The Prime Minister’s Little Wife

Chapter 29: Technical Investment

Xu Zhizhi wasn’t in a hurry. If the deal worked out, she’d earn more. If it didn’t, there was no loss.

Although Nangong Yunhao didn’t believe in gods, he couldn’t explain how bean sprouts were grown. When planted in the ground, they grew into green shoots, so he didn’t dare act recklessly.

“Growing bean sprouts isn’t actually difficult. Anyone can do it if they know the method,” Xu Zhizhi said, seeing that the other party was struggling to figure it out. She decided to give a hint.

Nangong Yunhao’s eyes lit up. He had thought only this girl could grow them.

He had been wondering how to expand to Luocheng and other places.

Now that the puzzle was solved, Nangong Yunhao’s furrowed brows relaxed.

“How about this? I’ll give you 20% of the profits from all bean sprout dishes sold in every Drunken Fragrance Pavilion across the country. What do you think?”

“20%! And from all branches nationwide? Good heavens, that’s a fortune!” Xu Zhizhi was no longer calm.

She had expected him to offer a thousand or so taels of silver for the recipe!

Was it really okay to give her 20% of the profits for something so simple?

But she didn’t want to pass up such a great opportunity either. What should she do?

Finally, Nangong Yunhao saw a look of greed on the girl’s face.

Even if she wasn’t infatuated with him, her infatuation with his wealth was still quite satisfying!

“Miss Xu, could you explain how to grow bean sprouts?” Nangong Yunhao asked, feeling at ease.

“Let’s sign the contract first, then I’ll teach you,” Xu Zhizhi said. She thought to herself: If I tell him now, will he still give me 20% of the profits? He probably won’t even give me a penny!

“It’s almost lunchtime. You go arrange for the contract to be written, and I’ll go to the kitchen to make a couple of new dishes for you to try. If they’re good, we can promote them as new menu items,” Xu Zhizhi suggested.

She thought: 20% of the profits from a nationwide chain! It wouldn’t be fair to just offer bean sprouts.

This was a technical investment for dividends. She needed to develop a few more dishes so she could sit at home and count her money later…

Nangong Yunhao had no objections. He also wanted to taste Miss Xu’s cooking.

Xu Zhizhi left the room to find her third uncle and Xu Dahu. They had just eaten, so it was the perfect time for them to go buy a donkey or an ox cart.

She took a small basket from Xu Dahu and pulled out ten taels of silver from it [actually from her portable space], handing it to her third uncle.

This time, Third Uncle didn’t refuse. Buying an ox cart required money, and he now knew his niece had plenty of it.

Xu Zhizhi said, “Come back here for lunch. I’m going to make a few dishes for the boss to try.”

Third Uncle and Xu Dahu both imagined selling a recipe for a hundred taels…

They left with light steps.

Xu Zhizhi chuckled and turned around, about to head straight to the kitchen, when she saw Old Doctor Shangguan standing in line.

She quickly walked over and asked, “Doctor, what are you standing in line for?”

“Ah! Don’t ask! Ever since Drunken Fragrance Pavilion started serving boiled meat slices, I’ve been craving them every day. I’ve had the boiled fish and meat slices the past few days, but I still can’t get the boiled beef!”

Old Doctor Shangguan said with a worried expression.

“But you don’t need to come in person. Just send a medicine boy.”

“Sun Hao has been coming to buy it for me the past few days, but yesterday he waited from morning till night and still couldn’t get any. I’m so desperate that I came myself to see if anyone would give an old man like me some face.”

“I’ve been standing here for two hours, and it’s still not my turn!”

“Then come with me to the kitchen! I’m about to make some new dishes. You can try them later.”

“Miss Xu, are you joking? You’re making new dishes?” Old Doctor Shangguan asked in surprise.

Xu Zhizhi tilted her head and whispered, “To be honest, the recent boiled dishes were all sold to Drunken Fragrance Pavilion by me.”

The old doctor fell silent and quickly followed her inside.

Along the way, the waiters, kitchen staff, and chefs all greeted the young girl politely.

Old Doctor Shangguan was delighted. Today, he would finally get to eat the boiled beef he had been longing for.

And it wouldn’t cost him a penny! How could he not be excited?

Eating out every day was expensive, after all.

“Miss Xu, your Brother Xiao has also been asking for boiled meat slices and boiled fish every day. He’s going to eat me out of house and home!” Old Doctor Shangguan began to lobby for benefits.

Xu Zhizhi found it amusing. This old man was quite the character. He couldn’t get what he wanted by waiting in line, so he was trying to get it for free! Why not just fly to the heavens?

“Then just give him porridge! How can I let you go broke? Or just send him back.”

“He’s lost his memory. I don’t know where to send him.”

“If you’re providing food and shelter, and he’s still picky, just throw him out.”

“No, no, that won’t do! I owe you money, and I must repay it. I’ll use my coffin savings to feed him first.”

Old Doctor Shangguan still wanted those precious medicinal herbs, so he added, “I always finish what I start. If I say I can cure him, I will. How can I give up halfway?”

Xu Zhizhi had just been teasing him. Seeing him get anxious, she said, “I’ll talk to Drunken Fragrance Pavilion. From now on, they’ll prepare a different signature dish for the three of you every day.”

“Really? Thank you, Zhizhi! I’ll pay for it,” Old Doctor Shangguan said, his tone changing as soon as he heard he wouldn’t have to wait in line.

He thought to himself that today’s trip had been worth it.

Xu Zhizhi said, “You don’t have to pay. Just put it on Brother Xiao’s tab.”

[In her heart, she thought back to the day she had seen the beggar lying on the ground. His dark eyes had been filled with sharpness, cruelty, and disgust.]

[She had instinctively felt that he was a man with a story, perhaps a potential stock. If nurtured well, he might make a good candidate for her future husband.]

[But from what Nangong Yunhao had just said, he had come specifically to look for someone. If her guess was correct, he was looking for Xiao Jingheng, who was probably not short of money.]

As Xu Zhizhi was thinking, she heard Old Doctor Shangguan say:

“Xiao Jingheng has been in a bad mood these past couple of days!”

“What’s wrong? Is his leg hurting badly?”

“It doesn’t seem to be that. I’m not sure exactly, but it started after my wayward disciple gave him a mirror.”

“Hahaha!” Xu Zhizhi suddenly burst out laughing.

She could imagine it: a man who was once peerlessly handsome suddenly had a few black “earthworms” crawling across his face due to the poison. Anyone would be upset!

Fortunately, the small kitchen only had one person washing vegetables and doing odd jobs. It was almost mealtime, and the chefs were all busy.

“Zhizhi, what are you laughing at? Is there something I don’t know?”

“Nothing. I was just thinking about the new dishes I’m going to make today.”

Manager Li had prepared the ingredients for the boiled beef. He asked, “Miss Xu, do you need anything else?”

“Just an old duck. The seasonings and other ingredients are already in the kitchen.”

Xu Zhizhi started boiling the beef while preparing the ingredients for the old duck vermicelli soup. She also decided to make steamed rice noodles.

She took out a large handful of sweet potato noodles from her basket [actually from her portable space].

The old duck was chopped into pieces, washed, and marinated with oil and soy sauce for a while.

The vermicelli was soaked in hot water until soft, then drained.

Green onions, garlic, and ginger were chopped and set aside.

When the beef was ready, she added a bit of spiritual spring water from her portable space, making the flavor even more delicious.

(End of Chapter)