Since a new head cook arrived at Qiaoyuan Restaurant, business at Yan Family’s Restaurant has been declining day by day. Despite Yan Langqing’s efforts to develop new dishes, she couldn’t compete with the skills of that cook. Whenever they introduced a new dish, even before it gained a reputation, the other restaurant would come out with something similar. The ingredients were nearly the same, but the cooking techniques were far superior, quickly overshadowing theirs.

Second Brother Lin had been so anxious these past few days that he felt like an ant on a hot pan. Ever since Yan Langqing entered the palace as an imperial cook, the Yan family had grown bold, using various means to seize the remaining thirty percent of the shares Second Brother Lin held. Now he only had twenty percent shares in the restaurant, yet he still had to manage it and procure supplies. He handles all the miscellaneous tasks, working himself like a dog, but the money he earned wasn’t even a tenth of what it used to be.

He still had to support a large family, and since Lin Baotian had spoiled them in the past, they always demanded the best— living in a luxury house, eating delicacies, and wearing fine silk and satin. Their monthly expenses were enough for an ordinary family to live comfortably for a year. Back then, Second Brother Lin was still the boss of the restaurant and all the profits were his to spend, with Lin Baotian never interfering. Occasionally, Lin Baotian even helped him out, and life was quite comfortable. But now? He had to sustain a noble-like family on a shopkeeper’s salary. How was he supposed to survive?

His savings from the past ten years had long been spent and he was now forced to pawn family heirlooms to make ends meet. If Yan Family’s Restaurant made good profits, he would have some extra money. But if business was poor, he would suffer as well. So with the rise of Qiaoyuan Restaurant, no one was more anxious than Second Brother Lin. Sometimes, thinking back on the past, he felt deep regret. But what was the use of regret? The wolf had already been let into the house, how could he chase it out now?

Seeing that today was another day with few customers, Second Brother Lin, his face dark with anger, said, “Go to Qiaoyuan Restaurant and see if they’ve launched a new dish to compete with us.”

The waiter hurriedly agreed and rushed off. He returned shortly after, speaking in amazement, “Indeed, they’ve come out with a new dish called Immortal Boneless Fish. The whole fish has no bones and is stewed in a thick, milky-white broth. The texture is fresh and sweet, melting in your mouth. I saw the old madam of Marquis Yongding’s household there with her eldest grandson. The young master never eats fish because he hates the bones, but today he did, even asking for another serving. The place was packed, customers inside didn’t want to leave, and those outside were lining up. The old shopkeeper had the staff put out benches for the waiting customers and even hired a storyteller to entertain them. It was so lively! I barely managed to squeeze in and lost a shoe in the process.”

As he said that, the waiter lifted his foot to show Second Brother Lin his bare left foot and hesitated, “Shopkeeper, will you compensate me for a new pair of shoes?”

“Compensate you, my foot! Get lost!” Second Brother Lin shouted, his face red with fury. If they make sea cucumber, the other party makes sea cucumber; if they make meatballs, the other party makes meatballs; if they stew boneless fish, the other party stews boneless fish, and every time, the other party do it better than them. It’s clear the other party wants to ruin Yan Family’s Restaurant’s reputation! Yan Langqing is useless too— an imperial cook who can’t even outclass a common cook. Has she been eating for nothing all these years?

Second Brother Lin was burning with anger, wanting nothing more than to grab a knife and kill the new cook at Qiaoyuan Restaurant.

At that moment, Yan Shouye strolled in, holding a birdcage in one hand and a smoking pipe in the other. When he saw the empty hall, his face darkened. Second Brother Lin quickly told him about Qiaoyuan Restaurant competing with them, and he immediately sneered, “Daring to go against the Yan family, they must be tired of living! Competing, are they? Fine, without signature dishes, I’d like to see what they’ll use to compete!” With that, he unfastened a token from his waist, took out ten silver notes, and sent his servant to find someone at the palace gate.

———pr

This translation is by Pocketrobbin at S h a n g h a i f a n t a s y . c o m

Meanwhile, due to the overwhelming praise for the Immortal Boneless Fish, Lin Dan made an exception and prepared ten tables of dishes. Seeing that it was getting late, she washed up, preparing to head home. Just then, the old shopkeeper led a young, clean-shaven man into the room, his expression as mournful as if he were attending a funeral.

As soon as the young man entered, the smile on Cook Qiu’s face disappeared and a flicker of anger flashed in his eyes.

The young man, in a high-pitched voice, said, “Congratulations, Cook Qiu. Your Golden Lion Fish, Stuffed Sea Cucumber, Fortune Meatballs, and Immortal Boneless Fish have all been selected by the imperial kitchen and will be presented to the Emperor and added to the royal menu. This is your reward. You may give thanks.” With that, he handed over a jade ruyi^[1]a curved decorative object that serves as either a ceremonial scepter in Chinese Buddhism or a talisman symbolizing power and good fortune in Chinese folklore.

The jade ruyi was only palm-sized, with poor luster and unremarkable color. If it weren’t engraved with the words ‘build by imperial edict’, it wouldn’t be worth picking up off the street. But because of those words, Cook Qiu had no choice but to kneel and thank him, no matter how humiliated he felt.

