Chapter 22 A virtue: Foodies have the greatest power!
"I'm not just giving you 70% of the profits because of your recipe. I value your ability to find food more."
Bai's eyes were frank, without hiding anything: "The Tro system is rich in various minerals, and its energy crystal mines are at the forefront of all galaxies. However, minerals are gifts from time and nature, and they are not inexhaustible."
"The ore will eventually be exhausted. However, due to the empire's terrain, agriculture and animal husbandry are underdeveloped. Over-mining will result in a sharp decline in the country's economy, ultimately leading to a decline in national strength and the advent of danger."
"So, your ability to turn waste into treasure is what I value more."
"You speak like a leader of a country," Nan Qi said, his eyes turning deep as he looked at the female insect. "It seems you hold a high position in real life."
"As a female insect, there's no way I could possibly hold a high position. I'm just a businessman, and I'm more sensitive to the economic situation."
Despite Nan Qi's suspicion, Bai remained calm and said, "If you can find more economic crops that are not dependent on the terrain, we can discuss our share."
"The premise is that every cash crop you find must be developed first by my company."
After hearing these words, Nan Qi seemed to be planning, cunning, resourceful, and having a keen sense of smell like a successful businessman, and his doubts were largely dispelled.
"So you really believe I can find new cash crops?"
Bai affirmed: "Believe me, even if you can't find it later, you are worth the share based on these spices, and besides-"
"Besides, what?" Nan Qi tilted his head. "What did you find out?"
Bai smiled faintly. "When I told you that those umbrella-shaped things would be poisonous if eaten improperly, you said you knew about them. You even called them mushrooms. I guess you know a lot about these... mushrooms."
"I guessed right, those mushrooms are edible, right?"
"Talking to smart bugs saves effort. I actually know which mushrooms are edible and which are not. I also know which poisonous mushrooms can be processed and made edible and delicious."
"So, I've found a treasure, right?" Bai held out his hand. "Want to cooperate?"
Nan Qi reached out and shook the hand that was handed to him, saying, "Deal, you have to make money for me."
"Don't worry, I will." Bai said solemnly.
"Oh," Nan Qi shuddered, "You're suddenly so serious. I'm not used to it. I've handed the contract over to you. I believe you won't cheat me, but I have a request."
"Please tell me." Bai Dao said, "As long as I can do it."
"Don't worry, I won't make things difficult for you. I agree with you saying we should split the profits 30% to 70%, but I want to give my share to my friend."
After Nan Qi said this, Bai knew why he did this and had a better impression of Nan Qi.
"Okay, you have the final say on your shares. Let's add each other on social media, and my secretary will discuss this with you in person. I live on the Central Star, so if you have the chance to visit, I'll treat you well."
"Okay," Nan Qi said, not expecting a big boss like Bai to personally discuss business with him. "Happy cooperation. My name is Nan Qi Ed, you can just call me Nan Qi. Now, can I know your real name?"
"It's a pleasure to cooperate with you, of course." Bai gave Nan Qi a deep look. "My name is Bai Xueais, and I'm currently working at the Star Brain Industry. You can call me Bai."
"Hey - that empire-famous Xueais Star Brain chain store, is it your business?" Nan Qi was really surprised this time.
Bai nodded modestly.
"Wow, am I so lucky? Now I'm really fine. You're such a big boss, you shouldn't cheat a small poor person like me." Nan Qi laughed.
Who would have thought that the first friend he met after entering the game would be so influential? It seems that he should be able to escape from poverty soon.
Nan Qi had no doubts, but Bai was a little confused: "Aren't you afraid that I will deceive you? Aren't you afraid that I will use a fake identity to frame you?"
"What are you afraid of?" Nan Qi had a smile in his eyes and looked very amiable, but Bai felt that Nan Qi exuded a dangerous aura.
"You said I was very good at finding food, but you lied to me. At most, I'll lose a little bit of something that didn't cost me anything. But I can use more things to cause you more trouble in the future."
"You're so smart, I'm sure you wouldn't have thought of this. Besides, I'm still willing to trust you as a friend, so please don't let me down."
"Don't worry, this is also my business. I will never let myself lose money."
Nan Qi regained his usual smiling face and said like a money-grubber, "Then I'll just sit back and wait for the money."
Bai was amused by his appearance and started laughing.
"Yes, yes, you should smile more." Nan Qi picked up a braised egg and put it in the white bowl. "We have known each other for several days, but today you smiled more and talked more. It's true that making money makes insects happy."
"Yes, making money makes insects happy." Bai's eyes were filled with smiles.
The two chatted and laughed, finalizing the deal and devouring Nanqi's delicious pot of stew. It was a good thing this was in a game; if it were in the real world, they would have been completely stuffed.
