Chapter 151: Chapter 147: State-Owned Restaurant: No Beating Customers Without Reason

He rubbed his hands and laughed, “Oh, little girl, don’t be so serious. I’m just an old man, can’t keep up with everything.”

“Forget it,” Wen Ran said with a newspaper in her right hand and gestured with her left, “Let’s go count the money.”

The old man placed the items on the scale and checked them, making sure there were no prohibited items. He glanced at the rack and casually said, “Why do you need this?”

Wen Ran replied coolly and calmly, “It tripped my sister. I’m going to take it home and chop it up for firewood. Why, does this also need to be paid for?”

She casually changed the subject, and the old man didn’t think much of it. Less than three pounds of broken wood, what’s it worth?

“Wow, you really have a sharp tongue, girl,” he chuckled, “Eighty cents.”

“That expensive?”

The old man waved his hand dismissively, “Come on, don’t those chestnuts cost more?”

“Alright then,” Wen Ran took out some money, grabbed Hongguo, and swiftly made their exit.

Watching their backs, the old man slowly sat down in his lounge chair, muttering to himself, “Why does that little girl smell like herbs…”

~

After tidying up the newspaper, the sisters went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some daily necessities, then headed to the state-run restaurant for a meal.

They ordered three dishes and a soup, but Hongguo hesitated over whether to eat rice or dumplings.

In just a moment, Wen Ran made a sweeping gesture, “Two bowls of rice, one serving of dumplings.”

“Sis, don’t!” Hongguo tugged at Wen Ran, “We won’t finish it.”

“If we don’t finish, we’ll take it home. We can’t waste it.”

Wen Ran patted Hongguo’s hand, “It’s fine; one meal won’t make us poor.”

“Okay!”

Hongguo felt warm inside, holding onto Wen Ran’s arm, feeling very dependent, and silently cheering herself on to study hard and make something of herself!

When that time comes, make those who gossip behind us swallow their words!

The dishes were ready, and the server just called out from the window to indicate it was done.

Bring it to your table?

Oh~ that’s not going to happen.

Didn’t you see the wall poster—”No Unprovoked Customer Beatings Allowed.”

Hongguo, like a busy bee, ran back and forth, and Wen Ran didn’t help; if the kid wants to do something, let her.

Carrying some food isn’t a big deal.

“Sis, let’s eat!”

In a fawning manner, Hongguo handed Wen Ran the bowl and chopsticks, and eagerly picked up a piece of fatty and lean, soft pork belly for Wen Ran.

“Sis, this piece is the best, you eat!”

“Alright,” Wen Ran said with a wry smile, tapping Hongguo’s head with the end of her chopstick, “Just eat yours, don’t butter me up.”

“Got it!”

The braised pork belly was tender and not greasy. As soon as you tasted it, it melted in your mouth, leaving a fragrant aftertaste.

The braised lion’s head meatballs were four solid large meatballs, each bite a chewy and bouncy sensation, even the greens inside were infused with the meat aroma.

The last dish was a refreshing side, tangy shredded potatoes, with a truly unique flavor.

One bite of vegetable, a mouthful of rice, then a spoonful of soup to wash it down; life’s small pleasures.

Halfway through their meal, some thoughtless individuals approached.

“Hey!”

The person who came was a stocky woman, holding her scruffy six or seven-year-old grandson.

Wen Ran just glanced at them and instantly felt full.

She replied sharply, “What?”

“Give my grandson a bite of that meat.”

Wen Ran: “???”

She was confused, and Hongguo was dumbfounded.

Lived so long, encountered thieves and robbers aplenty, but someone actually brazenly asking for your stuff was rare.

Wen Ran thought for a moment, “Get lost!”

Seeing that Wen Ran wasn’t easy to talk to, the woman wasn’t shy, like lightning, she reached out to grab.

If Wen Ran hadn’t been quick-eyed and quick-handed, intercepting with chopsticks halfway, she would’ve succeeded.

“Ow!”

The woman’s eyes widened, incredulous, “You dare hit me?”

“You’re daring enough to rob, why wouldn’t I dare hit you!”

“Well,” the woman was thoroughly livid, putting down her scruffy grandson, rolling up her sleeves, and intending to use her own logic to argue with these two ignorant girls.

“Two people order three dishes, one soup.

Eat rice and dumplings. You two cheap girls understand what you’re eating? Such good stuff, I say, letting you eat would be a waste.”

Wen Ran was amused with anger, what a spectacle.

Where did this eccentric come from, with such a possessive attitude over someone else’s money?!

Thinking she was right because people were baffled by their meal, the woman smugly said, “Folks, see if I’m right or not?

Good food and meals should be for men, two cheap girls eating this well, where’d you get the money from? Must be stealing from your man at home?”

Hell!

Wen Ran couldn’t stand it, raised her hand for a resounding slap.

The woman was stunned. She was talking nicely; why the sudden physical response?

“Oh dear~” she slumped on the ground, flailing, “No justice. In this day and age, any stray cat or dog can hit me.

Old celestial king, why don’t you open your eyes, strike dead those heartless ones? What did I do wrong? Was it just that my grandson was hungry and wanted some meat? We honor our ancestors and he’s a boy!”

Hongguo was furious too, wanting to tear into her, but Wen Ran wouldn’t let her.

Just an ignorant old fool, never enlightened. Arguing with her is a waste of time, “Pack up the dishes.”

They were mostly done eating anyway.

What’s left, they’ll take home.

Hongguo obediently took out the aluminum lunch box, went to the back kitchen, and asked for a big helping of braised pork to take away, packing up the rest.

Wen Ran looked down at the woman, “You old thing, keep howling, and I’ll throw you out immediately. Don’t believe me? Try it!”

Before Wen Ran could act, the busy young woman from the kitchen frowned as she parted the curtain and saw the troublesome woman, instantly bursting with anger.

“You shameless hag, once again out here extorting. I’m Shen Meifang and it’s really a curse to be assigned here, living next to a rogue like you.

Will you leave or not? If you don’t, I’ll take your disgusting behavior to your son’s factory and get him fired!”

Her words were like pearls, and the woman was frightened, grabbing her grandson and quickly fleeing. The little grandson cried out for meat.

The farce concluded, and Wen Ran felt mentally and physically exhausted.

Damn it, this is far too unlucky, running into crap like this.

Should’ve checked the almanac before going out.

The young woman glanced at Wen Ran, muttering, “Meeting someone so unreasonable, that’s bad luck. I’ll have the chef give you extra meat next time.”

Wen Ran: “?”

Huh?

Alright, there’s good and bad.

Carrrying the items, the sisters boarded the return ox cart.

The ox cart was full, yet everyone was as quiet as a mouse, afraid Wen Ran would recall their earlier loose tongues.

The bumpy ride brought them home, and a small squirrel nesting under the eaves suddenly scurried out.

Nimbly, it climbed onto Wen Ran’s shoulder, chirping excitedly.

Wen Ran was puzzled, “What, you’re welcoming me now?”

The squirrel felt great, especially since following Wen Ran, with all the good foods and drinks.

When no one was around, Wen Ran would occasionally sneak it some modern treats.

Now, calling it a squirrel wasn’t accurate anymore; it should be called Songzhu.

Solidly built.

No way, the nest under the eaves is quite makeshift; can’t have it collapse in the middle of the night when sleeping.

Thinking about reinforcing Songzhu’s home, the door’s sound interrupted.

The door wasn’t closed, just left ajar.

“Knock knock~”

The door opened slightly, “Is Wen Ran home?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep