My sister became the empress, but I'm still growing vegetables and raising chickens

After leaving Si's restaurant, Boss Feng decided to take a walk around Fenghuang County. The streets here were bustling, and apart from being a little smaller, they were not much different from the prosperous streets of Lingnan City.

The servant followed behind and asked, "Master said before that you were an apprentice in Fenghuang County when you were a child?"

Boss Feng smiled and nodded. "Yes, that was thirty years ago. I was only ten years old, working as a waiter in a small restaurant. I didn't know anything back then, and once a customer deliberately gave me trouble, our owner came to my defense!"

Recalling that, he sighed softly. He had only been in Fenghuang County for three months in total. He was so young, and so many years had passed, that he barely remembered anything from back then. He did remember that time, however, when a rude customer forced him to kneel and kowtow, leaving him helpless. The shopkeeper rushed over and protected him behind his back.

Later he traveled to many places and finally arrived in Lingnan City, where he worked as an apprentice and did business. It was common for him to be humble and serve a lowly person, but he never met again a person with such a kind heart who was willing to stand up for the humble and weak.

The servant asked, "Master, do you remember where it is? Shall we go look for it?"

Mr. Feng shook his head. "It's been thirty years, and Fenghuang County has changed a lot. The restaurant I worked in wasn't very big, so I'm afraid it's gone by now."

This was beside the point. It was still early, so Master Feng went to ask, "Excuse me, where is the restaurant that's partnered with the Si Family Food Store?"

Someone pointed the way: "It's on the other street, a little distance from here. If you want to hurry and queue up, you can call a taxi there quickly."

Mr. Feng came from Lingnan and had a carriage, but the inn he stayed in was not far from the Si family restaurant, so he did not make it. After hearing this, he hurried to the street to call a carriage and went to the Jixiang Restaurant.

Xiangguo has been popular for so long that the people of Fenghuang County have become accustomed to it. It is no longer as popular as before, as if they have to have a taste of it. Therefore, there are not many people lining up, and as long as you catch up, you can basically get a taste.

When they arrived at the Jixiang Restaurant, the servant hurried to get the license plate. When he came back, he saw Boss Feng standing on the side of the road, staring at the restaurant sign in a daze.

The waiter looked back, puzzled. The sign for the Jixiang Restaurant wasn't big, and it looked like it had been renovated in the last two years. It wasn't anything special in Fenghuang County. What was so interesting about it?

A child ran out from the alley next to him and bumped into Boss Feng with his fierce head.

Boss Feng quickly reached out to help: "Hey, kid, why aren't you more careful!"

The child was about seven years old. He raised his face and grinned, but his front teeth were still missing.

Boss Feng was stunned: "Xiao Liuzi?"

The child didn't understand, but still smiled and turned around and ran into the store.

The servant came over and asked, "Master, do you know that child?"

"How could that be... They really look like each other!" Boss Feng laughed. "Let's go in!"

The servant chased after him: "Master, our number plate is at the back, we haven't arrived yet!"

Boss Feng didn't even stop. He walked over but was stopped by the waiter at the door.

"Sir, there is no room now."

Boss Feng waved his hand and said, "I'm looking for your boss... Is your boss's surname... Yang?"

Shopkeeper Yang had never imagined that he would actually see an old friend from thirty years ago. He had lived for nearly forty years and had met all kinds of people. He had only been with Boss Feng for three months, but he hadn't forgotten him.

The two of them had a pleasant conversation, reminiscing about the past and talking about their current situations.

Boss Feng asked, "After all these years, you've only opened one restaurant? I see that your restaurant is no different from the one your father opened thirty years ago!"

Boss Yang nodded. "I don't have any ambitions. I just need to make a living by doing a small business. Now I've partnered with Miss Si to open a hot pot restaurant. Business is booming. Soon, I'll have enough money for my two sons to marry. I don't have any other ambitions in this life."

"Xiao Liuzi and your father are exactly alike!" Boss Feng laughed. "Your father thinks running a small shop is enough. I just saw the dishes in your shop, and the prices are very cheap. Can you really make money?"

"It's no problem to make ends meet. The people who come here to eat are all regular customers. And you know, this shop is mine. I don't have to pay rent, so even if business is bad, I won't lose money."

Because Boss Yang and Boss Feng were childhood acquaintances and he was a very enthusiastic person, he pulled Boss Feng to the yard where he lived in the back, asked his wife to warm up the wine, and drank and chatted with Boss Feng. When he was in high spirits, he told him everything.

"Business is so good now, what do I have to worry about?"

Boss Feng chuckled and briefly explained his situation. He added, "I came here this time hoping to collaborate with the Si Family Food Shop. I also wanted the base and dipping sauce for the hot pot and hot dishes. But... if I had known that Brother Liu'er had a connection with that shopkeeper Si, why would I have gone so far to seek help, and still not receive any response?"

Upon hearing this, Boss Yang stroked his beard and said, "That's not entirely true. Miss Si is willing to cooperate with me because I helped her a little in the past. She sold me the recipes for the several golden cakes in my shop. I saw that her family was mostly elderly and female, and even pitiful, so I offered my help. I didn't expect to have such an opportunity. But Miss Si is a very opinionated person. Even a large restaurant like Fu Man Lou wouldn't agree to it."

"I met Manager Si this morning. I didn't expect that despite her youth, she's actually quite insightful." Boss Feng sighed softly. "Several restaurants have offered to cooperate with her, but she's rejected them all. Now, only the Qian family of Shixianglou is in contact with her. Shixianglou is a large restaurant with several branches in Lingnan City... Alas, it looks like there's no hope for me. Fortunately, I met you, brother Liu'er. This trip here wasn't in vain."

Boss Yang said, "Shixianglou? It's a century-old brand. And when Fumanlou was suppressing the old brand, Shixianglou remained standing. This is enough to show the ability of the owner."

"Yeah, that's why I said that with Shixianglou in front of me, I definitely don't have a chance."

Boss Yang shook his head. "When I first wanted to cooperate with Miss Si, Fu Man Lou also wanted to cooperate, but in the end, I got the advantage. It shows that when the final outcome is unknown, no one can guess what the situation will be."

"You mean, I have a role?"

Boss Yang said, "Whether there's a chance or not, you should give it a try. If it doesn't work out, just think of it as a trip back home. I'll treat you well. If it does work out, wouldn't everyone be happy?"

Just after finishing lunch at the restaurant, Boss Yang took Boss Feng to Si's restaurant. He didn't introduce it to the restaurant in person, but just asked.

"Miss, have you reached an agreement on the deal with Shixianglou?"