Chapter 127: Why Not Go and Seize It? (Five Updates, Please Vote)

Manager Xu was utterly stunned. The Japanese man, who had been so arrogant and had even left behind harsh threats only a short while ago, had not returned with Tang officials to demand retribution. Instead, he had come to offer an apology. Moreover, his tone and attitude had become so humble and submissive.

Overwhelmed with disbelief, Manager Xu couldn't help but blurt out a question to Inugami no Toshinori. Deep down, he felt as if he were caught in a dream.

"This... this can't be real, can it?"

Ever since the Sui Dynasty, there had never been an instance where a Japanese envoy sent to the Tang court had been forced to apologize to a common merchant. This was truly the first time in history! As for him, Manager Xu, he was likely the very first person to ever experience such a thing. He could hardly fathom it.

The surrounding diners were equally dumbfounded, frozen like statues, too shocked to utter a single sound. Their eyes were widened to the point of almost popping out of their sockets.

"How... how is this possible!" everyone thought, their shock beyond measure.

However, when Inugami no Toshinori heard Manager Xu’s incredulous question and the gasps of the crowd, his expression stiffened. His face darkened instantly, and he gritted his teeth. He assumed that Manager Xu was asking deliberately to humiliate him in front of everyone. Furious, Inugami no Toshinori felt his heart burning with rage, and his clasped hands tightened slightly. He longed to stand up right then and there and give these Tang people a sound beating to vent his frustration.

But then, he realized that if he did not offer a sincere apology and gain Manager Xu's forgiveness, it would inevitably lead to a conflict between the two nations. This would surely bring immense trouble to Ambassador Inugami, Ambassador Hita, and their entire diplomatic delegation. With no other choice, Inugami no Toshinori gritted his teeth once more.

"Indeed. I ask that Manager Xu forgive my previous discourtesy," Inugami no Toshinori said, forcing the words out while suppressing the fury in his heart.

Only then did the crowd realize they were not dreaming. This was a tangible reality unfolding right before their eyes.

All the diners inside and outside the Drunken Immortal Pavilion puffed out their chests, a sense of pride and triumph rising within them. Seeing this, Manager Xu smiled, his lips parting as he prepared to speak with a solemn air.

Just then, Yue'er, who had been watching from the side, frowned slightly and whispered a command to a waiter. The waiter nodded and hurried over to Manager Xu.

"Manager!" the waiter shouted, interrupting him, and whispered a few words into his ear.

Manager Xu was taken aback for a moment, but then his eyes brightened, and a mischievous, almost "sinister" smile spread across his face—the look of a man who had just laid eyes on a mountain of silver.

"Very well, you may rise," Manager Xu said with a casual wave of his hand.

Upon hearing this, Inugami no Toshinori stood up, bowed to the manager once more, and turned to leave the pavilion. But just as he started to walk away, Manager Xu’s voice rang out, stopping him in his tracks.

"I accept your apology, but your disruption just now delayed our business here at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. Surely a mere empty apology won't suffice, will it?" Manager Xu said with a smile.

Inugami no Toshinori stopped and turned around, staring at the manager with a blank, confused expression. "Manager Xu, what... what do you mean by that?"

"Heh," Manager Xu chuckled, shaking his head calmly. "It’s nothing complicated. I’m simply asking you to compensate our establishment for the losses incurred just now."

"What did you say?!" Inugami no Toshinori frowned, glaring at him. "You want me to compensate for your restaurant's losses?"

"Exactly!" Manager Xu nodded solemnly, a smile plastered on his face—a smile that Inugami no Toshinori found particularly insufferable.

"You—!" Inugami no Toshinori was so angry he could feel his nostrils flaring, and his fists clenched, but after a moment of thought, he let go, sighed helplessly, and asked with a dark expression, "May I ask, Manager Xu, how am I to compensate?"

At these words, a greedy, gleaming grin appeared on Manager Xu’s face. He adjusted his sleeves and beckoned, "Waiter, bring me the ledger."

"Yes, Manager." The waiter quickly produced the pre-prepared document and rushed it to him like a gust of wind.

The crowd watched in stunned silence. They couldn't help but look at Manager Xu with newfound respect, wondering how he had managed to become so bold and unyielding ever since he gained the backing of Li Yi.

Inugami no Toshinori’s lips twitched uncontrollably. He had seen shameless people before, but never anyone quite like this.

"Tang people are truly beyond shameless!" Inugami no Toshinori cursed under his breath, but his silent vitriol was useless, for Manager Xu had already begun clicking away at his abacus.

"You delayed business at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea," Manager Xu said as he calculated. "Based on our average traffic, in that time, we could have sold one thousand Orleans sets and one thousand bottles of Wuliangye liquor."

He continued, "An Orleans wing set is three taels of silver; a leg set is five taels; the fried chicken set is seven taels. That’s fifteen taels in total. Multiplied by one thousand orders, that comes to one hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver."

"As for the Wuliangye, at ten taels a bottle, one thousand bottles makes ten thousand taels."

"One hundred and fifty thousand plus ten thousand—that makes exactly one hundred and sixty thousand taels of silver!"

"As for the time wasted, I’ll do you a favor and won't charge you for that."

Manager Xu stopped his abacus, looked up at Inugami no Toshinori with an air of "it’s only reasonable," and declared, "Pay the restaurant one hundred and sixty thousand taels of silver, and we shall consider this matter settled."

"How much? One hundred and sixty thousand?" Inugami no Toshinori was left dumbstruck. He never imagined that for the sake of a single cup of tea, the manager would demand such an astronomical sum!

*Why don't you just rob me?!*

"Baka!" Inugami no Toshinori cursed in his native tongue, his eyes widening as he shouted at the manager, "Manager Xu, do not push me too far!"

Even if it were one thousand taels, he couldn't pay it, let alone one hundred and sixty thousand. Inugami no Toshinori knew instantly that this was a deliberate attempt to extort him, and he refused to accept it.

Manager Xu, however, merely smiled, his expression turning cold.

"Hmph, if you are unwilling to pay, then so be it. I shall take this matter directly to the Sage and seek justice!" Manager Xu said nonchalantly, taking the prepared bill from the waiter.