The two chatted loudly, which quickly attracted a crowd of onlookers, who gradually became dissatisfied with the price of fifty coins per serving that Qin Qing's family was charging!
Qin Qing looked up at them, then coldly threw down the shovel.
"Me, a black-hearted person? Do you know why your food doesn't taste as good as mine? It's because I use a family recipe for the base, and all the ingredients are top-notch. The cost is there, so the price is naturally higher. Customers buy it because they like it, they're after this flavor!"
After saying that, she looked at another house! Confident and sarcastic!
"And what about you? All you know how to do is stir-fry, you can't even learn how. What you stir-fry is all oil, no seasonings or base ingredients at all. You dare to compare prices with me? Bah!"
Everyone suddenly felt a little guilty; what the old woman said didn't seem to make any mistakes. The other two stall owners were unhappy, and the older woman angrily threw down her pot, but didn't know how to refute it. Her face turned red, and she yelled at the man next to her!
"What are you still cooking for! Do you even have a customer? Your wife is being humiliated and you don't even react? How could I have fallen for a man like you!"
The other family didn't dare utter a sound. Qin Qing snorted coldly and was about to leave.
Not long after I left, a hurried shout came from behind me!
"Auntie, wait!"
Qin Qing turned her head and saw the city manager rushing over with a joyful expression, panting heavily.
"Madam... my young master invites you!"
Qin Qing's eyes lit up, a surge of joy flashed through her heart, but she remained expressionless as she looked at Zhang He beside her.
"Daughter-in-law, you take the car home first. I'll go back as soon as I'm done with my work."
Zhang He hesitated for a moment, feeling somewhat uneasy, but Qin Qing's gaze was very firm, so she had no choice but to turn around and leave.
More than ten minutes later, Qin Qing sat in the attic of an inn, looking around curiously. She had never seen such an elegant place in all the time she had been in ancient times!
The next second, a familiar figure walked in; it was none other than the eldest son of the Fang family.
"Haha! Auntie, it's been a few days, you're still as healthy and robust as ever!"
Hearing this, Qin Qing felt a pang of sadness, looking at his young and handsome face, which appeared to be in his early twenties!
Thinking that she was actually only twenty-seven, not much older than this person, yet being addressed as "old lady" by such a person, she couldn't help but feel a bit bitter.
Waaaaah... She's not married yet!
Fang Ran had just said something perfectly normal, but when he saw the old woman in front of him looking embarrassed and bitter, he was stunned for a moment, thinking that he had said something wrong!
"But what did I say wrong?"
Qin Qing snapped out of her daze, suppressed her thoughts, and quickly shook her head!
"Let's get down to business! I don't like beating around the bush, and I don't have a business sense. I know you want the recipe for the base sauce, but I don't want to sell it right now. I can only cooperate with you and deliver the base sauce to you regularly! I won't be selling stir-fried locusts anymore."
Seeing her so direct, Fang Ran was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter!
"Alright, alright! Since you're so agreeable, I'll be direct! If you can only provide the base ingredients periodically, I can accept that, but you have to guarantee that the amount you deliver each day is enough to make thirty servings!"
Qin Qing nodded.
"Sure, but I'll need ten taels of silver per day for thirty portions!"
Normally, she would stir-fry locusts and sell about thirty portions a day, earning fifteen taels of silver. She didn't have much capital, but catching locusts was a bit troublesome. By selling the base sauce to restaurants, she could practically make a profit for free!
Fortunately, she always buys hot pot base in small bags. She has three bags in her hand, and one bag is enough to make eight or nine people.
After the two parties reached an agreement, the city management officer immediately began to write the contract. Qin Qing read it for a long time and found that the general meaning was as they had discussed. Finally, she felt relieved and hesitated for a moment before signing. Before signing, she finally spoke.
"Young Master Fang, I have a request! Please grant it!"
Fang Ran smiled but did not agree immediately.
"Once the contract is signed, we're all friends. As long as it's not particularly difficult, I'll naturally be happy to negotiate."
Although Qin Qing wasn't very clever, he understood what he meant. He sighed inwardly, thinking, "As expected of the Fang family, which is so powerful and wealthy, the eldest young master seems gentle and easy to talk to, but he is actually so cautious!"
“Actually, it’s not difficult for the eldest young master. You’ve met my eldest grandson, Muyang, who is eight years old this year. I want him to study at the academy, but unfortunately, I don’t have a teacher’s recommendation, and it’s not enrollment season. He’s unfamiliar with the place, so I can only trouble you, Young Master Fang!”
Fang Ran raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.
"That's all?"
Qin Qing nodded. Indeed, it was extremely difficult for ordinary people like them, but it was certainly not a problem for the local tycoons.
In the end, Fang Ran readily agreed and signed a one-year contract!
As night fell, Qin Qing declined Fang Ran's offer to see her off in his carriage and finally returned home...
From afar, she saw the three little ones standing at the door like statues waiting for their husbands. Xiao Muyue's face was full of worry, but the moment she caught sight of Qin Qing, she became bright-eyed, her eyes shining with joy.
Qin Qing smiled, feeling a warm glow in her heart!
The little guy ran very fast with his short legs, his face beaming with smiles, shouting excitedly all the while.
"Grandma! Grandma's back!"
Mu Xing was more well-behaved, running after Mu Yue with her big eyes full of joy. Mu Yang stood still, the young boy in white with an outstanding temperament, but he breathed a slight sigh of relief, clearly also very worried about her.
Qin Qing was momentarily moved and wanted to pick up one granddaughter in each arm, but she underestimated her own strength. In addition, the original owner of this body had been lazy for many years and had a mediocre physique. She almost couldn't stand up and finally awkwardly let Mu Xing go...
"Ahem... Xingxing has grown up, so Grandma won't hold him anymore."
Mu Xing instantly noticed Qin Qing's embarrassment and burst into laughter. Little Mu Yue looked at her sister in confusion, then at her grandmother, and her childish voice rang out.
"I know! It's because my older sister is too heavy, Grandma can't carry her!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Mu Xing's face darkened. The little girl already knew how to care about her appearance, and she was naturally unhappy when her younger sister told her that she was fat. Her fiery personality was on full display!
Xiao Muyue looked bewildered... but she directly relieved Qin Qing's embarrassment, making her almost burst out laughing.
She realized that among the three children, Mu Yue was the one who would say the most surprising things; her intuition was incredibly sharp!
Three days later, the teacher's recommendation letter arrived, and the whole family was overjoyed.
Mu Yang was overjoyed. He knew very well that among the four classes of people—scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—there was no other way for an ordinary person to achieve official rank except through the imperial examinations! He also wanted to bring honor to his grandmother and mother. This was a rare opportunity, and he would definitely study hard.
Zhang He was also moved to tears. Xiao Muxing even pulled Muyang aside, asking him to find her a good husband in the future, which Qin Qing laughed at for being shameless. Xiao Muxing just stood there giggling, completely unaware of what was happening...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com