Jiang Yanyi thought that once her hot pot restaurant was more established, regardless of whether there were mice, she would definitely need to get a cat.

At the very least, it would prevent others from having an excuse to nitpick.

However, cats that catch mice aren’t usually sold on the market.

They’re typically shared between neighbors; if someone’s cat has kittens, they’d let the kittens grow for a month or two, then pass one along to whoever needs it.

Female cats give birth to multiple kittens at once, and it’s rare for people to keep them all.

Giving some away is a nice gesture.

Jiang Yanyi made a mental note to get a cat someday.

The opening day’s business was more successful than she’d expected.

After selling out the two freshly butchered sheep, she had to send for two more from the butcher, and the shop was only quiet by the afternoon.

Even some local dignitaries who lived nearby hadn’t managed to get a table at lunchtime, so they left word that they wanted a pot ready for dinner.

A servant would come to pick it up later, around the Hour of Shen, and they’d pay extra to make sure grilled meat was included.

Whether these dignitaries genuinely wanted to try the food or were just following the hype around this new restaurant, Jiang Yanyi couldn’t say.

She only knew that business was good and didn’t care to speculate about their intentions.

After tidying up the tables outside, she prepared three more pots and sliced a few large trays of mutton to serve.

“Thanks to everyone for helping today. Let’s skip the formalities—eat to your heart’s content!” she said to the kitchen staff who had helped out. “All the ingredients are in the kitchen. If there’s not enough, I’ll bring more.”

“That’s plenty, Jiang Yanyi” one of them said, laughing. “Mutton is pricey, and we’re just simple folk. We’re more used to pork offal.”

“You should call her ‘Boss Jiang’ now,” someone else joked. “Boss Jiang, take a break and eat with us. We’re all family here. You don’t need to wait on us.”

Jiang Yanyi laughed, asking them to start without her as she went to the kitchen to call out the head chef, Old Li.

Chef Li had made a big pot of soup with the leftover mutton bones and white radish.

As he ladled the soup into a bowl, he chided her, “You’re too generous, letting everyone eat their fill like this. Do you plan to keep your business afloat? You think you’ll have this many customers every day? These guys aren’t picky; they’ll drink every drop of this radish and mutton bone soup.”

Sprinkling chopped cilantro over the soup, Jiang Yanyi replied with a smile, “It’s only fair. I owe it to you, Master, and the others. Without your help today, I’d have been overwhelmed.”

Speaking of the staffing situation, Chef Li, with his years of experience, knew best about kitchen workloads and how many people were needed.

“You don’t have much experience running a business, but I see how busy the shop was today. Even if it’s not this hectic every day, you’ll still need help. You can prepare the broth ahead, but you’ll need a skilled assistant in the kitchen, or you’ll never keep up.”

“You’ll also need an extra server, someone to deliver food and clear tables. Leave tasks like pouring tea and clearing tables to that girl Aoi. As the boss, you should stay at the counter, managing the books. And if you plan to keep grilling meat, you’ll need another hand for that.”

Then Chef Li, slightly annoyed, continued, “Today is fine, but don’t give away grilled lamb skewers with the pot in the future. If you need to grill something, why not use pork? You’re just wasting all that lamb!”

Jiang Yanyi knew Chef Li’s advice was well-meaning.

Initially, she only planned to hire two servers, but after spending the whole day at the door, she realized that running the restaurant was just as demanding as her days in the military kitchen.

Chef Li’s suggestion for additional staff made sense.

Nodding, she replied, “I won’t give away grilled lamb anymore. I just wanted to make a name for us today. As for the servers, do you have any leads? I’d like to hire two who know some martial arts.”

Recalling the trouble that had come that morning from the Hu family, Chef Li understood her concern. “I know a few reliable cooks, but I’d have to ask Old Zhao for leads on servers with fighting skills.”

Jiang Yanyi grinned, “Thank you, Master.”

“No need for thanks between us,” Chef Li said with a smile. “Seeing you make a name for yourself here in this busy part of town is a point of pride for me, too.”

He then sighed, “But you know, sometimes you need to think long-term. When you stand out, there are always people who get envious, causing trouble behind your back.

Today, it was the Hu family. Tomorrow, it could be someone else. The governor’s office is just next door, so, as the saying goes, ‘A close neighbor is better than a distant relative.’

Build a good relationship with them, and those who want to see you fail will think twice.”

She remembered how Feng Shuo had handed her a cup of tea earlier.

Though it felt a little awkward, she nodded, “I understand.”

Just then, the kitchen staff came in to carry out dishes, so Chef Li didn’t say much more and walked out.

The kitchen helpers sat at two tables, already sweating from the food.

They invited Old Li and Jiang Yanyi to sit with them when they saw them.

Head Zhao sat alone at a table nearby and jokingly urged, “Old Li, you’re taking your time. The pot’s about to cool.”

Chef Li shot him a look, “There’s charcoal under the pot. It won’t cool anytime soon. Aren’t you a bit too old to be so greedy?”

The two were old friends who used to bicker often back in the army kitchen, so no one found this surprising.

