After Being Forced Into Marriage, I Became Very Successful - Chapter 22

22:

When Jiang Yan arrived at the old shop, she was surprised to find it busier than usual. A server spotted her, greeted her with a smile, and called out to Boss Qian, who was busy in the kitchen.

“The usual?”

Jiang Yan sat at her regular spot, smiling up at her. “Yes, the usual, but add a fried dough stick today.”

Boss Qian wiped his hands and came out of the kitchen, grinning. “Coming here the day after your wedding? You think the Xia family’s young lady doesn’t mind?”

He still wasn’t used to calling Xia Yining Jiang Yan’s wife, it felt awkward to say. But he had no issue with their legally recognized partnership. If the state approved, what reason did he have to object?

Thinking of Xia Yining’s guarded and cold demeanor last night, Jiang Yan shrugged nonchalantly. “It’s fine. She won’t care.”

Boss Qian gave some instructions in the kitchen and personally brought out Jiang Yan’s order.

“Eating oily dumplings and a fried dough stick? You’ll need plenty of tea.”

He brought a pot of the shop’s priciest tea. Jiang Yan glanced around, curious. “Business seems especially good today, but these look like new customers?”

The shop had long relied on neighborhood regulars, mostly older folks. But today, there were many younger patrons, around Jiang Yan’s age.

“That’s thanks to you.”

“Thanks to me?”

“After the wedding banquet last night, I was too busy to notice, but around midnight, Xiao Lai ran over with her phone, saying that a word got out that I made dishes for your wedding.”

He nodded towards a young woman sitting nearby, lowering his voice. “That girl says she’s a food vlogger, who was here to review the shop. Ordered half a table’s worth and has been eating for hours.”

Jiang Yan leaned to look, then turned back. “That’s like free advertising. Pretty great.”

And the effect was clear, drawing in younger customers, suggesting more than one vlogger had spread the news.

“We’ll see. It might just be lively for a few days, then die down when the hype fades,” Boss Qian said, his tone mixing hope with restraint, as if he’d been let down before, more than once.

Tian Sheng dropped by, openly envious of the shop’s bustle but quick to congratulate Boss Qian.

“Old Qian, you’ve finally made it. My kid showed me this morning, there are several posts about your shop on Weibo.”

Boss Qian poured him tea, smiling candidly. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t pleased. If the shop can keep this traffic, I might stick around a few more years.”

Knowing Jiang Yan’s status, Tian Sheng pulled her into encouraging Boss Qian. “Old Qian, you’re too stubborn sometimes, always stuck in the past. Now that you’ve got a breakthrough, why just sigh instead of seizing it?” He glanced at Jiang Yan. “Xiao Jiang did you a huge favor. Is this how you thank her?”

Jiang Yan set down her chopsticks, insisting she hadn’t done much.

“Don’t be modest with him. Haicheng’s full of skilled chefs, and Old Qian knows it.”

Jiang Yan had planned to privately thank Boss Qian, but since Tian Sheng brought it up, she went with it. “Actually, Mrs. Xia also wanted to express her gratitude and asked me to convey it in person. I know you don’t like formalities, but this is a heartfelt thanks from both families.”

For elite families, a wedding banquet was both a celebration and a display. Its success mattered greatly. Though Xia’s mother hadn’t said it outright, her discreet glances at the key guests’ reactions last night showed her high expectations for Boss Qian’s craft.

Since returning from the banquet, Boss Qian had received abundant praise, a smile often creeping onto his face. He was a perceptive man, and his fondness for Jiang Yan grew.

“The banquet was an opportunity you gave me. If anyone’s thanking anyone, it should be me first. The crab shell pastries and scallion pancakes last night, were they good?”

Jiang Yan didn’t hesitate. “Really good. It was delicious.”

“Want to eat them regularly?”

“Of course! Then I won’t drool in my dreams.”

Her frankness made Boss Qian and Tian Sheng burst into laughter.

