The commoners of the Imperial Capital were all discerning, their pairs of eyes acting like a nobility recognition machine, able to guess a person’s identity from their clothes, temperament, and every move they made.
Bai Junjun and Li Wenli were obviously not ordinary people, and judging by Manager Miaomiao’s expression, there might have been past grudges between them.
Thus, the crowd consciously took a few steps back, making room for the battlefield that was to unfold before them.
As for the so-called "national affairs" that had just been under discussion, they were already thrown out of everyone’s mind, no longer of concern.
"Get out of my shop," Zhao Xiaomiao didn’t disappoint the onlookers, delivering the expulsion order straightforwardly.
Bai Junjun was the type who responded to soft tactics rather than hard ones. If Zhao Xiaomiao had spoken nicely, saying the sight of them reminded her of past displeasures and asked them to leave, Bai Junjun wouldn’t have said anything.
However, Zhao Xiaomiao treated them like she was shooing away cats and dogs, bluntly telling them to get lost.
This made Bai Junjun less inclined to cooperate.
"The purpose of a tavern is to welcome guests from all directions. What right do you have to kick me out?"
"I have every right because I am the shopkeeper here, and what I say goes," Zhao Xiaomiao answered, still as cold as ice.
Even though Zhao Xiaomiao had accepted her current self, it didn’t mean she was willing to accept the people from her past.
Bai Junjun and Li Wenli had saved her, but they had also abandoned her, causing her to fall into another abyss. It was she who had climbed out by herself, their presence irrelevant.
And now, these two wanted to appear in the guise of benefactors, expecting her to be grateful and even treat them with the courtesy due to honored guests?
"How embarrassing this is, I heard Dongsheng Tavern has a Flying Flower Token, that whoever holds this token must be treated well in any Dongsheng Tavern no matter where..."
As Bai Junjun spoke, she took out a delicately crafted token from her pocket.
Upon seeing this token, the crowd erupted.
"Wow, this is the Flying Flower Token of Dongsheng Tavern? Rumor has it there are no more than three across the continent, what a privilege to see it today."
The bystanders were all excitedly watching the drama unfold like eating melons.
"!" Zhao Xiaomiao clenched her fists, her face turning from red to white, clearly very angry.
Just then, a deep voice came from upstairs, "What’s all this ruckus about?"
Bai Junjun looked up and saw an old man walking down.
The old man appeared to be in his mid-fifties to sixties, burly and strong, with greying hair and a stern face.
As soon as the crowd saw him, they whispered, "It’s been a while since we saw Manager Qiao. We thought he had been transferred."
"Speaking of which, Manager Qiao has always been serious and unsmiling, never noticed it before, but now with Manager Miaomiao, the contrast really makes us uncomfortable."
"I heard he’s preparing to retire and return to his hometown, and now he’s handing over his duties to Manager Miaomiao."
Bai Junjun and Li Wenli listened to the crowd’s murmurs while taking a good look at the man in front of them.
Although Zhao Xiaomiao was not polite to the two of them, she was extremely respectful towards Manager Qiao.
When she saw Manager Qiao coming down, she immediately turned into the very picture of dutifulness, helping the old man down the stairs and whispering something in his ear as they went.
"Manager Qiao, your discernment is needed. I had a bit of a run-in with these two before, and that’s why I wanted to ask them to leave..."
Zhao Xiaomiao thought she was speaking softly, but little did she know Bai Junjun had sharp ears.
The old man glanced at the Flying Flower Token in Bai Junjun’s hand upon hearing this, without paying any further attention to Zhao Xiaomiao, and went straight up to the two of them, "Since you are honored guests of Dongsheng Tavern, please follow me to the private booth."
Old Tu, although not one for chit-chat with the crowd, was very polite in treating the guests, especially the esteemed ones.