Chapter 23: Stop Talking! Save Some for Me!

Jiang Lili’s confrontational stance immediately darkened the little servant’s expression—it was clear she had come to stir up trouble.

“Wow, Lili is so arrogant?”

Guan Yue pulled Tao Zhi and Jiayu aside to the waiting area. “Let’s move further away and pretend we don’t know her, to avoid getting dragged into this.”

Jiang Lili: “…”

What true best friends indeed!

The attention of the diners inside the Fengdeng Restaurant was soon drawn to Jiang Lili.

“What bold words! She actually claims her literary skills surpass those of Young Master Li!”

“Young Master Li’s poetry is unmatched across Linzhou. Even the most renowned teachers here admit they fall short. And this young girl dares to spout such arrogance?”

The little servant spoke coldly, “Miss, if you are not here to dine, then please leave.”

“Sir, I’m waiting for your shopkeeper to discuss something important. Could you kindly inform him? If you’re unwilling, then forget it.”

Jiang Lili picked a bench closest to the entrance and sat down. “I won’t go inside, nor will I disturb the customers dining within.”

After finishing her words with the little servant, Jiang Lili raised her voice even louder, stirring the crowd further. “Today, I challenge Young Master Li to a poetry duel! If he doesn’t come out, it means he’s afraid!”

Jiang Lili’s audacity quickly drew a crowd in front of Fengdeng Restaurant.

“Who’s this? She’s challenging Young Master Li?”

“I can’t miss this excitement!”

Seeing the commotion Jiang Lili had caused, the little servant realized that her antics were attracting even more onlookers. After a quick thought, he stopped arguing with her and turned to entertain other customers instead.

“Ladies and gentlemen, standing here won’t get you much. Why not come inside for a seat and enjoy the view?”

“Would you like to try our special sour plum juice?”

Many of Eldest Young Master Li’s admirers, already angered by Jiang Lili’s brazen words, began rallying together to confront her.

A well-dressed young woman in orange rolled her eyes. “Look at this gaudy girl with her heavy makeup. She must be infatuated with Young Master Li and is trying to catch his attention with this unconventional stunt, right?”

What venomous words!

Jiang Lili felt uncomfortable when she heard the phrase “infatuated with Young Master Li.” Back in high school, Li Sicong—an obnoxious show-off—was always bouncing around like a monkey in class. Sometimes she’d been tempted to punch him.

Jiang Lili gave the girl in orange a faint smile and replied calmly, “Yes, I may wear heavy makeup, but I pale in comparison to your natural beauty—like a lotus emerging unsullied from clear water, untouched by artificial embellishments.”

“Still, I kindly ask this lovely lady to mind her words.”

Hearing this, the originally aggressive girl in orange froze. Her mind echoed with the phrase “a lotus emerging unsullied from clear water, untouched by artificial embellishments.”

Oh no, why did this wretched girl’s words make her heart skip a beat?!

Meanwhile, the onlookers, who had been sneering at Jiang Lili, suddenly shifted their attitude.

Wait a minute, did this bold girl actually have some talent?

At that moment, a burly man stumbled drunkenly out of the restaurant, holding a wine jug and slurring, “Cuihua… Cuihua…”

Two men flanked him, supporting him as they tried to calm him down.

“Brother Daniu, stop drinking! No matter how much you drink, Cuihua won’t come back!”

“That’s right, Miss Cuihua is already married. You need to let go!”

Sitting by the door, Jiang Lili shook her head at the scene and recited another poem:

“Draw a blade to cut the water, but it flows even faster. Raise a glass to dispel sorrow, but it only grows deeper.”

She earnestly advised, “Brother, you should stop drinking. Alcohol can only numb the pain temporarily; it cannot heal your soul.”

As soon as she finished, the crowd fell silent, filled with respect.

“I’m not well-read, but all I can say is—amazing!” someone exclaimed.

Among the diners waiting for their food, a scholarly gentleman’s eyes lit up. “This verse is bold and natural, with a harmonious rhythm and structure. Marvelous!”

“This old man believes this poem is even more impressive than Young Master Li’s!”

Gradually, more and more people shifted their attitude toward Jiang Lili, going from disdain to admiration. Her brilliant poetry also attracted passersby to stop and gather in front of Fengdeng Restaurant.

Nearby, a young man with a square face walked out of the restaurant, patting his coin pouch with regret. “I couldn’t resist dining here again today, and now I’ve spent so much silver. Next time, I swear I won’t come back! I need to control myself.”

Hearing this, Jiang Lili chuckled. “Heaven endowed me with talents for a purpose; though wealth may scatter, it will return again.”

She turned to the young man and said, “Sir, with your striking appearance and natural charm, I’m sure you’ll achieve great things in the future. Spending a little money on a good meal to treat yourself is worth it. A better mood will only improve your study efficiency.”

“Heaven endowed me with talents for a purpose!” The young man was astonished, his face lighting up with excitement. “You’re absolutely right! What’s another meal in the grand scheme of life?”

“This food is so delicious; I’ll come back again after my next study session!”

With that, he waved his folding fan and left laughing, his previous regret completely forgotten.

As the young man mentioned returning next time, two or three onlookers, who had been hesitating, stepped forward to get a queue number from the little servant.

The little servant was dumbfounded. Was this peculiar young lady here to disrupt their business, or was she actually helping them out?

He couldn’t make sense of it. However, recalling her original request, he decided it might be best to inform the manager. Then again, the commotion at the restaurant entrance was so noticeable that the manager had already come downstairs from the second floor.

Meanwhile, the group of Young Master Li’s admirers who had been hostile earlier now looked at Jiang Lili with newfound warmth.

They gazed at her eagerly, hoping she would bestow another poetic compliment on one of them. Some even went so far as to invite Jiang Lili to dine at their table.

“Miss, I truly admire your talent. It seems you haven’t gotten a seat yet—why don’t you join me at my table?”

A woman seated in the northeastern corner turned her head and smiled warmly at Jiang Lili, extending the invitation.

She wore a crimson dress, her smile radiant and poised. Her refined demeanor made Jiang Lili think she might be a noblewoman raised in the capital.

“Sure thing!”

Jiang Lili beamed as she eagerly entered the restaurant.

“Hey, Lili, we haven’t even gone inside yet!”

Guan Yue stomped her foot in frustration. “That rascal didn’t even wait for us!”

Tao Zhi, ever blunt, remarked, “Boss, you were the one who said we should pretend not to know Miss Jiang earlier.”

Jiang Lili made her way to the crimson-clad woman’s table and sat down, starting off with a compliment, “You, dear sister, are truly the epitome of a single glance, a hundred charms bloom.”

“Cough, cough!” A deliberate cough interrupted her flattery.

Jiang Lili frowned and turned to see a man in a light blue robe embroidered with cloud patterns approaching their table.

His steps were graceful, the jade pendant at his waist swaying gently. His demeanor exuded elegance, but also an air of smugness.

When her eyes landed on his annoyingly familiar face, she recognized him immediately. It was none other than the person she had called out for so theatrically—Eldest Young Master Li himself, Li Sicong!

At that moment, Jiang Lili’s group chat buzzed with a notification.

[Li Sicong has joined the group chat. Welcome the new member!]

Li Sicong smiled at the crimson-clad woman. “Miss Gu, forgive me for the disturbance. This is a little sister of mine who came here today just to stir up trouble and tease me.”

“I’d like to have a word with her. I hope you won’t mind, Miss Gu.”

When Jiang Lili heard him address her companion as “Miss Gu,” realization struck her like lightning. She suddenly remembered the identity of this crimson-clad woman!

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