66 CHAPTER 66 : Rotten Fruits Couldn't Conceal Their Own Smell

In these 3 days, Li Xi Rui had set up stalls near her house. The empty road in front of her house is now bustling with people. The stalls that have been set up with the help of the Tea Pavilion, had been busy from the first day. Each stall sells different dishes. The manager of the pavilion had also personally monitoring each stalls.

"There are too many people today", a man sigh while still waiting for his turn.

"It's only been 3 days but these stalls are even famous than the Wei's clothing shop", another man said.

"What are you comparing about? That and this is different. It's not like you could eat those clothes", yet another man interrupted.

"I heard the other restaurants have been empty since yesterday. Less and less people are coming"

"That is to be expected. These stalls are the Tea Pavilion's, of course just a regular restaurant couldn't compare"

"It's the pavilion's stalls?!!! No wonder the foods taste so good!"

"Yes, Yes… The price is even cheaper than in the pavilion's", the man said while nodding his head.

"But at this rate, wouldn't the 100 bowls will be sold out faster?"

"Right. You shouldn't go out of the line, maybe they will serve additional portions today"

Agreeing with the man's words, they keep on glancing and counting the people in lines. The streets are too full with three different lines. Each stall with line as long as the Yangtze River (the longest river).

At the first day, these stalls didn't really gain that much attention from people. They were just curious on who is brave enough to set up stalls in front the Left Prime Minister's residence. There have been several speculations on why there are stalls set up near the residence. The most popular opinion was the set up stalls are mocking the soon to be deposed left prime minister. Wouldn't the residence stank with different aromas of food? In the end, there didn't care enough about the reason to implore more.

What they do know is the manager of the tea pavilion is there. Why would a manager monitor the operation of those stalls instead of the pavilion? After asking the manager himself, they received the answer to that question.

"Dear customer, these are the pavilion's stalls. The new partner of the tea pavilion wanted to set up these stalls so the common people could afford these dishes. So, wouldn't customer have a taste?", said the manager with a smile on.

Hearing the name of Tea Pavilion from the manager's mouth, the public was in uproar. From every nook of the capital, more people came and lined up. In each passing day, the portions did not increase, instead it was quickly and completely wiped out.

Today too, the public are expecting the portions to be increased. Well, they would soon to be disappointed as the 'new partner' of the pavilion has a different opinion.

"What do you mean 3 days' stalls?!", the public shouted back.

"Oh, hadn't I mentioned before? Our stalls will only be open for 3 days. Not a day less and not a day more", the manager replied.

"Isn't that too unkind of the pavilion? After all, we have lined up from the sun rise till the sun up on our head!", a man took the initiative to speak the crowd's mind. Of course when one's path opened, one just have to cross with ease. So the public rise several objections to the manager.

Trying to ease the crowd down, the manager said, "Calm down. Calm down. If you have any objection, you could try asking our new partner. The new partner is kind so you might be in luck".

While the crowd causing a commotion, a lady in white veil slowly walk to the manager. Immediately, the crowd quieted down. Standing in front of the crowd, the lady in white veil only shows her pair of beautiful eyes. Even when the rest of her features are hidden behind her veil, the eyes are enough to mesmerize them.

"Isn't that Miss Li?", a man had noticed Xiao Xi is standing behind the lady.

"What? Didn't the Miss usually concealed her look after falling from grace?", another man asked.

But before another man continue to gossip, Li Xi Rui speaks up, "Perhaps if the price increases, manager could consider making the stalls permanent?".

"This…", the manager eyeing Li Xi Rui. What is he supposed to say? All he knows is what Li Xi Rui had instructed him to do. She had asked him to keep silent on who is the new partner of the pavilion.

But as Li Xi Rui had expected, the crowd didn't even let the manager finished his words. They already started to interrupt, "Miss Li, a noble like you wouldn't understand our hardships. Normally, we wouldn't even be able to afford these dishes".

"Yes, it's true!"

"Why did a young noble like you even come here? Don't tell us that you wanted to collect rent?"

"Or because you saw the stalls are doing great, you wanted to raise the rent?!"

"Isn't that absurd?!!!!"

"Have pity on us, why should we pay more?"

"A noble like you would never understand our difficulties!!"

"It seems like it's true that the left Prime minister had pocketed some money for himself! Isn't collecting taxes for themselves are against the law?"

"The road is not your property!!!!"

While shouting and insulting, the crowd keep their eyes on the manager. They had thought that the manager will be pleased with their action. If they raise a commotion, then Li Xi Rui would be forced to stop collecting rent. Thus, the manager would be able to make the stalls permanent.

While the crowd are shouting like vendors in the market, Li Xi Rui keep her silence. She already expected this. What would she even expect from a bunch of people who listen to gossips and making their own judgement?

Then a roar is heard. "BE QUIET, YOU BUNCH OF IMBECILES!", the chef of the pavilion shouted. He had never thought that the public would be this stupid. He had just come to see how the stalls are doing when he unexpectedly saw the ridiculous scene. Why would a bunch of grown-ups bully a lady in the middle of the street? Are they that idle?

"Miss Li, please sit down", the manager politely set up a chair near her. After the chef had shout, the crowd started to calm down. But the expression on their faces shows how clueless they are.

"This miss here, the young lady that you had bullied, the young lady that you insulted is our new pavilion's partner! Miss Li has a great talent in cooking! In fact, all the popular dishes in our pavilions have been developed by Miss Li. She has been so kind to set up these stalls for the public and do not even generating any income. But the lot of you dare to be this audacious towards her!", the chef rolled up his sleeves. He wanted to pummel all the idiots to the ground!

Maintaining her gracefulness, she calmed the hot headed chef, "It's alright chef. A person like me is not qualified enough to develop those recipes". Standing up, she slowly walks to her carriage. Before ascending to the carriage, she turns her head to the watching crowd. "From today on, these stalls will cease to exist! Pack up!", after delivering her final word, she enters her carriage and disappears from their views.

"You all heard the Miss! Pack Up!", the chef ordered. He is still in rage and walk away with a humph!

"Truly regrettable. The miss has been that generous to the public but you all shamed her. She didn't even generate a single coin from these stalls. Can you lot imagine on how much money she would receive from 900 portions of these dishes? It could even buy several of your land in the capital! Now you had gone and insulted her. Make sure to remember the taste of food today, it might be your last in this life", the manager sighed. Who would put up with insults like that? The less fortunate might not even have any chance to taste the delicious recipes ever again.

The dumbfounded look on the crowd's faces, had amused Li Xi Rui. Inside the carriage, she smiles. Maybe she had set up the bait to lure the rotten fishes. If they had just kept silent, she would just forget her schemes. But as she expected, rotten fruits couldn't conceal their own smell. The crowd have been spreading gossips, accusing and suspecting. Would people like that would change in a day? Of course not. After all, this is just the beginning.