Chapter 56: Exposed

The waiter smiled politely, "We can't return it, but our restaurant offers takeout."

Zhou Qing turned to look at Shen Li.

You must be so rich to be this extravagant!

Shen Li smiled warmly.

"I’ve always wanted to invite Master and Miss Qing to a meal here but never had the chance. Since today Master has a double celebration, I ordered more as a token of my gratitude as an apprentice."

More? Do you have a misunderstanding about the word "more"?

The wastrel, Shan, used to high-profile scenes, soon calmed down from his shock.

Crossing his arms, he looked at Shen Li, "Are you trying to court my daughter this way?"

Zhou Qing was so shocked by Zhou Huaishan’s words that her jaw almost dropped.

"Father, what are you talking about!"

She turned to Shen Li with suspicion.

Don't tell me you're really trying to pursue me?

"Of course not, Master, you’re overthinking it."

Zhou Qing breathed a sigh of relief, terrified out of her wits.

Why talk about love and romance instead of being good friends? Is that what a normal person should do?

Zhou Huaishan’s face darkened, and he slammed the table with a bang. "Really? What’s wrong with my daughter? Why don't you like her?"

Shen Li’s eyes twitched. Should I say yes?

If I said yes, you’d definitely smash a chair over my head.

"Master, I only have a brother-sister feeling towards Miss Qing, nothing more. What happened last night was an emergency."

Shen Li explained sincerely.

Zhou Qing tugged at Zhou Huaishan’s sleeve.

"Father! Shen Li not only tutors you every day but even spent extra money to celebrate your victory today. Why are you always picking on him? He’s your apprentice."

Zhou Huaishan snorted, "My daughter is the prettiest in the village. Anyone who doesn't like her must be blind!"

After saying this, Zhou Huaishan picked up his chopsticks and took a piece of boiled fish.

"Daughter, eat!"

Without realizing that he was a bit unreasonable when angry.

As a father, it’s tough.

Afraid of wolves wanting his daughter, and afraid of wolves not wanting his daughter.

So difficult!

Zhou Qing smiled apologetically at Shen Li, "My father.. don't mind him."

Shen Li looked at Zhou Qing with gentle eyes and shook his head slightly. "It’s fine, let's eat before it gets cold."

Since the food was already ordered, the only way to show gratitude to Shen Li was to eat to their heart's content!

The three of them enjoyed their meal.

Meanwhile, the news that Zhou Huaishan had spent 700 taels of silver to order all the dishes in Fushun Restaurant quickly spread.

Outside the restaurant, a few local hooligans spat out the dry grass sticks they had been chewing and angrily turned away.

They had originally planned to follow the country bumpkin and rob him when the chance arose.

Who would have thought...

A country bumpkin remains a country bumpkin, and he actually spent it all on a meal!

Is this something a human does?

In the Fushun Restaurant, on the first floor hall.

Zhao Dacheng sat with a dark expression surrounded by a group of cronies, each holding a cricket cage.

"If we’re talking about the bumpkin’s craftsmanship, it’s not bad at all. Look at how exquisite this work is."

"Yeah, look at this cage, it even has a door. He even left a door for the crickets. What a thoughtful design."

"Yours with a door is nothing. Mine has a window!"

"I say, Dacheng, why don’t you ask him to make one for you too?"

Zhao Dacheng glared at the person who spoke with a dark expression, grinding his teeth. "Get lost!"

The group of rascals laughed heartily.

"Look, look, the bumpkin is coming down!"

As they laughed, someone with sharp eyes saw Zhou Huaishan coming down the stairs from the second floor.

Zhao Dacheng swiftly turned around and saw Zhou Huaishan. He almost wanted to rush up and bite him directly.

Zhou Huaishan and his group didn’t notice Zhao Dacheng at all and happily walked downstairs.

The meal cost almost 500 taels of silver.

When it was time to settle the bill, Zhou Qing watched as Shen Li paid and nervously tugged at his sleeve. "Don’t spend so much in the future."

Shen Li looked at Zhou Qing, wanting to reach out and pat her head.

