Chapter Thirty-One: Everyone Has Their Own Palm to Face

Liang Yunqing detested nothing more than people who put on airs. She reached out and landed a slap so sharp it left the man before her dazed, his ears ringing.

"You—you dare strike me! I am the grandson of the Academy Master..."

"Smack!"

Another slap. The man, seemingly still unconvinced, roared with reddened eyes, "I am the Academy Master’s grand—"

"Smack!"

Liang Yunqing switched hands; using only one was tiring. She picked at her ear and said, "Even if you were my own grandson, it wouldn’t save you."

"Smack!"

A rhythmic exchange of left and right slaps followed until the man’s eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the floor. The fan he had been using to feign literary sophistication lay discarded on the ground, his face swollen like a monkey’s backside—a sight both comical and grotesque.

"I didn't want to resort to violence, but since you all enjoy watching the spectacle so much, I’ll give you your fill!"

Liang Yunqing figured that since she was already striking one, she might as well strike them all. With the group gathered, she decided to finish the job. Those who had been hiding in the back, trying to act invisible, immediately wore expressions of despair. A thin man trembled and stammered, "Could I... could I slap myself?"

"That’s too much trouble. Leave it to me."

With that, Liang Yunqing set to work, her palms flying toward the students who had been enjoying the show.

"That’s for egging people on!"
"That’s for being so fond of gossip!"
"That’s for putting on airs!"
"And you—your face is just asking for it, so take two!"

The first floor fell into a silence broken only by the sound of slaps. Everyone stared in stunned disbelief: a thin woman in patched, coarse linen clothes was systematically slapping a group of scholars.

Finally, after everyone had received their share, Liang Yunqing waved her hand generously, signaling she was done. The victims clutched their faces, terrified to make a sound or a movement lest they trigger another beating.

Liang Yunqing straightened her back and addressed the group, her tone steady and forceful. "I struck you for two reasons: first, because you are men who, instead of doing anything worthwhile, only know how to stir up trouble and bully in numbers. Second, to offer you a piece of advice: 'One should be a hero among men, and in death, a legend among ghosts.' Stop wasting your time on such childish, foolish behavior."

The advice left the group stunned. They couldn't fathom how such words could come from the mouth of a farm girl.

"You... have you read books?" one man asked, trembling.

"I haven't. It just came to me in the moment."

The group seemed skeptical, yet no one dared to question her further.

"One should be a hero among men, and in death, a legend among ghosts..." The crowd murmured the lines, and several even turned to leave, their eyes brimming with tears. Even the Academy Master’s son, previously so arrogant, looked ashen. He couldn't believe that someone he had looked down upon could recite such verse.

"Impossible... you haven't even read the classics." He shook his head in disbelief, but meeting Liang Yunqing’s stubborn, clear gaze, the words died in his throat. Suddenly, he felt that being beaten might not have been such a bad thing; the fog in his mind had vanished. He felt a sudden, burning desire to read, to record those lines—no, he wanted to be able to write such poetry himself one day!

Liang Yunqing was bewildered as the man on the floor suddenly scrambled up, bowed deeply to her, and sprinted away. Was he beaten stupid?

[The system believes he was beaten into clarity.]

Wasn't he awake with his eyes open the whole time?

[Host, you really are...]

Seeing the others around her gradually adopt expressions of sudden realization, bowing to her before departing, Liang Yunqing stood confused. Liang Youcai, lying on the ground, felt a mix of fear and lingering, bitter resentment. The other man, however, was more pragmatic; he stumbled to his feet and said to her back, "I’ll remember today! Just wait..."

"Remembering is good, because," Liang Yunqing turned slowly, her clear, spring-like eyes fixed coldly on him from beneath her fringe, "every time I see you from now on, I will strike you again."

Without waiting for his response, she turned away. The hall remained deathly quiet. Manager Yang exchanged a look with Liang’s parents. Liang Mingxue, as if reading his mind, spoke first: "She’s like this at home, too. You’ll get used to it."

Manager Yang swallowed hard. He hadn't realized Liang Yunqing was so unique—not only was she a master in the kitchen, but she was clearly a master at slapping, too.

Liang Yunqing scanned the room. Anyone who caught her eye immediately looked away, busy with their own tasks—maids tidying clothes, young ladies pale with fright. Everyone had suddenly found something to do.

Ignoring them, she walked to her parents. Seeing that the wound on her father's head had been bandaged by the doctor Manager Yang had summoned, she said, "Thank you, Manager Yang."

"Don't mention it, Miss Liang, you are too polite," the manager replied hurriedly.

"I caused a scene and disrupted the business of the Joyous Restaurant today. I am willing to compensate for the damages; just deduct it from my payment." Liang Yunqing glanced at the overturned tables and the departing patrons.

Manager Yang waved his hands dismissively. "Nonsense. Miss Liang was merely defending herself. I am sure the proprietor will understand."

Of course he would understand; just moments ago, when he had intended to go upstairs to report the incident, he had looked up to see his employer standing on the third-floor balcony, face glowing with delight and approval. Deduct money? Not a chance.

"Are you sure?" Liang Yunqing knew the Joyous Restaurant was a prestigious establishment; she hadn't expected them to be so lenient toward a supplier.

A deep voice echoed through the hall. "Well done."

A dark figure descended the stairs. Dressed in black with a gold belt, a beauty of ambiguous gender appeared before them. Liang Mingxue and his wife stared, wide-eyed.

"Proprietor Xia, I'm sorry to have disturbed you," Liang Yunqing said, feeling somewhat awkward. She awkwardly mimicked the bow she had seen the others perform. Was this how one bowed?

"Heh..." Xia Shi’an’s lips curled into a smile. Watching Liang Yunqing perform the male greeting made her seem all the more pleasing. "One should be a hero among men, and in death, a legend among ghosts. Very good."

"Hehe, it was just something I blurted out." Liang Yunqing felt a pang of guilt, silently apologizing to Li Qingzhao in her heart.

Proprietor Xia didn't press the matter, nodding slightly to the stunned parents before saying calmly, "Manager Yang will handle your payment. You may leave now, Miss Liang."