Chapter 107: Chapter 107: "Murder! Murder!

Shi Mingyue frowned. Her face was still covered by a veil, making it difficult for anyone to see her expression clearly.

"This way, please." Shi Mingyue extended an arm, blocking the beggars who were trying to force their way inside.

Her lady was kind-hearted. Any leftover scraps from the purchased ingredients, any dishes that didn’t taste right, or any unsold meals would be given to these beggars free of charge.

Behind Ming’s Restaurant, a small hut had been specially set up to provide shelter for these beggars, or anyone else who couldn’t afford a meal, while they ate.

But the man leading them didn’t appreciate the gesture. He even seemed to take Shi Mingyue’s words as an insult.

"I told you I have silver!"

As he spoke, he suddenly pulled a two-tael piece of silver from inside his robes.

"See this?! I have silver! I want to go in and eat! I want to eat!"

The man was dressed in rags, and those following him were more or less the same: adult beggars.

When the people behind him heard this, they all raised their broken bowls. Some even brandished tree branches they had found somewhere to use as clubs, shouting, "We have silver, so why won’t you let us in to eat?! We want to eat inside!"

The commotion at the entrance quickly drew the attention of Xiao Chun and the Wu Brothers, who were inside the dining hall.

Wu Zhao Yi and Wu Zha’er had been personally assigned by Li Yun as Ming Lingyi’s guards. Their current duties at Ming’s Restaurant were to ensure Her Ladyship’s safety and maintain order.

’After all, weren’t they the guards Her Ladyship had bought to protect her establishment?’

Wu Zhao Yi and Wu Zha’er hardly ever chatted with anyone. They were quiet even in front of their own employer, speaking at most with the cook, Wu Zhao Yu, their "little sister."

After all, Wu Zhao Yu was, in a way, their "superior."

Seeing someone trying to cause trouble, Wu Zhao Yi stepped forward, his face grim. "What do you think you’re doing?" As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeves, revealing bulging, intimidatingly muscular arms that radiated pure menace.

But at this sight, the beggars didn’t shrink back. Instead, they grew even more excited, each one of them practically itching to rush Wu Zhao Yi and "ask for a beating."

"Are you discriminating against us?! We have silver! Why won’t you let us in?"

"That’s right! Ming’s Restaurant looks down its nose at people!"

"They’re gonna hit us! They’re gonna hit us!"

Several beggars clamored.

Wu Zhao Yi and the others never imagined things would escalate like this. They had no intention of getting physical; they weren’t even trying to drive the men away. They simply wanted to lead them to the area where free food was distributed.

But now, they’d been slapped with the label of "looking down on people."

Seeing this, Shi Mingyue instantly realized they had been set up.

’Those beggars usually can’t even scrape together ten copper coins, so how could one of them suddenly have two taels of silver?’

’Even ordinary folk are reluctant to spend that much silver on a single meal.’

’The problem now is that if we don’t let in the beggars who have silver and want a meal, we’ll be accused of "looking down on people" and "using our size to bully customers." But if we let these beggars into the restaurant, what will the other patrons think?’

’Who knows how long it’s been since these beggars bathed? They’re starting to give off a sour stench.’

’Having people like that sitting nearby while you eat... even for someone like me, a "daughter of the jianghu" who isn’t bothered by minor things, it would be hard to bear.’

’Aren’t they deliberately trying to ruin our restaurant’s business?’

Shi Mingyue quickly turned to find Ming Lingyi. This situation wasn’t something a few of them could handle on their own.

When Ming Lingyi got word in the back kitchen and came out, she saw the beggars throwing themselves at the two Wu Brothers as if their lives meant nothing. They were trying to force the brothers back, break through their defensive line, and get into the restaurant.

The customers already dining inside were now watching the commotion at the entrance with curiosity, as if it were a street show. It was obvious, however, that if those beggars actually made it inside, the customers would leave immediately. And they probably wouldn’t ever set foot in Ming’s Restaurant again.

After all, these people who begged year-round in Shangjing City had a certain smell about them. Who knew how long it had been since they’d last bathed? They were absolutely filthy. No one wanted to share a dining room with people like that. Customers came to the restaurant to spend money and enjoy themselves, not to pay for a miserable experience.

The moment Ming Lingyi appeared, a sharp-eyed beggar spotted her and immediately bellowed, "We have silver! Why won’t you let us in to eat? Does Ming’s Restaurant treat customers differently based on their appearance? Do you look down on people?!"

They were trying to force Ming Lingyi to take a stance.

Zhang Zhidong and Liu Lingxing watched Ming Lingyi with concern. They had only come for a meal today and never expected to run into such a mess.

A moment ago, Zhang Zhidong had rebuked the men trying to force their way in, only to be accused by the beggars of being "arrogant" and "judging people by their looks." It was as if, they claimed, all the scholarly classics he’d ever studied had gone to the dogs.

Zhang Zhidong’s face flushed with anger, but he couldn’t possibly stoop to their level and start screaming obscenities like a scoundrel. He was instantly at a disadvantage.

Ming Lingyi walked over, a pleasant smile on her face. She looked as warm and approachable as ever, an appearance that easily won people over.

Some of the patrons couldn’t help but start whispering amongst themselves.

"Boss Ming doesn’t look like she’ll be able to control these beggars."

"Those don’t look like beggars to me. They’re clearly local thugs."

"Oh, please. If Boss Ming actually lets those people in, I’m never coming back to Ming’s Restaurant. It’s completely ruined my appetite. I might as well just go to a restaurant in the West Market."

"Exactly. You come out to eat for a bit of peace and quiet. What’s all this with a crowd of beggars at the door?"

Just when everyone assumed Ming Lingyi was about to yield and accept the loss, she turned to Wu Zhao Yi and Wu Zha’er and spoke—

"Since people are here to cause trouble, why are the two of you just standing at the door and not fighting back?"

As Ming Lingyi said this, she still wore that same warm, pleasant smile.

Anyone hearing her words would have been stunned for a moment.

Wu Zhao Yi and Wu Zha’er reacted quickly, but even they felt a flash of surprise.

’They had assumed that, given Her Ladyship’s temperament, she would try to placate and persuade, to avoid conflict. Who would have thought that the moment she appeared, her opening move would be a "killer blow"?’

Since Wu Zhao Yi and Wu Zha’er were men handpicked by Li Yun to be by Ming Lingyi’s side, their skills were extraordinary. It was doubtful that even a full squad of the Xuanjia Army could get the better of them.

Against a few beggars who were all talk, a real fight would be over in the blink of an eye.

The Wu Brothers sent the troublemaking beggars at the entrance flying. As they writhed on the ground, grimacing in pain, they didn’t forget to sling mud at Ming Lingyi.

"Aha! Did everyone see that? This is how Ming’s Restaurant treats its customers!"

"They’re just bullies! They have no regard for human life!"

"I’m reporting this to the authorities! I’m reporting this! Ming’s Restaurant is murdering people! They’re murderers!"

Before long, a crowd of onlookers had gathered outside.