Chapter 694: Chapter 428 Who is the Prettiest? (Part 2)
A woman with an apron tied around her waist hurried to the door, carrying a broom in hand.
She was a middle-aged woman but did not possess a vulgar charm, rather she was gentle and graceful in appearance. Though ti had etched quite a few crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes, it was evident that in her youth, she must have been a pretty girl.
At this mont, the woman who seed to be the landlady, panting as she ran, grabbed the sleeve of a male shopkeeper who was about to flee. She brandished the broom as if to hit him but hesitated and quickly changed her target, greeting his backside with force.
“Xia Bing, stop hitting , stop hitting ,” said the previously imposing and aggressive shopkeeper, who turned wimpy in an instant, twisting his rear to dodge and pleading for rcy.
“This one’s for Uncle Yu, he’s so old yet he watched the shop door and rang the bell all day, what’s wrong with him resting a bit, you stingy man,” scolded the landlady, frowning with delicate eyebrows, speaking her reasoning softly and gently.
“And this one’s for the few guests outside, they finally found our restaurant in the entire day, don’t scare them away with all your blustering!”
After swiping the broom a couple of tis, the woman called Xia Bing frowned in thought, then turned to twist the ear of the pleading man with one hand while akimbo with the other, chiding:
“Just now, Miss Qian’er inside asked you for a jug of wine, and you were so stingy. That young lady is so well-behaved and charming, speaks so sweetly, and brought us so much food today, all for free, and yet you’re being stingy with just one jug of that wine, why are you being so an!”
The shopkeeper surnad Zhao hung his head at those words, but couldn’t resist mumbling a defense:
“Well-behaved my ass, Xia Bing, don’t let that little girl’s trickery fool you. That girl is way too sly, just trying to get sothing for nothing and swindling my wine… heh, she has to follow the rules if she wants a drink, oh, oh, ouch! Be gentle, Xia Bing, I won’t say another word, ow wow!”
The aggrieved shopkeeper, in the midst of attempting a sneer, contorted his face in pain and begged for rcy.
Seeing her husband still talk back, Xia Bing applied more pressure with her hand, brandishing the broom at his rear, and said softly:
“Your so-called rules are just making things difficult for others, isn’t it still up to you whether it’s acceptable or not? Being stingy with your wine, who does business like that? No! Zhao Xifu, let tell you, the two guests who ca today, along with your kinswoman, are utterly charming and understanding, so likable that I am drawn to them, and you’re not allowed to drive them away with your bad temper!”
Shopkeeper Zhao, like a pickled eggplant, was being lectured by the landlady.
At this ti, he tilted his head holding his ear, quickly bowed in agreent, “Alright, alright, Xia Bing, as you wish. I’m going to fetch the wine now, isn’t that okay? Let go a little, it hurts…”
Xia Bing’s brows slightly relaxed, and she lightened the grip on his ear.
The next second, the crafty shopkeeper with the forehead-hugging haircut gave a swift shake of his head, freeing his ear, and darted off nimbly.
It was unclear whether he was going to play tricks or not…
Outside, Zhao Rong and the others witnessed this sowhat amusing scene and struggled to hold back their chuckles.
Xia Bing frowned at the sight of the shopkeeper slipping back into the shop, then set down the broom, turned around, walked out the door, and ca to Zhao Rong and an old man in a green robe to help Zhao Rong lift the latter.
First, Xia Bing gave Zhao Rong a grateful smile, then turned to the stooped old man on the ground, speaking apologetically, “I’m sorry, Uncle Bing. Zhao Xifu is just… he has a bad temper…”
The old man in the green robe, with his head bowed, raised both hands and waved them, declining the help from Zhao Rong and Xia Bing.
The wrinkled-faced old man got up, scratched his sparse head, and looked towards the exit of Well Frog Alley with a calm expression.
He shook his head, went to one side to fetch a spare stool, returned to his original spot by the door, sat down, and turned his back to everyone.
The crowd glanced at him, saw he was okay, and shifted their gazes away.
At this point, Xia Bing smiled at Zhao Rong:
“Thank you, young master, for the scene just now. It must have been quite amusing for you all.”
Zhao Rong shook his head, chuckling, “Was that the shopkeeper? He’s quite a character.”
Xia Bing seed like she couldn’t resist criticizing, but instead let out a sigh of resignation, “I don’t want to bother with him anymore… Oh, by the way, I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Xia Bing, and I run this place with Zhao Xifu. His full na is Zhao Xifu… May I know how the young master and his companions are called.”
Zhao Rong, Su Xiaoxiao, and the rest introduced themselves, and Zhao Rong, not one to dawdle, directly stated their purpose…
Xia Bing said happily, “So you are the guests invited by Miss Lingfei and Miss Qian’er today.”
If it weren’t for soone leading the way, would any ordinary diner be able to find this place? Zhao Rong ridiculed in his mind but nodded with a smile.
Behind him, Fan Yushu, who had been staring blankly at the surroundings from the start, glanced at Zhao Rong’s back and then took a long look at the small restaurant, hesitant to speak.
At that mont, Xia Bing beca cordial, stepping close and asking, “Young Master Zhao, are you the childhood sweetheart husband Miss Lingfei always ntioned? Please, co in quickly.”
