### Chapter 42: Malicious Competition from a Peer - Ah? The Wives I Abandoned Turned Out to Be Real

### Chapter 42: Malicious Competition from a Peer **[After tidying up, you returned to your room and mentioned the strange occurrence to Guo Lin, who was busy tallying accounts.]** Guo Lin, having grown up in the general's household, was well-versed in many things. Upon inquiring about the man's specific characteristics, she quickly recalled something she had read in a supernatural chronicle. The chronicle mentioned that gray mice, once they gain spiritual power, have grayish-yellow faces and raspy voices. "If my guess is correct, it's probably an old gray rat spirit. But to drink so much without revealing its true form, it must be quite advanced." "That being said, there haven't been any reports of demons causing harm in the Song Dynasty for a long time. This gray rat spirit likely harbors no malice." **[Hearing Guo Lin's reassuring words, you felt a wave of relief, knowing that being targeted by a demon would mean certain doom, regardless of how many lives you had.]** **[Gently setting aside the account book from Guo Lin’s hands, you said,]** "Dear, it's time to rest…" On screen, Guo Lin's eyes rolled back as she fainted... --- **[The next morning, you left at the break of dawn to procure ingredients for the day.]** **[Your culinary skills and reasonably priced wines had garnered such a reputation that a crowd of returning customers had gathered at the door, eager for more of your delicious fish potstickers.]** **[However, you had yet to open the shop.]** **[You addressed the patrons, saying,]** "Everyone, everyone, the shop isn’t open yet." **[After last night's exhaustion, you prepared a nourishing herbal dish for Guo Lin to replenish her energy and prevent another fainting spell.]** **[Once Guo Lin was taken care of, you joined the two cooks, maids, and waitstaff for a simple breakfast, embarking on another busy day.]** **[As if fortune was smiling upon you, for over a month, you found yourself overwhelmed with customers, including renowned scholars and local officials drawn by your fame.]** **[Everyone praised your offerings, some scholars even becoming so inspired that they inscribed poems on your specially purchased screens.]** **[The most famous being “Ascending Yue Lai Tower.”]** --- Ascending step by step fills one’s thoughts, Fine delicacies and wine blur one’s gaze. Aromas tease the senses, tempting the heart, Flavors linger, bringing refreshment long-praised. Glistening drinks fill rippling cups, Sumptuous dishes adorn the table displayed. Such exquisite tastes are hard to exhaust, Wishing to turn into a fish, oceans vast to navigate. --- **[This poem about Yue Lai Tower spread your fame throughout Qinglin County and even to nearby counties.]** **[You relished the hard but joyful days.]** **[However, your thriving business inevitably impacted "Chun Ke Lai," whose business had significantly dwindled over the month.]** **[Hua Zixu, the owner of Chun Ke Lai, abandoned his business, wandering the streets aimlessly.]** **[Despite years of experience in the area, Hua Zixu watched his sparsely populated tavern enviously, infuriated as your lively establishment attracted patrons from far and wide.]** **[Driven by jealousy, Hua Zixu resorted to sending his staff to your tavern, hoping to discover flaws, but to no avail. He even found himself craving your dishes daily.]** **[This burning envy nearly drove Hua Zixu to madness, though he hesitated to ruin your business entirely since he, too, couldn’t resist your food.]** **[After two months of indecision, Hua Zixu resolved to sabotage your business just enough to keep you struggling, but not completely driven out.]** **[He then enlisted all the beggars in Qinglin County, ordering them to harass Yue Lai Tower daily, scaring away customers and trashing the neat surroundings.]** **[Outraged by the chaos, Guo Lin was ready to report to the authorities for justice.]** **[But you suspected Hua Zixu's involvement.]** **[At this critical juncture, you faced a choice.]** **Option 1: Agree with Guo Lin and report to the authorities.** **Option 2: Confront Hua Zixu directly and drive away the beggars.** **Option 3: Seek help from Dou Qianli to fully resolve the issue.** --- Su Mo pondered the three choices, torn and uncertain. The first option could be futile. Hua Zixu, with deep-rooted connections and influence among local notables and officials, presented an insurmountable challenge. Being a newcomer, your standing couldn't compare, even with a modest reputation. The second option seemed equally problematic. Confronting Hua Zixu directly might incur unreasonable humiliation since he could easily deny everything without consequence. Regarding the third option... Su Mo hesitated. Though Dou Qianli could potentially solve the issue, he was still a demon. Entangling with such a being might alter one's fate unforeseeably, possibly with dire consequences. With this in mind, Su Mo massaged his temples, aware that this choice could play a pivotal role in obtaining the coveted Cooking God talent. Finally, after much deliberation, Su Mo chose the third option. He decided to visit the Gray Smoke Pavilion and seek Dou Qianli’s counsel to tackle the situation! --- **[Holding back Guo Lin from going to the authorities, you shared your plan.]** "Dear, we lack the local connections in Qinglin County. The officials may not side with us." "Dou Qianli frequents our tavern, doesn’t he?" "If our business collapses, he loses a dining spot too." "So, I’ll ask Dou Qianli if he can help us out." **[Guo Lin expressed concern at this,]** "The chronicle warns against entanglements with demons. Such interactions alter one’s fate, leading to uncertain paths." **[But you reassured her, dismissing the concern.]** "Don’t worry, dear, nothing will happen." "Let’s focus on overcoming our present challenge." "Besides." "With harsh winter upon us, beggars dying at our doorstep wouldn’t be ideal, would it?" **[Persuaded by your insistence, Guo Lin hesitated but eventually let you visit the Gray Smoke Pavilion.]** **[Located at the lowest point in Qinglin County, the pavilion was near a pond, surrounded by willow trees now blanketed with snow.]** **[Sensing your approach, Dou Qianli opened the door before you could knock.]** **"It’s you?"** **"What brings you here?"** --- *Thank you, Brother Ximen Qing, for the 15 monthly votes—such a generous surprise! And thanks to all others for your votes; I'll add two more chapters today!* --- (End of Chapter)