Free Web NovelChapter 312: Chapter 312: Can’t Make Them Lose Face
The "pigeon coop" building where Xiang lived was essentially in Xiangcheng’s slums. The area was densely populated, a chaotic mix of all sorts of people, making it one of the most disorderly places in Xiangcheng.
The noodle shop Su Qing went to had been operating in this area for many years and was a well-known local establishment. Su Qing had originally intended to find a noodle shop on the commercial street, but she was drawn over by the restaurant’s fragrant aroma halfway there.
"Oh, my. Young lady, you’re not from Xiangcheng, are you?" The noodle shop’s owner heard what Su Qing said and looked her over with some surprise.
In her past life, Su Qing could speak the Xiangcheng dialect. That’s why, when she was looking for Xiang earlier, she had used it, causing him to mistake her for a cop. Since she wasn’t speaking it now, the owner was a bit surprised. Her customers were always Xiangcheng locals; she’d never had an outsider visit her noodle shop before.
Su Qing smiled faintly and said, "No, I’m just here in Xiangcheng for a visit."
"By yourself?" the owner, hearing this, quickly lowered her voice to ask.
"That’s right." Su Qing nodded, putting on an air of innocence.
Hearing Su Qing’s confirmation, the owner’s heart skipped a beat. Having been in this place for so long, she knew the situation well. For this young girl to come to Xiangcheng alone, and to a chaotic place like this, was like walking straight into a trap. She secretly glanced around and, sure enough, saw several men narrowing their eyes as they stared at Su Qing.
’This is bad,’ the owner thought. She quickly whispered to Su Qing, "Young lady, once you finish eating, leave this place right away. This isn’t a good place to hang around. Next time you go out, make sure you have someone with you, understand?"
Before Su Qing could speak, a man came forward and yanked the owner away. "Hey, Proprietress, what are you muttering to the young lady about?"
When the owner saw who it was, her expression changed slightly. She quickly forced a smile. "Brother Hu, I wasn’t saying anything. Just asking the young lady what kind of noodles she wants."
"That’s right, Ma’am was just asking what kind of noodles I wanted." Su Qing quickly came to the owner’s defense. The owner had kindly warned her, and she appreciated the gesture. She then smiled at the owner and said, "Ma’am, I’ll just have a bowl of your signature noodles, please. And could you add a side of braised beef and honey-glazed char siu? Thank you."
"Ah, right away." The owner glanced at Su Qing with worry, but she didn’t dare provoke this Brother Hu. He was the local tyrant, and a vicious one at that. Which of the merchants in this area would dare to cross him?
’Sigh... This little girl can only hope for the best now.’
Brother Hu glanced at the owner as she went to the back kitchen, then turned his grinning face to Su Qing. "So, little lady, you came to Xiangcheng all by yourself?"
Su Qing pursed her lips. "Why are you asking?"
"Haha, if you’re alone, your big brother here can protect you," Brother Hu said with a chuckle. He then turned to his men. "What do you guys say, huh?"
"Yeah!" Brother Hu’s lackeys snickered. They had locked their eyes on Su Qing the moment she walked in. She was just too beautiful; they’d never seen a girl this good-looking before. It was a shame Brother Hu had claimed her, so all they could do was feast their eyes.
"See? My brothers all agree. Little lady, the minority yields to the majority, understand?" Brother Hu raised an eyebrow, staring intently at Su Qing’s face. The more he looked, the more his heart itched with desire, wishing he could take her home right then and there.
Su Qing’s voice was calm. "I’m still hungry. I want to eat."
"Alright, alright. Eat first, eat first." Brother Hu snickered. ’She’ll need her strength for what comes later.’
So, Brother Hu shouted toward the back kitchen, "Proprietress! Add an order of roast goose and an order of curry fish balls! Put everything the little lady ordered on my tab, too."
The proprietress answered from the kitchen, her heart growing even more worried for Su Qing.
Su Qing, however, was unconcerned. If someone insisted on treating her, she wasn’t one to refuse the gesture.
Soon, the proprietress brought over the noodles and the side dishes. She gave Su Qing a worried glance, signaling for her to find a chance to leave. Su Qing just smiled back at the proprietress and calmly began to eat.
Seeing this, the proprietress assumed Su Qing was too intimidated by Brother Hu’s menacing presence to make a move. She sighed with regret. ’What a pity for such a beautiful young girl.’
Su Qing didn’t bother trying to read the proprietress’s regretful thoughts. Her attention was completely focused on the food in front of her. She had to admit, there was a reason this noodle shop had been in business for so long—the noodles and side dishes were absolutely delicious.
Su Qing always had a healthy appetite. She single-handedly finished most of the one bowl of noodles and four side dishes, causing Brother Hu’s eyes to go wide.
’Damn, can she really eat that much?’
He hadn’t even taken a single bite.
Full and satisfied, Su Qing wiped her mouth with a napkin, stood up, and prepared to leave the noodle shop.
"Hey, little girl! You’re just gonna eat and run?" Brother Hu stepped forward, frowning.
Su Qing looked perfectly innocent. "I’m done eating, so I’m leaving. What, am I supposed to move into the noodle shop?"
"Heh, right, you can’t live in the noodle shop." After hearing Su Qing’s words, Brother Hu laughed heartily, ordered a lackey to pay the bill, and then said to her, "Come on, let’s go home together."
As he spoke, Brother Hu’s gaze was filled with unconcealed menace.
Su Qing pouted. "Alright, I know I can’t escape with so many of you here today. But you have to at least tell me where you’re taking me."
"Hehe, you’ll know when we get there," Brother Hu said with a chuckle. "Don’t worry, it’s definitely not a cramped place like this. A little beauty like you deserves a nice house, hahahahaha."
Brother Hu waved his hand, and several of his lackeys closed in, making it clear they would drag Su Qing away if she refused.
Su Qing pressed her lips together, putting on a reluctant expression as she followed Brother Hu and his men out. The proprietress watched Su Qing’s departing back and couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh.
"Proprietress, what are you sighing for? Hurry up, get me a bowl of your signature noodles, a side of soy-braised beef, and a side of char siu."
Xiang walked into the noodle shop with his packed backpack slung over his shoulder. He had a bit of money on him now, and he hadn’t eaten this shop’s char siu in days. Since he had to skip town, he was determined to have one last good meal before he left.
"Sigh, it was a young girl. Brother Hu took her away." Seeing it was Xiang, the proprietress quickly replied. Although Xiang was a gangster, he still had a sense of honor. When he collected protection money, if the shopkeepers were short on cash, he wouldn’t force them. Sometimes, if you pleaded with him, he might even waive the fee for a month. Because of this, the proprietress wasn’t particularly afraid of Xiang.
"Who was it? Talk about unlucky," Xiang asked casually.
"A really beautiful young girl. You have no idea, I’ve never seen a girl that pretty before. Oh, what a shame. I could tell she didn’t want to go. Sigh, but what could one little girl do against all those men? I couldn’t help either."
The proprietress truly felt it was a great pity.
Xiang froze for a moment when he heard this, and a thought flashed through his mind. ’A really beautiful young girl? It couldn’t be that female demon, could it?’
’No way. Impossible. She was so ferocious when she beat me up earlier, how could she possibly be afraid of Brother Hu? Impossible. No way.’
