Doting Marriage: Return Of The Real Miss Gu

Mianmian gave a short laugh, not even bothering to hide her irritation. "Then tell me, Madam Bai—who exactly was I supposed to sell them to? Your family? Your in-laws? The neighbors you gossiped to about me?"

The smile on her lips was sharp, almost pleasant. "If you're not here to eat, then kindly get out of the way. You're blocking paying customers."

Gasps rippled through the crowd, some covering their mouths with their sleeves. A man sitting near the window muttered to his wife, "Isn't that her stepmother? She's really got nerve showing her face."

"They've been dragging that girl for years," another woman said. "And now they want free food? Shameless."

"Do they think this is a charity kitchen?" a younger customer snorted. "I paid for my dumplings, they can too."

Gu Xuelan looked like she'd just bitten into a lemon. "How dare you speak to my mother that way—"

Mianmian cut her off, voice cool. "Oh, I'm sorry. Did you want applause? You came all the way down here for what? A free meal or another scene?"

Bai Shi's lips thinned. "We're family. A daughter should know her place. Is it wrong for us to try your food?"

Mianmian didn't blink. "It's not wrong to eat. It's wrong to expect free food."

There was a beat of silence.

Then she turned, already walking back toward the counter. "If you want to eat, sit. If not, the door's open."

Bai Shi's face twisted, but she huffed and found a seat near the back. Gu Xuelan followed with a scoff, whispering something under her breath.

Mianmian didn't spare them another glance. Instead, she nodded toward the open spots left by a group that had just left.

"You can place your order over there. I'm busy."

Xuelan's eyes narrowed. "We'll take everything. One of each dish."

There was another murmur around the room.

"She thinks this is a buffet?" someone said.

"Everything? When they didn't even want to pay?"

Mianmian only smiled and nodded. "Alright then."

She turned back to the kitchen.

A few minutes later, she emerged with two steaming bowls of noodles, a plate of dumplings, and a pot of tea.

She set them down with a delicate clink.

"That's all you'll be getting today," she said lightly. "The rest sold out. These are on the house."

Gu Xuelan frowned. "What about the rest of the menu?"

"You said you wanted to try the food," Mianmian replied calmly. "You didn't say you wanted to pay for it. And this is what I serve to all customers—simple noodles, dumplings, and house tea."

Bai Shi took a bite and immediately coughed, eyes watering.

The tea wasn't any better—strong and infused with enough spice to make her nose run.

Gu Xuelan glared. "What did you put in this? Are you trying to poison us?"

Mianmian blinked innocently. "Oh? Is it too spicy? But that's the standard amount. Even the toddlers had no complaints."

Another customer laughed from the next table. "She must've thought being dramatic would get her something better."

"She's just not used to flavor," another added. "Poor thing."

Bai Shi dabbed at her nose, trying to hold her composure. "You think you're clever, but don't forget who raised you."

Mianmian tilted her head. "Raised? You mean the woman who took my dowry, my spot in culinary school, and tried to sell me off to cover her daughter's shame?"

She stepped closer, voice quiet but firm. "You didn't raise me. You trimmed me down like a weed. But weeds grow back."

Bai Shi stood abruptly, nearly knocking over the tea. "You've lost your mind."

"No," Mianmian said, turning back to her stove. "I just found it."

The customers watched as the two women fumed, then finally stood and left, fanning their faces and muttering curses.

But no one moved to stop them.

Someone clapped near the counter. Then another joined in.

Soon, the quiet ripple turned into full applause.

Mianmian didn't turn around.

She simply ladled another bowl of soup, set it down gently, and called out:

"Order number twelve, pork broth with soft egg. Please enjoy and come again." she smield as she handed the takeout to the customer.

By the time Mianmian brought out the second pot of tea, this one even spicier than the last, Bai Shi was already fanning herself with the edge of a receipt.

Gu Xuelan had abandoned all pretense of elegance and was gulping down water from a customer's unfinished cup.

"Milk!" Bai Shi gasped, eyes wide and watery. "Bring me milk, you brat—are you trying to kill us?!"

She stood, one hand clutching her side dramatically, the other waving frantically toward the kitchen.

Mianmian leaned out from the doorway, wiping her hands on a clean rag.

"Sorry.." she said sweetly. "We don't serve milk here. It ruins the broth."

Bai Shi's jaw dropped.

Gu Xuelan pushed her dumpling bowl away, red in the face and sniffling. "She did it on purpose! She sabotaged our food!"

"You ordered it.." Mianmian reminded her mildly. "I just served it."

The entire restaurant watched with barely concealed glee as the two stumbled toward the door.

Bai Shi clutched her purse like it could protect her, while Xuelan muttered under her breath about how "uncultured" the place was.

But their faces were blotchy and their steps fast. A little too fast.

"She's sweating like she ran a marathon," one of the young tailors whispered to his friend, both grinning as they slurped their noodles.

"I give it ten minutes before they both need a bathroom."

"You're being generous. I say five."

Outside, Bai Shi let out a yelp and all but dragged Xuelan down the street, swearing they'd report her for "public endangerment."

Mianmian, unfazed, turned with a bright smile. "Table four just opened. Right this way."

Two new customers, an older couple who had been standing at the back of the line stepped in with wide grins.

"That was better than a radio drama.." the wife whispered as she sat down.

The husband chuckled. "You got spice and entertainment, all for the price of noodles."

With the Gu women gone, the restaurant buzzed again, this time with gossip.

The aunties at table six began whispering fiercely among themselves.

"I'm going to go tell Sister Zhou.." one said, already gathering her purse. "She needs to hear this."

"I'm telling the entire sewing circle.." another declared.

"Bring them here for dinner.." Mianmian called without turning, her voice light. "I'll make extra chili oil."