Farm Tough Girl
Chapter 304 - 304 305 Why_1

Chapter 304: Chapter 305: Why_1 Chapter 304: Chapter 305: Why_1 “Remember, you must handle this matter quietly and don’t alert too many people, nor let them learn of my identity,” Muniang said.

Only then did the Shopkeeper come back to his senses, quickly replying, “Second Boss, rest assured, I will do my utmost to carry it out.”

“Hmm, I will come again in a few days. There’s no need for you to specifically look for me.”

The Shopkeeper was a wise man; he understood that Muniang’s actions were to conceal her identity, so he did not say much and repeatedly agreed.

Having dealt with the urgent matter, Muniang did not stay much longer. She immediately rose to leave, “I see the restaurant is quite busy. I won’t take up more of your time and will leave now.”

The Shopkeeper smiled and said, “Now you’re being too modest, Second Boss. How could you ever be taking up my time? I must keep you company.” Not to mention, who was the master and who was the servant here?

Muniang left the private room, and Xiangtao was already waiting outside: “Lady, are you leaving already?”

Xiangtao’s question seemed a bit strange. Surely she didn’t think it was too early to leave?

“What is it?”

Before Xiangtao could reply, Muniang immediately saw several young ladies coming up the stairs, led by none other than Liu Yueman.

Muniang’s brow furrowed slightly. No wonder Xiangtao was acting so abnormally; it seemed she didn’t want her to run into those women.

Liu Yueman, having been confined by her father for several days after the incident in the palace, was finally allowed out today. She arranged to meet with some close friends to “have a heart-to-heart,” which really meant taking the opportunity to viciously gossip about Qiao Muniang.

Don’t be fooled by her respectful pleas for mercy to Muniang last time; she truly detested her. Now seeing her, she could scarcely resist the urge to devour her whole, but she dared not confront Muniang directly again. This country girl now bore the air of the Princess of Marquis Chen Mansion, and Yueman dared not rashly act as before, lest she embarrass herself further.

But with an enemy before her, her resentment was hard to hide. Even if she couldn’t outright scold Muniang, she could still snide and jeer in subtlety.

“I was wondering why Dongxing Building has lowered its standards so much recently, letting in all sorts of riff-raff,” Liu Yueman said with disdain in her voice.

The lady beside her laughed along, “Exactly, some people just like to pretend they belong, as if visiting a place frequented by nobility could turn them into noble ladies too. Little do they know, no matter how much gold they paste on their faces, they can’t escape their humble rural origins.”

Xiangtao could not contain her anger any longer and shouted, “What are you saying? Is our Princess someone you can slander at will?”

Liu Yueman covered her mouth in mock surprise, “Oh, it turns out Miss Qiao is here too. Look at me, running my mouth. We were just talking about some country bumpkin we saw in the lobby earlier, covered in dirt, yet insisting on squeezing into the shop, not knowing their place. Even when the waiter tried to shoo them out, they wouldn’t leave. Isn’t that infuriating?” She then looked at Muniang with a smug expression, as though she had scored a point.

Her companions now felt emboldened behind this pretext: “Exactly, we were just making casual remarks without naming anyone. Why did someone jump out as if the shoe fits?”

With that, they laughed unapologetically.

Liu Yueman laughed the heartiest, “Qiange, stop talking nonsense. We can’t afford to offend Miss Qiao. Don’t end up holding a grudge against us for such talk and go complain to Marquis Chen’s heir. If that happens, we’re done for.”

Although she said this, her attitude showed no fear whatsoever. In the end, their words were just secretive whispers among a few handkerchief friends, not directly about Muniang. It was she who took it upon herself to be offended. If this matter were to blow up, she wasn’t afraid anymore.

Thinking this, Liu Yueman’s eyes became even more fearless.

“Just as well, Manager Qian is here, adding to the witnesses. Dongxing Building is famously unafraid of the powerful. Back when Prince San caused a ruckus in the restaurant, you all didn’t hesitate to drive him out. Don’t say now that you’re scared of Marquis Mansion’s power and won’t vouch for us. We are clean and clear, without a single offending word against Miss Qiao.”

Liu Yueman said this while smugly raising her eyebrows, obviously convinced that Manager Qian would “side with justice and not relations.”

Muniang had been silent all along, only finding the women opposite her amusing, like a bunch of jumping clowns. They couldn’t beat her openly, so they resorted to such schemes. More kindly put, it was slyness; less kindly, it was stupidity.

Manager Qian’s face darkened immediately, “Since you ladies are aware that Dongxing Building doesn’t fear power, you should also know that you can’t cause trouble here!”

Liu Yueman asked in surprise, “How is this causing trouble?”

Manager Qian couldn’t be bothered to elaborate and said bluntly, “Dongxing Building opens its doors to do business. As long as you have money, anyone can come in. There’s no talk of who’s noble and who’s lowly here. If you ladies disdain our establishment as being too low-grade for your noble selves, there’s the door. Please, just walk out!”

Liu Yueman was immediately dumbstruck. What was this situation?

Muniang, watching Manager Qian’s actions, was actually slightly taken aback. They say among scholar, farmer, artisan, and merchant, the merchant stands lowest, but Dongxing Building really managed to be fearless among the powerful and stood firm in the Capital City. Then she thought about it and it made sense. Wu Haoli often frequented the Capital, carrying the title of the wealthiest man in the country; he probably knew plenty of influential and powerful figures. Dongxing Building, ostensibly the domain of merchants, might have countless high officials supporting it from behind.

Muniang looked at Liu Yueman’s expression, which seemed as if she had eaten excrement, and scoffed with disdain, “Some people really take themselves too seriously. Noble Lady, indeed. I wonder who it was that once knelt and begged me for mercy with a shameless face.”

Having said that, she didn’t pay any attention to Liu Yueman’s livid face and walked right past her.

Manager Qian hurriedly followed, “Mr., Lady, take care.”

Liu Yueman could handle harboring a bellyful of anger, but now she saw that the shopkeeper was so attentive to Qiao Muniang and had never treated her that way! Why did that country bumpkin deserve it?

In his heart, Manager Qian scorned, ‘Why does she deserve it? Because she’s my Second Boss! Clueless fool, claiming to be a noble lady when you’re not even as good as a country girl!’

As soon as Muniang left, a handsome man disembarked from a carriage parked beside Dongxing Building, his moon-white robe making his figure seem even more slender.

Manager Qian saw him at a glance and hurried over to greet him, “Boss, when did you arrive?”

Wu Haoli lifted his gaze towards the direction Muniang had left and pursed his lips, “Those women who were mocking her just now, label them all as troublemakers and have them sent to the authorities.”

(Another update coming at noon.)