Chapter 9

“What do you think of the name ‘Delicious Restaurant’?”

Chu Lingyue nodded immediately. “Great vulgarity is great elegance. Perfect.”

【Ding, reward: one plate of Four Happiness Meatballs】

Tang Jin: “…”

This woman really wasn’t putting any heart into her praise, but it suited Tang Jin just fine. Now they had four dishes. Ha ha!

Tang Laidi rolled her eyes right away. “If that’s perfect, then in my opinion, the couplet on the door should read: ‘I married a wife as beautiful as a fairy, all thanks to her divine culinary skills.'”

Even more vulgar, even more elegant.

Before Chu Lingyue could comment this time, Tang Jin shot it down. “Yours is just vulgar. No elegance at all.”

A shop name would do just fine. No need for a couplet.

In a few quick strokes, she wrote out the name and stuck it above the door of the restaurant. Tang Jin waved her hand grandly. “You two move some stools out front. I’ll whip up something to eat for you right now.”

With that, she headed into the kitchen.

They had to open for business today, or how else would they pay back those Twenty Taels of Silver!

Tang Laidi looked deeply skeptical. “Is there even food in the kitchen?”

As far as she remembered, it was empty in there. Had she gotten it wrong?

Chu Lingyue rose expressionlessly, fetched a stool, and sat down right at the entrance to the restaurant.

She knew full well the kitchen was bare, but that person…

Ever since waking up yesterday, not only had her personality changed, but even her sleeping posture had worsened—and she could conjure gourmet food out of thin air.

Since she’d promised not to speak of it or ask questions, Chu Lingyue would play along.

“A-Jin will handle it properly. We have to trust her.”

Tang Laidi sat down at the entrance, only half convinced. “But why eat out here on the street?”

With all these people passing by, it felt awkward.

Chu Lingyue gazed thoughtfully at the bustling street, saying nothing more.

Until Tang Jin came out carrying a steamer of buns. She plopped down at the restaurant entrance and dug in with her head down.

Only then did Tang Laidi understand. They were deliberately eating in plain sight to lure customers.

And you know what? After starving for half the day with empty stomachs rumbling, anything would taste amazing right now.

Especially these thin-skinned, generously filled crab roe buns. One bite and the juices flowed—pure heaven.

A passerby glanced at them, then at the sign above the shop: Delicious Restaurant.

These three were eating like it was the best thing ever. It didn’t look fake.

Some curious folks stopped to watch. “You all opening a restaurant here?”

Tang Jin nodded calmly. “That’s right. Delicious… and pricey.”

The passerby frowned. Delicious and pricey? What kind of pitch was that?

When did this place open across from Tower Beyond Towers? Was it some shady joint?

Just then, a middle-aged merchant emerged from Tower Beyond Towers. He called out casually to the lingering passerby in the middle of the road. “Any good restaurants in Ping’an County?”

Good restaurants?

The passerby glanced up at the sign without thinking. “This is Delicious Restaurant.”

Was this place famous out of town? Not a black market den after all?

Hearing this, the merchant looked across the street and saw three women sitting together at the entrance, all with rosy lips and pearly teeth—strikingly attractive.

The one on the left was bright and dignified; the one in the middle holding the steamer was strikingly pretty; the one on the right… er, licking her fingers.

Tang Laidi had just polished off two buns in a row. Unable to resist, she licked her fingers and said hopefully, “Tang Jin, are there really no more buns? I’m still hungry.”

Tang Jin shot her a look and replied unhurriedly, “I only made six. Two each.”

As she spoke, she quietly perked up her ears toward the man in the road. Looked like business was coming.

And sure enough, the middle-aged merchant who’d just gotten his answer walked over, right as she’d hoped.

“Waiter, what dishes do you have?”

It had been months since his last visit to Ping’an County, and now there was a new restaurant—right across from Tower Beyond Towers, no less. Either they had top-notch skills and nerves of steel, or they were complete idiots.

Thinking of the reason for his trip, he was curious which it was.

The word “waiter” lit up the eyes of the three who had just finished their buns. A customer!

But then they all froze. Who was the waiter?

Tang Laidi glanced at Tang Jin, her eyes pleading urgently: I’m the one paying. I’m the boss!

Chu Lingyue looked at Tang Jin too. She could greet customers, sure—but she had no idea what dishes they even had.

Under their stares, Tang Jin finally spoke. “You’ve come at a bad time, sir. We’re low on dishes today—just Steamed Pork, Sweet and Sour Pork Loin, and Pearl Meatballs.”

She was keeping the Four Happiness Meatballs for herself. After starving half the day, two buns weren’t nearly enough.

With that, she glanced at Chu Lingyue. “Wife, go ahead and seat the customer.”

This woman had promised to handle customers—don’t just stand there like a statue.

“Sir, this way please.” Chu Lingyue rose gracefully and gestured inside.

Tang Laidi eyed the wooden stool by the door and sighed in resignation as she picked it up. Fine—who else was going to run this restaurant? She had to handle everything.

She set the stool in place, then stationed herself at the counter, ready to collect payment. Now that was boss-level work.

Tang Jin and Chu Lingyue stood by the middle-aged merchant’s table, waiting for his order.

“A plate of Sweet and Sour Pork Loin first, and two bowls of rice.”

Chu Lingyue’s eyebrow twitched slightly. Rice? She’d only mentioned dishes—rice wasn’t guaranteed.

Sure enough, Tang Jin confirmed it. “You’ve come at a bad time, sir. The rice is all sold out too. Just dishes left. You could add a serving of Pearl Meatballs instead—they’re made with meat and glutinous rice flour, good as a main course.”

The merchant considered her pitch for a moment and nearly turned to leave. No rice? How could anyone fill up like that?

But after a full day on the road, he was famished down to his guts. Remembering his purpose, he held his temper. “Fine, just as you say.”

“Coming right up, sir. Please wait.”

Tang Jin acknowledged him and headed to the kitchen.

The merchant glanced around at the simple decor, thinking to himself: How good could the food here be? It was barely evening, and they’d already sold out of rice?

“Waiter, a pot of tea.”

Chu Lingyue didn’t budge. “You’ve come at a bad time, sir. All the drinks are sold out too.”

The merchant blinked in stunned silence. Fine—he’d see just how good this place’s food was. It had better not disappoint.

A few steps away, Tang Laidi’s mouth twitched. She really had jumped into a pit this time. Was this how you did business?

Everything “sold out” when they didn’t have it in the first place. She was done with these two wives.

Just then, Tang Jin returned bearing the dishes.

A plate of Sweet and Sour Pork Loin and a plate of Pearl Meatballs, set side by side on the table.

“Please enjoy, sir.”

The merchant gave them a quick once-over and picked up his chopsticks.

The Sweet and Sour Pork Loin had a crispy exterior and tender interior, with a perfect sweet-tangy flavor.

The Pearl Meatballs were even better—meatballs wrapped in glistening glutinous rice that burst with savoriness on the tongue.

The merchant narrowed his eyes in satisfaction. This flavor was incredible!

Tang Jin stood nearby, unable to stop herself from swallowing hard. In her rush to open for business, she’d forgotten to taste these two dishes herself.

What a blunder!