Жизнь сельских жителей в городе во времена династии Сун

Глава 12

"Let's skip the drinks and have Biluochun tea."

"Yes. Please wait a moment, sir." Wei Zijun took the menu to the kitchen and returned with a pot of hot tea.

He carefully lifted each of the inverted cups and poured in the hot tea. Just as he finished pouring one cup, his hand was grabbed.

"Sir?" Wei Zijun looked at the black-clad man called Shang Zhen, who was holding her hand, with surprise.

The man in black held her wrist with his left hand and took the teapot from her hand with his right, then stroked her hand. He muttered, "Slender and beautiful, soft as if boneless. These hands are even more delicate and tender than a woman's, even more slender and long. Any more would be too long, any less would be too short. Truly, they are rare in heaven and unique on earth. I never imagined that your hands would be more beautiful than your face, but these fair hands paired with your fair face are surprisingly harmonious."

"Sir, you flatter me. My hands are naturally harmonious on my body, but they certainly wouldn't be harmonious on yours." Wei Zijun couldn't stand this man's nonsensical ramblings as soon as he entered.

"Hahahaha... Hahahaha..." The two onlookers, who were disapproving of the man in black's behavior, burst into laughter when they heard the waiter's response to their companion.

The man in black was annoyed by the seemingly frail boy's sharp retort and the mockery of his two companions. He tightened his grip on Wei Zijun's hand.

"Ouch—" Wei Zijun winced in pain, trying to pull her hand away but unable to. "Honorable guest, may I let go? The tea hasn't been finished yet."

Seeing that the man showed no sign of letting go, she looked at the man in white, hoping he could help her out of the predicament.

The man in white stood up, grabbed the evil claw that was committing the crime, and squeezed it hard. "Boyuan, you..." The owner of the evil claw cried out in surprise, and the claw involuntarily opened. Wei Zijun took the opportunity to remove the hand that had been captured.

With red marks already covering her wrist, Wei Zijun picked up the teapot and continued pouring tea.

The man in black felt a pang of pity when he saw the red mark on her wrist.

The white-clad man, addressed as Boyuan, watched Wei Zijun calmly continue pouring tea and couldn't help but admire her. A person of great wisdom possesses a magnanimous spirit; no matter what happens, they remain composed. This waiter was not only composed, but also quick-witted, neither servile nor arrogant, and possessed a deliberately restrained elegance, as well as an undeniable air of nobility. He was clearly no ordinary mortal.

Then, observing the way he poured the tea, one could see an extraordinary level of refinement and elegance. The man in white couldn't help but become suspicious of the waiter's background.

"Who told you to sneak up here? Get down here now!" A shout came from downstairs.

A disheveled boy ran up and stood in front of a table of leftover food that hadn't been cleared away yet, and began to wolf it down.

"Get out, get out!" Liu Lang ran up and pushed the boy.

Wei Zijun felt a pang of pity upon seeing this. "Sixth Brother, the leftovers are just going to be thrown away anyway, why not let him eat them?"

The boy was taken aback and looked at Wei Zijun. She didn't seem to be a fool.

"Zijun, do you know what would happen if the shopkeeper found out..."

"The shopkeeper won't know, and besides, he'll finish eating soon, won't he?"

"this……"

"Alright, Liu Lang, you go down first. I'll call him down later." Seeing her insistence, Liu Lang shook his head and went down.

Wei Zijun quickly went behind the screen to get a food box, walked to the boy's side, and while putting food into the food box, said to the boy, "It's not that you're not allowed to eat here, but there are still guests, and they might find it inconvenient. You can take these back with you, and from now on, you can just wait outside the door at noon. I will deliver the food to you."

"No need to go out!"

Wei Zijun turned around in surprise upon hearing this, and it was the man in white.

"Let him eat here," the man in white said again.

"Does the gentleman not mind?" Wei Zijun asked.

"It's alright."

"In that case, why don't you order a dish for him, sir? That way he can eat here legitimately. You are a distinguished guest, and if you are the one paying, the innkeeper won't do anything about it."

"Okay, that's settled, put it on my tab."

"Thank you, sir."

Watching the boy wolf down his food, Wei Zijun sighed, "Eat slowly! Are there any other people in your family?" she asked tentatively.

The boy looked up at her for a long while before replying, "And my mother."

Sigh! Wei Zijun sighed again, took out two pieces of silver from her bosom and put them in the boy's hand: "Take this and buy some food for your mother. Also, wash your face and clothes clean, so your mother won't be sad when she sees them."

The boy stared at her intently. "Mother can't see; her ashes are at home."

Upon hearing this, Wei Zijun gazed at the boy for a long time without speaking, and finally sighed and said, "Even if Mother is gone, we must not make Mother sad. No matter how torn your clothes are, wash them clean and wear them. Only when you are clean will people like you, understand?"

"Hmm," the boy nodded, took something out of his pocket, and held it in his hand. "This is for you."

He then shoved the object into Wei Zijun's hand and turned to run away.

Wei Zijun opened her hand and was surprised to find a jade pendant, its entire surface a glossy green, vibrant and lustrous, and it appeared to be quite valuable.

She immediately ran to the window, leaned out, and shouted at the retreating figure, "Hey—wait—hey—"

"Alright, stop yelling, or you'll fall off." The man in black sitting by the window reached out and pulled Wei Zijun back.

"No, we have to return this to him."

"What is this?" The man in black snatched the jade pendant, looked at it for a moment, and then exclaimed "Huh?" "Boyuan, look."

The man in white peeked out and was also taken aback. "Such a valuable item, could it have been stolen?"

"It does seem like it. Alright, that'll cover the cost of the meal." The man in black said, reaching for his pocket.

"No, I want to return it to him. How can you be sure it was stolen? You have no proof." Wei Zijun reached out and snatched the jade pendant back.

The man in black shrugged indifferently, then glanced sideways at Wei Zijun with his phoenix eyes. "I'm asking you, why didn't you treat us to a meal just now, but instead made us treat you?"

"I..." Two blushes instantly appeared on Wei Zijun's fair face. "I don't have that much money." It seemed to take all her strength to say these words. When had Wei Zijun ever been so embarrassed or ashamed?