Chinese Entertainment Intelligence King

Chapter 340 Daily Feuds, Yan Family Cuisine, and the Arrogant Little Fatty Fan
Yan Li, who was at the company, heard the news from his cousin, but he wasn't particularly nervous.

At the time, several women wanted to take the lead, and since they were new to each other, one was unwilling to accept it, and another was resentful. They were extremely hostile to each other, and naturally, they would fight whenever they met.

Now, several years later, the situation is relatively stable. Yan Li's intentions are clear, and all parties have made many moves, significantly raising the threshold.

There are bound to be frictions and grudges, and it's normal for them to set traps, but they won't tear each other apart or fight in front of several elders. At most, they'll have a few words exchanged, but it won't scare Yan Li into personally going back to take charge.

On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, all of Yan Li's companies were closed for the holiday, but many businesses were still busy and needed someone to be on duty.

Especially on Weibo, the Spring Festival coincides with the annual holiday and the Spring Festival Gala, so with Weibo's real-time trending topic mechanism, the traffic that night is definitely one of the peaks of the year, so it should not be underestimated.

As the boss, Yan Li was not required to be on duty, but he still came over in person to offer some encouragement.

Don't say whether this is just for show or not; even for show, it's still a skill, and some people don't even bother with such things.

In addition to coming in person, Yan Li also promised that all employees who worked overtime during the Spring Festival would receive triple pay, plus holiday bonuses and annual leave in lieu of leave.

In addition, Yan Li personally funded the arrangement of a hotel that was open during the Spring Festival to provide employees working overtime with three meals a day plus a luxurious New Year's Eve dinner.

Because of these benefits, these employees, while not exactly eager to work overtime, are mostly there voluntarily.

After visiting several companies, Yan Li returned to Yangjiaodeng Hutong.

Fan Xiaopang was making a phone call in the yard when he saw Yan Li. He gave her a few perfunctory words and hung up the phone, then immediately started making false accusations.

“They bullied me, wouldn’t let me stay here, and said they were going to kick me out.”

Yan Li: "..."

Treating him like a three-year-old is fooling. Given Fan Xiaopang's temper, if Chairman Qin dared to make such a statement, they would have already started a fight.

Hearing the commotion, Qin Lan came out of the room. After hearing the second half of what was said, her face turned red with anger.

"You lie without batting an eye, huh? When did we say that?"

Fan Xiaopang retorted directly: "You didn't say it, but that's what you mean?"

Qin Lan choked. That was true. In the heated exchange just now, some of the words she said could be described as insults, let alone being told to leave.

However, it wasn't just them who did this; Fan Xiaopang was equally ruthless, even taking on two opponents at once and gaining the upper hand.

It wasn't that Chairman Qin and his colleague couldn't out-argue her; well, that was partly the reason.

But most importantly, in front of several elders, Chairman Qin should at least consider his image as a virtuous wife and loving mother.

Fan Xiaopang isn't afraid of that. While she's not going to become a shrew, she doesn't care about being described as "sharp-tongued."

Qin Lan was already feeling indignant about this, but unexpectedly, Fan Xiaopang started by falsely accusing her and twisting the truth, going too far.

At this moment, Dong Xuan also came out, frowning as she looked at Fan Xiaopang.

"That's a bit underhanded."

"Isn't it despicable for you to try to sow discord between me and my grandma and parents?"

Fan Xiaopang is very shrewd. Through his exchanges with Chairman Qin, he had already guessed some of their tactics and now he pointed them out directly.

"What do you mean by 'putting on airs'? We're telling the truth."

"Then I'll just tell the truth."

"Nonsense, that's clearly malicious slander."

"Bullshit, you two are the ones exaggerating and have malicious intentions."

"..."

The three people's voices grew louder, and the courtyard house wasn't very soundproof, so the people inside should have been able to hear them, but no one came out to mediate.

