Chapter 55 [V] Becoming an Apprentice
Aunt Xue reminded her, and Li Yan then remembered that when Aunt Liu came to visit that day, she mentioned that her second son had gone to Jiangning Prefecture to become an official.
Seeing that my mother-in-law and Aunt Liu have a good relationship, if something really happens, we can go to Aunt Liu's house and get temporary protection.
“Okay, I know his official title and his surname. I’ll ask him for help when the time comes.” Li Yan might not actually go to him, but she agreed to this in advance to put her mother-in-law at ease.
Meanwhile, at the Xu family's place—
After seeing off the last guest, Xu Jiayan, at his wife's prompting, pulled his younger brother inside to talk.
"What are you thinking?" Now that your younger brother has passed the imperial examination and become a scholar, it's time for him to start thinking about his personal matters.
A few months ago, Xu Jiayan agreed to let his younger brother marry the widow from the Xue family. But now that his brother's status is different, his thoughts have naturally changed.
Passing the imperial examination at the county level (xiucai) was tantamount to having one foot in the door of officialdom.
If he's lucky enough to pass the imperial examination this autumn and become a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination), then his younger brother's status will be something that the Xue family's young lady can never achieve.
My younger brother has been studying since he was a child, and has been studying for twenty years. Now he is about to achieve success and fame. He also has his own selfish thoughts, thinking that his younger brother can have a better choice after he achieves success.
Although the young lady from the Xue family has some money, it's just a small-scale business and nothing significant.
Given Erlang's current status, marrying a merchant's daughter would be more than enough for him.
In Huating County, and even Jiangning Prefecture, how many merchants and families wanted to associate themselves with scholars in order to improve their social standing?
Not to mention, if he could pass the imperial examinations again and become a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examinations), or even a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the metropolitan-level imperial examinations)... he would have countless daughters from prominent families to choose from.
However, Xu Qingshu's thoughts on marriage were very simple, unlike his brother's complicated ideas.
At this moment, I'm thinking that we should let things take their natural course and wait until the feelings are right before bringing up marriage.
He delivered braised meat today, and although Li Meizi praised him warmly and sincerely, he could tell that she didn't seem to reciprocate his feelings. She was close to him, but not in a romantic way.
In fact, Xu Qingshu was also a proud person. He would not force someone to do something unless it was a mutual affection.
Perhaps his feelings for his first wife were too profound, and the experience of being together as husband and wife was too wonderful. Therefore, even if he were to choose another partner now, he would still hope to find someone with whom he could have a mutual emotional connection and a soulmate.
"Take it slow, there's no rush," Xu Qingshu said.
Hearing him say to take it slow and there was no rush, Xu Jiayan breathed a sigh of relief.
My younger brother had previously said that it would be more respectful and sincere to propose marriage after I passed the imperial examination.
Now that he has passed the imperial examination and become a scholar, he is afraid that he will immediately ask a matchmaker to propose marriage.
"No rush, no rush... I'm just afraid you'll get anxious."
Xu Qingshu sensed something was off about his brother's tone and frowned, asking, "Brother, what do you mean? Before, weren't you and your wife urging me to get married quickly? Why are you saying there's no rush now?"
Xu Jiayan wasn't afraid to tell her younger brother her selfish thoughts: "Things are different now, Erlang. You've passed the imperial examination and become a scholar, so I imagine many families will come to propose marriage to you. And I think... that widow from the Xue family, she's only focused on her business and doesn't really care about you. I won't hide it from you now, your sister-in-law went to see her and subtly asked her some questions, but the answers she gave were not what your sister-in-law wanted at all. She's not suitable for you."
“You’re better off finding a virtuous wife who can take care of you and Mao’er at home. As for that Li woman, she’s only interested in making her way in the world. Even after you marry her, you and Mao’er will still have no one to take care of you. Perhaps your sister-in-law will have to take care of that Li woman as well.”
He felt guilty, thinking that since his wife passed away, his sister-in-law had taken care of him and Maoge'er's daily life for more than three years.
Especially Mao Ge'er, during the time he went to Qingshan Town, Mao Ge'er was completely fostered by his elder brother and sister-in-law.
Although money was given, it was really just a token gesture; the actual amount given was not much.
Besides, the fact that Maoge'er is being raised so well is entirely thanks to his elder brother and sister-in-law.
On this point alone, Xu Qingshu immediately lost his confidence to refute.
“These past few years, I’ve dragged my sister-in-law into this mess.” Xu Qingshu said with genuine gratitude, “Without my brother and sister-in-law’s care and support, I don’t know what kind of life my father and I would have had.”
Xu Jiayan disagreed with him, frowning as he said, "Do brothers need to be so calculating? Not to mention me, even your sister-in-law likes Mao'er very much. To be honest, your sister-in-law is virtuous, she is devoted to our family, and she is kind-hearted... She has never treated Cheng'er and Mao'er differently. Erlang, when looking for a wife, you should find someone like your sister-in-law."
