Fame Spreads Far and Wide
Lily Evans glanced at Lucky, who was clinging to her like a koala, and gave Leonard Li a sheepish laugh. "Mr. Li, please don’t mind him. Ever since I fell into the river, my husband’s been blaming himself for not protecting me. Now he’s extra clingy—I hope you don’t find it strange…"
Leonard Li’s mouth twitched, but he forced a smile. "No problem at all, really."
The two quickly shifted the topic to off-season vegetables.
To Lily’s surprise, the snow disaster didn’t harm her vegetable business at all. Instead, her off-season vegetables became even more renowned—a true blessing in disguise!
Why, you ask? Because those restaurants depended on Lily’s off-season vegetables to keep business booming. Suddenly, their supply was cut off, and all the diners who came for fresh greens started clamoring for them—no matter the price, they just had to have a taste!
Foodies are a force of nature! Their demands echoed throughout the Capital, and soon everyone knew: you could eat fresh vegetables even in the dead of winter.
The restaurants that had signed up for Lily’s vegetables became overnight sensations, and everyone realized just how incredible off-season vegetables could be. As soon as the snow melted and the vegetables arrived from Greenfield City, hungry diners nearly burst through the doors—Lily’s produce was suddenly the hottest ticket in town!
Other restaurant owners started reaching out to Leonard Li, eager to get their hands on Lily’s vegetables. Even purchasing agents from wealthy families were sent by their masters, all scrambling for fresh produce.
For those aristocratic families, money was no object—they just wanted to enjoy something fresh. Especially during Spring Festival, serving a banquet made with fresh vegetables was a symbol of status and wealth. The big families in the Capital all vied for Lily Evans’s vegetables, and her name was suddenly on everyone’s lips.
With Lily’s vegetables now famous, even her mushrooms were in high demand. The several batches harvested during the snow disaster—once feared to be surplus—were suddenly sold out, with orders lined up until after the New Year!
Lily listened, smiling with heartfelt satisfaction. Who would have thought that a snow disaster would turn out to be a blessing in disguise, making her famous far and wide?
"Lily, what’s your plan now?" Leonard Li asked, seeing the spark of an idea in her eyes.
Lily’s eyes twinkled mischievously. "Since everyone wants my vegetables, let’s make it official: I’ll host a bidding event for the first batch after New Year. Highest bidder wins!"
Lucky’s eyes lit up. "My wife is a genius! Who else could turn a snow disaster into a golden opportunity?"
Leonard Li couldn’t help but laugh, a little embarrassed by Lucky’s unabashed affection. "You two really are something else."
Leonard Li leaned forward, eyes bright with curiosity. "So, Lily, do you have a clever solution up your sleeve?"
Lily’s smile turned sly. "Don’t forget, Leonard—out by Ten-Mile Slope, the Liu family’s thousand acres are already covered in mud-brick greenhouses! The Lius lost a fortune building them and are desperate for cash. I’ll swoop in and buy up all that land! Su Meixiang and Liu Hui thought they could outsmart me and copied my greenhouse designs. This time, I’ll use their handiwork to grow my vegetables and let them taste what it’s like to work for someone else’s success!"
"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!" Leonard Li’s eyes sparkled as he slapped his thigh in admiration. "Lily, your mind works in ways I could never imagine. You’re truly sharp!"
Before Leonard Li could finish praising Lily, Lucky wrapped his arms around her neck, grinning so wide his eyes turned to crescent moons. "My wife is amazing! My wife is so smart! My wife is the best—mwah!"
With that, Lucky planted a big kiss right on Lily’s lips, then shot Leonard Li a playful look as if to declare his ownership.
Leonard Li’s handsome face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot.