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After taking care of that matter, Lin Yuan naturally couldn’t forget about her Rice Flower Fragrance. She had already taken the time to personally bring Loudmouth to Rice Flower Fragrance, and very sternly and officially introduced her identity to everyone.

With the affirmation of Lin Yuan as the Boss, Loudmouth’s position was quite solid.

Moreover, with her own exceptional abilities, the management of Rice Flower Fragrance was excellent, and everyone held her in high regard.

Since Loudmouth’s maiden name was Sun, everyone respectfully called her Steward Sun.

However, the business at Rice Flower Fragrance had been mysteriously poor these past few days, and there were vague rumors about the establishment circulating.

Loudmouth had also noticed this and sent Liuzi out to pay attention.

It turned out that someone was spreading rumors, saying that the reason the food at Rice Flower Fragrance was so delicious was that they added Five Stones Powder to the white flour used in making pastries, which not only made them taste exceptional but also addictive.

Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow. She had heard of Five Stones Powder, and to put it bluntly, it wasn’t much different from a narcotic.

Once ingested, it caused the consumer to become excited and feel as if they were floating on clouds.

However, this substance also had significant side effects such as easy addiction.

Ultimately, those who took it couldn’t wean off it, and would end up being tormented to the point where they were neither human nor ghost, withering away to death.

Moreover, this substance was quite valuable, and it was secretly circulated in some brothels. While some pharmacies used it as a painkiller, the conditions and dosages had to be recorded at the Yamen, so it wasn’t that easy to get ahold of it.

Lin Yuan laughed angrily at these rumors, "They really think highly of me, don’t they? As if my pastries have something as expensive as Five Stones Powder in them. Would I foolishly add something that costs several times more?"

Loudmouth also said indignantly, "Exactly! And there are still those idiots who actually believe such talk! What a bunch of imbeciles!"

Lin Yuan patted her hand, instructing her to be vigilant in managing the kitchen and absolutely not let anyone catch them off guard.

Additionally, she specifically told a few guards to constantly watch the customers, ensuring that no one from outside the shop got into the kitchen or caused any trouble in the main hall.

Since these people dared to spread rumors, she guessed they would definitely send someone to secretly do things detrimental to Rice Flower Fragrance.

Afterward, Lin Yuan specifically instructed Liuzi to go out on the street to investigate where these rumors originated. She believed that these words must have been deliberately spread by someone jealous of Rice Flower Fragrance’s good business, likely a competitor.

A name was on the tip of her tongue. Lin Yuan sneered, thinking that if she found evidence that it was indeed these people, she wouldn’t mind taking the initiative to make Rice Flower Fragrance the largest and only pastry shop in Zhuma Town.

The day agreed upon with Ma Xiaonan to deliver the wedding pastries was fast approaching. Lin Yuan inquired and learned that Uncle Wang and the others had already started preparing, so she felt relieved.

"Has anything happened recently?" Lin Yuan glanced at Meng Liangdong, who was absorbed in doing accounts at the counter, and asked Liuzi.

Liuzi was puzzled by this seemingly random question, but seeing that she was looking at Meng Liangdong, he couldn’t help but laugh secretly. So the Boss also liked to hear gossip.

"Hehe, nothing much. These days while you, the Boss, weren’t here, Boss Mo didn’t come by much either. But Mr. Meng did hesitate a few times at someone’s doorstep, and in the end, he didn’t enter. Watching that made me anxious too."

Liuzi gave Meng Liangdong a look full of exasperation, then suddenly remembered something, and said to Lin Yuan with a grin, "Oh, Boss, I also heard something quite funny!"