Chapter 117 This feeling is so good.

Qiu Rongrong hadn’t expected that Wenyao would even understand this, and her interest was instantly piqued.
“Sister, please go on.”
In fact, Drunken Immortal Pavilion was not originally part of the Qiu family’s assets. It was only after she married into the family that her parents provided it as a dowry, and the cooks and staff were the original ones.
For all these years, Drunken Immortal Pavilion had operated like any other restaurant, the only difference being its ambiance and marginally superior chefs. Even so, profits were often unremarkable.
Ultimately, the competition was fierce.
Wenyao’s points were ones she understood well, but a truly exceptional chef was not easy to find. In fact, business at Drunken Immortal Pavilion had once been worse than it is now. It was only after she brought a chef from her family’s restaurant and introduced some southern dishes that business began to improve.
Were it not for this, she wouldn’t have paid such close attention to Wenyao. She had tasted Wenyao’s cooking—the dishes Wenyao made for the old madam that day had been prepared in double portions, and Qiu Rongrong had tried them herself.
To put it plainly, her desire to help Wenyao was, in some way, also an effort to help herself.
Seeing that Qiu Rongrong was interested, Wenyao continued, “I won’t promise too much, but each month I can provide you with two new dishes—steamed, boiled, braised, fried, pan-seared, stir-fried, marinated, stewed, even desserts and drinks. I guarantee a constant stream of new offerings to attract customers.”
Qiu Rongrong studied Wenyao, suddenly wondering if she had misjudged this girl. How old was she? Nine? Ten? And yet she dared to make such bold claims.
Wenyao raised an eyebrow. “You don’t believe me, Sister?”
Qiu Rongrong hesitated before replying honestly, “Sister, it’s not that I doubt you… but you’re so young…” She left the rest unsaid. Even her own chefs dared not promise to create two new dishes every month and maintain a continuous supply. Even if you changed the cooking method, it was still the same ingredients at heart. Breaking convention was no simple feat.
Wenyao was not surprised. After all, she was only ten years old—a hard age for others to trust, since she was still a child.
“Then, Sister, do you dare to make a wager with me?” Now that Wenyao had set her sights on a goal, she knew what to do.
In the original book, Xie Anyi became the richest man in the land, not only due to the heroine’s use of her space to cheat and their joint ventures, but even before meeting the heroine, Xie Anyi had already carved out a place for himself in the business world. Otherwise, the heroine wouldn’t have targeted him, gradually manipulating him to her will.
As for his early achievements, Wenyao didn’t believe for a moment that the Qiu family hadn’t aided him. Yet, their fate was ultimately grim.
Wenyao’s first impression of Qiu Rongrong was good. She tended to trust her instincts—if her first impression of someone was positive, later interactions would be colored by that initial feeling.
Besides, if she didn’t help Qiu Rongrong now, would she just wait for Xie Anyi to climb over the Qiu family’s back to success, only to become a lackey for that foolish heroine and cause endless trouble?
Knowing the direction of the story, Wenyao would never allow such a thing to happen.

“What’s the wager?” Qiu Rongrong asked.
Wenyao held up a single finger. “Just one dish.”

—

Xie Yushan sat there awkwardly, feeling like he was on pins and needles, when he suddenly saw Wenyao and Qiu Rongrong rise. Xie Yushan hurriedly called out, “Madam, where are you going?”
His shout drew everyone’s attention to Qiu Rongrong and Wenyao.

Qiu Rongrong turned and curtsied. “My lord, I’m taking Sister Wenyao to the kitchen for a look.”
Xie Yushan frowned, his tone full of reproach. “Why are you taking a guest to the kitchen? This isn’t proper.” His words were sharp, as if Qiu Rongrong’s actions were a disgrace to the Xie family.

And besides, Qiu Rongrong was obviously treated far better than he was, yet instead of using this opportunity to ingratiate herself with Master Qiu or seek advantages for her own son, she was taking that country bumpkin to the kitchen instead?
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.
He cast Qiu Rongrong a fierce glare.

Qiu Rongrong’s hand tightened around her handkerchief. Once again, that look. She’d had enough.
Every time she tried to do something for herself, if Xie Yushan was dissatisfied, he’d look at her like this and criticize her from his high perch.

Just then, Shopkeeper Qiu spoke up, his face doting as he looked at Wenyao. “Wenyao wants to see the kitchen of Drunken Immortal Pavilion? If so, then I’ll trouble Madam Xie to accompany her. My little girl has always loved to study the culinary arts.”
Doctor Jin stroked his beard and added, “She should see it—learn from the great chefs, so that Old Qiu and I can enjoy even better meals in the future.”
Wenyao looked timidly at Xie Yushan, her head lowered. “But Lord Xie doesn’t seem too willing…”
Shopkeeper Qiu turned directly to Qiu Rongrong, frowning as he asked, “If I recall, isn’t this restaurant yours? Or am I mistaken?”
For some reason, seeing Xie Yushan’s face contort as if he’d swallowed a fly, Qiu Rongrong felt an unexpected surge of satisfaction.
The sensation startled her—so this is what it feels like to have someone stand up for you. Even if it was just for the sake of the young girl beside her, it still felt… wonderful.

“You are not mistaken, sir. This restaurant is indeed part of my dowry,” Qiu Rongrong replied, her tone calm and composed, not sparing Xie Yushan a single glance despite his darkened expression.

At this, Xie Yushan’s face turned a shade reminiscent of pig’s liver.
But Shopkeeper Qiu wasn’t finished. He glanced at Xie Yushan, as if by accident, and commented, “I thought perhaps the owner had changed.”
Finally, Xie Yushan could hold it in no longer, but facing someone he couldn’t afford to offend, he could only force a smile uglier than a grimace. “Since you say so, sir, then go ahead. Take good care of our guest.”
“Yes,” Qiu Rongrong replied with a curtsy, then left with Wenyao.

Once outside, Qiu Rongrong let out a long breath. Even the bustling, overheated restaurant felt refreshingly cool compared to moments ago.

Wenyao watched everything quietly, a faint smile in her heart. So she knows how to resist—she’s not entirely weak.

Back in the private room, Shopkeeper Qiu wisely shifted the topic, engaging Xie Yushan in conversation.
“Where is your eldest son, Lord Xie? I don’t see him here today.”
Xie Yushan immediately perked up. That Qiu Zhi would mention his eldest son! Although he’d brought his younger son today to seek opportunities, if Qiu Zhi was willing to teach his eldest, he wouldn’t hesitate to bring him back from the clan academy.
As for the younger son, he could teach him himself.
With this in mind, Xie Yushan quickly replied, “Yuan’er was sent to the clan academy a few years ago. I’m surprised you remember him, sir.”
Shopkeeper Qiu merely responded with a noncommittal “oh,” and remarked, “The Xie clan academy is a fine place.”
Xie Yushan smiled. “Naturally, it can’t compare to your teaching, sir. If Yuan’er could study under you, that would be his greatest fortune.”
Shopkeeper Qiu nearly laughed. His relationship with the Xie family’s capital branch was far from cordial. If those capital Xies heard this, they’d surely die of anger. Ha!