novelraw Chapter 1480 - 1564: Zhu Family
Chapter 1480 - 1564: Zhu Family
"Sister, you finally made it!" After the carriage entered the city, it headed straight for the Food As Heaven branch in Nanling. The shopkeeper Sister Yang warmly greeted them.
"Sister Yang, I’ve already read the letter you sent me before," the shopkeeper said as she got down from the carriage and took Sister Yang’s outstretched hand. "The world may be vast, but although our Huizi Store is spread across every corner, we’re close as family. In times of trouble, everyone comes together to help. Come, let’s go inside, and you can tell me the details of this matter." Though the letter explained the situation, many details were missing.
The cook who took the Food As Heaven menu may be hateful, but the real culprit is that Helper Li Yan. The shopkeeper was holding onto a fire inside, and bringing Liang Dabao here was not just to compete in culinary skills as agreed with the opposing shopkeeper, but also to punish Li Yan.
Sister Yang looked at the person behind the shopkeeper, thinking it would be Chef Cheng coming along, but unexpectedly saw an unfamiliar face. "Who is this?"
"Look at my memory; this is Liang Dabao, a recently recruited kitchen helper after Li Yan left. Though a newcomer, his character is quite good, and his culinary skills are better than Zhang Er and even my Chef Cheng."
Sister Yang knew the shopkeeper never spoke without reason and immediately greeted warmly, "Please come in; you’ve had a long and tiring journey and should take a rest."
Sister Yang welcomed the two into the restaurant, then led them through the back door into the backyard, which was meant for accommodation.
Dong Huiying was given a room by herself but couldn’t remain idle; she immediately wrote a letter and then roamed around Nanling City. Finding a courier, she sent her letter to the Capital, settling a pressing matter on her mind.
Meanwhile, Sister Yang began to recount the story of Li Yan and the cook named Zhu De to the shopkeeper.
"Li Yan’s eldest daughter intentionally brought her to Nanling with a plan! That Zhu De is from the Zhu family, and he’s just over forty this year. Seeing our business thriving, they coveted our restaurant’s menu. He even attempted to poach our staff, but our people are loyal, and he couldn’t persuade them. So, they circumvented and targeted Li Yan."
"After returning to Nanling, Li Yan learned her daughter’s intentions. Though initially unwilling, she was eventually persuaded by her daughter, and so she wrote down our Food As Heaven menu and sold it to Zhu De."
"Zhu De has the support of the Zhu family of Nanling, whose status is second only to the Four Great Aristocratic Families. She doesn’t know her limits and provokes us, but our Huizi Store is vast and won’t allow her to misbehave. So this competition must be faced; our reputation must not suffer!"
The shopkeeper responded with displeasure, "There is a substore owner in Nanling City; I believe his surname is Liu, right? Did this Master Liu of the Branch not react when seeing our Huizi Store people being bullied?"
Third Master Liang himself is protective, and everyone in the Huizi Store, inside and out, takes cue from him, as long as they have a bit of reputation.
Sister Yang sighed, "If Master Liu of the Branch was in the city, this matter wouldn’t have escalated so much. But coincidentally, Master Liu returned to his hometown to sweep graves; he’s not here!"
"That Zhu family lacks self-awareness, and that Zhu De, daring to set their sights on us; let’s see how they’ll fare now!"
After discussing, both felt intense resentment towards Zhu De.
Dong Huiying wandered outside, experiencing the local customs of Nanling. As she prepared to return, she unexpectedly saw someone surprising.
The Eighth Princess!?
That must be the Eighth Princess, no doubt!