Chief镖头 Liu was the first to step forward, taking his wife's arm and asking, "What happened? Did you run into a difficult guest?"
Liu's wife, panting from exhaustion, replied, "You should go and see. Some guests are making a huge fuss, insisting on having braised pork, and wanting Hongying to make it herself. I told them I had something to do at home, so I wouldn't be taking any dishes for lunch, only offering set meals. Besides, braised pork takes more than two hours to prepare, so it won't be ready in time for lunch. That's when they started cursing."
The villagers were immediately angered, saying, "Isn't this just making trouble for no reason?"
"Yeah, are they bullying us?"
"Let's go take a look!"
Upon hearing the news, the village chief came out of the courtyard.
Li Laosi followed behind. He was already sturdy, and after spending time in the military camp, his fierce and tough aura had become even stronger.
The village chief asked Sister Liu a few questions carefully, frowned, and then instructed the villagers, "Go and call the Second Master. We're slaughtering a pig today, so the naughty boys in the school can leave early and have some fun too."
The villagers ran off, heading towards the valley. Halfway there, Li Lao Er caught up with them.
A group of more than a dozen people arrived at the hot spring valley in a grand procession.
The busy women in the small house at the valley entrance felt reassured when they saw their family members.
"Village chief, you've finally arrived! Those guests are still shouting and cursing inside, which has already upset the other guests."
"Yes, they hurled some really nasty insults at us, as if we were their servants!"
"We were about to beat the young waiter, but we called all the boys out."
"One sheep dropping has ruined the whole pot of soup. Instead of enjoying a nice hot spring, they insist on drinking and eating braised meat, treating this place like a tavern!"
The village chief waved his hand, signaling everyone to stop talking, and then led his men directly into the valley.
The cabins and courtyards were mostly occupied by female guests, who closed their windows or gates when they saw so many people coming in.
But curiosity is a natural human trait, so they couldn't help but send their servants out to gather information.
Water splashed in the pool beneath the hot spring waterfall, where more than twenty male guests were soaking.
Perhaps due to the heat of the hot spring, green grass has sprouted on both sides of the cliffs, its bright green color a symbol of early spring and hope.
Guests soaked in the hot springs, chatted idly, and enjoyed the early spring sunshine and green grass.
But there were a few people who spoiled the mood. They sat around on the rocks by the pool, with two wine jugs and a roast chicken in the middle. They ate and drank, occasionally spitting out a bone and complaining a few words.
"This place is really nice, but it's a pity they don't know how to manage it. If they built a platform in the middle of the pool and had a few young women dance gracefully, with the spring water wetting their clothes... hehe, wouldn't that be even more elegant?"
"Haha, wonderful, wonderful!"
The others clapped and laughed, "Unfortunately, there are too many fools in the world who don't understand this way of making money."
Just then, the village chief and others came over.
The other guests couldn't help but sit up straight and look over.
The village chief and the others glanced at the messy ground and the wine jug on the stone, their faces grim.
Li Lao Er stepped forward, clasped his hands in a salute, and said coldly, "Gentlemen, our valley has long warned against bringing your own alcohol, precisely to prevent you from doing anything inappropriate while drunk, especially since there are female guests here. What you've done is a violation of our rules!"
Several patrons were displeased by this. "What kind of bullshit rules are these? You're here to do business, and we're here to patronize you. Why should we be subject to your control? We've never heard of such a thing!"
"Then we'll assume you just heard about it today and let's not pursue it for now. But when you ordered, did you say you wanted braised pork?" Li Lao Er looked the group over carefully; they weren't the usual customers.
A fat patron shouted, "Yeah, don't you have the number one chef in Tianwu here? He can cook anything. How about we order some braised pork? And didn't your village slaughter a pig today? We'll use freshly slaughtered pork to make this!"
"Yes, it's done well, there's a reward!"
The other drinkers echoed this sentiment, displaying an arrogant demeanor.
Li Lao Er replied coldly, "First, our valley does not accept orders today. Second, we do not have the number one chef in Tianwu. Third, the pig we are slaughtering today is only for our own family, and it is not for outsiders. Guests, you should get up, put on your clothes, and go to the city restaurants to ask if they have braised meat."
"Insolence!" the fat man roared. "Are you trying to kick us out? You lackeys, who gave you the audacity!"
"That's right, do you even know who we are? You don't want to live anymore!"
"You scoundrel, you've got some nerve!"
The village chief and the others all turned pale. Li Laosi clenched his fists and was about to step forward, but was stopped by Li Laoer.
"Uncle Village Chief is tired, let me bring you a rock to sit on."
Li Laosi glared at the guests, then walked to the side, selected a stone the size of a millstone, bent down, easily lifted it, walked to the edge of the pool, and put it down with a thud.
Li Lao Er respectfully helped the village chief sit down, seemingly oblivious to the terrified looks in the guests' eyes.
This rock weighs over 300 kilograms, and it would be difficult for four ordinary people to lift it.
Li Laosi moved the chair by himself with ease, as if it were nothing. How strong are those arms?
An average person weighs only a little over 100 pounds, but in his hands, it's like playing with a toy; he can easily toss them away...
Several drinkers instinctively shrank back into the pool, their faces turning pale with fright...
Li Lao Er then looked at them again and said, "We don't know who you guests are, nor do we want to know. But you guests have come to our valley to play, so I'm afraid you haven't even bothered to find out who we are, have you?"
"First of all, we are not slaves; we are ordinary people in this manor. But this manor belongs to the Ye family, the Marquis of Xinting, and we are the ones who manage the valley for the Marquis. Even if we are servants, we are the Marquis's servants, and you are not qualified to call us dog slaves!"
His expression changed, and he glared at the group of drinkers. "If you gentlemen don't believe me, then I advise you to do your own research. Otherwise, you'll be wasting your eyes and ears and end up harming yourselves and your families, which would be a real loss."
"Now, let's talk about whether we want to live or not. Of course we want to live! The jade melons and golden fruits we grow are the Emperor's favorites. We'll be planting them soon! If you gentlemen think you're more noble than the Emperor, then we'll give up our lives and commit suicide to atone for our sins. But when summer comes and the Emperor wants the jade melons and golden fruits, you'll have no choice but to pick your own heads and offer them to him, and of course, the Emperor will still despise you!"
"You...you're threatening us? You're nothing but a bunch of lackeys. Do you think the Marquis and the Emperor would remember peasants like you?" the fat drinker shouted, trying to sound brave.
The others, emboldened by their newfound confidence, chimed in, "That's right! The Marquis has already gone to war, and the Emperor is in the palace. Who can verify this? You can just wave your banner and stir up trouble!"
"Whether we're making a big fuss or not is none of your concern!" Li Lao Er said impatiently, calling to the villagers, "Come on, help these guests get ready so they can return to the capital as soon as possible to verify things. The court might not have even adjourned yet, so don't delay them from going to the palace to ask the Emperor!"
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