Chapter 1393: Chapter 1388: Making Mu Dade a Public Laughingstock
Mu Dade’s last sentence actually followed Mu Shuangshuang’s plan.
She really wanted Mu Dade to bleed a little.
If she didn’t rip him off this time, it’d be a disservice to Taohua.
"Well... alright then!" Mu Shuangshuang nodded.
Mu Dade called for the shopkeeper, who, following Mu Shuangshuang’s previous instructions, didn’t even glance at her, completely acting like a stranger.
He directly started chatting with Mu Dade.
"What do you need?" The shopkeeper was quite polite.
It was this politeness that made Mu Dade increasingly lose direction.
"One roast chicken!"
"Could it be two?" Mu Shuangshuang added.
"Then I’ll give you two roast chickens!" The shopkeeper said to Mu Dade.
"Give... two?"
Mu Dade was a bit confused; was the shopkeeper being too agreeable?
Offering two roast chickens right off the bat. Or is it his status making them wary, trying to win him over?
Thinking of this, Mu Dade felt a bit smug.
He generously said to Mu Shuangshuang, "Shuangshuang, didn’t you just say you wanted to eat something else? Since your uncle and the shopkeeper get along well, let’s consider it as helping his business. Just order whatever you want!"
Upon hearing this, Mu Shuangshuang didn’t hold back, "Do you have Braised Lion’s Head? Roast Goose? Duck Web? Abalone?"
For each dish Mu Shuangshuang mentioned, Mu Dade would add from the side, "Shopkeeper, order as my niece says!"
"Alright!"
After a round of ordering, Mu Shuangshuang roughly calculated; she had ordered eight dishes, each substantial.
Mu Dade wouldn’t leave Jiu Si Xuan smoothly today.
The kitchen started preparing the dishes Mu Shuangshuang needed, because they were all packed to go, Jiu Si Xuan also provided food boxes.
After a short while, the attendants came out carrying four food boxes.
Two boxes contained roast chickens, the other two had those eight grand dishes.
Mu Dade happily took two of the boxes.
Mu Shuangshuang took two as well.
Her boxes weren’t heavy, they should be the roast chickens.
Mu Dade was ready to leave carrying the boxes. As he turned around, he was stopped by the shopkeeper.
"Sir, you haven’t paid yet!"
"Pay? Pay for what?" Mu Dade looked puzzled.
"For these dishes!" The shopkeeper pointed to the two boxes Mu Dade was holding.
"Weren’t they given to me?" Mu Dade asked.
"Sir, you must be mistaken. The two roast chickens are complimentary; the other dishes require payment!"
"What? Pay... pay money?" Mu Dade doubted his ears.
It clearly wasn’t like this before.
He even turned his eyes to Mu Shuangshuang, "Shuangshuang, do you remember what the shopkeeper said? Didn’t he say he would give these dishes to us?"
Mu Shuangshuang shook her head, "The shopkeeper said, ’two roast chickens are given!’ I suppose other dishes mean needing money!"
"But..." Mu Dade was still reluctant.
The dishes Mu Shuangshuang ordered were all Jiu Si Xuan’s signature dishes; some weren’t even available usually.
If he really paid for them, it might cost several taels of silver!
Mu Dade was unwilling.
But his unwillingness didn’t mean he wouldn’t have to pay.
"Uncle, didn’t you just say the shopkeeper would introduce us to some dishes and you’d pay?" Mu Shuangshuang leisurely said.
"I..." Mu Dade was flustered.
Moreover, he noticed that quite a few people in the restaurant were already watching him.
The diners at Jiu Si Xuan were either rich or noble; if someone recognized him and spread the news, what would happen to his reputation?
With things this far, Mu Dade could only grittingly swallow the bitter pill.
"Alright, I’ll... I’ll pay!"
Mu Dade almost restrained his emotions in his speech.
He widened his eyes, looking at the shopkeeper.
Then heard the shopkeeper cheerfully say, "The total is 15 taels and 9 qian silver; sir, being an old customer, we’ll waive the 3 qian silver for you! So, you’ll just pay us 15 taels and 5 qian silver!"
"What? 15 taels and 5 qian?"
Mu Dade exclaimed.
Fifteen taels of silver could support Old Mu Family for three to five years.
Did he eat that much in one meal?
How’s that possible?
"Indeed, just that abalone alone is worth 3 taels of silver, and the duck web! The ducks are raised by us, and only the web part is used for each duck.
This dish of duck web took over ten ducks to prepare; sir, do you still feel that 15 taels and 5 qian is excessive?"
The shopkeeper remained respectful.
Precisely because of this, Mu Dade couldn’t utter a word of rebuttal.
But the biggest problem was.
He didn’t have that much silver.
Struggling a bit, Mu Dade looked at Mu Shuangshuang, "Shuangshuang, did you bring any silver?"
Mu Shuangshuang shook her head, "No!"
Mu Dade was instantly desperate; without silver, how could he resolve this matter?
Could it be that he’d have to take everyone home to fetch it?
If they saw his home, resembling a pigsty, and reported it, what would happen?
Inside Mu Dade’s mind, his thoughts were in turmoil.
And then this, just as Mu Shuangshuang said, "Although I didn’t bring silver, I did bring a silver note worth a hundred taels!"
"Really? Let me see!" Mu Dade regained hope.
If Mu Shuangshuang had a silver note, he wouldn’t be embarrassed.
Mu Shuangshuang took out the silver note, waved it briefly in front of Mu Dade, then quickly put it away.
"Uncle, wouldn’t you... want my silver note? That’s not possible, as you yourself said you’d pay for the dishes!"
Mu Shuangshuang’s guarded demeanor made Mu Dade’s head spin.
Patiently, he explained to Mu Shuangshuang, "Shuangshuang, it’s like this, uncle didn’t know this trip required bringing that much money, so I’m short; loan it to me, and I’ll return it when we get home, alright?"
"No, how do I know you’re telling the truth?" Mu Shuangshuang asked.
"Last time, my aunt tricked my dad into signing a deed, almost selling me; who’s to say whether this is another trick?"
Right in front of the Jiu Si Xuan shopkeeper, Mu Shuangshuang told the story of her nearly being sold off.
Frightening Mu Dade was nearly scared out of his wits.
"Shuangshuang, please don’t speak anymore, past affairs are best left in the past!"
For Mu Dade, his past was something he didn’t want others to know, even the unrelated shopkeeper couldn’t hear!
"Uncle, it doesn’t work like that, I can’t let it go, I don’t want to lend the money!" Mu Shuangshuang shook her head.
"You..."
Mu Dade felt like he could kill Mu Shuangshuang.
But there was no choice, he had to rely on her now.
"Shuangshuang, it’s uncle’s fault from before, uncle apologizes sincerely to you; uncle was wrong, is that acceptable?
You just need to lend the silver note to me for a while, and I’ll return it when we get back, otherwise, neither of us will be able to leave!"
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