Unlike his usual joy at returning home, Qingshan's obviously preoccupied appearance caught Jiang Yue's attention.
After dinner, Jiang Yue finally asked:
"Qingshan, have you encountered some difficulties?"
"Mother, Uncle Guanghua's employer wants to buy our hot pot base recipe. Although he is friendly, I have a feeling that he doesn't have good intentions."
Qingshan didn't intend to hide it from his family, especially his mother.
After being invited onto the carriage, he saw a middle-aged man who introduced himself as the owner of the popular restaurant chain. The man said he was very interested in the hot pot base recipe and wanted to buy it, asking him to name a price.
Having run a small business for over half a year, he naturally understood what the other party meant.
However, he neither agreed nor refused at the time, and tactfully indicated that he would go home to discuss it before making a decision.
Fortunately, the other party didn't make things difficult for him. They simply said they would be staying in Peach Blossom Town for the time being, and once he had made up his mind, he was welcome to visit.
"Bang!"
Qingsong was furious after hearing this, and slammed his fist on the table, making a crisp sound.
No wonder my brother looked so bad when he came back. I thought it was because of the troublesome guests, but it turns out he was being threatened!
"Second Brother~"
Qingyao was a little frightened and timidly hid behind her sister-in-law.
"Qingsong, who are you trying to scare? Doesn't your hand hurt when you slam your hand on the table?"
Seeing this, Jiang Yue glared at her son, then turned to look at Qingshan and asked softly:
"Qingshan, your mother wants to hear your thoughts."
After pondering for a moment, Qingshan calmly said:
"Mom, I don't want to just sell the hot pot base like this. With this recipe, our family can live a life of plenty for future generations."
Jiang Yue wasn't too surprised. This was a simple and easy-to-understand principle; her son already knew it.
"However, their background is powerful, and we can't afford to offend them right now."
Qingshan continued to state the facts, and Uncle Guanghua secretly gave him a wink, making him wary.
"We can't afford to offend them. Are we just supposed to hand over the formula we've worked so hard to develop? I refuse to accept that!"
Upon hearing this, Qingsong was furious and refused to accept it.
Jiang Yue glanced at her second son and thought to herself that he was still too young and couldn't keep his composure.
"Mother, eldest brother, second brother, I have a plan, but I don't know if I should tell you."
After understanding the whole story, Qingyun came up with a compromise that might work.
"Oh? Then Qingyun, you tell us what you think. We'll all listen and discuss it together."
Jiang Yue raised an eyebrow. Did the third brother have a solution at this crucial moment?
"Well, my son has made a fool of himself. I thought we could negotiate like this..."
Qingyun shared his opinion: when his family was in the business of making cold noodles and jelly, they had dealings with Ke Siyun. In the past, this owner had never shown up and had given full authority to Uncle Guanghua to handle the payments, which meant that the other party was not someone who would extort money.
This time, the other party used diplomacy before resorting to force. Their family was weak and outnumbered; if it were another family using coercion and enticement, it would indeed be difficult for them to keep the formula.
Rather than suffering losses at the hands of another company, it's better to go along with this employer with whom we've previously cooperated.
However, instead of selling the recipe directly to the other party, they have the other party buy the ingredients needed for the recipe and deliver them to their home. They then process the ingredients, charge a fee, and deliver the finished product to the other party, creating a mutually beneficial arrangement.
In this way, the formula can be preserved for a period of time without offending the other party, achieving two goals at once.
"Wonderful! Third brother, you truly are a scholar; your mind is so sharp!"
Qingshan slapped his thigh, saying, "In this way, even if you know the ingredients but not the recipe, even if you imitate it, the taste will be different!"
"Brother, you're too kind. It's my duty to help the family."
Qingyun said apologetically that if he passed the imperial examination and became a scholar, his family would have more confidence, and if anyone wanted to take advantage of them, they would probably think twice.
"Third brother, why are you being modest? Second brother thinks your idea is excellent. Mother, let's do it this way. If the other party doesn't agree, we'll spread the word. I don't believe others won't be tempted!"
After thinking it over, Qingsong was full of admiration for his third brother's cleverness.
Why didn't he think of that?
Looking at her three sons, Jiang Yue felt a sense of pride. It truly lived up to the saying, "When brothers are of one mind, their strength can break metal!"
The sons' idea, while not particularly brilliant, was not entirely unacceptable.
And so, with their mother's tacit approval, the three brothers huddled together and began to "plot" their scheme.
Jiang Yue carried the hot water and slipped into her room to take a shower.
The weather is getting colder and colder~
It's time to go buy fabric and cotton for this year's winter clothes!
Thinking of cloth inevitably brings to mind Fangfang, that girl. I wonder how she's doing now...
Over the next few days, the two Qingshan brothers went out early and returned late, their expressions changing from initially grim to now beaming, as if they had resolved the problem.
The following day, the oxcart was filled with sacks containing all sorts of seasonings for making hot pot broth!
They also brought two stone mills home and placed them in an empty room in the unused north wing. Every day after returning home, the three brothers would take turns working in the room until midnight.
Sometimes, even big and small stones are called in to help grind unknown things into powder. It's not difficult; it's just physical labor.
The recipe for the hot pot broth should have been solved, but the Qingshan and Qingsong brothers became even busier.
At the end of the month, when the business was being recounted, the total gross profit for the month was as high as 360 taels of silver. After deducting expenses and labor costs, the net gross profit reached 290 taels. Moreover, after cooperating with Ke Siyun's employer, the labor cost for processing hot pot base alone was as high as 120 taels!
In November, the hot pot base business earned a total of 410 taels of silver!
Meanwhile, the second batch of families in the village who planted medicinal herbs also had a bumper harvest. This month, after processing the medicinal herbs and dividing the profits, Jiang Yue received ninety taels of silver!
Now, she has 138 taels of private savings and about 305 taels of public funds.
The two brothers, Qingshan and his brother, are now roughly equal in wealth, each possessing approximately 130 taels of silver.
Of course, once I've made money, I'll definitely treat the brothers who work for me fairly.
Each of the three—Da Shi, Xiao Shi, Xiao Ma, and Xiao Hu—has a fixed monthly wage of one tael of silver, with increases depending on the gross profit.
Just like this month, everyone received an extra three to six hundred copper coins!
There was no favoritism; everyone was treated equally.
Sure enough, Xiao Ma and Xiao Hu took their wages home. Four taels and six hundred copper coins were enough for their family to live on for a year!
The elders of both families thanked God and thanked Jiang Shi, and coincidentally caught an old hen at home that could only be slaughtered during the New Year, planning to deliver it to Jiang Shi's house when their sons went there at dawn!
How could their joyful appearance be kept secret from their neighbors?
You can imagine how Wu Xiaoshu felt seeing his childhood friend become successful!
A once optimistic, cheerful young man who doted on his wife now can't help but feel resentful whenever he sees her...
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