Chapter 424: Spare Her for a Few Days

Chapter 424: Chapter 424: Spare Her for a Few Days

Lately, Di Rong had rarely gone out to cause trouble. It wasn’t because he had turned over a new leaf, but mainly because he couldn’t stand the god-awful weather here.

On top of that, Yeyang was such a poor county town that there was nothing to catch his eye. Once the initial novelty wore off, all that remained was utter disdain, and his only thought was of returning to the capital.

After Di Yue left, no more letters came from the capital, let alone anyone sent to retrieve him. It was almost December, and seeing that he would really have to spend the New Year in the Northern Pass, he was starting to feel truly anxious.

He went to throw tantrums before his two maternal grandfathers, but all he got in return were perfunctory replies, or else they would put on a stern face and threaten to send him south.

But Di Rong was hardly one to listen obediently. Sure enough, he had tried to sneak away with his attendant two days ago, but someone must have snitched, because he was caught less than an hour after leaving the city.

Upon his return, he was forced to kneel in the courtyard for half a day and ended up in confinement.

Seeing him sullen and unhappy, Santai went out to the streets to find some delicious food and fun trinkets to bring back, presenting them like treasures and trying every trick he knew to cheer him up.

But Di Rong had grown up coddled and pampered; what delicacy had he not eaten? What amusement had he not enjoyed? So Santai’s attempts to curry favor often ended with him getting kicked instead.

Today, however, was an exception.

Di Rong, covered in sweat, finished gnawing on the duck neck in his hand and looked up to ask, "Where did you buy this? Is there any more?"

Santai dodged the question of where he’d bought it and chuckled. "As long as you like it, Young Master."

Fortunately, Di Rong’s focus wasn’t on that anyway. He ordered, "Go buy a few more for me."

Santai faltered.

"Young Master, it’s not good to eat too much spicy food. Look, your lips are all red. Your stomach will start hurting again."

"Just one is too much? When I tell you to go, you go! Stop all this nonsense!"

Di Rong had a picky palate; he wouldn’t even touch the food from Liuxian Building or Quanju Xuan. Now that he had finally found something he liked, he wouldn’t stop until he’d had his fill.

Usually, whenever he took a fancy to something, Santai would have already scampered off to buy it. Why was he hesitating this time...

Di Rong stared at Santai, sizing him up. "Are you hiding something from me?"

"I... I wouldn’t dare hide anything from you, Young Master."

"I doubt you have the guts anyway. Now hurry up and go!"

Seeing that he couldn’t stall any longer, Santai had no choice but to tell the truth.

"Young Master, that shop sold out. They won’t have more until tomorrow. Can you eat it tomorrow instead? I’ll go first thing in the morning and buy lots and lots..."

Unable to get the food he craved, Di Rong instantly grew irritable.

"What time is it for them to be sold out already? What kind of business are they running? They might as well just shut down!"

But he smacked his lips, a faint aftertaste still lingering in his mouth...

’No, if they’re going to shut down, they have to wait until I’ve had my fill.’

"Go. Give them more Silver. If ten taels isn’t enough, give them twenty. If twenty taels isn’t enough, give them one hundred taels! Tell them to make it for me right now!"

Santai wore a pained expression.

If it were anyone else, that tactic might have worked. But Santai had personally witnessed and even experienced how formidable Ji Huan could be; he didn’t think she would be one to bow before Silver.

It had to be said, he was truly overthinking it.

To Ji Huan, all were equal before Silver. For one hundred taels, forget a few duck necks—she would have given him the whole pot.

"Young Master... why don’t we just eat tomorrow..."

Seeing him stall and refuse, his eyes darting away and his words faltering, Di Rong lost his patience and kicked him.

"You idiot! You’re definitely hiding something from me! I command you to speak! If you don’t, believe it or not, I’ll sell you to that brokerage we went to last time!"

"No, Young Master!" Santai dropped to his knees with a THUD. "I’ll talk, I’ll talk... The one who sells these duck necks is none other than... that... the female owner of Ji’s Flavor Industry..."

Di Rong’s expression changed on the spot. He grabbed the horsewhip from the table and lashed out at him.

"How dare you feed me something made by that crazy woman! Is food made by a crazy woman even edible? Aren’t you afraid she’ll poison me?!"

Santai scrambled away, covering his head as he was whipped, wailing as he dodged, "How could she, Young Master? So many people buy from her. There’s no way she’d use poison."

After venting his anger, Di Rong finally calmed down a bit.

