When Si Mo saw Ning Huan's deer antlers, he glanced at them and said, "My lady, these deer antlers are top-grade. Wild deer are rarely seen at this time of year, so deer antlers are even more precious."
Ning Huan replied, "Young master has good taste; I've made the right choice in entrusting this deer antler to you."
Si Mo held a feather fan in his hand, then leisurely stood up from his chair: "Alright, since Madam Ning says I know my stuff, then I have no reason not to accept it. Name your price, Madam."
Ning Huan didn't pay attention to his comment about setting a price arbitrarily, but she was really impressed by how arrogant he was when he stood up and fanned himself.
But she didn't speak, so the manager of Si Mo spoke up: "Boss, how can you set such a price so casually? This deer antler is originally a medicinal material. What can our restaurant do with it? Besides, even if it can be used in cooking, how can we sell such a small portion!"
Upon hearing this, Si Mo visibly frowned.
Ning Huan was about to explain when Si Mo scolded her, "I bought it because I wanted to. It's just a small portion. If no one else buys it, I can eat it myself. I can nourish my body and live a long life!"
Shopkeeper: ...
Ning Huan smiled awkwardly, then quietly explained from the side:
"Actually, I understand the manager's concerns. Of course, the restaurant's interests should come first. Although deer antler is a medicinal herb, it is also an excellent ingredient for cooking. The restaurant could create a limited-edition delicacy menu."
"Limited-edition special menu?"
She nodded and replied, "Yes, it's a limited-edition delicacy menu. It's limited daily, first come, first served. If you come late and still want to eat it, the restaurant won't have the ingredients left."
Hearing this, Si Mo clapped his hands with a smile: "Brilliant, my wife's method is truly ingenious!"
He then raised an eyebrow and looked at the shopkeeper beside him, asking, "Chen Liu, are you still going to stop me from buying?"
Manager Chen also thought Ning Huan's idea was good, and having dispelled his doubts, he naturally agreed. He nodded in response, "I won't stop you. You can buy whatever you want, sir."
Although he verbally agreed, he still said apologetically to Ning Huan, "Madam Ning, although our restaurant can accept your deer antlers, the price our boss just said you can name your price was just nonsense, please don't take it seriously."
Before Si Mo could speak, he quickly interjected, "Our owner is not good at business management. In fact, our restaurant has long been operating at a loss. We can't let you name the price you want, madam. This deer antler is one hundred taels. If you think the price is acceptable, we'll give you one hundred and fifty taels along with the deer tendon."
Ning Huan's heart skipped a beat when she heard the price.
I thought to myself that this shopkeeper was really good at bargaining; most people would have agreed to the price if they saw it.
But then she thought about how Si Mo had spoken earlier and came up with a plan.
"I see. Actually, before I came to Zuiyanlou, I went to Hongyang Restaurant, and the manager there gave me a good price."
"I just can't stand the way their restaurant operates. But now it seems I'm just a woman who wants to make some money. It's better not to act all high and mighty."
Seeing that Si Mo's expression changed instantly the moment she mentioned Hongyang Restaurant, Ning Huan knew her guess was right.
Competition between restaurants is bound to involve both overt and covert struggles. If a mere woman selling goods is treated like that by Hongyang Restaurant, then the competition between its peers must be even more brutal and domineering.
Judging from our interaction just now, Si Mo seems to be a man of strong character. Mentioning Hongyang Restaurant will definitely ignite his competitive spirit.
Sure enough, upon hearing Ning Huan's words, Young Master Si Mo hurriedly stepped forward and said:
"My lady, you truly have a discerning eye. How can Hongyang Restaurant compare to our Zuiyan Restaurant? Since you disapprove of their practices, then let's not cooperate with them. If you're not satisfied with the prices at my Zuiyan Restaurant..."
He paused, then continued, "Open the price, whatever my wife desires. Whatever price Hongyang Restaurant sets, my Zuiyanlou will double it!"
Once those words were out, it was too late for Manager Chen to cover his mouth. He could only pat his head and sigh inwardly at how he had ended up with such a master.
Ning Huan, however, was all smiles. She said with a smile, "I don't care how much the shopkeeper asks for. Hongyang Restaurant said it would pay two hundred taels for my deer antlers and tendons, but Young Master Si Mo offered double the price, so that's four hundred taels."
Si Mo waved his hand and said, "Chen Liu, go to the accountant and get the money."
When Chen Liu heard that Hongyang Restaurant originally wanted to pay two hundred taels to acquire it, which was only fifty taels more than their Zuiyan Restaurant, he still wanted to try to negotiate a little longer: "Boss..."
To everyone's surprise, Si Mo said sternly, "Go now! Are you the boss and I am the boss? Don't forget who the master is!"
As soon as he said this, Chen Liu changed his demeanor and immediately turned around and went downstairs.
But looking at Si Mo again, he had returned to his previous smiling expression:
“My wife and I are truly destined to meet. When we met on the street yesterday, she helped me out of a predicament. And today she’s brought her business to my restaurant.”
Ning Huan smiled faintly and said, "You could say that. There are so many restaurants on this street. I left Hongyang Restaurant and arrived at your restaurant in the blink of an eye."
Just as Si Mo was about to say something, Chen Liu walked in with four hundred taels of silver notes.
When he handed it to Ning Huan, she could clearly feel Manager Chen's hand still pulling at her. With just a little force, she managed to pull the silver note away.
Then he bowed slightly to Manager Chen and Young Master Si Mo, put down the deer antler and deer tendon, and told them the recipes for medicinal dishes made with deer antler and deer tendon.
Whether they listen or not is up to them.
Watching Ning Huan's figure recede into the distance, Chen Liu still felt a pang of regret:
"Master, did we really spend four hundred taels for just these two items? It's obvious that woman is lying. Hongyang Restaurant only charged us fifty taels more. This woman tricked you out of double the price!"
Si Mo said calmly, "This woman lied to us because you lied to her first."
Chen Liu was taken aback: "What?"
As Ning Huan turned and left Zuiyanlou, she observed the restaurant from the entrance, its interior decor, and even the variety of dishes. It didn't seem like a restaurant that was losing money.
A manager of such a high position actually tried to lie to her.
However, she didn't think four hundred taels was too much. If the deer antler and deer tendon were cooked well, plus the limited menu supply method she just mentioned, she could get more.
Let alone a mere four hundred taels, that's enough for their restaurant to break even in half a day!
Si Mo narrowed his eyes and said to Chen Liu beside him, "Go and find out if this woman went to Hongyang Restaurant today."
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