TSWPF -Chapter 224 Contempt

Early the next morning, Li Qingling went out with Zeng Tietou. Seeing the bustling, lively streets, she let out a soft breath. I wonder how much it would cost to buy a shop here?

If the price was within her plans, she would buy one. If it was far too expensive, then renting would be the only option.

“Boss, the capital is really way too lively. There’s no way our place can compare,” Zeng Tietou said as he looked at the surging crowds and the shops constantly filled with customers. His eyes shone with excitement. If the boss opened a shop here, business definitely wouldn’t be bad.

He had to perform well in front of her—he couldn’t afford to lose her trust. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to continue working by her side.

After seeing such a thriving capital, he truly didn’t want to return to Niutou Village.

Besides, if he could develop well here, it would also be good for the children.

Li Qingling smiled. “Of course. This is a big city—how could a small town compare?”

Her eyes kept sweeping over the shops on both sides of the street. After walking through two streets, she still hadn’t seen a shop selling roast duck or anything similar.

That told her enough. She made up her mind to open a roast duck shop here. The only problem was the ducks themselves—it troubled her a little. The ducks she raised with spiritual water were vastly different from ordinary ducks bought on the market.

Where to raise the ducks would be a real challenge.

Seeing Li Qingling frown, Zeng Tietou hesitated before asking if she had run into some difficulty.

Coming back to herself, Li Qingling shook her head. “It’s nothing.”

The matter of raising ducks could be discussed later. First, she needed to see how to buy or rent a shop.

Since Li Qingling didn’t say more, Zeng Tietou didn’t ask further. He nodded and continued walking behind her.

After working by her side for so long, he knew his boundaries well. If Li Qingling didn’t want to talk about something, he wouldn’t pry—he would just wait for her instructions and carry them out.

When they reached a restaurant, Li Qingling stopped and turned to him. “Zeng Tietou, we’ve walked for so long—you must be hungry. Let’s go in and eat.”

Seeing the well-dressed people entering the restaurant, Zeng Tietou knew the food here wouldn’t be cheap. He hesitated. “B‑Boss, how about we eat wontons up ahead?” Just thinking about eating here made his heart ache—even if he didn’t have to pay, he would still feel painfully reluctant.

Li Qingling understood him and smiled, waving her hand lightly. “This also counts as investigation. Let’s go in and see what signature dishes they have, so we know what we’re dealing with.”

She wondered whether restaurants in the capital served roast duck.

Even if they did, it wouldn’t affect her opening a roast duck shop.

Restaurants catered to the rich; she planned to do business for ordinary people. There was no conflict.

Hearing her say this, Zeng Tietou had nothing more to object to.

Since it concerned their business, he naturally listened to her.

After entering the restaurant, the two sat down at an empty table in the main hall.

When the waiter brought over the menu and Zeng Tietou saw the prices, his eyes nearly popped out. So expensive?

A small plate of ordinary greens cost twenty copper coins. Wasn’t this outright robbery? With twenty coins, he could buy so many vegetables elsewhere!

The waiter glanced at Zeng Tietou and Li Qingling. Seeing their plain clothes and clearly modest background, his attitude immediately changed. “This is already very cheap. If you can’t afford it, hurry up and leave. Plenty of people are waiting for seats.”

Tsk…

No money, yet daring to come in to eat. Really…

Hearing the disdain in the waiter’s words, Zeng Tietou lowered his head slightly, his face flushing red.

Li Qingling shot the waiter a cold look. She had seen plenty of people like this—those who judged others by appearances—and she couldn’t be bothered to stoop to their level.

She took the menu from Zeng Tietou’s hands, directly ordered several signature dishes, then tossed the menu back in front of the waiter and coldly told him to hurry up and serve the food.

The waiter hadn’t expected Li Qingling to be so bold, ordering several signature dishes. He looked at her sideways. “Are you sure you want all of these? You won’t end up unable to pay, will you? Let me tell you—last time someone ate without paying, they’re still lying at home.”

He really didn’t believe these two, who looked poor, could afford the bill.

Hearing this, Li Qingling finally looked at him properly, cold light flashing in her eyes. “With a waiter like you, it’s practically a miracle that this restaurant hasn’t closed down yet.”

Seeing his face turn pale, she continued, “Who gave you the courage to speak to customers like this?”

With this kind of attitude, she would never come to this restaurant again.

