CHAPTER 310: CHAPTER 295: AH, SO SATISFYING

After Yu Xiaolian and County Magistrate Ma reached an agreement, the magistrate left, anxious to get home since his daughter had fainted.

When Yu Xiaolian returned to call Sun Mancang, the air was filled with the complaints of those who had bet on Ma Xiyue’s victory.

Yu Xiaolian asked Sun Mancang to take Sun Hu and the others, who came to watch the fun, back home. She then found Su Jingchen and asked him to accompany her to the gambling house to collect the winnings.

Su Jingchen and Yu Xiaolian walked side by side out of the Women’s Virtue Academy, sparking a new wave of gossip among onlookers.

"How do the Scholar Su and Teacher Yu know each other?" someone curiously asked.

"I don’t know, but judging by their looks, they probably knew each other before!"

"Ah, you guys don’t know, right? Scholar Su and Teacher Yu are both from Northern Linzhou Yangcheng County. They were childhood sweethearts!"

That person had an insider look, saying, "Just wait and see, once Teacher Yu turns thirteen, the Su and Yu families will definitely arrange their engagement."

"Really? How do you know?"

The person didn’t answer how they knew, just said, "It’s more real than pearls. Just watch!"

"Oh... no wonder Yu Teacher got so worked up when County Magistrate Ma accused Scholar Su of plagiarism. So that’s the reason!"

"Ah, anyone with eyes can see it. As soon as Scholar Su arrived, Teacher Yu’s eyes were all smiles!"

"Indeed, I saw it too. After the first round, didn’t Teacher Yu’s servant bring a hand warmer for Teacher Yu? Actually, it was Scholar Su who gave it to the servant, I saw it.

I really don’t know where Scholar Su managed to get a hand warmer in such a short time."

"Alas, those with a heart need no teaching, and those without one can’t be taught. Look at the way Scholar Su gazes at Teacher Yu, he’s practically drowning in it."

"Ah, if these two can get together, they’d make a perfect couple, a match made in heaven."

"Exactly, Teacher Yu has both talent and looks... ahem... and most importantly, money!

If I had such a wife, I’d wake up laughing from my dreams!"

"You...? You better stop dreaming. Not to mention others, even someone like Ma Xiyue wouldn’t take a second look at you...

How much did you lose this time?"

"Didn’t... didn’t lose much. I have something to do, I’ll go now...

Let me tell you two, don’t go talking nonsense in front of my mother later..."

...

Yu Xiaolian and Su Jingchen walked side by side down the long street. Several times, Yu Xiaolian wanted to speak with Su Jingchen, but was interrupted by people passing by who greeted them.

"Once... once I get the money, shall we go to Meishan Residence for hotpot?" The weather was getting cooler, perfect for hotpot.

Su Jingchen nodded; the last time he had hotpot was at Zheng Yuanfeng’s restaurant, and it had been a long time ago.

Originally, they planned to get the money and have hotpot alone, but unexpectedly Zhao Zhiquan insisted on hosting them.

Zhao Zhiquan: It wouldn’t look good to invite a young girl like Yu Xiaolian alone, so having Scholar Su accompany is perfect.

Zhao Zhiquan took Yu Xiaolian and Su Jingchen to the entrance of Meishan Residence, only to be stopped by the shopkeeper at the door.

Of course, the shopkeeper stopped not Yu Xiaolian and Su Jingchen, but their Fifth Master.

"Fifth Master, Third Master instructed, you’re not allowed to charge on credit anymore when you entertain. Otherwise... could you take these two friends to dine at your home?" Shopkeeper Zhao stretched his arm across Zhao Zhiquan’s path, eyes a bit shifty, not daring to meet the gaze of their Fifth Master.

He thought to himself, I’m done for... If I embarrass Fifth Master, will he throw me out like he did before with the two-hundred-pound man, like it was nothing?

No way, I’m skinny, it’d be even easier for him to throw me.

