The Female Supporting Role Shows Out

The kitchen in the small restaurant was charred from burning. Fortunately, no one was injured. After the incident, Lady Qi suffered from the trauma caused by the Yan family and immediately developed a high fever. Lin Dan had not only needed to find a doctor for her, she also had to make a report at the Yamen and did not manage to get a bit of shut-eye the entire night.

But the person who set the fire had long escaped. As Lin Dan was merely a powerless ordinary citizen, the Yamen would naturally not pay too much attention to her case.

After scurrying all night, Lin Dan was exhausted. In order to calm Lady Qi down, she did not dare to live in that fork alley anymore. Before dawn, they left by the city gate and moved to a suburban house. She was not afraid of the Yan family, but she had to consider the feelings of her mother and the others.

The next day, the people of the South District were dumbfounded to discover that their hometown kitchen was closed down. Just the day before, when the Yan family came to create trouble for them, the shop was doing extremely well. But when things happened, everyone took advantage of the chaos and ran away with the restaurant’s food. They talked unscrupulously about Manager Lin's personal affairs and speculated her character in the most damaging way, without a care of whether she would be angry. They clearly knew that Manager Lin would not offend the diners as she needed to earn the money to support her family.

But nobody expected that she would actually close the restaurant down. Manager Lin did not want to make any more money and closed the business nonchalantly. These migrants of the South District started to wonder where else can they enjoy a good meal. Now that they were used to the authentic hometown food, nobody wanted to go back to the life of having bland food.

"Manager Lin, are you here? It's time to get up and open the shop!" Someone who did not know what happened slapped the shop door vigorously to no avail, suddenly getting a little anxious. He was a worker who did the most tedious and tiring work. It had become a habit to get up early in the morning to have a bowl of noodles cooked by Manager Lin before getting some takeaway braised pork to enjoy at night. He had looked forward to having the bowl of noodles and meat every morning, which had also given him the greatest comfort. Now that the noodles and the braised meat are gone, he started to panic and wondered what would happen if he was unable to enjoy Manager Lin’s cooking anymore.

The more he thought, the more flustered he became, and he started slapping the door harder.

Those who gathered in the alley to watch what happened and even took the food away also carried an anxious look at this moment. From now on, they could only enjoy the most authentic hometown food in their dreams and not in reality anymore. It was not merely food, it had a huge impact on people's mental and physical health.

"What's going on?" Tang Jiu squeezed through the crowd and asked with a frown. Just like everyone else, he would visit the shop rain or shine, or he would not be energetic all day.

Qin Er’niang stood in the corner and said sarcastically with her hand on her waist: "Stop knocking, there is no one inside. Someone came to create trouble for Manager Lin last afternoon and even destroyed the shop. These people took advantage of the chaos and robbed her of the food. At night, another thug came to set the fire and burned the kitchen. Manager Lin dare not live here anymore and moved away overnight. I am afraid she will not come back here to set up a business anymore in the future. She approached me last night and sold the shop to me for ten taels of silver. Just keep wreaking havoc, all of you! It’ll be wonderful to make her so frustrated that she leaves the capital so that I will never get to eat the local dishes made by Manager Lin anymore, isn’t it? What the hell can I eat now? Manager Lin usually treats all of you well, have you all forgotten it? Look around in this South District, who is as willing to give you some soup for free as her? Who gave you some pickles for free? Who is the one who added braised pork into the vegetarian braised gravy so that you can enjoy some meat? It’s fine if you don’t appreciate her kindness, but you’re scums for robbing her in the midst of chaos!"

"Someone came to smash the shop and set a fire?" Tang Jiu asked with a stern face, "Is Lin Dan hurt? Do you know where is she now?"

"I have no idea." Qin Er’niang dare not act recklessly in front of Tang Jiu, but she was still unhappy and snorted before leaving. As she walked away and glanced at those people whom she berated, they lowered their heads in embarrassment and felt regretful in their hearts.

