Negotiation (Revision)
Are you kidding? 100 gold coins, that's a sky-high price. She must be crazy to spend such a huge sum of money. She can protect herself.
"You can bargain." Leonard suggested sincerely.
Elena almost rolled her eyes regardless of her status, but in order to maintain her ladylike demeanor, she simply closed her eyes, thinking out of sight, out of mind.
"10 gold coins." Elena bargained insincerely and cut the price to one tenth.
"90 gold coins."
"20 gold coins."
"88 gold coins."
"At most 30 gold coins, any more and I'll have nothing left. I'm very poor now." Elena drew the bottom line directly.
"No, at least 85 gold coins, which can be paid in installments. I'll give you two years. Your business is so prosperous, you will definitely become a wealthy lord in two years." Leonard obviously wanted to make this deal.
Elena opened her mouth, wanting to laugh, but couldn't. "Hey, you're more confident than me. I just sold the first batch of my spice powder and sauces. I don't even know how popular they are in the market. How can you be so sure that I can become a millionaire in two years?"
She really hoped so, but if she really had to be so confident and believe it without hesitation, she didn't have such strong confidence.
This is a real market, not a business game. Just because something is produced doesn’t mean it will be sold, and just because it is sold doesn’t mean it will be a big hit.
Leonard gave her a meaningful look, a hint of a smile in his eyes: "So, why do you think I'm here?"
Elena: ...
Leonard said, "Because I know more than you." Little fool, you have no idea how high the prices of your spices and sauces have been raised. When those big businessmen unite, they have the power to call the shots in the market.
For some reason, Elena always felt that she was being "loved"?
Leonard continued, "Don't worry. I have great confidence in you. Your spice powder and sauce will be a big hit, selling all over the continent. So, you'll definitely make a lot of money. A mere 85 gold coins won't be a headache for you."
Elena: ...This kind of trust is really stressful.
Elena, under great pressure, returned to the Viscount's Mansion with Leonard by her side.
After riding for half a day, Elena felt a little hungry and suddenly wanted to eat pickled fish, so she went to the kitchen.
"Cut the fish into thin slices, even thinner. Yes, that's it. Add some salt, wash it briefly, rinse it with clean water, and wash it twice more."
"Cut some ginger into shreds, bring some oil, salt, and potato flour, and eggs, separate the egg whites, mix them together, and put the fish fillets in to marinate."
"Heat the pan, heat the oil, and put the fish bones in to fry."
"Put water on it, bring it to a boil, and skim off the foam."
"Okay, serve the fish soup and go get the jar of pickled vegetables."
"Chop the pickled cabbage and boil some water to blanch it."
"Heat the pan, add oil, add shredded ginger, minced garlic, and chili peppers and stir-fry. When it's done, add the pickled mustard greens and continue stir-frying."
"Put the fish soup in, and when it's hot enough, put the fish slices in."
Elena stood in the kitchen, directing Chef Roy to make pickled fish. She almost followed the recipe in the auxiliary book, but omitted some steps, such as the final pouring of oil. Originally, after all the fish fillets were put into the bowl and arranged, the green and red peppers and Sichuan peppercorns should be stir-fried, then placed on the fish fillets, and then heated oil should be poured on them. This would make the fish fillets more fragrant, but considering that there were not many peppers and no Sichuan peppercorns, Elena omitted this step.
Alas, in order to make more money, Elena only left a small bag of peppers for the kitchen, and the rest were made into chili powder. Before the next pepper harvest, the Viscount's Mansion only had this small bag of peppers to use.
The fragrant and brightly colored pickled fish is out of the pot.
In the small dining room, the old butler scooped some fish and soup with a public spoon and carefully put them into the young lady's small bowl.
Elena picked up the silver spoon and scooped up a piece of fish to taste it, then scooped up some soup and took a sip.
Well, the taste is acceptable.
Seeing the Viscountess nodded, Chef Roy, who was guarding the door, immediately smiled.
At this time, Leonard, who had been following Elena before but had not followed her into the kitchen and had not learned from her, appeared in the restaurant again.
Leonard spontaneously pulled out a chair, sat down, and stared at Elena.
Elena, who was being stared at: "...Do you want to try it?"
"Okay, thank you." Leonard responded without hesitation.
Elena: ...You're welcome.
Elena turned around and told the old butler to bring another set of tableware.
The tableware arrived, and the old butler scooped a bowl of fish soup for Leonard.
Leonard thanked him, picked up the silver spoon and took a bite, then another bite, and another bite.
"Another bowl." The bowl in front of Leonard was empty.
The old butler served him another bowl.
Elena held her chin with one hand and watched Leonard eat the fish.
As she watched, she suddenly had a good idea.
When Leonard finished eating and looked up to ask the old housekeeper to add more bowls, Elena spoke up: "Leonard."
"Hmm?" Leonard then shifted his gaze from the pickled fish to her face.
