Border Soldiers: My granaries are full of grain and meat, and I guard this region.

Ye Family Restaurant.

After resting last night, Ye Ling Shuang's complexion was better the next day, but she was still weak and powerless, and her chest felt heavy as if a stone was pressing on it.

Qi Feng was decocting medicine in the restaurant kitchen, while Yu Yourong was helping Ye Ling Shuang wipe her body upstairs.

Just as Qi Feng was fanning the fire in the clay pot with a small palm-leaf fan, Ye Zhiwan suddenly found him.

"Brother Qi..."

Seeing Ye Zhiwan's hesitant manner, Qi Feng spoke up:

"Just say what's on your mind."

Ye Zhiwan lowered her head, fiddling with her fingers, took a deep breath, and her face flushed slightly.

"Well... my sister and I don't have much money left, and we're thinking of selling the Ye Family Restaurant... After everything that's happened, we don't have the heart to run the Ye Family Restaurant anymore. Besides, Brother Qi, you saved my sister and me, and we need to repay that kindness with money..."

Qi Feng frowned slightly upon hearing this.

"If you're short of money, why not just keep Ye Family Restaurant open? Why sell it? That prestigious brand is very valuable."

Ye Zhiwan pursed her lips. "After Ye Family Restaurant closed down last time, another restaurant in Fuxing County took the opportunity to poach our people..."

Upon hearing this, Qi Feng immediately understood.

"You mean all the chefs and waiters from your original restaurant were poached, which is why you couldn't open Ye Family Restaurant?"

Ye Zhiwan nodded, her head still fixed on the floor.

"So what if they're gone? The Ye Family Restaurant's reputation is still there, and a considerable number of loyal customers are waiting for it to reopen. If they can launch a new product that attracts attention, they'll be able to win back the lost customers."

Qi Feng said nonchalantly.

However, Ye Zhiwan looked somewhat confused upon hearing this.

"But the reason Ye Family Restaurant was so good was because of its excellent ingredients and taste. Now that all the chefs are gone, who will help us recreate those flavors? Now, Laixianglou Restaurant has become the undisputed number one restaurant in Fuxing County..."

Qi Feng chuckled upon hearing this.

"In the world of restaurants, what do you think is the most important thing?"

Ye Zhiwan tilted her head, somewhat hesitant.

"Is it the taste?"

"no."

"Is that food?"

"No, not exactly."

Looking at Ye Zhiwan's confused eyes, Qi Feng smiled gently.

"A restaurant's success hinges on its wine! If the wine isn't good, even the best ingredients and flavors will be bland and tasteless! Conversely, if the wine is excellent, and you promote it prominently, a steady stream of customers will come!"

Hearing Qi Feng's words, Ye Zhiwan seemed even more confused.

"But... the wine at our Ye Family Restaurant isn't very good either..."

While the two were talking, Yu Yourong came downstairs.

"What are you talking about?"

Qi Feng stopped what he was doing, stood up and stepped forward.

"We were discussing how to revitalize the Ye Family Restaurant, but now is not the time for that. You Rong, how is Ye Ling Shuang's health?"

Yu Yourong shook her head and sighed:

"Her condition is still not good; the wound on her chest has developed abscesses... and a lot of pus is still oozing out..."

Qi Feng frowned.

"The appearance of pustules on the wound is a typical sign of bacterial infection and inflammation, but in this medical environment, there are no anti-inflammatory drugs available... Wait a minute!"

Qi Feng had a sudden inspiration and abruptly turned to look at Ye Zhiwan.

"Miss Ye, is there any wine left in the restaurant?"

Ye Zhiwan didn't know why Qi Feng wanted wine at this time, but she nodded nonetheless.

"Yes, there are several tanks!"

"Bring all that wine! If this succeeds, not only will we be able to save your sister, but we can also revive the Ye Family Restaurant!"

Soon, Ye Zhiwan carried over a large bucket of cloudy wine, her forehead covered in sweat.

Qi Feng picked up a ladle, scooped up a ladleful of wine, and drank it all in one gulp.

Smacking his lips, Qi Feng felt a dry, sour taste in his mouth, not at all like what alcohol should taste like.

"Is this wine?"

Ye Zhiwan nodded seriously, "That's right! This is wine, and it's the best wine from Ye Family Restaurant!"

Qi Feng shook his head and threw the water ladle into the bucket.

"This wine won't do!"

"Oh? But this is already the best wine, and it was brewed by Master Li himself."

"Master Li?" Qi Feng raised an eyebrow and looked at Ye Zhiwan.

Ye Zhiwan said, "Master Li was the brewing master I hired at great expense. It was thanks to him that Ye Family Restaurant's wines were able to rank among the best in Fuxing County."

"Do you know how he brews wine on a regular basis?" Qi Feng asked Ye Zhiwan.

Ye Zhiwan shook her head. "These kinds of skills are people's livelihood; they don't easily show them to others."

Qi Feng scoffed, "This kind of liquor is neither drinkable nor usable. What's the difference between it and horse piss?"

"Horse piss? Do you know what you're talking about?"

Just then, an old voice rang out from outside the kitchen, and an old man was seen staring at them with a livid face and an angry expression.

"Master Li?!"

Ye Zhiwan was taken aback when she saw the old man, and then she became surprised.

"Aren't you going to Laixianglou anymore?"

Li Fu snorted coldly.

"Not going to Laixianglou? Are you expecting Manager Ye to continue paying me those paltry wages?!"

"I'm here today to tell Manager Ye on behalf of Laixianglou that if you don't have the money, you can sell Ye Family Restaurant to Laixianglou. They will offer you a good price! I'm only telling you this because Manager Ye was my former boss."

"Manager Ye, this is how it is in this business. I advise you to make plans as soon as possible and sell Ye Family Restaurant to Laixianglou. That way, you'll at least have some money. With Manager Ye's looks, you can marry into a good family. In my opinion, the young master of Laixianglou would be quite suitable for you."

Upon hearing this, Ye Zhiwan's face immediately stiffened. She had thought that there was still a waiter at Ye Family Restaurant who would remember their old friendship, but she did not expect that Li Fu would not only join Laixiang Restaurant, but now he was even trying to persuade her to sell Ye Family Restaurant to Laixiang Restaurant!

If it weren't for Lai Xiang Lou poaching her family members while she was away, Ye Family Restaurant wouldn't have fallen to this state!

For Ye Family Restaurant, Laixianglou is its biggest rival!

And now, this rival has not only poached all her people, but now he also wants the Ye Family Restaurant and her as a person!

However, after Li Fu finished speaking, his gaze focused on Qi Feng.

He hadn't forgotten that Qi Feng had just said his brewed wine was horse urine!

Almost half of the people in Fuxing County had drunk his brewed wine, yet now he was called "horse urine"! This was something Li Fu absolutely could not tolerate!

"Boy, what do you know about brewing techniques at such a young age? How dare you say my wine is horse piss?"

Qi Feng scoffed, "Bland and tasteless, with a sour and astringent flavor, what else could this be but horse piss?"