Chapter 116: Wan Hua’s Doubt

She had originally wanted to confide in Lin Sangqian, but then thought better of it. How could she have the nerve to trouble Lin Sangqian with matters from her own household? With this in mind, she had no choice but to give up.

“Aunt Niu, I’ll go back to work now.”

“Alright, go ahead.”

Just as Aunt Niu was about to leave, Lin Sangqian couldn’t help but say, “Aunt Niu, I’ve said this many times already, and this will be the last time: Leave the useless man. You and your child will live better without him.”

Aunt Niu shook her head and walked out.

So stubborn, so old-fashioned!

Even though she knew this was the result of the broader environment, Lin Sangqian still couldn’t help feeling irritated.

Why was Aunt Niu so hopelessly obstinate?

If anything happened in the future, Lin Sangqian vowed she would not intervene.

She thought this with a touch of resentment.

After a while, she calmed down somewhat and sighed.

Forget it—why should she get angry with someone from ancient times?

The pickled peppers and watermelons were nearly used up. Lin Sangqian entered the system space again, intending to exchange for more.

Now, her points had risen to over eight hundred.

After all, she had done quite a few good deeds lately.

When she reached a thousand points, she would be able to exchange goods from other spaces.

This space was for food. What would the next unlocked space hold?

Lin Sangqian was full of anticipation.

After exchanging a batch of watermelons and pickled peppers, Lin Sangqian left the kitchen, ready to ask Lin Wenyuan and Lin Beitao to help move the watermelons.

Just then, Lin Hongda came out of the house carrying a bundle, with Liao Shuxia trailing behind, her eyes brimming with tears.

“Father, leaving so early?” Lin Sangqian asked.

“Yes.” Lin Hongda patted her head. “Take good care of yourself these days. If anything happens at the shop, and you can’t handle it, just close up for a couple of days. It’s nothing serious.”

“Father, I understand. Don’t worry.” Lin Sangqian smiled.

“Husband, be safe on the road,” Liao Shuxia urged, uneasy. “If you run into bandits, don’t always think of fighting them. If things get dangerous, take Master Yu and run.”

“Don’t worry,” Lin Hongda tightened his bundle. “Ordinary bandits aren’t a match for me, even ten at a time.”

He hesitated, then said to Lin Sangqian, “Master Yu told me, if you need help, go find Young Master Guan.”

---

Lin Hongda departed, leaving Liao Shuxia somewhat downcast.

Back in modern times, Lin Hongda always came home punctually, never leaving on business trips.

They had traveled together, but rarely spent so much time apart.

Naturally, she wasn’t happy about it.

“Mother.” Lin Sangqian went over to comfort her. “Father said he’ll be back in a month at most. A month will pass quickly.”

Liao Shuxia sighed mournfully and returned to her room to embroider handkerchiefs and purses.

“Uncle Lin and Aunt Liao really have a good marriage,” Zhao Lan’er said with envy.

If only her own parents’ relationship had been this good... perhaps she wouldn’t be an orphan now.

Lin Sangqian knew Zhao Lan’er must be thinking of sad things again and tried to steer the conversation elsewhere.

When she delivered chicken feet to Fortune Banquet Restaurant, Lin Sangqian was surprised to see customers already arriving at Wan Hua at that hour.

“What’s going on? Is Wan Hua serving breakfast now?” she asked Yang Shi.

“No.” Yang Shi shook his head. “They’re still offering the same dishes as before, but lately it’s been very strange—some people go there early in the morning to eat, some knock in the middle of the night asking for food, and Wan Hua accepts everyone. They hardly rest anymore.”

He added, with lingering anxiety, “Sangqian, we’re lucky we met you. Without those recipes you taught us, we wouldn’t stand a chance against Wan Hua now.”

“That’s odd,” Lin Sangqian said, puzzled. “Before I came, weren’t you neck and neck with Wan Hua?”

The recipes she’d taught were delicious and novel, while Wan Hua’s new dishes were ultimately just variations on old themes.

Yet Wan Hua could now compete with Fortune Banquet?

“That’s just it! Who knows what trick Wan Hua has pulled?”

Lin Sangqian watched two more people enter Wan Hua and suddenly felt uneasy.

Could Bao Mingzhi really have dared to use that thing?

If so, wouldn’t the townspeople...

“Sangqian, what’s wrong?” Yang Shi noticed her staring grimly at Wan Hua and couldn’t help asking.

Lin Sangqian snapped out of it and shook her head. “It’s nothing. Brother Yang, I need a favor.”

“Don’t use the word ‘favor’ with me! Just tell me what you need,” Yang Shi said. “We’re friends, aren’t we?”

Lin Sangqian smiled, handed him a few pieces of silver, and said, “Go to Wan Hua this afternoon and buy me a few of their new dishes. You can send someone else to buy them if you prefer, just don’t let them know it’s for me.”

“That’s all? Don’t worry!” Yang Shi accepted the silver and thumped his chest. “Leave it to me—I’ll get it done!”

---

“Thank you! I’ll come by tonight to pick them up.”

“Of course! Know your enemy and know yourself—victory every time, right? I get it!”

After delivering the chicken feet, Lin Sangqian headed to Miken Chicken.

The shop had only just opened when customers began arriving, so Lin Sangqian and her two brothers became busy.

The milk tea shop was also bustling.

Despite the heat, many people preferred hot milk tea in the mornings.

Lin Sangqian instructed the milk tea shop staff to wrap a sheet of paper around the outside of the cups if customers ordered hot drinks, to prevent anyone from burning their hands.

The staff were reliable; since opening, despite the crowds, they had never made a mistake.

Close to lunchtime, a maid came to buy several chicken legs and handed Lin Sangqian an invitation.

“What’s this?” Lin Sangqian asked, puzzled.

“My mistress asked me to deliver this to you,” the maid said with a smile. “She invites you and your mother to visit the Yu residence tomorrow.”

“The Yu residence? I know—this must be from that beautiful lady, right?” Lin Sangqian exclaimed, delighted as she accepted the invitation. “I’ll be sure to go, and I’ll bring my mother.”

“That’s wonderful. By the way, madam said to bring some embroidery work.”

“I understand.”

Lin Sangqian almost wanted to kiss the invitation.

She knew Kang Ya must be hoping they would meet wealthy ladies there and open up a market for their embroidery.

The beautiful lady always kept her word.

“Little sister, what’s got you so cheerful?” Lin Wenyuan asked.

“Hehe, tomorrow Mother and I are visiting the Yu residence. I’m sure Mother’s embroidery will sell well,” Lin Sangqian replied with a smile. “Big brother, third brother, can you handle the fried chicken here tomorrow?”

Lin Wenyuan had been helping her run the fried chicken shop for a long time and had mastered the technique. As long as she marinated everything ahead of time, Lin Wenyuan could handle the frying perfectly.

“No problem, don’t worry about us.”

Just then, they saw Lin Yanbei walk in.