Hearing footsteps at the bottom of the stairs, everyone waiting by the counter looked up.

As the two descended the stairs, Lin Ansheng frowned slightly upon seeing the two members of the Wu family, master and servant, standing in front of the counter.

Peng Xian was taken aback at first, then looked at the person beside him with an expression of realization.

Hong Xiaoduo found the expressions of the two strange, so she turned to look at Wu Jinyao and saw her looking shy and affectionate. Oh my god?

Hong Xiaoduo suddenly realized that the incident involving Yao Niangzi from Prefect Wu's family wasn't because of what happened at the clothing shop earlier.

Peng Xian glanced at Wu Jinyao but didn't say anything.

Lin Ansheng could only ask, "What happened?"

When Hong Xiaoduo heard him ask this, she looked at Wu Jinyao without saying a word, wanting to hear what she would say.

"Wu Jinyao greets the General. It's like this: my mother wanted to eat the lion's head meatballs from Juxianlou, so Jinyao came to buy them. I happened to hear that you were dining here, General, and I thought about how hard it must be for you to be stationed here during the New Year for the sake of Dawu Pass."

"Jin Yao only thought of paying for the food and drinks for you generals; she didn't mean to disturb your drinking," Wu Jin Yao explained softly.

The implication was that they only wanted to help with the bill; it was Hong Xiaoduo who insisted on calling them.

Upon hearing this, Lin Ansheng looked at Hong Xiaoduo, wanting to hear what she had to say.

However, when Hong Xiaoduo saw him looking at her, she misunderstood, thinking that he was upset that she had disturbed him from coming downstairs.

“General Lin, since this young lady is going to host a banquet for you, why don’t you set up another table? I’m going to invite Vice General Peng and the others today. What’s the point of having someone else pay for it?” Hong Xiaoduo said directly to Lin Ansheng.

Upon hearing this, Peng Xian nodded and looked at his good brother with a smile. Since someone is so enthusiastic, then General, you don't need to come with us!

Lin Ansheng was annoyed that Hong Xiaoduo had said that. Why should I, the general, need you to arrange and decide my affairs?

At this moment, more diners entered the restaurant. They noticed that the atmosphere among the people inside seemed a bit strange, but they didn't dare to stand there and watch the commotion. Instead, they followed the waiter to choose a table out of curiosity.

Lin Ansheng wanted to get angry, but he couldn't, because this young lady, who spoke so rudely, was someone his deputy general valued. She even had to bathe, change clothes, and shave before coming to a banquet.

As the saying goes, even if you don't care about the monk, you should at least care about the Buddha. You have to consider the feelings of your sworn brothers!

So he turned to the young lady of Prefect Wu's house and said, "I appreciate your kindness, young lady Wu, but I'm here to freeload with my deputy today, so please don't try to pay." After saying that, he glanced at Hong Xiaoduo, turned around, and walked upstairs. Today, I'm going to eat your food!

Hong Xiaoduo didn't expect that the man surnamed Lin would say that, but thinking about his attitude towards this Lady Yao, she seemed to understand. This was what they called "the falling flower is willing, but the flowing water is indifferent".

In front of so many people, he didn't even give the young lady any face. Is that what a straight man does?

"Shopkeeper, did you hear me? Take my money!" Hong Xiaoduo shouted at the person behind the counter.

The shopkeeper, of course, heard and understood clearly, and with a wry smile, quickly put away the silver ingot that Hong Xiaoduo had placed in front of him.

He was having a really tough time. Looking at the awkward expression on Yao Niangzi's face, he really wished he were invisible.

As Hong Xiaoduo was walking upstairs, she stopped in front of Wu Jinyao after thinking for a moment, and said to her with a helpless yet sympathetic expression, "I'm sorry, this is really not my fault."

However, since you, Miss Wu, are so kind-hearted and understanding of the sacrifices the General and his men have made for the Five Passes, and actually want to express your gratitude on behalf of the people of the Five Passes, General Lin's approach won't work. Miss Wu, you could buy some chicken, duck, fish, meat, and good wine, and send them to the military camp to comfort the other soldiers. That would be just as good.”

After saying that, he beckoned Peng Xian to go upstairs.

As they walked, he asked Peng Xian in a low voice, "Is your General Lin so picky that he doesn't even fancy the prefect's daughter?"

Peng Xian smiled and replied in a low voice, "Who knows?"

Downstairs, Wu Jinyao, who had been publicly humiliated, forced back her tears and turned to leave, feeling both ashamed and angry.

The maid took a couple of steps, then remembered and turned back to the counter to retrieve her mistress's gold leaf. Once outside, she lifted the sedan curtain and said, "My lady," handing the gold leaf inside.

After a loud slap, the maid covered her burning cheek and realized that Lady Yao was blaming her.

Since they were in the street, the maid couldn't very well kneel down and admit her mistake, so she quickly signaled the sedan chair bearers to carry Lady Yao back to the mansion.

Inside a private room at Juxianlou Restaurant, everyone except Lin Ansheng, who looked a little unwell, seemed to be enjoying their meal.

Looking at his carefree good brother Peng Xian, and then at Hong Xiaoduo who seemed to have done nothing wrong, warmly greeting Peng Xian and the other four, Lin Ansheng felt a strange tightness in his chest.

He was a general, so why did she show him no respect or fear whatsoever?

"May I ask, what is the purpose of Miss Hong's residence?" Lin Ansheng couldn't help but ask.

What kind of family is she from? What kind of status does she have? Why doesn't she take him, a general, seriously?

Hong Xiaoduo was in a good mood and replied with a smile, "The general himself said it was presumptuous, so why ask?"

"You?" Lin Ansheng was choked, unable to catch her breath.

"General, come, come, let me offer you a toast to thank you for your care over the years." Peng Xian, seeing that his good brother was in a bad mood, quickly raised his glass and spoke.

Upon hearing this, Lin Ansheng shook his head with a helpless wry smile. How could he have forgotten this person? He picked up his wine cup, tilted his head back, and drank it down in one gulp.

He felt that he shouldn't have come today; if he hadn't come, none of this would have happened! At the same time, he told himself that this would be the last time, and this kind of thing would never happen again.

Besides, why bother arguing with an immature young woman? I'm a man, and a general at that. It would be a loss of face to argue with a young woman!

Thinking about it this way, Lin Ansheng felt that her heart wasn't so heavy anymore.

As for Wu Jinyao, who had brought shame upon herself, she had also made a difficult decision while still in her sedan chair, even before she returned to her residence.

She had to do what the advisor had mentioned.

She's liked this person for three years; how could she possibly give him up now?

The advisor was a trusted confidant of her father for many years, reliable and meticulous in his work, and would arrange things flawlessly. With this in mind, Wu Jinyao's initial resistance dissipated.

After all, doing that is for one's own lifelong happiness...