Lin Dan only stayed in the suburbs of Beijing for two nights before returning. The store has been sold to Qin Erniang, she has to move her things out to make room for others.
"Can you not sell this store and continue to open the restaurant in your hometown?" Qin Erniang felt that she might be the stupidest fool in the world. She bought someone else's shop, but she still wanted to return it. She couldn't eat the dishes made by shopkeeper Lin anymore, and she felt that this kind of life would be impossible.
"No, things in the capital are fast, and I should go somewhere else." Lin Dan is used to wandering around and won't stay in one place for too long.
During the conversation, there were knocks on the door from time to time, and some people shouted: "Is the shopkeeper Lin back? When will the door open for business? , The people outside sighed and left.
This happened from time to time in the few days that Lin Dan was away. Almost every few moments, diners would knock on the door and ask questions. The hometown restaurant is closed, and people in Nancheng who want to eat authentic hometown food can only dream. These days, most of the people who can leave their hometown and go to the capital to make money are strong and able-bodied men. They don't know how to cook at all, and even if they can, they can't make the taste of Lin Dan, so they can only eat the wowtou.
There are good days to live, but who wants to live bad days? There are delicious and cheap things, who wants to eat wowotou? Shopkeeper Lin is not here, it's a tough day!
Lin Dan was unaware of the noise outside the door, but she just packed her things, but Qin Erniang spat and said with a contemptuous smile, "If you don't open the door, you will be anxious to kill them! I usually eat so many good things in the store, and wait for people to make trouble. But there is no one to help, a bunch of ungrateful beasts!"
Lin Dan smiled and said nothing. Not to mention beasts, it's just that the world is hot and cold. But she still had to thank Qin Erniang. If she hadn't led the girls in the building to drive away Zhou's family, Zhou's might have been in trouble for a long time. If others are willing to help you, it is love; if they are not willing to help you, it is also a duty, and you can't blame anyone.
That's why she exchanged the storefront to Qin Erniang at the low price of 10 taels of silver, and gave her a recipe for wine and a few appetizers. A brothel is not a place to eat, but drinks and snacks are indispensable. These are enough to be human.
The two were talking while packing their things, but they heard a shrill scream from outside the door, and there were vague sounds of begging for mercy and kowtows.
"Who is fighting at the door? I'll take a look. You are hiding inside." Qin Erniang dropped her broom and walked out.
How could Lin Dan let her take a risk, pulled her behind him, and went out with a kitchen knife. She clasped the door and looked out, but saw Tang Jiu standing upright in front of the steps, and several guards were stepping on the gangsters under their feet, breaking their bones one by one with the back of their knives.
The screams and begging for mercy were made by these little gangsters, and there was a young man who was kneeling beside him, and it was Tang Peng. With a few thorns tied to his back, he shouted angrily: "Ninth brother, for the sake of an outsider, you insulted me like this. After I go back, I must repair a book and tell my uncle!"
"You use power for personal gain and oppress the people, are you still reasonable?" Tang Jiu's tone was indifferent.
"Isn't what you are doing right now not taking power for personal gain?" Tang Peng was still struggling, but Zhao Liu squeezed his shoulders and knelt on the ground.
Tang Jiuli ignored him, turned around when he heard the sound, and his eyes lit up immediately: "Lin Dan, you're back."
"Who are you?" Lin Dan wanted to point at Tang Peng and a few thugs, but when he raised his hand, he realized that he was holding a kitchen knife, and he put it down again.
Tang Jiu bowed his hands with shame: "The official got Tang Peng's message, so he didn't care about the arson case. Now I have brought him to plead guilty. These rascals are the murderers of the arson." He obviously got it. I knew that Lin Dan was in the store, so I wasn't afraid to come here for nothing.
Lin Dan showed a look of sudden realization, glanced at Tang Peng who was still yelling and scolding, and said gratefully, "Thank you, the prince, for taking the lead for me. I accept this apology." He was about to close the door.
Tang Jiu hurriedly put his hand in the crack of the door, his voice imploring, "Then can you stay?" Ten years ago, he failed to keep Lin Dan, and ten years later, he hoped that this ending would be changed. No one knew how many times Lin Dan's stubborn figure appeared in his dreams, she always walked further and further away, and then gradually disappeared into the thick fog, causing him to wake up with lingering fears and guilt.
If he hadn't listened and believed and forced Lin Dan to compete with Yan Langqing, Uncle Lin would not have suffered such grievances after his death. He almost grew up eating dishes cooked by Uncle Lin, so he should know what kind of person Uncle Lin is. But at that time, he was like being tricked by someone, and he believed what Yan Langqing said, but in the end, Uncle Lin was ruined, and Lin Dan and Qi's family left their hometowns and wandered for many years.
He has never done anything wrong in his life, only sorry for the dead Uncle Lin, Lin Dan, and the Qi family. Seeing that Lin Dan finally returned to the capital where he had been away for a long time, and supported the Lin family's courtyard again, he was happier than anyone else. He knew how capable Lin Dan was. As long as she was given enough time, she would definitely surpass Uncle Lin's achievements.
