Madam Hua shook her head and sighed.
"Sigh, I was so focused on my cravings that I didn't think things through..."
Li Huan said, "My wife wants to eat delicious boxed lunches every day, and I want to marry a beautiful woman from the Hua family. My wife is unwilling to spend a lot of money, and I am unwilling to do a losing business! Therefore, we must find a way to satisfy both of us!"
Madam Hua said, "It's difficult to balance both. Although my husband is the Grand Tutor, his monthly salary is still less than ten thousand taels of silver!"
Li Huan deliberately asked, "The Grand Tutor's monthly salary is not ten thousand, but he holds a high position, so his other income should be more than ten thousand taels of silver, right?"
Madam Hua said, "You are wrong. My husband is an upright man who never uses his position to line his own pocket. He is not like Prince Ning, who is greedy and extravagant!"
Li Huan joked, "So, I should become the head chef at Prince Ning's mansion."
Madam Hua smiled gently. She said, "The Prince Ning's mansion certainly has the money, but they don't have the four beauties of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter!"
Li Huan said, "Yes, yes, I became a cook for a high-ranking official in the court for the sake of a beautiful woman, not just for money."
Suddenly, Qiu Xiang said, "Madam, I have an idea that can satisfy both needs! It will allow you, the master, and the two young masters to enjoy delicious boxed meals every day, while also ensuring that the Hua family can cover the monthly salary of 15,000 taels of silver and the cost of ingredients!"
Li Huan's heart stirred slightly; he had already guessed Qiu Xiang's thoughts.
Mrs. Hua said happily, "What's the idea? Tell me quickly!"
Qiu Xiang said, "After hiring Li Huan, the Hua family can expand the kitchen space and cook more boxed meals every day. In addition to the meals for our own consumption, we can sell them on the street to earn money."
Madam Hua's eyes suddenly lit up: "Qiu Xiang's idea is brilliant! Not only can she get a boxed lunch herself, but she can also earn money, thus solving Li Huan's salary and food costs!"
Dongxiang said, "Isn't this just like setting up a street stall to sell boxed lunches?"
Qiu Xiang smiled and said, "Exactly! With Li Huan's culinary skills and the Hua family's reputation, he will definitely attract a large number of diners."
Tang Bohu interjected, "Instead of setting up a stall, why not open a restaurant! If the Grand Tutor's mansion were to set up a stall on the street now, wouldn't that damage Grand Tutor Hua's reputation?"
Qiu Xiang retorted, "Opening a restaurant requires more financial and human resources; it's much simpler to set up a stall!"
"Besides, our master has always been honest and upright, and is also a high-ranking official in the court. How could he possibly run a restaurant?"
Tang Bohu said, "If Grand Tutor Hua can't run a restaurant, does that mean he can set up a stall and sell boxed lunches?"
Qiu Xiang said, "Selling boxed meals at a stall is more flexible and convenient. We can withdraw or resume at any time. Moreover, while we are selling boxed meals at the stall, we can also prepare some steamed buns and rice porridge to give to beggars and poor people."
"In this way, selling boxed lunches at a stall has become known as 'earning money for charity,' which not only doesn't damage our master's reputation but also adds to his prestige!"
Mrs. Hua nodded approvingly again.
Li Huan said, "Qiu Xiang, you are very smart, but your thinking is too one-sided!"
Qiu Xiang said, "How is that one-sided?"
Li Huan said, "As far as I know, Prince Ning has always been at odds with Grand Tutor Hua and is always looking for an opportunity to vent his anger and make things difficult for Grand Tutor Hua. If the Hua family sets up a stall selling boxed lunches on the street and Prince Ning finds out, he will definitely send people to cause trouble or publicly humiliate Grand Tutor Hua in court!"
"Therefore, the method of setting up a stall to sell boxed lunches under the guise of 'earning money through charity' is completely unacceptable and will only bring unnecessary trouble!"
After hearing this, Madam Hua's expression turned serious.
"Li Huan is absolutely right. That Prince Ning is determined to harm you, sir. We must not give him a chance to cause trouble and lash out!"
Tang Bohu said, "In my opinion, it would be better to have the servants of the Hua family disguise themselves as peddlers and set up stalls on the street to sell boxed lunches. This way, they can earn money and also keep their identities hidden!"
Madam Hua nodded and said, "Hua An's idea is good! It's more prudent!"
Tang Bohu said, "For safety's sake, every time I set up my stall, I go out through the back door and return through the back door after selling all the boxed lunches, avoiding onlookers and gossip."
Madam Hua smiled and said, "Hua An is meticulous and thoughtful; he truly deserves to be Li Huan's assistant!"
Li Huan said, "I used to make twenty boxed meals a day and earn a monthly salary of five thousand taels of silver. If I set up a stall in Huafu to sell boxed meals and earn silver, I would have to make at least two hundred boxed meals a day. It's too hard!"
The implication was that a monthly salary of five thousand taels of silver was too little.
Madam Hua understood Li Huan's meaning and smiled, "Once the boxed lunch business makes money, I'll double your monthly salary!"
Li Huan readily agreed.
Immediately afterwards, Madam Hua summoned the martial arts champion.
This martial arts champion is the "security captain" of Washington, D.C., and also Sister Pomegranate's boyfriend.
Madam Hua instructed, "Martial Arts Champion, go and arrange accommodations for Li Huan and Hua An. Their treatment must be excellent; they are not ordinary cooks, but our cash cows!"
Li Huan laughed and said, "Madam Hua, you flatter me. You are the real God of Wealth."
Immediately afterwards, Li Huan and Hua An followed the martial arts champion to the servants' quarters.
The martial arts champion said, "According to the rules of the Hua family, all servants have a lifetime number! I originally assigned you the number '9527', but assigned Hua the number '9528'!"
"But Madam just instructed that you two should not be treated as ordinary servants, so let's forget about your numbers!"
Li Huan feigned politeness by clasping his hands in thanks: "Thank you, Martial Arts Champion!"
The martial arts champion said, "However, there are too many servants in the Hua family now, which makes housing quite tight. It would be inappropriate to arrange for you two to live in a dilapidated room with more than a dozen servants..."
"You should know that a dozen or so servants live together, with stinky feet, snoring in their sleep, and some even farting. The environment is absolutely terrible!"
Li Huan understood the martial arts champion's intentions, and too lazy to waste words with him, he directly took out a silver ingot from his pouch.
"Martial Arts Champion, you're new here, please take care of me. Here's some silver, use it for drinks!"
The martial arts champion's eyes lit up instantly, and he quickly took the silver and stuffed it into his sleeve.
"You're quite perceptive, kid! You're very clever! Just for that reason alone, I'll have to find a way to arrange a separate room for the two of you!"
Li Huan knew that the martial arts champion was a clown, greedy for money, food, and women.
"Thank you, Martial Arts Champion! Come see me every day from now on and get an extra boxed lunch!"
The martial arts champion chuckled, put his arm around Li Huan's shoulder, and led him and Tang Bohu to the door of a room.
Pushing open the door, I found it was indeed a separate room with a table, two beds, and two cabinets.
The martial arts champion said, "You two stay here for now. If you need anything, just let me know!"
After saying this, the martial arts champion left.
Tang Bohu surveyed the room, sat on the edge of the bed, and laughed, "Money can make the devil turn the millstone!"
Li Huan said, "You did a great job just now, opposing Qiu Xiang's idea in front of everyone!"
Tang Bohu laughed and said, "I will remember your words: play hard to get and keep my distance from Qiu Xiang!"
The words had barely left his mouth when there was a knock on the door…
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