Chapter 136

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When the waiter brought out the spicy chicken offal and five large bowls of rice that Zhang Xiaohua had ordered, Zhang Xiaohua had already drunk three pots of tea, and his stomach had been growling with hunger for a long time.

But when Zhang Xiaohua saw the plate of chicken offal, full of red chili peppers and swimming in sauce, he was stunned and asked dumbfoundedly: “Waiter, is this the dish I ordered?”

The waiter smiled and said, “Sir, that’s right. This is our restaurant’s famous spicy chicken offal, known for its unique flavor. It’s spicy with a numbing sensation, a perfect dish for those who love chili.”

Zhang Xiaohua’s face turned bitter. Well, the menu had clearly stated “spicy and numbing”, so why hadn’t he asked more questions before ordering? The waiter had even confirmed it with him several times, but he hadn’t paid attention.

Ah, he had been too focused on getting a good deal.

Perhaps the dish was indeed delicious, but he never ate spicy food.

There’s nothing he could do. He couldn’t possibly ask them to replace the dish, as that would cost more money. So, Zhang Xiaohua reluctantly picked up his chopsticks, cautiously grabbed a piece of chicken offal, and put it in his mouth. Instantly, the spiciness spread from his mouth to his head and eyes, almost causing tears to flow. He quickly shoveled several mouthfuls of rice, which helped a little. Then, after gulping down some tea, he mustered the courage to take another bite.

Although the spicy chicken offal was extremely spicy, they were also a great accompaniment to rice. Torn between not wanting to waste food and fearing the burning sensation, Zhang Xiaohua managed to finish the entire plate of chicken giblets, along with six bowls of rice and two pots of tea.

When Zhang Xiaohua picked up his chopsticks and stirred the red chili peppers in the dish, he couldn’t find any more chicken giblets. He then put down his chopsticks with peace of mind. Although Zhang Xiaohua had considered eating the chili peppers, he thought about the burning sensation in his mouth and abandoned the idea. Patting his round and full belly, he realized he was truly stuffed.

Since he had finished eating, it was time to pay. Zhang Xiaohua raised his hand to call the waiter. In fact, during the meal, the waiter hadn’t taken his eyes off Zhang Xiaohua, his behavior was too suspicious, so he worried that he might try to dine and dash. If Zhang Xiaohua disappeared without paying, the waiter would have to cover the cost of the meal himself, so he was understandably cautious.

Now, seeing Zhang Xiaohua showing no suspicious behavior and calling him over to pay, the waiter grew even more vigilant, fearing that Zhang Xiaohua might find a cockroach in the dish and cause trouble. Only when Zhang Xiaohua asked how much he owed did the waiter relax slightly and reply with a smile: “Sir, did you enjoy the meal? That will be 50 copper coins.”

“Fifty coins?” Zhang Xiaohua asked in surprise. “Why so much? I remember the menu said the price was 45 coins.”

The waiter smiled and explained: “Sir, you read correctly. The chicken offal is indeed 45 coins.”

“Then why are you asking for fifty coins?” Zhang Xiaohua asked again. “Isn’t the rice supposed to be free?”

The waiter replied: “But, sir, the tea costs five coins.”

“What?” Zhang Xiaohua almost jumped up and exclaimed: “You charge for tea? Why didn’t you tell me?”

The waiter looked aggrieved and said: “You didn’t ask me, sir. Charging for drinks is something even the government recognizes. Didn’t you know that? If you don’t ask, how could I know that you didn’t know?”

Zhang Xiaohua was speechless. Despite being so cautious, he had still been tricked by the restaurant. Fortunately, the tea was charged per person, not per pot. Otherwise, having drunk five pots of tea, wouldn’t he have felt even more wronged?

Without saying another word, Zhang Xiaohua reached into his pocket, pulled out his money pouch, and after fumbling around for a long time, finally took out a small piece of broken silver and handed it to the waiter.

The waiter felt dizzy for a moment. He had thought Zhang Xiaohua was planning to dine and dash, so he had made preparations for such an event. But unexpectedly, Zhang Xiaohua was honestly paying the bill. If he was going to pay, why didn’t he just hand over some copper coins? Instead, he gave a piece of silver that looked to weigh at least three to five grams. Wasn’t he just messing with him?

