Narcissus and Hibiscus were furious: "The food we cooked was spotless, how could you throw dirty water on us?"
"Pah!" The old woman spat a mouthful of phlegm on the ground. "How can food made by unclean people be clean?"
“You…” Furong pointed at the old woman, trembling with anger, but couldn’t utter a single word.
Shen Yuan shielded Haitang and the others behind her, slamming the door of the Flower Garden Restaurant shut, preventing them from leaving. Then, hands on her hips, she turned around, her gaze coldly sweeping over the old woman standing at the bottom of the steps.
"You think you're clean? Did you just wash your hair last year? You've got four generations of lice on your head! Your phlegm is so thick, your lungs must be black! So black, could you have tuberculosis? Did you brush your teeth this morning? Why do you smell so bad when you open your mouth? It almost killed me!"
Upon hearing this, the onlookers surrounding the old woman dispersed, seemingly disgusted by her slovenly appearance.
The young woman also let go of the old woman's hand, silently took two steps back, and could not hide the disdain in her eyes.
The old woman noticed the expression on her daughter-in-law's face and, in anger, slapped her across the face, yelling, "How dare you look down on your old mother!"
"Mother, I didn't." The young woman covered her mouth, her face full of grievance.
The old woman turned to look at Shen Yuan and burst into a tirade: "You...you sharp-tongued little brat, you have no respect for the elderly! You have no respect for the elderly!"
"What does 'old' mean? A thousand-year-old tortoise is old; it's kept in a longevity pond, and people will respect and worship it." Shen Yuan clasped her hands together, raised an eyebrow, and smiled: "You want me to respect you? Are you a tortoise yourself?"
"You...you...you..." The old woman's face turned red with anger.
Shen Yuan didn't give her a chance to speak and continued, "Grandma Wang from the west of the city is ninety-eight years old this year because she never talks nonsense! Unlike you, you have a long tongue and a short life!"
"You...you dare to curse me!" The old woman gripped her daughter-in-law's hand, trying to get her to speak up for her.
But the young woman had just been beaten, and her mouth was still sore; she really didn't want to stand out and show off again.
"Mom, I should go back and cook. Let's go home!"
"Go back for what?"
The old woman persisted, but the young woman pulled her out of the crowd.
Shen Yuan turned around, her sharp eyes sweeping over Jin Mudan. Jin Mudan, who had been watching the show from the side, was startled when she met Shen Yuan's gaze. Then she straightened her robes, put her hand on the arm of the little maid beside her, and prepared to leave.
But how could Shen Yuan let her leave like that?
"So eager to leave? Aren't you planning to stay and catch up?" Shen Yuan grabbed Jin Mudan's sleeve, blocking her way.
Jin Mudan, protecting her sleeve, threatened, "Do you know how much this dress cost? Can you afford to pay for it if you tear my sleeve?"
Shen Yuan remained silent with a sullen face, her hand tightly gripping Jin Mudan's sleeve, showing no intention of letting go.
Jin Mudan sneered. "Just a little girl, trying to stop me?"
"Get out of the way!" Jin Mudan shouted coldly, flicking her sleeve and knocking Shen Yuan to the ground.
Whether it was because she lost her balance or because Jin Mudan was too strong, Shen Yuan stumbled and fell down the steps in front of the Flower Garden Restaurant.
She lay on the ground, her arms scraped and bleeding from the stone bricks.
"Hiss—" Shen Yuan's face scrunched up in pain.
Jin Mudan hadn't expected to throw Shen Yuan down the steps. Confused, she lowered her head, her gaze falling on her sleeve.
Did she really use that much force when she flicked her sleeve?
Just as he was inwardly complaining, he heard Shen Yuan shout, "How could you hit someone?"
"I don't……"
Jin Mudan tried to explain, but Tian suddenly rushed out from the crowd, helped Shen Yuan up from the ground, and said, "I just saw it with my own eyes. You pushed Yuan Yuan down. You did it, how can you deny it!"
As she spoke, she rolled up Shen Yuan's sleeve, "Look, Yuan Yuan is injured, she's bled so much, and you still won't admit it!"
Jin Mudan frowned. How could she have fallen so badly from just three steps?
She turned her head away. "It's just a scrape, nothing serious. Do you two think you can extort money from me?"
"Trying to extort you? How can you be so unreasonable?" Tian Shi, holding Shen Yuan, turned to the onlookers and said, "You all saw it, right? She pushed this child down the steps, and the child is all hurt like this. Not only does she not apologize, but she also accuses us of extorting you. Isn't that going too far!"
"I saw it! I saw it! She really went too far!"
"If you push someone down, you should at least apologize!"
"This one seems to be the new top courtesan at Tianxian Tower, named Jin Mudan! How dare a mere courtesan bully us law-abiding citizens? It's outrageous!"
The onlookers chimed in with their comments, making Jin Mudan's expression grow increasingly unpleasant.
She didn't want to stay a second longer, so she lifted her skirt and walked straight down the steps to leave.
But before she could squeeze out of the crowd, she was stopped by constables who had rushed over after hearing the news.
"Sir! It's her, it's her! She not only caused trouble at someone else's shop, but also beat up my sister!" Tian Tian ran all the way until she reached Shen Yuan before stopping, panting heavily.
Jin Mudan's expression hardened. How did she manage to attract the attention of the government officials?
"Sister Yuanyuan, don't be afraid, I've reported it to the authorities! The officials will definitely arrest the people who bullied you!" Tiantian tugged at Shen Yuan's sleeve and glared fiercely at Jin Mudan.
Shen Yuan raised her hand and gently rubbed the back of Tian Tian's head. This little girl is really clever!
The constable stepped forward and stopped Jin Mudan: "Are you the one causing trouble?"
Jin Mudan bowed, a fawning smile on her face, and cautiously placed her hand on the constable's arm, saying softly, "Sir, it's not like that. How could I, a weak woman, possibly..."
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