"Hey, where did you come from? Get out, this isn't your place!" Alan, the Savory House waiter, spotted them immediately and grabbed Charlie Thompson, dragging him outside. He smiled apologetically at the guests: "Sorry, everyone, we didn't watch the door properly. Please forgive us for disturbing your meal. I'll throw them out right away."
Charlie Thompson, with a pork knuckle clamped in his mouth and his eyes blazing red, grabbed Alan by the arm and suddenly kicked him in the stomach.
Alan yelped and landed squarely on his backside.
Charlie Thompson quickly bit off the fatty meat from the pork knuckle and swallowed it, then started making a scene: "I want to eat! I want to eat!"
Mrs. Thompson rushed to shield Charlie Thompson, glaring at Lily Evans and scolding, "How can you be so heartless? What’s wrong with my son eating your pork knuckle? Is it going to bankrupt you? You just made a little money and now you’re showing off, inviting all these random people but not your own villagers. Lily Evans, you’re just mean!"
"What do you mean, random people? Who are you talking about?" Mason Zhang glared fiercely at Mrs. Thompson.
Mrs. Thompson, startled, quickly ducked behind Lily Evans, peeking out with only half her head visible, her bravado faltering: "Why are you being so fierce? I’m talking to my own villagers, what’s it to you? You’re so nosy, just like a gossiping old woman!"
By now, Charlie Thompson had finished the pork knuckle and grabbed the nearest plate of Dragon Well Shrimp, stuffing it into his mouth.
Lily Evans looked at the two dishes Charlie Thompson had ruined, feeling her appetite disappear.
Mrs. Thompson watched Charlie Thompson eat with gusto and said nearby, "Good boy, only a fool wouldn’t take advantage. Eat as much as you can! It’s not like we’re paying!"
"Who said we're not paying?" Lily Evans fixed her gaze on Mrs. Thompson, then said to Alan, "Take away the dishes those two touched. We're not eating those."
Alan's eyes sparkled with understanding. "Of course! Whoever eats, pays."
Mrs. Thompson protested, "How does that make sense? Lily's the one treating everyone—why should I pay!"
"Did I invite you?" Lily Evans shot back, staring at Mrs. Thompson.
Just then, several bouncers from Savory House arrived. Any high-end restaurant like this naturally kept a few strongmen on staff.
Alan sneered, carrying away the plates and pointing at Mrs. Thompson. "Freeloaders like you—we toss out several every day!"
"What, you dare lay a hand on me?" Mrs. Thompson had never been to such a fancy place and couldn't believe they'd really rough her up.
Alan gave a look, and the bouncers grabbed Mrs. Thompson and Charlie Thompson like catching chickens.
Mrs. Thompson shrieked like a banshee as she was dragged off to the kitchen.
The kitchen had a special team for dealing with freeloaders. Mrs. Thompson and Charlie Thompson were quickly tied up. "Which village are you from? The food you ate costs ten taels of silver. Get your family to bring the money and I'll let you go. Otherwise, you'll work off your debt. When you've paid up, you can leave."
Mrs. Thompson was terrified, but put on a brave face and shouted, "How dare you! Is there no law here?"
One of the kitchen staff chuckled and pointed to an old man with a white beard nearby. "See him? He came here for a free meal when he was twenty. Just two more years of work and he'll have paid off his debt."
The old man just rolled his eyes, clearly used to this routine, and muttered under his breath, "They use me to scare people every time."
It was Mrs. Thompson's first time facing such a scene. She was genuinely frightened and, after a few threats, blurted out her home address.
Back in Lily Evans's private room, Alan had already ordered fresh dishes. The whole incident with Mrs. Thompson was just a minor interlude.
Everyone ate happily, and in their conversation and mannerisms, Charlie Zhang became even more convinced that Lily Evans was no ordinary landlord.
Charlie Zhang may have looked like a rascal, but he was sharp. Tipsy and half-joking, he said to Lily Evans, "Miss Lily, someone as clever as you never does business at a loss. The shop you bought is bound to be a goldmine. If we follow you and do business at Ten Mile Slope, we'll all get rich one day."