Chapter 46 The Handsome Young Master

After being lectured by Shen Pingjin, Nian Ning blushed and said, "Miss, I... I won't ask anymore, but please don't scold me anymore."

Nian'an frowned. "Nian Ning, what are you saying? The fact that Miss said that to you means she remembered that you like osmanthus cake and sweet and sour lotus root. Aren't you going to thank the Princess?"

Nian Ning was taken aback, and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Nian An, you're so thoughtful. I... I didn't even think that much about it."

Nian'an snorted coldly, "That's true, let's hurry and go with the princess."

Shen Pingjin found it somewhat amusing to watch the two of them bickering. She knew the personalities of these two silly girls. Nian Ning was rather shy and reserved, while Nian An was more outspoken and playful, a typical case of a sharp tongue but a soft heart, with a delicate mind.

She shook her head and smiled at the two of them, "You two should shut up and hurry up and get on the carriage with me. If we miss the time, we might not be able to enjoy the pastries from Zuixianglou."

The two were taken aback, then shouted in unison, "Miss, wait for us!"

This trip to Zuixianglou was a familiar one, and the group went up to the second floor following the same steps. This time, Chen Pingjin took a closer look at the servant at the door and found that it was not the same servant as before.

At the waiter's invitation, Shen Pingjin took a seat and ordered a few familiar dishes.

In this vast capital city, all rumors come and go quickly. Just now, Shen Pingjin casually walked to the side and could no longer hear the gossip between herself and Yan Jue.

However, it seemed that Shen Pingjin had heard something else.

At the table next to them sat two young men, one of whom, Shen Pingjin, looked closely and couldn't help but be surprised.

This young man was dressed simply in a light blue brocade robe, with a round mutton-fat jade pendant tied at his waist, and he exuded an innate air of nobility and aloofness.

Shen Pingjin also noticed that this young master had a handsome appearance, especially his pair of peach blossom eyes, which were hooked outwards and upturned inwards. They were so captivating that they left people stunned for a long time. It would not be an exaggeration to call him a male beauty who could bring disaster.

They seemed to be discussing business. Seeing his calm and unhurried demeanor, Shen Pingjin guessed that this young master was probably a businessman.

The person sitting opposite him, with their back to him, is likely his guest or business partner.

Shen Pingjin's eavesdropping skills were truly impressive, but she seemed too focused on it, not even noticing when the waiter brought the dishes.

Nian'an glanced helplessly at her princess, pushed the osmanthus cake and sweet and sour lotus root that had been brought over, and asked softly, "Miss, what are you thinking about? You seem to be staring blankly."

Shen Pingjin's body trembled violently before she came to her senses.

She looked at the pastries in front of her, her brows furrowing slightly. "Didn't the waiter bring the meat buns and rice porridge earlier?"

Nian An said, "The waiter said it's not ready yet, so please let Miss try this first."

"Oh, I see..." Shen Pingjin then realized that the dishes that had just been served seemed to be the ones that these two silly girls liked to eat.

"How about this, I'll eat after the meat buns are served, you guys start eating first."

Nian An and Nian Ning exchanged a glance, both hesitant, "This..."

Shen Pingjin noticed this, and she frowned. "I told you to start eating first, so start eating first. Why are you arguing with me so much? Do you intend to disobey my orders?"

Nian An and Nian Ning shook their heads like rattles, "No, Miss, we don't have any."

Shen Pingjin: "Then why aren't you two picking up your chopsticks?"

"Okay, okay..."

Seeing that the two had finally decided to start eating, Shen Pingjin felt relieved and continued listening to the gossip at the next table.

Li Qin'er dressed up as a man today to discuss business with the kitchen manager of Zuixianglou.

Who knew that after she collaborated with the kitchen manager a few times and he got a taste of the benefits of her ideas, he now wanted to lower the price!

This is outrageous!

Li Qin'er was furious just thinking about it. She looked at Manager Li in front of her, her mind churning with anger, but given her current disguise, she could only slowly pick up the tea on the table, take a sip, and begin to speak.

"Manager Li, after all you've said, are you trying to lower the price?"

Manager Li was taken aback by the fact that the gentle and refined young man in front of him spoke so directly.

But he quickly came to his senses and said loudly, "Young Master Qin, what are you saying? You don't know this, but our Zuixianglou is doing very well these days. If you still want to split the profits with me 40/60, then I, the manager, will hardly make any money. Although the recipe you gave me is indeed effective, if you hadn't cooperated with Zuixianglou, you probably wouldn't have made a single penny either."

What he said made perfect sense, but Li Qin'er clearly sensed a threat in it.

This shopkeeper Li probably thought that the young man she dressed up looked too thin and weak, and that he was easy to manipulate.

Li Qin'er snorted coldly. Today, she would show this Manager Li what it meant to be eloquent!

Her smile remained unchanged. "The business at Zuixianglou is indeed booming, but manager, look at the large number of people these mornings. How could it be that I didn't contribute my share?"

Manager Li's face darkened. "But you also know that if you don't cooperate with Zuixianglou, these recipes of yours will probably be useless."

Li Qin'er's smile froze. "I don't know what you mean by that, shopkeeper."

Manager Li had no intention of taking his time to talk things over with Li Qin'er. He said in a low voice, "Since Young Master Qin has asked in person, I'll make things clear. If Young Master Qin still wants to cooperate with us, then the profits must be split 20/80. If you can't accept that, you're welcome to pack your bags and leave, and cooperate with someone else."

These words were full of threats, and Li Qin'er almost gritted her teeth. This Manager Li was really shameless. He was just taking advantage of the fact that the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion in the capital was the only one that did he think she had nowhere else to invest!

But how could she agree to a 20/80 profit split? After much thought, Li Qin'er had no choice but to compromise.

"Manager Li, if I sever our cooperative relationship, I may no longer participate in the preparation of xiaolongbao and spicy crayfish, and I may not even learn anything about crayfish farming methods."

Manager Li was taken aback. Afraid that he had misheard, he asked again, "Young Master Qin, are you... telling the truth?"

Li Qin'er nodded, "Of course. My relationship with the shopkeeper is purely business. If the shopkeeper keeps the profit sharing too low, I'm afraid I'll just throw off the covers and quit."

"But..." Manager Li's voice was low and steady, as if he had expected Li Qin'er to pull this stunt.

He said, "Then why don't you return 70% of the silver you've earned these past few days to our Zuixianglou?"

Li Qin'er was almost laughing in exasperation. "Shopkeeper, we didn't sign anything like that in the contract, did we?"

To everyone's surprise, the shopkeeper Li took out a yellowed piece of paper from his sleeve and threw it forward, saying, "Young Master Qin might as well take a good look at this contract and see what is written on it."