"Cough, cough, these things aren't impossible. Isn't it just a taste test? I'm the best at it!"
Xie You awkwardly placed his clenched fist by his mouth and coughed twice.
Meng Huai looked at Xie You at this moment and couldn't help but laugh. It was rare to see this little You in such a state!
"Okay, work hard! I'll give you an extra meal at noon!"
Meng Huai patted Xie You on the shoulder as he said this. Without waiting for Xie You to react, Meng Huai left. Xie You stood in place, and the feeling of being patted on the shoulder only disappeared after a while.
"Was it too forceful?"
Xie You thought, the shop owner looked so delicate, she really could represent the academy. She had so much strength.
However, he didn't know that it wasn't about the force at all.
Soon, Xie You also went to work.
Recently, Meng Huai seemed to be having bad luck, as troublemakers kept showing up at the shop. And today was no different.
"Is this the place?"
A man's voice came from the entrance, and his tone carried a hint of flippancy.
"Yes, yes, this is it. I heard the medicinal cuisine here is very delicious. I quickly snatched up a reservation to show you filial piety!"
The man heard his subordinate's flattering words and was quite pleased. He tapped the man with his finger and said, "Although you're a bit weak as a newcomer, you're quite good at handling things! Not bad, not bad!"
The subordinate bowed his head repeatedly, agreeing, "Brother, you're right, I will work even harder."
This fawning man was named Xiao Feng, and the one he respectfully called brother was Zhang Zhiyi.
Zhang Zhiyi stepped into the shop first, and Xiao Feng behind him loudly announced, "Is anyone there! Seat us!"
Then Xiao Feng said to Zhang Zhiyi, "Big Brother, this newly opened shop's only drawback is its poor service."
As he said this, Sister Ting hurried over to greet them.
"Esteemed guests, please follow me."
Seeing Sister Ting's appearance, Zhang Zhiyi's lips curved into a smile. He gestured to Xiao Feng to look at Sister Ting. Xiao Feng, being who he was, immediately understood his brother's intentions.
Sister Ting led the two to their seats, still unaware of the gazes the two men were casting her way.
Upon reaching their seats, Sister Ting handed them menus and said, "Here are the menus, you can take a look first."
Sister Ting handed the menus to the two men and felt one of them brush against her hand as he took the menu. However, she didn't pay it much mind, thinking it wasn't intentional.
But soon she sensed something was wrong, because the older man's eyes were fixed on her, and his gaze made Sister Ting very uncomfortable.
"Miss, could you recommend something for us? We don't know what's good!"
"Yes."
The two chimed in, and while others also asked for recommendations, their tone was very flippant.
Sister Ting introduced them to some medicinal dishes and explained their effects.
Zhang Zhiyi casually ordered two dishes that Sister Ting recommended and then said, "Do you have medicinal dishes for all sorts of effects?"
Sister Ting replied as a matter of course, "Of course, our medicinal cuisine restaurant has a very comprehensive selection of medicinal dishes."
"Then get us two more dishes that can enhance a man's vigor."
Zhang Zhiyi said, and then the two of them burst into laughter, looking incredibly pleased with themselves.
Sister Ting blushed deeply at Zhang Zhiyi's words, stammering and not knowing how to respond.
The people at the neighboring tables had been paying attention to them since Zhang Zhiyi and his companion arrived. These two people simply didn't look like decent individuals.
"Don't act like thugs here. Seeing you in such an elegant place has soiled my eyes!"
"Waiter, call the police. These two don't look like good people, they probably have a record!"
"That's right, their words already constitute sexual harassment."
The people at the neighboring tables were all speaking up for Sister Ting, leaving her feeling awkward and unsure of what to do.
Meng Huai walked over at this moment and asked, "What's wrong?"
The people at the neighboring tables, seeing Meng Huai, all exclaimed to her, "Shop owner, these two are acting like perverts, kick them out. They're an eyesore, and I've lost my appetite."
Meng Huai hadn't expected anyone to come looking for trouble, and she said, "Am I having bad luck lately? Why are there always people looking for trouble!"
Someone chimed in, following Meng Huai's words, "Alas, fame brings trouble. Your shop has become famous, so this is inevitable!"
Meng Huai nodded, "That's true."
At this moment, Meng Huai looked at the two men who had come to cause trouble, her aura subtly shifting. Zhang Zhiyi felt a chill.
However, Xiao Feng seemed oblivious to the low pressure in the air. Instead, he looked at Meng Huai with an expression of someone about to enjoy some drama, "Yo, isn't this Meng Huai! What? Are you working here!"
Meng Huai looked at Xiao Feng, unable to recall who he was.
But Xiao Feng continued, "I didn't see you at that restaurant a while back, so you've come to Imperial Capital Star! Looks like you're doing pretty well lately! Come, let's catch up!"
Xiao Feng stood up and walked towards Meng Huai, reaching out to put his arm around her shoulder.
Meng Huai shot him a glare, which indeed startled Xiao Feng. His gesture of hooking his shoulder stopped. Meng Huai took a step to the side.
When Xiao Feng came to his senses, he couldn't believe he had been scared by Meng Huai. But what Meng Huai said next surprised him even more.
"Who are you?"
Xiao Feng instantly regained his senses and then laughed, "Yo, still playing this trick! Haven't paid protection fees in Imperial Capital Star, so you don't know who I am, huh?"
The surrounding customers were startled by the commotion and hesitated about whether to leave. It felt like a fight was about to break out.
"Should we hide for a bit?"
Some customers suggested.
Seeing this, Meng Huai knew she couldn't let Xiao Feng and his companion act recklessly in her shop, or else her business would be ruined!
Meng Huai also remembered who this person was. It was the same Xiao Feng who had demanded protection fees back then. When the original owner couldn't pay, he had grabbed her hair and smashed her head against the ground, thus avoiding the protection fee.
It was unclear if it was due to the severe injury or some other reason that Meng Huai ended up inhabiting this body.
However, this vengeance, she had to exact!
"It's you! Have you come to Imperial Capital Star to collect protection fees, and brought a big brother with you?"
Meng Huai looked at Zhang Zhiyi, who sat motionlessly in his seat, watching the spectacle.
Zhang Zhiyi saw this beautiful young woman actually calling him out, and he had to make an impression in front of her!
"Xiao Feng, tell this beautiful lady that if she'll have dinner with me, we'll protect her shop from others."
Meng Huai burst into laughter at these words. To others, it looked like she had been scared senseless!
Some customers exclaimed, "Don't give in! People like this will only escalate. Shop owner, you should call the police!"
Others said, "Is there anyone strong who can come and protect her! The young lady is about to be bullied! Where is that handsome and tall waiter!?"