Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Negotiation...
Lin Qiuran thought, if they wanted to have a serious conversation, they should go to a restaurant or teahouse, where they could eat quietly and talk. Was Xu Yuanheng trying to use this opportunity to discuss business matters while she was cooking?
Lin Qiuran felt uncomfortable. If Xu Yuanheng were discussing business with someone else, he definitely wouldn't do this. But then she thought, with no money, what was the point of being respectable? It wasn't like she wasn't being paid for the food, and besides, it was her own cooking, so it would be a waste if she didn't eat it. She nodded, and Manager Xu took her there.
Lin Qiuran had come to the Xu family to cook several times, but this was the first time he went outside the kitchen. In the past, even if Xu Yuanheng was happy with the meal, the reward money was brought by Manager Xu.
The further inland they went, the better the scenery became. Even in autumn, there were still some beautiful flowers and trees. Maids and attendants passed by the two of them from time to time, all with their heads lowered. Someone carrying a box or tray would greet Steward Xu and ask, "Steward, can this be delivered to the Second Young Master's courtyard right now?"
Manager Xu said, "Go ahead."
Xu Yuanheng was the second son of the Xu family, also born out of wedlock. However, he was capable and highly regarded by the Xu master, and the servants treated him with great respect. The servants in the mansion were already divided into two factions. Steward Xu had spared no effort over the past few years, finally becoming Xu Yuanheng's favorite.
Even though Xu Yuanheng didn't come back often, he always thought of her. When he did, he was given the best food, clothing, and daily necessities. The courtyard was beautiful and spotlessly maintained, and the house was decorated with pearl curtains and jade curtains, and surrounded by beautiful maids.
The food was already served, and there was tea and snacks on the table. Xu Yuanheng sat and waited, his posture casual but elegant. Although the chair had a backrest, he didn't lean back lazily. His left hand rested on the armrest, his right hand holding a bracelet. The white jade ring on his finger was shiny and glossy, and he exuded a sense of nobility.
There was always a smile in his eyes, and he looked approachable and easy to get along with, but Lin Qiuran felt that there was no smile in his eyes, but hidden calculations.
Seeing Lin Qiuran coming, Xu Yuanheng raised his left hand and said, "Madam Lin, please sit down."
Lin Qiuran sat across from Xu Yuanheng, who poured her a cup of tea. "Would you like some tea?"
Lin Qiuran knew that she was being asked if she could drink tea while pregnant, so she nodded. In the past, people always said that food was incompatible with each other, but after being a cook for a long time, she realized that except for foods with strong medicinal properties, a little bit of most other foods would be fine.
Xu Yuanheng pushed the tea over and said, "I just remembered that I have something to say to Madam Lin, and I don't want to waste this table of delicious food, so I'm using the banquet to discuss it. I hope Madam Lin won't take it to heart."
Lin Qiuran said: "It's okay, making money is natural. Second Young Master, you have something to do. Then I am just the Lin lady who does business with you, not the Lin lady who works as a cook."
Xu Yuanheng smiled and said, "Okay, let's talk while we eat."
Xu Yuanheng was hungry, so he started with the braised pork. He wasn't exaggerating. After being away for over a month, he really did want to eat Lin Qiuran's cooking. He especially wanted the braised pork. He'd only had it once, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, which didn't even count. He had just one piece, and it had stayed with him ever since.
However, it was not him who ordered this dish. There was braised pork on the table two days ago, but it was not as delicious as Lin Qiuran's. Xu Yuanheng always picked up this with his first chopsticks, but would not touch it after taking a bite. This was a small thing, but Manager Xu remembered it in his heart.
If you want to pay attention, you will be considerate and take everything into consideration.
The braised pork was cooked to a brilliant red, the broth drizzled over it looking like a mirror. Sixteen pieces per plate, with a delicate radish flower on the side.
In the past, Xu Yuanheng would complain about dishes not being presented delicately enough, but today he felt that the braised pork was not presented in this way enough.
He took a bite and couldn't help but say, "Mrs. Lin's cooking skills are really getting better and better. Today's cooking is even more delicious than last time."
Lin Qiuran was very happy to hear others praise her cooking skills. She felt that her cooking today at the Xu family was an exceptional performance, and it was definitely better than the braised pork sold outside. She smiled and said, "Thank you for the compliment, Second Young Master. As a cook, my daily goal is to make delicious dishes."