Yan Li seemed to be deep in thought, then suddenly looked towards the window, where two heads flashed by.

"..."

They're really fearless; aren't they afraid of a fight breaking out?

Not only did he think this way, but Zhang Hong, who hurriedly squatted down, was also a little worried: "Mom, shouldn't we go out and try to persuade her? What if something happens?"

Although Grandma Yan wasn't leaning against the window, she was sitting in a seat close to the window wall. Her ear, which had better hearing, was facing the direction of the yard. Upon hearing this, she shook her head.

"Don't worry, your son is still here. If he couldn't keep things in order, he wouldn't dare to put the three of them together."

Comrade Yan is overweight, and he felt uncomfortable bending over just now. After getting up and stretching, he seemed quite confident.

"I don't think there's a big problem. Although those people didn't get along, they were all well-behaved. If they really wanted to fight, they would have done it already. They wouldn't have waited for Yan Li to arrive."

"That's hard to say."

Zhang Hong disagreed: "Their conflict isn't all because of their son. His arrival might just add fuel to the fire and escalate the conflict."

"All that talk is useless; we'll have to see what my brother does."

Yan Xin, who had been watching the drama unfold, muttered something, which drew death stares from the three leaders of the Yan family.

"I didn't even notice if you weren't talking. What are you doing standing there prodding me?"

“I’m telling you, Xiaoxin, keep your mouth shut. If this gets out, I’ll have your second uncle beat you up first, and then I’ll tell your parents to beat you up again.”

"Shut up and stay quiet."

Yan Xin: "..."

Why didn't you have this temper in front of those three daughters-in-law/granddaughters-in-law? You only dare to bully me...

Yan Li, unaware of the commotion inside, simply stamped his foot and said, "Can't you come inside if you want? It's the dead of winter, it's cold."

Because there was heating and air conditioning both inside and outside, Yan Li's clothes weren't very thick. Of course, he was in good health and didn't feel cold. He was just looking for an excuse to stop the fighting.

The women were still angry and unwilling to give up, but Yan Li pushed and shoved them into the house.

As soon as I entered, I saw Grandma Yan and the others watching TV intently, and Old Yan even gave a decent performance.

"Son's back. Are you hungry? I'll make you a bowl of noodles."

Seeing this, Fan Xiaopang and his friends could no longer cause trouble, and could only exchange glares with each other.

"This is not over yet!"

"You two just wait!"

Fan Xiaopang was quick-witted and plopped down next to Yan Li. Dong Xuan took the other end, and Qin Lan pursed her lips and sat down next to Dong Xuan.

Yan Li ignored the three people who were still arguing; as time went on, he gained experience.

The more attention and concern he paid, the more they took advantage of him, whether to suppress their rivals or to benefit themselves, they made things worse and worse.

Conversely, if Yan Li remained indifferent and ignored them, they would become worried or listless, and gradually they would calm down.

Of course, each situation needs to be analyzed individually. Sometimes this tactic works, but sometimes it can be a catalyst or an indulgence in war. Yan Li also needs to be careful to strike the right balance.

In any case, as things stand, none of them are as honest as they seem on the surface.

Fan Xiaopang secretly pinched Yan Li with his hand, while Dong Xuan's little fingernails were also scratching him. Qin Lan virtuously handed him water, the cup of water was scalding hot.

Those three women!

Yan Li was not polite at all. No matter how much Fan Xiaopang pinched him, he pinched back. If Dong Xuan dared to scratch him, he would pinch her back. As for Qin Lan, he was tall and had long arms, so Dong Xuan couldn't stop him even if there was one between them.

The room wasn't big, and there were only so many people in it, so the little things a few people did couldn't be hidden from the others.

Zhang Hong glared at her son but didn't say anything. Old Yan muttered that the sky was overcast and it might snow, so he took his nephew out to gather the herbs.

Grandma Yan stood with her hands tucked in her sleeves, watching her grandsons and granddaughters-in-law fool around with a smile.