She warmly took care of them, leading Zhao Rong and his group inside, chatting with Zhao Rong along the way:
By this ti, Zhao Rong had thought it over and spoke sensibly, “Sister Xia, we’re causing a disturbance today. Please don’t take it amiss.”
Hearing this, Xia Bing’s eyes lit up, unable to contain her smiling expression. She turned and appraised the refined young man dressed in scholarly attire, growing more and more satisfied, “Such a handso gentleman you are, a perfect match for Miss Lingfei. No wonder she just can’t help but smile whenever she ntions you. A truly well-matched pair, envy of everyone around.”
As soon as she said this, the atmosphere among Zhao Rong and his companions beca a bit tense.
Zhu Yourong cast a glance at the awkwardly smiling Zhao Rong and Su Xiaoxiao, who was looking down and fidgeting with her sleeves.
It seed that Bing Niang had sensed sothing and turned back curiously to look around at Zhao Rong and the others, then her gaze couldn’t help but linger on the faces of so exceptionally handso Fox Demon girls.
My, what beautiful girls, they possess such imnse Spiritual Energy. Compared to Lingfei… The woman leading the way silently pondered.
At this ti, Zhao Rong didn’t know how to continue the conversation and didn’t dare turn his head to look at the blunt, sorrowful gazes of certain little Fox Demons, or at the woman in a Confucian robe behind him who seed to be smiling but not smiling. He was unsure where to rest his eyes.
Just then, he saw Shopkeeper Zhao not far away, who had originally been sitting back with his legs propped up, drinking. Zhao Rong, as if finding a lifesaver, smiled and nodded towards Shopkeeper Zhao, who for so reason was widening his eyes, and without thinking, he gestured a salute.
Behind the counter, a certain petty man was ceaselessly watching the beaming Bing Niang; seeing her talking and laughing with the young Confucian Scholar, and being sowhat intimate, Shopkeeper Zhao couldn’t help but put his drink down as his eyes widened slightly.
Then he saw that ddleso brat who liked to stick his nose into other people’s business dare to flash him a brilliant smile. Zhao Xifu couldn’t help but glower at Zhao Rong. Good boy, living up to the Zhao family na, all of them were truly gutsy…
Zhao Rong had no idea that soone had just put him on their list. He was busy dealing with this serene woman’s questions and then was led by her to a dining table near the window inside the hall.
The hall was empty, and Zhao Rong touched the table, noticing there wasn’t much grease.
One could imagine that the business was, indeed, extrely dismal.
Bing Niang left and returned to the back kitchen.
Everyone began to prepare to take their seats in succession.
At this mont, Fan Yushu finally couldn’t help but speak up.
“Ziyu.”
Everyone looked over.
Zhao Rong, who had intentionally sat sowhat away from Su Xiaoxiao, looked down and did not look at him, and his gaze swept over the chairs next to the table as he casually replied, “What is it?”
Before Fan Yushu had a chance to speak, Zhao Rong turned and walked away for a mont.
“Wait a mont.”
Soon, Zhao Rong returned, bringing with him two slightly taller chairs and a cushion.
He wordlessly went behind a small Fox Demon who wasn’t very tall. Without looking at her expression and without asking, he replaced her chair with one of the new ones and covered it with the cushion, then pushed the chair forward.
Su Xiaoxiao, tugging at the hem of her clothing and bowing her head, obediently sat on the comfortably raised cushion, yet she did not look at him.
Then there was the blue-clothed girl who was pouting and crossing her arms looking at him, and subsequently, Zhao Rong replaced the remaining chair with one for her.
The crowd watched this scene in silence.
Zhu Yourong narrowed her eyes lightly.
Next to a certain conservative woman, Li Xueyou secretly glanced at the considerate man.
However, a certain little girl who had benefited was still not satisfied.
Jingzi protested, “I want a cushion too, make it high, hmph, like the one Xiaoxiao has.”
Zhao Rong didn’t want to deal with this pushy and grudge-bearing girl, letting her wave her slender arms and glare in protest while the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
The next second, however, the eyelids of a certain Confucian Scholar with the Zhao surna twitched, and without another word, he turned and ran to find a cushion for the blue-clothed girl, “Wait a mont.”
Jingzi, who hadn’t really held out much hope that Zhao Rong would actually play the flunky, opened her mouth in surprise, and her raised hand paused, “Hmm?”
The surrounding people were also slightly stunned.
In an instant, both Zhu Yourong and Yu Huaijin turned their heads to look in a certain direction of the hall at the sa ti.
Li Xueyou, Jingzi, and others were slower to react and followed their gaze…
Indeed, they saw not far off, a woman with eyes like autumn water and an endearing mole under one eye, carrying a tray of dishes gracefully towards them, like a Fairy descending to Earth.
Following her was a lively and beautiful young girl, also dutifully carrying a tray.
It was truly Lingfei and Zhao Qian’er.
People rose one after another to greet them.
Yet a certain Fox Demon girl suddenly clenched her hands tightly on the edge of the table, her gaze fixed on that tall and graceful Fairy, montarily forgetting to stand…
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