Xu Yuanheng nodded in agreement and took the second piece. "It's just like running a business. Every day, I just want to make more money and make my customers happy. It's the same thing."
Lin Qiuran smiled but didn't respond. She tried the pickled fish again. This one was even better. The broth was rich and flavorful, and the pickled cabbage was even more intense. The golden color made her hungry just by looking at it. Since they were already talking about business, it was time for Xu Yuanheng to get down to business.
Xu Yuanheng glanced at Lin Qiuran and said, "Mrs. Lin, you've been to the street these past two days and found that Wuxiangju has a new dessert called Osmanthus Fermented Rice and Mung Bean Cake."
Lin Qiuran's expression remained unchanged. She naturally knew about the mung bean cakes. A few days ago, Sun and Xiao Dashi mentioned that Chen Yu had stopped coming, and that the Xiao family's shop had moved forward. She knew that Chen Yu had gone to the Jiang family's shop, but she had never asked which one it was.
But that’s all I knew, I didn’t expect that the Jiang family’s shop was Wuxiangju.
There are several good dim sum shops in the county town, but the prices are expensive and people rarely buy there.
Lin Qiuran said, "In business, you should innovate. Otherwise, if it's always the same, customers will get tired of it."
Xu Yuanheng watched her pretending to be ignorant while knowing the truth. He said, "It's not just snacks. There's also a story that goes along with the snacks. Madam Lin, would you like to hear it?"
Lin Qiuran didn't say anything. Xu Yuanheng took another bite of his food. His eyes dimmed a little, but he was still smiling. "Wuxiangju sells mung bean cakes. They tell customers that before the old lady of the Jiang family passed away, she dreamed of ascending to the Queen Mother's Jade Pool and tasting these cakes with the immortals. She had to rely on the immortals to teach her the recipe. After waking up, she told her descendants the recipe. They made it, and the old lady tasted one and said it tasted exactly the same. Then she ascended to heaven."
Xu Yuanheng smiled, his tone growing colder as he spoke. "The Jiang family couldn't bear to see such delicious dim sum go unrewarded, so they gave the recipe to the chef at Wuxiangju so everyone could enjoy the dim sum brought back from heaven. This fulfilled the Jiang family's filial piety and also brought good reputation to Wuxiangju, killing two birds with one stone."
Lin Qiuran blinked, "Is there anyone who believes this kind of thing?"
Xu Yuanheng said, "If no one believes me, what's the point of me telling you this?"
Did he care about the Jiang family and show filial piety? Furthermore, when he first asked a dim sum chef to make it, no one could make it. Now that Wuxiangju has it, people naturally want to try it.
Lin Qiuran ate some dry pot shrimp. Vegetables were rare these days, and she ate a lot. She asked, "How much is that snack?"
With such a gimmick, it’s impossible to sell it cheaply.
Xu Yuanheng ate while saying, "It's really not cheap, one tael of silver per catty. In the past, the mung bean cakes at Wuxiangju were half a tael of silver per catty, and other shops and vendors sold them for even less. But many people still want to try what this Yuhuadengxian cake tastes like."
Lin Qiuran couldn't help but smile. He was talking about the Yuhuadengxian Cake. He really thought that eating it could make him ascend to heaven.
Xu Yuanheng looked at Lin Qiuran, "I originally thought it was just an excuse and that the taste was just average. But after trying it, I found it to be delicious. Word spread quickly, and business got better and better. Within two or three days, several Wuxiangju restaurants in county towns and prefectures started selling this snack, and the other snacks started selling well too."
Lin Qiuran hadn't expected the ad to be mentioned so early. Even with the story, if she hadn't tried it, she'd be curious about what it tasted like. But since she'd tasted it when it was made, it didn't matter.
If she were doing business, she would definitely not think of this. No wonder Shen Yu was willing to work for the Jiang family. It was estimated that if the sales were good, she would get more than the monthly salary.
This was just the county town; if there were dim sum shops elsewhere, who knows how much money they would make. A wise bird chooses the right tree to inhabit. If I were starting from scratch, I certainly wouldn't be able to do as well as the Jiang family.
