Chapter 22

She gazed calmly at Tang Jin, her eyes deep and clear, her expression serene.

“I’m fine,” Tang Jin said, withdrawing her gaze to look toward Old Madam Tang. “Grandmother, the city gates are about to close. Let me escort you back.”

Old Madam Tang looked reluctant. She still wanted to stay by her precious Chu Lingyue’s side…

Fine, she would come back tomorrow. She would visit every single day!

After seeing Old Madam Tang out of the city, Tang Jin returned and shut the shop door.

“Wife, why don’t you go make the bed first? I need to discuss something with Laidi.”

Seeing that Tang Jin seemed intent on sending Chu Lingyue away, Tang Laidi took the initiative. “What do you need to discuss?”

Tang Jin thought for a moment before asking, “Do you have any connections to look into Chu Shaoyang’s background? The more information on the Chu family, the better.”

She suspected Chu Shaoyang had noticed her probing, which was why she hadn’t said much.

In other words, since Chu Shaoyang had no intention of laying all her cards on the table, Tang Jin would have to investigate discreetly on her own.

What if Chu Lingyue’s origins turned out to be problematic, something that made it unwise for her to show her face in public?

Tang Jin couldn’t claim to look out for Chu Lingyue in every way, but she didn’t want her getting into trouble either—cough, cough—mainly because she was worried it would affect the restaurant’s business.

Tang Laidi had worked as a constable at the County Yamen for a year, so she might be able to help in this regard.

“Leave it to me—just this little thing?” Tang Laidi slapped her shoulder with bold confidence. By now, most people at the yamen had gone home, but a couple of jugs of wine would win over the old clerks there. She could dig up the Chu family’s ancestral registry from top to bottom.

“Be careful. Actually, never mind—I’ll go with you.” Tang Jin gave a few reminders but still felt uneasy. She said hello to Chu Lingyue, claiming she was going out for a stroll, and followed Tang Laidi out the door.

On the way, Tang Laidi asked Tang Jin for a tael of silver and bought two jugs of wine.

Tang Jin watched patiently from outside as Tang Laidi entered the County Yamen.

To her surprise, her little sister was quick about it. In less than a quarter of an hour, she came back out.

“Well? What did you find?” Tang Jin asked immediately.

“The Chu family registry only lists two people. Besides Scholar Chu and his daughter Chu Shaoyang’s personal details, it just notes they’re from the Imperial Capital. Nothing before that.” Gone was Tang Laidi’s earlier bravado; her tone carried a hint of dejection.

The Chu family must have paid off someone, or the yamen wouldn’t have such scant records.

“From the Imperial Capital…” Tang Jin murmured softly. Could Chu Lingyue be from there too?

“I heard something else, too. When you registered Lingyue’s household status back then, Chu Shaoyang had already put in a word ahead of time.” Tang Laidi lowered her voice. “Why are you asking about the Chu family?”

No wonder the yamen had registered Chu Lingyue—a woman of unknown origins—without question. It turned out Chu Shaoyang had pulled strings behind the scenes.

Who would have thought Chu Shaoyang had been coveting Chu Lingyue for a whole year already?

Hmm, that made her a real rival as far as her little sister was concerned.

Though she hadn’t uncovered much, Tang Jin had at least confirmed one thing: Chu Shaoyang likely knew Chu Lingyue from before her amnesia, and might even be aware of her true origins.

“It’s nothing. Just curiosity.”

But Tang Laidi wasn’t reassured. “Tang Jin, you can’t betray Lingyue. Give up on Chu Shaoyang sooner rather than later.”

That Miss Chu clearly had her eye on Chu Lingyue.

Her little sister’s romance was looking a bit shaky…

Tang Jin rolled her eyes. “You’re overthinking it. It’s getting dark—let’s head back.”

The two hurried back to the restaurant’s courtyard. When they entered the room and saw the state of things, Tang Laidi’s heart soared with joy. “Lingyue, you’re so thoughtful! I’ve been miserable sleeping on the floor these past couple days.”

