Su Buchi's career - inauguration feast was held right on the ten - mile long street. All the passers - by were welcome to share a portion.
Such generosity made Su Buchi's words "putting the people first" seem not just empty talk but a solemn promise fulfilled. The common people couldn't help but praise him.
Li Ying was secretly delighted. In this way, Su Buchi could regain his pride, and her cooking skills were recognized by the people in the capital. As long as she chose a proper location for the capital branch of "Li's Restaurant", making a fortune was just a matter of time.
The shopkeeper of Yunlaixuan, seeing her beaming with satisfaction, clenched his fists resentfully.
His name was Li Yun. His elder sister had married a court official, and then she entrusted the Yunlaixuan to his care. Relying on the influence of his brother - in - law, most of the powerful and wealthy in the capital showed him respect. Most of the career - inauguration feasts were held in Yunlaixuan, and the business thrived, making it one of the best restaurants in the capital.
"I've been a big shot in the capital for years. All the banquets in Yunlaixuan have been supervised by the imperial chefs. That little hussy surnamed Li is just a commoner from the countryside. How dare she challenge me?"
One of his confidants immediately understood what he meant. He stepped forward obsequiously and said with a smile, "Shopkeeper, why get so angry?"
He patted his chest flatteringly. "Don't worry, shopkeeper. The restaurants in the capital still belong to our Li family. That woman will never be able to open her food shop!"
He whispered a few words into Li Yun's ear. Only then did Li Yun's expression relax. He nodded with a big smile.
"You've done well. I'll reward you handsomely."
The next morning, Li Ying got up early, planning to look for a suitable shop in the capital. She was an energetic person. Taking advantage of the popularity of Su Buchi's career - inauguration feast, she was determined to open the restaurant as soon as possible.
The day before, she had already set her eyes on a location. She just needed to negotiate the price and sign the contract today.
After freshening up, Li Ying didn't expect that the middleman, who had been smiling at her yesterday, now looked embarrassed and was hesitant to meet her eyes.
"Madam Li... I'm afraid the shop you liked yesterday won't work out..."
The middleman stammered and seemed reluctant to speak. Li Ying immediately understood what was going on. She asked calmly, "Did the owner change his mind?"
Seeing the middleman nodding honestly, Li Ying knew it well but wasn't angry. She just said indifferently, "It doesn't matter. I'll just look for another shop."
She said it lightly, but the middleman couldn't lift his head. After a long time, he finally escorted her out of the door with a submissive look.
Li Ying was sure that the change of the shop had something to do with Yunlaixuan.
She went to several other middlemen, and as expected, as soon as they heard it was her who wanted to open a shop, no one dared to agree, whether it was for rent or purchase.
Granny Sun looked at her worriedly and said softly, "A Ying, what shall we do?"
Lu Xunguang didn't seem to care at all. He put his arm around her shoulder and comforted her in a deep voice.
"A Ying, don't be afraid. I'll check the remaining shops of the Lu family in the capital and choose a suitable one for you. I'm sure we can make Li's Restaurant thrive!"
He said it firmly, but Li Ying just smiled and waved her hand.
"Brother Lu, thank you for your kindness, but this is absolutely not allowed."
Lu Xunguang had just taken over as the head of the family. There were already countless pairs of eyes watching him, both openly and secretly.
The shop he would offer would surely be the best.
The bank had been struggling to operate for years. If he gave such a good shop to an outsider like her, the Lu family would surely blame him.
How could Li Ying watch Lu Xunguang get into trouble?
Their eyes met, and Lu Xunguang immediately understood her meaning.
"A Ying, it's okay. I can handle it properly."
He said it deeply and firmly, but Li Ying still shook her head.
"That Yunlaixuan thinks that as long as they cut off my chance to open a shop, they can rest easy. I'll show them that even without a shop, I can still attract all the customers!"
Li Ying said it confidently, having already made up her mind.
Wasn't it just starting from scratch? When she first came to the fishing village penniless, she had managed to make a name for herself.
The capital might not be much more difficult than the fishing village!
Seeing her so determined, Lu Xunguang didn't say much and just followed her lead.
"Miss Li, something bad has happened! Our caravan..."
One of Zheng Ji's confidants rushed over in a hurry. Seeing Li Ying, he immediately fell to his knees.
"Don't panic. What's going on?"
The caravan man drank two sips of hot tea and finally calmed down a bit. He reported everything in detail.
It turned out that the court official had ordered a strict inspection of the goods transported by the caravans. Every checkpoint was interrogating strictly.
The Yunlaixuan was quite shrewd. They noticed that the fancy dishes made by Li Ying relied on the various aquatic products from the fishing village, which were transported by the caravan at high speed over a long distance.
Although the weather had turned cooler, fish and shrimp were perishable. After being inspected several times, they began to emit an unpleasant smell.
Even the most skillful housewife can't cook a meal without rice. The Yunlaixuan's move was clearly intended to cut off Li Ying's food supply.
Without a shop and without ingredients, even though Granny Sun knew Li Ying was resourceful and often able to achieve victory in unexpected ways, she still couldn't help but be shocked.
"A Ying..."
Li Ying frowned slightly and then immediately asked in a deep voice, "What's left in our caravan?"
The caravan man looked embarrassed. "All that's left are the Wenchang chickens we raised. They're still alive, but a bit thinner from hunger."
Li Ying understood and nodded. "Okay, then we'll use the Wenchang chickens."
Granny Sun was shocked. "A Ying... The Wenchang chickens we raised in our village are extremely delicious, but... No matter how good a thing is, people will get tired of it if they eat too much."
Li Ying was calm. She smiled and had already made up her mind.
"Brother Lu, I have a favor to ask."
Lu Xunguang was always obedient to her. When he heard that she wanted to make a bamboo cart like the one in the fishing - village night market, he immediately agreed without hesitation.
He had learned good craftsmanship from the bamboo craftsman Li. In the fishing village, he was used to doing such work. Now, he could do it easily.
Granny Sun also embroidered the big words "Teppanyaki" in bright red thread on a dark blue cloth, sewed it into a delicate small flag, and hung it under the canopy of the bamboo cart. Then she lit two bamboo lanterns.
The warm candlelight flickered, like a soft handkerchief fluttering in the wind, gently attracting every hungry traveler on a snowy night.
Li Ying washed her hands and calmly cut the Wenchang chickens into small pieces according to different parts, and then neatly skewered them on bamboo sticks one by one.