Shocked, Wang Qiaoxin heard Lin Yuan’s words and hurriedly waved her hands dismissively. "What a joke. The elegant room isn’t just something you can enter as you please. Without forty or fifty taels of silver, don’t even think about leaving that room."
Perhaps realizing that she had refused too quickly, Wang Qiaoxin cleared her throat and wiped the corner of her lips with a handkerchief, concealing her guilt. "No need to trouble yourself. We chose to sit in the main hall to better appreciate the differences between the people of Zhuma Town and Yecheng. Besides, I want to experience the life Shi Mei used to live with him."
As she spoke, Wang Qiaoxin’s arm had already very naturally found its way into Chen Shimei’s arm, looking every bit the sweet, newlywed couple.
Lin Yuan certainly didn’t miss the schemes in Wang Qiaoxin’s eyes and chuckled to herself before saying, "Since Miss Wang is so keen on getting close to the lives of the common people, then I won’t disturb you any longer. Oh, by the way, since it’s rare for Miss Wang to visit Zhuma Town, I’ll treat you to today’s meal, also as an early congratulations for your everlasting happiness together."
Wang Qiaoxin’s eyes brightened immediately. She’s treating? That’s great! This meal would cost at least more than ten taels of silver, saving her quite a bit of money. And if she was treating, then she could order a few more dishes, such as the beef stewed with potatoes which is said to be particularly delicious, but too expensive for her to consider ordering before.
However, while she was overjoyed, Wang Qiaoxin knew she still had to maintain her pretense.
She feigned modesty with a wave of her hand. "We appreciate your kindness, but we cannot accept a free meal. After all, you are running a business, and I can’t be the one to spoil it."
Lin Yuan caught the gleam of excitement in her eyes and conceded once more, "Miss Wang, you’re too polite. It’s no bother at all."
Wang Qiaoxin, while maintaining her façade, wanted to casually accept then and there, but then thought she had only just refused once. If she accepted on the second offer, it would seem too insincere. Yes, she’ll refuse once more, then let Lin Yuan invite her one more time, and she’ll pretend to begrudgingly agree.
"Boss Lin is the one who’s being too polite."
"In that case, I won’t be polite anymore, please enjoy your meal," said Lin Yuan.
"Um, alright. What?" Wang Qiaoxin subconsciously agreed, only to realize afterward that Lin Yuan hadn’t extended another invitation. She almost choked on her tongue and nearly fainted from disappointment.
How come it didn’t go according to her plan? That’s more than a dozen taels of silver gone! The beef stewed with potatoes! All hope was lost!
Watching Wang Qiaoxin’s face filled with regret and anger, Lin Yuan almost burst inwardly with injury from her laughter. That’s what you get for pretending!
Chen Shimei was still reeling from his earlier shock and clearly hadn’t recovered from the revelation of Lin Yuan’s new status. And why not? The young girl he once had little regard for had, in just a short span of three months, transformed into the owner of two shops. How could he not be astonished?
If only he had known that this Little Disaster Star would one day turn into a Lucky Star, and a shining one at that, he would have never ignored her. At the very least, he should have kept her under his control, swindled all her silver out of her, and then broken off relations.
Chen Shimei glanced at Wang Qiaoxin next to him, feeling increasingly irritable. She was good, alright, but her father was just a minor County Magistrate. He had thought that, since Li Chang, that Magistrate, seemed so imposing, this one wouldn’t be much different. Who would have thought, in this one month of interacting with Wang Qiaoxin, his image of the Master Magistrate had been completely shattered. Wang Hong was just a small fry in Yecheng, and what could he do when there was Prefect Tang above him!
What made Chen Shimei even more dissatisfied was that Wang Qiaoxin was even more tight-fisted with silver than he was, never giving him a copper coin. Whatever he wanted to buy, he had to tell her, wait for her approval, and then have that wretched Lv Liu go out and purchase it.