Transmigration: The Little Chef Calls The Shots-Chapter 1336 - 187, so expensive?

With a cold sneer in his heart, Xia Zheng tossed the account book before Young Master Ma, who gave him a deep look, then lowered his head.

His neck suddenly became as stiff as stone, unable to lift it again.

Five thousand taels!

Yes, the account book clearly stated five thousand taels.

"What, so expensive?" Young Master Ma even doubted whether the voice was his own, so hoarse and rough.

Lin Yuan’s lips twitched, and she reached out to take the account book, but Xia Zheng was quicker, "Oh, First Scholar, you might not know, but this is a discounted price courtesy of my dear Yuanyuan! Actually, I didn’t agree to her giving a discount. After all, you’re the First Scholar, why would you care about such a small concession?"

Young Master Ma’s eyelids turned iron blue, he cared, indeed he cared very much.

But, no matter how much he cared, he felt embarrassed to say "a little cheaper" in front of his beloved.

Xia Zheng had precisely calculated this point, knowing he would definitely not haggle in front of Lin Yuan, feeling both a cold sneer and a sense of triumph. This is what happens to those who insist on keeping up appearances but suffer for it. It serves him right, liking someone he shouldn’t, even to the extent of stealing a woman from another!

Glancing between Young Master Ma and Xia Zheng, Lin Yuan quickly explained, "Young Master Ma, our Dong Tian indeed charges a bit more. Just the main hall alone hosts thirty tables, each table features five to six signature dishes, plus sushi and cold noodles, already amounting to nearly three thousand taels of silver. Plus, adding the various elegant rooms on the second floor and the specially provided drinks, we..."

"Yes!" Fearing that Lin Yuan might offer further discounts, Xia Zheng quickly took over, continuing, "And moreover, we even provided pastries free of charge when each customer left! You should know how delicious and expensive the Rice Flower Fragrance pastries are, I need not say more. Anyway, today we didn’t charge you extra, even in Drunken Immortal Tower, just the thousand taels of silver wouldn’t be enough!"

Casting a disdainful glance at the stack of silver notes on the counter, Xia Zheng frowned disapprovingly, showing how unimpressed he was with his stinginess.

Not just Xia Zheng, even Lin Yuan silently shook her head. Young Master Ma had been in the Capital for quite some time, how could he not know the rates of Drunken Immortal Tower and Dong Tian? Bringing only a thousand taels of silver, alas!

At that moment, Young Master Ma’s regrets nearly choked him. The reason he had chosen Dong Tian for the banquet was to show Lin Yuan how prestigious it was to have become the First Scholar. But, he had investigated thoroughly, it shouldn’t have required so much silver!

Seeing Young Master Ma remaining silent for a long time, Xia Zheng scoffed lightly as a reminder, "First Scholar? What are you thinking about? What, do you think there’s a problem with today’s account? How about I have someone recalculate it for you?"

"No need!" Young Master Ma knitted his brows tightly, his eyes narrowing into a slit, and the words squeezed through his teeth with great difficulty.

First Scholar? Heh, Xia Zheng’s repeated reference with these three words was indeed his greatest humiliation. He really wanted to boldly pull out another big stack of silver notes from his bosom and fiercely slam them onto Xia Zheng’s smug face, then curse loudly, "Get lost!"

But, he did not have the confidence.

After learning that Young Master Ma was eligible for the palace examination, his father, Ma Bowen, had already chosen a courtyard in the Capital for his son. Even if the son did not become the First Scholar, he could still secure a minor official position by simply attending the palace examination. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

Sure enough, he became the First Scholar. Ma Bowen immediately paid the silver to purchase that residence. The houses in the Capital were incredibly expensive, nearly consuming most of their family’s fortune, plus the subsequent renovations and the bribes needed for his official position nearly drained the entire Ma Family.

At this moment, how could he come up with five thousand taels of silver?

Just as Young Master Ma was uncomfortably embarrassed, his face nearly turning the color of a purple eggplant, and Xia Zheng was hooking his lips watching the drama, a young lad suddenly appeared, carrying a stack of silver notes with a smile and placing them on the counter, "Young Master, you forgot to take the silver notes, I’ve brought them for you."

Young Master Ma was startled, this lad was certainly not his young servant.

Ah! No, this lad was clearly one of the Second Prince’s men!