Shopkeeper Zhao calculated the probable distance he’d be thrown, regretting having stopped Zhao Zhiquan.

How foolish he was, since Third Master wasn’t at the store, why didn’t he just let Fifth Master eat? Why did he insist on blocking Fifth Master? Oh dear, why did he block this deity?

With a side glance, Shopkeeper Zhao saw Zhao Zhiquan’s arm move and resignedly closed his eyes.

"I brought money, how much is the outstanding bill? I’ll clear it all today!" Zhao Zhiquan pulled out a silver note worth a hundred taels and slapped it on top of the shopkeeper’s head.

Ah, satisfying!

Spending the money I’ve earned myself, it’s just satisfying!

The shopkeeper saw that Fifth Master didn’t get angry, in fact, he actually gave him money, and for a moment, he couldn’t tell if it was reality or a dream.

Is the sun rising from the west today? Is Fifth Master really going to clear the account?

This is a good thing, indeed, the shopkeeper took out the ledger under the counter specifically for Zhao Zhiquan’s credit, and grabbed the abacus from the counter, his fingers flying in a blur across the beads.

Zhao Zhiquan called over the waiter and asked him to take Yu Xiaolian and Su Jingchen up to a private room upstairs.

Zhao Zhiquan just saw the shopkeeper haul out several years’ worth of ledgers and had a sinking feeling, as if after clearing the bill, his five thousand taels would be hardly left.

He wanted to back out!

But thinking of doing so in front of Yu Xiaolian and Su Jingchen felt a bit humiliating.

So, he had the waiter take Yu Xiaolian and Su Jingchen upstairs first.

Sure enough, as expected, the shopkeeper wasn’t even halfway done tallying, and the amount had already reached more than three thousand taels.

Zhao Zhiquan retrieved the silver note worth a hundred taels from the counter before the shopkeeper could put it away, "I’m hungry, in a hurry to eat. Calculate it and send the bill to my courtyard later!"

The shopkeeper reached out and caught nothing but air, his gut wrenching with regret—after all that effort, the money just slipped away in the blink of an eye?

Oh, he was just too naive to believe in Fifth Master’s empty words.

Send it to your courtyard, indeed. He’s sent it there before, and every time, Zhao Zhiquan would just glance at the ledger tossed at his feet and say two words, "No money!"

"Fifth Master, forget about the previous accounts, but you need to pay for today’s meal?" The shopkeeper thought his earlier tallying was the second mistake he made today.

He shouldn’t have started adding things up earlier, but instead claimed right in front of Fifth Master’s friends that five thousand taels would settle the account.

Maybe that way, Fifth Master would’ve paid more readily.

Alas, he was really muddle-headed!

Zhao Zhiquan said, "Don’t worry, I’ll definitely pay for this meal, but I need to eat first and settle later."

"Ah!" The shopkeeper forced out a smile that looked sadder than crying.

Why does he have to be a shopkeeper in Luocheng? He’d rather relocate to another district and not live in such fear.

Other people doing dine-and-dash, he can always deal with, but when it’s the little terror of the Zhao family doing it, he can’t scold or hit him.

It’s so tough for him!

But if he didn’t come up with the meal money, Third Master would often say he lacked ability.

If Third Master weren’t his employer, he’d really want to say, if you think you’re capable, then go ahead!

Though the Yu family has a hotpot base workshop, they rarely eat hotpot together as a family, so Yu Xiaolian hadn’t had hotpot in a long time.

"When you’re leaving later, I’ll give you something nice."

The muskmelons Yu Xiaolian planted in Taohua Village had yielded a good harvest in the fall. They’re sweet and totally organic, sweeter than the ones in her supermarket, so Yu Xiaolian secretly stashed some in the supermarket to enjoy by herself.

However, these melons weren’t originally from her supermarket, so they’re non-renewable; once they’re eaten, they’re gone for good. But stored in her supermarket, they can remain as fresh as when they were picked.