After returning to the capital to farm, the abandoned concubine made a comeback.

The person who arrived was Zhu Ling.

He walked a few steps to Lin Qin and asked with concern, "What's wrong? You look so worried."

Lin Qin sighed and told him about the difficulties she was facing in finding a shop.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Ling smiled slightly: "I thought it was something serious! This is nothing, leave it to me!"

As he spoke, he led Lin Qin to the busiest street in town, pointed to a luxuriously decorated shop, and asked, "How about this one?"

Lin Qin's eyes lit up. This shop had an excellent location and a spacious storefront, exactly the kind of shop she had always wanted!

However, when she saw the "Rented" sign posted at the shop entrance, her heart sank.

"Don't be discouraged," Zhu Ling seemed to see through her thoughts. "This shop is under my name, so you can use it as you like."

Lin Qin was overjoyed; she hadn't expected Zhu Ling to be so generous!

She excitedly hugged Zhu Ling and kissed him hard on the cheek: "Thank you! You're my lucky star!"

With the shop issue resolved, the next step is renovation.

Lin Qin heard that there was a very skilled craftsman named Hu in town, so she went to visit him in person.

The craftsman, Hu, had an eccentric temper and made things difficult for Lin Qin's renovation requests.

One minute they complain that the construction period is too short, the next they complain that the materials are too poor, and then they complain that the wages are too low.

Lin Qin suppressed her displeasure and patiently dealt with him.

She knew that to hire this highly skilled craftsman, she had to show enough sincerity.

In the end, Lin Qin finally won over craftsman Hu by offering double the wages and promising to provide the best materials.

“Alright,” the craftsman Hu reluctantly agreed, “but I have one condition.”

Lin Qin's heart tightened; she sensed that things weren't so simple...

"What are your conditions?" "My conditions are very simple," the craftsman stroked his gray beard, a sly glint in his eyes, "I want you to make me a bowl of noodles yourself. If it's delicious, I'll agree to your conditions; if it doesn't suit my taste, then forget it!" The surrounding crowd immediately erupted in commotion; this craftsman Hu was truly eccentric!

Why would you choose to eat noodles when you could earn a decent wage?

Lin Qin was also stunned.

Before she transmigrated, she was a pampered and wealthy young woman who never lifted a finger in the kitchen. How could she possibly know how to make noodles?

But then she thought that perhaps craftsman Hu was deliberately making things difficult for her to see her reaction.

Row!

Who is afraid of whom!

"Okay!" Lin Qin readily agreed. "However, the noodles I'm making aren't ordinary noodles, so you'd better be prepared!" Her eyes darted around, and she already had a plan in mind.

Lin Qin had her servant buy the finest ingredients and then took out modern seasoning packets from her spatial storage.

What she's going to make is a delicacy that people in this era can't even imagine!

Lin Qin skillfully kneaded, rolled, and cut the dough, her movements fluid and seamless.

Those around were stunned. This abandoned concubine was truly a hidden talent!

In no time, a steaming bowl of "Old Altar Pickled Cabbage Beef Noodles" was ready.

The rich aroma instantly filled the air, making everyone's mouths water.

Even the usually arrogant craftsman Hu couldn't help but swallow hard.

Lin Qin placed the noodles in front of Craftsman Hu and said with a smile, "Craftsman Hu, please enjoy."

The craftsman, Mr. Hu, took the bowl of noodles with some skepticism. He took a sip of the soup and his eyes widened in surprise.

Its fresh, tangy, and refreshing taste instantly won over his taste buds.

"What...what kind of soup is this?"

Lin Qin smiled mysteriously: "This is an exclusive recipe, and I will never reveal it to anyone."

Craftsman Hu couldn't wait to take a bite of the noodles. The chewy and smooth noodles, paired with tender beef, were simply a delicacy!

He finished the entire bowl of noodles in one go, leaving not even a drop of soup.

"Delicious! So delicious!" Craftsman Hu excitedly slapped the table. "This bowl of noodles is better than any delicacy I've ever eaten!" His gaze toward Lin Qin changed from disdain to admiration.

"Well, Craftsman Hu, can you agree to my conditions now?" Lin Qin asked with a smile.

Before craftsman Hu could answer, a sarcastic voice suddenly came from the crowd: "Hmph, trying to win people's hearts with just a bowl of noodles? That's wishful thinking."

Lin Qin turned her head and saw it was her old nemesis, Chairman Chen. That guy, he's like a persistent ghost!

Chairman Chen walked up to Craftsman Hu and said arrogantly, "Craftsman Hu, you'd better think this through. Cooperating with such a lowlife will ruin your reputation! I'll pay you three times the price, you help me..."

Before Chairman Chen could finish speaking, Craftsman Hu interrupted him: "Shut up! Although I, Hu, love money, I cherish my reputation even more! I promised this lady, and I will definitely keep my word!" He pointed at Lin Qin, his tone firm, "Starting tomorrow, I will..." He paused, his eyes fixed intently on Lin Qin, "I will..."

Before Craftsman Hu could finish speaking, Lin Qin interrupted him with a playful wink.

