If others found out, how could Young Master Zong Jincheng keep his reputation intact? His friends would surely laugh him to scorn!
Xu Wan rolled her eyes at him and explained, "Except for your household, everyone else does it."
Taking home leftovers is a traditional virtue of the Chinese nation. This kid, who seems to live in a world of his own, thinks everyone is as wasteful as he is.
Zong Jincheng immediately retorted, "Impossible! I’ve never seen..."
But before he could finish his sentence, he heard someone nearby shout, "Waiter, pack this up."
"Right away!"
"..." Zong Jincheng immediately sat down.
Damn it, it’s true.
Had he just never noticed it before?
Zong Wenxiu chuckled softly and nudged his younger brother’s shoulder, saying, "Jincheng, if you really don’t want to take the leftovers, we can just try to eat more and finish everything."
Zong Jincheng pouted and fake-cried in a whiny voice, "But brother, we ordered too much. Even if we stuff ourselves, we can’t finish it all..."
He had initially planned to make Xu Wan pay a hefty price to vent the frustration he’d built up over the past few months, but who knew she had a trick up her sleeve?
The little troublemaker’s rebellion had once again ended in failure.
Zong Wenxiu thought for a moment and suggested, "How about we ask the waiter to cancel a few dishes? The kitchen hasn’t started cooking yet anyway."
The little troublemaker seemed a bit swayed.
Either take the leftovers and be laughed at, or cancel some dishes and be mocked by the owner.
Since both options would lead to embarrassment, he might as well grit his teeth and choose the former. After all, it would be Xu Wan who’d call for the leftovers, and the proud young master could pretend he had no idea.
Yes, that’s the way to go.
After weighing the pros and cons, Zong Jincheng declared with righteous determination, "A gentleman’s word is unbreakable. We’re not canceling any dishes."
Zong Wenxiu: "..."
Is that really how you use "a gentleman’s word"...?
Xu Wan glanced at him, fully aware of the little troublemaker’s scheming. Did he really think he could shift the blame onto her? Not a chance.
The dishes arrived one after another, and the three of them, starving, began to eat. Zuixiang House’s food was expensive for a reason. Not only was it located in the best area, but the vegetables were fresh, the meat was tender, and the cooking techniques were exquisite. The taste was simply outstanding.
Xu Wan thought to herself that she might come here more often if she had the chance.
Although her monthly allowance of three hundred taels of silver might not be enough to sustain such luxury, there was still the ten-thousand-tael reward dangling in front of her. If she could get that, she could eat whatever she wanted whenever she wanted.
Ah, the allure of a big reward truly gives one hope.
After eating and drinking to their hearts’ content, there were still some leftovers on the table. The two boys, their bellies round, declared that even if they burst, they couldn’t finish it all.
Xu Wan couldn’t help but laugh.
The little troublemaker slumped in his chair, completely unwilling to move. Forget going home, he didn’t even want to speak right now. He needed to recover for a while.
As he lounged there, he idly glanced out the window and saw someone unexpected.
"Qin Shi..."
Zong Wenxiu also looked over and asked, "Qin Shi? Is he Qin Ye’s older brother? How do you know him?"
The little troublemaker pointed at the young man on the street who was being stopped by someone and said confidently, "Yes, he’s Qin Ye’s brother. I saw him from a distance at Hanlin North Academy last time. Don’t you remember?"
Zong Wenxiu shook his head and teased, "I don’t have your photographic memory."
Zong Jincheng immediately puffed up with pride and said, "Of course. Even if I only see someone from afar, I can remember exactly who they are. At the time, Qin Ye was talking to him, and he just kept nodding. He seemed really obedient."
"Qin Shi must be a very mild-mannered person," Zong Wenxiu said, but then he noticed something was wrong. "But right now, is he being harassed? Look, that guy is pushing Qin Shi."
"Really?" Zong Jincheng quickly leaned over to look and saw the young man in front of Qin Shi, poking his chest with his finger while muttering something, looking very aggressive.
"Wow, he really is. Why is Qin Shi so easy to bully?" The little troublemaker immediately stood up from his chair and rushed downstairs.
Zong Wenxiu was utterly amazed.
Hadn’t his brother just said he couldn’t move another inch?
Who was this kid running so fast now...?
But since his brother had already run down, he was worried something might happen, so he quickly got up and followed.
Cui Zhi asked beside them, "Madam, should we go down and take a look?"
Xu Wan looked at the scene below the window and smiled, "No need. We can just watch the show from here. It’s better not to interfere too much in children’s matters. Besides, with Wenxiu there, I’m not worried."
Sometimes, children don’t listen to what adults say, but they’ll listen to their peers because they feel like they’re on the same side. Giving the brothers some space to handle things on their own is actually good for their growth.
Cui Zhi asked again, "But from up here, we probably won’t be able to hear what they’re saying..."
Xu Wan thought for a moment and said, "People who practice martial arts have good hearing. Cui Liu, you’ll be our real-time commentator."
"...?" Cui Liu, who was suddenly called upon.
"Yes, madam."
As soon as the little troublemaker stepped outside, he saw the troublemaker pushing Qin Shi and mocking him, "You loser, why haven’t you passed the entrance exam for the children’s class yet? Looks like you’ve reached your limit and become a mediocrity. If you really can’t learn, why bother? Just get out of Hanlin North Academy and go join your talented brother at Qingbo Academy!"
Qin Shi didn’t resist the pushing, as if he was used to it. His body retreated with the other’s movements, but he still held tightly to his books.
The troublemaker snatched the books from his hands, held them high, and shouted, "Mediocrity, still reading books here? Do you think you can ever surpass your brother? Loser."
As he was about to throw the books in Qin Shi’s face, Zong Jincheng appeared out of nowhere and slapped the troublemaker’s shoulder, growling, "Kid, you’re even more arrogant than me."
The troublemaker turned around and saw a kid two years younger than him. He immediately cursed, "Brat, get lost, or Grandpa Feng Song will punch your head off."
"Feng Song?" The little troublemaker tilted his head and cracked his knuckles, replying coolly and arrogantly, "Then have you heard of your ancestor, Zong Jincheng?"
Feng Song’s heart nearly stopped.
Zong... Zong Jincheng...
The most favored grandson of Yangyuan Marquis Manor, the leader of the four little troublemakers in the capital, the little demon king who even ghosts feared?
"You... you’re really Zong Jincheng?"
Zong Jincheng raised his fist threateningly, "Want your ancestor to punch you to see if it’s real or not?"
Feng Song was terrified, but admitting defeat would be too humiliating. He struggled to say, "Young Master Zong, you’ve misunderstood. I was just advising this mediocrity to give up studying so he doesn’t waste any more time on something useless."
The Feng family and the Qin family were distant relatives, so he knew Qin Shi couldn’t possibly know Zong Jincheng. He thought Zong Jincheng was just passing by and didn’t know the situation, so he dared to lie, "I’m just doing him a favor."
