Chapter 69 Cooperation

"Mr. Wei, you've misunderstood. I'm here just to do business with you," Xu Qingyan said. He knew that Manager Zhu had made things difficult for the other party in order to buy the son, and he didn't intend to use his power to force them. After all, the local magistrate might not give the Xu family any face.

What do you want to talk about?

"I wonder if Boss Wei might be able to deliver sixty portions to Taixinglou for sale every day?" Xu Qingyan knew that the recipe was impossible to sell, so he could only think of a compromise.

"Young Master Xu, are you truly serious about ordering my restaurant's Dongpo pork?"

“Of course it’s true. I’ve also brought the inscription. If Mr. Wei is worried, he can take a look.” Xu Qingyan was sincere this time and had prepared the inscription as well.

Song Yushu had some concerns, after all, he was still traumatized by Manager Zhu's series of tricks, so he was inevitably wary of cooperating with Taixing Restaurant. However, after reading the book, he found no problems and did not immediately refuse.

"I can agree to deliver sixty portions of Dongpo pork to Taixing Restaurant every day, but there is one condition: you must pay a deposit first, and you will have to pay three times the penalty for breach of contract. Don't think that I am deliberately making things difficult for you, Mr. Xu. After all, what Manager Zhu did back then really made me have to be careful."

“I agree to Mr. Wei’s conditions. I will send the revised manuscript over tomorrow. Farewell,” Xu Qingyan said without lingering and quickly left with his men.

Song Yushu never expected that the young master of Taixing Restaurant would actually talk to her about cooperation. After all, she thought that she had already broken off relations when she sued Manager Zhu. However, Song Yushu did not want to let go of business that was offered to her.

After both parties pressed their fingerprints, Song Yushu was about to deliver Dongpo pork to Taixing Restaurant.

Early in the morning, Song Yushu headed to town with the goods, taking only Xiong Erni with him this time.

When I arrived at the entrance of Taixing Restaurant, I found someone waiting at the door, and it was someone I knew.

"Check everything. If there are no problems, sign and move in," Song Yushu said, treating Zhou Lao Er like a complete stranger.

Zhou Lao Er was a little stunned, but he still went over to count the goods and finally signed the document.

"How are Chengyu and Chengzhu doing now? Are they doing well?" Zhou Lao Er finally couldn't help but ask about the twins.

"I'm doing great! Much better than you guys. If there's nothing else, I'll be going now." Song Yushu didn't have time to deal with Zhou Lao Er, so he had Xiong Er Ni turn the carriage around and leave.

Zhou Lao Er couldn't describe his feelings. He also felt that he had done something unnecessary. Wei Fang was now a restaurant owner who could cooperate with Taixing Restaurant. The two children would have a good life with her, much better than with him, who had no father.

Song Yushu hadn't seen Zhou Lao Er for a long time. Although she remained calm when she saw him today, she was still taken aback. She hadn't expected him to look so old in less than two years. It seemed he had suffered a lot. However, it was none of her business. The Zhou family had only themselves to blame, and she was being kind by not kicking them when they were down.

"Did it go smoothly? Taixing Restaurant didn't try anything funny, did they?"

"No, everything went smoothly," Song Yushu told Xiong Erni to set up the oxcart before washing his hands and going into the kitchen to help.

"Your face is all red from the wind. I told you to wear more layers this morning, but you wouldn't listen!" Seeing this, Wei's mother scolded her again.

"It's alright, I'm perfectly healthy!" Song Yushu was only thinking about delivering the goods as soon as possible and didn't think about much else. Now it's almost late autumn and it's still a bit chilly in the morning.

Time flies. Song Yushu's vegetable stalls have already replaced their seedlings. However, there is still a batch of late-ripening melons, which are considered the most expensive of these fruits and vegetables. They can fetch a good price at this time, so Song Yushu only plans to keep a few to satisfy his cravings and sell the rest. He plans to expand the planting area next year.

Many women came to sell melons. After all, things are valued for their scarcity. Melons are not cheap to begin with, and it is even more precious to be able to eat them at this time. As soon as Song Yushu spread the word, many people came to buy them.

The last batch of melons earned nearly fifty taels of silver, which was a pleasant surprise for Song Yushu.

"Why don't we buy a few plots of land to grow melons? They're selling so well," Zhou Chengzhu said, eyeing the money.

“That’s a good idea. We can ask around to see if there’s any land nearby. We can’t handle anything too far away,” said Song Yushu, who knew her daughter best. She was thinking the same thing, after all, who would pass up an opportunity to make money?

"If you're free tomorrow, have your second sister take you around. If you find a suitable place, come back and let me know," Zhou Chengzhu was now able to help Song Yushu a lot, and Song Yushu also wanted to train her, so he simply handed this task over to her.

“Okay! I’ll take Sister Erni to check out the neighborhood tomorrow,” Zhou Chengzhu agreed without hesitation.

There were fifteen melons left. Song Yushu kept a few for Zhou Chengyu and Zhou Chengzhu, and also let Wei's mother and the others take some back with them.

She put the remaining three in a basket, added some colorful fruits and vegetables, and even arranged some flowers on top.

"Tsk, I was even thinking of keeping it in the house," Song Yushu said smugly, but still couldn't keep the flower basket and had it sent to Xue Huai'an instead.

"Who delivered the fruits and melons? This flower basket is quite beautiful," Grandma Xue asked curiously when she saw someone delivering things.

"I don't know, Madam. The person who delivered it said it was for the master. Perhaps it was sent by a student from the academy," the gatekeeper replied. He was also unsure, but seeing that the melons looked expensive, he assumed they were sent by his master's students.

"Just put it here. Qingyao loves cantaloupe, and it'll save your husband from having to make another trip," said Madam Xue. She assumed it was a gift from her son's friend and, seeing that there was cantaloupe inside, decided to keep it.

"Thank you, Grandmother. This basket is so beautiful. May I take it back and put it in the house?" Xue Qingyao noticed something was amiss and asked the old woman for the basket back.

"Take it if you like it, it's meant for you anyway," Old Madam Xue thought she was just greedy.

Little did she know that Xue Qingyao would take a basket and go to Xue Huai'an that very day to claim credit.

"Father, you really have to thank me this time. If it weren't for me, this basket would have ended up in Grandmother's hands!" Xue Qingyao said proudly to Xue Huai'an, trying to take credit.

"How did you figure that out?" Xue Huai'an asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I ate melons at Boss Wei’s place before, and I saw that there were still some left to pick before I left. Now the melons in other places are long past their season. Dad, do you think Boss Wei likes you? Otherwise, why would he send you a flower basket?”

"Couldn't it be that she likes you, and this flower basket is for you?" Xue Huai'an retorted.

“That’s right, then I’ll take it. Boss Wei doesn’t like you anyway, so this flower basket is a gift for me. I’ll take it!” Xue Qingyao’s eyes lit up, and she couldn’t wait to take the flower basket back.

"Wait, you know I like Boss Wei, are you really going to take the flower basket away? Can't you even leave me a keepsake?"

"Can I take the melon with me then?"

You can only take one.