On the evening of the first day of the Lunar New Year, Pan Jinhua called her family over, including Fang Da, who was also invited into the room for a chat.
"I've called everyone here today because I have something to say."
Pan Jinhua sat at the head of the table, while the crowd below listened respectfully.
"This concerns the Fangda family."
Fang Da quickly stepped forward, not knowing what had happened. Could it be that his son had done something wrong and offended the old lady? That shouldn't be the case. The old lady is kind-hearted. If she gets angry, it must be a very serious matter!
"Madam, has your son done something wrong?"
Pan Jinhua almost lost her composure because of Fang Da's cautious move.
No.
Fang Da breathed a sigh of relief. What was that?
Pan Jinhua didn't keep everyone in suspense and spoke directly to the Li family members below.
"I have a braised meat recipe here, which I intend to give to the Fang family. Do you have any objections?"
The idea of braised meat first came to mind when Pan Jinhua invented spicy strips. In her past life, various braised food brands sprang up like mushrooms after rain, demonstrating just how popular braised food is. In terms of aroma, the fragrance of spicy strips can't compare to the domineering aroma of braised meat.
She had long wanted to find a good job for the Fang family. Since their exile, the Fang family had remained loyal and devoted, following them all the way from Nanze to Shaoxian.
Pan Jinhua was willing to help anyone in the village who had no relatives or friends to earn money, and the Fang family was even more likely to be left behind.
Whenever she thought of the braised pork recipe, she had the idea of giving it to the Fang family.
"Madam, you can't give me this prescription!"
Fang Da was overjoyed by this incredible windfall, but instead of being happy, he resisted, waving his hands repeatedly. This was a recipe for making money; how could it be given to him? Any member of the Li family was more qualified than him.
"Fang Da, you've been with the Li family for so many years, this is what you deserve."
Pan Jinhua was indeed speaking from the heart.
"Madam, to tell you the truth, the Li family has always been kind to my family. Now they have released the contracts for my entire family. I, Fang Da, am loyal to the Li family. Once the prescription is handed over to me, I will never reveal it. But I am old. I can control myself and my son, but I cannot control the greed of my descendants."
“I know that the old lady’s prescription is a family heirloom. If something like this really happens, how can I be at ease? The old lady’s prescription must not be given to me.”
Pan Jinhua laughed heartily after hearing Fang Da's explanation.
“How could I not know your family’s loyalty? The recipe is yours now. I, Pan Jinhua, will not mistreat myself, nor will I mistreat those who follow us.”
"Don't be afraid. This prescription is for you. You get 60% of the profits, and I get 40%. When I get old, the Fang family will no longer need to share profits with the Li family. The future of the prescription will be entirely up to your family."
Fang Da looked up in a daze, already moved to tears by Pan Jinhua's words.
"Madam..."
"Old Fang, just accept it! My mother is sincere, and your family needs to eat and drink too. Since the indenture has been voided, this is the best outcome."
Knowing that his mother had made up her mind, Li Xuming directly persuaded Fang Da to accept the money.
The rest of the Li family members in the hall showed no anger; they all seemed indifferent. It was originally the old lady's property, so they could give it to whomever they wanted.
They all started to offer their advice.
Fang Da looked around and saw that the rest of the Li family had no objection. Seeing the old lady's resolute expression, he finally accepted the prescription after repeatedly postponing it, but he still had objections to the division of the ingredients.
"The prescription given by the old lady should be 70% for the old lady and 30% for me."
Pan Jinhua was amused by Fang Da's honesty, or rather, his sincerity.
“I said we’d have four, so it’s only four. Your family’s scope has expanded, and your daughter isn’t young anymore. In the next few years, there will probably be weddings in the family. A family of four needs to eat and drink. You have to think about your children, don’t you? There’s no need to talk about it anymore. Eldest son, write a contract.”
Upon receiving Pan Jinhua's instructions, Li Xuming quickly retrieved the writing materials and soon wrote out the contract.
Fang Da kowtowed three times to Pan Jinhua before signing the contract and pressing his fingerprint on it with trembling hands.
With this matter resolved, Pan Jinhua felt relieved and went to sleep in a good mood.
Fang Da, his mind in turmoil, took the prescription and contract and returned to his room.
His wife, Wu, was nestled on the kang (a heated brick bed), making a handkerchief by the lamp oil while waiting for him.
"Does the old lady have something to instruct you on?"
Wu's men didn't stop, and he spoke without even raising his head.
Fang Da silently got onto the kang (heated brick bed).
"Hey, turn to the side a bit, don't block the light."
Fang Dayi turned to the side as instructed, hesitated several times before finally speaking in a muffled voice.
What are you embroidering?
“Embroider a few handkerchiefs for the sixth young master; he uses a lot of handkerchiefs.”
"What's wrong? Is the matter that the old lady arranged not going well?"
Wu noticed Fang Da's somewhat serious expression out of the corner of her eye, and she couldn't help but become serious as well.
Fang Da took out the prescription and contract from his pocket and handed them to Wu.
"The old lady gave our family a recipe, a recipe that can be passed down through generations."
Upon hearing this, Ms. Wu gasped, gripping the paper tightly in her hand before quickly loosening her grip, as if afraid of tearing it.
She couldn't read, so she quickly returned the prescription to Fang Da.
"Don't give it to me, I don't understand! The old lady just gave it to us like that? She gave it to us? The men don't have any objections?"
Fang Da was also feeling uneasy, but seeing Wu's appearance, he finally smiled broadly.
“It’s more real than real gold. The old lady is kind-hearted. She thought that our family’s Fang Xiang and Xiao Xiao were getting older and that we had no source of income, so she gave us the recipe. The men didn’t have any objections. If we do a good job in business in the future, who knows, we might become a wealthy merchant.”
Mrs. Wu was so overwhelmed by this sudden joy that she was afraid she was dreaming.
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