Bai Suxiang paid no attention. She had just entered and didn't know anyone. She hadn't felt anything touch her.
Liu Sandao, who followed Bai Suxiang through the door, saw the person who had spoken:
A woman, around forty to fifty years old, with a braided pigtail. Her black hair had a yellowish tint, as if dyed that way deliberately.
At that moment, her left arm was resting below the table, and her right arm was on the table. She was holding chopsticks, preparing to pick up some noodles.
There was nothing unusual about this initially, and there were no signs around to indicate that anything had disturbed her.
But she persisted, speaking to Bai Suxiang:
"Do you have to dress so provocatively just to eat a meal?"
Upon hearing this, Bai Suxiang still ignored her and continued walking towards the ordering counter. After all, they didn't know each other, so the woman might not have been talking about her.
Seeing Bai Suxiang continue forward, the woman seemed to get angry. "Did you hear me? You in the white dress, come here and apologize to me!"
The woman slammed her chopsticks onto the table and shouted loudly.
It was already afternoon, and the small noodle shop was not large. Only four or five people were eating. Bai Suxiang scanned the room. She was the only one wearing a white dress. Could the woman really be talking about her?
"Sister, are you talking to me?"
Bai Suxiang was puzzled but still asked politely. Su Dan Novel Network
"Tsk tsk tsk, this crazy woman is something else. She must have lost at cards again and is looking for someone to vent her frustration on!"
A nearby waiter mumbled.
His voice was low, but Bai Suxiang still heard him.
"Who else would I be talking to if not you? You bumped into my arm and interrupted my meal. Don't you owe me an apology?"
The woman, dressed in a floral outfit, stood up and said.
Bai Suxiang was bewildered. If she had bumped into the woman when she entered, how could she have felt nothing at all?
Liu Sandao, following closely behind Bai Suxiang, also hadn't seen her touch the woman. Hearing the woman speak to Bai Suxiang like that, he stopped and looked at the woman.
This was the first time since coming down to the mortal world that he had encountered such an unreasonable woman.
Just as Liu Sandao was about to speak, Bai Suxiang stopped him and said, "I'm sorry!"
She just wanted to eat as soon as possible. It was just an apology; it wouldn't cost her much.
Who would have expected the woman to push her luck further? "Sorry, and that's it? Let me tell you, you're paying for this meal!"
So, it turned out she intended to dine and dash.
Looking at the woman, she didn't seem like someone who couldn't afford a meal. Why was she being so unreasonable?
It seemed the waiter was right; she must have lost at cards!
"Alright, alright, I'll pay! I'll pay. Please, eat, okay?"
Bai Suxiang held out her hands, pressing them downwards, gesturing for the woman to eat.
"Sigh, this girl must be new here from out of town. Otherwise, why would she be so easily scammed!"
Someone whispered.
"Yeah, this woman's face clearly shows she's a tigress. Who would dare provoke her!"
"Stop talking, stop talking. Even the owner isn't interfering. Perhaps she has some connections!"
"Hurry up and eat, eat up, and let's leave quickly!"
Liu Sandao disdained to act against mortals, and even less so against women. But seeing her arrogant demeanor, he really wanted to slap her twice!
However, since Bai Suxiang had chosen to forgive, Liu Sandao decided not to press the issue. As the saying goes, it's better to resolve disputes than to create them, especially over the cost of a bowl of noodles.
Seeing Bai Suxiang say this, the woman had nothing more to say and sat back down to continue eating.
Bai Suxiang ordered two large bowls of noodles at the counter, along with two or three cold dishes.
Liu Sandao thought she must be starving, as even two grown men might not be able to finish that much. He had glanced at the large bowls; they were as big as basketballs.
Bai Suxiang didn't think about it much, nor did she ask Liu Sandao what he wanted.
As soon as the waiter served the cold dishes, she picked up the plates and walked towards the woman's table.
This scene stunned Liu Sandao.
Could it be that Bai Suxiang was looking for trouble? He had just thought she had magnanimously forgiven the other party, and now she was going to pick a fight again?
"Quick, quick, quick, advise your girlfriend not to provoke that woman. You can't afford to mess with her; she's notoriously difficult to deal with!"
The waiter, having sensed Bai Suxiang's intentions, immediately urged Liu Sandao to go and advise her.
"Oh, this girl isn't one to be taken advantage of either. Look, she's going to pick a fight!"
Someone whispered.
At this moment, several diners' eyes widened as they intently watched Bai Suxiang's every move.
It was as if a good show was about to begin, and they were afraid of missing the most exciting part.
Liu Sandao quickly strode forward, intending to pull Bai Suxiang away. They were here to rescue someone, not to get into an argument with others.
Moreover, it's better to fight with a reasonable person than to speak with a foolish one.
The woman clearly belonged to the latter category.
"Heh heh, sister, you don't mind if we join you, do you?"
Just as the woman was about to get angry, Bai Suxiang, with a smile, said, "Don't be angry. As the saying goes, 'strangers become friends after a quarrel'! I just feel that your personality is very much to my liking, and I really want to be friends with you. Come, let's eat together. This meal is on me, order whatever you like!"
"Is this girl crazy? She was just fleeced, and now she's rushing to be fleeced again? Hmph, what a good opportunity, it would be a shame not to take advantage of it!"
The woman pondered this inwardly, but a strange smile appeared on her face.
Liu Sandao had to warn Bai Suxiang to stay away from such people.
He quickly walked to the table and quietly tugged at Bai Suxiang's skirt.
Bai Suxiang immediately grabbed his hand and pulled him to sit down.
"Alright, alright, this must be your boyfriend. It's not easy for you two newcomers. I've decided to be friends with you!"
The woman said with a smile.
They say women are fickle, and it's truly so. One moment she was throwing a tantrum, and the next she was beaming, as if they had known each other for a long time.
"Sister, you're truly straightforward. We're just visiting this place and aren't familiar with some of the sights. Could you help us get some recommendations?"
Liu Sandao didn't know what had gotten into Bai Suxiang, to be cozying up to such a person.
Bai Suxiang paid him no mind, chattering and laughing, occasionally making the woman burst into hearty laughter, repeatedly saying, "My dear sister, I truly regret not meeting you sooner!"
The woman's surname was Qian, and her given name was Shumei. She had a son who was in college. Her husband and she divorced two years ago, and she relied on working as a housekeeper to earn money for her son's tuition.
Her tone was dejected as she spoke, making Liu Sandao feel a bit of sympathy for the woman and curse her detestable ex-husband.
Where there are dishes, there should be wine; that is the way of men's world.
But this was utterly disrupted by Bai Suxiang and Qian Shumei. They chatted and drank, completely treating Liu Sandao as if he were air.