Chapter 33: Talking About Cooperation
Tai Fu Luo is not only a restaurant, but also an inn.
The daily traffic of Tai Fu Lou is endless, even during the afternoons, the business stays busy.
Wei Cheng still went there in ordinary clothes. Of course, he had to change his dirty clothes after working at the stalls.
Wei Cheng was carrying a food box as well.
Steward Quan was waiting for him in the wing room, and when he saw him coming in with a food box, a rare surprised expression was shown on his face.
The two sides exchanged greetings and sat down.
Wei Cheng took out what was in the upper part of the food box, which was shredded chicken and roasted ham hock cooked with sesame oil.
“This is a new food at my stall, and I brought it to Steward Quan to taste. Although it is not as delicious as Tai Fu Luo’s delicacies, it is also my own kindness.”
“Boss Wei is polite.”
It was the first time for Steward Quan to see a person who came to an appointment bringing food as a gift.
He called for a servant named Xiao-er to come in, and let him take out a large part of the two plates of food. Xiao-er knew where to send the food even when the steward said nothing, Wei Cheng pretended that he didn’t see this transaction.
After finishing all this, Steward Quan picked up his chopsticks and tasted a few mouthfuls. After eating, he remained calm on the surface, but was surprised that the taste of the two dishes was not inferior to his signature dishes.
The shredded chicken tasted very strange but very unique, he wasn’t sure what was the sesame oil he had mentioned, and what was even more peculiar was the roasted ham hock, he couldn’t even taste what it was made of.
“Boss Wei, what is this plate of roasted ham hocks made of?”
“Roasted ham hock is made of pig knuckles.”
“Pig knuckles!”
Steward Quan was really surprised. Pig’s knuckles are common meat and the price is so cheap that they cost a few wen a catty. This is because not only are the pig’s knuckles full of bones but it is also not tasty. The merchants don’t use pig’s knuckles for food. Buying knuckles is something done by the poor.
But the pig’s knuckles he just tasted were so delicious that the steward felt that he had too little experience.
Still none of his inner thoughts showed on his face.
Wei Cheng observed all this.
He is truly worthy of being the steward of Tai Fu Luo, he is able to control and maintain his facial expressions and keep a tight hold to his inner thoughts.
But it was hard to escape Wei Cheng’s eyes.
After all, he is also a businessman.
A businessman’s eyes are sharper, and he can use this to take control of negotiations.
“Boss Wei, we didn’t invite you here today just to talk. I, as a representative of Tai Fu Luo, want to buy your recipes. Except for the egg pancakes, you can set a price for the other recipes.” It’s not that the egg pancakes are not delicious, it just didn’t fit the atmosphere of the restaurant.
“All of them? From both the morning market and the afternoon market?”
Wei Cheng didn’t seem surprised at all but he still pretended to be confused.
He already had a guess that the guard who came to his stall to buy food two days ago should have something to do with Tai Fu Luo, and that had something to do with this.
Otherwise, how could Tai Fu Luo, who had never been in contact with him, invite him for no reason.
Wei Cheng’s words stunned Steward Quan for a moment, but he quickly recovered.
“Just the recipes for the lunch market.” He didn’t even know what foods were available in the morning market.
*
In the room next door.
Yan Yi, a martial arts practitioner, has keen ears, and while they were talking in the next room, he was passing on every detail to his young master.
Yun Chengfeng ate all the food that the steward asked Xiao-er to bring, and when he heard that there was a morning market at Wei Cheng’s stall, he thought that he should let Yan Yi buy the food from it tomorrow.
Yan Yi and his guards were all treated as errand boys by their young master.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
He signaled Yan Yi to continue listening.
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The steward didn’t know how to continue the conversation.
After managing the restaurant for ten years, how can he not understand that the ingredients can be mixed to produce different flavors? Wei Cheng can boast that even experienced chefs dare not easily say that they can mix sauces at will.
No matter what Wei Cheng said is true or not, this is still a problem.
