Upon hearing Lu Zhaoan's words, Gu Yaoniang felt that the more she thought about it, the more reasonable it made, and she couldn't help but bow to Lu Zhaoan.
"Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Lu!"
Lu Zhaoan had by now regained his usual composure.
He had some admiration for the woman before him.
She was not afraid when facing Qin Yuxiu that day, and she was able to hurt Qin Yuxiu to protect herself; although she was rejected in the engagement, she did not feel sorry for herself, but instead learned to do business herself, doing it herself and not relying on others.
Although he is not yet shrewd enough and is sometimes too formal, he is open-minded, honest, and intelligent with a sense of propriety.
He also enjoys dealing with people like that.
Over the years, he has been involved in the business world and has encountered countless cunning and treacherous people.
Perhaps because he had seen so much, he preferred to do business with people who were sincere and honest.
Lu Zhaoan asked, "Is it possible for Madam Gu to discuss business with me properly now?"
Gu Yaoniang nodded quickly and said, "Of course, of course."
She called out to Bitao, who understood and took out a stack of prepared papers from a brocade box, respectfully presenting them to Lu Zhaoan.
Lu Zhaoan took it and saw that the paper contained a drawing of bowl and plate patterns; a single piece of paper was a drawing.
There are small porcelain dishes decorated with plum blossom patterns, plates with high stems and openwork waists, long plates, crescent-shaped plates, and plates whose bases, though plates, have tall pillars on one side shaped like fish tails...
There were more than a dozen different kinds, almost all of them porcelain plates with various patterns.
Each sheet of paper is carefully marked with its size and pattern, and any special requirements are noted in the blank space next to it.
As he looked through the pages, Yao Niang explained everything to Lu Zhao'an, detailing her requirements and quantities.
Lu Zhaoan was increasingly surprised as he looked at the design, and couldn't help but exclaim, "Madam Gu, you have such ingenuity! How can you come up with so many unique ideas!"
Gu Yaoniang couldn't help but feel a little smug: "Boss Lu is a man, so he probably doesn't care. I'm a woman, and besides whether the food tastes good or not, I also care a lot about how it looks."
These plates were designed based on the characteristics of our Jin Yu Lou dishes; each dish has its own designated plate.
Lu Zhaoan showed no extra expression on his face, but inwardly he was full of admiration.
Actually, restaurants usually pay attention to making the meal more visually appealing.
It's just that the plating is more exquisite, there are more garnishes, and it's arranged more neatly after being served.
I've never seen anyone put so much effort into the dishes before.
He curled the corners of his lips and spoke in an even more friendly tone, saying, "I have more than ten craftsmen in my household, all of whom are skilled. The bowls and plates that Madam Gu wants are not difficult to make, and I think they can all do it well."
Lu Zhaoan changed the subject and continued, "However, Madam Gu wants quite a lot. They have never fired so many porcelain pieces at the same time before. I need to discuss it with the masters before making a decision."
When Gu Yaoniang heard him say that it was "not difficult", she felt much relieved.
Hearing him say that, she agreed, "Of course!"
She originally wanted to ask about the details of the production period and payment for this batch of porcelain, but she felt that she was now indebted to Lu Zhao'an.
Lu Zhaoan had been a great help, but he still needed to discuss things with his masters, so asking the question now seemed a bit hasty.
But she prefers to plan everything in advance, big or small, and dislikes the feeling of things being left unresolved, which makes her somewhat troubled.
Seeing that she seemed hesitant to speak, Lu Zhaoan asked, "If Madam Gu has any concerns, she can speak frankly. In business, it's always better to be clear about things!"
Seeing that he was also straightforward, Gu Yaoniang said, "Then I will be frank! I trust Boss Lu and appreciate your kindness, but I still want to make an agreement with you in advance regarding our construction period and payment."
Lu Zhaoan was initially surprised, but then chuckled, "What are you saying, Madam Gu! Of course! Of course we need to discuss the money and the construction period! Were you just worried about this?"
Gu Yaoniang was a little embarrassed, smiled, and didn't say anything.
Lu Zhaoan said, "Madam Gu, there's no need for formalities. Business is business. Once we've clarified our business matters, we can continue to do business together in the future."
He pondered for a moment before saying, "I do need to discuss this with the craftsmen. They haven't made the kind of goods you want before, and I really can't set a timeframe for the project right now."
He rummaged through the papers, laying them out one by one on the table, pointing and saying:
"Look, you want the fish tail to be delicate, and the patterns on the small plate to be drawn in detail. Since I've accepted this business, I'll do my best to make it perfect for you."
Lu Zhaoan looked at Gu Yaoniang inquiringly and said, "How about I ask the master first and confirm the construction period, then you can come to me, Madam Gu, and I'll bring the contract with me to finalize this matter with you? What do you think?"
Gu Yaoniang felt reassured and nodded in agreement.
In recent days, she has gradually become able to stand on her own and remain calm and composed when doing business with others.
However, facing Lu Zhaoan, who had helped her before, it was still somewhat embarrassing for her to openly discuss the benefits, and she found it difficult to speak up.
Lu Zhaoan found it somewhat amusing: "Madam Gu, if you don't make any demands and just listen to me, I'll feel embarrassed to accept your high price."
Gu Yaoniang sensed the sarcasm in the words and knew that Lu Zhaoan, who was usually calm and composed, was probably feeling awkward and was trying to ease the tension.
He then smiled and said, "Mr. Lu is too embarrassed to accept my money, isn't that exactly what I wanted?"
Lu Zhaoan was surprised that she could joke with him, and his eyes crinkled at the corners.
But then Gu Yaoniang said, "There's one more thing. I wonder if Boss Lu could make a sample of each bowl and plate so I can take a look? If there's nothing that needs to be changed, then we can make the rest."
Lu Zhaoan agreed: "Of course, of course. Don't worry, Madam Gu. I will bring the sample with me when we sign the contract."
Gu Yaoniang was extremely pleased to see that he was so agreeable.
The two agreed on a time for their next meeting to sign the contract, and Lu Zhaoan then saw Yao Niang off to her carriage.
Watching Zhao Cai sail away, Lu Zhao'an's servant Afu muttered, "Young master, really. Master Zhang's aquatic porcelain, even if others obtain it and display it on the antique shelf, they have to treat it with utmost care. But you insist on sending it to the Gu family to hold food."
Lu Zhaoan glanced at him sideways: "Too talkative."
Afu wasn't afraid. He whispered, "Just you wait and see. If Master Zhang knew this was made for Jin Yulou, he'd probably tear down the porcelain kiln."
Lu Zhaoan remained silent, clearly not taking it to heart.
After a long silence, he said calmly, "You don't understand."
Afu wanted to say something, but seeing that Lu Zhaoan had his usual unfriendly expression, he shut up.
But inwardly he couldn't help but think: Madam Gu is really something! Young Master has become much more talkative today.
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