He tossed the horsewhip aside and sat down, but he still felt indignant.

"Wasn’t her business doing poorly, on the verge of bankruptcy? Or did it already go bankrupt, and now she’s selling food instead?"

"Her business is booming now. She sells both seasonings and braised snacks, and there’s a long line at her door every day..."

Santai stopped mid-sentence, catching sight of Di Rong’s increasingly ugly expression, and quickly covered his mouth.

’Young Master doesn’t get along with that female owner. Now that he knows her business hasn’t failed but is actually doing better and better, he’s not going to go and wreck her shop again, is he?’

As expected, Di Rong slammed the table and stood up, about to head out.

Santai hurriedly grabbed his leg to stop him. "Young Master, you’re in confinement right now! You can’t go out!"

Di Rong, also fearing his confinement would be extended, reluctantly stopped.

’But there’s no way I’m letting Ji Huan off this easily.’

"Then you go! Gather some men and smash her place to bits for me!"

"Me?" Santai whined endlessly. "Young Master, how could I possibly do something like that!"

"If you can’t do it, then get lost! Get as far away from me as you can! I don’t need a useless piece of trash like you!"

Santai broke out in an anxious sweat, then suddenly remembered what happened last time.

"Have you forgotten, Young Master? She’d love for you to smash her shop! Didn’t the female owner say last time that the moment you smash it, she’ll bring her ledger to the Wan Mansion to demand payment, and ask for triple compensation? Do you think you’ll get off easy then?"

The thought of this made Di Rong even more furious.

"Are you a pig? Can’t you use your brain? Hire a few thugs and ruffians off the street, have them smash the place as soon as they enter, and leave right after. Don’t give any names. Who’s she going to demand payment from then? Even if she comes to the Wan Mansion, we can just deny everything. What can she do to me then?"

This was actually an idea Ma Chao had given him after the last setback. At the time, he figured the shabby shop would close down sooner or later, so he hadn’t paid it any mind. Now, it was perfect.

"But... but..."

Santai wracked his brains, trying to figure out how to make his young master change his mind. Glancing at the chewed-up duck bones on the table, he had a rare moment of inspiration.

"Young Master, if you want it smashed, Santai will go find people to smash it. But you should think it through. Once it’s smashed, you’ll never be able to eat these delicious duck necks again. And she sells more than just duck necks—there are also braised eggs, braised tofu, braised duck intestines, braised pork rind, and lots, lots more... You have no idea how popular those things are. The customers scramble for them like they’re crazy. I was originally planning to buy one of each for you to try, but since you don’t like it..."

Santai heaved a heavy sigh and made a show of getting up to leave.

"Wait!"

Di Rong hesitated, then called him back.

"Are there really that many?"

Santai nodded emphatically.

Di Rong smacked his lips. ’So many things, and I’ve only tried the duck neck. It feels like a bit of a waste.’

’Fine. I’ll let her be for a few days. It won’t be too late to smash her shop after I’ve tried everything and gotten tired of it.’

"Go and buy more tomorrow morning. I want ten duck necks, and I want the other things too..." After giving his orders, Di Rong added with emphasis, "Don’t let that crazy woman recognize you!"

’If that crazy woman found out I like her food, wouldn’t she laugh me to death?’

Santai nodded joyfully. "Yes, sir!"

"Boss, look at that man..."

During the morning rush, Xu Laifu nudged Ji Huan, gesturing for her to look at the person dressed as a servant squeezed in the middle of the crowd.

"He’s just buying something. Why does he look like he’s about to rob the place..."

Covering his mouth and nose, looking left and right, his behavior was indeed rather suspicious.

Santai had actually arrived first thing in the morning, afraid that if he were a step too late, he wouldn’t be able to get anything again.

But he had come too early, and the shop hadn’t started serving customers yet. Even though he could see the braising pot steaming, he didn’t dare approach. He waited until a crowd had gradually formed before blending in with the throng.

Talk about a guilty conscience. Afraid that Ji Huan and the others would recognize him, he had bundled himself up tightly. But because he was bundled up so tightly, he had become the center of attention in the crowd.

He was still unaware of this and, out of extreme nervousness, kept glancing toward Ji Huan.

As he was looking, he was caught off guard when his gaze met Ji Huan’s.

The fright sent a jolt through him. He immediately turned his back and squeezed his way forcefully toward the other end of the crowd.

Ji Huan only needed a single glance to recognize who he was.

"Have you forgotten? He’s the personal attendant of that naughty boy."