Chapter 494: Chapter 494 Poor Little Thing Chapter 494: Chapter 494 Poor Little Thing “Shopkeeper, I’m feeling just fine. Xiao Tong, do you want to come drink a cup?” Shopkeeper Fan lifted his little wine cup and took a small sip.
“No, no, I can’t hold my liquor like you can, Shopkeeper.”
Xiao Tong shook his head; he was a young waiter at the tavern and still had a lot of work to do later. He couldn’t drink; getting drunk would only hold things up.
Just then, a waiter came clomping upstairs and loudly said to Shopkeeper Fan, “Shopkeeper, Miss Mo and that big brother have arrived. They say they’ve brought some good stuff over for you to taste!”
As soon as Shopkeeper Fan heard this, his eyes lit up. He knew Xuexue must have brought some newfangled thing again. He hurriedly put down his wine cup and stood up, eagerly saying, “Quick, quick, bring them up.”
The young waiter answered and dashed back downstairs to fetch Xuexue and Big Bull.
Before long, Big Bull and Xuexue came up carrying a basket.
“Shopkeeper Fan, in good spirits are we? Starting to drink early in the morning?” Big Bull saw several small dishes and a wine jug on the table and couldn’t help but laugh.
“What joyous spirits? I’m just a simple man, feeling bored on my own, so I have a few drinks to pass the time,” Shopkeeper Fan stood up and hurriedly invited them to sit down. “You’ve come early in the morning; you probably haven’t had breakfast yet, have you?”
Xuexue looked at Big Bull and laughed, “Shopkeeper Fan really understands us, knowing that we’ve come here for a free meal again.”
“Hey! Xuexue, what kind of talk is that? Are you trying to slap my face?” Shopkeeper Fan said with a grand air, “Your visit is an honor to our tavern. What’s a breakfast in comparison? If you would grace us with your presence, come every day, and I’ll make sure you’re treated to all three meals.”
“Shopkeeper Fan, aren’t you afraid we’ll eat you out of house and home? Big Bull and I can eat a lot.”
“Not afraid, not afraid. Our tavern may not have a lot of anything else, but we’ve got plenty of food,” Shopkeeper Fan said laughingly, his eyes fixed unwaveringly on the basket in Big Bull’s hands. He hadn’t forgotten that the waiter mentioned they had brought something for him to taste.
Seeing Shopkeeper Fan’s expression, Xuexue knew what he was thinking. She had Big Bull place the basket on the ground, and she lifted the layer of straw on top, showing Shopkeeper Fan the watermelon.
“Shopkeeper Fan, we came today just for this melon.”
Shopkeeper Fan leaned in for a closer look. The melon seemed like a winter melon, but on closer inspection, it wasn’t quite right; it was only similar in size.
“Xuexue, what kind of melon is this?” Shopkeeper Fan asked while stroking his chin beard.
“Hmm, Shopkeeper Fan, do you want to try it?”
“Yes, of course!” Shopkeeper Fan clapped his hands happily and said to the waiter beside him, “Hurry and take this melon to the kitchen. Have the chef prepare it and serve it up.”
The waiter swiftly picked up the hefty basket from the floor and turned to leave.
Xuexue stopped him with a hand, “Wait a minute.”
“What’s the matter?” Shopkeeper Fan looked puzzled, wondering if Xuexue didn’t trust their tavern’s chef and wanted to cook the melon herself. At that thought, he felt amused, “What is it? Do you want to cook it yourself?”
Xuexue shook her head, smiling, without a word.
Unable to guess what she intended, Shopkeeper Fan became somewhat anxious.
Big Bull affectionately stroked Xuexue’s hair and said with a smile, “Wife, don’t tease Shopkeeper Fan anymore. Look how anxious he’s getting.”
“Yes, yes, I am an old man with a weak heart; I can’t take this kind of teasing. Xuexue, please, I beg you, tell this old man quickly,” Shopkeeper Fan pleaded pitifully.