Ye Qingcheng paused, "That's it?"
"Yes!" Chef Fang nodded. "That's it. Primarily, I have a very bad impression of your brother-in-law. If the person opposite were someone else, perhaps I would have explained it more seriously."
Ye Qingcheng tugged at the corner of her mouth. It seemed the methods of her opponents were not very clever. They should have inquired about a person's popularity before finding them.
"So, they only figured out about seven or eight parts of the recipe and managed to reproduce this dish? They probably can't bring out the true flavor of the dish by just guessing."
Bixi asked curiously, "Why not buy one and try it, Madam?"
Ye Qingcheng put her hand to her forehead. "Silly Bixi, don't forget, I made this restaurant's opening widely known. Everyone knows I am the Princess Consort, the owner of 'Seemingly Flowing Years.' If we were to walk in brazenly, do you think they would sell it to us?"
Bixi nodded, as if it made sense. "Then, shall I go buy it?"
Ye Qingcheng shook her head. "You've been to the yamen and testified for me. Your face is too familiar. It won't help if you go."
Now they were truly stumped. There was no solution because everyone in the courtyard was too familiar. They had hit a dead end.
Just then, a waiter came in to report, "Owner, someone is looking for you outside."
Ye Qingcheng waved her hand irritably. "Tell them to leave. I don't want to see anyone. And close the door on your way out."
After waiting for a while and seeing the waiter still there, she asked, puzzled, "Is there something else?"
The waiter then stammered, "She said she is your third sister and she has what you want."
Ye Qingcheng was confused. "Third sister?" Did that mean Sheng Yiran was outside?
Why was she here?
Could she be here for a drink? Then she remembered hitting Yu Changan that day.
Social suicide couldn't be worse than this!
While thinking, she still went out of the private room and saw Sheng Yiran sitting downstairs, straight as a board, enjoying a massage while drinking tea. Looking at her, Ye Qingcheng realized she still couldn't quite understand the dining habits of ancient people.
"Why are you here?"
Sheng Yiran saw Ye Qingcheng and quickly stood up. "I know you've been in trouble recently, so, you see..." She took out a lunchbox. "I've packed that 'mouth-watering chicken' from there!"
Ye Qingcheng was utterly astonished. She hadn't figured out a solution yet, and Sheng Yiran was already offering help in their time of need.
"You're amazing. You've thought of everything I was thinking."
Sheng Yiran chuckled. "Hurry and taste it. See if it's good. I haven't tasted it myself yet!"
Ye Qingcheng nodded and, under the watchful eyes of everyone, picked up a piece of meat and put it in her mouth.
Sheng Yiran watched. "How is it?"
Ye Qingcheng frowned and chewed hard. "Too dry, too tough, no flavor, not good."
Sheng Yiran also picked up a piece of meat and ate it. As soon as she swallowed, she spat it out, looking at the dish. "It's very similar to your presentation, but the taste is so different. And the chicken has a strong fishy smell."
Ye Qingcheng spat out a bone and agreed with this honest evaluation.
"You're absolutely right."
With this, she was no longer worried.
"That's it. The price remains unchanged, and there's no need to improve the recipe. Nothing changes. Keep it as it is."
The shopkeeper was confused. "Why, owner? Don't you see how crowded the place opposite is now?"
Ye Qingcheng chuckled. "This is why you can only be a shopkeeper, not an owner."
The shopkeeper's heart skipped a beat.
Ye Qingcheng explained, "Let them earn money. Let them sell at the lowest price. Don't you forget, we were the first to make this dish. They have already tasted the original flavor. I ask you, between good flavor and bad flavor, which would you choose?"
The shopkeeper was speechless.
"They have indeed innovated on our level, but if they could make it delicious, I might be a little worried. But their taste is not good."
"If something tastes bad and they try to imitate something delicious, even a fool would know which to choose."
"So, don't be nervous or afraid. In a couple more days, they will be back."
However, Ye Qingcheng had overestimated the customers' patience. After just one day, when Ye Qingcheng went again, it was already packed.
Even more crowded than before.
Ye Qingcheng was secretly pleased. She pretended to casually pass by some customers' tables, listening to their complaints about the restaurant opposite.
"The place opposite is truly awful. It's a complete imitation."
"Exactly! If you want to eat, why eat the imitation when you can eat the original? And theirs is so tough and dry."
Ye Qingcheng was secretly delighted but did not show it.
Sheng Yiran, who was supposed to check the results today, saw the packed restaurant and came beside Ye Qingcheng. "It seems even you didn't expect this!"
Ye Qingcheng chuckled. "Yes! I overestimated their tolerance. Oh, right, are you here to eat? I'll have a waiter prepare a private room for you."
Sheng Yiran was not polite and thanked her directly, following the waiter upstairs.
This meal was incredibly satisfying!
Sheng Yiran elegantly wiped the corner of her lips and asked, "In five days, it will be the Prince's birthday. Have you thought about how to arrange it?"
Ye Qingcheng froze, then straightened up. "Xiao Wangye's birthday?"
Sheng Yiran was surprised. "You don't know? Everyone in the capital knows about this!"
Ye Qingcheng turned her head, her expression blank, and looked out the window.
Xiao Wangye's birthday was the same as hers. Was this... a coincidence? Or was it...
Then she shook her head. No, Xiao Wangye had already discovered she wasn't the real Ye Qingcheng. If it were him, they would have recognized each other long ago. But why would he...
Seeing Ye Qingcheng frowning and lost in thought, Sheng Yiran thought something was wrong and kept calling her, "Qingcheng? Ye Qingcheng? Snap out of it!"
Ye Qingcheng immediately returned to her senses. "Huh? What is it?"
Sheng Yiran felt a bit bewildered. "What's wrong with you? I called you for a long time before you responded. You haven't fallen ill, have you?"
Ye Qingcheng was speechless. "I'm fine. I'm just wondering why your birthday banquet and Xiao Wangye's are so close together."
Sheng Yiran looked at Ye Qingcheng with surprise. "What's going on with you? Your birth charts with the Prince's were compatible, which is why you were arranged to marry him. Have you forgotten about this?"