Chapter 116: I Don’t Want to Be Your Cook
No matter what Xie Yushan thought, the facts were what they were. Wen Xiuqing noticed his frown and the disdain in his eyes when he looked at Datou, and he couldn’t help feeling a little upset. Being an honest man, he couldn’t say it outright, so he simply ignored him. After that, no matter what Xie Yushan asked, Wen Xiuqing gave vague, half-hearted replies, not even listening to the questions.
Meanwhile, Qiu Rongrong was still dazed. The Wen family’s warmth made her feel as if she had suddenly found the festive atmosphere of home in a foreign place. Most importantly, they didn’t treat her as Madam Xie, but as Qiu Rongrong herself.
Looking at Wen Yao beside her, the smiling little girl seemed young yet carried a maturity far beyond her age, making Qiu Rongrong feel as if she were interacting with a peer.
In Yunwu Town, she had no friends. Her life revolved entirely around the Xie household—battling wits with the old matriarch, maintaining polite distance with her husband, constantly compromising for her son. It felt as though not a single day was lived for herself.
Even the money she earned had to be spent on the Xie family. If she bought something nice, the old matriarch would accuse her of being wasteful or selfish. Over time, she began to feel that spending her own money was somehow wrong.
Wen Yao’s presence made her realize how light and pleasant human relationships could be, free from status or background. Even simple questions like whether she was tired or thirsty carried genuine kindness.
“How did you end up here, Sister Qiu?” Wen Yao asked, pulling her back to reality.
Qiu Rongrong blinked. “I own Zui Xian Tower. Didn’t you know?”
Wen Yao’s mouth twitched awkwardly. Should she have known?
Embarrassed, Qiu Rongrong apologized. “Sorry, I thought Doctor Jin had told you.”
Wen Yao laughed. “It’s fine—I never asked.”
Suddenly, Qiu Rongrong brightened. “Yao Yao, your cooking is so good. Would you like to work at my restaurant? You can name your conditions, and the pay will definitely be higher than what the Xie family offers.”
Wen Yao almost burst out laughing. Why was this sister so determined to make her a cook? Even if she were a cook, she was an ambitious one.
Over the past few months, Wen Yao had been muddling along, always saying she’d walk the heroine’s path and block the heroine’s future, yet her only real plan so far was to make money—without knowing exactly how.
But Qiu Rongrong’s words suddenly sparked an idea.
“Sister Qiu, I actually know how to cook many dishes,” Wen Yao said.
Qiu Rongrong’s eyes lit up. “Then will you agree?”
Wen Yao sighed. “Sister Qiu, you see our big family—we can’t do without me.”
Qiu Rongrong fell silent. She hadn’t noticed that, but she understood the refusal. Still, she didn’t want to lose this friend. She was lonely here and had grown used to solving everything with money. She thought offering a job and high pay was kindness, but Wen Yao clearly didn’t see it that way.
“I didn’t mean anything else,” Qiu Rongrong hurried to explain.
Wen Yao smiled. “You think I’m short of money and want to help me by offering a job and generous pay, right?”
Qiu Rongrong nodded silently.
“I do need money. I like money. Who doesn’t? Your offer is tempting,” Wen Yao admitted.
“Then why not agree? I can pay you well.”
“But then we’d become employer and employee. You’d be my boss, and I’d be beneath you in status,” Wen Yao said with a smile.
Qiu Rongrong frowned. That wasn’t her intention.
Wen Yao continued, “I still need to earn money—but I have a better idea than becoming your cook. Want to hear it?”
“What is it?” Qiu Rongrong asked eagerly.
“You run a restaurant, and I happen to be good at cooking and love developing new dishes. Why don’t we cooperate?”
As a businesswoman, Qiu Rongrong quickly understood. “What kind of cooperation?”
“A restaurant thrives on taste and variety. If dishes never change, business won’t be bad—but it won’t be great either.”
Qiu Rongrong nodded. “Exactly. Today is the Lantern Festival, and the location helps attract customers. Normally, business isn’t this good. There are other restaurants in Yunwu Town.”
“That’s because there’s no specialty. A restaurant needs unique features to attract customers. For example, launching new dishes every month—people would come just to try them. Or offering a couple of discounted dishes so even ordinary folks can afford to eat here—that would boost popularity too.”
Though Wen Yao didn’t know restaurant management, she had seen enough of modern marketing tricks in her previous life. Borrowing a few ideas would be more than enough for now.
