He Xiaoshuang was just a young man. Coming to a public place like this alone already made him feel nervous, especially when facing a sharp-tongued girl. He couldn't outtalk her at all.
A waitress nearby, who was cleaning the last table on the first floor, looked at the girl and joined in seriously, "Exactly. You're just hogging the spot and not using it. Why stop others from using it too? That's not right."
He Xiaoshuang touched his coin pouch and realized he probably didn't have enough for twelve coins. So he weakly asked, "Can I pay later, then?"
At that moment, Wang Yuehan, who had been sitting behind the counter with Xavia, noticed Xavia's dislike and impatience. She also came out to join the argument.
"People usually ask to delay payment for a few or even dozens of silver coins. Who delays for just a few small coins? That's not worth it."
Wang Yuehan was annoyed just thinking that this guy was trying to steal Xavi's wife. Jewel and Xavi clearly loved each other deeply—there was no need for anyone to step in.
Besides, ever since Jewel found out about this man, she hadn't shown up in the front area of the tavern again. But he still came here every single day. What was there to say about that?
He Xiaoshuang's face was turning red from embarrassment, so he left quickly.
He really had no money.
He didn't understand how things worked in town, and his parents didn't give him much money. How could he afford to order food every time?
His uncle told him if he wanted a wealthy life, he had to fight for it himself.
He also mentioned that his cousin Xavi's wife, Jewel, came from a rich family and even had a business in town.
That's when he started dreaming of becoming the husband of a rich woman.
In truth, he wanted to compete with Xavi.
Ever since they were young, Xavi had always received more love and praise from the family.
So when his uncle brought up the idea of setting him up with Jewel, he started thinking non-stop: if he could actually become Jewel's husband, then nobody—neither at his uncle's house nor in his own family—would dare to look down on him anymore.
Everyone would see him differently, and he could finally hold his head high!
The first time he came to this tavern, he saw how lively the town was and started dreaming about becoming the head of a rich household like Xavi—someone who made decisions and had people serving him.
He couldn't even read a word, but later he found out the tavern was named "Yanxi Tavern." That made him burn with jealousy.
Jewel even put Xavi's name on the tavern sign!
Why did Xavi get such a loving wife?
Why couldn't he meet someone like that?
He grew more curious about what kind of person Jewel really was. On countless sleepless nights, he kept wondering what someone who treated her husband so well would be like.
She was originally from Jewel's village too—would she hit and scold men like the village women?
To He Xiaoshuang, being kind to a husband and hitting him sometimes weren't contradictory.
In his mind, even a woman who treated her husband really well would still have a temper after marriage.
Xavi's family didn't have money or anything worth bragging about either. Did he get mistreated by his wife's family?
What kind of man did Jewel like?
If she met him, would she pamper him like she did Xavi?
All that curiosity made He Xiaoshuang really want to meet Jewel, but he never had the chance.
Because Xavia handled most things at the tavern, Jewel rarely came, and even if she did, she used the back door. There was no way she would come through the front and be seen.
He Xiaoshuang left the tavern, full of disappointment, looking back every few steps. The sky had turned darker with thick black clouds, and strong winds swept through, stirring up dust on the streets.
Rumble… boom…
Thunder echoed through the air as heavy raindrops poured down from the sky, soaking He Xiaoshuang's new clothes—ones he had worn for several days now.
He ran all the way home. By the time he reached the He house, he looked like a drowned chicken. His shoes were soaked and muddy, and his pants were covered in dirt.
Just as he arrived, he heard his mother shouting again. Her loud voice cut through the rain and echoed clearly in his ears as he stood outside.
"Men are nothing but trouble! One after another, none of you do anything useful. Always running around! It's pouring rain and no one thought to gather firewood. How are we supposed to cook now…"
Hearing that, He Xiaoshuang's determination to become a rich and respected man's husband grew even stronger.
That way, no one in the He family would ever dare treat him like he didn't matter again.
He walked into the house quietly, trying not to be noticed. He didn't want his mother to see him and start yelling again, so he moved very carefully.
He changed out of his soaked new clothes and put on his old patched ones for work, then got back to his chores.
But the joy and sorrow of people don't always connect.
After He Xiaoshuang left, everyone in Yanxi Tavern felt relieved and happy.
Xavia hadn't come out, but she felt better once she saw that He Xiaoshuang had finally left on his own.
Good or bad, he was still her cousin, so she didn't want to be too harsh. She just hoped he'd take the hint and stop chasing unrealistic dreams.
"That cousin of yours coming here every day was really making Boss Jewel uncomfortable… She used to stop by the front sometimes, but now we can't even catch a glimpse of her anywhere in the tavern."
Wang Yuehan complained casually as she returned to the counter with Xavia, grabbing a pastry and taking a bite.
"Mmm~ this one's good. Is it new?"
Xavia nodded. "Yeah, it's new. I figured you'd like it."
"Stop always paying for me. I brought money this time, really…"
Xavia watched the young man enjoying his snack and couldn't help feeling a bit happy inside. She picked up the same kind of pastry and tasted it too.
Hmm… it really did taste better when she shared it with him.
"No worries. I've got money to spare now. You won't eat me poor."
Jewel never mistreated a capable helper, so Xavia was earning a good income through her hard work.
And seeing Wang Yuehan from time to time had become something she looked forward to each day.
That young master had visited many times just to repay her for helping with the bowl of noodles. He always waited patiently for her.
Sometimes she was busy with other things and couldn't be at the front, so they missed each other a few times.