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

Lin Qin smiled, a smile that carried a hint of cunning and confidence.

"Applying for a chef position? You've got quite the nerve." She sized up the newcomer; he was dressed in fine clothes and holding a jade-inlaid folding fan. He didn't look like a chef at all.

"Young master, you seem to have come to the wrong place."

The man wasn't annoyed and continued to smile.

“Your Highness is discerning. I am indeed here to apply for the job, but I am not an ordinary cook.” He paused, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. “I am Boss Qin.”

Boss Qin?

Memories of that name flashed through Lin Qin's mind.

The owner of "Zhenxiulou," the largest restaurant in the capital, is notoriously shrewd and cunning, and is also her biggest competitor.

What is he doing here?

"Boss Qin, instead of staying at your own restaurant, you've come to my little place. You're quite a rare guest," Lin Qin said with a hint of sarcasm.

Mr. Qin didn't mind. He fanned himself and said slowly, "I've heard that Her Highness the Princess is developing new dishes. I've long admired Her Highness's culinary skills, so I've come here to exchange ideas."

Discuss?

Lin Qin didn't believe his nonsense.

They've clearly come to probe the truth!

"The new dishes are still under development, and I'm afraid they won't be presentable enough to entertain Boss Qin." Lin Qin's tone was indifferent, effectively dismissing him.

Boss Qin seemed not to understand, and walked into the kitchen on his own, looking around with a hint of disdain in his eyes.

"The Princess's kitchen seems rather simple."

Lin Qin didn't stop him, she just looked at him coldly.

She wanted to see what tricks he could pull.

Boss Qin walked around the kitchen and finally stopped in front of a pile of failed dishes, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"It seems that Her Highness's research and development journey is not going smoothly."

Lin Qin's expression darkened slightly. This Boss Qin was indeed here to mock her!

"Failure is the mother of success. Doesn't Boss Qin understand this principle?"

Boss Qin laughed heartily, his laughter filled with sarcasm.

"Your Highness, I think you should give up. Developing a new dish is not so easy."

Lin Qin took a deep breath, trying to suppress the anger in her heart.

She must not let him provoke her!

"What brings you here today, Mr. Qin?"

Boss Qin's smile vanished, and his eyes turned sharp.

"I have come here today to make a deal with Her Highness the Princess."

He paused, then said, word by word, "I'll help you develop new dishes, and you..."

"I'll help you develop new dishes, and in return... you'll transfer the shop to me." Boss Qin finally revealed his true colors.

Lin Qin sneered, "Boss Qin, your appetite is far too big, isn't it? You think you can swallow up my shop with just a few sarcastic remarks? You're dreaming!"

"Your Highness, a wise person knows when to yield. You are surely aware of your current predicament. Rather than struggling in vain, it would be better to..."

"How about what? How about handing over the shop to you and reaping the benefits?" Lin Qin interrupted him, her eyes sharp as knives. "Boss Qin, I advise you to give up on that idea! No one can take my shop away!"

Boss Qin's face darkened, and he stopped waving his fan.

"Your Highness, if you won't listen to reason, you'll have to suffer the consequences! Don't blame me for being impolite!"

Lin Qin remained unfazed, meeting his gaze. "I'm waiting!"

Boss Qin stormed off, leaving Lin Qin alone in the kitchen.

She took a deep breath and tried to calm her inner turmoil.

The appearance of Boss Qin made her realize that the competition was far more brutal than she had imagined.

New dishes must be launched as soon as possible!

Over the next few days, Lin Qin almost locked herself in the kitchen, constantly trying and improving.

The failed dishes were piled up like a mountain, and the kitchen reeked of burnt food.

She sometimes frowned, sometimes bit her lip, struggling internally.

On the one hand, she wanted to launch new dishes as soon as possible to seize the market; on the other hand, she was worried that the new dishes would not be perfect and would backfire.

This conflicting emotion made her restless and uneasy.

Bai Xiaoer watched Lin Qin's busy figure and wanted to tell her to rest several times, but he didn't dare to disturb her.

Grandma Sun also came to the shop several times, and seeing Lin Qin's haggard appearance, she felt very sorry for her.

Finally, after countless attempts, Lin Qin succeeded!

She developed several unique new dishes: spicy crayfish, spicy snails, and secret-recipe grilled fish...

Every dish is a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate, making it incredibly tempting.

The new dish caused a sensation as soon as it was launched.

The restaurant was packed with customers who raved about the new dishes.

"It's so delicious!" "This flavor is amazing!" "Your Highness is truly a culinary genius!" Praises rose and fell, and Lin Qin looked at the lively scene with a gratified smile on her face.

Business was booming, and Lin Qin's shop became the most popular place in the city.

Even Granny Sun, who had previously looked down on her, became a regular customer at the shop, praising Lin Qin's cooking skills to everyone she met.