Manager Lin's culinary skills were so good that it raised everyone’s need for good food. Now that she had closed down the shop, nobody would be able to eat that delicious hometown food, and the sadness and nostalgia of leaving home had become stronger. Manager Lin's dishes were not only delicious, but it also contained a trace of nostalgia, which was enough to comfort the migrants’ hearts. But they did not offer her any help at the crucial moment even after receiving her kindness.

"If I had known that Manager Lin would be too angry to open a shop, I would do everything I could to drive those people away!"

"What's the use for you to say this now? She’s already gone! If I was in the shop yesterday, I would have chased them out with a stick!"[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the "Novel Multiverse dot com" website @ novelmultiverse.com]

"I have to unload two cargoes today and will be very tired. I wanted to come and enjoy a bowl of noodles in the morning before working hard in the day. Now that the hometown kitchen is closed, I wouldn’t be able to enjoy noodles from my hometown anymore. I really don’t have any mood to work! Does anyone know where Manager Lin is? Let’s bring her back and beg her not to close down the restaurant. I believe everyone is relying on her culinary skills to live by!"

What he said was not an exaggeration. Many of these hardworking people of the South District would get up early to enjoy a bowl of noodles at Lin Dan’s shop before heading to work. The noodles she made were not only delicious and cheap, one could even taste a rich meaty taste in the vegetable braised gravy. Not to mention the bowl of milky pork soup she provided for everyone for free. Those who enjoy a warm and delicious breakfast at her shop in the morning would be filled with energy at work.

When she opened the shop, everyone thought it was nothing but another restaurant. They reckoned it would not kill them not to patronize Lin Dan’s restaurant. But when she closed down the restaurant, everyone seemed to have lost something important, and their hearts were empty.

Tang Jiu left the alley with a gloomy face, feeling more miserable than anyone else. It was obvious to him that the smashing and burning of the shop were doings of the Yan family. He was utterly disgusted by their tricks, but at the same time, he was extremely upset by Lin Dan’s departure and was even a little angry at her.

Despite telling her countless times that she could always look for him if she encountered any trouble, she had still decided to shoulder all the grievances just as she did ten years ago. She did not seem to need anyone and lived alone and stubbornly in the world.

Tang Jiu suppressed the pain and heartache and strode towards Yamen of the South District. He had decided to take the matter into his hands if the officials were not going to handle it. He would cut off the hands of whoever that smashed or burned the shop!

After Tang Jiu left, Marquis Weiyuan also came by and asked about the situation. A menacing smile appeared on his now fuller face and he said, "Someone burned the Manager Lin's shop and forced her to close down the restaurant? Very well, very well!" He flicked his sleeves and walked away after finishing his speech. In the next moment, the son of Lord Dianqian came and sighed helplessly: "I even told her that I’m coming to get some Dianqian exclusive snacks for my sister today, looks like I can’t fulfill my promise to my sister this time around. Would Manager Lin not open her shop ever again? Now, this is bad!"

Several luxurious carriages came and left quietly. These people of status had all sent people to search for Manager Lin, as well as investigating what had happened to her in the past. The investigations had led them to the Yan family.

Yan Shouye thought Lin Dan was still that helpless and pitiful girl back then and was very pleased that he was able to beat her in one move. He thought, “So what if she could help Qiaoyuan Restaurant and affect my business? So what if your culinary skills are now better than it was in the past? I would take away your signature dishes and eliminate you so that you can go and be with Lin Baotian in the netherworld!”

Although the fire did not burn Lin Dan to death and ruined Yan Shouye’s mood for a day, he rewarded the thugs handsomely for their hard work when he learned that Lin Dan and her mother were so terrified that they had left the capital overnight.

"Go back and guard that alley. If that family returns, you will continue to burn them. I will take responsibility if they are burned to death. Don’t worry about the Yamen, they have been taken care of and will not interfere with this matter." Yan Shouye handed over a silver tael and the thugs quickly accepted it and left gratefully.

