Seeing him being such a consummate scholar, Xiao Baozhu’s admiration towards Scholar Wong increased even further. He was not only highly knowledgeable and skilled but also had such a strong sense of justice.
Xiao Baozhu felt that she should tell Ye Xiaoxian about this so she went to the kitchen and told her everything about what had just happened.
The impression that Scholar Wong used to give to Ye Xiaoxian was of being nothing more than a learned gentleman, however, it turned out that Scholar Wong was a man of great integrity, which made her sit up and take notice of him.
She then said to Xiao Baozhu, “I’ll thank Scholar Wong later. By the way, Baozhu, I’m afraid that Young Master Zhang and the other two will still cause trouble for us. Ask Ma to stop him in case they do…”
She had not finished talking when Young Master Zhang had already rushed into the kitchen with Li Hongmei, Little Five and Little Six following him.
Young Master Zhang looked ghostly pale with fury and shouted at Ye Xiaoxian. “Miss Ye, what do you mean by that? I’ve been treating you well but you make fun of me with such a poem? Are you treating me fairly? I’ve been spending a whole load of silver on you lately!”
Ye Xiaoxian maintained her composure, pushed Xiao Baozhu behind her, straightened her back and answered Young Master Zhang. “Young Master Zhang, You’ve asked me two questions. Firstly, about the poem, you asked me what I felt about you so I told you the truth and this is what I really think. As for the second question, did you say you’ve spent money on me? Please realize that we’re opening a restaurant and, as we’re doing business, of course the diners need to spend money on their food. How have you spent your money entirely on me?”
“The poem is what you really think of me?” Young Master Zhang was almost on fire. “Am I that ugly in your eyes?”
“The poem is indeed exaggerating, as how could a man be born with such a big face? But Young Master Zhang, your face is indeed wide and your forehead is also protruding so I find the verses quite accurate.”
“What about the money I spent? Didn’t you suggest that I spend it in that way? You also said you really admired a customer who paid for everyone in the restaurant, so that was why I acted on my impulse and did the same thing too.”
Ye Xiaoxian replied, “Young Master Zhang, you’ve also confused the order of what happened. It was you who asked me about the signature dishes in our restaurant so I recommended some and you ordered them, and it was you again who asked me about what kind of customers I find more impressive so I told you. Later you insisted on paying for the entire restaurant. Did I force you to? But now, Young Master Zhang, you insist that you’ve spent all the money on me? Does it mean you’re holding some improper desires for me?”
Young Master Zhang did not expect that Ye Xiaoxian would be so articulate and shift all her responsibility onto him, however, he happened to only be good at scolding others but not at arguing. As Ye Xiaoxian threw such a sharp question to him, he could only said angrily, “Well, well then do you not have a little bit affection towards me?”
“I treat all my customers equally!” said Ye Xiaoxian coldly. “Young Master Zhang, if you are having some other ideas about me, please take them back immediately. I’m a married woman so I won’t have anything to do with you and I also do not wish to. I would never curry your favor just because you spent some money here.”
“You, you, you, you…” Young Master Zhang was lost for words but could only grit his teeth, his fury at Ye Xiaoxian rising to its pinnacle.
He wanted to force Ye Xiaoxian to give in but there was a crowd in the kitchen. Apart from a few women, there was also Little Five and Little six, so Young Master Zhang could only say, “Alright, wait and see. You dare to trick me so I’ll teach you a lesson!”
Young Master Zhang rushed out of the restaurant in a rage. Others in the restaurant then felt relieved.
Still, Li Hongmei felt rather uneasy as she was concerned about how Young Master Zhang would come and take revenge, but then she noticed Li Hongmei’s calm appearance and thought, ‘Maybe I’m worrying too much.’
Moreover, they had Xiao Baoshan at home and he could beat down four or five people, maybe even ten, at the same time.
After Ye Xiaoxian cooked another dish she then went upstairs to find Scholar Wong and Xiao Baozhu followed her close behind.
Ye Xiaoxian felt it actually good to bring Xiao Baozhu along since with one more person around she would avoid arousing gossip about her meeting a single man alone.
Scholar Wong saw Ye Xiaoxian approaching and looked rather worried. “Mrs. Xiao, I saw those people rushing into the kitchen. Are you alright?”
Scholar Wong was thinking of going with them but just as he had reached the door of the kitchen those men had already rushed out furiously, so he had returned to his seat upstairs.
“Don’t worry, it was just a bunch of people who were trying to cause trouble. I’ve already thrown them out.” Ye Xiaoxian smiled.
Scholar Wong then felt relieved. “Well that’s good news.”
He then glanced at Xiao Baozhu and saluted to her, and Xiao Baozhu saluted back nervously.
Ye Xiaoxian said, “Mr. Wong, would you mind Baozhu and I sitting down? There’s something I want to inquire about. It’s about Baofeng.”
“Sit down, please!” Scholar Wong asked them to take seats immediately and then tried to pour some tea for Ye Xiaoxian.
Ye Xiaoxian quickly stopped him. “Mr. Wong, I actually have a lot of work back in the kitchen so I won’t trouble you for long as I’d like to make it short. Baofeng now is still studying in Windward Hall but we’ve already moved into town and he has to walk a long way to get to school everyday, so I’d like to ask you, Mr. Wong, if I want to transfer Baofeng to another school, how may I go about it? Are there any good private school in town and who should I turn to?”
Scholar Wong paused in daze but then thought, ‘This is actually as I might have been expected.’
Since Ye Xiaoxian opened the restaurant in town he had been paying attention to Xiao Baofeng. He knew that Xiao Baofeng now lived in town and that it was a couple of miles from the town to the school, and he also worried for Xiao Baofeng’s safety.
Ye Xiaoxian saw Scholar Wong pondering so she explained hurriedly, “Mr. Wong, I do not mean that Windward Hall is not good. I’m only concerned about Baofeng’s safety since he’s only eight years old after all.”
Scholar Wong also said quickly, “Indeed, I understand! There are two private schools in town which are not bad and I have some friends there. So, just leave this matter to me and I guarantee that I’ll let Baofeng be transferred to the school in town.”
“Then thank you so much for all the trouble, Mr. Wong, and this meal is on the house, so don’t bother to pay for it later.” She then turned to Xiao Baozhu. “Baozhu, remember that.”
Xiao Baozhu nodded quickly.
“That’s too much, really too much.” Scholar Wong waved his hands.
“Mr. Wong, if you don’t accept this, I won’t feel comfortable asking you for help next time, besides, if we don’t give anything back as a token of thanks, does it not mean that we’re ignorant of etiquette? So please accept it.”
Scholar Wong could only smile slightly.
Seeing that this matter had been settled Ye Xiaoxian then bid Scholar Wong goodbye, saying that there was still a lot of work in the kitchen, so she had to leave now.
Ye Xiaoxian left but not Xiao Baozhu.
Xiao Baozhu was staring at Scholar Wong in a daze the entire time, trying to say something but she doesn’t know what to say.
Scholar Wong then reminded her. “Baozhu, have you been working as the accountant in your family’s restaurant these days?”
He suggested that she should go down and get the customer’s bills.
However, Xiao Baozhu did not get what he implied but only smiled. “Yes, yes, I’m managing and taking the bills.”
“Baozhu, you’re indeed versatile. Not only can you read but now you know how to calculate.”
Xiao Baozhu then started giggling.
Xiao Baozhu was still not willing to leave until her ma shouted downstairs and asked her to take the bills.
