Chapter 375: What Are We Afraid Of?

Qiao Mai pointed with her hand, "There's a noodle shop over there, it looks busy, let's go eat there."

"Wow, seafood noodles?"

"It should look delicious."

A few of them entered the noodle shop; it was almost full inside, and although it was called a noodle shop, it also sold cold dishes.

They quickly claimed a table, and the shopkeeper hurried over.

"Ladies and gentlemen, our shop only sells seafood noodles: small bowl fifty Wen, large bowl one hundred Wen. The topping is crab meat and crab roe sauce. The cold dishes include chilled jellyfish strips, spicy marinated raw clams, raw marinated large shrimp, and also chilled kelp strips. Kelp strips are twenty Wen per plate, other cold dishes are fifty Wen per plate."

"The price isn't cheap."

"It's worth the price; otherwise, where would so many repeat customers come from?"

"Then we'll have two small bowls of noodles, three large bowls, and one plate of cold dishes each; we'll all try them."

"That comes to five qian and seventy Wen in total."

The more they do this kind of trade, the more enthusiastic they become.

Yubao tossed the shopkeeper a Yijian, saying, "The rest is for you."

"Hmm, as long as we're happy, this rice wine is also good; we still need to go out for a stroll, and drinking too much wouldn't be good."

Yuan Jiaqi hurriedly grabbed a chopstick for Qiao Mai; the hall was crowded, and Qiao Mai wouldn't let him take it.

Qiao Mai felt nauseous at the sight of him and wanted to vomit; she instantly sent a burst of spiritual energy, and before he could get close, he fainted outright.

Yubao filled theirs to the brim, and took a bowl for herself as well.

"You look like a big girl; lecherous people won't bother with you."

"Drink."

"The guest treated this old man to such fine wine; I treat the guest to a sip of my own brewed rice wine."

The several of them drained the wine in their bowls in one gulp, then poured rice wine and tasted it.

The Empress was extremely envious, and when the Emperor saw it, he also picked up a chopstick for the Empress.

Later they didn't know, and they kept pointing at the few, mocking them as country bumpkins and newly rich.

While drinking tea and listening to the beautiful woman's lute on the table, a distinguished guest arrived at the Tea House.

Qiao Mai thought this wine must be about forty degrees, pure grain brewed, its fragrance hits the nose, it's a strong‑aroma type, which most Southerners aren't used to.

The Empress awkwardly grinned at the few, "Don't blame me."

"Who fell to the ground just now?"

"Thank you."

"That's the eldest son of Prefect Wu," the shopkeeper glanced at the Empress, "You all should rest a moment and leave quickly; if you delay and he wakes up, he'll bring more people. Once he takes a liking to you, few can escape."

Qiao Mai pursed her lips at Yubao, "Pour a cup of wine for the shopkeeper at the counter too; my mouth is watering."

After the rain stopped, the street filled with many small vendors, their hawking cries continuous.

Everyone tossed the noodles, then took a bite, "Hmm, really good, this flavor is truly fresh and delicious; tomorrow at noon we'll eat this again!"

However, the shopkeeper, smelling the wine aroma, felt extremely uneasy and kept swallowing saliva toward this side.

There was no private room, so they sat directly in the main hall.

The shopkeeper at the counter, looking at the Emperor's table, smiled smugly.

"If they're not Prefect Wu's people, they're just local thugs and ruffians, harassing the innocent!"

"There are many monks but little meat; give the shopkeeper a bowl first, and forget the rest."

Yubao grinned, and her smile was uglier than her crying.

"Then this half‑altar, if you don't mind, shall we exchange it?"

"Hmm, I suppose it's to test our true strength; when it's time to settle things, I will naturally act."

"Walk a hundred steps after meals, live to ninety‑nine—good, good, such days are truly wonderful."

Who is it? Prefect Wu's son, Wu Tianlei; his name sounds respectable, but unfortunately, he's as extremely lecherous as his father.

While speaking, the noodles were also placed on the table.

Qiao Mai reached under the table and produced a jar; the shopkeeper caught the cue and hurriedly fetched a wine bowl.

The shopkeeper Ba Da, his mouth satisfied beyond measure, immediately lifted a small jar from beneath the counter and personally delivered it to Qiao Mai's table.

