Chapter 67 Fortune Telling
"Naturally, I'll go and meet that young master Zhang."
Jiang Wan Ning changed her clothes, put on a veil, and left the mansion with Hai Tang and Shao Yao.
The carriage stopped in a small alley not far from the Shidinglou restaurant.
"Miss, the person is coming out." Haitang lifted the carriage curtain and turned to say to Jiang Wanning, who was leaning against the railing inside, pretending to be asleep.
"You stay here and keep watch."
After Jiang Wan Ning finished speaking, she took her veil and jumped off the carriage to go with Shao Yao.
He put on his veil and deliberately walked to the entrance of the Shidinglou Restaurant.
Just then, a waiter from Shidinglou came out and called out to the drunken man, "Young Master Zhang."
"Young Master Zhang, you haven't paid for your meal for several days now. If it's convenient for you today, why don't you settle the bill first?"
The drunk man shoved the waiter aside and yelled, "Get out of my way!"
"When have I ever owed you money? You've only owed me a few days and you're already chasing after me for it?"
The waiter was clearly familiar with this person and said with a smile, "Young Master Zhang is right."
"But with the end of the month fast approaching, the boss will be checking the accounts, and even the manager wouldn't dare to take responsibility."
"How about you settle the accounts from the previous two days first?"
"Not much, just ten taels of silver."
"Do you know who I am? I am Zhang Sheng." The man with the smirk stood unsteadily, pointing at himself with the finger holding the wine jug. "How dare you treat me like this?"
"I'm destined to be a marquis."
"...it won't be long before I tear down your Food Cauldron!"
The waiter bowed slightly, but his face was full of disdain. "Young Master Zhang, don't mention the Marquis."
"Even if the Prince of Langya came, he would still have to pay for his meal."
Zhang Sheng laughed heartily, leaning closer to the waiter's face, "The Prince of Langya? Him?"
"Hmph, he's about to die anyway."
Jiang Wan Ning wasn't standing far away; the smell of alcohol emanating from Zhang Sheng filled her nostrils.
He frowned in exasperation.
Seeing this, the waiter no longer stood on ceremony, straightened his back, and crossed his arms at his lower abdomen.
With a disdainful tone, he said, "He brags every day that he's going to be a marquis."
"Since you neither participate in the imperial examinations nor have a marquis father, people just listen to you for fun on ordinary days."
"You really think we all believed that?"
"Your Excellency, why don't you just say you want to be the Crown Prince?"
"It's just that those big shots are all busy and don't have time to deal with small fry like you. Otherwise, you would have been in jail countless times."
"Let's pay the money quickly."
Zhang Sheng's face turned even redder after hearing this, and he angrily pointed at the waiter, "It's just a few taels of silver."
"Go out and ask around, when has Zhang Sheng ever owed anyone money?"
"No need to ask around, just pay for the meals these past few days and I'll believe you."
Zhang Sheng didn't come to Shidinglou very often in the past, and he usually didn't run up a tab.
The shopkeeper was very polite to me when I bought the item on credit a few days ago.
But someone said something today that Zhang Sheng has fallen on hard times, and his cash cow has collapsed.
Only then did the manager of Shidinglou instruct the waiter to collect the debt.
"If Young Master Zhang refuses, we will have to go to the yamen and make a fuss about it."
"You bunch of opportunistic scoundrels! You have no idea what fate holds for me, the future Marquis Zhang Shengshi."
"When I become a marquis in the future, I will definitely cut you into a thousand pieces!"
Upon hearing this, the waiter opened his mouth to speak, but Jiang Wan Ning stepped forward and blocked the two of them, saying, "I'll settle this young master's bill."
As he spoke, he slightly turned his head to glance at the peony.
Peony immediately took out ten taels of silver from the purse at her waist and put it into the younger man's hand.
The waiter weighed it in his hand, then immediately bowed and said politely, "Miss, you are so generous. Would you like some drinks or a meal? Please come in quickly."
As he spoke, he stepped aside to make way for them.
"I was originally planning to rest and have a meal," Jiang Wan Ning said deliberately, "but look how you treat your guests."
"I don't want to go in either."
"Miss, you may not know this, but this young master Zhang..." the waiter began to explain.
Zhang Sheng spoke first, interrupting the waiter, "Thank you for your help, young lady."
"I will repay your kindness today with all my might in the future."
Jiang Wan Ning said softly, "Young master, you don't need to be so polite."
"Judging from your clothes, you don't seem to be from a poor family. I suppose you've encountered some difficulties these past few days. It was just a small favor."
A glint flashed in Zhang Sheng's eyes, ever since he had run out of money to squander these past few days.
Those who used to fawn over him and flatter him have all changed their tune.
And those women in the brothel, who used to flock to me whenever I went there, were all given cold stares yesterday.
Having suffered these past few days of setbacks, Zhang Sheng was naturally grateful to meet someone as considerate as Jiang Wan Ning.
Alongside gratitude, there was a curiosity about the face beneath the veil.
"May I ask your name, young lady? I will visit you in the future to express my gratitude."
"It's nothing, and besides, it would be inconvenient for a young lady like me to come and thank you in person, as it would damage my reputation."
“Young master, please don’t take it to heart. Just consider it a chance encounter. I’ve treated you to a meal.”
Jiang Wan Ning was about to leave when she said that, silently counting to herself, 'Three, two, y...'
"etc!"
Zhang Sheng turned around and called out to Jiang Wan Ning, "I am Zhang Sheng, residing in the Zhang residence in Ping Shui Lane. May I ask your name, young lady?"
“Miss, aren’t we also going to Ping Shui Lane?” Peony said deliberately, “I never expected to have such a connection with this young master.”
"We're going the same way."
Zhang Sheng was delighted upon hearing this. "I wonder what business you have in Ping Shui Lane, young lady? If you don't mind, I can show you the way."
"I heard that there is an old man with white hair in Pingshui Lane who is very accurate in predicting marriage. My parents are urging me to go and see him."
Jiang Wanning had already inquired about the situation in Pingshui Lane when she arrived.
"The old man you mentioned happens to live just one house away from mine. Shall I take the young lady there?"
Jiang Wan Ning turned around, "In that case, thank you very much, young master."
The waiter at Shidinglou Restaurant watched Jiang Wanning and Zhang Sheng's departing figures and silently shook his head and sighed.
Throughout the journey, Zhang Sheng took great care of Jiang Wan Ning.
Upon arriving at the Zhang residence, someone suggested, "Miss, why don't you rest here for a while? I'll send someone to invite that person over."
"Oh, don't worry, young lady. There are no other people in my Fu family besides servants, and I, Zhang, will not speak carelessly."
"It won't harm the girl's reputation."
Jiang Wan Ning pretended to be embarrassed and hesitant, and waited until Zhang Sheng had finished speaking before saying, "Then I'll take my leave."
Zhang Sheng happily invited the person inside.
Jiang Wan Ning looked around and gave Shao Yao a look.
Peony pretended to have a stomachache and left.
Zhang Sheng, having been drinking, was not very wary of the woman who came to his rescue.
At that moment, I didn't think much about it.
After leading Jiang Wanning into the front hall, he said, "Please have a seat, Miss. I will go and instruct someone to invite the person you are looking for."
Jiang Wan Ning nodded slightly.
Zhang Sheng walked out of the front hall, waved his hand and whispered in someone's ear, "The usual."
The servant immediately nodded and withdrew.
Zhang Sheng, with his back to Jiang Wan Ning, curled up a triumphant smile.
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