up with for the shop," he said.
Wenchu People took the cup with some curiosity.
The tea itself was a bright golden yellow, carrying a faint tea fragrance.
Having just been violently shaken by the machine, a few fresh lemon slices and a bit of crushed ice floated on the surface. They swayed gently, emitting an enticing CLINK.
She didn’t hesitate and took a sip straight away.
The next moment, her eyes widened.
It was delicious—absolutely, incredibly delicious.
The lemon had no trace of bitterness, boasting only the intense fruity aroma unique to perfume lemons.
Even before the tea entered her mouth, the scent had already filled her nasal cavity, clearing her mind.
When the liquid hit her palate, it brought a mild tea flavor. A hint of bitterness revealed a strong sweetness, allowing her to feel the purity and mellowness of the tea leaves.
The tea flavor was neither too overpowering nor too weak. The sweet aftertaste of the tea and the sweetness of the fructose created a rich, layered sensation.
As the tea flowed into her mouth, the lemon fragrance began to diffuse. A refreshing citrus scent hit her senses, making her feel as if she were standing in the middle of a lemon orchard.
The sweet and sour taste of the lemon and the sweetness of the fructose gradually unfolded on her tongue. The slight tartness and faint sweetness intertwined, resulting in a fresh and pleasant texture and flavor.
Wenchu People opened her eyes. This cup of hand-shaken lemon tea was fresh and crisp, the tea fragrance perfectly blending with the sweet-and-sour lemon, leaving an endless, lingering aftertaste.
As a young person, she frequently visited beverage shops for lemon tea, but she was certain that this was the best cup she had ever tasted.
Li Xiao smacked his lips and nodded in satisfaction.
[Congratulations, you have unlocked the 18th illustration.]
[The culinary illustration you have unlocked is: Hand-Shaken Lemon Tea.]
[Food Rating: 90 Points (Excellent)]
[Because the food rating is Excellent, the reward is multiplied by 4.]
[Congratulations, you have received a cash reward: 800,000 yuan.]
[Congratulations, you have received a special decoration: Enlightenment Wind Chime x∞.]
[Congratulations, you have received a special decoration: Prosperous Fortune Cat x∞.]
[Congratulations, you have received a reward: 0.1% shares in Haitian Flavors.]
????
Li Xiao completely ignored the 800,000 yuan reward. To him, that amount truly meant nothing now. He had over ten million in cash on hand alone, making 800,000 an insignificant drop in the bucket, though the final reward did take him by surprise.
Just yesterday, he had received a 0.1% share of Haitian Flavors, which was worth over 200 million. Now, he was actually being rewarded with another 0.1%. Combined, these shares amounted to 0.2%, boasting a staggering market value of over 400 million. Even though he had possessed a considerable net worth in his previous life, he was still shocked by the system’s generosity. His attention, however, was quickly drawn to the second and third rewards.
[Special Decoration: Enlightenment Wind Chime x∞]
[When this decoration is placed in the shop, listening to it over a long period can permanently improve the intelligence level of the shop assistants.]
[Quantity ∞: You can place one of this decoration in every shop you own.]
[Special Decoration: Prosperous Fortune Cat x∞]
[When this decoration is placed in the shop, it can slightly increase the probability of customers entering.]
[Quantity ∞: You can place one of this decoration in every shop you own.]
Li Xiao didn’t care too much about the effect of the Prosperous Fortune Cat. He thought that merely increasing the chance of customers walking in slightly wouldn’t be of much use. After all, with his new recipe and the accompanying production equipment, the milk tea shop would have a highly competitive product line in the future. He could essentially guarantee that business would be nothing short of excellent. Even if the products the kids made in the future couldn’t reach his level of excellence, as long as they could achieve a good or even just an average standard, easily turning a profit wouldn’t be a problem at all.
The Enlightenment Wind Chime, on the other hand, intrigued him greatly. Listening to it for a long period could permanently improve the intelligence of the staff. This might not be of much use to ordinary people. However, if the staff members were Xihuan’Er, then perhaps it really could play a significant role.
Li Xiao looked toward the entrance. At some unknown point, a small, colorful stained-glass wind chime had been hung beside the glass door. The wind chime and the door were connected by a special device. Whenever it was opened or closed, the wind chime would sway slightly and emit a crisp ring. He looked at the children around him, with their peculiar facial features and unusual expressions. In the short term, it might be useless, but over a long period, it should produce decent results. After all, though this wind chime looked inconspicuous, it was produced by the system, and Li Xiao was still thoroughly convinced of its capabilities. His train of thought, however, was quickly interrupted by a voice beside his ear.
Wenchu People said, "This lemon tea is too delicious!
"Mr. Li, this recipe of yours is absolutely incredible. I’ve never had such amazing lemon tea in my life!"
She quickly calmed down, however. Casting a slightly worried glance at the children in the shop, she lowered her voice and said, "But... can the children really manage to pull off this recipe?
"I’m worried..."
Li Xiao understood exactly what she was concerned about. He waved his hand and spoke with confidence.
"Don’t worry. The new equipment I purchased is basically all fully or semi-automatic.
"It’s designed entirely to make it easier for these children to operate and use.
"Dong just walked through the production process with me. If you’re worried, we can absolutely have him do it again."
Although Li Xiao appeared very confident, it still couldn’t completely dispel the worries in Wenchu People’s heart.
She had been working with these children for several years, so she was very clear about their capabilities. It wasn’t that she looked down on them; she knew better than anyone just how hard the children tried. They put in countless times more effort than ordinary people, but their physical limitations meant they could only reap a tenth, or even a hundredth, of the reward. Therefore, she was extremely worried that even if Li Xiao could concoct a delicious beverage recipe, the children simply wouldn’t be able to recreate it.
Seeing Wenchu People’s concern, Li Xiao smiled and said, "Dong has already learned it anyway, so why not let him give it a try?"
Despite her worries, Wenchu People still harbored a sliver of anticipation in her heart. She nodded firmly.
"Alright!"