Chapter 143: Extortion

Inside Mu Yu Lou, the place was packed with people, buzzing with liveliness.

The tempting aroma of food and drink filled the air, mixed with the clamor of drinking games, a scene of great prosperity.

Jiang Xiaoyu sat behind the counter, her slender fingers nimbly moving the abacus beads.

The ledger clearly recorded Mu Yu Lou's income over the past few days; seeing the ever‑growing numbers, Jiang Xiaoyu couldn't help but lift the corners of her mouth into a sweet smile.

Though it had only been open a few short days, Mu Yu Lou's business was booming, raking in gold daily, far exceeding her expectations.

"It totals three hundred twenty‑seven taels and five mace."

Jiang Xiaoyu crisply announced the final figure, gently closed the ledger, and her eyes and brows brimmed with uncontainable joy.

The old proprietor stroked his beard and nodded with a hearty laugh.

"Not bad, not bad, Miss Xiao Yu is truly clever and quick‑witted; she grasps things at once."

"In just a few days, you've kept the accounts so clear and plain."

"It's all thanks to the boss's good guidance."

Jiang Xiaoyu responded modestly, but her gaze drifted involuntarily to Jiang Xiaomu, who stood silently to the side.

Jiang Xiaomu leaned against the door, his deep gaze tenderly fixed on his sister, a faint smile playing at his lips.

"Brother, look, we've made a lot of money!"

Jiang Xiaoyu excitedly handed the ledger to Jiang Xiaomu.

"Now we never have to worry about not having money for food!"

Jiang Xiaomu took the ledger, gave it a quick glance, and showed no great surprise.

He reached out and ruffled Jiang Xiaoyu's hair, his tone gentle.

"Xiao Yu, you did great; from now on, Mu Yu Lou will be in your care."

Jiang Xiaoyu froze for a moment, then nodded with firm resolve.

"Mm! I will surely work hard!"

Just as the siblings were immersed in their joy, a discordant voice suddenly came from downstairs.

"Boss Jiang, someone's causing trouble!"

A waiter ran downstairs in a panic, breathlessly reporting.

Jiang Xiaomu and Jiang Xiaoyu exchanged a glance, each seeing doubt in the other's eyes.

Since Mu Yu Lou opened, it had always conducted itself honestly, never offending anyone—how could trouble arise?

"What's going on?"

Jiang Xiaomu asked in a low voice.

"Upstairs there's a drunk who not only refuses to pay, but has overturned the tables!"

The waiter pointed upstairs, his tone urgent.

Jiang Xiaomu furrowed his brow, gestured for Jiang Xiaoyu to stay downstairs, and hurried upstairs to check the situation.

In the second‑floor hall, a burly drunk was swinging his wine jar, wantonly smashing the surrounding tables and chairs.

The surrounding patrons scattered in disarray, the scene descending into chaos.

"Sir, I'm the owner of this place; may I ask what the problem is?"

Jiang Xiaomu approached the drunk and asked calmly.

The drunk belched, a strong wave of alcohol hitting Jiang Xiaomu's face, making him almost step back.

He sprayed saliva, pointing at a soup bowl on the table and shouting indistinctly.

"A fly! Such a big fly! You're bullying customers at Mu Yu Lou—are you trying to poison me?!"

In the soup bowl lay a dead fly, motionless on the surface, bobbing slightly with the liquid's movement.

Jiang Xiaomu saw at once that the fly had obviously been placed there later—its wings intact, body shriveled, showing no sign of having been cooked.

He smirked inwardly; this guy was clearly here to extort money.

"Sir, I'm sorry," Jiang Xiaomu said calmly, his voice betraying no ripple.

"You claim we're bullying customers; do you have any evidence?"

The drunk slapped the table, making the utensils on it jitter.

"Evidence? Isn't this fly the evidence?"

"I was eating fine, then suddenly I saw a dead fly!"

"If I'd eaten it, would my life even be worth keeping?!"

Saying this, he clutched his stomach and began dry‑heaving, acting as if he'd really been poisoned.

The surrounding patrons, seeing this, began to murmur.

"Mu Yu Lou looks clean enough—how could there be a fly?"

"Who knows? Maybe the kitchen isn't sanitary."

"I think this drunk is just here to extort money."

"Hard to say; nowadays all sorts of people exist."

Hearing the chatter around him, the drunk grew more worked up, slamming the table and shouting:

"If you don't give me an explanation today, I'll smash your shop!"

Jiang Xiaomu's expression remained unchanged; he simply watched the drunk's performance in silence.

He wanted to see what other tricks this guy could pull.

"Sir," Jiang Xiaomu began slowly.

"You say you ate a fly, but this dish is clearly one you ordered yourself."

"And you only took a few bites—how could you know there was a fly inside?"

The drunkard stared, apparently not expecting Jiang Xiaomu to say that.

He rolled his eyes, pointing at the soup basin and said:

"My eyes are sharp; I saw it at a glance! Do I still need to eat it?"

Jiang Xiaomu gave a cold snort.

"Since your eyes are so sharp, why don't you tell me when this fly appeared in your soup?"

The drunkard hemmed and hawed, unable to explain for a long time.

He was just a ruffian who had never read a book; he wouldn't think that much—he just wanted to extort some money while drunk.

Now, after being questioned by Jiang Xiaomu's few words, he suddenly became flustered.

"I... I..."

The drunkard stammered:

"Cut the nonsense; there's a fly anyway! Your Mu Yu Lou must compensate my loss!"

"Oh? How much compensation do you want?"

Jiang Xiaomu asked with interest.

The drunkard held up five fingers.

"Fifty taels of silver!"

The surrounding guests gasped; fifty taels of silver is no small sum, enough to support an ordinary family for several years.

The surrounding diners indeed stopped eating, each craning their necks and gathering around like watching a show.

Whispers buzzed.

Jiang Xiaomu smirked inwardly; Mu Yu Lou had only been open a few days, and someone was already causing trouble—this drunkard likely had others behind him.

He glanced around and spoke loudly:

"Ladies and gentlemen, today's incident is due to our poor hospitality; please forgive us."

"All consumption on the second floor today will be charged to my account; please continue eating and drinking without restraint."

Upon hearing this, the crowd burst into cheers.

Free food and drink—such a windfall from heaven; who would refuse?

"Waiter, bring me another pork knuckle, and also add a braised pig's face!"

"Come on, let's drink, let's drink!"

The tense atmosphere just moments ago eased instantly, and everyone returned to their seats to continue eating and drinking.

Jiang Xiaomu turned and said to the drunkard:

"Sir, fifty taels of silver is no small amount; how about we go to the backyard to discuss it in detail?"

The drunkard belched, speaking in a drunken slur:

"Fine, fine, anywhere is fine as long as you pay."

Jiang Xiaomu smiled slightly, made a "please" gesture, and led the drunkard to the backyard.

In the backyard, Jiang Xiaomu's sister Jiang Xiaoyu was directing a few assistants to sort the goods.