Boss Qian sighed, patted his thigh, and seemed to make a final decision. “Come by the shop when you have time. I’ll teach you.”

Jiang Yan froze. “Teach me what?”

“How to make those two dishes. Then you can eat them whenever you want.”

Not only Jiang Yan but also Tian Sheng was stunned. The era of master-apprentice traditions was long gone, and recipes weren’t exactly secret, but Boss Qian’s offer seemed unusually casual.

Tian Sheng coughed lightly, cautioning, “Old Qian, maybe think it over?”

“I decided last night. The banquet ingredients can’t be sold in the shop, they’re too costly for our customers. It’s better to teach someone who can afford it and truly appreciates it. That way, the craft won’t vanish.”

Jiang Yan’s heart raced. She wasn’t after Boss Qian’s recipes, but the idea of eating those dishes anytime was incredibly tempting.

Boss Qian smiled at her. “So, do you want to learn?”

“Absolutely, yes!” Jiang Yan said, a bit embarrassed.

Boss Qian and Tian Sheng looked at her with elder-like affection. Since Boss Qian had made up his mind, Tian Sheng didn’t interfere. It was his craft to share as he pleased.

“Old Tian, how’s your talk with the Li family going?”

“I’m stalling for now. Seeing your shop’s turnaround makes me want to hold out too.”

Tian Sheng was genuinely moved. Recent demolitions in the area had driven away neighbors without new customers to replace them, making business bleak. But the banquet’s buzz brought in young patrons, an effect that both shocked and excited him.

“Trying to ride the trend?”

Tian Sheng pointed at Boss Qian. “You’re the trendsetter, Old Qian. We’re all hoping to ride your coattails.”

Jiang Yan sensed a hint of Boss Qian’s past glory but didn’t pry.

After eating, she arranged a time to learn the recipes, avoiding peak hours.

“But I will start work next week, and I’m not sure what time I’ll finish.”

“No problem. Come when you can. If you can’t, we’ll push it back. What’s yours won’t run away.”

—

Before leaving, Jiang Yan insisted Boss Qian take the gifts she had brought. “You have to accept these, or I can’t face Mom when I get back.”

It was Xia family etiquette, and Boss Qian, not wanting to put her in a tough spot, relented. “Thank Mrs. Xia for me.” He weighed the gift box, adding, “Once you master those two, I’ll teach you something else.”

An extra treat, whatever it was, it would surely be delicious. Jiang Yan agreed happily. Back in the car, she got a call from Xia Yining.

“Are you eating out tonight or coming back?”

“I’m coming back. I’m leaving Boss Qian’s shop now.”

“Good.”

A brief silence followed. Jiang Yan didn’t hang up but didn’t speak either. After a pause, Xia Yining said, “Come to my room tonight.”

“For what?”

“Mom knows you slept elsewhere last night.”

Jiang Yan paused, starting the car, cranking up the AC. “No way. Didn’t you say everything was arranged?”

Her words deepened Xia Yining’s frustration. She, too, wanted to know who had spilled, but discussing it with Jiang Yan was pointless.

“Starting tonight, sleep in my room.”

Jiang Yan was momentarily speechless.

“Dad might ask about your plans for joining the company tonight. Be prepared.”

“Got it. I’m heading back now.”

Xia Langyan and his wife were polite enough, if not warm, unlike Yan Zi, whose disdain was barely concealed. But compared to sleeping in a guest room, spending the night in Xia Yining’s room felt far heavier to Jiang Yan.

When she got home, Xia Yining and her father hadn’t returned. Seeing Xia’s mother organizing dinner, Jiang Yan smiled, mentioned the shop visit, and went upstairs.

She considered her options and opened Xia Yining’s room.

She hadn’t looked closely last night, but today she needed to figure out where to sleep on the floor. To her surprise, the small sofa from last night was gone, replaced by a long double sofa, likely big enough for her to sleep on.