> > Here Comes The Lady Chef – Chapter 45
Chapter 45: Governor Zhao pays for the bill
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Within the Peony Hall, the dishes looked amazing and the utensils were of the highest grade. Everything looks super expensive.
Sir Song Tao stood at the door, and was stunned by what he had seen, "This is the what Governor Zhao called simple food, simple wine?"
Saying this, he placed his hands on his back and immediately turned around.
"This….." Governor Zhao did not know how to explain this. No matter how it looks, this is a lavish feast. He could only wipe the beads of perspiration from his head as he followed Sir Song Tao.
"Please, give me some food!" An old beggar holding on to a broke bowl was begging for alms on the street outside Drunken Immortal Restaurant.
"Go away! Go away!" One of the guards rush up and kicked the elderly beggar.
"Bong!" with a thud, the elderly beggar was knocked down. The bowl that he used to beg for alms shattered into countless pieces.
The elderly beggar dare not offend these government officials and struggled to get up.
"Grandpa, Grandpa!" a little child cried out.
A 5-6 years old beggar wearing tattered clothes immediately rushed out, and lifted the elderly beggar's hand and blew on it gently.
The elderly beggar's hand had been cut by the shards of broken bowl and was bleeding.
The little beggar turned around. On the dirty and skinny face was a pair of large and clear eyes that glared with fury at that soldier who had pushed his grandpa.
"What are you looking at! You better go away quickly! Didn't you see that a distinguished guest had arrived? If you dared to appear around here again, I will beat you to death!" The soldier waved his quarterstaff menacingly.
The young beggar immediately supported the elderly beggar as the elderly beggar struggled to get up. The young, tender face was filled with anguished.
Sir Song Tao happened to walk out the restaurant at this moment and witness the whole thing. He looked at Governor Zhao, "Is this how Governor Zhao shows his love for the citizens?"
He walked over and helped the old beggar to stand up. Ren Yue immediately rushed forwards as well, to help the little beggar.
"Sir Song Tao, this is… a misunderstanding! A big misunderstanding!" Governor Zhao's face turned pale. He was very angry in his heart. Damned beggars! How could he have overlooked them? He should have driven them away a long time ago.
"Since Governor Zhao had said that this is a misunderstanding, I will give you a chance to prove that you care about the commoners! This restaurant is so big and imposing, and it would be good for it to be empty. Governor Zhao had prepared a feast for me, and I could not finish all the food. Why not do it this way? Let's invite this group of pitiful men to join us for the feast!"
"In this way, it will show Governor Zhao's love for the people, and secondly, it will permit more people to taste the food that Drunken Immortal restaurant cooks. It is a win-win situation for all." Sir Song said and immediately assisted the elderly beggar into the restaurant.
The elderly beggar dared not enter this place.
Ren Yue also held the little beggar's hand and wanted to take the little beggar in. But when the little beggar saw that his grandpa did not enter, he also refused to enter. On his face, you could see that he really wanted to eat, but he dared not to do so.
Seeing the beggars did not move, Shen Yaoshan immediately walked towards them, and stand on the large entrance. Then he shouted, "What are all of you waiting for? This is Sir Song Tao from the capital! Sir Song Tao will be living in Xianyang, and invited everyone to enter the Drunken Immortal restaurant for a meal. Why aren't you thanking him?"
"Sir Song Tao?"
"From the capital?"
"Must be a higher ranking official than Governor Zhao!"
"High ranking official? Oh, that's great. Since a high-ranking official asked us to enter, we must not make him lose face! Quick, let's go!"
"Oh!"
The beggars are highly excited. They took up their sticks and bowls and entered the drunken immortal restaurant in droves.
Seeing this, Governor Zhao was so furious that his face turned green.
"Ren Yue, let's go! We must dine with Governor Zhao and the commoners!" Sir Song Tao was very happy and grinned as he pulled Ren Yue's hand, and patted Shen Yaoshan on the shoulder.
They, together with Governor Zhao, re-entered the restaurant.
"Yes,… Sir Song Tao!" Governor Zhao dared not say no. He had already offended Sir Song Tao at the entrance. Just now, he had lied and Sir Song Tao was visibility displease. If he could not make this super VIP happy, he can forget about his career as a government official. He immediately smiled, and looked at the beggars that filled the dining hall.
"Boss, please serve the food!" A beggar stood up and shouted.
"Serve the food! Serve the food!" the beggars chanted.
"Oh! Oh! Oh!" The beggars become noisy as they bang on the bowls, table and everywhere in a rhythmical beat.
At this moment, the sound of the beggars' cries, the sound of the banging on the chairs and tables, the knocking of the bowls with chopsticks and created a chaotic scene in the restaurant.
The waiters were powerless to stop them.
At this moment, Sir Song Tao suddenly walked up to Governor Zhao and asked, "May I enquire if this meal is paid by the government coffers or by yourself?"
Governor Zhao tried to impress Sir Song Tao and immediately smiled, "Sir Song Tao must be kidding. Your servants love the commoners. Therefore, this meal is on me and not paid using the funds from the government coffers."
"I believe that Governor Zhao is a magnanimous man who really loves the commoners! He is not a crooked official that would touch the government coffers for treating the commoners once, and or will not increase taxes just to recoup the money that he had used to treat the commoners. In that case, I, Sir Song Tao, thank you on behalf of all the commoners for your generosity!" Sir Song Tao cupped his hand as he bowed to Governor Zhao as a couresty gesture.
"Sir Song Tong, it is your humble servant's pleasure to be able to dine with you and the commoners today. It is my pleasure and honour. I will definitely do my best to become a good government official." Governor Zhao dare not receive the courtesy, and tried to stop Sir Song Tao.
"Dear fellow villagers, today this meal is paid for by Governor Zhao. Later you must eat more and make merrily, and do not let Governor Zhao's efforts be wasted!" Sir Song Tao voice rang out above the din, loud and clear.
"Thank you, Governor Zhao!" As one, the beggars thanked him.
"Governor Zhao is a good official!" a few beggars remarked loudly.
"High ranking court official, once you come here, Governor Zhao buy us a meal. You will not be leaving so soon?" A few elderly beggars stood in front of Sir Song Tao and asked. They were worried that later Governor Zhao will take his revenge on them.
"Everyone can relax! Sir Song Tao will be living in Xianyang. Today, just eat to your heart's content!" Shen Yaoshan saw the look that Sir Song Tao was giving him and he immediately understood and stepped out.
"Yes, please enjoy your meal. This meal is on me. Sir Song Tao, this way, please!" Governor Zhao nodded his head, and invite Sir Song Tao back to the peony hall.
"Please give us a few of your best dishes!" The beggars relaxed and some of the bolder beggars immediately placed their order.
Suddenly the sounds of orders rang out non-stop, one after another.
"Meat, I want all the meat!"
"Waiter, give me everything you got!"
"Right, cook more, especially those with meat!"
"Don't worry, we will clean up all the plates. Whatever we cannot finish, we will packet it and eat it for dinner tonight!"
Governor Zhao overheard these conversations and almost fainted. He looked normal, but he was gritting his teeth and bleeding in his heart. All these are my money! Mine!
Now he had no choice but to let the beggars take advantage of him…..
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