Yu'an is located in the south. People here are good at making snacks, such as bean cakes and rice cakes, and there are many snack shops.
She had originally thought that a simple pastry wasn't worth hiring another person, but she hadn't expected someone to use the old lady's death as an excuse to make a fuss. How could she put it? Such filial piety indeed.
Did Xu Yuanheng tell her this because it would affect the business of the Xu family's dim sum shop? Lin Qiuran was a little curious about what kind of business Xu Yuanheng was doing.
Spices, snacks, groceries... The Xu family's shop should have quite a few. This is what Lin Qiuran saw, but there should be far more. Spices are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to supplying foreign countries.
Lin Qiuran said, "Second Young Master, why are you telling me this?"
Xu Yuanheng smiled and said, "When your parents were taken away, I thought that even if the Jiang family acted ostentatiously, they wouldn't do anything to them and would release them soon. I'm sorry for what happened that day. Today, I'll offer Madam Lin a glass of tea instead of wine as an apology."
Xu Yuanheng's attitude seemed very sincere and flexible. He did not shy away from talking about the Jiang family's affairs first, hinting that he had something to ask for before apologizing. He also did not shy away from the fact that he asked Lin Qiuran to prepare this table of dishes, and he apologized with tea instead of wine through this table of dishes. He looked sincere, but there was no sincerity at all.
Lin Qiuran understood that Xu Yuanheng didn't think much of her. An apology, just a few words, would do. He would do everything he could to achieve his goal with the Jiang family, and the same was true with her.
In the future, if Lin Qiuran does something that does not meet his expectations, he will be merciless. He is apologizing now only because he thinks that this snack is related to Lin Qiuran, so he is making amends. Otherwise, Xu Yuanheng would not care about their life or death.
Lin Qiuran said, "What happened that day...is not the Second Young Master's fault, and it has nothing to do with him. There's no need to apologize."
It’s really not surprising. Lin Qiuran knows his duty and his responsibilities.
"Manager Xu said the Second Young Master wanted to discuss business, so he asked me to come here not just to tell stories. I'm not a very smart person, so the Second Young Master, if you have something to say, just say it directly."
Xu Yuanheng said, "That day, your parents were taken away along with a woman who sold bean cakes. After that, she went to work at the Jiang family's Wuxiangju. It was after that that Wuxiangju started selling bean cakes."
Lin Qiuran and the others came back at night, and Yang also passed away at night.
Xu Yuanheng originally wanted to stir up trouble, saying that the bean cake was made by the two of them together, but now that Chen Yu had gone to Wuxiangju, the recipe would have nothing to do with Lin Qiuran in the future, and Lin Qiuran must be feeling aggrieved.
But Lin Qiuran spoke frankly. He said, "Now Wuxiangju is doing well, while Xu's Wufangzhai is suffering. I wonder if Madam Lin has any ideas."
If he asked who came up with this idea, Lin Qiuran would definitely not admit it. It would be better for him to ask directly if there was any other way.
The manager of Wufangzhai was frowning. Wuxiangju had really fought a great battle.
Lin Qiuran said, "Since we know what to sell, it shouldn't be difficult for pastry chefs from other shops to learn."
Although Lin Qiuran also thought about selling the dim sum recipe, he later thought that if Chen Yu could learn it easily, others could do it too. This was a mixture of the two, and it would not be easy for Xu Yuanheng to do it.
Xu Yuanheng said, "It's easy to learn, but if you sell it, you'll always be outshined."
Indeed, the recipe wasn't difficult, but the Jiang family's first move gave them a head start. Furthermore, Wuxiangju had created a fantastical, yet still filial, story for its mung bean cake. Even if other dim sum shops sold it, everyone would know it wasn't Wuxiangju's mung bean cake. Regardless of whether it tasted better or was cheaper, business would be significantly lower.
If you really do it, people will think you are stealing. If Wufangzhai’s business was better than Wuxiangju’s in the past, you should not learn from it.
You can learn the snacks, but you can’t learn the stories.
Lin Qiuran had thought that if the Xu family really had a dim sum shop, they might come looking, but she hadn't expected it to happen so soon. She also hadn't expected Xu Yuanheng, who was always away from home, to care about the dim sum shop's business. Could it be that Xu Yuancheng had previously managed it and was taking the opportunity to take it over?