Bai was also so presumptuous for the first time. When he came to his senses, he bumped into Nan Qi's smiling eyes and felt a little embarrassed: "I was a little indulged today."
Nan Qi shook his head: "Seeing you like this, I feel that we will definitely not lose money in this business."
"It's definitely worth it, look over there." Bai pointed in the direction of the door.
"What's wrong?" Nan Qi looked in the direction of Bai's finger and saw the boss looking at them curiously, his nose twitching, obviously attracted by the aroma of the braised food.
Seeing the two bugs looking at him, he scratched his head a little embarrassedly: "It smells so good, I didn't eavesdrop on your conversation."
"Don't be afraid, big brother. Thank you for lending me the kitchen today." Nan Qi was very polite. "Because of the contract, although I can't give you the recipe, I can give you something. If you put it in your broth, it will have a unique flavor."
Nan Qi handed the peppercorns to the boss and said, "Grind them into a fine powder. When the broth is ready, you can let the customers add more according to their taste. This can also be considered as payment for letting me borrow the kitchen today."
"This, this is embarrassing." The boss was very tempted, but still refused. "I don't know where to find this thing. If it's out of stock, the customer will make a fuss. Besides, it's just borrowing the kitchen, it's not a big deal."
"Don't worry, take it, big brother," Nan Qi glanced at Bai, "Don't worry, when you use these up, the seasonings in the game will probably be updated, and there might be some."
After saying that, Nan Qi placed the peppercorns on the table and pulled Bai out of the small kitchen.
Bai didn't say a word along the way.
He followed Nan Qi, listening to Nan Qi chattering about how to use those strange spices, while watching him quietly.
He discovered that Nan Qi was truly a man who would repay a favor, and the way he did so was what the other person needed most at the moment.
The brothers needed money, so Nan Qi gave them shares. The boss needed a secret recipe to make his business better, so he gave it to the boss.
But if someone provokes him, he will retaliate in a small way even if it is not serious.
From this perspective, the little male insect really has a clear distinction between gratitude and resentment.
It’s really... quite interesting.
Nan Qi's mouth was dry as he spoke. He turned around and found the female insect staring at him. He asked in confusion, "Bai, what's wrong?"
Bai shook his head: "Nothing, just wondering how you know so much."
"What's the big deal? A gluttonous bug with no money and who doesn't want to just eat nutrient solution can always find something that not only fills its stomach but is also delicious." Nan Qi touched his nose, "I call this the power of a foodie!"
"The power of a foodie? I get it." Bai nodded, "It's a virtue."
"Mei-de?" Nan Qi choked for a rare moment, feeling a little embarrassed even if he was shameless. "Stop talking about it. I'm just greedy. I feel embarrassed when you do this to me."
"Why should you be embarrassed?" Bai was puzzled. "Anything done to perfection is worthy of praise. If you weren't greedy, you wouldn't have discovered these things. You might not even understand the value of these things."
"But I can tell you that these are extremely valuable and may well influence the subsequent development of the empire."
If they can find more food suitable for large-scale cultivation in the Tro system in the future, their empire will most likely not be constrained by other countries due to food problems.
Seeing Nan Qi's eyes widen, Bai continued, "Perhaps the things you take for granted are what many insects have been pursuing for generations."
"Is that so?" Nan Qi nodded. "I kind of understand. But I just can't figure out one thing. These things aren't hard to find. Why haven't you thought of using them before?"
"How do you know we haven't thought about it?" A hint of sarcasm flashed in Bai's eyes. "It's just that the nutrient solution is more convenient and safer to import. So after the operation didn't yield any results, we naturally gave up."
"That's why I say that anything done to the extreme is commendable, except for crime."
"So that's how it is." Nan Qi understood. It was still his preconceived notions that were the problem.
He knew that these were also the results of thousands of years of exploration, experimentation, and inheritance by his ancestors. The situation in each country was different, otherwise he would not have been so hungry that his eyes were green with anger while performing missions abroad.
That's really disgusting.
"Okay, I know I'm good. Thank you for your affirmation." Nan Qi checked the time. "It's already late. I have a match at nine o'clock tomorrow. I'll log off and rest first."
Bai: "Okay, you take a good rest. I'll draft the contract as soon as possible. I'll have my secretary sort out the rest of the matters and then discuss them with you. I'll try not to take up your time."
"See you tomorrow, then?"
Nan Qi smiled and nodded: "See you tomorrow, remember to cheer me up."
"I will," Bai imitated Nan Qi and patted his shoulder. "I wish you a successful start."
Nan Qi: "I'm borrowing your good wishes."
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