Chapter Sixty-Three: Stealing Business

Who could be visiting at this hour? Lin Hongda and his son, Lin Wenyan, exchanged glances, both wary. They hoped to settle into town peacefully, not wanting any trouble on their very first day.

Lin Hongda approached the door, but instead of opening it immediately, he called out, “Who is it?”

“Uncle Lin, it’s me!” came Yang Shi’s voice from outside.

Relieved, Lin Hongda quickly opened the door and ushered Yang Shi inside.

“Little Yang, what brings you here?”

“You said yesterday that you were moving in today, so I came by to see if you needed any help,” Yang Shi replied, handing a box of pastries to Lin Wenyan.

“We’ve finished unpacking. There wasn’t much to move, but thank you for coming,” Lin Hongda said. “We were planning to invite you and Manager Lu at the end of the month for a warming party.”

At this, Yang Shi swallowed involuntarily. Sister Sangqian’s cooking was so good—when the time came, he would surely feast!

“Have you eaten?” Lin Wenyan asked.

“I ate at the shop,” Yang Shi replied.

At that moment, Zhao Lan’er finished washing the dishes and emerged from the kitchen. She nodded shyly at Yang Shi and returned to her room.

Yang Shi was taken aback, then asked after a moment, “Who was that girl? Wenyan, I remember you said you only had one sister.”

“She’s my sister’s friend, staying with us for now,” Lin Wenyan explained.

Yang Shi nodded and didn’t ask further. After chatting for a while, he took his leave.

The next morning, Lin Sangqian went to the Fortune Banquet Restaurant.

Lu Chengren was overjoyed to see her, thinking she might bring a new recipe, but Lin Sangqian smiled and said, “Manager Lu, I need a favor.”

Lu Chengren was speechless. This girl!

“Just tell me,” Lu Chengren waved his hand magnanimously. “Whatever it is, I’ll help if I can.”

After all, the chicken feet and potato chips she’d supplied were huge hits at the restaurant.

Soon, with the introduction of sweet and sour pork, the restaurant’s business would surpass anything before. Across the street, Bao Mingzhi must be tearing his hair out in frustration.

By now, calling Lin Sangqian his “Goddess of Wealth” wasn’t an exaggeration.

“I want to hire some workers,” Lin Sangqian said. “Five should be enough for now.”

“You want to hire workers?” Lu Chengren was puzzled. “What for?”

“To make chicken feet,” Lin Sangqian blinked. “It’s too much work for one person, so I can only supply you every few days and not in large quantities. Now I want to hire help.”

“I see,” Lu Chengren nodded. “Chicken feet are in high demand, and many people can’t get any and are anxious. But I remember you once told me that if something becomes too easy to obtain, it loses its appeal.”

Lin Sangqian was speechless. How did Manager Lu remember everything so well?

“But the facts show chicken feet are extremely popular. With more supply, more people will buy, and Fortune Banquet’s profits will increase,” Lin Sangqian smiled.

Lu Chengren gave a helpless smile. “You have a way with words. All right, leave it to me. Hiring a few workers is simple.”

“But I have a small condition,” Lin Sangqian said. “The workers must be honest and diligent, and they must sign a confidentiality agreement.”

She hadn’t given the recipe for the chicken feet to the restaurant, not only to keep profiting, but also to prevent the pickled pepper secret from being leaked and causing trouble.

After all, the restaurant’s staff were beyond her control.

If she hired her own workers with a confidentiality agreement, it would be much more reliable.

Even if someone did let slip the secret, she would have an escape plan.

“All right, I understand,” Lu Chengren said. “Tomorrow, I’ll have Yang Shi bring the workers to you.”

“Thank you, Manager Lu!” Lin Sangqian smiled. “To show my gratitude, I’ll provide a recipe free of charge to the restaurant today.”

“Really?” Lu Chengren’s eyes sparkled. “Sangqian, I knew you wouldn’t disappoint me!”

“When the time comes, you can launch this dish a few days after introducing the sweet and sour pork,” Lin Sangqian said. “Catch Wanhua Restaurant off guard.”

“Excellent! That was my plan as well.”

As they discussed, Yang Shi came running in, flustered.

“Manager! It’s bad—Wanhua Restaurant has launched potato chips too! They guarantee theirs taste just as good as ours, but they’re selling for only eight coins a serving! And they even have French fries!”

Lu Chengren and Lin Sangqian exchanged glances.

It seemed the chef at Wanhua Restaurant was formidable.

“No worries,” Lu Chengren chuckled. “It’s finally time to launch sweet and sour pork. I didn’t expect the day to come so soon.”

He had thought they’d have to wait a few more days.

But it suited him perfectly.

Outside Wanhua Restaurant, tables were set up selling potato chips and fries.

Qian San was boasting at the entrance, repeatedly assuring everyone that their potato chips and fries were just as good as those at Wanhua Restaurant.

Because of previous events, passersby were skeptical.

Yet, with the price now at eight coins, someone eventually bought a serving.

“It’s delicious! Tastes exactly like what Fortune Banquet sells!”

“Fortune Banquet charges twenty coins, but Wanhua is only eight! What are you waiting for? Buy some!”

Suddenly, a crowd surged forward.

Yang Shi stomped his feet in frustration.

“They’ve dropped the price to eight coins a serving—aren’t they losing money?”

Lin Sangqian said softly, “Right now, they only want to steal business from Fortune Banquet. As long as they win over customers, everything else will follow.”

“Despicable!”

“There’s nothing to be done. Potato chips and fries were developed through their own skill,” Lin Sangqian smiled. “But sweet and sour pork won’t be so easy. Brother Yang, you can start calling out now.”

Yang Shi nodded and immediately went to the restaurant entrance, shouting, “Fortune Banquet’s new dish! One hundred coins a plate, today only!”

This was Lu Chengren’s instruction—to lower the price today and attract customers.

Even if the price doubled tomorrow, those who tasted the dish would crave it and return.

As expected, his call drew immediate interest.

“Young man, what’s the new dish?”

“Sweet and sour pork!” Yang Shi announced proudly. “All pork!”

“A meat dish? Only one hundred coins a plate? I have to try it—is it good?”

“Of course! If it’s not, you can take it out on me!”

Lunchtime was approaching, and many people streamed into Fortune Banquet Restaurant, nearly driving Qian San mad with envy.

Potato chips were good, but with Fortune Banquet leading the way, even at a lower price, they weren’t as popular.

Most townsfolk weren’t short of money and were used to buying at Fortune Banquet—they wouldn’t switch easily.

Especially now that Fortune Banquet had launched a new dish!

Sweet and sour pork? What on earth was that?