Chapter 34: Fawning Over the Powerful and Trampling the Weak

The private rooms at the Immortal Guest House, while providing individual spaces, were not partitioned by solid wood walls or doors; instead, they were separated only by crystal bead curtains. Although these provided a degree of privacy, they could not completely block the view of what was happening inside or outside. At a glance, the dozens of private booths were mostly empty, with only a few occupied.

Regarding Baihe's accusations, the head stewardess offered no explanation. Instead, the corners of her lips curled into a deep, mocking sneer that stung Zhao Erdong’s eyes.

Zhao Erdong did not like to look for trouble, but she would never shy away from those who openly provoked her. "I’ve decided to dine at the Immortal Guest House today. What are you going to do about it?"

Zhao Erdong turned and strode toward a private booth, pushing aside the bead curtain and walking in. In the center of the room sat a carved rosewood eight-immortal table, exuding an air of luxury. The floor was covered with a soft, crimson carpet. In the corner stood a zither and a matching carved rosewood desk, complete with the four treasures of the study, which emitted a faint scent of ink. Several pieces of calligraphy and painting hung on the walls, adding a touch of scholarly elegance to the chamber.

"This will do. Bring out your best dishes!" Zhao Erdong sat down nonchalantly and commanded the head stewardess who had followed her in.

The professional, formulaic smile on the stewardess’s face could no longer be maintained. "Young lady, the rule at the Immortal Guest House is a minimum spend of one hundred gold pieces. I hope you have no objections."

One hundred gold pieces—a sum that could support an ordinary family for three years. She was certain they couldn't afford it. Looking at their shabby appearance, she doubted they could produce even ten gold pieces, let alone one hundred. A dark, gloating smile flashed across the stewardess’s beautiful face. In truth, the cost of a meal at the Immortal Guest House was at most fifty gold pieces; there was no such thing as a one-hundred-gold minimum. "Furthermore, the Immortal Guest House has many resident masters, all of whom are highly skilled. If you are thinking of dining and dashing, you had better think twice!"

The stewardess spoke in a snide, insinuating tone, but Zhao Erdong didn't even glance at her. She simply said flatly, "Are you finished? If you are, please bring the food."

The stewardess’s beautiful eyes widened. Was this girl deaf? Was she playing the lute to a cow?

"What? Am I not a customer your establishment serves? Or does your shop have a rule that one must pay before eating?" Seeing the stewardess standing rooted to the spot, apparently with no intention of serving a guest she deemed so pitifully poor, Zhao Erdong’s voice, while not loud, was full of vigor. It carried clearly out of the booth, echoing through the narrow, empty corridor of the building.

This was clearly an act of defiance. The stewardess’s eyes blazed with anger. The people who frequented the Immortal Guest House were not to be trifled with, and certainly not the type a mere stewardess like herself could afford to offend. Usually, she had to smile and flatter every guest, suppressing any annoyance she might feel. But now, a lowly, insolent girl dared to challenge her to her face. How could she swallow this insult? All the resentment she had suppressed in her heart surged up at once, ready to boil over.

"What is all this noise? If you disturb the guests, who will be held responsible?" A middle-aged man in a navy-blue gown strode into the booth. He was clean-shaven with a fair complexion, his eyes narrow and cold, his lips pressed into a thin, stern line.

The moment the stewardess saw the man, her anger dissipated slightly. She gazed at him with liquid, almond-shaped eyes and said coquettishly, "The Head Manager is here."

The Head Manager glanced at her. He had intended to reprimand her, but when he met her amorous gaze, the words died in his throat.

"What happened?" The Head Manager intentionally looked elsewhere, his voice softening significantly compared to when he first entered.

Zhao Erdong snorted, silently cursing them as another pair of sordid, illicit lovers. Dammit, she thought, it really shouldn't be this much trouble just to eat a meal.