Wang also 'warmly' tried to get close: "Yes, yes, brother, no need to be polite with us. Oh, isn't this Sun Mei's maternal family? I thought you looked familiar. It's perfect, let's all go together..."
Zhao Dong was just about to dismiss them with a few words when second aunt suddenly stood up and loudly shouted: "Boss, bill please."
That directly interrupted Wang's sycophantic efforts.
Then, Mrs. Liu looked at Wang in surprise: "Oh my, it's Wang. Are you so free? Shouldn't the tavern be busiest at this time? How do you have time to run around, is your tavern closing down?"
Wishing misfortune on her family tavern, Wang's face immediately fell.
Coincidentally, the shopkeeper came over at this moment and smiled at Zhao Dong and the others: "Customers, six bowls, a total of twelve coins."
By then, everyone had finished their noodles and didn't want to tangle with Wang any further. After paying, they were ready to leave, as they still needed to buy writing materials for Zhao Zhitong.
However, when they wanted to leave, Wang wouldn't let them off and followed them out of the noodle shop with a sarcastic tone: "Hmph, don't you worry. My tavern's business is great; it's not like some people who've sold tofu for two days and can't afford a couple of bowls of noodles.
Eight people eating six bowls, I say, brother, you shouldn't be so stingy. Sun Mei's family came to help you, at least let them each have a good bowl!"
Wang looked down on Zhao Dong's family from the bottom of her heart. She really couldn't understand why her husband wanted her to cozy up to this troublesome family and invite them to the tavern for a meal.
Why should the fine dishes of her family's tavern be given to this lowly family to eat? Besides, about that lousy tofu recipe, isn't it just something you can find at a roadside stall!
Wang's nasal, sarcastic tone even made the normally good-natured Zhao Dong a bit angry, not to mention the fiery-tempered second aunt, who was not one to stand and be insulted.
Immediately standing in the street, she fired back directly: "I say, Wang, you're worrying over nothing, worrying about how many bowls of noodles we eat. Why don't you worry more about whether your tavern can stay open?
I've heard that another tavern has opened in this market, stealing away much of your business, so don't end up not even being able to afford the very noodles you look down on!"
She ended with a cold snort: "Ridiculous, worrying about whether others buy a coffin when there's a death in your own family, I spit!"
After retorting, she pulled her sons along, and the group left without looking back.
Wang was left turning pale then red, standing in front of the noodle shop, shouting curses at their retreating figures: "Spit! What's with you people, your family's the one with a death, a bunch of lowlives only fit to eat roadside stall noodles..."
Just then, a basin of water was suddenly splashed over. Wang screamed and tried to dodge, but she still got half-soaked with dirty water.
Then she saw the shopkeeper's wife holding a wooden basin, standing under the awning with a sarcastic smile: "Oh, sorry, I thought there was no one outside, just heard a dog barking outside and worried it would scare my customers."
Already humiliated by that little lowlife family, and now splashed with dirty water and insulted as a dog, Wang was instantly infuriated.
However, many patrons in the shop were casting unfriendly looks at her, ridiculing and pointing at her.
The three in Wang's group immediately became the public targets.
They couldn't blame others, only themselves for having just humiliated Zhao Dong, offending too many by claiming that eating roadside stall noodles is for lowlives, thereby angering a whole room of people.
They didn't dare to make a scene, awkwardly laughed twice, and pulled her daughter away, fleeing in haste.
Seeing his sister leave, Wang Gou didn't dare linger either and quickly followed.
Just as they left, the shopkeeper's wife spat: "What a thing, like opening a tavern makes you great or something!"
——
Back to Zhao Dong and the others, their good mood had been ruined by Wang's sudden appearance.
They didn't shop anymore and went straight to buy pens and paper.
But after circling the market, they didn't see a single bookstore.
Zhao Dong asked: "Brother, do you know where they sell pens and ink in this market?"
Sun Youli shook his head: "Our family doesn't have any scholars, so we rarely pay attention to these things, but they definitely sell them in the county; our dad's pen was bought there."
Zhao Dong nodded, realizing that this market was a place for villagers to exchange goods, where few farmers bought expensive items like writing materials, so naturally, there weren't many for sale.
He said: "Then let's go home today and go to the county town to buy them tomorrow or the day after."
After circling the market, most people had already left, and nobody had the heart to continue shopping, so they decided to head home.
When they reached their alley near home, they saw from afar a little figure crouched in front of their door, holding a book.
Zhao Zhitong recognized Qiao Muchen right away. Previously listless like an eggplant hit by frost, she suddenly perked up, wriggled down from her uncle Sun Youcai's back.
"Qiao Jiaojiao!" she shouted, running over.
Hearing Zhao Zhitong's voice, Qiao Muchen stood up and waved a small hand at the running figure: "Zhao Zhuangzhuang!"
The two little ones' actions, combined with these nicknames, somehow brought a sense of comedic delight.
Those watching from behind, including Zhao Dong, couldn't help but laugh.
Zhao Zhitong ran over and pouted unhappily: "Qiao Jiaojiao, you're not allowed to call me Zhao Zhuangzhuang."
Qiao Muchen: "Then you can't call me Qiao Jiaojiao either."
Zhao Zhitong nodded: "Okay, Qiao Muchen, I won't call you that, and you can't call me that."
Qiao Muchen: "Okay, a gentleman's word."
Zhao Zhitong: "Is irrevocable."
Zhao Zhitong agreed outwardly, but inwardly thought, hey, I'm not a gentleman, am I?
They reached a temporary agreement on the name issue.
Then Zhao Zhitong asked Qiao Muchen why he was reading a book at her door.
Qiao Muchen replied honestly: "There's no school today, so I came to invite you to my home study to read together."
At the mention of a study, Zhao Zhitong's eyes lit up: "Wow, you have a study at home? Does that mean there are lots and lots of books."
Qiao Muchen nodded proudly: "Of course, there are as many as two big bookshelves full."
"Wow!" Zhao Zhitong immediately showed a look of envy: "That's a lot."
Then she proudly declared: "I also have two books."
Just then, Sun Mei, hearing the commotion, came out from the courtyard: "Oh, you're back from the market."
Zhao Zhitong immediately threw herself into Sun Mei's arms: "Mom~ Tongtong missed you so much."
Sun Mei helplessly said: "Look at you, how old are you, acting spoiled in front of outsiders, aren't you embarrassed?"
"Not embarrassed at all," Zhao Zhitong shouted, hugging even tighter.