Quick Transmigration: The Supporting Female Lead Stays Out of It - Chapter 3: Chef 2

When Qi woke up, it was already night. Seeing Lin Dan, she began to weep silently, which suggested she was somewhat unwilling. She kept murmuring, “You started learning cooking with your father at the age of seven, and now it’s been five or six years, you could even be called an old hand. How could you lose to that girl from the Yan family? I don’t know how those people outside will talk about your father now. We couldn’t protect his reputation, and how will we explain it to him when we go down there? Baotian, I’m so sorry…”

Looking at Qi’s incessant crying, Lin Dan thought to herself: if the original Lin Dan was still here, she probably would have felt deeply guilty and would have blamed herself. But the person was already gone, and I’m now using her identity; I still need to support this family for her.

The original Lin Dan was only twelve or thirteen years old, small in stature, with a tender face, looking two or three years younger than her actual age. Yet, she had to take on such a heavy responsibility so early on; it was truly difficult. If Lin Dan hadn’t suddenly replaced her, it would be uncertain what would become of her now.

Qi seemed to be worried about their future as well. Her crying gradually subsided, but her sighs came one after another. Just then, two servant women walked in, saying they were bringing a message from the Marquis, telling Qi and Lin Dan to continue living in the Marquis Manor. The Marquis Manor didn’t lack a couple of mouths to feed. Lin Baotian had served the Marquis for more than a decade, even accompanying him on military campaigns; their relationship was extraordinary. Now that he was dead, the Marquis wouldn’t make things difficult for his descendants.

The Yongding Marquis was a foodie; his tongue was more sensitive than most chefs. How could he not tell the difference between the two dishes of chicken and vegetable hearts? But he deliberately said that the two dishes were almost the same. This was to favor Lin Dan and also to preserve Lin Baotian’s reputation. But his son was a small foodie, with an even more sensitive tongue and a straightforward personality; that’s why he forced Lin Dan to admit defeat.

Most of the food connoisseurs of the capital came on the day of the competition, and there were also many onlookers. The fame Lin Baotian had built over many years was considered lost. Now, it had spread everywhere that everyone was calling him an ungrateful, traitorous villain. If Qi and Lin Dan left the Marquis Manor, wouldn’t they be bullied to death?

Qi was also afraid of facing the rumors; hearing that they could continue to stay in the Marquis Manor, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Lin Dan was a calm and rational person, and also very good at assessing the situation. She knew that continuing to stay in the Marquis Manor with Qi was the best arrangement. Whether it was her or the previous Lin Dan, they didn’t understand the world outside the Marquis Manor. Going out rashly, they might not even be able to support themselves, let alone support the sickly Qi? But a more intense intuition told her that if they really stayed in the Marquis Manor, many bad things would happen. Although she didn’t remember her true identity and past experiences, she still chose to believe herself without hesitation.

After the servant women left, she said firmly, “Mother, let’s leave. You’re afraid of the rumors outside, but how do you know that the rumors inside this Marquis Manor aren’t the most terrifying? After all, everyone has been envious of our family for a long time. Now that we’re in trouble, we’ll inevitably be excluded and bullied. In the past, because Father was valued by the Marquis, we naturally had a good reputation in the manor. But in the future, we’ll be like the mud at the bottom of the earth, which anyone can step on. I lost to Yan Langqing and can no longer be the head chef of the Marquis Manor. If we want to stay, we’ll have to be servants. It’s the same for you. Even if the Marquis doesn’t bring this up, do you have the face to stay in the Marquis Manor as a guest for a long time?”

The head chef of the Marquis Manor was different from the other servants and maids. They didn’t sign a contract of servitude, but a labor contract, and their status was even higher than the chief steward of the Marquis Manor. Because of this, Qi and Lin Dan stayed in the Marquis Manor as family members, which was considered as a guest. Now the situation was different. Without Lin Baotian, the two of them couldn’t stay in the Marquis Manor as guests like before, with maids and servants serving them; they would have to find something to do.

Qi was a proud person; hearing that they would have to become servants if they wanted to stay, she immediately began to pack her luggage. She was unwilling to be on the same level as those who had served her before.

“Your father bought a house outside, and also co-founded a restaurant with your second uncle and third uncle. I heard that the business is very good. Let’s go out and start our own family, and not stay in this Marquis Manor,” Qi opened the trunk and packed her belongings, and her worry lines faded a lot. Having lost, she couldn’t very well scold her daughter anymore; it was likely that her daughter was the most distressed.

Lin Dan was slightly relieved, and then pulled out a gold-inlaid purple sandalwood box hidden under the bed and said softly, “I’ll return the Golden Knife and the recipe to Yan Langqing, and I’ll also go to the old Marquis to resign.”

Qi stared at the box for a long time, finally sighing helplessly, “Go then.”

Lin Dan didn’t open the box to admire the coveted imperial golden knife and the legendary God of Food recipe. She directly sent it to the Young Marquis’s courtyard. Now, Yan Langqing was still the Young Marquis’s personal maid, in charge of the small kitchen’s work.

When Lin Dan arrived, Yan Langqing was begging the Young Marquis to get back the Golden Knife and the recipe for her; she was worried that Lin Dan was unwilling and would destroy the Golden Knife and the recipe. The Golden Knife could be repaired if it was broken, but if the recipe was burned to ashes, what would be the point of her painstakingly sneaking into the Marquis Manor? If Qi hadn’t fainted and Lin Dan hadn’t disappeared in the blink of an eye, she would have forced them to hand over the things on the spot.