She chuckled softly, "Craftsman Hu, I have an even better idea. Would you like to hear it from me first?"

Lin Qin smiled and pulled the craftsman Hu aside, beginning to explain her renovation plans in detail.

From the store layout and decoration style to the selection of materials, every step has been carefully designed.

At first, craftsman Hu was somewhat skeptical, but gradually, he was attracted by Lin Qin's creativity and enthusiasm, and a hint of excitement slowly appeared in his eyes.

"Your design completely breaks the traditional framework and is refreshing!" Craftsman Hu nodded as he listened. "I'm willing to help you, but it's not just about the wages. I hope to leave my unique mark on your shop."

Upon hearing this, Lin Qin was overjoyed and quickly nodded, "Of course! I guarantee that every one of your ideas will be respected, and we will work together to create a unique store!"

The surrounding crowd, witnessing this scene, began to discuss it amongst themselves.

Who would have thought that this seemingly delicate abandoned concubine could persuade the town's most difficult craftsman with just a bowl of noodles and a few clever words?

Even the notoriously arrogant craftsman Hu was willing to serve her!

Zhu Ling stood aside, silently watching all of this.

The smile in his eyes grew wider, and his appreciation and love for Lin Qin deepened.

He knew that Lin Qin was not only intelligent, but also resilient and courageous.

A woman like this deserves to be cherished for a lifetime.

Lin Qin felt Zhu Ling's gaze and turned to give him a warm smile.

She knew that no matter how bumpy the road ahead, as long as Zhu Ling was by her side, she would be fearless.

Craftsman Hu nodded and said solemnly, "Alright! Starting tomorrow, I will do my utmost to help you build an amazing shop!" He turned to the people around him and announced loudly, "This time, I'm going to show you what true craftsmanship is all about!"

A burst of enthusiastic applause erupted from the surrounding crowd, and Lin Qin excitedly grasped the craftsman's hand: "Thank you! I definitely won't let you down!"

Just as Lin Qin shook hands with Craftsman Hu, a familiar voice suddenly rang out: "Lin Qin, it's time to go back and discuss the shop's affairs." Zhu Ling's voice was gentle yet firm, as if telling her that no matter how far the road ahead, he would be by her side.

Lin Qin turned around and smiled slightly at Craftsman Hu: "Craftsman Hu, I look forward to our cooperation. See you tomorrow!" With that, she took Zhu Ling's hand, and the two walked together toward the abandoned shop, their hearts filled with boundless hope.

Lin Qin and Zhu Ling returned to the abandoned shop.

The shop owner was a shrewd businessman. Seeing that someone was interested in the dilapidated shop, he immediately made an exorbitant demand, asking for an outrageous price.

"This is the best location in town! Although it looks a bit dilapidated now, with a little renovation, it will be a goldmine! One price, five hundred taels of silver!" The shopkeeper rubbed his hands together, his eyes gleaming with greed.

The onlookers shook their heads; the price was simply outrageous!

This shop owner is clearly trying to take advantage of the situation.

Lin Qin remained unmoved. She smiled slightly and said, "Five hundred taels? Shopkeeper, you're really overestimating yourself! This shop is old and dilapidated, with a leaky roof and cracked walls. You'd think five hundred taels is too expensive to buy, let alone rent!"

Upon hearing this, the shop owner immediately became anxious: "Hey, young lady, how can you talk like that? This is a prime location..."

Lin Qin interrupted him, pointing to the damage to the shop, and analyzed logically, "The location is good, but your shop is indeed dilapidated. Five hundred taels could buy me a much better one elsewhere!"

She paused, then offered another tempting offer: "How about this, I'll give you one hundred taels of silver for a three-year lease. After three years, I guarantee I'll renovate the shop and return it to you at the original price. This is a sure-fire way for you to make a profit."

The shop owner was still hesitating when Lin Qin added, "Moreover, once my shop opens, it will definitely boost the business of the surrounding shops, which will also be very beneficial to you."

The shop owner was confused by Lin Qin's words, but eventually agreed.

After all, one hundred taels is a considerable sum, and it's better than leaving this dilapidated shop empty.

Those around Lin Qin were full of admiration for her negotiation skills and praised her for being smart and capable.

Lin Qin smiled modestly, but she was secretly overjoyed.

Renting this shop for one hundred taels is an absolute steal!

With the venue issue resolved, Lin Qin was in high spirits.

She took Zhu Ling's hand, and the two of them planned the future of the shop together.

"Once the shop is renovated, we'll start recruiting staff and make the business boom!" Lin Qin said excitedly.

Zhu Ling looked at her tenderly, her eyes filled with doting affection: "As long as you're happy, I'll support you."

However, Lin Qin knew in her heart that there was still a large funding gap needed to open the store.

Moreover, she didn't know what other tricks Chairman Chen would use to make things difficult for her.

More importantly, her relationship with Zhu Ling also faced some tests during this process...

“By the way,” Zhu Ling suddenly said, “my father wants to see you.”

Lin Qin was taken aback, a sense of unease rising in her heart. Was being summoned by the emperor a blessing or a curse?