The Rice Merchant Boss hadn’t expected the disturbance to be caused by just two kids. Judging by their demeanor, he couldn’t tell which Noble Family’s young master had come out to gain experience, especially since even the County Magistrate had come to show his support.
He instantly realized he had offended someone he shouldn’t have and bowed, saying, "This humble one failed to recognize Mount Tai and did not realize that nobility was traveling. Please forgive my impudence."
In these times, survival wasn’t easy, and being a prosperous and safe rice and flour merchant was even less so; therefore, knowing when to yield and when to stand firm was crucial.
The rice and flour merchant promptly apologized to them and even sent someone back to fetch two jars of homemade millet wine as a compensation.
Bai Junjun and Li Wenli’s eyes lit up when they saw the apology gifts.
After all, it was something of greatest interest to them, unmatched by any other, which they hadn’t even found last night at the Zhao Family Village.
Of course, it wasn’t that Zhao Family Village didn’t have any, but rather the bandits were fond of liquor and had drained the wine cellar of Zhao Family Village in just half a month.
Like the rice and flour merchant, the County Magistrate was a cunning man.
Seeing Bai Junjun and Li Wenli’s eyes increasingly brighten, he immediately realized that this wine was their preferred delight.
Therefore, the County Magistrate happily patted their shoulders, "Now that it’s time for a meal, if you two young heroes don’t mind, let me personally host you. Let’s go dine at Dongsheng Building together."
Speaking of Dongsheng Building, this was the most famous restaurant in the Eastern Land, with outlets in nearly every city there.
Even though war was rampant, the Dongsheng Tavern kept its doors open without fail, not missing out on any food or drink.
Of course, the customers who could afford to come were either rich or noble; apart from them, no one else could afford it.
Bai Junjun and Li Wenli, being inexperienced bumpkins, had no clue about such banquet invitations and would never refuse them.
They quietly followed the County Magistrate to the Dongsheng Tavern.
All along the way, the County Magistrate kept on praising how incredible the Dongsheng Tavern was, how delicious the dishes were, and how understanding the proprietress was.
He treated them both as though they were men.
Although Bai Junjun was good-looking, she never wore the hairstyles typical of girls; like a boy, she only tied her hair into a ponytail. Moreover, boys around the ages of fifteen to sixteen were indistinguishable in gender.
Furthermore, the biggest reason was that they had captured Black Nine and fifty-one other bandits.
How could that possibly be the deed of girls?
So the County Magistrate never even considered this perspective, and thus spoke without any reservations.
Just like that, they arrived at the Dongsheng Tavern.
Unlike the tavern pictures restored in books of later times, the Dongsheng Tavern they saw was also built of wood, but it didn’t look as fresh as those seen in later eras.
The tavern was old, which is why the wood had darkened, and the lighting inside was not very bright.
However, the place was quite lively inside.
The moment they walked in, they smelled a combination of food and makeup, which made them raise their eyebrows.
The next second, a woman dressed in dark red cotton cloth gracefully approached the County Magistrate, "Oh, what wind has blown our county’s most distinguished guest here today?"
The County Magistrate chuckled and patted his plump belly, saying, "Today I am hosting two distinguished guests. Shopkeeper Yan, please bring up all the signature dishes of your establishment immediately."
"Okay." The woman’s eyes twinkled as she glanced at the two children behind the County Magistrate and cheerfully led them inside.
It was only after ushering the distinguished guests to a private room on the second floor that the woman left with a smile.
Once she had left, the County Magistrate introduced them again, "This is Shopkeeper Yan of the Dongsheng Tavern. Don’t be fooled by her formidable surname; she is actually very understanding."