"Before, you said you could protect me for 85 gold coins, but I'm not sure how long this kind of protection will last. If my business is really as you said, and will make me a millionaire in two years, then unless I become king or the most powerful person on the continent, my business will always be coveted by others." Elena blinked, with obvious curiosity, "How long can you protect me?"
Leonard smiled.
This is a question about his strength.
In an instant, Leonard's momentum changed.
As heavy as a mountain and as high as the starry sky.
There was even a faint illusion of a meteor shower behind Leonard.
Elena stared at Leonard with her green cat eyes wide open in disbelief. Looking at the illusion, she realized for the first time that Leonard seemed to be more powerful than she thought.
"I am the Golden Knight." A voice that seemed near yet far, familiar yet unfamiliar came.
Elena quickly sorted out the corresponding order of the golden knights in her mind.
Mage Department: Apprentice (Trainee, Intermediate, Advanced) - Mage (Low, Intermediate, Advanced) - Archmage - Legendary Magician.
Knight Department: Apprentice (Trainee, Intermediate, Advanced) - Knight (Low, Intermediate, Advanced) - Golden Knight - Epic Knight.
The Golden Knight corresponds to the Archmage, a level 6 levels higher than Elena's apparent academic qualification, Apprentice.
The Golden Knight is indeed very strong, ranking second in the knight rankings.
Elena swallowed.
Before I knew it, I had met such a powerful person.
It turned out that she had wronged Joyce before. He was not a spendthrift, he was lucky. He was really lucky to have Leonard to protect him.
Elena quickly retracted her wandering thoughts and looked at Leonard in front of her.
Such a strong man offered to protect her and offered 85 gold coins, which was really not too expensive.
But, it’s still really expensive.
Elena became more resolute in her previous thoughts.
It is not cost-effective to hire people directly. It is more appropriate to keep them for a long time.
"Sir, I have an idea..." Elena opened her mouth to speak, but Leonard interrupted her as soon as she opened her mouth.
"Just call me Leonard." Leonard retracted his aura and immediately returned to his ordinary, powerful state. "I thought we were friends."
It’s a friend. Elena’s eyes lit up and she was instantly surprised.
Of course, it's a good thing to be friends with the Golden Knights.
Elena immediately changed her tone and said, "Leonard, I have an idea. You and I should sign a long-term contract to protect me. I'll get one, no, two gold coins a month, with food and lodging included. And every time I develop a new dish, you'll be the first to try it."
In order to impress Leonard, Elena even brought out her new dishes to add weight.
Leonard: ...
"Do you think I'm such a glutton? Gluttony is a sin." Leonard refused righteously, "I just want to make money by taking orders based on my own abilities."
Elena: ...
"Okay, I understand." Elena understood. Leonard was a determined man who only cared about money. Food was not as powerful as money.
So, at dinner time, three dishes that Leonard had never seen before were placed in front of Elena.
But in front of Leonard were the most common things: boiled fruits, bread, vegetable soup, and bacon.
Although these four dishes were considered a good dinner, they were obviously not as appealing when compared to Elena's three dishes.
Leonard looked at his dinner, then at Elena's dinner: "What are these three dishes?"
Elena generously moved the three dishes closer: "This is creamy white mushroom stew, this is shrimp meatballs, and this is stuffed winter melon. These three dishes are all new dishes I developed."
Leonard's eyes were fixed on the three dishes.
Elena tempted him with a sly smile: "Want to try it?"
Leonard silently withdrew his gaze. He remembered their previous conversation. At that time, he firmly rejected Elena's contract conditions of monthly salary + delicious food. Now Elena specially put out two kinds of meals, obviously trying to tempt him.
No, he had to hold on.
What he wants is 85 gold coins, not 2 gold coins + delicious food every month.
Leonard stuffed the bread into his mouth and bit it hard.
Elena suppressed her smile, bit her lip, and moved the three dishes back.
Elena gracefully picked up the fork and tasted each dish one by one, explaining as she tasted, "This creamy stew of white mushrooms has chicken broth, cream, black pepper, and white wine in it. It tastes amazing."
Leonard thought the bread was too dry.
Elena continued, "As for the shrimp balls, they're made by mincing the shrimp, adding seasoning, and then shaping them into balls. Oh, and a whole shrimp is stuffed inside the balls. The shrimp is wrapped in the shrimp paste, and the taste is especially fresh."
Leonard thought the bacon was too salty.
Elena added, "Stuffed winter melon is relatively simple. First, dig a hole in the winter melon, then stuff it with the seasoned meat filling. Then steam it until cooked. The winter melon absorbs the meat juices, making it not greasy or oily, but rather sweet and refreshing."
Leonard thought the vegetable juice was too bland.
After Elena finished her introduction, she shut up, stopped provoking Leonard, and quietly enjoyed her dinner.
Leonard: ...a little regretful, want to eat.
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