Jiang Yanyi went outside to invite Madam Chen and her husband to join them, but they declined, saying they’d already eaten. In the end, she sent a bowl of grilled lamb over to them.

Jiang Yanyi had no idea that Madam Chen felt so bad about receiving the bowl of roasted lamb that she hurriedly made a dress for Jiang in return over the next few days.

After the meal, Chef Li and the others returned to the military camp, as they had to travel a bit to reach the Western Zhou barracks on the outskirts of the city from the town center.

Jiang Yanyi glanced at the time; it was just past “Shenshi” (the traditional time period between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.), roughly a little after 3 p.m.

She had instructed people who reserved pots for the evening to come after “Shenshi,” meaning they wouldn’t come until after 5 p.m., as one traditional hour was equivalent to two modern hours.

Remembering she hadn’t had time to check on the pepper seedlings in the greenhouse today, Jiang Yanyi worried that guests might come to the restaurant and that her assistant Qiu Kui might not be able to handle them alone.

She half-closed the shop door and headed to the Governor’s residence to water the pepper seedlings.

She had been going there morning and evening for the past few days.

The doorman knew it was her just from the sound of her knocking and always greeted her warmly with a smile.

Today was no exception.

Opening the door, he said, “Shopkeeper Jiang, you didn’t come this morning. I thought you were too busy and had forgotten.”

Jiang Yanyi smiled, “The restaurant opened today, so I was a bit overwhelmed. I’m only free now.”

The doorman clasped his hands and congratulated her, “Congratulations on your grand opening! Wishing you prosperous business and great success!”

Jiang Yanyi thanked him and made her way to the greenhouse.

Although the Feng Residence was large, Jiang Yanyi had come and gone so many times that she had rarely encountered any maids on her way.

Most of the menial work, like sweeping, was done by young male servants or elderly female workers.

She had heard rumors that the Prince of Liaonan was not interested in women, and before the Dowager Empress arrived to spend her twilight years there, there hadn’t been a single young maid in the household.

Even now, the few maids were all attending to the Grand Empress Dowager and rarely left her courtyard.

Thinking of Feng Shuo, Jiang Yanyi couldn’t help but feel that either she or the world must have misunderstood him.

When she reached the greenhouse, she noticed the usual servant wasn’t there, which struck her as odd.

Carrying a half-full bucket of water into the greenhouse, she froze upon seeing a figure squatting near her plot of pepper seedlings.

Sunlight streamed through the glass tiles on the roof, casting a hazy glow over everything in the greenhouse.

Feng Shuo was half-squatting on the ground, the hem of his dark red robe embroidered with swirling clouds and serpents trailing on the floor.

Beside him was a bucket of water, and his hands—hands better suited for wielding a brush or sword—were gently holding a wooden ladle, carefully watering the tiny green sprouts of the pepper seedlings.

Hearing the movement at the door, Feng Shuo turned his head slightly.

His expression changed subtly when he saw Jiang Yanyi standing there.

Awkwardly, Jiang Yanyi greeted him, “Your Highness, are you here to water the flowers too?”

Feng Shuo hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

Rising, he poured the remaining half-ladle of water onto a nearby blooming peony.

With his usual air of calm and aloof elegance, he said, “Yes, I saw the green sprouts growing well, so I watered them.”

Jiang Yanyi glanced at the nearby pots of peonies and noticed that only the one he had just watered had damp soil.

If he didn’t know these pepper seedlings were hers, why bother to explain?

A flood of thoughts rushed through Jiang Yanyi’s mind.

She decided not to expose his thinly veiled lie and instead curtsied politely. “Thank you for your trouble, Your Highness. I rented this plot from your estate’s steward to grow some small things.”

Feng Shuo tossed the ladle back into the bucket and rinsed his hands in the water. “Oh? And what are you growing?”

Jiang Yanyi, wary of causing any misunderstanding, didn’t directly say it was chili peppers. “Just a seasoning—something that will make the dishes taste better.”

Feng Shuo was silent for a moment.

He had assumed that all the effort she put into securing this greenhouse was to grow some rare and precious flowers, only to find out it was just for cooking spices.

The answer was unexpected, yet somehow fitting.

Jiang Yanyi realized that her explanation did make it seem like she was underutilizing the greenhouse, so she didn’t elaborate.

Fortunately, the pepper seedlings had already been watered, so she didn’t need to stay. “I’ll take my leave, Your Highness.”

Feng Shuo lowered his gaze slightly, as if lost in thought.

When she was almost at the door, he suddenly asked, “Are you… still looking for your fiancé?”

Jiang Yanyi’s steps faltered.

She figured Feng Shuo didn’t know her true identity, but given his recent unusual behavior, he was likely testing her.

Her real identity was a sensitive matter, and she had been deceiving Feng Shuo all along.

If he found out the truth, who knew how he would react?

Though she suspected he had some feelings for her, Jiang Yanyi wasn’t willing to risk her life on such uncertainties.

She replied, “Of course I’m still looking.”

She was well aware that her feelings for Feng Shuo were more about admiration and respect than affection.

Besides, even if she regained her status as a noble family’s legitimate daughter, the vast difference in their positions meant she could never have an equal relationship with Feng Shuo.