Chapter 38:
Shopkeeper Zhu had already agreed in his heart, but in the end, he still asked,
“Since you’ve already analyzed the pros and cons, why do you want to sell it?”
Luo Zhi’er glanced at Li Changshun. Li Changshun was pale-faced and coldly staring at her. She said indifferently,
“Chef Li said it right. Currently, my family can’t even fill our stomachs. To support the family and for our livelihood, I’m worried. Two thousand taels can solve my urgent problem. I can’t let my daughter go hungry with me…”
“Otherwise, I would never come to sell my exclusive recipe that I developed. That’s the fruit of many years of my hard work. After all, my ideas and dream are to open my own restaurant!”
She spoke openly about her plans and current predicament…
“Alright, let me think about this matter.”
The person outside then lifted foot and moved a step, entering the inner room. Before leaving, he specifically had the waiter relay a message to Shopkeeper Zhu.
“Have Shopkeeper Zhu come find me when it’s over.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Although the restaurant was idle, there were still occasionally people coming to order fried rice and such. The back kitchen was temporarily held up by the apprentices chopping vegetables…
Chef Li and Chef Xie greeted Shopkeeper Zhu and went downstairs to attend to proper business…
Then Shopkeeper Zhu was called away…
Luo Zhi’er sat alone in the room, silently pondering. From the tone, it seemed Shopkeeper Zhu couldn’t make the decision himself. One thousand taels was not a small amount; he needed to report to the boss in the background…
Good things take time, so she would wait a bit more. Good stuff wouldn’t worry about not being bought.
After about twenty minutes, Shopkeeper Zhu came back, bringing paper and pen, contract templates. “Luo Niangzi, sorry to keep you waiting.”
“No problem.”
“Here’s the thing: we’ve decided to buy your recipe at Yumian Tower. This is the contract for buying termite mushroom oil, and this is the contract for the recipe. Please take a look…”
“If you think there’s no problem, let’s discuss the price of the termite mushroom oil. Here’s paper and pen. Then we’ll sign it, and you write down the recipe, of course including that marketing strategy you mentioned.”
This was specially mentioned by the master; he couldn’t take it lightly…
“Good.”
Shopkeeper Zhu added, “Luo Niangzi, do you want to call your man in?”
“No need.”
Luo Zhi’er first picked up the termite mushroom oil contract and lowered her head to read it.
Shopkeeper Zhu was stunned. He called her man because he was afraid she was illiterate. She… knows characters?
Luo Zhi’er carefully examined it attentively, understanding in her heart. This contract was probably modified from the standard template used when signing with others before.
Luo Zhi’er pointed to the things written on the contract and said, “Shopkeeper Zhu, there’s ‘deliver goods twice a week, prepay deposit, no objection to how much silver per jar.’ But can I add one more requirement?”
“Oh?”
He thought she was illiterate. How many rural women know characters? This really surprised him…
“Please go ahead, Luo Niangzi…”
“You know, for the food business, food quality and safety must be the top priority and guaranteed.”
“One ingredient goes through many processes and hands from raw materials to the table. What reaches the stomach is delicious food, sometimes also poison.”
“What I mean is, I make the product and deliver it. You must have dedicated personnel to inspect the food’s safety. Only if it’s fine can it be accepted into storage, and storage must also have dedicated management…”
Shopkeeper Zhu didn’t expect her to consider it so meticulously and comprehensively, just like someone with operating experience. It was convincing. He nodded, “No problem!”
“Also on price, I wonder how much silver per jar Shopkeeper Zhu thinks this termite mushroom oil is worth? My one jar is exactly ten jin peeled.”
“Like this: six hundred wen per jar, deliver twice a week, number of jars increase or decrease based on demand, no less than one jar per week, prepay for three months first. If stable later, continue like this. If sales are good and more is needed, we’ll negotiate. What do you think?”
Luo Zhi’er thought about it. Besides picking and making labor costs, there were raw material costs for lard and other seasonings…
Of course, hers earned several times over…
“Shopkeeper Zhu, there’s an issue I need to mention. This termite mushroom oil is only available in summer and autumn seasons, and it has requirements for storage environment and edible time…”
“For summer and autumn, I can naturally guarantee delivery, but other seasons temporarily no goods.”
“Only summer and autumn?”
Shopkeeper Zhu was a bit caught off guard…
“You know, this ingredient of mine is picked from the mountains and wilderness. Termite mushrooms only appear in summer and autumn…”
“However… you don’t need to worry. When out of stock, I can make other similar termite mushroom oil products for mixing with rice or noodles.”
“The taste is also good. We’ll negotiate then!”
“Good!”
Next was the big one, the recipe contract…
Luo Zhi’er quietly looked at it for a while,
“Shopkeeper Zhu, for this deal, it’s a one-time buyout. Naturally, I won’t mention the sold recipes…”
“In the future, even if I do this business, these dishes will absolutely not appear in my restaurant. These dishes come from Yumian Tower’s recipes…”
“What?”
Surprise showed in Shopkeeper Zhu’s eyes. This was beneficial and harmless to his restaurant. His contract stated she couldn’t resell her recipes, but didn’t restrict her from using them herself…
After all, these things are also people’s livelihood for supporting family…
Luo Zhi’er’s operation gave even more sincerity, reassurance, openness, and uprightness. Say no and it’s no…
Doesn’t she regret it?
In the future, if these dishes become famous worldwide, it’s from her hand, also a reputation promotion for her…
“But… I also have a request for your restaurant. I hope you can keep confidential that it was I, Luo Zhi’er, who sold the recipe to the restaurant. No matter who asks, keep it secret, including my family, relatives, even spouse, okay?”
“No problem!”
“Mm, after signing, I will assist you to fully master these recipes. If nothing unexpected, I will come deliver later…”
“You first make more according to the recipes I give, should learn them. If problems, I can help check when I deliver.”
Others coming home to find her would cause doubt…
“In short, I will cooperate to help you thoroughly learn the recipes.”
“Good!”
…
Going through each item, both contracts needed changes. Luo Zhi’er took paper and pen, lay on the table, and wrote vigorously…
Rewrote the contracts, total four sheets of paper, two copies each.
This brush writing wasn’t as good as modern pens, but she could write small seal script, which surprised even herself.
After writing, she handed it to Shopkeeper Zhu to see. Shopkeeper Zhu took it, glanced, and widened his eyes: “Really didn’t expect, Luo Niangzi’s handwriting is so elegant and graceful. Zhu was really blind…”
It wasn’t that he was blind, but this font formed a stark contrast with her person. If not said, others would think it was written by some thousand-gold lady from a boudoir!
When she was serious, she felt very serene. He even suspected a very beautiful woman lived in her soul…
“You’re too kind…”
Shopkeeper Zhu had her wait a moment and turned to the side room.
She then settled down to write the recipe, one dish by one dish in order, corresponding to each dish’s raw materials, seasonings, heat, stir-fry, boil time, all carefully marked.
Termite mushroom oil’s storage environment requirements, edible time…
When she finished writing almost, Shopkeeper Zhu returned. He had already stamped and handprinted there…
She also decisively signed her name and handprinted…
Shopkeeper Zhu went to the accounting room to withdraw silver. She wrote beverage making methods…
Marketing strategy:
First issue flyers, do promotion…
Issue membership cards for discounts when dining at his place.
Spend certain amount get coupons, deduct next time. After rectification, first month dining at restaurant get discount…
Give small foods, like small golden beans, small pot crisps, small pastries. Have dedicated play area for children with attendant service…
When she came out, the sun outside was already tilting west…
Li Sanmao had been waiting anxiously for a long time, pacing back and forth in another room…
