"My braised meat is delicious. As long as one puts their heart into it, I believe people will come to me for cooperation. I just didn't expect Manager Song to come so quickly, it's only been two days."
Her answer did not disappoint. At this moment, Song Mingliang no longer dared to treat her as an ordinary woman.
He became interested and asked, "How do we cooperate? Tell me about it!"
Zhao Jiaqi offered two options: "One, we prepare it and sell it to you. For the meat dishes, it's forty wen per jin. For the braised dishes, it's five wen per jin."
"Second, or you provide the meat, and we handle the processing, giving you ten wen in copper coins per jin. You can choose one of the two methods."
At first glance, the latter option seemed to involve no loss.
But upon closer consideration, cleaning the meat also required workers, and the costs were not small. Furthermore, they had to buy the ingredients themselves. Therefore, he dismissed the second option.
After weighing the pros and cons, Song Mingliang quickly made a decision: "I choose the first option. However, can the price be a little cheaper? As you know, our grand restaurant employs many people. Regarding the price... could it be lower!"
"Manager Song, one braised rabbit can be divided into two plates, each weighing one jin. Forty wen per plate is not excessive, right? Another plate would be pure profit, or we could add some side dishes to the braised rabbit... wouldn't that be the case."
Talking with her, Song Mingliang felt as if he had been enlightened, his mind instantly clearing up. He slapped his thigh in public: "Agreed, we'll do as you say, but I have a condition: the braised meat and dishes can only be supplied to us exclusively."
Zhao Jiaqi finally revealed a genuine smile, her eyes curving as she smiled: "No problem, but our family has limited manpower, so the daily supply will definitely not be large. Moreover, a deposit must be paid. If we make the product and you refuse it, this deposit will not be refunded."
The deposit was merely a guarantee. She explained it clearly, and Song Mingliang understood it well. The two immediately agreed to start deliveries that evening.
Before leaving, to be on the safe side, Song Mingliang said to Zhao Jiaqi: "When you deliver tonight, we must sign a contract to prevent either party from defaulting."
"I understand," she agreed without hesitation.
A contract was a double-edged sword, constraining them as much as it constrained her.
After they reached an agreement, Song Mingliang gave her a deposit of ten taels: "Keep this deposit. When the delivery volume increases in the future, this deposit will be raised. From now on, deliveries will be settled on the spot, and payments will never be delayed. This is Tianxiang Lou's promise to you, and I also hope you can keep your word."
Hearing this, Zhao Jiaqi felt even more that this manager was a meticulous person who handled matters without any loopholes and was very organized. She actually enjoyed working with such people.
"The manager is reasonable, and I am naturally not someone who is indecisive. I will do as I say."
After Zhao Jiaqi saw Song Mingliang off, she turned around and was embraced by Fan Zehao. He was displeased: "You talked to him for a long time, and you didn't say that much to me."
He was being petty, even jealous of an older man.
She playfully tugged at the stubble on his face and teased him with a smile, "Compared to Manager Song, you really look older. Your beard can be braided into pigtails."
What was said in jest was taken to heart. Fan Zehao got angry and turned to leave.
Today's harvest was quite substantial. Eight of the ten rabbits were killed by Fan Zehao. He kept the remaining male and female in a cage, and it seemed he truly intended to raise them.
Fine, Zhao Jiaqi did not object to this hobby.
However, raising them was not a bad idea. Then he wouldn't have to go up the mountain to hunt, which would earn more and avoid danger. It was a win-win situation.
At lunchtime, Fan Zehao was sulking and refused to come out to eat. When the braised meat was ready in the afternoon for delivery, he hesitantly and grudgingly came out of the room.
The moment she saw him emerge, Zhao Jiaqi almost dropped what she was holding.
"You... you..." Where did this handsome guy come from?
Thick eyebrows, large eyes, a fair complexion, a high-bridged nose, thin lips, and a chiseled face – all spoke of a manly aura about him.
He walked up to his wife and pouted, "I'm younger than him, better looking than him, and stronger than him!" He raised his arm, and his biceps bulged immediately, showing off to her.
"Who?" After listing several people consecutively, Zhao Jiaqi was momentarily confused before she understood who he was referring to. She smiled and nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, yes, my husband is much handsomer than him. No one is as good-looking as my husband!"
She simply praised Fan Zehao a few times, and his face immediately brightened from gloomy to sunny. He grinned foolishly, shouldered the bamboo basket, and pulled her hand as they went out the door.
As they walked through the village, many people were stunned.
The young wives looked at the handsome, rugged man and the muscles exposed on his arms. They couldn't help but blush, marveling and discussing whether the sun had risen from the west, causing him to shave off a decade's worth of beard.
The men, after looking, compared themselves to him and were immediately disheartened.
Tianxiang Lou.
If Fan Zehao hadn't pulled Zhao Jiaqi in, Song Mingliang wouldn't have recognized him. He was that simple, strong fellow, but he looked so spirited. There was no hint of the stubborn fool he used to be.
Soon, the braised rabbit and dishes were weighed. Song Mingliang immediately settled the accounts. It was then that Zhao Jiaqi brought out the roast chicken and spicy rabbit heads.
"This is roast chicken. I usually sell them for one hundred wen each, but for you, it's sixty wen per chicken. As for this rabbit head, it's a new product I've made. Try it first and see if you like it. If it's good, I'll sell it to you. If not, I'll sell it at the stall!"
When she presented the new product, Song Mingliang's eyes were fixed on the red rabbit heads. When he heard that he could try them, he was not shy at all.
He ate while smacking his lips, finishing the rabbit head and gnawing it clean. Seeing his unseemly eating habits, Fan Zehao turned his head away, showing him the back of his head.
"Although this rabbit head doesn't have much meat, it tastes good. It's a good dish with wine. Tell me, how much are you selling it for?" Song Mingliang evaluated after sipping some tea to wash away the spiciness in his mouth.
Zhao Jiaqi: "Honestly, the rabbit heads themselves aren't expensive, but the ingredients are costly. Each rabbit head is eight wen, and I can't go any lower."
Eight wen?
It wasn't cheap, but this new product could attract many customers. Song Mingliang only thought for a moment before deciding to take it.
"No problem, I'll take it."
Song Mingliang was straightforward, and Zhao Jiaqi was not one to be coy. She immediately collected money for the remaining seven rabbit heads, charging for five and giving two to Song Mingliang as gifts.
Song Mingliang chuckled and teased her: "I thought you'd be gifting these to me, but it seems I was mistaken."
"Manager Song has a vast business, so he wouldn't lack such a thing from me. But it's different for me. Forty wen, for us country folk, can buy a month's worth of grain. We have to live frugally."