I used to think my older brother's cooking was pretty good, but after eating Aunt Zhang's dishes today, I realized what true culinary delight is.
Jiang Sheng praised without reservation, "It tastes even better than what I found at the restaurant."
"Auntie can open a restaurant now," Zheng Ruqian joked.
Everyone chatted and laughed as they ate, without any criticism, insults, or fault-finding.
So this is what home should feel like.
Zhang Xianglian fell in love with this place in just one day.
At night, Liu Cui would pull her aside and they would complain about their in-laws, unreliable relatives, and people's greed.
Jiang Sheng, who was sleeping in the middle, listened and eventually drifted off to sleep.
The next day, Zhang Qiquan pulled Zheng Ruqian aside to discuss the workshop.
First, they asked why Anyang County was chosen, how many people were planned to be hired, how large a venue to rent, whether there were suitable butcher shops for long-term cooperation, whether they only planned to make cured meat in the future, or whether they wanted to try a little bit of everything.
His questions, one after another, left Zheng Ruqian completely bewildered.
Well, he admitted that experience counts, and Zhang Qiquan, having spent over a decade outside, was indeed more thorough in his work.
In particular, the line, "If you really want to grow bigger and stronger, you should think about the future," really struck a chord with Zheng Ruqian.
With tears in his eyes, he said impatiently, "Uncle Zhang, I want to sign a 20-year contract with you."
Twenty years, the longest contract besides a lifetime.
Zhang Qiquan couldn't guarantee that he would live another twenty years.
But Zheng Ruqian's compensation was too generous; it was calculated as a percentage—one-tenth of the net profit of any workshop in Anshui County under his management would belong to him.
Zheng Ruqian would earn 100 taels, and if he had 10 taels, he would be entitled to the Zhang surname. This temptation made it impossible for Zhang Qiquan to refuse the contract.
Soon, three identical contracts were stamped with red handprints, just waiting for the new magistrate to arrive so they could be formally approved at the county government office and officially take effect.
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