I do like it, but what my brother said isn't wrong either.
Therefore, Xu Qingshu was also conflicted.
I had originally planned to go shopping the next day to buy my daughter some jewelry she liked, but considering our current situation, I decided it would be better to postpone it.
If you haven't made a clear choice in your heart, you shouldn't send gifts indiscriminately and disturb other people's peace of mind.
.
Li Yan was unaware of the many thoughts in Xu Qingshu's mind. The next day, she went to the brokerage firm to find Cheng Ao again.
Cheng Ao was also very anxious. He couldn't find a suitable person, and he was afraid that the deal would fall through.
Li Yan really didn't have time, so when she found Cheng Ao, she said seriously, "I'll give you three days. If you still can't find a suitable one, I'll go to another brokerage firm and ask another broker for help."
Cheng Ao immediately cried out, "Sister, I will definitely find it for you!"
"Who are you calling 'sister'?" Li Yan objected. "Do I look older than you?"
“Of course not,” Cheng Ao said immediately. “It’s a respectful form of address, a respectful form of address.”
Li Yan came in a whirlwind and left in a whirlwind.
She decided to make a major change; she felt she had to let go of some things in her business.
Take, for example, the braised pork she supplied to Yuanbaolou. She didn't want to cook pork every day anymore; she wanted to sell the recipe to the restaurant and receive a share of the profits each month. If she couldn't reach an agreement with Yuanbaolou, she could take this opportunity to make a trip to Jiangning Prefecture.
She thought that now that the business was gradually improving, it might grow even bigger in the future. She couldn't be confined to this small courtyard every day, going to the kitchen to cook meat at set times.
Moreover, the one-year contract is about to expire, so perhaps we could talk to someone from Yuanbaolou.
This idea had been lingering in Li Yan's mind for quite some time, and she had finally made up her mind.
So after leaving the brokerage, Li Yan went straight to Yuanbaolou.
It was only past noon, and there weren't many customers in Yuanbaolou; only one or two tables were still occupied with food.
Li Yan doesn't usually come here, so when Manager Huang saw her coming, he knew she must have something to ask him. He quickly came over and asked, "Madam Li, what is it?"
Li Yan nodded: "I have something to discuss with you, Manager Huang. Is now a convenient time?"
"Convenient, convenient, couldn't be more convenient." Manager Huang was very enthusiastic towards Li Yan.
It wasn't just because of the braised pork; it was also because people knew Li Yan was no ordinary woman. In Huating County, she not only partnered with Yuanbaolou Restaurant but also opened a restaurant in partnership with the owner of Sifang Inn. In addition, she currently runs a milk tea shop.
Even though she still lives in that small alley and in a rented room, she definitely has money.
Moreover, money keeps flowing in every month.
People admire strength, and although Li Yan is a woman, her achievements in such a short time are admirable to Manager Huang.
After leading Li Yan to a secluded spot, Manager Huang smiled and invited her to sit down.
After the two were seated, Li Yan didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "My contract with the restaurant will expire in a few days."
Over the past six months, braised pork has gained a good reputation and has almost become one of the signature dishes in restaurants.
Almost every day, customers who come to the restaurant ask if they still have braised pork. And if they say yes, they always order a serving.
This dish has brought a lot of business to the restaurant.
Manager Huang was also thinking that with the contract expiring soon, he was afraid that Madam Li would not want to renew it because the market was good.
Therefore, when he saw that she had indeed brought up the matter, Manager Huang immediately became extremely attentive.
“Even if you hadn’t come, I would have come to talk to you about this anyway.” Faced with the prospect of profit, Manager Huang became even more humble. “Madam Li, you see, you’ve been cooperating with our restaurant for almost a year now. You know how good our marketing methods and reputation are. So, considering how well we’ve cooperated, you should consider our restaurant first.”
We didn't know how well this dish would sell in the long term, so we only signed a one-year contract.
If I had known the response would be this good, I would never have signed only a one-year contract to try it out first.
Because of my shortsightedness at the time, I am now in a passive position.
But as a businessman, Manager Huang would naturally try his best to win him over.
Although the restaurant wasn't his own, but belonged to the owner, he was the manager, and the owner entrusted him with its management. He would also receive a share of the annual income, so naturally, he would put in his best effort for the restaurant's business.
Li Yan is straightforward and speaks her mind directly, saying, "If your restaurant is willing, I would naturally like to continue our cooperation. However... the cooperation model needs to be changed."
When he first heard that she was willing to continue the cooperation, Manager Huang breathed a slight sigh of relief. But then, upon hearing that the cooperation model had changed, his relief immediately vanished.
"If Madam Li has any thoughts, please speak frankly."
Li Yan said, "I used to make roast pork at home every day, and then the restaurant staff would ship it from my home to the restaurant. To be honest, after roasting pork for almost a month, I'm getting tired of it. So I thought, if Manager Huang is willing, why don't I sell the recipe to the restaurant? In the future, the restaurant can have its own chefs make this dish, and I won't interfere."
