Xu Junshen looked at Yu Zhizhi in surprise; he had never expected her to be so blunt.
He had expected her to be reserved, but to his surprise, she dined with her maid without any restraint in front of him, and even openly expressed her delight at getting the meal for free.
After Yu Zhizhi finished eating and drinking, she glanced at Xu Junshen sitting opposite her. She noticed that he hadn't touched his chopsticks at all, but was simply savoring his wine quietly.
I had heard that the owner of Fuju Restaurant was young, low-key and humble. Although he rarely appeared in public, he attracted the attention and discussion of many young women in private.
Seeing him in person now, Yu Zhizhi felt that the rumors were indeed true.
Xu Junshen, standing before me, is handsome and charming, perfectly embodying the image of a "tall, rich, and handsome" man.
However, he gives the impression of being refined and scholarly, with the air of a learned man, making it hard to imagine that he is actually a businessman.
"Boss Xu, aren't you hungry?"
Xu Junshen's lips curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile, and he replied softly, "I'm not hungry. I wonder if Miss Yu is satisfied with this lunch?"
Yu Zhizhi pointed to the mountain of bones piled on the table. "Didn't you already see that?"
Actually, she had just woken up and was starving. To be honest, the food was just so-so, but she was a seasoned eater and couldn't possibly refuse someone else's hospitality after they'd been feasting there.
Then, she changed the subject and said seriously, "Let's talk about serious business!"
Upon hearing Yu Zhizhi's direct words, Xu Junshen paused for a moment while holding the wine pot.
This Ms. Yu is quite different from what was said in the rumors; she is rather unique, and her straightforwardness and frankness are surprisingly genuine.
But he likes it.
"Okay. The reason I'm meeting with you today is to discuss a business deal."
Yu Zhizhi knew without even thinking what he wanted to talk about; Manager Luo must have told him.
She smiled slightly, her tone neither humble nor arrogant: "How do you intend to discuss this hotpot business with me? If you're trying to fob me off with a thousand taels of silver, then I advise you to stop talking."
Xu Junshen smiled again, his smile tinged with apology: "On behalf of Manager Luo, I apologize to you. This time, I will offer 20,000 taels of silver to buy out the prescription."
Compared to before, this time she was much more sincere. If it were a normal person, they would definitely agree immediately, but Yu Zhizhi is shrewd.
She picked up her teacup, took a small sip, blinked her round almond-shaped eyes, and gave him a sly smile: "Not for sale. How about we find another way to cooperate?"
Xu Junshen was somewhat surprised by her answer, but still asked with a smile, "Tell me about it."
Yu Zhizhi put down her teacup, sat up straight, and said seriously, "From now on, all the profits from the hot pot sold at Fuju Restaurant will be split 60% between you and me 40%."
She still had some conscience and didn't directly propose a 50/50 split.
Xu Junshen frowned slightly, as if he was thinking about something. After a moment, he spoke: "Are you planning to just provide the prescription and not care about anything else, just to profit 40% of it?"
He underestimated her; he hadn't expected her to be so clever and shrewd.
Yu Zhizhi grinned, "Does Boss Xu think I'm asking for too much?"
Xu Junshen did not give her a direct answer. "Miss Yu, have you considered that although your cooperation method is unique and novel, it also carries risks? If the hot pot doesn't sell well, you won't earn 20,000 taels of silver for the next few years?"
"Don't worry, I have great confidence in my hot pot base. Even if someone imitates it, they won't surpass it. If Mr. Xu trusts me, you won't lose out on this deal."
She only profits from his hot pot. When the hot pot becomes a hit, it will definitely boost sales of other dishes in his restaurant. She believes he is aware of this.
Looking at the woman in front of him who exuded confidence, Xu Junshen's heart inexplicably skipped a few beats.
I believe you!
The two of them thus settled the deal.
Before long, Yu Zhizhi picked up a brush and began to write down the recipe for stir-frying hot pot base, stroke by stroke.
She described in detail the spices and seasonings needed, as well as the stir-frying steps and heat control, ensuring that the chef could accurately understand and make a delicious hot pot base.
Next, she listed all kinds of ingredients that can be used for hot pot, from meat to vegetables, and so on.
She also meticulously drew designs for a custom-made copper stove and cookware set.
Finally, she picked up the brush and signed her name on the agreement.
After putting down her pen, she looked up at Xu Junshen and said, "Mr. Xu, I have a request, which may be a little unkind, but I still want to say it."
Xu Junshen raised an eyebrow, signaling her to continue.
"I would like to ask you for an advance of 500 taels of silver, is that alright?"
She is currently penniless. Although she has earned a little money from setting up a stall for the past three days, it is far from enough.
She still needed some silver on hand for self-defense to feel safe, and besides, she owed He Yang more than a hundred taels of silver.
She originally only planned to get an advance of three hundred taels, but considering He Yang, who had always followed her, she decided to get an extra amount to pay back all the money she owed He Yang.
His current situation is also quite dire. His family doesn't give him a monthly allowance, and he's used to spending money lavishly, so life is definitely not easy for him.
If anyone else had made this request to him, Xu Junshen would have ignored them completely, saying, "Fine."
He gestured to the servant beside him, and soon after, Manager Luo entered the private room with five hundred taels of silver and handed it to Yu Zhizhi.
Yu Zhizhi counted the silver notes, her face beaming with joy. "Master Xu is indeed extraordinary, so generous. No wonder you're so rich!"
After saying that, she immediately toasted him with a glass of wine.
Hearing her praise, Xu Junshen's lips curled up slightly, revealing a barely perceptible smile.
He didn't know how many times he had laughed in that short hour.
But Xu Kai, the servant who stood by and served him the whole time, remembered it all clearly.
The master laughed six times, which was quite rare.
This is a major taboo. Normally, when the master is discussing business, he is decisive and cold-faced, and can even be ruthless towards his own family.
As Yu Zhizhi walked out of Fuju Restaurant, she decided to stroll around a bit before heading home, since she was already out.
As evening approached, the sun gradually sank in the west, and the sky was painted with a magnificent sunset.
Feeling incredibly happy, Yu Zhizhi returned to the Yun residence with light steps, humming a little tune.
However, before she even entered the main hall, her gaze inadvertently caught sight of He Yang slowly walking towards her from not far away.
Upon closer inspection, Yu Zhizhi couldn't help but gasp in shock.
He Yang walked with a limp, his eyes were surrounded by blue and purple marks, and he had several scars on his face, making him look disheveled.
Her face instantly darkened. "You look like a fat panda right now. Who hit you?"
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