The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan-Chapter 82 - 0 The woman is quite interesting (first update)

Li Xianyun helped the waiter to his feet.

The waiter’s chest rose and fell as he gasped for air, "Thank you, young master."

Li Xianyun said, "Your body is weak now, you need to lie flat and rest, wait until your body has mostly recovered before you eat or drink water to avoid choking."

"Okay," the waiter said.

At this point, the shopkeeper came over and said to the waiter in a cold voice, "I told you to stop hanging around here and get lost. You’re really bad luck."

"I’m sorry, Shopkeeper," said the waiter.

The Shopkeeper glared at him, "If I’d known you were sick, I wouldn’t have hired you. Leave now and don’t come back."

In desperation, the waiter said, disregarding his own health, "Shopkeeper, please give me another chance. I can’t lose this job. I have elderly and young to support."

The Shopkeeper said cruelly, "What do I care about your whole family’s livelihood? Get lost now, before I have someone throw you out."

Such a perfect example of a petty businessman.

The onlookers began to talk amongst themselves, criticizing the shopkeeper’s coldheartedness.

The other waiters in the restaurant also felt disheartened as they saw a glimpse of their own potential fate.

The shopkeeper, unable to save face, cursed under his breath, "Get lost, get lost!"

Seeing the shopkeeper’s resolute attitude, the waiter reluctantly compromised, "Shopkeeper, I can leave, but please settle my wages."

He had worked in the restaurant for over twenty days, almost a month, which should amount to at least eighty wen of wages.

The shopkeeper snapped coldly, "You still want your wages? Do you know how expensive the plates you broke are? And you scared my customers, damaging the reputation of my restaurant. It’s already generous of me not to make you pay, now scram!"

The waiter tried to say something else, but the shopkeeper wouldn’t listen and instead told the other waiters, "Are you deaf? Get him out of here!"

With their own livelihoods at stake, the other waiters had no choice but to step forward.

Li Xianyun stood up and said, "Hold on."

The few waiters stopped; they didn’t want to carry the man out either.

After all, they had worked together for so long and had formed bonds.

Li Xianyun looked at the shopkeeper and said, "He has worked for your restaurant, he rightfully deserves his wages."

The shopkeeper said, "He broke cups and plates, I haven’t even asked for compensation, and he wants wages?"

Li Xianyun said, "The cost of the broken cups and plates can be deducted from his wages."

After all, it was only one cup and one plate, which weren’t worth much.

"The cup and plate are worth one hundred and fifty wen, and his monthly silver is one hundred wen, by that count, he still owes me fifty wen," the shopkeeper said unreasonably.

Li Xianyun chuckled coldly, "Your cup and plate would cost at most seven or eight wen on the market. If you buy in bulk, it would be even cheaper, at most four or five wen. Claiming one hundred and fifty wen, you’re not afraid of biting your tongue."

The shopkeeper hadn’t expected Li Xianyun to know the market so well and bluffed, "These are high-quality plates and cups imported from Houtang, very expensive ones."

Li Xianyun laughed, "Since Tang Mingzong’s time, all porcelain sold to other countries by Houtang has had the seal script character for ’Tang’ stamped on the bottom of the plate. I presume your plates and cups would have this mark too."

She was a person from Houtang, more than familiar with these unwritten rules.

The shopkeeper was taken aback, not knowing such a thing existed.

A customer flipped over the dishes and cups on a nearby table, finding nothing; not a single mark, clearly the shopkeeper was lying.

The shopkeeper, unable to preserve his dignity, became furious and accused, "I know who you are. Are you from the rival restaurant across the street, here to sabotage us? Colluding from within and without, are you trying to destroy my business?"

Li Xianyun scoffed, "You mean I’m here to sabotage your business over a few tens of wen? My cost for causing trouble is way too low then."

The crowd, upon hearing this, found it quite reasonable. If it hadn’t been for the sudden incident today, this young master would not have stood up; how could he possibly have been here to cause trouble?

Besides, the outer garment of the young master was worth more than just a few pieces of silver.

Li Xianyun paused before saying, "If you settle his wages today, this matter will be resolved, so why ruin your reputation for a mere few dozen coins?"

A dining patron nearby added, "Just settle the money with him. For a few dozen coins, it’s not worth it."

"Yes, that young man doesn’t look well. Better hurry up and settle his wages so he can go home and get treated."

"Right, if it weren’t for this young master, your restaurant would have had a fatality. When that happens, a few dozen coins won’t be enough to settle the matter."

"Exactly, exactly. The young man works at the restaurant. It’s only fair and reasonable for him to get his wages."

"Yes, Shopkeeper, the young master also said he would deduct the cost of the broken dishes from the wages. Fair and square, so hurry and give him the money."

The shop owner’s face couldn’t take it, and had someone from the restaurant bring seventy coins.

Seeing that someone was about to hand over the money to Ali, that is, the sickly waiter, whose name was Ali.

The shop owner stopped him, saying, "I’ll do it myself."

The person had no choice but to hand the money to the shop owner.

But as soon as the shop owner got the money, he carelessly threw it on the ground.

The copper coins fell and rolled everywhere.

The shop owner said contemptuously and provocatively, "You wanted the money, right? Fine, take it! You filthy beggar!"

Ali was shaking with rage, yet he had no choice but to bow for the sake of his wages.

He started to get up to gather the coins.

Li Xianyun stopped him and looked at the shop owner, "Pick up the money."

"I won’t pick it up!" the shop owner said arrogantly and provocatively, deserving a good thrashing.

Li Xianyun chuckled coldly and struck an acupoint on the shop owner’s arm.

The shop owner only felt a numb sensation as if thousands of bugs were crawling all over his body, extremely uncomfortable, and he stammered, "What... what have you done to me?"

Li Xianyun looked at him coldly and asked, "Will you pick it up or not?"

"I won’t."

But his stubbornness didn’t last, and soon he changed his stance, "I’ll pick it up... I’ll pick..."

Li Xianyun pressed one of his acupoints again.

The man, clutching his arm, knelt on the ground to collect the money. After picking up just one, he turned to the helpers in the restaurant and said, "Are you all dead? Help me pick them up!"

Li Xianyun intervened, "You pick them up yourself."

The man suddenly lost his nerve, unwilling to experience that sensation again. He obediently collected all the copper coins and handed them respectfully to Ali.

Li Xianyun had Bater help Ali to his feet.

The group left the restaurant.

The handsome man standing on the stairs was lost in thought as he watched Li Xianyun, prompting the man beside him to inquire, "What’s the matter?"

"Nothing much, I just find that woman rather interesting."

"A woman?" the man asked, puzzled.

The handsome man gave him a look and walked down the stairs.