A shout came from the main hall—diners had arrived.
Iris hurriedly swallowed the little fried dough twist in her mouth and raised her voice to answer as she went out.
“Yes, there’s space! Right over here!”
Stepping outside, she saw a young master dressed in silks, looking rather insolent and swaggering.
Iris went forward with the menu and tea.
The young master didn’t even glance at them. “I heard you have a sweet and sour fish dish here that is exceptionally delicious. Just bring that fish, and casually serve a few other signature dishes.”
“I am terribly sorry, young master, but our restaurant doesn’t have sweet and sour fish today.”
Sheng Yongfeng’s expression soured instantly. Knowing his master’s temperament inside and out, his personal attendant immediately opened his mouth to scold.
“Weren’t you serving it just yesterday? How come there isn’t any today? Could it be that you’re looking down on our young master?”
As soon as those words came out, Iris knew these two were not people to be trifled with.
“We couldn’t buy any fish today…” she tried to explain.
“I don’t care whether you managed to buy fish or not. My young master wants to eat sweet and sour fish today, and you’d better figure it out!” the attendant said aggressively. “Don’t tell me that because you couldn’t buy fish, you’re going to wrong us diners? Not being able to buy fish is your problem, what does it have to do with us?”
Iris was struck dumb.
How could anyone be so unreasonable?
They ran an open business; if they were out of stock and didn’t want to sell, were people actually going to force a purchase?
Iris slammed the menu down onto the table, put her hands on her hips, and raised her voice to a whole new pitch.
“What? We run an open business, so of course we are the ones who decide what to sell! Our boss said we aren’t selling fish today, which means we aren’t selling it. Even if we could buy fish, as long as our boss doesn’t want to make it or doesn’t feel like it, we still won’t sell it!!”
Trying to reason nicely with them got nowhere—some people were truly difficult to serve!
First one this morning, and now another one!
The sound of the argument drew Jiang Mo out, and she walked over with a slight frown.
“What’s going on?”
“Boss, they insist on eating sweet and sour fish! I already explained there is no sweet and sour fish today!” Iris said, puffing out her cheeks. The wonderful mood she’d had from just eating a honey-glazed little fried dough twist vanished in an instant.
Seeing that the boss had come out and that she was a young woman, the attendant’s boldness instantly soared by a large margin. Just as he was about to give a proper scare, he was stopped by his own master.
“You’re the boss?” Sheng Yongfeng stroked his chin, a pair of lecherous little eyes locking onto Jiang Mo’s face in a way that made one deeply uncomfortable.
Disgust welled up in Jiang Mo’s heart.
“There is no fish today. If the two of you wish to eat fish, please go elsewhere.”
“Cut the nonsense!”
The attendant took half a step forward, the gilded scabbard of the short blade at his waist brushing against the corner of the table. “My young master is showing you respect by condescending to come to this shabby shop. If you know what’s good for you, hurry up and go find a fish, and don’t force us to use violence.”
“Violence?” Jiang Mo raised an eyebrow. “Breaking into a civilian shop by force—could it be that your personal rules hold more weight than the laws of the land?”
Sheng Yongfeng suddenly chuckled. He shoved the attendant aside, his bulky frame closing in on Jiang Mo.
Thoroughly sickened, Iris still forced herself to stand protectively in front of Jiang Mo.
“This young lady’s sharp tongue bites even better than the parrot in my chambers. Why don’t you come back to the estate with Lord and Master? I’ll arrange for a few people to take care of you, saving you from toiling away outside running a restaurant and showing off your culinary skills…”
“Have some self-respect, young master.”
Jiang Mo took half a step back, her fingertips brushing against the teapot on the table.
“My shop only sells food. If you want to eat fish, please come early another day. If you want to run amok… don’t blame me for being impolite.”
“Impolite?” Sheng Yongfeng drew out the syllable, raising a fleshy palm as if to lift Jiang Mo’s veil. “I’d like to see just how impolite a little lady like you can be…”
Before his voice faded, Jiang Mo had already grabbed the teapot and poured the boiling hot tea straight down over his head!
The scalding tea cascaded down Sheng Yongfeng’s official hat and browbones. Letting out a screech like a butchered pig, he staggered backward, knocking over the rosewood chair behind him.
“You—you dare!”