Lin Dan knelt down as well, but a sarcastic smile appeared on her lips. Ever since Yan Langqing became an imperial cook, she often searched for culinary delights among the common folk, and whenever a restaurant had a dish that was highly praised, she would recommend it to the Emperor and have it added to the royal menu.

The cooks who were chosen were initially grateful, but later they realized that once a dish was served to the Emperor, they could no longer sell it, or they would be guilty of great disrespect. Creating a new dish often took months, even years of painstaking effort, but with a simple word, Yan Langqing could strip someone of all their hard work and cut off their livelihood, no different from a bandit.

Lin Dan knew what kind of people the Yan family was, so she wasn’t surprised or angry. After standing up, she slowly said, “Please convey a message to Imperial Cook Yan. Tell her that Lin Dan has returned and wishes to challenge her once more to settle old scores. She will understand when she hears it.” With that, she handed over a large silver note.

The young man seemed quite familiar with Yan Langqing, and instead of accepting the silver note, he sneered. “I’ve heard Imperial Cook Yan speak of the matter between you and herself. Back then, you were no match for her, and now the two of you are worlds apart. How could you even think of competing with her again?”

“Then tell her this— those four dishes are my creations and have nothing to do with Qiaoyuan Restaurant. If she wants them, she can come find me in the Southern District. If she’s too scared, then let’s drop the matter.” Lin Dan naturally put the silver note back, her voice calm and unwavering.

“You made those four dishes?” The young man, who also worked in the imperial kitchen, was no stranger to culinary skills and taste. He had already tried the four dishes in the front hall and was well aware of the cook’s culinary prowess. The knife skills, control of the heat, and seasoning were all top-notch, rivaling those of the imperial cooks. He had confidently said the words ‘worlds apart’ earlier and now he found himself unable to speak.

“Indeed.” Lin Dan nodded. “Please convey my message.”

The young man gave Lin Dan a deep look before flinging his sleeves and leaving. Only then did Cook Qiu snap back to reality, exclaiming, “Master, you really do have a grudge against Imperial Cook Yan! Did you pour all your skills into creating new dishes for Qiaoyuan Restaurant just to lure her out?”

Lin Dan removed her headscarf and chuckled. “The grudge is real, but I haven’t used all my skills. She makes a move, and I respond. That’s all there is to it. There are countless delicious dishes in the world. What’s the big deal about just four?”

Cook Qiu escorted her to the carriage and earnestly said, “Master, I think you’re better than Imperial Cook Yan. You’re willing to teach others your skills, but Imperial Cook Yan only knows how to steal others’ hard work. Whether it’s cooking or being a good person, she’s no match for you.”

Lin Dan lightly tapped Cook Qiu on the forehead with her knuckles before leaving. Upon arriving in the Southern District, she found the alleyway at the crossroads crowded with people. From within, she could faintly hear crying as the onlookers whispered, “Who would’ve thought that a family member of the owner of this restaurant was the kind of person who betrays his master? He even took the money meant for his master’s coffin!”

“You can never truly know a person. That little boss may smile all day, but who knows how vicious she is inside? Both she and her mother were widowed at a young age, isn’t that retribution?”

“Yeah, a young widow running such a successful business, who knows what means she used? Really disgusting!”

Hearing their words, Lin Dan didn’t need to ask to know that the Yan family had resorted to their old tricks, causing trouble at Lin Dan and her mother’s doorstep. She quickly pushed through the crowd and saw Madam Qi sitting on the ground. Her hair was dishevelled and there were scratches on her cheeks and neck— evidence of a struggle. The earthen pots by the door had been smashed, with master stock spilling everywhere and the braised meat being looted by the onlookers. The tables and chairs inside the restaurant were damaged, and Xiao Zhu, Shaoyao, and the others were sweeping up the mess, all bearing injuries.

Ten years had passed but the Yan family remained as atrocious as ever, always pushing people to the brink. However, Lin Dan was no longer the same Lin Dan who had no way to fight back a decade ago. Ignoring the gossiping and disdainful stares of the crowd, she helped Madam Qi up and closed the door.

“Starting today, our restaurant will be closed.” She said slowly and calmly. “Take this time off to sightsee and relax. Once this matter is settled, we’ll head to Jiangnan.”

“When are we leaving the capital?” Madam Qi, who no longer wanted to stay in the capital even for a moment, asked fearfully. She had had enough of the Yan family.

“Soon. Mother, you should start packing.” Lin Dan had returned to the capital not to make money or run a restaurant but to settle old scores. The destruction of the shop didn’t cause her any real loss, and the damage to her reputation meant nothing to her.

“Alright, I’ll pack right away. I told you from the start not to come back, but you wouldn’t listen. Once we leave this time, let’s never return, okay?” Madam Qi asked, still shaken.

“Alright, we’ll find a place with beautiful mountains and rivers to settle down.” Lin Dan gently reassured her. She naturally wouldn’t mention the challenge she had issued to Madam Qi, lest she lose sleep over it. In the eyes of nobles, imperial cooks were merely servants, but to ordinary people, they were someone not to be trifled with.

After everyone had tidied up the shop and gone to bed, none of them expected the kitchen to catch fire in the middle of the night. Had it not been for Lin Dan’s alertness, honed from her travels, they might all have been burned to death. After extinguishing the flames, Lin Dan found a pile of charred firewood and a strong smell of kerosene at the base of the wall. She immediately realized that this was arson, and she didn’t need to guess who the culprit was.