Because this dish is indeed a bestseller, what Li Yan mentioned was extremely tempting to Manager Huang.
However, if it's a purchase of a property with perpetual ownership, then how is the price determined?
Manager Huang could decide whether or not to buy the son. However, he couldn't decide on the price.
"I'll have to ask the owner about this," said Manager Huang, but then added, "But don't worry, Madam Li, she's willing to take the recipe, it's just the price..."
“I understand.” Li Yan also expressed her meaning, “I don’t want to buy it out at a fixed price. I will also take a percentage of the restaurant’s profits from this dish.”
Manager Huang's mind raced, trying to think of a way to benefit himself: "But... a recipe is a recipe, and even if I had it, I might not be able to make it to your liking, Madam Li. I'm afraid..."
“There’s no need to worry about Manager Huang.” Li Yan had already thought of this. “When the time comes, we can choose someone from the restaurant, and I will teach them step by step until they can make the authentic taste.”
Upon hearing this, Manager Huang had nothing more to say and hurriedly said with a smile, "I can see Madam Li's sincerity. When I go to the owner, I will definitely put in a good word for Madam Li."
"Then I'll have to trouble Manager Huang."
Manager Huang was very enthusiastic about this matter, and the next day, he came to find Li Yan with the answer.
Li Yan invited Manager Huang to sit in the main room. Manager Huang, who was also pressed for time, directly stated his purpose, saying, "I mentioned it to the owner, and he was very happy to agree. The owner said that if it is divided proportionally, the lady will take four, and our restaurant will take six."
Previously, the profits were split 40/60, but Li Yan took 60% and the restaurant took 40%.
But at that time, Li Yan needed to do manual labor, which meant she was essentially using the restaurant's space to sell meat, so she received a higher percentage of the earnings.
Now, Li Yan only plans to provide a prescription and then ignore everything else... Dividing it according to this ratio is reasonable.
But Li Yan also had one condition: "I can agree to a 40/60 split, but I must have the right to audit the accounts." Without the right to audit the accounts, the restaurant's profits would be unknown, making the accounts a complete mess.
Anyone who doesn't want to embezzle money will keep clear and accurate accounts.
Therefore, Manager Huang agreed without hesitation.
After that, they continued to finalize some details of the contract. Once both parties reached an agreement, they signed the contract again.
Once the new contract takes effect, the previous contract automatically becomes invalid.
Keeping her promise, Li Yan has been spending several hours a day in the kitchen of Yuanbaolou Restaurant for the past few days. Manager Huang chose a younger man to learn how to cook this dish from Li Yan.
Judging from his close relationship with Manager Huang, Li Yan could roughly guess that their friendship was extraordinary.
Or perhaps the two are relatives, who knows?
Li Yan had a backup plan. She told Manager Huang that the young chef should become her apprentice.
In ancient times, people valued teachers highly. A teacher for a day is like a mother for life, and one should be filial to them in the future.
Therefore, she wasn't afraid of any losses should the young chef one day learn her culinary skills and start her own business.
Manager Huang was taken aback, probably sensing Li Yan's worry. So without saying a word, he brought the young man to Li Yan and told her to call him master.
"Although Madam Li is the same age as you, she has mastered excellent culinary skills. Moreover, she has now taught you her secret recipes, so it is only right that you acknowledge her as your master. Let's change how you address her today, and when we choose an auspicious day, you can prepare some gifts and properly formally acknowledge your master."
The young chef was overjoyed to be able to learn this culinary skill and showed absolutely no reluctance.
Let alone becoming her disciple, he wouldn't hesitate to become her great-grandmother.
“Master, please accept my bow,” the young cook said immediately.
When the moment actually arrived, Li Yan felt a little embarrassed. After all, she wasn't from ancient times.
However, to protect her interests, Li Yan still felt she had to accept him as her apprentice.
"Let's do as Manager Huang says," Li Yan said solemnly. "However, the apprenticeship is just a formality; whether or not there's a proper ceremony is not important."
Shopkeeper Huang insisted that a gift was necessary, as it was a proper way to formally become an apprentice. Seeing this, Li Yan said that they should do as they said, but the gift should not be expensive; a few pastries would be enough.
The young chef is quick-witted and eager to learn. He's also very strong and can endure hardship.
So very quickly, Li Yan had taught him almost all of the techniques for making this dish.
Li Yan has been making the braised pork for the past few days, but instead of at home, she's been making it right here in the restaurant's kitchen. She's also teaching the young cook as she goes.
A few days later, Li Yan decided to let go and let the cook do it himself. She watched as he cooked.
After a few more days, Li Yan finally let go completely.
The thought that she no longer had to cook braised pork every night filled her with joy.
But then she remembered something else and decided to go find Xu Qingshu.
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