The Peasant Wife: The Prime Minister's Beloved

Chen Pingan stopped and looked at Li Qiang deeply, his eyes showing both doubt and insight. "We are all leaving, why are you staying here? Don't worry, I will definitely open a restaurant again, and when I do, you will get every penny less."

"Brother Chen, that's not necessary. The wages I've received during this period will be considered as tuition for my apprenticeship with you. You guys can go now. Why should I stay here?" Li Qiang's tone was somewhat complacent.

Chen Ping'an's heart trembled, as if something flashed through his mind, but it was too fast for him to capture it.

He frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"

"It's very simple. You guys leave and I will continue to stay and be the chef of the restaurant." Li Qiang's face was filled with pride.

Chen Ping'an suddenly realized something and gestured unconsciously in the air with his fingers.

"You, you guys..." He hesitated to speak, feeling mixed emotions.

It turns out that all this was premeditated.

Li Qiang teamed up with the boss and planned to exclude them and run the increasingly prosperous "Fugui Restaurant" alone.

The restaurant has been very busy these days and its reputation has spread far and wide. In the future it will surely have many wealthy customers and abundant financial resources.

"Second brother, let's go. We've already got the money, so don't worry about anything else. As for that 'dog', let him go or stay." Chen Xi's words were full of determination, and the word "dog" was undoubtedly a contempt for Li Qiang.

Chen Xi had noticed the subtle relationship between Li Qiang and the boss earlier, and everything that happened at this moment only confirmed her keen intuition.

"Sister, you are right. It's just a dog. Let it go or stay as it pleases. Sister, let's go." Chen Ping'an sighed softly and decided not to dwell on the matter anymore.

In the group, in addition to Chen Xi, Fang Wenfu, Chen Erge and Su Ersao, there were two young guys following closely behind Chen Pingan. They were hired by Chen Pingan earlier.

From their eyes, one can read their loyalty and trust in Chen Pingan. Obviously, they are willing to continue to follow their former boss.

Li Qiang looked at the people's backs as they walked away, and could only stomp his feet and sulk in the pub, but he didn't have the courage to chase after them to question or yell at them.

At this time, the tavern owner slowly walked to Li Qiang and patted him gently on the shoulder.

Li Qiang then realized the complicated looks from the people around him, and swore to himself, "Boss, rest assured, I will definitely make our tavern famous."

His resentment towards Chen Ping'an and his wife and his determination to prove himself were buried deep in his heart and turned into a driving force.

Upon hearing this, the boss nodded with satisfaction, gave a few brief instructions, and then turned and left.

On the other side, in the inn, Chen Xi quickly and efficiently arranged accommodation to ensure that everyone could get a proper rest.

Even the two new waiters were carefully arranged by her to stay in the same inn.

"Sister, I met these two brothers on the street. They were selling themselves to bury their father. I saw that they were kind-hearted, so I paid them in advance and asked them to come to the store to help." Chen Pingan explained to his sister.

After hearing this, Chen Xi nodded slightly, with a hint of approval in his eyes. Although he didn't say much, the affirmation didn't need to be expressed in words.

"We will stay in an inn for the next few days. Although there are many restaurants in the city, there must be one that suits us." Chen Xi's words were full of confidence and hope, and he already had a new plan.

After hearing this, Chen Pingan felt ashamed.

He had carefully selected this restaurant, and his sister even came specially to check it out, but he didn't expect it to end like this. For him, this was undoubtedly a heavy blow.

"How about forget it, sister? The profit these days plus the loss by the tavern owner is almost three hundred taels of silver. I'd better take my second sister-in-law back to town to continue my business. The county town doesn't seem to be suitable for me." There was some helplessness in Chen Ping'an's voice.

"Besides, the name of 'Fugui Restaurant' has been deeply rooted in people's hearts. If we open a new store at this time, I am afraid it will be difficult to attract customers because the competition is too fierce." Chen Ping'an's worries are not groundless. How to find a foothold in the fierce market competition has become a big problem in his mind.

"Second brother, are you going to back down now? Where is your lofty ambition to open restaurants all over the country?"

Chen Xi's words were somewhat joking, but also encouraging.

"Everything is difficult at the beginning. Wasn't our tavern business booming before? If we give up just because of a little trouble, how can we expand the scale, open more restaurants, build a big business, and earn that enviable wealth?" Chen Xi's tone became heavier.

“Good wine needs no bush, but can Li Qiang really learn the essence of your and second sister-in-law’s cooking skills? Are you sure that without you, the restaurant can still maintain its former bustling scene and full of customers?” Chen Xi’s doubt was not groundless. She was well aware of her brother and sister-in-law’s unique attainments in cooking. That was the accumulation of time and experience. How could it be imitated overnight?

Chen Xi's words gradually planted the seeds of hope in Chen Ping'an's heart.

The extinguished passion in his heart seemed to be rekindled. His sister was right. They had already gone through the most difficult starting stage. Why should they care about this temporary setback?

Just because of some difficulties, should I return to the small town, to that small village in disgrace, and let my elderly parents, my gentle wife and my innocent children continue to live a difficult life?

Can I still be considered a man of integrity as I am now?

Besides, Li Qiang, that kid, I only taught him how to cook a few dishes in my spare time and let him watch a few times. How could he completely master the skills that I had honed over many years?

"Fugui Restaurant" was their hard work and their own dream place. He had to take it back no matter what.

Just as Chen Xi was immersed in her thoughts, she spoke again: "If you really want to go back, take this money and go back to town with your second sister-in-law. This is enough to guarantee a stable life for the rest of your life. As for the restaurant, I can find another partner."

"No!" Chen Pingan retorted almost reflexively, his eyes determined, "Sister, I know I was wrong, and I will never give up easily again. I won't go back. If I can't reopen the restaurant and give my parents and your second sister-in-law a better life, then what kind of man am I!"

"Don't worry, I will continue to run the restaurant. Li Qiang can't take away things that belong to us easily." Chen Pingan patted his chest, full of confidence.

He knew that he had never taught Li Qiang all his skills, and what Li Qiang had learned was just the basics.

He secretly planned that when the chain restaurants were opened all over the country in the future, he would slowly train Li Qiang and let him take charge on his own.

Fortunately, fate revealed Li Qiang's true face in advance, allowing him to wake up in time.