How proud was Jiang Xueying? Seeing that Zhao Hao refused to communicate, she naturally would not force it, and returned to her initial calm and coldness.

"Then let's talk business. I heard from Mr. Zhao that Mr. Zhao has the formula for Frost Turning Snow. I wonder if you are interested in using it for cooperation?"

Zhao Hao was completely relieved after hearing the change of heart. He also put his mind back to business, thought for a moment, nodded and said with a smile: "That's fine, I'll provide the sugar, you'll be responsible for the sales, and I'll take 80% of the profit and you 20%, how about that?"

Jiang Xueying hesitated for a moment, shook her head slightly and said, "I will pay fifty thousand taels and be responsible for all production and sales. I promise on the reputation of Wu Ji that I will split the profits with you fifty-fifty. How do you think?"

Zhao Hao nodded secretly when he heard this. This little girl is indeed a good businessman. By paying 50,000 taels to share the patent, he can avoid being controlled by others and gain more long-term benefits.

This was also a good choice for Zhao Hao. Anyway, the secret of white sugar could not be kept for long. Judging from the time recorded in "The Exploitation of the Works of Nature", even if he tried his best and managed to keep the secret, it would not take long before the method of turning brown sugar into white sugar would become a secret known to everyone.

After all, this method is so simple that you can learn it at a glance.

It’s okay to produce a little secretly, but once you start producing on a large scale, it’s impossible to keep it secret.

Therefore, the best option for Zhao Hao is to earn some patent fees in advance, and then use Wu Ji's strong strength to sell sugar as quickly as possible to make maximum profits.

Thinking of this, he nodded and said with a sincere smile: "Okay, I don't like to bargain, so I'll do as you say."

"Okay." Jiang Xueying nodded, and called her maid in to sign a contract with Zhao Hao on the spot.

Looking at Jiang Xue's serious expression, Zhao Hao couldn't help but secretly reflect on himself, wondering if he was too casual about business.

But think about it, there are so many ways to make money. If you strive for perfection in everything, won't you be exhausted to death?

"Of course there is no problem with signing a contract." Thinking of this, Zhao Hao felt at ease again, and said to Jiang Xueying with a smile: "But today, my grandfather is too overbearing. I have to ask you to tell your grandmother that she doesn't like me."

Jiang Xueying was slightly stunned, then slowly nodded and said, "Please sign."

Zhao Hao looked at the contract carefully and found no traps, so he signed his name on it and then took out his private seal to stamp it.

Jiang Xueying also signed her name and stamped the two contracts with a beautiful chicken blood stone seal.

"I'm about to leave Yangzhou, so I'll leave the subsequent delivery matters to you, old man." Zhao Hao put away one of his contracts and said with a smile.

"Okay." Jiang Xueying nodded.

Zhao Hao thought to himself, with the old man’s abilities, he shouldn’t be hacked to death…right?

~~

When Ye came back with the soup, she invited Zhao Hao to drink a bowl of basil soup, which was the so-called "serving soup to see off guests".

When Zhao Hao returned to his residence, he saw Zhao Liben still sitting in the main room drinking tea, obviously waiting for him to come back.

"Grandpa." Zhao Hao bowed. "I'm back."

"Well, how was the chat?" Zhao Liben asked with concern: "That little girl is extraordinary, right?"

"It is somewhat extraordinary," Zhao Hao sighed regretfully, "but I'm afraid I won't be in their eyes."

"How is that possible?" Zhao Liben didn't believe it. "How could she look down on my good grandson? Is she going to marry a god?"

"Ahem, Grandpa, you're the only one who thinks your grandson is a treasure," Zhao Hao said with a wry smile, "I'm actually not that good..."

"You're not playing tricks on me?" Zhao Liben looked at Zhao Hao. He was not so easy to fool.

"Really not..." Zhao Hao thought to himself, it seems that I can't get away with just making excuses, I have to come up with a trick. So he plucked up his courage and asked with a curious smile: "By the way, Grandpa, what is your relationship with Grandma Ye?"

Zhao Liben straightened his neck, puffed his beard and glared, "Didn't I tell you? We are just ordinary partners."

"Really?" Zhao Hao smiled strangely, obviously not believing it.

"You stinky brat!" Zhao Liben knew that this brat was more cunning than a monkey when he got into trouble. He stood up and slapped him hard, saying angrily, "I worked so hard to raise you guys, can't you revive like a dead tree?"

"Yes, yes." Zhao Hao hurriedly held his head and shouted: "Grandpa, you should marry Grandma Ye. It's more practical."

"You little brat, I want you to teach me how to do things!" Zhao Liben grabbed the teacup and pretended to throw it, and Zhao Hao hurriedly fled.

"This kid," Zhao Liben put down his tea bowl and laughed, "He even dares to make fun of me..."

~~

On the other side, Ye and Jiang Xueying also returned to the garden of the Ye family next door.

The salt merchant surnamed Ye was named Ye Xixian, and his ancestral home was Xiuning. He was not a well-known salt merchant in Yangzhou. It was with the support of Zhao Liben that he became one of the eight major salt merchants and built a family business that was as rich as a prince.

At that time, Zhao Liben held the Lianghuai Salt Permits, and there were countless salt merchants who wanted to curry favor with him to make a fortune. The fact that the unknown Ye Xixian could gain Zhao Liben's favor must have a lot to do with his elder sister, Ye.

Therefore, every time Ye came to Yangzhou, he would stay in his garden. When Zhao Liben stepped down from office, he retired to Yangzhou and became a neighbor of Ye Xixian.

As the eldest aunt of the Ye family, Ye naturally lived in her younger brother's house.

Jiang Xueying seldom comes to Yangzhou, so this time she stayed at the Ye family.

She escorted Jiang Xueying to the embroidery building and dismissed the servants. Then she asked with a smile, "Why did you talk for so long? It seems like you can agree."

"Young Master... of the Zhao family taught me a lot." Jiang Xueying nodded slightly.

"How is it? Grandma, you have good taste, right?" Ye asked happily.

"Mr. Zhao is indeed outstanding. Xueying cannot compare to him yet." Jiang Xueying sighed lightly without trying to show off.

Ye knew her competitive nature, and this was the first time she had heard Jiang Xueying show weakness. She couldn't help but smile and said, "I'm glad you didn't make a wasted trip from Suzhou."

"It's not a wasted trip." Jiang Xueying slowly took off the jade hairpin on her head and placed it on the dressing table. The dressing table was also embedded with an oval glass mirror, reflecting her delicate face that was as white as snow.

"Let's settle it then?" Ye asked tentatively.

Jiang Xueying bit her lower lip lightly and shook her head slowly, "I'm still young, so I don't want to talk about this for now."

"You can decide on it first." Ye took out a copy of "First Encounter" and showed it to Jiang Xueying, "Look at his poems, they are so well written. You should take a man like this first, so that when you grow up, someone else will take him first."

Jiang Xueying thought to herself, what the hell is going on?

She couldn't help but shook her head and said coldly, "I'm not interested in poetry. Grandma, I'm tired."

"Oh, well, you should go to bed early."

Seeing that the more she talked, the more counterproductive the effect, Ye had no choice but to stop talking and leave.

Jiang Xueying stared at her own young face in the mirror, biting her lower lip tightly, not knowing what she was thinking.

ps. Chapter 10, 2000 votes for extra chapters, please give me monthly votes and recommendation votes...