The other children were also terrified by what they had just witnessed.

Fortunately, Jiang Yong'an intervened in time and kicked the soup bowl away.

Hot soup spilled on the ground, and the soup bowl shattered everywhere.

Jiang Mingzhu covered her mouth. After confirming that Gu An'an and Bao'er were alright, the girl's gaze followed Jiang Yong'an. Was her father really that powerful?

She sensed the danger, but her body didn't react in time.

Compared to the reserved Jiang Mingzhu, Jiang Mingxu was much more direct, "Wow, Daddy's so amazing, he's a hero saving a damsel in distress. You bad woman, you did that on purpose, didn't you?"

The little boy glared fiercely at Bai Qiaoyin, regretting that he hadn't brought any silver needles with him when he went out, otherwise he would have already stuck a bunch of silver needles into this wicked woman.

Bai Qiaoyin never expected that such a sudden turn of events would occur.

However, she could have stopped it when she saw the soup bowl fly out.

But inexplicably, it didn't move—

If Gu An'an really gets burned, we can just pay her some money.

However, the man, the man who made her almost think she was going to hell, was even faster than she was.

And what did that brat shout?

Father.

Is this Gu An'an's husband?

Isn't he from the countryside? How can he have such good kung fu?

Bai Qiaoyin's gaze fell on Jiang Yong'an, as if she wanted to find the answer from him.

The man glanced back, which startled her so much that she quickly looked away. "I'm sorry, Madam Gu, I accidentally frightened you just now. Fortunately, you're alright."

It was indeed a close call.

But what if Jiang Yong'an doesn't come?

And who can save her?

Gu An'an looked at the little girl who still didn't know what had happened, and put Bao'er in Jiang Mingyi's arms, letting the most steady child in the family take care of his little sister.

"It was quite a close call. I almost got disfigured by Manager Bai just now." Gu An'an said with a forced smile. "I thought Manager Bai disliked me and did it on purpose."

Bai Qiaoyin's face paled slightly. "How could this be?"

This commotion attracted the attention of the few diners in the restaurant.

"Isn't that so?" Gu An'an's smile faded. "If it were Manager Lin, she certainly wouldn't have been so clumsy and almost hurt a customer. Not to mention, it was clearly Manager Bai who almost hurt someone, yet she didn't even offer the slightest compensation. What, do you think I'm just an ordinary woman who doesn't dare to settle accounts with you?"

Bai Qiaoyin hadn't expected Gu An'an to be so eloquent; a single sentence put her in an awkward position.

"Mother, she's just bullying you." Jiang Mingxu disliked this woman; he always felt she was effeminate and improper.

Bai Qiaoyin didn't mean it, but Gu An'an did see it; she was indeed frightened by Jiang Yong'an.

However, the fact that Bai Qiaoyin simply let it go in one sentence is also her doing.

Gu An'an is not a coward; on the contrary, she is very strong-willed.

With Jiang Mingxu's accusations, Bai Qiaoyin's expression grew increasingly unpleasant.

Gu An'an said with a smile, "Xu'er, don't talk nonsense. Manager Bai just doesn't know how to run a business. If Manager Lin were here, he wouldn't charge me for this meal today, and he probably wouldn't charge me for coming to Taibai Restaurant in the future."

What is the way of business?

Those who do business always have to be humble and respectful.

Even if it's not the store's fault, moral compensation should still be provided.

Unfortunately, Bai Qiaoyin didn't realize this.

Gu An'an didn't mind using Manager Lin, who had gone to Jiangzhou Prefecture, to put him down, since ultimately it wasn't her reputation that was ruined.

Bai Qiaoyin was furious when she heard this.

When has she ever suffered such a loss?

She's always the one who deals with others, so what if she's the daughter of a high-ranking official?

She tidied up the same way.

Minister Fu had no choice but to swallow his anger!

But with Gu An'an, he repeatedly suffered setbacks.

Just as Bai Qiaoyin was about to speak, she heard someone else say, "Yes, I left my silver pouch here when I was eating earlier, and Manager Lin even had someone bring it to me."

"When I brought my family here for dinner the year before last, I accidentally broke a plate. Manager Lin didn't ask me for it back. My son cut his hand while being naughty, and he even personally took him to the pharmacy to get medicine."

The murmurs grew louder and louder, and Bai Qiaoyin could easily hear them.

The people here reminiscing about Manager Lin are actually expressing their dissatisfaction with her!

Bai Qiaoyin's face flushed red and then turned pale. After a while, she finally spoke, "What Madam Gu said is true. I don't have much experience. How about this, I'll treat Madam Gu to this meal today so that your family can calm down."

She pulled a gold hairpin from her hair. "This hairpin was made by Master Sun from Fengxiang Tower in the capital. How about I give it to Madam Gu as an apology?"

Before Gu An'an could speak, Jiang Mingxu said sarcastically, "Who cares about the broken hairpin you wore?"

One sentence made Bai Qiaoyin's heart, which had finally calmed down, start pounding rapidly again.

Gu An'an laughed, "You brat, how could you understand the wonders of gold and silver jewelry? Master Sun from Fengxiang Tower made these; they'd fetch a hundred or so taels of silver if sold later."

A hundred or so taels of silver?

Bai Qiaoyin gasped and said coldly, "This is a gold hairpin that cost me a thousand taels of silver to make."

"Really?" Gu An'an's eyes widened. "That's truly rare. The key is that Manager Bai likes it so much. It wouldn't be right for me to take what belongs to someone else. How about this: Manager Bai will offer 1,500 taels of silver, and I'll return this gold hairpin to its rightful owner. After all, no amount of silver can compare to the value of this gold hairpin for you, right?"

Bai Qiaoyin's chest pounded with anger upon hearing this. "Doesn't Madam Gu think she's asking for an exorbitant amount?"

One thousand five hundred taels!

That's incredibly shameless.

Gu An'an frowned upon hearing this. "Really? But Manager Bai also said that it was made by Master Sun of Fengxiang Tower. If something made by a master can't appreciate in value, is the master just a name without substance?"

"Besides, this gold hairpin is Manager Bai's beloved possession. It's only two or three hundred taels of silver more. Manager Bai is reluctant to spend it?"

“Mother, this wicked woman is definitely trying to fool you. What master Sun’s masterpiece? I thought it was just something I bought casually at a cosmetics shop, costing no more than three taels of silver.”

The mother and son sang in unison, making Bai Qiaoyin's forehead twitch.

"That's enough, I'll buy it back for 1,500 taels!"

Bai Qiaoyin went upstairs to get the money.

Seeing this, Jiang Mingxu winked at Gu An'an, "Mom, am I amazing?"

"Great, I'll buy you a candied hawthorn skewer later."

The little boy chuckled upon hearing this, "Then let's buy one for Bao'er too, and um, let's buy one for my older brother and sister as well."

Jiang Yong'an looked over, subtly hinting at something.

Jiang Mingxu sighed helplessly, "Alright, alright, considering you just saved your mother, you should buy this stinky man a skewer too. How old are you to still be eating candied hawthorns? Aren't you ashamed?"

Jiang Yong'an only heard part of the story out of context, saying, "Xu'er is so filial."

Jiang Mingxu scoffed at this, "Who's going to be filial to you?"

He's listening to his mother and wants to repay her kindness.

This hardly qualifies as a life-saving favor; a string of candied hawthorns would suffice.