"You're back... Go wash up and get some rest. Go see your aunt tomorrow too."
Upon hearing this, Liu Piaorou, who was bowing, froze for a moment, then calmly stood up and whispered, "Yes."
The atmosphere seemed very strange, and it was obvious that there was a rift between the father and daughter, but none of this concerned Qin Qing!
She bowed along with the servants without standing out, and then followed them into the Grand Tutor's residence. She had made up her mind to move out the next day. She no longer wanted to deal with that rebellious son. As long as Liu Piaorou didn't do anything stupid, that rebellious son's future path would not be easy.
Besides, she hasn't found Zhang He yet, and the longer it takes, the harder it will be to find him. She has to speed things up.
Once the group entered the mansion, Qin Qing decisively told Liu Piaorou about her decision. She would let them know once she found a place, and if they needed a cake, she would do her best to make one and send it over.
After spending some time with her, Liu Piaorou naturally knew her character, and since her own household was indeed in a bit of a mess, she didn't try to keep her.
After thanking her, Qin Qing turned to leave. Suddenly, she thought of something and couldn't help but glance at Liu Piaorou a few more times. She remembered the first time she met this girl; she had a bright smile, full of curiosity and naivety…
But in the end, she didn't say anything!
Since it was so late, the family checked into an inn. Then, Qin Qing stared wide-eyed at the waiter and couldn't help but exclaim in amazement!
"What did you say? Five taels of silver for one night?! You're robbing me!"
The exclamation instantly attracted the attention of those around, and on the upper floor, a handsome man with a composed demeanor also heard the familiar shout.
The waiter's face darkened, his smile vanished instantly, and he said disdainfully.
"This has always been the price at our Qianqiu Inn. If you think it's too expensive, Madam, you can look elsewhere! Please!"
Qin Qing realized she had exaggerated a bit, and her face turned slightly embarrassed. But five taels a night was equivalent to a week's stay in the border town! That was outrageous!
Just as she was hesitating about whether to go somewhere else, a middle-aged man with a large belly hurriedly came down, smiling like a Maitreya Buddha.
"Oh, please forgive me, ma'am! The waiter is new and doesn't know any better, please don't be angry."
Before Qin Qing could speak, the middle-aged man chased away the waiter and booked her a room upstairs.
"As a token of my apology, please consider this night's room fee on my behalf!"
Normally, being apologized to like this would make her very happy, and she would be glad that she got such a good deal. She would also marvel at how good the hospitality of this grand inn is!
However, Qin Qing gave the middle-aged man a strange look, instinctively feeling that he was either plotting something or had someone behind him! The innocent, pure female protagonist halo was not suitable for her.
She suddenly looked up and glanced around, her eyes quickly locking onto a fleeting glimpse of a garment in the private room on the second floor…
After thinking it over for a moment, she still smiled at the middle-aged man.
"Then thank you very much, shopkeeper!"
At the same time, the handsome man upstairs breathed a sigh of relief, and couldn't help but admire how perceptive and intelligent the woman was.
This person is none other than Qian Baiwan!
He arrived in the capital of Qi only one day earlier than Qin Qing.
At this moment, Qin Qing and the others went upstairs and gestured for Shaoyao to take the children to the room first. She only glanced at the private room and did not know who the person was, but she would find out eventually!
She then intended to order a few dishes as a token gesture, and took the opportunity to inquire about the current situation from the innkeeper. She casually glanced at the menu, and her face immediately froze...
A simple vegetarian dish costs two ounces, while meat dishes range from five to thirty ounces – the prices are outrageously expensive!
Is she being petty? It's like a bowl of noodles that costs ten yuan in modern times, but in a different restaurant it costs a hundred yuan. Who could stand that?
"Cough cough!"
A soft cough brought her back to her senses. The shopkeeper, looking on with a mixture of disdain and amusement, watched her with a smile.
"Does Madam not like the dishes?"
Qin Qing paused, her expression instantly returning to normal. She calmly returned the menu and said indifferently.
"It's really not that great."
The innkeeper was taken aback at first, then frowned as he looked at her. However, he didn't care about his master's wishes; he would definitely throw this arrogant woman out. You should know that their Qianqiu Inn is the largest chain of inns in Qi Kingdom, and the food is absolutely delicious!
But he was looked down upon by a woman who looked like a country bumpkin. Wasn't that a slap in the face?
Immediately, the smile on his face disappeared, and his eyes gave a slightly warning look.
"Madam, you are mistaken. Our restaurant is renowned throughout Qi for its exquisite cuisine. How could it be anything less than delicious?"
Seeing this, Qin Qing was about to casually agree in order to find out some information, but seeing the shopkeeper's expression, she instantly had an idea and said with great interest.
"How about this: I'll have a contest with your inn's chef. If I win, I'll apologize and give you fifty taels of silver. If you lose, you'll have to give me fifty taels as well."
Fifty taels is not a small amount, but the shopkeeper still looked down on it.
"Fifty taels is nothing, I'll bet you a hundred taels!"
He had complete confidence in his chef's abilities, after all, the owner had paid a hefty price to hire him! His skills were comparable to those of the imperial kitchen.
Qin Qing's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he quickly followed up.
"Deal made! Please, everyone present, be witnesses and judges!"
The inn's lobby and upstairs private rooms were already quite crowded, so they heard everything the two were saying and started discussing it amongst themselves, not wanting to miss out on the drama.
A moment later, Qin Qing went to the kitchen, and the manager also went over and loudly recounted everything that had just happened. The head chef's face darkened immediately, and he shouted in a gruff voice!
"What do you mean by this, shopkeeper? I've been in this business for so many years, and you want me to compete with an ignorant woman? Isn't that an insult to me!"
Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper realized what had happened, but the words had already been spoken, and if he went back on his word now, he would have to pay compensation! Although one hundred taels wasn't much, it wasn't a small amount either!
Qin Qing looked at the shopkeeper's kind words, but the burly man had a stubborn and disdainful look on his face and rolled his eyes.
"Manager, they can't be all talk and no action! If even a woman like me doesn't dare to compete, who will dare to eat at Qianqiu Inn if word gets out!"
The naked provocation immediately drew the burly man's angry glare, who stared at Qin Qing with a fierce expression.
"What did you say?"
Qin Qing was so frightened that she took a step back, but continued to speak stubbornly.
"What are you glaring at me for? Do you think your eyes are bigger than mine? If you're not going to dare, then you're not going to dare! Why say so much!"
The burly man was so angry that he choked and his face turned red!
"Alright, I'll compete with you! But I'm adding one condition! If you lose, you're never to set foot in any of the Qianqiu Inn's shops again!"
Qin Qing nodded.
"sure!"
Anyway, she won't be staying long. There are so many inns; who says she has to stay at Qianqiu Inn? Besides, she might not even lose…
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