Suppressing his frustration, the waiter politely asked: “Sir, the total is only fifty coins. Do you not have any copper coins? Or perhaps a smaller piece of silver?”

Zhang Xiaohua, looking serious, replied: “No copper coins. This silver piece is the smallest I have.”

The waiter was completely exasperated. What kind of person was this? Judging by the money pouch, it clearly held quite a bit of silver. Yet this wealthy person was so stingy, he ordered the cheapest spicy chicken offal, added six free bowls of rice, requested tea refills four times, and then grumbled over the five coins for tea.

Without further complaint, the waiter took the piece of silver to the counter to settle the bill. Meanwhile, Zhang Xiaohua’s behavior had caught the attention of a sleazy-looking uncle sitting nearby. This man, who had been leisurely drinking from a small pot of wine and nibbling on a plate of peanuts, had been glancing around with sharp, cunning eyes. Zhang Xiaohua’s meal and appearance had initially not caught his interest, but when Zhang Xiaohua pulled out his money pouch and took out a piece of silver, claiming it was the smallest one he had, the man’s eyes lit up.

Not long after, the waiter returned, holding a tray with a string of copper coins. He placed the coins on Zhang Xiaohua’s table and handed him a smaller piece of broken silver, smiling as he said: “Sir, here are four silver grams and some loose copper coins as your change. Please take care of them.”

Zhang Xiaohua looked at the copper coins in front of him and smiled, asking: “Is the amount of copper coins correct? And is the weight of the silver accurate?”

The waiter, with an air of righteousness, replied: “Sir, you may question my character, but you cannot doubt the reputation of Food as Heaven. We would never cheat customers by skimping on weight, and we certainly wouldn’t dare to shortchange anyone.”

Zhang Xiaohua said: “I see. Then I’ll trust you. By the way, waiter, do you know where Pingyang City is?”

“Pingyang City?” The waiter scratched his head and said: “Sir, I’ve heard of cities like Pingrong City, Yiyang City, and Yu City, but Pingyang City, I’ve never heard of it.”

This left Zhang Xiaohua confused.

Pingyang City was the largest town he had ever known, and yet this well-informed waiter had never heard of it. How far away could Pingyang City be from here? Where had he drifted to?

Zhang Xiaohua immediately stood up, a bit agitated, and asked: “Then, tell me, is there a place called Jichi Carriage and Horse Service around here?”

“Jichi Carriage and Horse Service?” The waiter scratched his head again and then smiled: “There is a carriage service, but it’s called Feichi. If you’re looking for it, just head out the door, turn left, and go straight ahead.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaohua quickly gathered the silver and copper coins from the table, put the small silver piece back into his pouch, grabbed the string of copper coins, and was about to tuck them into his pocket when he paused. He thought for a moment, took one coin off the string, hesitated briefly, then took off another, and handed the two coins to the waiter. “This is for you, as a tip. Thanks for your service.”

The waiter looked at the two large copper coins in his hand, both amused and at a loss. He didn’t know whether to accept them or not. Most customers at Food As Heaven were people of some wealth, and their tips usually ranged from five to ten copper coins. When had he ever seen someone tip only two?

But after thinking about his frugal behavior during the meal, the waiter realized that two coins were probably the best he could offer. Smiling, he accepted them and sincerely said: “Thank you for the tip, sir!”

This time, his gratitude was genuine.

However, as Zhang Xiaohua hurried to leave, he turned back and said: “Oh, by the way, next time, if you charge for tea, be sure to let me know in advance.”

“Clunk!” The waiter fainted right at the entrance of the restaurant.

Zhang Xiaohua, oblivious to the commotion behind him and the waiter’s dismay, quickly headed in the direction the waiter had pointed. He also had no idea that while he was still talking to the waiter, the sleazy man in the corner had quietly settled his bill. Upon hearing the waiter’s mention of the carriage service, the man had left the restaurant ahead of him.

Zhang Xiaohua exited the restaurant and turned left, looking ahead to see a large compound at the end of the street. Faintly, he could see a flag fluttering in front, likely marking the carriage service the waiter had mentioned. Judging by the distance, it was still quite a walk, so Zhang Xiaohua quickened his pace.

