The restaurants in Kyoto are truly magnificent and luxurious. Take the dishes, for example; they are perfect in color, aroma, and taste, something that most chefs can't do.
Tao Wanniang silently observed her surroundings, and had some plans in mind. When they finished eating and paid the bill, it was eight taels of silver for six dishes and a soup! But thinking about it, it wasn't unacceptable.
The restaurant boasts an elegant ambiance. Inside, there are flying bridges and railings, seamlessly connecting light and shadow, with beaded curtains and embroidered lintels, and flickering candlelight. The waiters are incredibly attentive; as soon as they enter, they greet them with smiles, offer tea, and present the menu. Even the tableware isn't ceramic; it's all silver. Not to mention the musical performances.
After leaving the restaurant, Tao Wanniang was still deep in thought. She wanted to open a restaurant, but besides relying on the prestige of Prince Rui's mansion, how else could she attract customers?
"Qiao'er!" A sudden shout startled Tao Wanniang. When she looked up, she saw Liang Laifu walking over from the restaurant across the street.
Xiao Qiao'er was startled and quickly hid behind Tao Wan's mother.
Judging from his appearance, Liang Laifu was also out for a meal. He quickly walked up to Tao Wanniang and the others, and asked Xiao Qiao'er with concern, "Qiao'er, how have you been lately?"
"I'm fine." Xiao Qiao'er was gently tugged by Tao Wan's mother, and only after meeting Tao Wan's mother's encouraging gaze did she muster the courage to reply.
"Manager Tao, I deeply regret that your little restaurant is gone. But since you've lost your livelihood, could you let Qiao'er come back to me?" Liang Laifu's face was slightly flushed, indicating that he had been drinking.
Tao Wanniang thought Liang Laifu must be stupid.
“Liang Laifu, haven’t you learned your lesson yet?” Tao Wanniang retorted. “My restaurant may be gone, but what does that have to do with you?”
"Didn't the Kyoto Prefectural Jail make you realize your own shortcomings?"
Liang Laifu was taken aback. He had been drinking and his mind was a little foggy. He had been a yamen runner before, so how could he not know the ins and outs of this?
A small restaurant caught fire, and not only did the Prefect of the Capital personally intervene, but he also allowed Tao Wanniang free access to the prison.
“Even if you have someone backing you, Qiao’er is my biological daughter. You can’t force her to disown me.” Liang Laifu was unwilling to give up on little Qiao’er, let alone now that she looked so fair-skinned and pretty.
"Qiao'er, your brother is in the carriage. Even if you don't go back with your father, you can still see your brother. He shares the same blood as you."
Xiao Qiao couldn't help but frown. She was eleven years old, not a three-year-old.
“My name is Tao Linglong, and I am no longer your daughter.”
"That's your younger brother!" Liang Laifu emphasized the word "younger brother," as he represented the Liang family's lineage. It would be best if Xiao Qiao'er came home; even if she couldn't, knowing she had a younger brother meant that if she became successful in the future, he could surely take care of her.
"Can't you understand? If you don't leave, don't blame me for being impolite!" Zhang Liang stepped forward and shouted at Liang Laifu when Tao Wanniang gestured for him to leave.
"And who are you? Oh, I know, you're Tao's kept man, aren't you!" Liang Laifu said flippantly after sizing up Zhang Liang.
"Bullshit!" Zhang Liang's face darkened, and he threw a punch at Liang Laifu.
Liang Laifu, who had also learned kung fu from a martial arts master, immediately began fighting with Zhang Liang.
"Mother!" Little Qiao'er said nervously, "It's all my fault."
"It's not your fault. He had a few drinks and got carried away, so he didn't think straight," Tao Wanniang said coldly. This Liang Laifu wasn't a good person, but it seemed he was quite lucky.
Zhang Xinlan, her child, and her nanny were all in the carriage. When they heard the fighting outside, Zhang Xinlan only glanced at them and then ignored them.
"Miss, the young master is fighting with someone," Aunt Qiao reminded her.
"Let's fight then. If we win, great. But if we lose, I don't want to admit it," Zhang Xinlan said quietly.
Liang Laifu and Zhang Liang weren't particularly skilled in martial arts, but they were still much better than the average person, and the two were evenly matched. The sounds of their fight naturally attracted the attention of passersby.
The onlookers, always eager for a good show, even started cheering.
"Young Master, those seem to be people from Sister Tao's family." Cheng Feng, who was driving by, stopped and said to Xiao Yi in the carriage.
Xiao Yi then opened the carriage curtain and saw Tao Wanniang and the others by the roadside.
"Cheng Feng, go help someone," Xiao Yi instructed. Naturally, the person he was helping was Tao Wanniang.
Once Cheng Feng joined in, Liang Laifu had no chance to fight back and was knocked to the ground in no time.
"Tao Wanniang, you whore, how many men have you seduced? You're just a country bumpkin, where did you get the money to buy a house and open a restaurant? You..." Liang Laifu, who had been knocked to the ground by Cheng Feng, was acting like a drunkard, randomly accusing and biting people.
But as soon as he uttered his first words, Tao Wanniang stepped forward and slapped him across the face.
"Liang Laifu, I'll give you some face in front of Xiao Qiao'er. I'm just a country woman, I don't have any power, I can't compare to you. If you spread rumors about me again, I'll tear your mouth off!"
Tao Wanniang was filled with anger; a despicable person sees everything as despicable.
"Sister Tao, don't bother with this kind of person," Cheng Feng said. "You all go back first, I'll take care of things here."
"Thank you!" Tao Wanniang resolutely turned around, pulled Xiao Qiao'er up, and called Bai Yumei to go with Chen Liansheng.
On the way back, Tao Wanniang's expression was not good. Xiao Qiao'er tugged at Tao Wanniang's sleeve and asked cautiously, "Mother, don't be angry. If you have to blame someone, blame me. Getting angry is bad for your health."
"I don't blame you, Qiao'er. You don't need to take the blame for other people's mistakes," Tao Wan's mother comforted her. "But Liang Laifu really makes me angry. Originally, we should keep to ourselves and not bother with each other, but Qiao'er, what do you think I should do?"
Xiao Qiao'er bit her lip, paused for a moment, and finally lowered her head and said, "You are the only mother I have."
Bai Yumei, who was standing nearby, told Chen Liansheng about Xiao Qiao'er's relationship with Liang Laifu and comforted Tao Wanniang, saying, "Elder sister, no one will believe him if he's just spreading rumors."
"Why would I be angry about such baseless accusations?" Tao Wanniang scoffed. "I just think Liang Laifu is stupid and greedy, and I really want to..." kill him!
Tao Wanniang still didn't say the last three words in front of Xiao Qiao'er.
With such a father, Xiao Qiao'er is quite innocent.
"Qiao'er, I'm still angry. Next time I want to deal with Liang Laifu, I'll do it when you're not around," Tao Wan's mother said truthfully. "As long as he doesn't cause trouble in front of me again, I'll leave him alone for now."
"Mother!" Xiao Qiao'er frowned, unable to say anything else. Even if that person wasn't who she was, she could deny it, but she couldn't erase the fact!
On the way home, the group was somewhat silent. When they arrived at the door, Tao Wan's mother met her sons, who had already finished eating and came out from the Wang family next door.
"Mother, we've been waiting for you to come back for so long!" Ling Dahu said softly.
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