Yan Li, being thick-skinned and family, didn't care, but Qin Lan and Dong Xuan were somewhat unable to withstand the pressure in front of their elders.

Fan Xiaopang could handle it, but she figured she couldn't go too far. She had to put on an act. More importantly, this bastard was too outrageous, and she couldn't handle him alone.

After this commotion, the atmosphere became somewhat awkward but also more harmonious, and the old lady and Zhang Hong chatted with a few others about everyday matters.

Yan Li didn't like listening to that, so he went out to joke around with Old Yan.

As for Yan Xin, it was getting late, so Old Comrade Yan sent him back to pack up and go back to his hometown.

At the gatehouse, the father and son sheltered from the wind, each with a chair and a cigarette, looking at the passersby in the alley through the half-open gate.

"How's the matter of opening a shop in Beijing going with your mom?"

Yan Li had always wanted to bring his parents to the capital to take care of them, and he even came up with a drastic measure: to open a restaurant in the capital for his parents to run.

My parents had always resisted coming to Beijing, partly because they were unfamiliar with the city, and partly because they felt there would be nothing to do there.

However, during these trips to Beijing, I've made some acquaintances, so I'm not too lonely. Yan Li will let them open the restaurant again; no matter how much money they make, it's a legitimate business.

"Dad, let me tell you, I've already arranged the address for you. It's right next to Prince Gong's Mansion, so you can just stroll over there. The shop isn't big, so it won't be too much of a hassle for you two, but it has everything you need, with an open kitchen. It won't be a waste of your cooking skills."

As Yan Li spoke, he showed the photos to Old Yan, who was somewhat tempted but also a little hesitant.

“I don’t mind, but your mom might not be willing. She’ll miss her old friends and regular customers.”

Comrade Lao Yan usually spends most of his time working in the kitchen. Occasionally, when he's not busy, he'll go around the village and brag a bit. Compared to coming to Beijing to showcase his skills, he can overcome this problem.

But Zhang Hong is the restaurant owner, enjoys gossiping, and has a good reputation thanks to her son. She might not be willing to give up her long-standing network of connections.

"This is easy, I'll take care of it."

Yan Li used to be unsure if he could convince his mother, but things are different now. He's considering having a child in the next year or two.

Zhang Hong could definitely tell whether connections were more important or her grandson was more important.

Let alone Zhang Hong, if we try hard enough, we might be able to keep the old lady here too. Even if we can't keep her, at least she can stay in Beijing for a little longer each year to see her great-grandson.

Seeing that Yan Li seemed quite confident, Old Yan, who was already tempted, became even more eager. Holding Yan Li's phone and looking at the pictures, he suddenly remembered something.

"Now that we've opened a shop in Beijing, we can't call it Yan Lao Er Restaurant anymore."

Back home, restaurants and eateries with names like Yan Lao Er, Wang Lao Da, and Zhang Lao San were everywhere, so it didn't matter. But using those names in Beijing sounds a bit crude.

Even if Lao Yan doesn't care, he still has to consider the face of Yan Li, the son of a wealthy man.

"Don't worry, I've thought of everything for you. Our new restaurant will be called Yan Family Cuisine."

"Yan Family Cuisine?"

Comrade Lao Yan muttered to himself, rubbing his hands together, "It sounds nice, but the name is a bit too grand. People who use their surnames as the prefix for their names are all industry leaders."

"That's a cuisine, ours is the restaurant name, Yan Family Cuisine, dishes made by the Yan family, is there a problem?"

Yan Li retorted, "At most, we'll add the celebrity effect. With his fame and status, isn't he worthy of naming his own restaurant after him?"

Seeing that Lao Yan was still hesitant, Yan Li simply used reverse psychology: "Besides, with your skills and the recipes I found for you, you're already famous throughout southern Shandong. Are you afraid of others causing trouble?"

