Chapter Thirty: Resignation Blocked

Ten taels of silver was not a significant sum for Lu Chengren. So, after only a brief moment of thought, he said, “Deal!”

Lin Sangqian smiled with satisfaction. In truth, she was thrilled inside. She had expected things would work out, but hadn’t imagined it would go so smoothly.

Before, they had been counting every single coin they earned, but now, in a blink, they had ten taels of silver. For an ordinary farming family, that was enough to cover a whole year’s expenses!

Still, she couldn’t let her excitement show too much—she had to remain calm and composed. So, outwardly, she maintained an air of tranquil ease.

True to his word, Lu Chengren immediately took out ten taels of silver and three hundred copper coins, put them all in a money pouch, and handed it to her.

The pouch was heavy in her hand, and Lin Sangqian felt a surge of contentment. At last, she would be able to buy each family member a decent set of clothes.

“Yang Shi, go and post a notice at the entrance right away. Announce that today, every table of guests will receive two complimentary chicken feet,” Lu Chengren instructed. “If they want more, they’ll have to pay sixty copper coins for a plate. Each jin will be sold as two plates. Limited quantity—first come, first served!”

“Yes, Master!” Yang Shi replied cheerfully. After all, he was the one who had introduced Lin Sangqian to Lu Chengren; if this venture made money, he was sure to be rewarded. How lucky he was—thanks to little Sangqian!

“Oh, what name should we give these chicken feet?” Yang Shi asked.

Lu Chengren looked at Lin Sangqian, who thought for a moment and said, “Let’s call them Spicy Flavor Chicken Feet.”

It was best, she thought, not to use the term “pickled pepper.” Besides, adding “spicy” would alert those who couldn’t handle heat.

“Excellent! That’s the name,” Lu Chengren agreed.

With Yang Shi off to put up the notice, Lu Chengren turned to Lin Sangqian and smiled. “Miss Lin, if I’m not mistaken, you must be the same young lady who showed such skill at Wanhua Restaurant a few days ago?”

“So you’ve heard about that, Master Lu?” Lin Sangqian asked in surprise.

“Our two restaurants are right across from each other. How could I not have heard?” Lu Chengren replied. “With your talent, I’m sure you can cook far more than just these two dishes. Whatever else you can make that suits our establishment, we can work together—I’m sure we can agree on a good price!”

Lin Sangqian had been thinking the same.

The chicken feet, after all, were only the opening to further collaborations with Fortune Pavilion. There would be many more opportunities ahead.

“Don’t worry, Master Lu. If I come up with any new dishes suitable for the restaurant, I’ll bring them to Fortune Pavilion first,” Lin Sangqian promised. “For now, let’s see how the chicken feet sell.”

Lu Chengren keenly caught the word “first” in her reply. The girl was reminding him that Fortune Pavilion was not her only option... What a clever little thing!

He couldn’t help thinking how wonderful it would be to have such a smart, adorable daughter—he would spoil her endlessly!

After bidding farewell to Lu Chengren, Lin Sangqian left the restaurant through the back door, where Lin Wenyen and Liao Shuxia were still waiting for her.

“How did it go?” Lin Wenyen asked eagerly.

Seeing Lin Sangqian’s empty hands, Liao Shuxia guessed things had worked out, and sure enough, Lin Sangqian pulled out a money pouch and waved it in front of them.

“There’s more than ten taels in here!”

Ten taels! Lin Wenyen was stunned. He had never seen so much silver in his life. Yet now, his little sister had earned it!

“Daughter, you’re amazing!” Liao Shuxia said excitedly.

“Brother, let’s go find Manager Bao now,” Lin Sangqian said.

“What for?” Lin Wenyen asked, confused. “I thought you weren’t going to work with him.”

“Of course not. I’m going to tell him that from now on, you and our second and third brothers won’t be working at Wanhua Restaurant anymore!”

Before, she hadn’t let her brothers come home because the family was still barely scraping by, and the goods in her system’s space required points to exchange, which wasn’t stable. If she had brought her brothers back then, the whole family might have starved.

But now, with ten taels of silver in hand—even if her system’s space was unreliable—that was enough for the family to manage for quite some time! And with her new partnership with Fortune Pavilion, there would be even more money to come.

There was no need for her three brothers to keep working for the miserly Manager Bao Mingzhi. She wanted them home, to help earn money, and then to send them to school!

Lin Wenyen’s eyes lit up, as if he couldn’t quite believe it. “Really? We don’t have to work at the restaurant anymore?”

“Of course! You were never meant to spend your lives working for others,” Lin Sangqian said, her eyes shining. “Who knows, maybe you’ll all accomplish great things one day.”

Liao Shuxia patted Lin Wenyen’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, son—our family’s good days are right around the corner!”

Lin Wenyen’s eyes grew moist. He had always thought they would spend their lives in poverty, at the mercy of others. He never imagined such changes would come to his parents and little sister, that their days would keep improving, and that they wouldn’t even have to work at the restaurant anymore!

He returned to Wanhua Restaurant, called his two younger brothers, and together they went to see Bao Mingzhi.

“Miss Lin, you’re here!” Bao Mingzhi’s face lit up the moment he saw Lin Sangqian. “Well? Have you decided to become our head chef?”

Lin Sangqian smiled and replied, “Manager Bao, you misunderstand. I’m here today to tell you that my mother and I will be taking my three brothers home. They won’t be working here anymore.”

“What?” Bao Mingzhi was stunned, then immediately anxious. “What’s the meaning of this? Things were going so well—why leave all of a sudden?”

“We have land now, and need people to farm it,” Lin Sangqian lied without hesitation.

Bao Mingzhi’s eyes darted about as he put on a troubled expression. “This is too sudden. If all three brothers leave at once, I’ll be short-handed at the restaurant.”

“Manager Bao, in this town, if you say you’re hiring, I’m sure plenty will come for you to choose from,” Lin Sangqian replied with a smile.

Bao Mingzhi was at a loss for words. That was true enough—hiring help was hardly difficult these days. Still, if the three Lin brothers left, it would be hard for him to see Lin Sangqian again! Besides, they were diligent workers and cheap—he really didn’t want to lose such a bargain.

“Miss Lin, your three brothers have worked here quite a while. I truly hate to see them go. How about I give each of them an extra fifty coins a month? Please, let them stay.”

“I’m sorry, Manager Bao, but I must take my brothers home today.”

At these words, Bao Mingzhi’s face darkened at once.

“So, you’re refusing a toast, and would rather drink the punishment?”