In this unfamiliar town, the only way Zhang Xiaohua saw to get back home was through the carriage service. It was no joke that even the well-informed waiter didn’t know where Pingyang City was. It must be extremely far. If he returned on foot, how long would that take?

His first trip away from home had been by carriage, so he naturally thought of taking one now. It’s just as the ancients said, “Reading ten thousand books and traveling a thousand miles”.

As Zhang Xiaohua walked, he saw that he was nearing the entrance to Feichi Carriage and Horse Service. The flag was clearly visible, with the words “Feichi Carriage and Horse Service – Mission Guaranteed.”

However, just as Zhang Xiaohua was crossing an intersection, a middle-aged man suddenly rushed from the side. Perhaps due to the snow and the slippery road, the man bumped into Zhang Xiaohua. At the moment of contact, Zhang Xiaohua felt a hand reach into his pocket, aiming for his money pouch. Reacting quickly, Zhang Xiaohua stopped, sidestepped, and with a swift motion, grabbed the man’s hand, saying, “What are you doing?”

The middle-aged man, caught by Zhang Xiaohua, made no attempt to escape. Instead, he deliberately slipped and fell to the ground in front of Zhang Xiaohua, then began to wail: “Oh, you clumsy kid! How could you knock me down? Oh no, I’m injured.”

After saying that, he lay on the ground, groaning and moaning.

At this time, Zhang Xiaohua held the man’s wrist, unsure of what to do next.

Just then, Zhang Xiaohua heard several voices and saw six or seven teenagers slightly older than him approaching from a nearby alley. They had smug, leering expressions and approached while saying: “Who is this poor kid who dares to bump into our Brother Fan?”

Seeing this scene, Zhang Xiaohua, who had previously had his money pouch stolen in Pingyang City, understood immediately what was happening.

However, times had changed, and our Xiaohua was no longer the naive country boy he once was. He had successfully intercepted and killed down a black-clad expert with his small sword and was well-practiced in his Big Dipper Divine Fist. Facing these slightly older youths, he was not the least bit intimidated.

He released the middle-aged man’s wrist, folded his arms across his chest, and smiled confidently at the approaching group.

At this moment, Zhang Xiaohua was no longer the timid and unthinking rural youth he once was.

Upon seeing a group of young men surround Zhang Xiaohua, Brother Fan, the middle-aged man, smirked to himself. After Zhang Xiaohua released his wrist, he didn’t get up but instead sat cross-legged on the ground, playing his part.

The bystanders reacted predictably, some quickly distanced themselves like they were avoiding a rabid dog, while a few braver ones stayed back, looking at Zhang Xiaohua with pity in their eyes. The more timid onlookers had already fled, not wanting to draw the attention of these local ruffians.

Once the group of youths closed in, forming a circle around Zhang Xiaohua, the sly Brother Fan spoke up: “Young brother, you accidentally knocked me over. Look at me now, I can’t even stand up. What do you suggest we do about it?”

Zhang Xiaohua glanced around at the youths before smiling at Brother Fan: “Big brother, I was just walking normally. Even if I was moving a bit quickly, it was you who bumped into me from the side. If anyone should be hurt, it ought to be me.”

Brother Fan, with a sharp voice, replied: “So now you’re the one with all the logic? Well, look at who’s sitting on the ground, me or you?”

Zhang Xiaohua responded calmly: “This ground is covered in dirty snow and water. I have no desire to sit down. Who knows why you have this strange habit of wanting to sit in such a filthy place?”

Brother Fan chuckled: “Little brother, you may have a sharp tongue, but the eyes of the people around us are sharp as well. They’ve all seen what happened. You can’t deny it.”

Zhang Xiaohua smiled and sighed: “Ah, so it comes to this, each of us claiming to be in the right. Well then, why don’t we both head to the courthouse and let the authorities decide?”

At the mention of the courthouse, Brother Fan quickly got up, no longer pretending to be injured. He laughed and said: “Little brother, it seems you’re unwilling to play along, huh?”

Zhang Xiaohua asked, “What do you mean by ‘playing along’? And what if I refuse?”

