The Female Supporting Role Shows Out

t nobody else is allowed to open a Shandong restaurant nearby and compete with them.”

“But aren’t you doing well here?” Lin Dan frowned slightly, while the handsome man put on a stern look.

“My family is not completely without backing.
My grandfather served the Emperor, and my father served the Empress Dowager.
They were all imperial chefs from the palace.
The calligraphy that is hung in the dining hall was authentically written by the Emperor himself.
This is why even though the Yan family is powerful, they wouldn’t be able to lay a finger on me.” The young chef looked proud of his ancestor’s achievements, but he also worried.
Although his predecessors had done well, his skills were not good enough and business had been in decline.
However, for Yan Langqing, she had become the head chef of the imperial kitchen at a young age.
The Emperor was kind enough to spread her good reputation from within the palace to outside the palace.

This was why, even if those food connoisseurs in West Town did not like her food, they would not show it in order not to embarrass the Emperor.
Eventually, Yan’s restaurant became more and more popular.

Lin Dan often sent her people back to the capital to understand more about the current affairs, and also knew about Yan Langqing’s success.
After Yan Langqing left the Duke’s residence, she worked as a head chef in Yan’s restaurant.
One day, the Emperor made a private visit to the capital and happened to have a meal in her restaurant.
He took a liking to the dishes she made and had a good chat with her.
He eventually decided to recruit her as a chef in the imperial kitchen where she gradually gained the Emperor’s favor.

However, Lin Dan did not follow what happened to Yan Langqing afterward and naturally did not know that she had gained so much power.

The chef then continued, “The head of the Yan family is Yan Langqing.
Her signature dish is Wanfu meat.
When the Emperor tried it for the first time, he liked it so much that he immediately hired her as an imperial chef.
I heard that he could not stand not eating her dishes even for one day.
Don’t you think she has truly gained the favor of the Emperor?”

Lin Dan was not interested in whether Yan Langqing was favored by the Emperor or not, but she was interested in that Wanfu meat.
She asked, “How is this Wanfu meat made? Is it really that delicious?”

“I have no idea.
I heard that Imperial Chef Yan would ask everyone to retreat whenever she makes the Wanfu meat so that only she would know the recipe.” The young chef shook his head regretfully.

Lin Dan put on her usual facial expression, but her eyes were cold and stiff.
She left her address and bid the chef goodbye.
When she left Qiaoyuan Restaurant, she immediately went back to the owner of the grocery store and said that she had brought the money and would be able to buy the shop immediately.
However, the grocery store owner refused in every possible way and said that someone had paid a high price for the shop after she left.

Lin Dan observed at him carefully and saw that his eyes were full of pain from refusing a good deal.
She understood immediately and knew that having many other interested buyers was just a ruse.
The Yan family probably had warned all the nearby owners not to sell the shop to anyone who wants to open a Shandong cuisine restaurant.

Lin Dan said goodbye to the boss and had no interest in wandering around.
She walked back without saying a word.

The handsome man stared at her from behind and spoke in a voice deeper than usual, “I used to work in the West and the North a few years ago, and only recently returned to the capital.
But I didn’t know that the Yan family is already acting so arrogantly.”

“Arrogance?” Lin Dan looked back at him and smiled, with no telling what was the meaning behind her smile.

Soon, the handsome man knew why she smiled in that manner.
He learned that Yan Shouye had found out from the grocery store owner that someone was going to open a Shandong restaurant right opposite his restaurant to challenge him head-on.
Since Lin Dan had no power, it was easy for Yan Shouye to find out about Lin Dan’s intention.
This was why there was no way Lin Dan could open a restaurant in the capital as the Yan family would find all ways to stop her.
No one in the West Town dared to strike a deal with her, this was the same for owners in the East Town.
And as soon as a shop owner in the North Town agreed to sell the shop, he would back out in the next moment and even took away the deposit that Lin Dan had paid.
After looking around for a long time, Lin Dan finally found a shop in South Town that was located near a pier.
However, the demographics were extremely complicated, and security was poor.
Robbery and even murder often occurred there.
It would not be easy to set up a business there, not to mention making money without incurring losses.

The Yan family was finally satisfied and felt that they had beaten Lin Dan down so hard that she would not stand a chance surviving there.

The handsome man had been traveling around with Lin Dan every day and watched her as she faced difficulties and was oppressed in every way.
It was then he realized that the Yan family was not “arrogant” but “despicable”.
No matter how disciplined and calm he was, he could not help but feel anger boiling within.
However, Lin Dan had always maintained a positive and optimistic attitude.
Although she would frown whenever she encountered difficulties, she would quickly recover, as if no one and nothing could break her.

On this day, Lin Dan brought her servants to South Town to tidy up the shop, while the handsome man stood by the door, scrutinizing passers-by with his eagle eyes and giving out his powerful aura.
He would leave in the evening every day, and show up early the next morning to have breakfast at Lin Dan’s house before traveling with her to places.
Fortunately, with his protection, Lin Dan could travel freely in the chaotic South Town.
She thought that she would have to hire strong and reliable bodyguards in the future if he was no longer around.

Lin Dan sighed at the thought of that and said, “Now that I have gotten everything settled down, you don’t have to follow me around anymore.”

The man refused and made another proposal, “The location of this stop is bad.
I’ll change one for you.
It’s in West Town.

“We met by coincidence and are not related to each other in any way.
How can I accept the shop? I will remember your kindness and charge you at half price whenever you come by and have a meal at my restaurant.” Lin Dan refused his offer as expected.
She was a reasonable person who would never take people for granted.

The man pressed his lips slightly, not knowing how to persuade her.
Seeing that the sky was getting dark, he turned around and left.
When he reached the entrance of the alley, he looked back and was filled with worry.
He felt that this was really not a good place to open a restaurant.
It was not only hidden in a winding alleyway, there were also vice activities such as gambling, cockfighting, and prostitution happening nearby.
He wondered how she would be able to set up a business here.

But Lin Dan was so stubborn that he did not know how to help her even if he wanted to.