Chapter 88: In Need of Discipline

Yesterday, upon learning that Bai Xi would be heading into the city, Chen Daliu hurried home, grabbed several pounds of rice, and went out that very night to knock on Chen Weiguo’s door, hoping to exchange it for food vouchers.

He brought eight pounds of rice, but Chen Weiguo refused to take it. With the two sides in their current positions, Chen Weiguo accepted the rice but insisted on handing over fifteen pounds’ worth of food vouchers. Though the vouchers seemed generous, in truth, rice was considered fine grain—one pound of fine grain could be traded for five pounds of coarse grain, sometimes even eight or ten. Fifteen pounds in food vouchers for eight pounds of rice was a good deal.

Originally, Chen Weiguo had only intended to accept five pounds, but Chen Daliu didn’t want to take advantage of him. Besides, when selling fish to the villagers, Chen Weiguo had always helped out; offering a little more rice was nothing.

Now, with fifteen pounds of food vouchers in his pocket, Chen Daliu felt confident. He thought to himself, no matter what the young lady wants to eat, he could provide it.

Bai Xi glanced around, her gaze settling on the yellowed menu posted on the wall behind the counter.

After a brief look, her eyes shifted to the server—a young woman around twenty, her hair braided into two plaits that hung beside her cheeks—who, despite the early hour, was dozing off. When someone entered, she barely lifted her eyelids before returning to her nap.

Chen Daliu stepped forward and asked, “Comrade, what do you have to eat here?”

Disturbed from her rest, the server opened her eyes and shot Chen Daliu an irritated glare.

Bai Xi frowned at this. Xiao Liu had spoken politely, not a trace of harshness in his tone, yet the server’s attitude was as if she were dealing with poor relatives coming to freeload off her.

Still, Chen Daliu paid it no mind. City folk were always like this; last time at the supply and marketing cooperative, the staff had been the same—looking down on country people, treating them as bumpkins.

He could afford to offend the cooperative staff, but not restaurant workers; if the server bore a grudge, who knew what she might slip into Bai Xi’s meal.

Seeing that Chen Daliu wasn’t bothered by the glare and maintained his pleasant demeanor, he asked again. The server, still dissatisfied, rolled her eyes and said sharply, “It’s all written up there. Why ask? Can’t you see?”

Bai Xi immediately voiced her displeasure, “So everything written on the wall is available in the store?”

What attitude was that? Xiao Liu was her person—why should he suffer such treatment?

Without waiting for a reply, Bai Xi continued, “In that case, bring me one of everything you have.”

Her voice was gentle and soft, her age young; most would think her simply acting spoiled. Only Chen Daliu, familiar with her ways, knew the young lady was truly angered.

Despite Bai Xi’s bold request, the menu posted on the wall listed only twelve items—steamed buns, bread, noodles, soup, and a handful of side dishes.

She had the money, and Xiao Liu had food vouchers; paying wasn’t a concern. Besides, Bai Xi doubted the items listed were even available.

The server was momentarily stunned, sizing up the pair before shooting Bai Xi a mortified glare. “Can you even finish all that? Wasting food is shameful.”

Bai Xi raised her round face and retorted, “Whether I finish it or not is none of your business. Just tally the bill and serve the food as I asked. I’m not short on money, and if I can’t finish, I’ll take it away with me.”

Listening at the side, Chen Daliu carefully pulled out his food vouchers and five yuan, waiting for the server to calculate the cost.

Seeing the posture of the two, the server sneered, “There’s nothing. Do you even know what times we live in? Where would I get so many things?”

“Then why act so high and mighty?” Bai Xi replied, rolling her eyes at the server.

“Hey, you!” The server, shocked that Bai Xi—a mere child—would speak to her so boldly, snapped at Chen Daliu, “What’s wrong with you? Don’t you know how to teach your child? If you can’t afford to eat here, take your child and get out. Don’t stir up trouble.”

“Who says we can’t afford it?” Chen Daliu didn’t bother explaining that Bai Xi wasn’t his child—he could never be so fortunate as to have a child like the young lady.

Bang! Chen Daliu slapped his food vouchers and money onto the counter, then switched hands to press them down, staring at the server without a hint of retreat. His original hand discreetly moved behind his back, wincing silently at the pain.

“Food vouchers, money—I have plenty of both. How could I not afford it?” It was his first time bringing the young lady into the city; of course he’d come prepared.

He’d hoped to avoid conflict with the restaurant staff, but if the young lady was going to lose her temper, he wouldn’t try to dissuade her. Better not to weaken her authority.

Bai Xi caught his little gesture and her lips twitched.

“You—both of you!” The server glared at Chen Daliu, grabbed the ruler from the counter and tossed it aside, planted her hands on her hips, and barked, “Get out! There’s nothing here!”

“If you want to eat, cook it yourself at home.” With that, she turned and stormed into the kitchen, paying no mind to whether Chen Daliu and Bai Xi were still there.

Faintly, her complaints could be heard from within.

Chen Daliu couldn’t make out the words, but Bai Xi, with her keen hearing, caught the server’s grumbling to someone who seemed to be the cook.

“Such bad luck, first thing in the morning—two troublemakers showed up.”

“What? Troublemakers? Do they think this is some place for that? Wait, I’ll—” The other voice sounded furious, about to come out, but the server stopped him.

“Forget it, I’ve already sent them away. They’re just here to stir things up, not to eat. I don’t want to deal with them.”

“People like that just need a good lesson!”

Hearing this, Bai Xi’s round eyes narrowed. Noticing Chen Daliu’s guilty expression as he looked at her, Bai Xi lowered her gaze in thought, then raised her head and instructed, “I think I left my hair tie in the ox cart. Go and look for it.”

“This… Young lady, maybe we can find it when we head back? If it’s just in the cart and not dropped on the road, it’ll still be there.”

Chen Daliu was reluctant to leave Bai Xi alone. Their young lady was so beautiful—what if a kidnapper happened by, or someone wanted to steal her away to raise as their own daughter?

Bai Xi seemed to sense his worry and said lightly, “Go on. I’ll stay right here. I won’t go anywhere.”

“But… young lady…”

Chen Daliu hesitated, but Bai Xi’s face had already hardened into displeasure. “Stop fussing—go!”