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Miss Cao Liu and Miss Cao Qi left Tan Erqian’s shop, but Miss Cao Liu wasn’t ready to let the matter go. She hurried home, determined to report the incident to Magistrate Cao and have Tan’s family expelled from Pingyang County.
The two women grumbled on their way.
“Seventh sister, did you see the look on that peasant woman’s face? Not only did she not show us any respect, but she even dared to speak to us like that! No matter how lowborn we are, we’re still the legitimate daughters of the county magistrate. They’re so ungrateful.”
“Sixth sister, don’t be angry. Don’t bother with these people. After all, they are just peasants. How can they understand our status?”
Miss Cao Qi, with a calmer temperament than her older sister, thought that Miss Cao Liu had overreacted. She even felt a little embarrassed by her sister’s unreasonable behavior.
Miss Cao Liu crossed her arms and walked ahead, her chin lifted proudly. “Seventh sister, you don’t understand. This isn’t about what we know or don’t know. It’s about the Cao family’s dignity. If Father hears about us being bullied by peasants and shop assistants, he won’t let them get away with it.”
Miss Cao Qi wanted to offer more advice, but seeing her older sister’s fierce expression, she wisely held her tongue. Though they were from the same mother, Miss Cao Liu was the most favored daughter of Magistrate Cao and had the most arrogant temperament. The younger sisters in the house all avoided getting on her bad side.
Even though Miss Cao Qi was closer to her, she didn’t dare to provoke her.
They were nearing the Cao estate when they happened to pass by a tavern.
Upstairs, the waiter was carrying a steaming bowl of fish soup towards customers seated near the entrance.
Perhaps in his hurry, the waiter didn’t notice the large pigskin lying on the ground, which had been dropped by the previous customer. As he stepped on it, his foot slipped, and his body wobbled, spilling the bowl of soup.
He quickly steadied himself, placing the bowl on a nearby counter and grabbing a cloth to wipe the edge of the bowl.
Just then, an orange stray cat appeared from nowhere.
“Meow—”
The big orange cat yowled sharply, running wild across the counter, and kicked the bowl of hot soup off the edge.
The steaming fish soup poured directly onto Miss Cao Liu, scalding her with the boiling liquid.
Caught up in her thoughts about complaining to her father, Miss Cao Liu hadn’t paid attention to her surroundings. She was completely unprepared as the scalding soup hit her face.
By the time she realized what had happened, her face was burning with intense pain.
“Ah!”
Miss Cao Liu screamed in agony, collapsing to the ground, clutching her scorched face, rolling and writhing in pain. “Ah, help! Help!”
Miss Cao Qi was stunned and stood frozen in place, unable to react for a long time.
It was only when some people passing by noticed the commotion that they rushed over to ask, “Are you both alright?”
Miss Cao Liu, with her face now swollen and blistered from the burns, groaned in pain, “Help! Help…”
As more people gathered, some recognized them as the daughters of the county magistrate and quickly rushed to help, escorting them to the nearest medical clinic.
The onlookers murmured among themselves, speculating about the incident.
Due to the loud commotion, Wan Chunmei, who was at Tan Erqian’s shop, also heard about the event.
“Is it true? Did the hot soup really spill all over her?”
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