It is very simple to buy a formula, but if a formula can be changed in different ways, then buying it is equivalent to not buying it.
This would mean Tai Fu Luo’s loss.
“Boss Wei is an honest man.” Steward Quan probed.
“In business, the most important thing is integrity.”
Wei Cheng knew that the other person still had his doubts, but luckily he was prepared.
When the bottom of the food box was opened, Steward Quan thought it was for food, but he didn’t expect it to be palm-sized ceramic jars. The jars were taken out one by one, and the names of the jars were affixed to indicate what kind of sauce it was.
“Boss Wei, what is this?”
This confuses Steward Quan. In fact, ever since Wei Cheng came in, his way of doing things has baffled him.
“This is proof, there are all kinds of prepared sauces in the ceramic jars- the sauce for making salad, the miso sauce for stewing meat, the sauce for the cold noodles, and the sauce for fried rice. I can make many kinds of sauces, and I knew that just saying so would not convince Steward Quan, so I bought the sauces, so that the chefs of your restaurant can use the different sauces to make several dishes, and you will know after you try it.”
Steward Quan: “……”
It was the first time for the steward to see this kind of person, and it was also the first time for Master Yun in the private room next door.
Yun Chengfeng said to the guard posted next to him, “Yan Yi, look at this type of people and learn, you should not be so rigid in doing things, but be flexible.”
“Master, you are right.”
“I think Uncle Quan is being led by the nose.”
Unexpectedly, an ordinary farmer has such business acumen.
As for Wei Cheng’s situation, everything was turned upside down.
Yun Chengfeng ordered, “Remember to tell the kitchen that a copy of every dish must be sent to me..”
Yan Yi followed his order and went to the kitchen to inform them.
*
On the other hand, Steward Quan also began to instruct the main chef of the restaurant to follow Wei Cheng’s instructions.
Stir-fried vegetables and the cold noodles were easy to cook while the others needed more time.
Now, they only had to wait.
The main chef of Tai Fu Luo was quite unconvinced, doubting how good the sauce produced by a small boss at an ordinary stall could be.
But due to the order of Steward Quan and the young owner of the restaurant, he could only do it with all his heart.
When the fragrance wafted out, the chef learned never to doubt others.
The aroma of stewed pork with miso sauce wafted into the lobby of the restaurant.
Many old customers asked if the restaurant had new dishes, and they all asked to order one.
“Waiter, what kind of dish is this, I don’t care what it is, just give me one.”
“It smells like stewed meat, but their previous stewed meat is not as fragrant, let’s try it, we’ll have a—”
The guests are ordering one after another.
Even a few famous masters who just stepped into Tai Fu Luo asked to be sent a copy of the dish in their private rooms.
In addition to Steward Quan, Tai Fu Luo also has another shopkeeper. The shopkeeper manages the work of Tai Fu Luo while Steward Quan manages all the properties of the Yun family in Nanshan County.
The shopkeeper of Tai Fu Luo knew the cause of the smell and had to explain it to the guests.
“I would like to apologize to all distinguished guests. The chef is just trying a new dish so the new dish has not yet been officially launched. To express our apologies, I will send a piece of sorbet to each table.”
The guests can only regret, but they could not embarrass themselves for a dish.
As for those old men who are all powerful people, why would they believe the shopkeeper’s words? After entering the private room, one said to the shopkeeper who came to receive him, “Shopkeeper Fu, don’t lie and quickly serve the dish that smells fragrant in the hall. If you don’t have any of it cooked right now, I’ll just have to wait for the next one.”
Shopkeeper Fu couldn’t refuse, so he could only ask Steward Quan for instructions.
Steward Quan knew that they couldn’t refuse this customer so he asked Shopkeeper Fu to go to the kitchen to see if there was enough sauce to make another serving. Without it, he could only explain the situation himself. If he tasted the dishes alone, he didn’t mind sharing them out, but he wasn’t the one tasting the dishes, it was his young master.
Shopkeeper Fu had no choice but to go to the back kitchen. Fortunately, the sauce can make another serving.