The Young Marquis had some understanding of Lin Dan and thought that such a scorched-earth revenge tactic could actually be carried out by her. So he agreed to stand up for her. As the two were about to go and find someone, they saw a servant carrying a box walk in, saying that it was sent by Miss Lin. Upon opening it, it was the Golden Knife and the recipe, both wrapped meticulously in red silk cloth, and perfectly preserved.

The Young Marquis subconsciously looked at Yan Langqing, and Yan Langqing’s cheeks flushed red, with an expression of embarrassment. Those precautionary words from earlier now seemed to be judging a gentleman with the heart of a petty person.

The two walked outside the door, and they only saw a thin figure slowly walking away, with a leisurely gait.

…

Although Lin Baotian was highly valued by the Marquis and received many rewards, he used them to help his two brothers or to buy precious ingredients, not leaving much money. Qi searched the entire house and only found one hundred and twenty taels of silver, and was suddenly stunned. Fortunately, they still had property and shops outside the manor, so they didn’t have to worry about their future lives.

Qi’s optimism didn’t infect Lin Dan. In Lin Dan’s memory, Lin Baotian’s two brothers weren’t easy to get along with. When they had difficulties, they would only look for their elder brother; when they had advantages, they would secretly swallow them alone, being very selfish. They said they were managing the restaurant for Lin Baotian, but there was no monthly income, unless the restaurant’s business was down, and they needed to develop new dishes, then they would humbly come to ask for help. Now that Lin Baotian’s reputation as the “Imperial Chef with the Golden Knife’s descendant” was ruined, it could be considered as indirectly ruining the restaurant’s business. It would be strange if they were willing to be satisfied.

As expected, when Qi went to the house her husband had bought to settle down, she found that the house had already been occupied by the second and third branches of the family, who refused to let them in and even produced a deed with only the names of the second and third brothers, ordering them to get out quickly.

Qi wanted to argue a few more words, but the two branches of the family, sisters-in-law, then spread the word, telling her to make a fuss, so that they could publicize their elder brother’s rotten reputation. Qi, due to her reputation, didn’t want to make a scene in public, wiping her tears and walking toward the restaurant. She knew that the restaurant was most likely also occupied by the two younger uncles, but she wouldn’t give up until she had seen it with her own eyes.

Lin Dan silently supported her, without expressing any opinion. It was only to blame that Lin Baotian trusted his two brothers too much, and never questioned details or asked for proof when buying the house and managing the restaurant. Now that he was dead and his reputation was ruined, even if they went to the government to file a lawsuit, they wouldn’t win. Moreover, after his death, his reputation was infamous, which was enough for everyone to deny everything he had done. Who would come forward for his widow and orphaned daughter?

Lin Dan walked along, enduring the pointing and gossiping of the crowd, and had already made the worst possible plans in her heart. Upon arriving at the restaurant, she was indeed stopped at the door by the manager, who refused to let them in, also shouting to let them produce the title deed or the share certificates, or they would report them to the authorities.

Qi’s eyes were red with anger, but she couldn’t find the words to retort. Lin Dan patted her trembling back as a comfort, and looked up, but found that the restaurant’s sign had changed, from “Lin Family Restaurant” to “Yan Family Restaurant.” The red-bottomed gold-painted plaque looked very impressive.

Lin’s second brother walked out and pointed at the plaque, saying, “Sister-in-law, the ugly things our elder brother did are truly shameful! Now, my third brother and I have decided to give Yan family the five-tenths of the shares that belonged to our elder brother, as an act of atonement. It’s useless to make a fuss with me; we have to pay back what we owe others. We’ve paid off the sins our elder brother committed for him, so that he can accumulate some virtue and be reborn with a good fate in the next life. If you’re really thinking about our elder brother, if you’re thinking about the reputation of our Lin family, then just settle down.” With that, he sighed helplessly.

The passers-by who heard this applauded and cheered, saying that Lin’s second and third brothers were completely different from their elder brother, that they were kind and righteous, and very commendable; they would definitely come and patronize the restaurant’s business in the future.

Qi’s face turned pale and she staggered, but Lin Dan lowered her head and sneered: the Lin family’s two branches were really good at scheming, using the elder brother’s widow and orphaned daughter as a stepping stone, and immediately removing themselves from this disaster of ruin and disgrace, and also preserving the restaurant’s business. If Lin Baotian had even half of their shrewdness, he wouldn’t have allowed his wife and daughter to fall to this state.

But the person was already dead, and it was useless to say anything now; the only thing to do was to find a way to live. With a thought, Lin Dan wanted to take Qi away, but she saw Yan Langqing arriving with her father in a carriage, with the Young Marquis riding on horseback alongside, the show seemed grand.

Lin’s second and third brothers immediately went forward to greet them, bowing and scraping, their attitude was so flattering.

The Young Marquis dismounted without expression and opened the carriage curtain for Yan Langqing. Yan Langqing’s cheeks were slightly red, with a shy smile. Seeing Lin Dan standing to the side, she couldn’t help but be slightly stunned.

Lin Dan didn’t even glance at the two of them, helping her mother to leave. Perhaps it was her attitude of ignoring them that provoked Yan Langqing. The other party’s temper flared, and without thinking, she opened her mouth and said, “Lin Dan, since you’ve already lost, then in the future, please don’t presume to call yourself the descendant of the Golden Knife Imperial Chef, and don’t make Yan family dishes anymore.”

Lin Dan’s personality was very detached, but that didn’t mean she was willing to stand and be beaten. She had chosen to let things go before because she knew that the situation was unfavorable to them, and no matter how much they fought for it, it would be useless. It would be better to save her strength and think about what to do in the future. Now that Yan Langqing wanted to push them into a dead end, she couldn’t bear it anymore.