Chapter 56 Free Meal

Guan Yi'an turned around and saw Meng Huanyan walking aggressively to his side, looking like she wasn't afraid of making things worse.

Meng Huanyan was reprimanded by Guan Yi'an at the banquet and felt wronged. When she saw Guan Yi'an leave, she hurriedly followed him, wanting to ask him privately why he was suddenly dissatisfied with her.

He followed her to the counter, and before he could even question Guan Yi'an, he heard that her banquet would cost more than 1,500 taels of silver.

This was naturally a huge sum of money for Meng Huanyan.

Back at the Meng residence, Aunt Lu had taken Meng Huanyan to restaurants a few times, and she couldn't recall ever ordering more than fifty taels of silver. Although she admitted that the food at the Nanyan Restaurant was indeed more delicious and unique, and the wine was also different, in her opinion, it was worth at most two or three hundred taels of silver.

After all, when she got married, her mother gave her all the money she had saved up, which was only two hundred taels.

How could a banquet for a mere twenty or so people possibly cost 1,500 taels of silver?

It's obvious that this big restaurant is taking advantage of its customers. They saw that everyone at their table was rich, so they arbitrarily raised the prices.

When Meng Huanyan called out, the customers dining in the lobby on the first floor all turned to look.

The waiter was displeased upon hearing this. "Young lady, you can't speak so carelessly. Our Nanyan Pavilion has been open in the capital for two years, and we've always done honest business. We can't bear the stigma of being a black-market establishment. A table at Nanyan Pavilion usually costs only one or two hundred taels of silver, but your table is drinking Nanling Chun, a wine that is fragrant and mellow with the finest ingredients. A small bottle costs three hundred taels, and you've ordered two bottles. Not to mention the six rare and exquisite dishes, each one unique to Nanyan Pavilion, made with extremely precious and rare ingredients, each worth a hundred taels of gold. This price of fifteen hundred taels is a fair one; we haven't overcharged you by a single tael."

Listening to the waiter's long-winded explanation, Meng Huanyan not only didn't believe it, but found it even more absurd.

"What Nanlingchun, Beilingchun? You dare to charge three hundred taels for a mere bottle of wine? Why don't you just rob us? A dish costs over a hundred taels of silver? Are the chefs at your Nanlingyan Pavilion imperial chefs? You're trying to extort us! My husband is newly appointed... let me go... my husband is the Vice Minister of Rites! If you dare to extort us, you'll be shut down!"

Having been wronged by Guan Yi'an and having nowhere to vent her anger, she took advantage of the situation and unleashed her fury on the staff of the opium den.

Guan Yi'an was so anxious that he tried to cover her mouth but failed.

The waiter was taken aback when he heard the identity of the Vice Minister of Rites.

But this amount was simply too large. If it were only a few dozen or a hundred taels, he might have swallowed his anger. This was over a thousand taels—he might not earn that much money in his entire life.

If they get away, the shopkeeper will make him pay compensation, and he could never afford it even if he worked himself to death!

Whether he's the Vice Minister of Rites or the Vice Minister of Revenue, there's no reason for him not to pay for his meal.

With that thought in mind, he decided to go all out.

The waiter grabbed Guan Yi'an and shouted, "I was wondering who was trying to dine and dash! It turns out it was the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites! Everyone come and see! The Vice Minister didn't pay for his meal, only took the most expensive food and drinks, and then accused our opium den of extortion. He even said he would shut our shop down!"

Guan Yi'an covered his face with one hand while smiling apologetically: "Young man, don't shout. I'm not trying to dine and dash. Let go first, and we can talk this out..."

Seeing Guan Yi'an being held back by a young waiter, Meng Huanyan rushed forward and kicked and punched the waiter, shouting, "Let go of my husband! How dare you grab a high-ranking official like that? Do you want to go to jail? Let go, or I'll call for help, and you'll regret it!"

Guan Yi'an also wanted to break free from control, so he and Meng Huanyan pushed and shoved the young waiter.

Seeing that he was no match for the two men, the waiter raised his voice even higher, "Help! Help! Someone's trying to dine and dash!"

At this shout, several waiters rushed out from all corners of the restaurant and surrounded Guan Yi'an and Meng Huanyan.

Seeing that she couldn't escape, Meng Huanyan raised her voice to Guan Yi'an and said, "Husband, give them the money! If they dare to accept it, we dare to give it to them! Throw the silver at them and let's see if this black-hearted inn dares to accept it!"

The opium den employee replied, "If it's a legal business, of course we're willing to take you in. As long as you pay, we'll release you. If you don't pay, don't even think about leaving the opium den."

Everyone released their grip on the door, waiting to see him take out his money.

Guan Yi'an's face turned a deep purplish-red. His biggest regret now was why he had been so soft-hearted as to bring that stupid woman, Meng Huanyan, out with him when he left home. And even if he had brought her out, why hadn't he sewn her mouth shut?

And you want him to throw money at people?

If he had enough money, why wouldn't he take it out now? He's making these diners stare at him like he's a rare sight, this vice minister who's eating without paying.

What pained him even more was that the officials upstairs waited for him for a long time but he didn't come. They heard the commotion downstairs and came down to see what was happening. They saw him and Meng Huanyan surrounded by the waiters.

Officials inquired with great concern.

"Minister Guan, what's going on?"

"What are you all doing here? The drinks upstairs aren't finished yet, are you going to drink more or not?"

Guan Yi'an inwardly groaned, fearing that the shop assistant and Meng Huanyan might say something else to harm him. He quickly spoke up, "I was in such a hurry to leave that I forgot to bring any money. I was just discussing with the shop assistant about going back to get it. My concubine's behavior was inappropriate and caused the shopkeeper to misunderstand..."

His words were tactful, but the officials immediately understood.

So that's the guy who kept shouting about eating and dashing in the store! Oh dear, this is so embarrassing.

How could such a high-ranking official do such a shameful thing?

The thought that they were also among those who had dined and dashed at Guan Yi'an's invitation filled them with shame and unease, and they unconsciously distanced themselves from Guan Yi'an.

"Oh, is that so? But we didn't bring any money with us to the banquet, so we can't help you."

"Exactly, who knew this would happen? What are we going to do?"

"In that case, let's call it a day. Vice Minister Guan, please wait here. Once the servants bring the silver, we will take our leave."

"Farewell..."

The officials took their leave one after another. Meng Huanyan noticed that these people could eat and drink so much at the banquet, but now that she and Guan Yi'an had been detained, they were quick to slip away.

She was displeased and was about to say something when Guan Yi'an was quick-witted and slapped her across the face just as she opened her mouth, successfully silencing Meng Huanyan's words.

He didn't have time to care about things like not hitting women or about his image and manners.

If Meng Huanyan keeps spouting nonsense, that silly woman could ruin the position of Vice Minister that he worked so hard to obtain!

“You! You scoundrel…” Meng Huanyan covered her face and cried loudly.

She always put her husband first; among so many people, she was the only one who helped him, and yet he actually hit her? And he slapped her in the face in public!