All the dishes made in the kitchen were ready and sent to the two private rooms.
Whether it is stewed meat with an attractive color, the vegetable salads, or the stir-fry full of fragrance, the taste is enough to conquer hearts.
The sauce that Wei Cheng gave was not a sauce for braised meat, but one suitable for stewed meat. The stewed meat can also be put into suitable side dishes, but the braised meat was somewhat lacking which was why he chose this sauce.
After Steward Quan tried the dishes, he really believed in Wei Cheng’s words. The stir-fries he ate were all made with different sauces. The dishes were not the same, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. The cold dishes looked more delicate and tasted refreshing.
Steward Quan was about to ask Wei Cheng for other details when Yan Yi came over to invite him.
“My young master is here to invite you.”
When Wei Cheng saw Yan Yi, he knew he guessed right.
Going to the private room next door, Wei Cheng saw the luxuriously dressed Yun Chengfeng, the owner of Tai Fu Luo.
Steward Quan introduced, “This is my young master.”
“Hello Young Master.” Wei Cheng spoke respectfully.
“Boss Wei, please sit down.”
Although Yun Chengfeng usually looks like a spoiled kid from a rich family, when it comes to serious business, he will put on the posture of a nobleman, “I am very satisfied with the dishes made by Boss Wei’s family recipe. I also know what you said before, no matter what plans Boss Wei has, I only want the best formula in Boss Wei’s hands.”
Wei Cheng thought to himself, he is worthy of being a member of a wealthy and noble family, he can point out the key points at one glance.
But he also has a way to deal with him.
“At present, the best formula in my hands is already in front of the young master” As for the “better” ones, research is needed in the future, it is unknown.
Yun Chengfeng raised his eyebrows, “At present?” He was not satisfied with this statement.
“Yes, these sauces are the sauces that I have prepared so far, and they can be sold to you. I can only use the previous recipes for business in the future. As for whether I will research a better sauce, that’s up to me.” There are tens of thousands of sauce recipes and different methods, and the so-called best is the combination of ingredients.
Not only did Yun Chengfeng not think this was a problem, but he smiled and said, “Boss Wei seems to be well prepared today.”
Wei Cheng drank his tea, but smiled and said nothing.
“If Boss Wei has other ideas, feel free to tell me.”
“The formula can be sold to the restaurant but I would like to discuss another type of cooperation with you.” This is the purpose of Wei Cheng’s visit today.
He didn’t need to waste his time talking and making detours to sell a formula, his goal was to get on the boat of Tai Fu Luo.
It was an unexpected surprise to meet and talk with the owner behind Tai Fu Luo.
Tai Fu Luo was able to rank first among the powers of aristocratic families everywhere in the inner county, and its background was definitely not ordinary.
With Tai Fu Luo as his backing, even if people from noble families came for him, it will be more convenient to do things in the future.
“I am in a good mood today, so let me hear what you mean by cooperation.” After speaking, he ordered Steward Quan to bring a table of pastries and dishes with drinks.
“You should be clear that no matter whether or not restaurants have exclusive recipes, the most indispensable recipe is the sauce. I have at least dozens of sauce recipes in my hand. If the ingredients are sold separately to restaurants, inns or even big families, and if they were sold to ordinary people’s homes- if this business is done, it will enter the business of tens of millions of people.”
“And I want to cooperate with you to open a sauce workshop.”
Yun Chengfeng pondered, and said, “This is a profitable business, but if my sauces were to be used by many, it is not profitable for me.”
“No, it will make your restaurant have a monopoly instead.”
“What do you mean?” Yun Chengfeng was very interested in this statement.
“With our own sauce factory, whether it’s ordinary sauces, high-end sauces, or even new sauces, the good ones can be supplied to our own restaurants alone. If this is not a monopoly then what is it?”
“No matter how good the recipe I research in the future, as a cooperation, you get to choose first..”
Yun Chengfeng smiled.
He was really moved.