"How is today’s business?" He turned around and asked Lin’s second uncle.

"Marquis Weiyuan brought dozens of soldiers to the shop for a drink and occupied all the seats on the first floor. The second floor was also almost full, and the business is doing extremely well." Lin’s second uncle said triumphantly.

"Marquis Weiyuan is here? Quick, you must serve him the best wine we have!" Yan Shouye thought for a moment and had a change of mind, "No, I should personally go and greet the distinguished guests instead. Give me the wine." He took a jar of wine and walked towards the dining hall, before greeting Marquis Weiyuan fawnly and in the most respectful manner: "Marquis, this is the pear blossom wine that is brewed by my daughter. It is the most refreshing to drink this in spring. Do you want to have a try?"

He was very confident in Yan Langqing's culinary skills and was sure that Marquis Weiyuan would be satisfied with what he offered. In the past, he had also tried to send him some drinks, but he could not even enter the gates of his residence, not to mention trying to curry favor with him. He thought their restaurant would gain a strong backing after he had a taste of this jar of wine.

"Is your daughter Yan Langqing?" Marquis Weiyuan asked in confirmation.

"Yes, Yan Langqing is my daughter who is now working as an imperial chef in the palace." Yan Shouye said proudly.

Wei Yuanhou pointed to his empty wine glass and said with a smile: "Then, fill it up."

Yan Shouye quickly poured him some wine and waited eagerly for his feedback. But Marquis Weiyuan suddenly raised his wine bowl and smashed it hard on his head. He yelled, "Motherfucker, how dare you serve me diluted wine?! Men, smash this restaurant that scams their diners!"

"Yes, sir!" The soldiers who were already ready to make a move immediately drew out the swords from their waists and smashed all the tables, chairs, doors, windows, and counters on the first floor. Although the guests on the second floor were anxious, they did not dare to go down and could only stand by the fence and look down at what was happening. After about half an hour, the originally luxurious storefront was in a mess. Yan Shouye was moaning and laying on the ground covered in blood, but no one dared to offer him any help.

Marquis Weiyuan still felt that it was not enough to relieve his anger. He grabbed him and kicked him a few more times before sneering and said, "I detest those who sell diluted liquor the most in my life. Count yourself lucky that I didn't take your life today!" As soon as he left, the diners upstairs also left one after another, but there were still many people around the door who were craning their necks to watch what happened.

Lin’s second uncle only appeared now to help Yan Shouye up. He felt as though someone had stabbed a knife into his heart when he saw the mess on the ground and thought of the losses the restaurant suffered today.

However, this was not over yet. Before the physician could arrive at the shop to help Yan Shouye dress up the wound, the steward of the Lord Dianqian came in with a dead dog in his hands. He said that the dog had died after eating the mushroom soup packaged and delivered by Yan's restaurant and urged to settle this in court. If one were to think about it, they would realize that the mushroom soup was originally meant for the daughter of Lord Dianqian, who fed the soup to the dog because she did not have any appetite. If the lady had eaten the soup instead, the one who would die now would not be the dog. The young lady of Dianqian was preparing to be a concubine in the palace and it would be a serious matter to report to the officials.

The steward did not even care that the front hall was in ruins and instructed several strong men to take Yan Shouye away before sounding the drum of the Yamen. It was first diluted wine and then poisonous soup in just one morning, and the reputation of Yan's restaurant was doomed. Even if Yan Langqing was greatly favored by the Emperor, he would not reprimand Marquis Weiyuan or offend Lord Dianqian just for an imperial chef, it would even be impossible for the Emperor to clear up the rumors for her in front of the people of the capital!

Lin’s second uncle sat at the door of the store with his head in his arms, feeling miserable and helpless.[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the "Novel Multiverse dot com" website @ novelmultiverse.com]