With a sneer, the wretched Brother Fan replied: “Hehe, it’s simple. If you cooperate, you’ll hand over your money pouch like a good lad. We won’t take everything, you’ll have enough left for travel. We’ll part ways peacefully. If you don’t cooperate, hehe, just take a look at the ‘righteous’ crowd around you. They’re the embodiment of justice, representing the will of the people.”

Zhang Xiaohua chuckled: “Haha, now I finally understand how the voice of the people is represented. These are the so-called kind-hearted citizens? If they are so kind, why do they keep company with you?”

Brother Fan laughed again: “Because I too am one of the kind-hearted citizens.”

Zhang Xiaohua retorted; “Your behavior hardly seems to fit that description.”

Growing impatient, Brother Fan snapped: “It seems this little brother really doesn’t want to play along!”

Zhang Xiaohua chuckled even more and said: “I’m not one of you street thugs, so why would I rush to join your ranks?”

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua making light of him without showing any sign of fear, Brother Fan grew frustrated and embarrassed. With a wave of his hand, he barked: “Forget it, let’s give this kid a lesson so he understands who he’s messing with.”

At his command, three of the young men immediately stepped forward, waving their fists menacingly to show off their thick muscles. However, Zhang Xiaohua remained unimpressed, smiling calmly as they approached.

Realizing their intimidation tactics weren’t working, the three exchanged glances before lunging at Zhang Xiaohua.

The three men had clearly trained in martial arts for a few days. Their movements displayed some structure. However, as they approached, Zhang Xiaohua swiftly closed the distance and casually used a move from the Big Dipper Divine Fist to block the leading man’s punch. Then, with a quick change of stance, he swept his leg at the man’s vulnerable lower body. With a loud “pop”, the man fell to the ground. By this time, another person had also reached Zhang Xiaohua. Without dodging, Zhang Xiaohua raised his fist to meet the attack. There was a dull sound as their fists collided. Zhang Xiaohua stood firm without moving, while the other man cried out in pain, clutching his fist and retreating several steps, grimacing in agony.

The remaining man hesitated as he saw what had happened to the other two. He stopped in his tracks, ready to retreat. But how could Zhang Xiaohua let him off so easily? With a quick step forward, Zhang Xiaohua kicked him in the waist. The man cried out in pain and fell to the ground. Zhang Xiaohua, however, was puzzled, he hadn’t used that much force with his kick.

Seeing his three men defeated, Brother Fan found himself in a difficult position. If he fled without a fight, he would lose the respect of his followers. However, if he continued to fight, the remaining four, including himself, might not be able to take down Zhang Xiaohua. What should he do?

Brother Fan thought for a moment, then reached for something at his waist. He signaled to the other four men, who made the same motion. Only then did Zhang Xiaohua see clearly that each of them had pulled out a dagger.

Seeing the daggers glinting coldly, Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t help but feel a bit panicked. He wasn’t afraid of fighting bare-handed, but he had no experience facing weapons.

However, everything has a first time, and perhaps this was a test for him. With that thought, Zhang Xiaohua instinctively reached for the small sword hidden in his chest. But then he quickly withdrew his hand. The power of the small sword was too great, and he couldn’t control it well. If he used it, there would certainly be bloodshed, and if someone died on the street, it would cause major trouble. It was better not to use it.

Seeing the unease in Zhang Xiaohua’s eyes, Brother Fan became smug. With a sinister grin, he rushed forward, thrusting the dagger toward Zhang Xiaohua’s waist. The other four, seeing their leader attack, also swarmed forward, each brandishing a dagger.

As Zhang Xiaohua watched the bright daggers coming at him from different angles, panic set in. He tried his best to move and dodge, using the defensive techniques of the Big Dipper Divine Fist. Dodging left and right, he avoided several attacks. However, after a slight misstep, one of the daggers managed to cut his arm. A streak of fresh blood quickly stained his sleeve.

The injury, however, had a calming effect on Zhang Xiaohua. He realized that purely defending would not lead to victory. As the old saying goes, “The best defense is a good offense”.

Adjusting his footwork slightly, Zhang Xiaohua spotted an opening between the attacking daggers. He swiftly stepped forward and kicked out, hitting one of the attackers squarely on the wrist. With a loud cry of pain, the man’s dagger flew into the air.