Upon hearing this, Comrade Yan trembled.

His culinary skills are certainly not comparable to those of national master chefs, but his son has provided him with all sorts of recipes and secret formulas. A few of his signature dishes are of first-class quality, and many famous chefs and gourmets have been won over by them.

If he didn't have this confidence, he wouldn't have been tempted by his son opening a shop for him in Beijing.

Seeing this, Yan Li turned his provocation into empty promises: "You first make a name for yourself, and then take on a few good apprentices. In a few years, our Yan family cuisine might just become a distinct culinary style. At that time, you will be the first-generation founder and the founding patriarch of the Yan family cuisine."

Where is your shop located? I'd like to visit it another day.

Old Yan was so impressed by Yan Li's promises that he couldn't wait to open for business and show his peers in Beijing. Perfect!

When Yan Li saw this situation, he knew that the matter was almost certain. Although Zhang Hong usually managed things, the one who really made the decisions at home was Old Yan.

If I had known it was this easy, I would have just opened a shop a couple of years ago.

Yan Li had some reservations, but then he thought about it again and realized it wasn't right.

Old Yan now agrees because he feels less unfamiliar with Beijing, is less nervous and worried about living there, and after years of honing his skills, he is confident in his culinary abilities and signature dishes.

Two years ago, no matter how enticing the promises were, Lao Yan would have had many concerns and probably wouldn't have taken this step.

...

After eating his son's pancakes, Old Yan was in high spirits and cooked a great meal that evening, letting his son and daughter-in-law taste his cooking skills.

After dinner, Yan Li told his parents and grandmother to rest, and planned to spend the night in the neighboring courtyard with Fan Xiaopang and the others.

Unexpectedly, the others had already seen through his sinister intentions. One had a headache, another had a fever, and the last one simply suspected that the gas in the house was left on.

In short, I won't stay overnight tonight; I'll come back tomorrow.

Since it was the Lunar New Year's Eve, Yan Li couldn't force them and could only let them off the hook for the time being.

However, you can only escape for a while, not forever. Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, and even if the sky falls, you can't escape it.

Yan Li closed the door, chatted with his parents and grandmother for a while, and prepared to wash his feet and go to bed. There were only a few people in the family, so he didn't need to go to the next courtyard; he could just sleep in the side room.

I poured out the water for washing my feet and was about to go to the toilet when I heard a noise at the front door.

Yan Li frowned and subconsciously took out his phone. His bodyguards were on standby nearby, and once they received the message, they could arrive in two or three minutes.

However, this is just a precaution.

Yan Li's decision to settle his parents in Yangjiaodeng Alley was not without reason.

This area is within the Second Ring Road, only a few kilometers from the Forbidden City. It is located in the core area of ​​Beijing, with a high level of security. No one would dare to seek thrills here.

Just as I was about to lean over to take a look, my phone rang. It was Fan Xiaopang calling.

"I'm at the door, open the door for me."

Yan Li: "..."

A surprise attack from behind, that's not honorable at all!

Shaking his head, Fan Xiaopang opened the door and swaggered in: "Are Mom and Dad asleep?"

"Nope."

As they were talking, Zhang Hong came out to use the restroom and looked at Fan Xiaopang with some surprise. The latter explained.

"I only remembered halfway there that I left my keys with my parents when I dropped them off this morning, so I can't get home."

Yan Li was speechless. It was one thing if they couldn't go back to the Fan family, but Xinghe Bay had a combination lock, and the previous apartment hadn't been sold. No matter what, they couldn't be considered homeless.

Zhang Hong clearly understood what was going on and didn't say anything foolish like telling Yan Li to give the key to Fan Xiaopang.

"It's too late and not safe. Why don't you stay at home? I'll make your bed."

"Don't bother, I can do it myself."

Fan Xiaopang persuaded Zhang Hong to leave and went directly into the room where Yan Li was sleeping, giving instructions in a serious manner.