When brothers fight, no matter how big or small the piece of meat is, they have to get it into their mouths.
Lin Qiuran ate another piece of braised pork. There were only a few pieces left on the plate. She said, "I don't know about that, Second Young Master. I'm just a commoner. The Jiang family is so powerful, I dare not offend them easily."
Lin Qiuran didn't want to worry too much about it. It wasn't her own business. No matter how much money he paid her for her help, what good would it be for her?
Xu Yuanheng was stunned for a moment. He said, "I was indeed careless about what happened that day. I will offer Madam Lin a little wine as an apology."
This time, Xu Yuanheng poured a glass and stood up.
Lin Qiuran smiled and said, "Second Young Master, please sit down. Didn't I just say that it was none of your business that day? It's the Jiang family that's being unreasonable. If you have something to say, just say it. Why force someone to hit someone?"
Xu Yuanheng felt that Lin Qiuran was quite petty. If it was really unnecessary, she wouldn't have mentioned the Jiang family. "Next time you have something to do, go to Manager Xu. Even if I'm not here, Manager Xu will help."
Lin Qiuran said, "Thank you very much, Second Young Master. I don't really understand business matters, but I do understand a little bit about cooking. If you want to keep customers, you have to innovate. If the food is delicious and novel, customers will naturally be willing to come."
Xu Yuanheng understood business matters, but he didn't know that only the Jiang family could tell stories.
Xu Yuanheng asked, "Madam Lin, do you have any ideas for innovation?"
Lin Qiuran had eaten osmanthus bean cakes, rose bean cakes, and fairy bean cakes with various fillings before. She could make any of them, but she didn't say anything specific. "I don't have any right now, but I can think about it."
Xu Yuanheng knew that it was impossible to settle the matter in one meal. He could only think of a solution slowly and there was no need to rush. "If Madam Lin can come up with a solution, I will reward you handsomely."
Lin Qiuran nodded. "Everyone has their own specializations and they all have their own skills. I can cook, so don't get your hopes up, Second Young Master."
Xu Yuanheng nodded. He had to pay for the gift twice during this meal. If it were in the past, he would definitely find a chance to return the favor. However, Lin Qiuran was a woman and pregnant, and now he needed her help. It would seem too stingy of him to return the favor. Besides, he thought Lin Qiuran was a bit interesting.
Xu Yuanheng was eating while thinking, Lin Qiuran is a good cook and smart, I wonder what method he will come up with.
She still hasn't admitted that she made the fermented bean cake, and she is cautious. Even though he apologized, she didn't look proud, as if she didn't mean it.
But it was clearly intentional.
Xu Yuanheng ate another piece of braised pork. Lin Qiuran was angry in her heart, but she was able to come to cook. She was calm and patient.
After finishing most of the meal, Lin Qiuran stopped eating when he was only 80% full.
She was now intentionally controlling her food intake, not wanting the child to be too big and difficult to deliver in the future. Xu Yuanheng also finished his meal. "Thank you, Madam Lin, for your kindness today. I'll have Steward Xu take you back later."
Lin Qiuran nodded and didn't ask any other questions. On the way out of the house, Manager Xu gave her a purse. Lin Qiuran weighed it and found that there were more than two taels of silver in it.
Steward Xu said, "The Second Young Master said Madam Lin's cooking was delicious, and the rest is a reward. Madam Lin, this is not a reward for the servants, but the Second Young Master enjoyed the meal and felt that this money is what you deserve."
In the past, the wages were one tael and the bonus was two taels, but Manager Xu would take half, so it made no sense to only give two taels this time. Of course, Manager Xu did not take any bribes this time.
He knew how to read Xu Yuanheng's expressions. Now he attached great importance to Lin Qiuran. If he was found to be greedy for money, he would be in trouble.
Lin Qiuran nodded. Now she was Mrs. Lin who came to cook. She didn't feel embarrassed at all that Xu Yuanheng was giving her a tip. Instead, she wanted the more the better.
Arriving at the stables, the coachman was waiting with a larger and more luxurious carriage. Lin Qiuran glanced at Manager Xu, who said, "The other carriage is for someone else. Madam Lin, you can go back in the Second Young Master's carriage."
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The author has something to say: Please water [panda head][cat head][come on]
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