Chapter 32

“Your wife is right, Grandmother. Rest assured, I’ll handle it well,” Tang Jin said, thoroughly pleased. She had to admit, with Chu Lingyue around, Old Madam Tang was completely under their thumb.

Old Madam Tang struggled for a moment but had no objections left. “Fine, we’ll do as Lingyue says. Now, drink up your congee before it gets cold.”

They polished off their bowls when a sudden knock echoed at the door.

The group exchanged glances, and Tang Jin went to open it.

Seeing the visitor, she frowned in confusion. “Sir, we’re not open yet.”

Wasn’t this a regular? He’d come several days in a row; he should know their hours.

Cao Kesang cupped his hands in greeting. “The name’s Cao. I’ve come to give you all a heads-up. Might I step inside to speak?”

“Please come in, Manager Cao,” Tang Jin said, noting his cautious expression. She stepped aside to let him pass.

The moment Cao Kesang entered, a faint, enticing aroma hit him—century eggs, lean meat, rice. Century egg lean meat congee!

He eyed the four empty bowls on the table wistfully, cleared his throat, and said, “Do you all remember that guest who shared my table yesterday?”

Old Madam Tang and Chu Lingyue looked baffled, but Tang Jin and Tang Laidi exchanged a glance before nodding in unison.

Not only did they remember him—they knew who he was.

Cao Kesang instinctively lowered his voice. “Do you know he’s Manager Lu from Tower Beyond Towers in Ping’an County? He might seem friendly and approachable, but he’s actually cunning and ruthless. He came in person yesterday—who knows what he’s after? You should all be on your guard.”

Tang Jin’s expression grew more serious. “Thank you for the warning, Merchant Cao. But I have to wonder why…”

She left the question hanging. They were all sharp enough; no need to spell it out.

After all, they had no prior dealings with him. Why the sudden kindness?

Cao Kesang gave an awkward chuckle. “No need to laugh, but I’m leaving Ping’an County tomorrow. I’ll be back next month, and I was hoping to stop by this restaurant again to satisfy my cravings. Maybe I’m overthinking it—please don’t mind my meddling.”

In short, it was all for the food.

He’d mulled it over all night after leaving yesterday, unable to shake his worry that he might not get another taste next time.

Tower Beyond Towers was a powerhouse, while this little restaurant—with his keen eye—seemed run by a few girls with no real backing, plus an old village woman who arrived later.

What if Tower Beyond Towers had ill intentions? Could this place hold out?

Besides, doing good deeds on the road couldn’t hurt—it built karma.

Tang Jin smiled. “Nonsense, Brother Cao. We’re grateful for your kindness. Please, have a seat. We’ve just finished breakfast. If you don’t mind, join us for a bowl of congee.”

Mindful of his goodwill, she quietly adjusted her address.

That single “brother” bridged the gap between strangers.

“I don’t mind at all!” Cao Kesang beamed. The congee here had to be delicious.

Once he was seated, they exchanged family names, easing the awkwardness.

“Brother Cao,” Chu Lingyue and Tang Laidi echoed Tang Jin’s new form of address.

“No need for such formality, Sister Lingyue, Sister Laidi.”

“Little Cao, no need to stand on ceremony,” Old Madam Tang said with a genial smile. “Next time you want to eat here, just give Tang Jin a heads-up beforehand. She’ll save you a dish.”

“You’re too kind, Grandmother Tang. I’ll have to trouble Sister Tang Jin—haha!” Cao Kesang laughed heartily. See? Good deeds paid off quick. No more worrying about missing out.

Seeing this, Tang Jin—who had planned to offer just a bowl of century egg lean meat congee—thought better of it and brought out a plate of cold stir-fried string beans as well.

Assuming the others had eaten, Cao Kesang took his time with a spoonful of congee. The mild, silky flavor enveloped his tongue—truly exquisite.

Then he glanced at the dish. That glance made him panic.

Led by Old Madam Tang, with Tang Laidi right behind, their chopsticks flew to the plate at breakneck speed.

Only Tang Jin and Chu Lingyue held back with polite smiles, making no move to eat.

Cao Kesang didn’t dare dawdle now. As he shoveled in mouthfuls, he muttered inwardly: Didn’t they say they’d eaten breakfast? Why do Old Madam Tang and Sister Laidi look like starving wolves pouncing on prey?

“These string beans are so crisp,” Old Madam Tang sighed. Porridge alone for breakfast—and the third time in two days—had tasted blander each time. No wonder; it was missing this perfect side dish.

“Delicious, so delicious,” Tang Laidi chimed in, her chopsticks never stopping. Inwardly, she grumbled: These sisters are too sly. They had cold veggies ready and didn’t bring them out?

If Cao Kesang hadn’t shown up, she’d probably have missed out.

As the restaurant owner, it stung—treated worse than a regular customer.

Cao Kesang stopped talking altogether. One more word, and the food would be gone.

Sated at last, and with plans to return that evening, he left reluctantly.

No more meals here tomorrow—his heart ached at the thought. Fine, he’d come early next month.

After seeing Cao Kesang off, Tang Jin couldn’t hide her worry. “That Manager Lu from yesterday ate and left right away. What do you think he’s up to?”

Chu Lingyue opened her mouth to reply when the half-closed door swung open from outside.

Speak of the devil. Tang Jin saw it was Shopkeeper Lu and kept her composure. “Sir, you’re too early. We don’t open until evening.”

Shopkeeper Lu flashed a smile. “I’m the head manager at Tower Beyond Towers across the way. Name’s Lu. Is the owner here? I’d like to discuss a business deal.”