Lin Qin watched all this, her heart filled with a sense of accomplishment. She knew she had finally succeeded!

Just then, a tall and imposing figure appeared at the doorway… “Qin’er,”

Lin Qin was busy receiving guests when she suddenly felt a familiar warmth behind her.

She turned around and saw Zhu Ling standing at the door, his tall figure appearing particularly upright in the sunlight.

His eyes were full of love, and a gentle smile played on his lips.

"Qin'er," Zhu Ling called softly, took a few steps to Lin Qin's side, and gently put his arm around her waist.

Lin Qin felt his intimacy, her face flushed slightly, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart.

The waiters around them looked on with envy at the sight, some even whispering, "They're a match made in heaven!"

Lin Qin turned her head and replied gently, "Brother Ling, what brings you here?"

"I came to see you. You're so busy, how could I not come and help you?" Zhu Ling said gently, the doting look in her eyes drawing envious glances from the surrounding guests.

Just then, another uninvited guest walked in through the door—Boss Qin.

He looked at the shop full of customers, his face filled with surprise.

Originally, it was thought that Lin Qin would stop because of his provocation, but unexpectedly she launched several new dishes, and the business became even better.

Seeing their boss's expression, Qin's subordinates also felt uneasy; a tense atmosphere permeated the competitor's shop.

Boss Qin took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and slowly walked up to Lin Qin.

"Your Highness, congratulations! Your new dishes are indeed extraordinary." His words were tinged with obvious resentment.

Lin Qin smiled slightly, her tone calm but firm: "Mr. Qin, in business, there are winners and losers. If 'Zhenxiulou' is truly capable, then compete with me fairly and squarely, instead of always trying to use underhanded tricks."

Mr. Qin's face darkened, and he was about to say something when he saw Zhu Ling staring coldly at him: "Mr. Qin, you are not welcome here."

Boss Qin realized that today was not a good time, so he had no choice but to swallow his anger and leave.

As he left, he was filled with resentment and secretly vowed to find an opportunity to turn the tables.

Zhu Ling turned her head to look at Lin Qin, her eyes filled with tenderness and pride.

"Qin'er, you are really amazing. I always believed you would succeed." His words warmed Lin Qin's heart. The two smiled at each other, and those around them could feel the sweet atmosphere.

Just then, a new group of customers squeezed into the doorway. Looking at the ever-flowing crowd, Lin Qin secretly pondered how to expand the business and take the shop to the next level.

She whispered to Zhu Ling, "Brother Ling, it seems we need to find a way to expand the shop quickly."

Zhu Ling nodded and firmly grasped Lin Qin's hand.

"I'm here for you, let's work together." The two stood side by side, their eyes filled with anticipation and determination for the future.

Just then, Boss Qin's figure reappeared in the distance, seemingly plotting something.

Lin Qin frowned slightly, and Zhu Ling held her hand tightly, as if to tell her that no matter how difficult the road ahead was, he would be by her side.

The store was more popular than Lin Qin had expected; it was even more frenzied than the Singles' Day shopping frenzy!

The small shop was packed with people, and Bai Xiaoer was so busy that he was constantly on the go, spinning around like a top.

"Boss lady, ten more servings of spicy crayfish!" "Boss lady, do you still have spicy snails?" The customers' orders came one after another, and Lin Qin's mouth was almost stretched to the back of her ears.

"Looks like we need to expand quickly!" Lin Qin waved her hand, directing everyone to rearrange the shop.

The originally cramped space was cleverly partitioned, more tables and chairs were added, and a special takeout window was set up for easy takeout.

The staff were full of energy, as if they had been injected with chicken blood, and each of them transformed into a "decoration expert".

The neighbors were envious and exclaimed, "Boss Lin is really amazing!" The shop's popularity soared once again, and it practically became a "hot spot for internet celebrities" in the city.

However, Lin Qin was not blinded by the prosperity before her.

She knew that Boss Qin, that old fox, would definitely not let this go easily, and was probably plotting something wicked!

"When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it!" Lin Qin clenched her fists, her heart filled with fighting spirit.

Besides external competition, Lin Qin also faces another challenge: how to maintain the quality of the dishes when the number of customers is soaring?

In the kitchen, Lin Qin was instructing the newly recruited chefs while personally cooking to ensure that every dish met her standards.

"Turn the heat up a bit more!" "Add plenty of chili peppers!" Lin Qin's voice echoed in the kitchen, carrying an undeniable air of authority.

Although she was exhausted and her back ached, she dared not slack off in the slightest.

In the dead of night, Lin Qin dragged her tired body back to her room. Just as she was about to lie down and rest, she heard a series of soft voices outside the window.

She cautiously walked to the window, gently pushed it open a crack, and saw two dark figures standing furtively in the alley. One of them said in a low voice, "...Remember, make sure it's done cleanly and efficiently..."

Lin Qin's heart tightened; an ominous premonition welled up within her...