Although Qiao Mai's appearance was ordinary, she was fair‑skinned and possessed an exceptionally striking aura, so when the five of them sat down, they immediately attracted the attention of lecherous onlookers.

Soon, the people who came with him carried him away, while he remained fainted, unrelated to anyone.

The few were all wealthy patrons, so their standards were naturally high; they looked at this and that, yet never intended to buy.

"Don't worry, with me here, you won't get into trouble."

The several grew tired from walking, happened upon a Tea House, and went inside.

"Thanks, you go on with your work."

The Emperor chuckled, "Mother‑in‑law, this jar of wine must be worth thousands of gold, right?"

The shopkeeper, also a man of the scene, upon seeing this immediately set down the jar in his hand, lifted the jar from Qiao Mai's table, fearing they might change their mind, and turned to leave.

However, after the first sip, the second sip went down smoothly.

"You also eat."

"My wife added a few pears while brewing the wine; this is the wine she specially brewed for me. We don't sell wine here."

As for Qiao Mai, she bought a pack of sour triangle snacks and ate them while walking with the Empress, occasionally turning back to hand them two for a taste.

Yuan Jiaqi, seeing his wife look back, also turned around and glanced, "Someone following?"

"Eat it; just have a few bites of the cold sea dish, it's not eaten often, and too much will upset the stomach."

The Old Emperor pursed his lips toward Qiao Mai, "Wine, where's the wine?"

"This wine is good, it has a fruity fragrance."

A consort who could become the Emperor's wife is naturally extremely beautiful.

Qiao Mai only then discovered that all the diners, while eating noodles, kept looking toward her, their eyes fixed on the jar.

He ordered tea and snacks, and the Emperor, looking at Qiao Mai, asked, "What about those who are guarding outside?"

The Empress was also fuming, "That bastard, I could even be his mother."

This Shopkeeper is fortunate; in this lifetime he can drink the Wine he pours, hmph!

The Shopkeeper lifted the wine bowl, slurped a sip, nearly choking, since Nanfang mostly serves rice wine and water wine at meals.

"Never mind him, we stick to our own, cast a long line to catch big fish!"

His father is respectable in front of people, lecherous behind their backs; he himself is lecherous both publicly and privately.

"Lady Qiao, could you see how many in this hall aren't drooling?"

Thus he quietly told the Emperor about the situation, and the Emperor, without turning, said, "Guarding your wife, what are we afraid of?"

All of this didn't escape a few eyes; does it mean the Prefect is lecherous, that everyone in the city is lecherous?

Why aren't people at noodle shops like this? Or is it that the richer they are, the more lecherous?

But judging by the Emperor and his party's clothing, they are either extremely wealthy or of high rank, their eyes glazed toward this side.

The party walked, glancing around.

Although the Empress is in her thirties, her upkeep is excellent, and having continuously used the Moisturizing Cream Qiao Mai gave, she looks especially young.

"Thank you, customers,"

"That feeling is good"

She cast a sideways glance behind her, and a few skinny kids were following not far away.

The clerk took the silver, hurried to the counter, the cold dishes were already prepared and were quickly brought up.

Yuan Jiaqi shouted for the clerk, handing over some silver.

The Emperor wore a gloomy expression, "Truly lawless, who is this dog thing?"

The clerk, after receiving the silver, felt uneasy and whispered.

Upon entering, they saw Empress Rong Rui, her eyes glazed, her legs constantly moving as she walked toward them.

It was obvious they were outsiders; they opened a restaurant to earn money and because they liked seeing diners praise their Meal.

A few people ate well, drank well, and left the noodle shop satisfied; as they departed, the Shopkeeper even gave them the shop.

Yubao poured Wine, placed it on the counter for the Shopkeeper, "Want to drink?"

The Emperor first picked a bite of the dish to taste, "Not bad, the flavor is decent, come try."

Yubao rolled his eyes; he serves the Emperor, and in this world, only the four people at the table can make him move.

"But I'm in women's clothing."

"You could never imagine how wicked the villains are; lecherous people get so angry they even dare to abuse their own kin."

"Heavens, are there still such people in this world?"

"There are many!"

(End of chapter)