“You—”

“If you’re not convinced, have the manager come talk to me. For now, please serve the dishes. Thank you,” Li Qingling cut him off mercilessly, her tone firm.

She, Li Qingling, was no coward. When repeatedly provoked like this, she wouldn’t show any kindness.

Someone at the neighboring table slammed the table and said loudly, “This young lady is absolutely right! Once you come in, you’re a customer. Waiter, who gave you the nerve to look down on people like that?”

Following the voice, Li Qingling saw the man who spoke up. He had a beard that obscured his face, and a sword lay on the table—clearly a free-spirited martial artist.

The waiter glanced at the man and immediately lost his nerve. He dared to look down on Li Qingling, but he didn’t dare provoke a jianghu figure like that. His face turned white as he quickly apologized and left with the menu.

After the waiter left, Li Qingling smiled and nodded in thanks.

The man waved his hand generously, withdrew his gaze, lifted his teacup, and continued drinking.

Li Qingling also turned back and looked at Zeng Tietou, speaking calmly. “Uncle Zeng, although we come from the countryside, when we run into unreasonable people like this, there’s no need to be afraid.”

She knew that when facing city folk, Zeng Tietou inevitably felt a bit inferior. She also knew this mindset couldn’t be changed overnight. But what she wanted him to understand was this—her people must not act so timid in front of outsiders.

“Once the shop opens, I plan to hand it entirely over to you to manage. If you lower your head over such a small matter, it makes me wonder whether you can really shoulder this responsibility.”

Zeng Tietou shuddered and quickly raised his head, looking at Li Qingling. Taking a deep breath, he said solemnly, “Boss, I understand. I won’t do this again.”

Because he came from the countryside, when he encountered city people, there was always a trace of inferiority deep in his bones—feeling that he was somehow beneath them.

Only now, after hearing her words, did he realize how wrong he had been. He was someone meant to help the boss accomplish great things—how could he lower his head so easily?

If he didn’t get rid of this inferiority, he knew the boss would truly keep her word and never let him manage the shop.

Earlier, he had been thinking that he must perform well in front of her. Yet he had ended up embarrassing himself again.

Fortunately, the boss still gave him some face and didn’t directly kick him out. Otherwise, he really would have cried himself to death.

He had worked so hard to follow her to the capital—how could he just slink back home without achieving anything? Absolutely not.

Clenching his fists, Zeng Tietou vowed silently that this would be the last time. He would never disappoint the boss again.

If he disappointed her again, he wouldn’t even wait for her to speak—he would pack up and leave on his own.

Li Qingling glanced at him again and gave a calm “Mm. We’ll see how you perform.”

If Zeng Tietou disappointed her once more, she really would give up on him and find someone else to replace him.

If he couldn’t even handle a waiter, how would he deal with all kinds of customers in the future?

She even started to doubt whether bringing Zeng Tietou’s whole family to the capital had been a mistake.

Back in Niutou Village, he had dealt mostly with familiar faces, and as her trusted aide, he had enjoyed a certain sense of superiority. Naturally, he hadn’t felt inferior then.

But now, upon arriving in the capital and facing big-city people, that buried sense of inferiority had surfaced.

Forget it. She would train him for a while longer. If his performance improved, she would let him continue managing the shop. If not, she would move him to another position.

Zeng Tietou looked at Li Qingling nervously, twisting his fingers, not daring to speak again.

No matter how much he said, it wouldn’t be as effective as showing her through his actions.

As long as the boss saw his performance, she would know whether to keep him in the position.

Li Qingling gave him another indifferent glance, lifted her teacup, and took a sip while scanning the people in the hall.

Most of those eating here were well-dressed and clearly well-off. No wonder the waiter had looked down on her and Zeng Tietou. They were wearing plain cloth clothes—it was obvious at a glance that they weren’t rich.

Today, she was going to teach that waiter a good lesson, letting him know that even if she dressed simply, she could still afford to eat here.

After this incident, her desire to make money—to make a lot of money—grew even stronger.

Money might not be everything, but without money, nothing was possible.

“The dishes are here.” The waiter set down the steaming dishes and said stiffly, “Enjoy.” His words sounded polite, but in his heart, he wished Li Qingling would choke.

Li Qingling nodded, told Zeng Tietou to eat, and began.

The two ate quietly. After paying the bill, they prepared to leave.

But just as they reached the restaurant entrance, Li Qingling was suddenly bumped into hard. If not for Zeng Tietou supporting her from behind, she would have fallen to the ground.