Chapter 8: The Street Administration Bureau—Does This Restaurant Want to Close Down?
Manager Luo’s expression darkened as he tried to argue. “Why do you claim I rented your shop? There’s no contract, no witnesses! You’re just trying to extort us!”
Yihuan raised her head and looked at him with a frosty gaze. “Oh? If you didn’t rent it, then placing twenty jars of wine in my shop amounts to illegal occupation. I could have held you accountable, but you dare accuse me instead?”
Manager Luo’s face turned ashen. Unable to outtalk Yihuan, his frustration boiled over. “Little girl, do you even know who we, Jinxiu Restaurant, are?”
Raising her chin defiantly, Yihuan countered, “And do you know who I am?”
In truth, Yihuan felt nervous, but her years of experience working in restaurants had taught her one thing—never back down in an argument.
Sure enough, Manager Luo froze, visibly intimidated by her confidence.
Neighbors began gathering outside to watch the commotion. Even the blacksmith shop workers next door came to join the crowd.
Lu Shi, the blacksmith’s assistant, caught wind of the situation and checked his shop’s tools. To his shock, the tools they had stored in Yihuan’s shop were also gone! Fear gripped him as he imagined the scolding he’d face from his boss.
Lu Shi pushed to the front of the crowd, just about to confront Yihuan, when a loud voice rang out: “Make way! Make way! Director Wang of the Street Administration Bureau is here!”
The crowd turned to see Ah-miao leading Director Wang into the scene.
Director Wang was a wiry old man, his thin frame barely filling out his clothes, but his sharp eyes sparkled with authority.
Having spent his career managing the streets of Shengjing, he was intimately familiar with the city’s layout. The government had assigned him to this relatively calm district, Changming Street, as a prelude to his retirement.
Seeing the gathered crowd, Director Wang frowned and waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t you all have businesses to run? Lingering here, wasting time—aren’t you afraid of going bankrupt tomorrow?”
Chastened, most of the crowd dispersed, though a few curious onlookers lingered.
Director Wang surveyed the scene and asked, “Who’s in charge of this shop?”
Stepping forward, Yihuan replied respectfully, “This humble woman, Yihuan, greets Director Wang.”
The old man’s stern eyes scanned Yihuan, then shifted to the angry-faced Manager Luo.
As he pondered the situation, he remembered the osmanthus wine he had just enjoyed—it had been sent by this young lady. The taste was… truly delightful.
Clearing his throat, Director Wang asked, “What’s going on here? Why are you arguing?”
With a polite bow, Yihuan explained, “This shop had been vacant for a long time. When I returned, I found it filled with wine. Upon inquiry, I learned it belonged to Jinxiu Restaurant.”
Manager Luo stiffened, but before he could interrupt, Yihuan continued evenly, “I asked them to remove the wine, but they refused to move it or pay rent. Left with no choice, I gifted the wine to the Street Administration Bureau.”
Director Wang stroked his beard thoughtfully, glancing at Manager Luo. “Is what she says true?”
Knowing Director Wang’s reputation for sharpness, Manager Luo dared not lie. He stammered, “Y-yes…”
Shaking his head, Director Wang said, “You’ve been on Changming Street for years. How could you make such a blunder, bullying a young girl like this?”
Manager Luo’s face alternated between pale and flushed. He muttered, “Director Wang… I admit my mistake. But today, there’s an important guest at my restaurant—a VIP who demanded the osmanthus wine. If I can’t produce it, he’ll tear the place apart!”
Manager Luo’s anxiety was palpable.
“Who is it?” Director Wang asked.
The servant muttered, “Who else but Young Master Liu?”
Director Wang shrugged indifferently. “That’s your problem. If you can’t serve your customers, why bother running a restaurant? My job is to mediate shop disputes.”
Manager Luo was rendered speechless.
Turning to Yihuan, Director Wang asked, “Manager Luo occupied your shop for three years. What do you propose?”
Looking at Manager Luo, Yihuan replied calmly, “Based on my calculations, Manager Luo owes me seventy taels of silver.”
Manager Luo winced, clearly pained by the sum but unable to refute it.
Hearing this, Lu Shi grew nervous as well. Fearing that the blacksmith shop would also be fined for using the space, he quietly slipped back to his workplace.
Suddenly, Yihuan shifted her tone. “But considering that we’ll be neighbors in the future, it’s best not to sour relations…”
Manager Luo brightened instantly. “Of course, of course!”
With a mischievous smile, Yihuan added, “If Manager Luo includes my desserts on Jinxiu Restaurant’s menu for three months, we’ll call it even.”
Manager Luo froze. The girl was clearly leveraging his restaurant to boost her sales! Normally, he would never agree to such a request. But the thought of saving seventy taels of silver made him reluctantly nod. “Fine… but how much you sell depends on your skill.”
In his mind, he smirked. He could instruct his staff to discourage customers from buying her desserts.
However, Yihuan added, “But I’ll choose where my items appear on the menu.”
After observing Jinxiu Restaurant all day, Yihuan knew it was the best establishment in the area, with a steady flow of high-spending customers. As an unknown startup, her dessert shop needed a strong launch, and using a major restaurant for exposure was the perfect strategy.
If she was going to trade rent money for advertising, she wouldn’t hold back!
Manager Luo hesitated. “This…”
Director Wang yawned. “You’re a grown man. Why are you acting so petty? The girl’s already waived the rent. Stop nitpicking!”
Scowling at Manager Luo, Director Wang added, “Now hurry up and settle this. I’ve got wine to drink before those fools at the bureau finish it all!”
Sighing in defeat, Manager Luo muttered, “Fine! Have it your way.”
Yihuan extended her hand with a gentle smile. “Pleasure doing business with you.”
Manager Luo: “…” Pleasure?
With the agreement finalized, Director Wang gave them both a perfunctory scolding before declaring the matter resolved.
Sharing a knowing smile, Yihuan and Ah-miao exchanged glances, and even Lin Yiran grinned.
Meanwhile, Manager Luo left with the servant, his face clouded with worry. After all, the VIP at his restaurant was still waiting for his osmanthus wine.
Just as they entered Jinxiu Restaurant, a cold, lazy voice echoed through the hall: “Manager Luo, where have you been? Does this restaurant… no longer wish to operate?”
T/N:- I am so excited about the next upcoming chapters, as I have included video links as well as pictures of the food prepared in the novel. I have found the video while taking into account that the recipes described in the novel match the videos. I hope y’all like it. Thank you for reading<3
Dear Cupcake, thanks for you devotion, thank you for you cute little research, for your sweet comments! Your work is perfect!💋