But he couldn’t.

"Was it delicious?"

Zhou Qing frowned, "It was delicious, but it was also very expensive!"

Shen Li smiled, "If it was delicious, then it was worth it. Not expensive."

Zhou Huaishan positioned himself between Shen Li and Zhou Qing, "The food has already been packed."

Even though Shen Li said he had no such intentions, it's better to be cautious!

Ordering all the dishes from the restaurant resulted there was enough leftover to fill half a cart!

After leaving the restaurant, Shen Li led the mule cart. "Master, where else do you want to go?"

"Let’s not go anywhere. We still have to walk for half the day to get back. Seeing so many good dishes, Ping will definitely be overjoyed!"

The three talked as they got on the cart and set off.

Just as Zhou Huaishan was about to climb onto the cart, a beggar approached with a tattered bowl.

"Sir, please, I haven’t eaten for three days. I’m so hungry I can’t even hold the bowl!"

Zhou Qing, hearing this, picked up a box of leftover food to give him, but Zhou Huaishan had already taken the beggar’s bowl from his hands.

"Alright, alright. I’m kind-hearted. Since you can’t hold it, I’ll hold it for you. Rest a bit."

The beggar stared, dumbfounded, at Zhou Huaishan, his mouth twitching.

Zhou Huaishan raised his chin, looking at the beggar with mockery, then grabbed a handful of coins from the beggar’s bowl and stuffed them into his own pocket.

After taking the coins, Zhou Huaishan sneered. "Now the bowl is much lighter. Go and beg elsewhere."

The beggar, enraged, grabbed Zhou Huaishan’s arm. "Oh, you look honest and simple, but you even rob a beggar!"

Seeing the beggar's hand, Zhou Qing frowned, suddenly understanding why Zhou Huaishan acted this way. She couldn’t help but smile slightly.

Her father might be a rascal, but he was indeed smart.

Zhou Qing leaned back on the mule cart and watched the show.

Shen Li glanced at Zhou Qing, then took out a bag of fried peanuts and handed it over. "Want some?"

Unable to hold back, Zhou Qing finally voiced her deep-seated curiosity.

"Does your family own a mine?"

Shen Li was momentarily stunned, then understood Zhou Qing’s meaning and smiled, nodding. "We have two, but the quality isn’t very high."

Hearing Shen Li’s honest words, Zhou Qing almost dropped the peanuts she was holding.

"Really?"

"Mm."

A young man with a mine is not to be messed with!

While they were talking, onlookers had gathered around.

The onlookers looked angrily at Zhou Huaishan. "You’ve really let us down. I didn’t expect you to be this kind of person!"

The beggar still clung to Zhou Huaishan's arm, shouting angrily.

When Zhou Huaishan and the others had been surrounded enough, he suddenly reached out and grabbed the beggar’s face.

The beggar wasn’t prepared, and amidst the astonished cries of the onlookers, his dirty beard was ripped off in one swipe.

The crowd of onlookers...

Just as they were about to start cursing Zhou Huaishan, they were stunned by what they saw.

The beard was fake?

The words they were about to speak were stuck in their throats.

"Zhao Dacheng?"

Someone reacted quickly and recognized him.

"It's really Zhao Dacheng!"

Zhou Huaishan shoved the broken bowl into Zhao Dacheng’s arms. "Go find someone else to play with. I need to go home and study."

With that, Zhou Huaishan climbed onto the mule cart with a simple, honest look.

Amidst the pointing and gossiping of the crowd, Zhao Dacheng watched helplessly as Zhou Huaishan left on the mule cart.

His hanging fists clenched tightly.

Not only did he fail to swindle Zhou Huaishan, but he also ended up losing a bowl of coins!

Especially Zhou Huaishan’s final words, "Go find someone else to play with. I need to go home and study," and that look and tone, deeply pierced his heart!

Pierced his pride as a wastrel.

"Zhou Huaishan!" Zhao Dacheng gritted his teeth, calling out Zhou Huaishan’s name. "Go home and have diarrhea!"