Chapter Twenty: Get In Here and Apologize

“Does it not taste as good as before?” Bao Mingzhi asked expectantly.

“No, no, no, Old Bao, this is truly the best stir-fried lamb with scallions I’ve ever eaten!” the guest exclaimed, visibly moved.

Upon hearing this, Bao Mingzhi’s expression changed at once, without a trace of joy at the compliment.

“This lamb is perfectly cooked—crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and incredibly fragrant! Even the scallions are infused with the aroma of the meat!” the guest said with a broad smile. “Old Bao, did you hire a new chef? If possible, I must meet this chef!”

This guest’s surname was Qin, given name Zhengde. He owned a jewelry shop in town—not as wealthy as the great merchants, but living comfortably. His greatest pleasure was tasting good food, and since he was somewhat acquainted with Bao Mingzhi, he often came to dine at the Wanhua Restaurant. The cooks there were decent—at least better than most he’d tried elsewhere. Yet he always felt something was missing.

He never expected that today he would taste a dish this delicious.

At this, cold sweat broke out on Bao Mingzhi’s forehead. What should he do? That little girl actually had such skill! Now he’d have to pay those three brothers their wages—damn it!

Just then, Lin Sangqian walked over, smiling. “Hello, I made this dish.”

“What?” Qin Zhengde was stunned. “You? You made it?”

He hadn’t imagined that such a marvelous dish could come from such a young girl. He looked to Bao Mingzhi, who, unable to lie, could only nod.

“How old are you, little lady?”

“I’m ten,” Lin Sangqian replied openly. Yet in her heart, she felt a twinge of guilt—her soul was already over twenty.

“Hahaha, wonderful! For a girl of only ten to have such skill—your future is limitless!” Qin Zhengde said, pulling a hairpin from his pocket. “This is a new design from our shop. Let me give it to you!”

“What?” Lin Sangqian was taken aback. “That’s... that’s too much. I can’t accept...”

“Take it!” Qin Zhengde insisted, placing it in her hand. “I don’t have many hobbies—just a love for good food! Today you made me such an incredible dish; I’ll be happy for days. This hairpin isn’t expensive; you’ve earned it.”

“Then thank you, sir,” Lin Sangqian replied, no longer demurring, and accepted it.

Qin Zhengde returned to his meal, eating with delight and occasionally sipping his wine.

Lin Sangqian exchanged a glance with Lin Hongda, then led her brothers back to the kitchen. Bao Mingzhi followed close behind.

“Manager, don’t forget what you promised,” Lin Sangqian said with a cold smile. “After what just happened, we’re even. And remember to pay my brothers what you owe them.”

Bao Mingzhi was incensed, bitterly regretting that he had agreed to such terms with Lin Sangqian. Still, seeing her skill, he thought, if only he could keep her working for him...

Forcing a fawning smile, he replied, “Of course, you’ll have what you’re owed.” He pulled out a pouch of silver and counted carefully.

“They each earn a hundred wen a month. For three months, that’s three hundred each—nine hundred in total. I’ll just give you one tael of silver. The extra can be considered a token of thanks to Miss Lin.”

Here, one tael of silver equaled one thousand wen, so Bao Mingzhi was giving them an extra hundred.

Lin Wenyen accepted the silver without hesitation, a cold smile in his heart. Before, Bao Mingzhi often docked their pay for trivial reasons; though their wage was supposed to be a hundred wen a month, some months they received only half. Now, he was giving them only a hundred extra—far from making up their previous losses.

Still, they had no intention of pursuing it further.

“Fine,” said Lin Sangqian. “Oh, and one more thing...”

Her tone suddenly turned steely. “The one who deliberately tripped my second brother—have him come and apologize. Now.”

“What?” Bao Mingzhi was taken aback.

“Manager, someone really did trip me,” Lin Yanbei said. “Otherwise, why would I fall for no reason? I’ve never made such a mistake before.”

Bao Mingzhi had no desire to intervene, but with a favor still owed to Lin Sangqian, he relented. “Who was it? I’ll make him apologize.”

Lin Sangqian lifted the kitchen curtain and looked out into the main hall. Soon, she spotted the young man from before and pointed directly at him. “That’s him!”

The young man’s name was Qian San. Known for his petty thievery, he often clashed with the three Lin brothers, who disapproved of him.

That was why he’d harbored ill intent and purposefully tripped Lin Yanbei earlier.

Bao Mingzhi nodded. Once Qian San had finished pouring wine for a table of guests, he called out, “Qian San, come here!”

“Yes, Manager!” Qian San trotted over eagerly. “What do you need?”

Bao Mingzhi pulled him into the kitchen. “Miss Lin says you deliberately tripped Lin Yanbei just now. So, apologize.”

Qian San never imagined his earlier mischief would be spotted. His face fell instantly.

He quickly protested, “Manager, I’m being wronged! Why would I trip Lin Yanbei for no reason?”

“Maybe because you’ve never gotten along with us?” Lin Yanbei retorted angrily.

“But that doesn’t mean I’d do such a thing! Oh, I see now. Just because you don’t like me, you told this little girl to frame me, didn’t you?” Qian San shot back, refusing to yield.

“You—”

“What about it? You accuse me of tripping you—do you have any proof?” Qian San sneered.

Lin Yanbei was furious, and both Lin Wenyen and Lin Beitao clenched their fists in anger.

At that moment, Lin Hongda stepped forward, his gaze icy as he fixed it on Qian San.

“So you dare to do it but not to admit it?”

Only fourteen, Qian San was still just a boy. Seeing an adult look so intimidating, he shrank back, hurriedly appealing to Bao Mingzhi. “Manager, look—he’s trying to scare me into admitting something I didn’t do!”

“Scare you? Soon you’ll see that my fists are good for more than intimidation,” Lin Hongda said, cracking his knuckles with a menacing snap.

Qian San turned pale. “You—you’re not going to hit me, are you?”

“You deliberately tripped my son. Why shouldn’t I?”

The three brothers looked at Lin Hongda with admiration. In their eyes, their father was nothing short of imposing.

“You can’t do this! I—I didn’t do anything...”