However, some people just didn't want to make her feel better, and they used the next tricks one by one, forcing her to go away again. Now, Tang Jiu's disgust for the Yan family has penetrated deep into his bones, otherwise he would not use any means to take Yan Langqing's position as the royal chef.
He emphasized his tone and repeated: "Can you stay this time? I promise that no one will dare to bully you in the future."
Lin Dan smiled lightly, but still shook his head firmly.
The anticipation in Tang Jiu's eyes disappeared instantly, and he wanted to say something else. A man squeezed through the crowd and said tremblingly, "I'm the servant of the Yan family, and I'm here to deliver a letter to my lady."
"Give it to me." Lin Dan stretched out his hand to receive the letter, and then slowly let out a turbid breath. The person she was waiting for finally came...
Tang Jiu glanced at the stationery, but saw a line of words written in small letters with hairpins on it - June 6th, Xiangyuan Fair. Fragrant Garden is the Imperial Palace, and ordinary people can't even get close to it. It was one of the emperor's favorite gardens. It was guarded by guards all the year round. With Yan Langqing's identity, how could it be used? Could it be that there is also the approval of the emperor
Thinking of this, Tang Jiu suddenly remembered the message sent by her sister to herself, saying that the emperor had treated Yan Langqing quite favorably in recent years, and seemed to want to be included in the harem, so he asked him to think of a way. It was also because of this that there were rumors that the imperial concubine wanted to marry Yan Langqing and let her marry into the Hou residence.
If the emperor really supported Yan Langqing behind his back, the competition might not be so fair. So he said in a low voice, "The Fragrant Garden is an imperial garden, and no one can use it without an edict. The last time a guest was entertained in the Fragrant Garden was Her Royal Highness the Eldest Princess."
Lin Dan frowned slightly, then nodded after a while and said, "I understand, Xie Shizi brings up a point." His tone was unhurried and relaxed.
Tang Jiu couldn't see what she was thinking, and continued: "I can find a way to cancel this competition." Why participate in the unfair competition? There is little justice in this world, but he wanted to give Lin Dan justice, a justice that was ten years late.
"No, I have my own way to deal with it." Lin Dan smiled and shook his head. She has waited ten years, and has no patience to wait any longer.
"Think about it again. Yan Langqing is protected by the emperor, and the referee invited will definitely not dare to let her lose." Tang Jiu couldn't persuade her, so she could only clarify.
Lin Dan waved his hand, and said the same thing: "I have my own way, the prince doesn't need to worry."
Tang Jiu gritted her teeth and looked at her, feeling helpless and moved. Lin Dan is still so stubborn, but it is precisely because of this stubbornness that she is what she is now.
"Forget it, I'll find a solution for you!" He took Tang Peng and strode away.
Qin Erniang stood on tiptoe and looked at the letter, and sighed: "Xiangyuan, that is the emperor's favorite place, and most people are not allowed to enter. Manager Lin, don't be stubborn with Tang Shizi. It means you lose. We only need to know what level you are, so why use eggs to touch rocks?"
Lin Dan shook his head, his eyes firm.
…
June 6th is coming soon. Lin Dan is invited to come. He has to go through many checkpoints and inspections before he is allowed to enter the Fragrant Garden. There are five steps in the garden, one post at ten steps, and one pavilion. The guards and the courtiers with stern faces have a royal atmosphere.
If another ordinary person came in, I would be scared to death, where would I dare to compete? Undoubtedly, before the two met, Yan Langqing gave Lin Dan a dismay. Lin Dan didn't know who she was, but she could guess that her situation must be very strange, even magnificent. Because when she saw this scene, she didn't feel any panic at all, and her heart was like a pool of stagnant water, with no ripples at all.
She walked into the inner courtyard calmly, entered the main hall, saw a handsome man sitting in the main seat, and immediately knelt down and kowtowed. A man stepping on bright yellow soap boots is undoubtedly the emperor.
"Get up, I heard that you are going to have a cooking competition with Lang Qing, so I will go out of the palace to be a witness for her." The emperor smiled graciously: "This competition, you only need to show your talents, don't worry, Just order what ingredients you want, and the palace servants will prepare them for you."
Yan Langqing lowered her head and covered her mouth, as if shy. The emperor glanced at her and smiled softly. He is fair on the surface, but in fact, a few words have pointed out his close relationship with Yan Langqing. Who dares to go against his mind
The few people who came to be the referee looked at each other and thought about each other in their hearts. These people are not only old royal chefs who have left the palace, but also well-known old foodies, and some chefs of large restaurants, who are quite proficient in cooking.
Lin Dan roughly swept over, and couldn't help but be surprised. Nine out of ten of these people participated in the previous competition, as if the time was reversed and the past reappeared. In addition, old acquaintances such as Tang Shizi, Prince Cheng, Prince Gong, Marquis of Weiyuan, and King of Yunnan and Guizhou were sitting and watching. Yan Shouye, who was beaten and should have been lying in bed to cultivate, also came, looking at her with resentment and pride.
Lin Dan bowed his knees and saluted, opened his mouth and asked, "Your Majesty, can you guarantee the fairness of this competition?" The speaker is exceptionally eloquent. Lin Dan pointed out the words directly, he had to nod if he didn't want to.