He was leaning on agreeing, but for cooperation, he must see the actual formula, not just empty words.
Wei Cheng still sold the other recipes, but he made a request that the business at his stall can continue. The recipes sold are all improved recipes from the food at the stall, but the jelly, the noodles and sour plum soup were not sold to them.
As for the shredded chicken recipe, Wei Cheng said, “A special sesame oil is used for the shredded chicken, and the sesame oil alone is a new oil recipe.” It doesn’t mean that the oil can only be used for this.
The price of the sesame oil recipe alone is comparable to dozens of food recipes, and Wei Cheng can’t make a large amount of sesame oil for a while, so he can’t supply it.
Yun Chengfeng laughed angrily, so what did he mean?
Wei Cheng said that this meant sincere cooperation.
To Yun Chengfeng, Wei Cheng was like an ant that could be crushed to death at will in his eyes, but he had never been played like this before.
Yun Chengfeng restrained all his outward expressions, his gaze revealed danger, Wei Cheng still met the opponent’s gaze calmly, he was not afraid. Since he was able to propose cooperation, it was because he knew the other party’s personality on the premise.
Although he only had a brief conversation with the owner of Tai Fu Luo, he could also deduce the character of the other party. He was a treacherous and cunning person, a person who calculated behind the scenes, or even a person who bullied others with his power and name.
As for whether he was a good person or a bad person, this was not something that can be concluded.
All right, so as to not anger his future backer and since he knew that the children of the family also have the arrogance of the elders of the family, Wei Cheng sold the sesame oil formula cheaply.
The other recipes sold for two hundred taels, and the sesame oil recipe sold for three hundred taels, for a total of five hundred taels.
They signed a contract.
Wei Cheng read out the recipe on the spot, he didn’t know how to write with a brush, so he didn’t make a fool of himself.
Yun Chengfeng rolled his eyes, a person who has a good business plan can’t even write, just now, he almost forgot that this person is still a rural man, not a child from any aristocratic family.
With the recipe written out, then the cooking and making of the sauce must be learned by others from Wei Cheng, otherwise they will have to study it by themselves.
The restaurant must send people to learn, and the people who learn are definitely subordinates of the Yun family, not people hired from outside.
Both parties have reached an agreement, and the one in charge of the signing was Steward Quan- there was no need for the young master to handle such details so Yun Chengfeng left first.
In the end, when Wei Cheng headed back, he asked Steward Quan if he wanted any more of the untouched dishes on the table, and if he didn’t, he would pack them back so as not to waste them.
The food box he brought couldn’t fit all of the food so he had the cheek to ask Steward Quan for a food box, saying that he’ll return it another day.
Steward Quan didn’t care about the food box, so he didn’t have to return it.
With Steward Quan’s black face behind him, Wei Cheng was content to go home with two food boxes.
Manager Quan reported the matter to his young master, but Yun Chengfeng found it interesting.
Steward Quan was puzzled, “The young master seems to be very optimistic about Wei Cheng. He is just an ordinary farmer, do you really want to cooperate with him?”
Yun Chengfeng swiped the fan in his hand and closed it, “Wei Cheng is not such a simple person. Cooperation is a matter of cooperation. It still depends on what skills he can show to convince me. At present, it is unknown.” His tone changed, and his seriousness became lazy. “People are not as rigid as you in how they do things, and they have their own set of ideas, Uncle Quan and Yan Yi, you should learn more from him.”
Yun Chengfeng leaned back in his chair, “Don’t underestimate a small person, not when they have the power of ants.” He doesn’t know how capable Wei Cheng is at the moment but it doesn’t prevent him from looking at him differently.
The embankment of a thousand miles collapses in the ant nest.Steward Quan thought of that sentence.
t/n: bonus chaps once again avail at ko-fi, thanks!
Keep doing bussines Wei Cheng!!!
Thanks for the update!!
Thank You for the new chapter (๑˙❥˙๑)
Thanks for the chapter! Never underestimate ants.
Thank you for the chapter!!