With a "bang," Shopkeeper Wu’s body softened and fell straight down from the stool, attracting many people’s attention in the shop.
Shopkeeper Wu quickly climbed up, cheerfully apologizing to the people around him: "Sorry, sorry."
Seeing that everyone had returned to their own meals and no longer paid attention to this place, Shopkeeper Wu lowered his voice excitedly: "How can you possibly have it?!"
Ji Xinhe was clearly more composed and just laughed softly: "It’s an inherited secret recipe."
Shopkeeper Wu’s eyes widened: "May I ask which ancestor of yours had it?"
"My ancestors for generations have been farmers; there’s nothing worth mentioning. Instead of asking so many irrelevant questions, Shopkeeper Wu, why not think about whether you want to do this deal or not?" Ji Xinhe said with a light laugh.
Shopkeeper Wu hurriedly said: "I’ll do it, I’ll do it! I have to do it! But... is it real?"
Ji Xinhe hummed lightly: "You’ll know if it’s real or not by testing it yourself, Shopkeeper Wu."
"Then let’s go right now..." Shopkeeper Wu said immediately.
Ji Xinhe leisurely raised her wine cup and laughed: "No rush."
Shopkeeper Wu, who had already negotiated several deals with Ji Xinhe, knew that when she smiled like this, she was going to slaughter someone.
Shopkeeper Wu clenched his teeth and said, "Just name your terms!"
Ji Xinhe didn’t beat around the bush; she said directly: "Eighty percent, I want eighty percent profit!"
Shopkeeper Wu almost bit his tongue: "Eight, eighty percent? You might as well take my life."
Ji Xinhe said seriously, "Shopkeeper Wu should know how rare this grape wine is among the people. For this kind of rare thing, I’m seeking you out specifically to pick up this piece of fat. In fact, it’s because of our relationship. I can’t give up even a single percent of the profit. If Shopkeeper Wu thinks this deal will work, just wait a few more days. When my grape wine is ready, Shopkeeper Wu can personally come to my house to inspect the goods. If it’s not satisfactory, I won’t insist."
Although Shopkeeper Wu felt the pain in his heart, when he thought about how valuable this grape wine was, considering that rarity adds to its value, this stuff was only available for the Emperor ten jars a year. If his inn could obtain it, wouldn’t the fame skyrocket? Moreover, this wine would naturally be expensive. The best wine in his shop, twenty-year-old premium Maotai, sells for five taels of silver per catty. This grape wine could be priced at seven or eight taels of silver per catty. Even if he only made a 20% profit, he could still make a lot of money.
This deal had to be done!
But was it real after all?
Shopkeeper Wu didn’t really believe it, but the girl in front of him looked so confident, as if she was sure of herself, which gave him more hope.
Shopkeeper Wu gritted his teeth and slammed the table: "Deal! As long as this wine is genuine grape wine, all the profits from the grape wine at Returning Forest Inn will be yours for eighty percent!"
Ji Xinhe smiled: "Shopkeeper Wu is straightforward. This deal will still follow the same rules as our pickle business; I will supply you, and I will also sell it separately. At that time, the two of us will have nothing to do with each other."
She was planning to open a shop, which was related to this. Not only would she sell pickles, but she would also sell brewed wine and the like. But for a newly opened small shop, who would believe this was grape wine? It’s likely that the high price couldn’t be set at the beginning.
But if she used Returning Forest Inn’s platform, it’s like giving her free publicity and validation. By the time her shop opened, she would be selling at a high price from the start, probably with people rushing to buy it. Moreover, just taking away most of the profits from Returning Forest Inn, she would make a lot of money.
Of course, their cooperation was a win-win situation for both of them. Whether it was the pickle business or the grape wine, it was like free money for Shopkeeper Wu’s Returning Forest Inn. They just earned a little less, why not?
"Alright! It’s settled!" Shopkeeper Wu’s face was flushed, not knowing if it was from drinking too much or from being too excited.
Xiao Bei listened to the conversation in a daze, not quite understanding it, so he simply bowed his head and ate his food heartily. He had never had such good food before!
After leaving Returning Forest Inn and packing the meal for Ji Dong, they prepared to return to the village.
Mu Houchu drove the bullock cart while talking to Ji Xinhe: "Where did you get the brewing method for this grape wine? Don’t use that ’inherited from ancestors’ excuse on me like you did with Shopkeeper Wu, I’m not as naive as he is."
Ji Xinhe giggled and hummed: "If you don’t believe it, that’s fine. It’s just inherited."
This man’s identity was a mystery, and he was all too familiar with the palace’s goings-on. He could easily recognize her grape wine, showing that his identity was extraordinary. He had been hiding his identity from her and hadn’t said a word, so why should she tell him?
Mu Houchu glanced at her, knowing that she didn’t want to tell him. Forcing her would be useless, so he just smiled: "Fine, don’t tell me. But it seems that your claim of making a fortune is not just a daydream. It looks like you’re soon going to be a carp leaping over the dragon gate, right?"
Ji Xinhe was a little smug: "My grape wine still needs a few more days. After it’s brewed, I’ll take some to sell at Returning Forest Inn first, build my reputation, and then open my own shop!"
That’s when she would really make a fortune!
Mu Houchu looked at her satisfied expression and could not help but smile. She was actually a very ambitious woman, full of expectations and self-confidence for the future.
But she was also a woman who was extremely easy to satisfy. Even if she only made a few dozen copper coins a day, she would be overjoyed, counting the coins over and over again, happy for the whole day.
Although she was such a contradictory person, he unexpectedly liked her more and more.
——
Upon returning to the village, they saw that Hong Qin, Xiao Cui, and others had already started working, and Ji Dong was also helping, making the house very busy.
"Brother, we’re back." Ji Xinhe brought the packed food into the house and said with a smile, "Today, the shopkeeper of Returning Forest Inn invited us to dinner and specially packed a portion for you."
Ji Dong was stunned: "Returning Forest Inn even invited you to dinner? Why?"
Ji Xinhe didn’t have time to explain, she just said, "It’s nothing. You eat first. Everyone is busy, so I’d better help as well. With such a large production now, if we don’t hurry, we might not finish the work."
Ji Dong suddenly remembered something: "Oh, I meant to tell you that we’re running out of Chinese cabbage. Wang Po’s family has two acres of Chinese cabbage in their vegetable field. We can buy it from them."
Ji Xinhe nodded: "Alright, I’ll go then!" She didn’t waste any time.
"Hey! I’ll go later, it’s snowing so heavily outside..."
"It’s okay! Brother, just eat first!" Ji Xinhe’s figure had already run far away.
Ji Dong shook his head helplessly: "This child."
Mu Houchu said, "I’ll go with her."
Having said that, he immediately followed her. His footsteps seemed light and quick, disappearing from Ji Dong’s sight in just two steps, leaving Ji Dong rubbing his eyes, wondering if his vision was playing tricks on him.
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