"Go, fetch me a basin of water to wash my feet."

"Believe it or not, I'll call them both over here?"

Fan Xiaopang became obedient. It wasn't that she was afraid of Chairman Qin, but why should she give up the advantage she had finally gained?

So she hugged Yan Li and kissed him: "Good brother, please help me, I'm afraid of the dark."

It's not like there's no light in the yard!

Yan Li mentally complained, but didn't argue with Fan Xiaopang. Getting water was nothing; he had even washed Fan's feet before. However, it was mainly for his own benefit.

When I returned from fetching water, Fan Xiaopang had already taken off his coat and was writhing on the bed.

"Is it really necessary? It's not like we've never lived here before."

"I, Happy Old Lady, am a cut above the rest and outsmarted those two."

Fan Xiaopang smoothed his hair and said with a smile, "I'm sure they both thought about making a comeback, but they left together, and when they get back they'll most likely be discussing how to deal with me. They'll be wary of each other and unable to break free."

Yan Li thought about it for a moment, and realized that Fan Xiaopang's judgment was quite likely.

He had personally witnessed Qin Lan and Dong Xuan discussing important matters in their bedroom.

Today, it was a two-on-one battle. Chairman Qin didn't suffer any losses, but he didn't gain any advantages either. There will be another tough battle tomorrow, so we'll definitely have to meet tonight to discuss pre-battle strategies.

However, this must have made them wonder if Fan Xiaopang might cause trouble, or even check up on them.

Just as Yan Li thought of this, his phone rang. He took it out and, sure enough, it was Qin Lan calling.

Yan Li was wondering whether to send a text message to fool them when Fan Xiaopang snatched the phone away and answered it directly.

"Isn't it annoying? They keep calling one or two at a time."

Qin Lan was clearly stunned for a moment, then burst into fury: "Where is Yan Li?"

"He's busy, he's not available."

Fan Xiaopang dodged Yan Li's hand and stepped aside: "Alright, I don't have time to chat with you. Don't come to the courtyard. We won't be here, and it will disturb the elders' rest."

Just as she was about to hang up, something else rang out, and she added, "Goodnight."

"Screw you, you old man..."

Just as Qin Lan finished swearing, Fan Xiaopang hung up the phone and turned it off. His already good mood improved even more, and he even started humming a little tune.

Yan Li put down his phone: "Aren't you afraid they'll be furious with you tomorrow?"

"What law did I break by sleeping with my man? It's good that they're in a hurry. It'll let my parents and grandma see what these two are really like. Humph, I'm annoyed by their pretense."

Fan Xiaopang stood with his hands on his hips and shouted, sounding completely justified. Yan Li silently took off her shoes and washed her feet.

Whom the gods would destroy, they first drive mad!

He had initially felt that some of tomorrow's plans were not very secure, especially regarding Chairman Qin's side, as it would be difficult to catch both of them at once, and there was a risk that some might slip through the net.

This time, Fan Xiaopang gave him a new idea: if they were afraid the fish would get away, they could turn the two of them into a net.

Thinking of this, Yan Li became even more obedient, which made Fan Xiaopang, who was originally quite smug, a little flustered.

"What are you planning? Are you up to something?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Li stopped pretending and picked the man up by the legs, placing him on the bed: "Now that I've served you, it's your turn to serve me."

Fan Xiaopang was a little nervous: "Mom and Dad are here, don't go too far."

"It's okay, here's a towel, you can bite on it."

"I don't... um..."

...

The next day, New Year's Eve
Yan Li usually gets up early to exercise, but Fan Xiaopang, who rarely gets a day off, decided to sleep in and wanted to provoke Qin Dong.

When Chairman Qin and his companion arrived, they saw the closed room and wished they could set it on fire.

