After the rain stopped, Agent Zhang(Broker Zhang) took Qin Rong to see the restaurant.

The location was indeed excellent, surrounded by bustling shops.

It was only at this price because it was on West Street; if it were on East Street, the price might even double.

“Miss Qin, what do you think?” Zhang asked.

Qin Rong nodded.

Since it used to be a restaurant, turning it into one again would save her a lot of money on renovations.

“Miss Qin, if you think it’s suitable, it’s best to decide soon. With maritime trade developing, property prices in our town are bound to rise,” Zhang said.

Qin Rong was a bit torn. In that case, buying the place would be the better choice.

But she didn’t have enough silver on hand right now—plus, she still needed to set aside funds for ingredients.

“Alright, I’ll rent it for now. But please, Zhang, help me find out whether the owner might be interested in selling. If so, once I have more funds, I’d prefer to buy it outright,” Qin Rong said.

Zhang didn’t expect such boldness from such a young girl. “Alright, I’ll do my best to find out.”

Qin Rong paid a year’s rent, and the restaurant was officially hers.

After getting the keys, she carefully examined the place.

The restaurant had a front dining area, a kitchen in the back, a storeroom, and a small side room.

The side room wasn’t large, but enough for a bed.

Qin Rong thought that if she worked late, she could even stay overnight.

Early the next morning, Qin Rong didn’t go to the embroidery workshop. Instead, she brought Qin Yue and Qin Yi to the restaurant.

When they arrived, Yu Xiaoshan was already there, along with Old Madam Yu and Eldest Sister-in-law Yu.

“Mother, Sister-in-law, what brings you here?” Yu Shi asked.

Old Madam Yu said cheerfully, “My granddaughter is so promising! Opening a shop at such a young age—how could her grandmother not come and help?”

Eldest Sister-in-law Yu added, “Yes, Zhenniang. We’re all family. It’s only right that we lend a hand.”

Relationships are built through mutual care, and Qin Rong felt truly warm-hearted.

Her maternal grandmother and uncle really cared for them!

“Mother, Sister-in-law, I’m happy you’re here. I’ll definitely treat you all in return later,” Yu Shi said with a smile, not putting on airs, and unlocked the door to let everyone in.

The tables and chairs in the restaurant were still usable.

Once cleaned, they’d be just fine. Qin Rong mainly wanted to renovate the kitchen.

Besides the existing stove, Qin Rong wanted to build another clay stove, add two small burners, and a roasting oven.

Without an oven, many dishes couldn’t be made.

Running a shop was very different from running a street stall—without new and interesting dishes, customers could easily grow bored.

“Ah Rong, building clay stoves and ovens is no big deal. I’ll talk to your uncle. He knows people and might get you a better price,” said Old Madam Yu.

“Great!” It was always easier when you knew the right people.

With that, everyone got to work.

Old Madam Yu and Eldest Sister-in-law Yu were used to this kind of labor and moved quickly.

Since Madam Yu needed to protect her hands for embroidery work, Qin Rong asked her to go order food from the restaurant on the next street.

Madam Yu hadn’t visited a restaurant since her marriage.

It was only after she joined the embroidery workshop that, when the embroiderers earned bonuses for big orders, they would pitch in and enjoy a meal out.

…

After a busy morning, everyone was starving.

Just then, the food from the restaurant arrived.

Dishes delivered: shredded pork with pickled melon, drunken radish, chestnut-braised pheasant, stewed perch, crab-stuffed orange, tomato reed-shoots, Qingyuan tofu, seafood soup, and a plate of plum cakes.

This was also Qin Rong’s first time tasting food from the Chunfeng Restaurant.

Looking at the array of dishes, she was a bit excited.

“This is way too extravagant… Ah’Rong is opening a shop and has so many expenses, how could she spend so much on restaurant food?” Old Madam Yu scolded her daughter for being too lavish.

Qin Rong smiled gently and pulled her grandmother to sit. “Grandma, since we’re going into the food business, we need to try the big restaurants’ flavors—compare and learn from them. It’s part of the cost. And besides, once the food is in our bellies, it’s not a waste.”

Eldest Sister-in-law Yu agreed. “Yes, Mother. It’s also the kids’ way of showing filial piety. I’ve lived in Liyuan Town for so long and never tasted Chunfeng’s food!”

Hearing that, Old Madam Yu stopped objecting. “Alright, alright, then let’s sit down and try everything!”

With her chopsticks lifted, the rest followed.

Qin Rong noted that Chunfeng Restaurant’s dishes leaned toward the lighter side.

Personally, she found the flavors a bit underwhelming.

“This perch stew is quite good. Ah’Rong, try some,” Yu Shi said, placing a piece of fish in Qin Rong’s bowl.

Qin Rong tasted it carefully.

Indeed, Chunfeng Restaurant’s fish was done well—no fishy smell, and very tender and smooth.

That afternoon, after more cleaning, the restaurant was mostly ready—just waiting for the new stove and oven to be built.

“It’s still early. Grandma, Aunt, come to my house for dinner later. Xiaoshan, go fetch Grandpa and Uncle too,” Qin Rong said.

Old Madam Yu didn’t want Qin Rong to go to the trouble—they had all worked hard today—but Qin Rong took her arm and persuaded her, “Grandma, I’ll be busy with the shop the next few days. This isn’t hard or troublesome for me. You can think of it as helping me test out some dishes.”

Since she said so, Old Madam Yu didn’t want to disappoint her granddaughter.

She patted Qin Rong’s hand kindly. “Alright then, Grandma will wait to taste A’Rong’s cooking.”

“Okay!”

By then, the butcher’s stall didn’t have much left—just a few pig’s feet.

Qin Rong bought them all, then picked up some tofu from the tofu vendor and headed home with her basket.

In modern times, Qin Rong made her fortune by blending braising spices.

Braised pig trotters weren’t hard to make—the key was in the spice mix.

She cleaned the trotters, singed the skin over fire until golden, blanched them, then set them aside.

After wiping her sweat, Qin Rong began frying the spices—first caramelizing rock sugar in oil, then adding her mix of spices until fragrant.

She tossed in the trotters, added cooking wine and vinegar, then water, and simmered everything on low heat until the sauce reduced.

When the braised trotters were done, their rich aroma filled the courtyard. Everyone sitting outside couldn’t help but swallow hungrily—how could it smell so good…

Qin Rong also made crispy fried tofu, salt-and-pepper dried fish, smashed cucumber, steamed cured meats, vinegar cabbage, and stir-fried black fungus with ground greens.

“Dinner’s ready!”

“Coming!”

Madam Yu and Eldest Sister-in-law helped bring out the dishes.

Since there were many people, Madam Yu specially brought out the family’s round table.

It had been a long time since the whole family sat together for such a lively and joyful meal.