He’d already looked into this restaurant’s background.

Just four people, all simple country folk. What he couldn’t figure out was who among them was the owner—and who the chef.

None of the intel suggested any of them were skilled cooks.

Was there a master chef hiding behind the scenes?

At his words, Tang Jin glanced at Tang Laidi.

Old Madam Tang and Chu Lingyue turned to her in unison.

Tang Laidi: “…”

It chafed. No one paid her any mind as owner usually, but the moment a rival showed up, they all remembered.

Shopkeeper Lu followed their gazes.

Tang Laidi gritted her teeth and shot to her feet. “That’s right—I’m the owner. If you’ve got business, bring it to me.”

She thrust her chin up, hand braced on the table, exuding such fierce momentum it seemed she might hoist the table and smash it over his head.

Shopkeeper Lu chuckled again. “Easy, miss. I’m here to talk business, not pick a fight.”

Tang Laidi bellowed, “Who said I was nervous? Spit it out—what’s the deal?”

She nearly slipped and called him “suspect” instead, forgetting she wasn’t a constable anymore.

Shopkeeper Lu kept smiling amiably, his tone even. “Interested in joining Tower Beyond Towers? Name your terms. If I can meet them, the pay will be no worse than what you have now.”

He’d found the owner. Now, who was the chef? Any hidden expert?

Tang Laidi blinked. No worse than now? She was the owner here.

“You want me to go to Tower Beyond Towers… as owner?”

Was there such a good deal?

Shopkeeper Lu’s smile faltered. “You’re joking, miss. If you’re willing, you could manage a branch there. Of course, bring your chef along.”

Mention of the chef put Tang Laidi on alert. She knew it— no such thing as a free lunch.

“I’m the owner here. Going to your place as a lowly manager? That’s no upgrade. No deal.”

So they were after the chef; she was just a bonus.

Shopkeeper Lu wasn’t surprised. He smiled. “May I meet your esteemed chef? As owner, you’re not their master—you can’t block better opportunities.”

His goal was the chef. A rundown restaurant owner’s nobody.

With that, he watched Tang Laidi’s face closely. Who was this culinary genius? Here or not?

Tang Laidi glanced first at Tang Jin—she’d done the cooking before.

Then at Chu Lingyue—now helping out, holder of key recipes even Tang Jin lacked.

Finally, at Old Madam Tang—Tang Jin’s ancestral skills came from her, and she’d supplied Chu Lingyue’s recipes.

Though Old Madam Tang hadn’t cooked yet, she had to be the top chef.

“Grandmother Tang, planning to jump ship?”

Tang Laidi asked bluntly. With Tang Jin and Chu Lingyue as her disciples, the restaurant wouldn’t fold.

She respected Old Madam Tang’s choice.

Old Madam Tang: “…”

Jump ship? She wasn’t the chef—the real one was Chu Lingyue.

But Shopkeeper Lu clearly meant trouble. She couldn’t let her precious Chu Lingyue get hurt.

With that in mind, she eyed Shopkeeper Lu lazily. “Manager Lu, is it? How exactly do you plan to ‘upgrade’ me? Let’s hear it.”

Delighted to have found the chef, Shopkeeper Lu said cheerily, “Rest easy, ma’am. Whatever this place pays you monthly, Tower Beyond Towers will double it—no, ten times over.”

No wonder they only sold six dishes a day with skills like that.

Turned out the chef was a frail old woman—limited stamina, no doubt.

No matter. Once she was at Tower Beyond Towers, on his turf, he’d get her recipes eventually. He was confident.

“Ten times, eh? Let me think,” Old Madam Tang said, squinting seriously. “Tang Jin’s my granddaughter. Lingyue’s her wife, so my granddaughter too. Laidi’s my adopted granddaughter. All the silver this restaurant makes is mine. Tang Jin, how much do we earn a month?”

Tang Jin caught on instantly. “Thirty taels a day, plus liquor sales. Comes to about a thousand taels of silver a month.”

Old Madam Tang lived up to her fame as Tang Village’s most fearsome woman. Brilliant—truly brilliant.

Hearing this, Shopkeeper Lu suddenly felt like he’d shot himself in the foot.

He’d figured the old woman got maybe a few dozen taels. Not that the whole take was hers.

Sure enough, Old Madam Tang continued, “Hear that? Ten times a thousand taels—need me to do the math? Since Manager Lu’s so sincere, it’d be rude to refuse. Hand over the contract; I’ll sign right now.”

Shopkeeper Lu’s good mood soured. Ten thousand taels? That old hag might as well rob him. Did she think he owned a silver mine?

Even if he did, he wouldn’t pay her that.

His mouth twitched as he reined in his temper. “I’m serious, ma’am. No need for jokes.”

Seeing his smile vanish, Old Madam Tang grinned. “I know you’re serious. That’s why I laid it all out so clearly. How’s that a joke?”

Hah. Treating her like a child? Digging for staff the moment he walked in—sincere, her foot.

Not to mention that Shopkeeper Lu wouldn’t dare offer ten thousand taels a month—even if he did, Tower Beyond Towers was no safe haven. Judging by this man’s character, he would undoubtedly discard his helpers the moment they outlived their usefulness, like killing the donkey once it had ground all the grain.

Shopkeeper Lu’s face darkened completely. He couldn’t hold back a laugh, one born purely of fury.

“Elder, surely you’re familiar with Tower Beyond Towers. Would you like to hear what becomes of those who dare to oppose it?”