Chapter 103: Chapter 103: "I Admire Miss Ming.

For a Capital Official who earned only about ten silver a month, spending three or four silver to treat colleagues to a meal was an uncommon extravagance.

It wasn’t as if he were bribing a superior officer.

But Jiang Yuchuan didn’t mind at all. He even said to those around him, "If it’s not enough, we can order more."

Although everyone present was a "Capital Official," even among the Capital Officials of Shangjing, there were Ninth-Rank Officials. Their monthly salary wasn’t much; in fact, it was barely one or two silver more than what Jiang Yuchuan was spending on this meal.

Even if Ming’s Restaurant wasn’t a "high-end" establishment, it was by no means cheap.

Hearing Jiang Yuchuan’s generous offer, his colleagues actually felt a little embarrassed.

After a moment of surprise, Huang Yi watched his friend thoughtfully.

Once the food was served, the group of officials from the Ministry of Justice became completely immersed in the delicious flavors of pork and lamb. Who could remember their earlier embarrassment?

Even Huang Yi couldn’t help but show his astonishment.

"The food at Ming’s Restaurant is well worth the price." Huang Yi’s family was reasonably well-off, but he was a big spender, so he wasn’t particularly wealthy himself. He had eaten at many restaurants in the East Market, including some that were ten times the price of Ming’s Restaurant, but Huang Yi genuinely felt that the flavors here were in no way inferior to those establishments.

However, Ming’s Restaurant’s menu was ultimately a bit too limited.

"If I’m looking to treat myself next time, I’d be willing to come to Ming’s Restaurant," Huang Yi said.

His words quickly resonated with several others at the table. "I’d be willing too. The food at this restaurant is excellent, and I’ve never seen chairs like these in Shangjing City. They’re surprisingly comfortable to sit on while eating."

"It might be a little pricey, but after trying the food at Ming’s Restaurant, it feels quite worth it! You get what you pay for. This plum juice is delicious too!"

Jiang Yuchuan listened silently to the comments around him, the corners of his mouth turning up unconsciously.

While Huang Yi was joking around with the others, he was also observing his friend’s expression.

He was somewhat horrified. As a man who had been on matchmaking meetings himself, how could he not recognize the meaning behind the look on his friend’s face?

The suspicion that had just formed in his mind was now solidifying.

’Could his friend have really fallen for that waitress named Xiao Chun?’

’What am I going to do!’

Huang Yi finished the meal with very mixed feelings. The food was exceptionally delicious, but his good friend’s romantic path was truly weighing on his mind, making him feel as if the food were getting stuck in his throat.

When Jiang Yuchuan returned after settling the bill, Huang Yi saw him send off their colleagues while he himself remained standing there, showing no intention of leaving.

A chill went through Huang Yi’s heart.

Seeing Jiang Yuchuan about to walk toward the servant girl named Xiao Chun, Huang Yi’s brow twitched violently. He turned back and grabbed Jiang Yuchuan’s arm.

"You, come with me!" Huang Yi said, his voice low.

He was genuinely afraid his friend was about to go down the "wrong path."

Jiang Yuchuan frowned. When he had gone to pay earlier, Miss Xiao Chun had told him that her mistress, upon learning he had brought so many colleagues to support the restaurant this evening, was very grateful and had prepared a small gift for him.

Although Ming Lingyi no longer sold breakfast, the green balls and milk were things that the people in her shop enjoyed eating themselves, so they were always kept on hand in the kitchen.

Jiang Yuchuan had spent a good amount at the restaurant today, so Ming Lingyi thought of giving him some of the green balls he had enjoyed before.

In fact, it wasn’t just for Jiang Yuchuan. Ming Lingyi also had Xiao Chun deliver some green balls to Mr. Du from the shop diagonally opposite.

Xiao Chun had just gone to fetch the green balls for Jiang Yuchuan. But before he could even approach her, he was pulled away by Huang Yi, who had popped out of nowhere.

Jiang Yuchuan looked at his friend, who had just left only to return, and frowned. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"I was about to ask what you think you’re doing!"

"?"

But Huang Yi was convinced that Jiang Yuchuan was "playing dumb." Disappointed in him, he burst out, "Ming Da! Although you’re of marriageable age, you can’t just pick any woman, can you? That Miss Xiao Chun—I see she’s plump, fair, and has a fortunate-looking face, that’s true, but... but the two of you are ultimately... ultimately not from the same world!"

Huang Yi didn’t give Jiang Yuchuan a chance to argue, spilling out the "truth" he had discovered all at once.

It had taken him a great deal of effort just now to come up with those few words of praise for Miss Xiao Chun.

He never would have imagined that his friend, who seemed so refined and noble, would actually be into the chubby, round-faced type.

It was truly unexpected.

After hearing what Huang Yi said, Jiang Yuchuan’s expression darkened. "Have you lost your mind? What nonsense are you spouting?"

Huang Yi had been puffed up with confidence, but seeing Jiang Yuchuan’s face now, he grew uncertain.

"Didn’t you bring us all to this restaurant because you like that Miss Xiao Chun? Otherwise, why would you suddenly treat everyone to a meal for no reason? Besides, when we arrived, it was obvious you knew her," Huang Yi said.

"..."

’He really had Huang Yi to thank for this.’

"No," Jiang Yuchuan said stiffly.

"Huh? Then why were you acting so strangely today?"

"..."

In truth, he didn’t want to tell anyone about himself and Ming Lingyi, at least not before things were settled and their relationship was formally established.

It would be bad for Miss Ming’s reputation, and Jiang Yuchuan was unwilling to risk even the slightest harm to it.

But if he didn’t explain something now, he was afraid of what other wild fantasies his imaginative friend might cook up.

"I have nothing to do with Miss Xiao Chun, but I..." Jiang Yuchuan paused. A rare blush appeared behind his ears. He was embarrassed; this was the first time he had ever admitted his affection for a lady, and it was in front of his friend.

"I admire Miss Ming," Jiang Yuchuan said.

"???"

It took him a moment to react before he realized who the "Miss Ming" Jiang Yuchuan was talking about was.

"Miss Ming is the owner of Ming’s Restaurant?" Huang Yi asked.

"Yes, and she’s also the cook. Most of the dishes you were just praising were made by her."

Huang Yi frowned. "But you can’t marry a cook, can you? And a merchant woman at that."

Although Dayan wasn’t overly prejudiced against merchants, it was still rare for a noble family to marry a merchant’s daughter.

Jiang Yuchuan was a young Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice in the capital, with a boundless future ahead of him. He was the ideal husband in the eyes of countless young ladies in the Capital City.

But now, he actually wanted to marry some merchant’s daughter who had appeared out of nowhere?

It was ridiculous!

Utterly unbelievable!

"Ahem—"

Just then, a soft, pointed cough came from nearby.

Ming Lingyi had finished her work in the back kitchen. All the fresh ingredients purchased that day had been used up. Business on their first day had been so good that even she, the owner, found it a bit hard to believe.

When she came out, Ming Lingyi heard Xiao Chun say that Jiang Yuchuan had disappeared somewhere, and she hadn’t been able to give him the green balls she’d just fetched.

Ming Lingyi decided to take over the task herself. She just hadn’t expected that while she’d found him, she’d also seem to have overheard a conversation about herself.

’Logically, the safest thing to do in this situation would be to turn and walk away. But the thought of Li Yun’s obsessive behavior made me hesitate for a moment. I decided it’s better to strike while the iron is hot and clear things up sooner rather than later.’