nycdaug Chapter 366 - 353: Drive Out
Chapter 366 - 353: Drive Out
Chapter 366: Chapter 353: Drive Out
The shop assistant led Zhuang Qingning and Zhuang Yutian towards an aged Qingfeng Tea House across the street. Along the way, he explained, “Originally, the manager intended to invite both of you to have tea in the shop, but as it is still undergoing renovations and is rather messy and dusty, he decided to make arrangements here instead.”
“This tea house has been here for some years. The second floor has private booths that are rather tranquil, and you can get a good view of the shop from the window.”
The assistant helped Zhuang Qingning to his seat, “Please take a seat and wait for a moment. Our manager will be here shortly.”
“I need to get back to overseeing the renovations in the shop, so I won’t be accompanying you both. I hope you gentlemen will understand.”
“You go ahead and attend to your business,” Zhuang Qingning said with a smile. “We’ll wait for Manager Cheng.”
“Yes.” The assistant bowed to Zhuang Qingning and Zhuang Yutian, and then hurried downstairs.
Zhuang Qingning and Zhuang Yutian soon watched the assistant return to the shop to resume his duties.
Apparently, the assistant had already ordered some tea and snacks. Not long after, a pot of tea and four small plates of delicacies were brought upstairs.
Zhuang Qingning and Zhuang Yutian each picked up a cup to drink.
It was a green tea, with a full aroma and a subtle hint of sweetness.
Zhuang Qingning found it good and poured himself another cup.
“Is the tea to your liking?” Zhuang Yutian asked with a smile.
“Yes, it’s very refreshing, and the water quality is also good,” Zhuang Qingning nodded.
“The water is from a well in a village on the eastern side of the county town. Only that well produces sweet water, which is delightful to taste even without adding any tea leaves. This tea house uses tea from Cheng’s tea shop. The tea is a type called ‘Yuwu tea,’ not sold anywhere but in tea houses in the county town. Only a few branches of Cheng’s family have regular dealings with the tea shop and receive some during the holidays.”
Zhuang Yutian remarked, “Manager Qian asked me a few days ago if I drink tea and said he would send me some of the new Yuwu tea when it arrives. If you like it, I can set some aside for you.”
“If there’s plenty, please set some aside for me,” Zhuang Qingning, liking the tea a lot, did not hold back and promptly agreed.
“Sure, I will send it over to you when it arrives,” Zhuang Yutian replied.
“Get out, get out!”
While the two were talking, a commotion could be heard downstairs.
“If you keep causing trouble, I will take you to report to the authorities!”
The voice was filled with anger. It was clear it belonged to the tea house’s waiter, who had just served them.
“Your shop is obviously bullying customers. I clearly won the grand prize and earned this tael of silver. Yet you insist on giving it to someone else. There must be some underhanded dealings, probably thinking of swallowing it all yourself.”
An argument erupted. Zhuang Qingning raised his eyebrows.
The voice was familiar…
Was it Zhuang Yuanren?
Zhuang Qingning leaned over the stairs to look downstairs and sure enough, he saw Zhuang Yuanren arguing with a waiter.
Dressed in a brocade robe but in a dishevelled state with his hair all messy, he was loudly berating the waiter, “You dare to bully people like this, using the County Government to intimidate. Are you implying that you intend to join hands with the Government Office to bully a scholar?”
“If you’re aware you’re a scholar, then you should behave like one and not be here stirring up right and wrong,” the waiter retorted, hands on his hips as he looked Zhuang Yuanren up and down. “I thought you looked familiar earlier, and now I remember.”
“A few days ago, there was a scandal involving the Kong family in the county. You must be the evil man’s son who is willing to sell his biological daughter for money. I saw you at the entrance of the Government Office. You are the vile person who denies any knowledge of it and pushes everything onto your own father.”
“Tsk tsk, no wonder, you are capable of such things. No wonder you have eyes only for money and cause trouble over this single tael of silver.”
“In that case, I don’t have to hold back. I’ll take you to the county yamen right now and shout along the way to let everyone take a good look at you!”
With that, the tea house waiter rolled up his sleeves, intending to grab Zhuang Yuanren’s collar.
Zhuang Yuanren was clearly startled and went pale due to the waiter’s words. He didn’t argue further and turned to leave.
He tripped over the doorstep in his haste, stumbling for a few steps before regaining his balance. Fearing that the waiter was catching up, he hastily fled.
The waiter spit contemptuously and muttered angrily before returning to soothe the patrons in the shop.