Zhang Hong felt a little awkward and didn't want to stay in the eye of the storm, so she called to her grandmother: "Mom, Yan Jiang said he went to buy groceries, why hasn't he come back yet? He told Huanhuan and the others to watch the house, let's go out and greet him."

Grandma Yan nodded and left the courtyard with her daughter-in-law, deliberately making a noise to close the gate as a sign of departure.

Upon hearing that the person had left, Qin Lan almost kicked the door open, but Dong Xuan stopped her and stepped forward to bang on the door with a cold face.

"Come out, stop playing dead."

After calling out a few times, Fan Xiaopang's lazy voice rang out: "What is it? I was exhausted last night, why are you making a fuss so early in the morning?"

Qin Lan suppressed the urge to kick the door, glanced at the door, gave Dong Xuan a wink, and suddenly raised her voice.

"Mom, Grandma, it's okay. We'll go to town with you and let Bingbing fall asleep."

Dong Xuan immediately understood and said, "She's usually busy, so sleeping in is nothing. We'll leave breakfast out and have Yan Li heat it up for her when she gets up."

Well, two sentences and you've been labeled as lazy and good-for-nothing.

Inside the room, Fan Xiaopang couldn't hold back any longer. She didn't want to play the role of a virtuous wife and loving mother with Chairman Qin, but that didn't mean she would sit idly by and let these two people belittle her like this.

Hearing some rustling sounds, Fan Xiaopang quickly opened the door.

"I'm up..."

Fan Xiaopang glanced around, looking at Qin Dong and his companion with cold smiles, feeling extremely displeased.

"You two are capable of anything, resorting to such underhanded tactics."

You're the lowlife.

Qin Lanchong had just spoken, but upon meeting, Dong Xuan fired the first shot: "We agreed to go our separate ways, but you went back on your word. You're a despicable person."

"Who made an appointment with you? Did I sign a contract or say it outright? If you're stupid, don't blame Lu Buping."

Fan Xiaopang yawned, rubbed his back, and looked at Qin Lan provocatively: "How did you sleep last night? Did you sleep well?"

After saying that, he pretended to complain: "The heating in this yard is a bit too strong. I sleep with a big stove next to me at night, and I'm sweating all over."

Qin Lan was a little overwhelmed and made a move to attack, but Dong Xuan stopped her: "Don't be impulsive."

Fan Xiaopang shrugged: "Don't touch me. If you do, I'll lie on the ground. There are no security cameras here, and some people might not be able to explain themselves later."

After saying that, seeing that the two of them did not make a move, he gave a mocking smile, then closed the door and went back inside.

Qin Lan looked at Dong Xuan: "She's so arrogant, and you're just going to put up with it?"

Dong Xuan's expression was not good, but she still said, "Don't worry, think about why she launched this surprise attack last night?"

"Of course, it's to annoy us..."

Halfway through her sentence, Qin Lan realized, "No, although she was trying to anger us, she was actually the one who got anxious."

“That’s right. Such a clever and forceful approach is risky. For example, it might leave a bad impression on the elders. She’s not unaware of this, but she still did it. It’s obvious that she felt the pressure because the two of us were working together.”

Yesterday's confrontation, Fan Xiaopang seemed to be fighting two against one and was very powerful, but under the joint efforts of Qin Dong, he occasionally showed some passivity and embarrassment.

This is not a good sign for Fan Xiaopang, who previously held a firm and absolute advantage.

Therefore, she became increasingly assertive, either provoking Chairman Qin to make a mistake so she could seize the opportunity, or boosting her own morale to suppress Chairman Qin's arrogance, thereby maintaining her dominant position.

"The more critical the moment, the more we need to stay calm. Let her fight her own battle, and we'll fight ours. We'll proceed according to plan. Don't forget, there are two of us."

Dong Xuan reminded her, and Qin Lan nodded: "However, this vixen is too arrogant, I still want to teach her a lesson."

"There will be a chance."

　(7000/211000)

　　
　
(End of this chapter)