She’d thought she’d have to keep sleeping on the hard ground. She hadn’t expected there to actually be a bed now. Hahaha!

“You’re the boss here. How could I let you sleep on the floor forever?” Chu Lingyue replied coolly, casting a sidelong glance at Tang Jin, whose expression looked rather odd.

What was wrong with this woman? She had the look of someone who’d just taken a blow.

Could it be this bed wasn’t meant for Tang Laidi after all?

She had to admit, Chu Lingyue had guessed right.

Tang Jin felt utterly frustrated, her heart clogged with disappointment.

She and Chu Lingyue had worked so hard to haul that bed here—for herself!

This woman was too considerate. She had even moved Tang Laidi’s bedding onto it!

So much for her separate-bedding scheme!

Was it too late to make her little sister sleep on the floor now?

Evidently so. Tang Laidi was already rolling gleefully on the bed.

Though frustrated, Tang Jin still needed her sleep, and she had dishes to stockpile.

She quietly sorted out her mood, washed up, and lay down beside Chu Lingyue.

After pondering for a bit, she asked casually, “Wife, you’re twenty-six this year, right?”

If the original host’s memories were accurate, when she had gone to the yamen a year ago to register Chu Lingyue’s household status, she had vaguely said “in her twenties,” with no specific number. Yet the old clerk had written down twenty-six without hesitation.

Now that she knew Chu Shaoyang had gotten in touch with the yamen beforehand, Tang Jin had good reason to suspect that detail had come from her too.

Judging by Chu Lingyue’s appearance, the age wasn’t far off. But why had Chu Shaoyang covered up her origins while telling the truth about her age?

Did she think faking the age would be too obvious? Better to stick to the facts?

Did Chu Lingyue even know her own age? Did she have no recollection of her past at all?

Chu Lingyue had said before that she remembered nothing, and the System hadn’t flagged it as a lie.

With that in mind, Tang Jin figured she was probably asking in vain.

Sure enough, Chu Lingyue replied softly, “I don’t know. Perhaps.”

Tang Jin had just turned twenty this year. She should be older than Tang Jin, right? But why was this woman suddenly asking her age?

At Tang Jin’s words, she glanced at the goods shelf floating in the void. It held only a plate of Crispy Fried Fresh Milk and a pot of Garlic Honey Glazed Chicken Wings—not even enough for six dishes.

So, what should she ask next?

So far, only one type of question had yielded the most rewards, and Chu Lingyue had never dodged it.

The simplest and most effective one was, of course, the daily question.

The best trick is the one that works.

“Wife, what do you think of me?”

Chu Lingyue frowned slightly. This was the third time. Why was this woman so fixated on the question?

She thought for a moment before replying coolly, “A-Jin is a good person, someone worth entrusting your future to.”

The exact same question, the exact same answer.

【Ding! Rewarded one pot of Abalone Chicken Wing Stew】

【Ding! Rewarded one pot of Garlic Honey Glazed Chicken Wings】

Hearing the System’s announcements, Tang Jin instantly realized the rewards were repeats of last time—because Chu Lingyue’s response was identical.

That meant if the question and answer stayed the same, so would the reward.

If that was the case, she could make good use of it. How could a restaurant survive without signature dishes?

Take these two, for instance. The clay pots were huge—each could be divided into three portions. Six dishes, all set.

Wait—why had Chu Lingyue’s answer matched the previous one word for word?

Was it deliberate? Or coincidence?

Tang Jin’s mind stirred. In an even tone, she pressed, “Do you really think so, wife?”

Chu Lingyue’s voice remained even. “Of course.”

【Ding! Rewarded one steamer of Custard Buns】

Seeing the new dish appear, Tang Jin breathed a sigh of relief. She had guessed right.

She had found the System’s second loophole.

But what about Chu Lingyue? Had she noticed anything?