The coffee shop dispute escalates

"I just wanted to ask, does your shop have a rule that everyone who comes in has to order a drink?" Chi Qing remained seated, showing no intention of getting up.

"Ma'am, we don't have such a rule."

Having gotten a clear picture of the situation, the manager quickly looked Chi Qing and Wang Xiaoyan over. She paused when she saw Chi Qing's coat, but after seeing the plainly dressed Wang Xiaoyan and the keys to Little White that Chi Qing had casually left on the table, she immediately decided: Mm, the coat must be fake. These two are ordinary people.

"We don't have a rule, but please understand, ma'am, we run a business to make money, not to provide charity."

The manager spoke with apparent politeness but actual arrogance, making her meaning perfectly clear.

"Charity?"

Chi Qing let out a snort of laughter. "May I ask what charity you've provided? Did you give us this coffee for free, or did you buy this milk? I'd just like to know which national regulation says you can ban outside drinks, and which clause in the consumer agreement says I have to order coffee!"

Chi Qing's voice grew louder as she spoke, and by the last sentence, there was a trace of anger in it.

Some of the people at the other tables looked over.

"Qingqing, don't get upset. Let's go," Wang Xiaoyan said beside her, suddenly a little nervous.

"Ma'am." Seeing things taking a bad turn, the manager, who hadn't expected Chi Qing to have such a temper, immediately said, "Please don't cause a scene in our shop. Please leave right now."

"Sorry, but I've made a purchase at your establishment. This cup of coffee bought me not just coffee, but the right to use your premises until closing time today," Chi Qing said with a smile.

Customers who ordered little were usually relatively short of money, and people like that cared even more about saving face. All a server had to do was drop a slight hint, and they would immediately order more. This was therefore a little trick the shop used with unfailing success.

Wang Xiaoyan just now had been one such example.

But unexpectedly, the manager had misjudged Chi Qing. This one was "thick-skinned."

Still, banning outside drinks and preferring everyone to order a drink were both unwritten rules. If someone really insisted on making a formal issue of it, the manager certainly wouldn't dare stand her ground.

"How can you be so shameless?"

Before the manager could speak, the young waitress beside her lost her temper. "Are you so poor you've gone crazy? Three people order one cup of coffee, and you want to stay here until we close?"

"Hey, young lady, what kind of way is that to speak?"

Wang Xiaoyan lost her temper too. She had actually always been straightforward and brisk, but financial hardship had made her more reserved outside, especially in public places like this.

But hearing the waitress speak to Chi Qing like that now, her anger flared right up.

"Xiaoyan, calm down." Still sitting calmly on the sofa, Chi Qing caught Xiaoyan as she started to rise.

"Miaomiao's here. Don't frighten her." Only then did Wang Xiaoyan remember her daughter. Sure enough, seeing her get up had made the girl a little nervous. She hurriedly held Miaomiao and comforted her softly.

"Manager, what do you have to say about this?" Chi Qing ignored the young waitress, simply looking at the manager with a smile as she asked.

"Ma'am, there's right and wrong on both sides here. Since it's already become an argument, let's not split hairs over wording."

The manager was blatantly taking her employee's side, with an air of What can you do about it?

"If you really have an issue with this, then I'll apologize to you on Lili's behalf." Though this last sentence was ostensibly an apology, her tone was actually extremely arrogant.

"All right, then I don't accept your apology," Chi Qing said, giving the manager a slow look. "Xiaoyan, let's go."

Then she picked up the coat and car keys beside her and stood.

"Ah, oh, okay." Wang Xiaoyan hurriedly took Miaomiao along and followed with the laptop, thinking, Thank goodness. I was all ready to roll up my sleeves and fight. It just wouldn't have been good with Miaomiao here.

"Tch, she really put on quite an act," the young waitress muttered. The manager returned triumphantly to the counter and added with apparent politeness, "Take care, ma'am," her words distinctly provocative.

"Qingqing, don't be upset. It's all my fault for not thinking things through," Wang Xiaoyan hurriedly said as soon as they left the coffee shop.

"Xiaoyan, what do you think of this coffee shop's location?" Instead of answering Wang Xiaoyan, Chi Qing asked her a question.