Tan Xiangxiang turned her head upon hearing the sound, paused for a moment, then smiled knowingly.
"It seems that, just as the rumors in town say, the person in charge of this Paradise Dessert Shop is a little girl."
After speaking, Tan Xiangxiang walked over gracefully with light, lotus-like steps.
"I have something I'd like to say to you privately."
Anle put away the account book in her hand and then sat up straight.
"There are no outsiders here, so let's talk here."
Qiao Qiuniang, who was in the other half of the hall, glanced curiously in this direction. Liu Xiaoqiao tugged at Qiao Qiuniang's clothes and whispered something in her ear.
"Qiu Niang, this woman doesn't look like she comes from an ordinary family."
Judging from the gauze dress she's wearing, she must come from a wealthy and powerful family.
What could possibly be the business of these wealthy and powerful people looking for Lewazi?
"Never mind what it is, let's hurry up and prepare desserts for the guests." Qiao Qiuniang paused for a moment, then went to prepare the desserts.
Sitting on the sofa opposite Anle, Tan Xiangxiang spoke softly and slowly.
"I'm here to discuss a business deal with your Paradise Dessert Shop."
"Business?" Upon hearing the word "business," An Le raised an eyebrow and became more alert.
Tan Xiangxiang didn't beat around the bush and got straight to the point, stating her purpose directly.
"Yes, it's business!"
Little girl, how about you sell me the dessert recipes from this Paradise Dessert Shop?
The price is negotiable.
Anle lost interest immediately after hearing this, and the smile on her lips faded.
She thought it was some kind of business opportunity, but it turns out they just wanted the recipes for making pastries at her Paradise Dessert Shop!
Do you think I would do something so self-destructive for a little bit of money?
This recipe is one of a kind.
"Once it's given to you, it loses its value."
“Little girl, you haven’t even heard my sincere offer yet, and you’re already rejecting it so decisively. That’s not a wise move.”
Anle looked at Tan Xiangxiang with a gaze that was both dismissive and indifferent, a smile that was neither quite a smile nor a frown.
"Oh? A price quote? So, what do you think my Paradise Dessert Shop's pastry recipes are worth?"
"How about two hundred taels of silver for one prescription?"
Anle sneered, lightly tapping her temple with her index finger, a cold sarcasm on her brow. "Distinguished guest, do you think it's me who's not thinking straight, or you?"
“You—” Tan Xiangxiang was angered by An Le’s dismissive attitude.
"If you think two hundred taels of silver is enough to get rid of me, then it seems that your head is really not suitable for doing business."
If I agree to that, then I'd be out of my mind.
Anle tossed the ledger onto the coffee table and shrugged with a smile.
"Well then, since you've placed so many orders at my shop, let me do the math for you."
Today I will patiently teach you the business principles of buying and selling valuable customers.
Tan Xiangxiang scrutinized An Le with suspicion.
Anle let them look her over and talked freely and openly.
"For example, take the cakes in my shop. The cheapest one costs two taels of silver. If I sell 100 cakes, I can earn 200 taels of silver."
Even considering the recent slump in business, I would need to sell at least two of these cakes in my shop. These 100 cakes, worth 200 taels of silver each, would only take 50 days to earn in my Paradise Dessert Shop, less than two months.
Do you think I need to sell you my recipe to earn those two hundred taels of silver?
Tan Xiangxiang was stunned when she heard An Le's calculations.
Anle glanced at Tan Xiangxiang with a mocking look, "So, esteemed guest, are you stupid?"
Even if you put this in other shops, no shop owner would agree to it, unless they're an idiot.
Tan Xiangxiang was speechless after being scolded by An Le.
"Then... five hundred taels of silver!"
Anle smiled and said, "Even if you offered me 1,000 taels of silver, I wouldn't sell it."
My recipe is worth far more than a little money; it's priceless.
Selling it would be like shooting myself in the foot, and I, Anle, would never do something like that.
I'm not so short-sighted as to be blinded by a little bit of money in front of me.
As long as she retains this unique asset, Her Paradise Dessert Shop will be the exclusive operator of this world!
Tan Xiangxiang stared at the unwavering determination in An Le's eyes and knew that she had been turned away and there was no room for further discussion.
Just as the little girl said, if it were her, she wouldn't have handed over the prescription so easily either.
As long as you hold the recipe, you can keep making money.
Moreover, she would absolutely not compromise if asked to spend 1,000 taels of silver to buy a recipe.
The money she held in her hand was the guarantee for her and her daughter's future livelihood.
If the Luo family doesn't take them in, then the two of them will be left to wander the streets, and she will need this money to make ends meet.
Otherwise, what can those two orphans and widows do, who can't lift a finger or carry a load?
She had no desire to end up as a prostitute in a brothel again.
He didn't want his daughter to follow in his footsteps.
...
Watching the mother and daughter leave, their faces beaming with satisfaction, Anle leaned back on the sofa, tilting her head and gazing blankly out the window at their receding figures.
The woman's figure looked somewhat unfamiliar, but she recognized the little girl she was with.
And it happens today.
She was the one from whom Third Brother borrowed flowers to present to Buddha.
Although the little girl was also wearing a veil, she recognized her by her figure and eyes.
If it were an ordinary person, she definitely wouldn't have any recollection of it.
But this little girl is exceptionally lively and charming; she's the kind of girl who can amaze you at first glance.
She has always been powerless against beautiful things, and in her previous life, she was a treasure hunter in her spare time, so she naturally had a very deep impression of this little girl.
Anning, gossiping, munched on a pig's trotter she'd bought from the restaurant next door, muttering to herself.
"Little sister, don't you think this woman seems afraid of people seeing her face?"
Even when eating, she cleverly chose a seat at the table where her back was to us, as if she was afraid we would see her.
"Yes, that's how it is. The business deal that this woman came to talk to me about today seems to be something that can't be done in public."
However, when we open our doors to do business, we inevitably encounter all sorts of people.
Their private matters are none of our business. Let's pack up and close up shop. Looking at this gloomy sky, it looks like it's going to rain.
Summer rains come quickly and suddenly. Anle had just gone back inside and lay down when large raindrops began to fall, pounding against the windowpane, and in the blink of an eye, it turned into a torrential downpour.
A sudden burst of blue-purple lightning tore through the sky, followed by a deafening roar of thunder, almost right next to my ear—
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