Chapter 733 - 734: I Have No Such Friend
Chapter 733: Chapter 734: I Have No Such Friend
Ye Chutang continued to study the man’s face, her mind searching frantically.
’Where... where have I seen that face before?’
After a moment, the man was the first to look away. His expression remained placid, as if he hadn’t noticed a thing.
The person beside him turned and said something, and he leaned slightly to the side to listen.
Judging by their lip movements, they were speaking the Nanhu language, so they weren’t worried about being overheard.
Soon, the procession of carriages passed down the street.
It left many people in its wake, still gazing after it wistfully.
"To think a man more beautiful than a woman actually exists in this world!"
"Especially his eyes! They’re like deep lakes..."
"I wonder what his official rank is? But since he’s an envoy to the Capital City, he must be young and promising, right?"
"A pity he’s one of the Southern Hu people. A foreigner. What does it matter how good-looking he is?"
"Exactly! Don’t forget, their people were the ones who invaded our territory first! Such actions are despicable! Now that they’ve come to the capital, they’d better apologize properly!"
...
Ye Chutang closed the window, still lost in thought.
She had an excellent, almost eidetic memory. If she had seen him before, she would surely be able to recall it.
But this man...
She thought for a long time but still came up with nothing. This was almost conclusive proof that she had never met him before.
Yet, that sense of familiarity his face evoked...
KNOCK KNOCK.
Xue Ran knocked and entered again.
This time, he brought a very thin booklet.
"Second Miss, Little Miss, this is the list of complimentary wines sent out from the tavern this month."
Ever since Yunlai Tavern’s fame had exploded in the capital, Ye Chutang had instructed Xue Ran to send complimentary wine to certain residences every month.
Just like with the tea house.
In business, the real effort was made in the day-to-day.
As was his custom, Xue Ran listed these items separately.
Ye Chutang nodded, not paying it much mind. "Just process it through the accounts as usual."
In truth, there weren’t many people in the entire Capital City whose goodwill she cared to maintain so diligently, so it didn’t actually cost much.
Each time was just a formality; she would usually only give it a cursory glance.
Xue Ran was meticulous and cautious in his work, and she had always trusted him.
Even Xiao Wu only glanced up for a moment before lowering her head again.
The contents of the booklet were more or less the same every time. She’d memorized it after one look, and besides, the list was too simple to hold her interest.
Xue Ran, however, didn’t reply immediately. He paused, a hesitant look on his face.
Ye Chutang found this odd. "What is it? Is there a problem?"
Xue Ran hesitated for a moment before speaking. "It’s nothing major, it’s just... Mr. Xun has visited seven times this month. You previously instructed that if Mr. Xun were to come, all his expenses were to be waived..."
Ye Chutang: "..."
She had indeed said that. After all, Xun Cheng had helped her a great deal. Now that he was in the capital, it was only right for her, as the host, to show some courtesy.
A few drinks were nothing.
’But he’s only been back in the capital for a few days, hasn’t he? How could he have come so many times!?’
’Is he treating this place like his personal inn!?’
Xue Ran continued, "And every time Mr. Xun comes, he orders three different kinds of wine."
Ye Chutang: "..."
’Alright, so it’s not an inn. He’s treating it as his private kitchen.’
Even Xiao Wu was stunned, her big, dark eyes wide with disbelief.
’That’s so much wine!?’
’Even Fourth Brother probably couldn’t handle drinking at that rate, right?’
Ye Chutang couldn’t take it anymore. "Let me see the list."
Xue Ran presented it with both hands and cleared his throat. "I was originally planning to show you this at the end of the month when you came..."
It was just a coincidence she was here today.
Ye Chutang read quickly, memorizing it all in one go, but she still read it over and over three times in utter disbelief.
"How can such a shameless person exist in this world!?"
’It’s one thing to come every other day for free drinks, but he orders something different every single time!’
’He’s tried every single specialty drink and new product Yunlai Tavern has ever released!’
’Without a single repeat!’
’No wonder Xue Ran had to show this to her!’
Ye Chutang said coolly, "It’s a good thing the tavern has enough variety, otherwise we’d run out of things for him to order, wouldn’t we?"
Xue Ran explained, "Actually, while Mr. Xun orders a wide variety, the quantity isn’t large. He only orders one pot of each type every time..."
Ye Chutang shook the booklet, laughing in exasperation.
"So what you’re saying is, I should thank him for saving me money?"
Xue Ran: "..."
’What could he do?!’
’The first time Xun Cheng came, he wheeled himself directly into the Second Miss’s private room!’
’Even a fool could see that this Mr. Xun had a special relationship with their Second Miss. And later, the Second Miss did indeed give the order that all of Mr. Xun’s future visits were to be free of charge...’
"That’s all secondary," Xue Ran said. "The most important thing is, with the way Mr. Xun is drinking, his body... I don’t know if it can take it."
Xun Cheng always used a wheelchair when he went out, which was very inconvenient, and his legs were always covered with a thick blanket.
His leg ailment must be quite severe.
Xue Ran had vaguely heard that Xun Cheng’s legs had only been saved thanks to Ye Chutang’s intervention.
And during this time, it seemed Ye Chutang was still continuing his treatment.
Xue Ran had even personally delivered medicinal wine to Xun Cheng’s residence once.
’This...’
Ye Chutang felt a throbbing headache coming on.
She took a deep breath and pressed her temples.
"Whether he lives or dies isn’t important... I mean, his constitution is rather unique. He won’t drink himself to death anytime soon."
Hearing this, Xue Ran breathed a sigh of relief.
"That’s good, that’s good!"
He had been worried before, unsure what he would do if something really happened.
"He is your friend, Second Miss, after all, so—"
"I have no such friend."
Ye Chutang said frostily.
Xue Ran: "..."
"From now on, when he comes, just treat him as one of my patients."
Ye Chutang said without a hint of hesitation.
Xue Ran froze, even more hesitant now. "Then... then next time Mr. Xun comes, the wine..."
’Is it free, or not?’
Ye Chutang closed her eyes and finally uttered the two words,
"As before."
CLATTER.
The account book in Xiao Wu’s hands fell to the floor.
She stared blankly at Ye Chutang.
’Then... doesn’t that mean the tavern is going to go bankrupt?’
Ye Chutang patted her little head reassuringly. "Don’t worry. I’ll just charge him a little billion extra for his consultation fee later."
Only then did Xiao Wu feel relieved.
’That’s good, that’s good! Their family is counting on Yunlai Tavern to support them!’
’Third Brother is studying, Fourth Brother is guarding the border—don’t those things cost money?’
’Thank goodness for Big Sis!’
’But besides this, I still need to think of some other ways to make money...’
Xiao Wu picked up the account book, propped her chin on her hand, and began to think with a solemn expression once more.
Ye Chutang drained the remaining half-cup of tea in one gulp.
Suddenly, she froze.
Xue Ran was about to leave, but seeing her expression, he couldn’t help but ask, "Second Miss, are there any other instructions?"
Ye Chutang looked at him and suddenly asked,
"Has Xun Cheng come today?"