Xiao Li confirmed it: it was a boy.
"You're welcome. Leftovers are going to be thrown away anyway, it's a waste for you to eat them."
Gu Beichen looked at Xiao Li, bowed, and then left.
Xiao Li smiled and went to the kitchen again.
That evening, she closed the door and went home. On the way, she ran into Dong Dawu, who was waiting at the Yang family's door with three or four of his underlings.
They're obviously here to cause trouble.
Xiao Li originally planned to settle accounts with him after she finished being busy, but she didn't expect him to come to her first.
Xiao Li opened the door, and a group of people entered the courtyard.
"Girl, Brother Dong has taken a liking to you. It just so happens that you have a bad reputation and no one is willing to marry you. Brother Dong doesn't mind, so why don't you come with Brother Dong?"
Dong Dawu puffed out his belly and smiled smugly.
Xiao Li closed the door and then used her mental power on the group.
The group became dazed and started attacking the people around them. In the end, they collapsed to the ground like dead dogs, unable to get up.
"Creak..."
A sound came from the top of the wall. Were there accomplices?
Xiao Li looked over and decided to pack it up together.
A small head peered over the wall; it was the little beggar from earlier that day.
Xiao Li looked at the people in the courtyard, then at him.
"Sister, are you alright? That Brother Dong is not a good person, don't trust him."
He had just returned home that evening when he overheard Dong Dawu and the others discussing their plans to find Miss Yang. He knew that Miss Yang was the sister who had given him the steamed bun earlier that day.
So he went to the restaurant to send a message to his sister, but she left too quickly and he didn't see her. It wasn't until he found the Yang family that he realized they no longer needed him to deliver messages.
He looked at the people lying on the ground, his mouth wide open, looking quite adorable.
"Thank you, I've taken care of them."
"Okay, then I'm relieved."
Xiao Li found it particularly amusing to hear him speak like a little adult.
Xiao Li suddenly felt that this little boy was quite pleasing to the eye, so she invited him into the yard.
"What's your name? Where do you live?"
Gu Beichen lowered his head and remained silent.
Who else lives in your family? Who do you live with?
Xiao Li looked closely and realized that he was actually crying.
"What's wrong?"
Gu Beichen raised his head. "Sister, I came from the north to escape famine. My whole family is dead, and I'm all alone."
Xiao Li thought about it and realized that many people had indeed come to escape the famine recently, and it was good luck that the child was alive.
"My name is Gu Beichen, and I live in the charity hall over there. I'm going back now. You can call me there if you need anything in the future."
After saying that, he quickly ran away.
Xiao Li remained silent. No wonder this child is so sensible. Having witnessed life and death, it would be strange if he didn't grow up.
Xiao Li grabbed Dong Dawu and the others and threw them out, then went home to sleep. She'd deal with them another time.
A few days later, Dong Dawu and his companions got drunk and accidentally fell into the moat, where they drowned.
?
Xiao Li gained a little follower. She went to the charity hall, a place that shelters refugees.
She selected several orphans and brought them back to the restaurant, intending to train a few apprentices to carry on the Yang family cuisine tradition.
Gu Beichen was the most talented one, so Xiaoli personally mentored him, while the other children were left to the manager's care.
?
Ran Dong walked aimlessly down the street. How could she be so useless? Other transmigrators could succeed and thrive, but she failed at everything she did.
She walked to the entrance of Yang's Restaurant and saw the bustling crowd. She suddenly felt a little dazed, wishing she could still be in the restaurant.
Those two days at the restaurant were the most peaceful and happy she had ever experienced in this time and space.
As Ran Dong pondered, it suddenly dawned on her that she had a kitchen space, which was prepared for her in the culinary world.
She turned and walked home. From today onward, she would study cooking and make sure she learned it.
?
"Sir, this way please!"
The waiter ushered a handsome man into the private room.
"Today's signature dishes are sweet and sour pork and stir-fried mutton with scallions. Please order whatever else you like."
The waiter enthusiastically introduced the place.
The man nodded in satisfaction. This Yang Family Restaurant was truly exceptional; even the service was excellent. He had heard that the food was delicious as well, so he decided to come and try it today.
Xiao Changqing was worrying about the emperor's trip south in six months, but now Yang's Restaurant has solved his problem. The food is delicious and perfect for entertaining the emperor.
Xiao Li readily agreed to Xiao Changqing's request and made a menu, which Xiao Changqing found very satisfactory.
"Let's follow this menu; I'm sure His Majesty will be satisfied."
Three months later, Ran Family Restaurant suddenly appeared, with its main menu being braised dishes.
Ran Dong discovered a jar of aged braising spices in the kitchen. Making braised dishes didn't require much skill, and she happened to remember the recipe.
So she started as a small vendor, and slowly she saved up some money. She rented a shop, which was right across from Yang's Restaurant.
This long-established restaurant, which had been openly and secretly competing with Yang Family Restaurant for decades, finally went bankrupt under Xiao Li's management.
Ran Dong rented the shop here partly out of a desire to compete with Xiao Li.
Xiao Li looked at the restaurant across the street. She could make braised dishes too. When she was still Mo Xiao Li, Yun Yu Niang was a master at braising, and she learned all of it.
Without hesitation, Xiao Li cultivated spices in her space, processed them into powder, and then formulated them into a spice packet according to the specified ratio.
An even more enticing aroma wafted over from the Ran Family Restaurant, drawing everyone to the Yang Family Restaurant. The young owner of the Yang family had invented a new dish, and everyone was rushing to try it.
Ran Dong gritted her teeth in anger. She just couldn't accept it. Why was she inferior to a country bumpkin?
However, looking at Ling Yun, she became smug again. Luckily, her brother Ling was on her side.
Ling Yun looked at Yang Family Restaurant with a complicated expression. It had once been his home, and he had thought he would spend his life there and become famous.
But now, everything has changed.
"Miss Yang, your cooking skills are truly superb. This braised pork knuckle must be added to the menu."
Xiao Li smiled and said, "Okay, Your Highness, take care."
"Okay, I'll come again tomorrow."
Xiao Li saw Xiao Changqing off and was about to return to the restaurant when she saw Ling Yun standing there in a daze.
"snort!"
Ling Yun was shocked. Was this the same Ali who was not good at talking and was introverted?
"Brother Ling, what are you looking at?"
Ling Yun withdrew his gaze and returned to the restaurant. Although he didn't remember cooking, his knife skills were still there. After getting used to them, he could become a qualified butcher.
Ran Dong watched Xiao Changqing's retreating figure, lost in thought. Rumor had it that this prince loved food the most. She wondered if she could win him over with her culinary skills and gain his support.
Unfortunately, after Xiao Changqing ate Xiao Li's braised food, the difference in quality between the braised food from Ran Family Restaurant and Xiao Li's was immediately apparent, and he completely ignored Ran Dong.
Back in her room, Ran Dong took out her family's secret recipe for braised dishes and began to study it. When she saw that rice husks could make food more delicious, a smile appeared on her lips.
When the aroma wafted from Ran Family Restaurant once again, Xiao Li frowned; she smelled something that shouldn't be there.
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