A Chef's Confidence

Lily guessed what he was thinking, blushed, playfully scolded him, and dragged him toward Savory House.

Just as they approached Savory House, Lily spotted a familiar face.

Samuel Evans, ears burning red, was standing outside Savory House, chatting with a few well-dressed young gentlemen. Among them was Benjamin Zhang, who had mocked Lucky at the jade stall before.

Lily didn’t want to run into Samuel Evans, so she pulled Lucky into a nearby alley to avoid him.

She overheard Samuel Evans respectfully cupping his hands to Benjamin Zhang, saying, "Brother Zhang, we’re both classmates at Greenfield Academy. Could you introduce me? I’d like to discuss studies with Mr. Harold Wei and Mr. Lawrence."

But Benjamin Zhang clearly looked down on Samuel Evans. With nobles from the capital here, they were all eager to curry favor—why would they give Samuel Evans a chance?

Benjamin Zhang sneered, "A poor country bumpkin like you, don’t act all brotherly with me. ‘Discuss studies’? You just want to cozy up to people from the capital because they have connections!"

The young nobles burst out laughing. Samuel Evans’s face flushed even redder, but he didn’t give up and pleaded, "Brother Zhang, you’ve misunderstood. The knowledge from the capital is different from ours at Greenfield Academy. I just want to exchange ideas, that’s all."

Benjamin Zhang scoffed and shoved Samuel Evans back a few steps. "Cut the act. Everyone at the academy knows what you’re like. You’d be better off buttering up your future father-in-law, the county deputy, and get him to pull some strings for you. Land a job at the yamen copying ledgers—at least you’ll look respectable then."

"Brother Zhang, please…" Samuel Evans begged, but Benjamin Zhang completely ignored him and headed into Savory House with the other nobles.

Samuel Evans stood awkwardly at the entrance, his fists clenched and eyes brimming with humiliation.

Lily watched the scene, feeling a mix of pity and frustration. She quietly led Lucky around to the back entrance of Savory House.

Lily realized the truth: Samuel Evans wasn't as popular as the Evans family claimed. He struggled to fit in, nothing like the stories they spread.

Lily nodded and got to work. She moved with confidence, her every action in the kitchen drawing admiration from the staff.

Mr. Baker pulled her aside and whispered, "Miss Lily, the two gentlemen from the capital—Mr. Harold Wei and Mr. Lawrence—are waiting in the private room. They’re eager to taste your specialty."

Lily smiled. "No problem. I’ll make sure they’re impressed."

She prepared the ingredients with practiced skill, her movements swift and assured. The aroma soon filled Savory House, drawing curious glances from the main hall.

Mr. Baker hesitated, glancing at the capital guests—Harold Wei and Mr. Lawrence—before finally nodding. "Miss Evans, you drive a hard bargain. But if your private dishes are as good as you claim, Savory House will gladly honor your terms."

Lily plated the dishes and personally delivered them to the private room where Mr. Harold Wei and Mr. Lawrence were waiting.

Harold Wei tasted the dish first. His eyes lit up. "Miss Lily, your culinary skills rival those of the finest chefs in the capital!"

Mr. Baker’s lips twitched. "Miss Evans, you’re quite shrewd. But you’re right, Savory House has never had a dish like yours."

"What’s wrong with that?" Lily looked up at Mr. Baker, speaking slowly. "Without my recipes, all those rabbit heads and fish scales you call scraps would just be tossed out. My private dishes use those leftovers, so the cost is next to nothing. Plus, the dishes are unique and can give Savory House a signature reputation. This business is all profit, no loss. My fifty-fifty split is more than fair. If Savory House isn’t sincere, I’ll just take my recipes elsewhere."

With that, she stood up to leave. As a top chef from modern China, Lily had every reason to set her own terms.

Now it was others who needed Lily, not Lily who needed to beg for their partnership.