Chapter 387: Chapter 384: Don’t Covet Your Friend’s Wife
Zhang Hao firmly protected He Qianhui behind him, forming a barrier that seemed impenetrable.
He Qianhui also cautiously watched the man, whispering to Zhang Hao not to engage too much with him.
"Seize an opportunity to get the hell out of here; once we’re in a crowded place, I believe he won’t dare to hassle us anymore."
Zhang Hao naturally understood this logic, and the two fled before the man could truly lose his temper.
Several friends were puzzled, wondering why their trip to the bathroom took so long.
Seeing the two return, they couldn’t help but ask, "What were you doing, you two didn’t fall in there, did you?"
"I was about to ask the boss for a spoon to fish you guys out."
"Cut it out, we ran into a drunkard. Luckily, I was quick, and took my chance to run out. Who knows what surprises might have awaited me otherwise."
"Damn, there are such things happening? That drunkard probably doesn’t know what we’re capable of."
Whether he knew their capability or not, Zhang Hao couldn’t decide at that moment.
"Alright, let’s drop it and eat."
The skills of the barbecue chef were indeed remarkable, and with each skewer, the taste got better.
Just as Zhang Hao was about to savor a couple more skewers, suddenly someone patted his shoulder.
Turning around, he saw that the man was the drunkard from earlier.
But now, it seemed he wasn’t drunk.
"May I help you?" Zhang Hao responded very politely.
"Can’t I come over if there’s nothing wrong? We were having a nice chat over there. Why did you run away?"
Zhang Hao arched an eyebrow, appearing nonchalant, "Our dishes were served, weren’t we supposed to eat them before they get cold?"
Zhang Hao’s remark left the man at a loss for words momentarily.
Seeing this, the other friends also became wary.
"Man, we came here to eat, we didn’t provoke you, did we? Don’t tell me we have to pay a protection fee just to have a meal."
"This is a society ruled by law now, forming cliques and settling disputes like gangsters, all that is stuff from the movies."
Zhang Hao’s friend deliberately made the situation sound severe.
To make the drunkard realize he was doing something quite risky.
"What protection fee? I just want to make friends with this little brother here. May I have the honor?"
Zhang Hao stood up, and the man was probably over one meter ninety.
Indeed taller and more robust than Zhang Hao.
"I don’t make friends casually. We’re all men here. You followed me from that place to here."
"Saying again and again that you want to befriend me, I can probably guess your purpose."
"As the saying goes, ’don’t covet a friend’s wife.’ I definitely won’t let someone as dangerous as you remain in my circle of friends."
The female boss, seeing something was going on, immediately came over with some people.
"What’s going on here? Everyone here is my guest today. Could you please give me some face, clear up any misunderstandings if there are any, and if not, please return to your tables."
Seeing that the boss wasn’t a pushover, and knowing that this situation wasn’t started by Zhang Hao’s side,
it was all intentionally stirred up by that drunkard.
Today’s holiday had already been rough enough,
and now, to encounter such bottom-rung hooligans while having dinner,
did they think that by being big and tall, and staring with bulging eyes, that others would be scared of them?
Although the two sentences from the boss seemed to have no power, the man looked as if he had been frightened.
He backed away repeatedly, and it seemed as if his drunkenness sobered up in that instant.
"Boss lady, I didn’t do anything, I’m heading back now. I’m sorry, little brother, I had too much to drink earlier and I apologize to you here."
This apology was somewhat insincere, but it was meant to defuse the situation, to prevent the conflict from escalating.
Zhang Hao grudgingly accepted it.
Watching the drunkard walk away so easily, Zhang Hao still harbored some resentment.
Fortunately, the barbecue stall’s boss lady knew that the drunkard was deliberately causing trouble.
"Everyone, I’m apologizing on behalf of that person. He’s a distant relative of mine, a cousin who came here looking for a job these past days."
"But as you all saw, with his fierce appearance, he hasn’t been able to find suitable work, so he drank his sorrows here today."
"I’m sorry for any inconvenience caused just now, I’ll take responsibility. How about I give you all a 50 percent discount on your meal today?"
Originally, this incident had nothing to do directly with the owner of the food stall.
But since she had already offered, Zhang Hao and the others naturally didn’t pursue the matter further.
It was He Qianhui who couldn’t help but complain.
"How can someone who can’t even control his own emotions accomplish anything?"
"Instead of you apologizing for him here, it would be better for him to work on his temper."
"Today it’s just us, who are not seeking retribution and are good-tempered, but if it were someone else, I don’t think they would let it go so easily."
The stall owner understood this too.
She also knew that verbal apologies and offering discounts weren’t enough to cool the mood or make them happy.
So she gritted her teeth and said, "Today’s meal is on me, and from now on, whenever you folks come to eat, I’ll give you a 20 percent discount. How about I make friends with you all?"
It was clear that the boss lady was a straightforward person.
Zhang Hao also didn’t want to trouble the boss lady over such a trivial matter,
"We accept your apology, but we’d like to offer you a suggestion as well regarding such distant relatives."
"If they stick around you for too long, they’re bound to cause trouble. If it doesn’t work out, it might be best for him to go back where he came from."
The stall owner seemed to share this sentiment, but there was still the matter of their familial relationship.
There was inevitably some face to be saved.
"I’ll consider what happened today. I won’t disturb you during your meal any longer. I hope you enjoy your dining."
With that, the unexpected conflict was resolved, and the group didn’t take it to heart.
After a full meal, they all went their separate ways home.
As soon as he got home, Zhang Hao collapsed on the sofa, and He Qianhui busied herself, wiping him down with a wet towel.
"If you can’t handle your liquor, you should drink less next time. You always overdo it and then I have to run around taking care of you."
Though He Qianhui was voicing her dissatisfaction, her actions didn’t cease.
Zhang Hao felt a wave of nausea in his stomach, and to avoid He Qianhui’s continued nagging,
he clutched his mouth and rushed to the restroom, hugged the toilet bowl, and vomited wildly.
Seeing him like that, He Qianhui leaned against the bathroom door frame.
Shaking her head, she said, "With the amount you can drink, you should be dining with children."
Hearing what He Qianhui said, Zhang Hao waved his hands repeatedly.
After throwing up everything in his stomach, he finally felt much more sober.
"You really underestimate me. How could I dine at the same table as children?"
"However, wife, could you make me a bowl of noodles? I threw up everything I ate tonight."
