Shocking! The entire court was drooling with envy because of me.

For days, Shen Chengzong and his wife have been confined to their home, unable to go anywhere, and are beaten whenever they try to show their faces.

They were attacked at the front gate, at the back gate, when they climbed over the wall, and even when they climbed a tree.

The servants who were serving them all thought that Shen Chengzong and his wife had offended a high-ranking official, and they all ran away.

Mr. and Mrs. Shen could only stay in their residence, with no other options.

At first it was alright, as there was grain stored in the mansion, but as time went on, the grain dwindled, and eventually they ran out of food.

Having no other option, the two packed a bunch of things and prepared to escape.

Unfortunately, they were blocked once again.

Not only did they lose their valuables, they also got beaten up.

In the end, all he could do was abandon everything and run away without a care in the world.

The constables brought the large bundle to Shen Qing.

Shen Qing opened it and saw that there was a lot of gold and silver jewelry inside, as well as many land deeds and house deeds.

Even the property deed for her father's restaurant is inside.

Now that's alright, Mrs. Shen can finally rest easy.

Shen Qing said gratefully, "Thank you all. This Shen Chengzong is really despicable. Not only did he seize my Shen family's business, but he also drove my mother and me into a dilapidated house. He even tried to steal my formula before."

"Thanks to everyone for helping me resolve the problem with Shen Chengzong, otherwise my business wouldn't have been doing so smoothly."

After she finished speaking, she bowed deeply to the group of yamen runners.

"We...we didn't do anything, no need, no need," the constables stammered, somewhat embarrassed.

Shen Qing smiled, stood up, and said to the diners, "Ladies and gentlemen, these officials have helped me a lot, so I would like to invite them to try these Four Happiness Meatballs. I'm afraid we won't be able to sell two hundred servings today, so I apologize."

"It's nothing, it's what I should do."

"Yes, we were able to enjoy the delicious food thanks to these officials."

"Of course, of course, we can always reschedule for tomorrow."

"..."

[Ding—Please note, host, you cannot give these away for free, otherwise it will affect your reputation accumulation!]

Just then, a system notification sounded in my mind.

Shen Qing frowned slightly. This was a difficult situation; her reputation was still twenty points short.

As is customary, the shop's reputation increases by twenty points for each dish sold. Under normal circumstances, once she sells all the Four Happiness Meatballs for the week, the random shop's big task will be completed.

But she'd already said she'd treat everyone...

"Madam Shen, it was nothing more than a small favor for us. You have a tough business, so we certainly can't accept it for nothing."

"Yes, whatever the price, we just hope you can run your food business peacefully and steadily for a long time."

"Yes, for us, having something to eat is the greatest happiness."

"..."

Shen Qing looked at the group of sincere yamen runners for a long while before she spoke: "Alright, I will sell these Four Happiness Meatballs to you at the original price."

"However, since you helped me recover so much property, I should naturally give you some reward."

As she spoke, she pulled out a pile of gold and silver from her large bundle and stuffed it directly into Li Xiao's hands: "You can distribute this among everyone."

"What should we do..."

"Take it, I'll really feel bad if you don't."

Without saying a word, Shen Qing stuffed the gold and silver into his hands and immediately turned around to make Four Happiness Meatballs.

Upon careful consideration, giving them gold and silver would be more appropriate; each yamen runner could receive a considerable amount.

Although her Four Happiness Meatballs were in high demand, they were only forty coins a serving.

It would be better to give gold and silver, which would also avoid the hassle of dealing with the system.

Before long, each of the yamen runners received a serving of Four Happiness Meatballs.

In a white porcelain plate, a ring of bright green bok choy resembles a low city wall, with four meatballs arranged in the center. Red sauce slowly flows down the meatballs and gathers at the bottom of the plate.

"It smells so good!!" Li Xiaoer wolfed it down.

He had eaten Four Happiness Meatballs before, but this was the first time he had ever tasted Four Happiness Meatballs that were so fragrant.

"Madam Shen is still as amazing as ever!"

"Oh my god, if only I had a bowl and some rice right now, these meatballs with rice would be so delicious!"

"..."

The yamen runners ate with great relish, their mouths greasy, wishing they could lick the soup off the bottom of their plates.

Shen Qing smiled and continued selling her Four Happiness Meatballs.

......

Shen Chengzong and his wife ran back to their hometown—Tucun.

Tucun is not far from Ping'an County; it takes only half a day to walk there.

The people in Tu Village are all poor and live a very frugal life. As soon as you enter the village, you see thatched huts and straw houses.

But the Shen family's house was a large brick and tile house.

Thanks to Shen Qing's father, all of Shen's relatives lived a life of plenty, and even built an extremely grand ancestral hall.

Upon returning to Tucun, Shen Chengzong and his wife went straight to the home of the Shen clan patriarch.

"Clan leader, you must do us justice! I am the rightful heir, but Shen Qing has colluded with a group of yamen runners to beat my wife and me every day, forcing me to abandon our family business and run back. Clan leader, you must uphold justice!"

Shen Chengzong cried his heart out, and both he and Zhao Shi had bruises and swelling on their faces, looking extremely miserable.

They intended to take their gold, silver, jewelry, and valuables and flee far away, but unexpectedly, they were robbed.

He could only hope that his clan could help him turn the tide.

The clan chief, an elderly man named Shen De, frowned. "Shen Qing is just a little girl..."

"She's not some little girl, she's a wolf with ambition. I think she bribed those yamen runners, and not only that, she also has a secret recipe." Zhao said like a shrew.

Shen De frowned even more deeply, as if he were deep in thought.

Shen Chengzong added fuel to the fire: "Clan leader, you can't just stand by and watch our Shen family's business fall into the hands of outsiders! My wife and I don't even dare to show our faces in Ping'an County now. You have to help us and help us take back our family business."

"Think about it, if the family business falls into Shen Qing's hands, wouldn't it fall into the hands of someone outside the Shen family once Shen Qing gets married?"

"At that time, even Shen's Restaurant will have to change its name!!"

Shen De's brows were furrowed, and the veins on his forehead were throbbing.

He couldn't help but sigh. It was such a pity that Shen Qing's father passed away so early; otherwise, the Shen family might have been able to flourish.

This place is such a mess, it's really worrying.

"Alright, alright, you all go back first. I'll discuss this with some of the clan elders."

"Then you must take back the family business for us! When that happens, my husband and I will definitely give back to the family and rebuild a bigger and better ancestral hall!" Shen Chengzong hurriedly promised.

Shen De waved his hand: "I know, I know."

It seems he needs to take some people to Ping'an County.