Chapter 1272 - 1271: Refusal
Chapter 1272 - 1271: Refusal
"Boss, this chick's not bad, can we take a few out after we've eaten?"While Tang Rao was lost in thought, a few greasy-looking men sat in the hall, restlessly chatting about taking women from the Gentle Country Inn out with them.
Tang Rao had discussed this with Bai Xiaotong from the very beginning; guests are welcome to eat and drink at the Gentle Country Inn, but taking the women out is taboo.
As soon as you enter the Gentle Country Inn, you see a sign stating that the women here may accompany for drinks, but they absolutely do not leave with guests.
In the past, few dared to provoke Bai Xiaotong; most feared the power behind her, always giving her the upper hand so she could say one without others daring to say two, which led to her show her assertiveness at the Gentle Country Inn. The men were clearly taken aback, not believing Bai Xiaotong would turn hostile without hesitation, showing no regard for them. Now, the men recognized her strength was just mediocre, and even her speech carried more weight.
"I know, I know, you've just opened; surely you don't intend to uphold these women's dignity at the expense of earning money, right?"
The men spoke directly, dismissing the women as worthless, and when talking with Bai Xiaotong, seemed to disregard her entirely.
"My Gentle Country Inn profits from clean money. Those shady earnings aren't even worth the women's time here."
"What did you say, woman?"
As soon as Bai Xiaotong finished speaking, one of the bearded men immediately shot her a fierce look.
Seeing this, Tang Rao noticed that the person confronting Bai Xiaotong was Liu Tao's brother. Tang Rao had invited Liu Tao, so Liu Yu had come along as well.
"If you haven't understood the Gentle Country Inn's rules, I can take you aside and explain once more. How about that?"
Liu Yu acted impulsively and couldn't stand provocation, especially when opposed, which made him even more irritable.
Tang Rao initially planned not to intervene, but seeing Liu Yu about to lay hands on Bai Xiaotong, he stepped in and faced Liu Yu.
"Tang Rao, why are you here again?"
Liu Yu looked at Tang Rao as if he were staring at a plague.
Ever since Tang Rao left, the Liu patriarch often muttered to Liu Tao and Liu Yu, urging them to learn from Tang Rao whenever possible. Liu Tao readily accepted, as Tang Rao was stronger and became his role model, justly so.
But Liu Yu was different; anyone Liu Tao liked or admired, Liu Yu would invariably dislike and even hate.
In Liu Yu's eyes, what does Tang Rao amount to other than someone who takes things from people's Treasure Vault?
"I own the Gentle Country Inn. Why do you think I'm here?"
Tang Rao only smiled, stopping at that point, fearing Liu Yu might not handle further provocation.
Sure enough, upon hearing Tang Rao was the owner, Liu Yu felt like he had swallowed a fly, deeply unsettled.
It wasn't that he had no other options; the girls next door were great too. Just pay, and they could be taken out. Why stir up trouble here?
"What's the woman here worth? Brother Zhou, let's head to the next door; there are plenty of beautiful girls to choose from, how about it?"
Liu Yu nodded, but after speaking a couple of sentences realized he couldn't gain any advantage, so he turned to the silent man seated nearby.
Their tone resembled that of henchmen discussing major matters with their boss.
"You mean next door?"
The man's sullen face showed no sign of joy. With Zhou Yong spending so many years outside, what kind of woman couldn't he have? Liu Yu insisted Zhou Yong dine here, touting the women were clean, offering to take a few out to honor Zhou Yong, so he came.
But the people at the Gentle Country Inn say women cannot be taken out, and Liu Yu isn't doing anything about it, instead suggesting to settle for second best, taking Zhou Yong next door?
The goods next door might not even meet Liu Yu's standards, let alone Zhou Yong's, which were higher.
"So, Brother Zhou, are you set on a particular girl here at the Gentle Country Inn?"
Liu Yu immediately understood Zhou Yong's intentions; it wasn't about a specific woman, and he wouldn't give any ground.
"No matter whom I fancy, it's not going to work out. I won't conduct business like this. No amount of money will change the fact that women at my Gentle Country Inn don't leave through this door. Oh, Liu Yu, your brother and your father are in the private rooms upstairs, so if you want to stir trouble here, make some noise and let your father and brother hear how their eldest is being a nuisance."
The invited guests were mostly in the private rooms upstairs, which befitted their invited status.
His father came?
Tang Rao invited the patriarch and Liu Tao, but not Liu Yu. Their relationship was strained from the start, but Liu Yu dared not challenge Tang Rao at this moment.
If the patriarch finds out, wouldn't he scold Liu Yu on the spot?
"Brother Zhou, my father's upstairs; perhaps today's not the day to entertain you. We'll come back another day and settle this."
Zhou Yong had eaten, his temper already riled up. Now that he leaves, where would he vent this heat?
After seeing the women here, Zhou Yong found that women elsewhere had lost their luster; none compared to the enchanting charm here.
"If you want to leave, go ahead; I want to stay a while longer."
Suddenly refusing to leave?
Since Liu Yu was hosting, Zhou Yong staying meant Liu Yu also had to stay. Liu Yu could accompany Zhou Yong a bit longer, perhaps until Zhou Yong has seen and touched enough before leaving.
But this wasn't a lasting solution; Zhou Yong wanted to look now, later he'd want to touch, and eventually, he still wanted to take a woman out, which only led back to the original problem.
"Fine, shall I have another drink with Brother Zhou?"
Liu Yu stayed, a smile plastered on his face, though Zhou Yong didn't want him as a third wheel. He even pondered why there were no private rooms, where, with some money, the women couldn't say no.
"Would this gentleman like more drinks? Hurry up and call the women to serve him properly, won't you?"
Dan Liu Yu had paid previously, but as they wanted to continue drinking, Tang Rao made arrangements for them.
Every guest is a patron, even previous foes; Tang Rao would greet them with unparalleled hospitality. These folks are Purple Crystals, Tang Rao's future assets for showing off.
"If they get out of hand, call the protector. I spent a lot to have them here today, and anyone ignorant of decorum, just kill them."
Tang Rao's voice was soft, but not so soft that others didn't hear him.
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