coobybook Chapter 174 Seeking Cooperation with Restaurants
Chapter 174 Seeking Cooperation with Restaurants
He took a deep breath and said, “Father, Mother, this turmeric can be sold for nineteen coins a pound at Feng’s Pharmacy. When my elder brother heard that we wanted to grow turmeric, he gave me twenty pounds without saying a word and didn’t charge me. Even at the price that the villagers buy it for, it’s worth three hundred and forty coins. I think my elder brother is already very kind.”
Sun pursed her lips. "Tch, he only gave us this little bit, and you're already taking his side. If he were really so kind, he would have helped us plant the seeds long ago, instead of waiting until we were about to come over before giving us this little bit. How big of a field can you plant with just twenty catties of seeds?"
"Hmph, I think it's clearly because he's rich now that he looks down on us poor folks."
Shen Qianchuan disagreed, saying, "Mother, you can't say that. My elder brother worked hard all season to earn money. He even took money from the village head's family, but he didn't take any from us. Isn't that because he cares about our relationship?"
"Hmph, he's moved to town now, he must have saved up a lot of money, so of course he doesn't care about this little bit of money for turmeric. I wouldn't even consider it if he only gave me this little bit..."
After Sun made a series of sarcastic remarks, Mr. Shen, growing impatient, immediately interrupted, "That's enough. He's already given it all. Why are you still babbling on and on? If you think it's too little, go ask him for it yourself. I can't bring myself to do it."
Sun's lips were pouting, and even though she was dissatisfied, she dared not refute her husband.
A few days later, Lin Qingchuan and Shui Sheng's turmeric were all sold out. The village head took the initiative to discuss renting land with them, saying that he would rent their land to grow turmeric for one season to try it out. As long as the next harvest was profitable, they would rent it for a long time, and everything would be based on the market rent, which would be converted into grain.
Lin Qingchuan and Shui Sheng were naturally willing. Since their families didn't farm, they wouldn't have any readily available food. If the village head was willing to give them a discount on grain, they wouldn't need to buy it from the grain store.
After the villagers finished harvesting the rice, they gradually began to cultivate the fields to plant rice and turmeric. Some villagers bought a lot and planted one or two acres of turmeric at a time, while others bought less and only dared to plant half an acre to try it out. However, half of the villagers in Guihua Village planted turmeric. The other villagers were hesitant to plant until they saw a profit and decided to wait until the village head planted a season's worth of turmeric before making a decision.
Once the matter of turmeric was finished, Lin Xiaotang and her father went to Dushui County to deliver braised pig's trotters, and on the way, they also bought a horse to take home.
Lin Qingchuan and Shuisheng stayed home to make a horse-drawn carriage, while Lin Xiaotang and Xiao Jiu went to Dushui County to deliver braised pig trotters. Liu Shi and her youngest daughter stayed in town to look after the house.
In just three days, Lin Qingchuan and Shuisheng had finished making a new carriage. Shuisheng and Xiao Jiu then drove the carriage to Dushui County to deliver braised pig's trotters, while Lin Qingchuan and his eldest daughter drove another carriage to Pingding County to discuss cooperation with a restaurant.
The father and daughter brought ten braised pig trotters, five spiced and five spicy.
On the way, Lin Qingchuan said worriedly, "Tang'er, your father assured your Uncle Shuisheng that we would definitely be able to negotiate a new restaurant partnership. What if we can't reach an agreement?"
Lin Xiaotang smiled faintly, "Dad, don't worry, we'll definitely be able to negotiate. Do you remember when we first talked to Manager Su, he didn't like greasy fatty meat and refused to even try it?"
Lin Qingchuan nodded, "I remember, how could I not remember? Manager Su took one look and refused. He was unwilling to try it. My heart sank immediately. I was so nervous, afraid that the cooperation would fall through and our money would be wasted."
"Yes, back then, Manager Su was unwilling to try it, and I was also unsure. But Manager Su, who can't stand greasy food, took one bite and immediately decided to cooperate. This proves that our braised pig's trotters are good. So, we don't need to worry. There are several restaurants in Pingding County, and there are always discerning customers."
The father and daughter traveled all the way to the county, carrying braised pig's trotters to each restaurant owner to discuss cooperation.
Of the four large restaurants, they only met the owners of two. Both owners said they had already tasted the braised pig's trotters from Dushui County and were already making and selling them privately. The owners of the other two restaurants happened to be away, so they didn't meet them. However, they did meet the managers of the restaurants.
The manager of one restaurant said that his own chef could make this dish after tasting it, and was unwilling to recommend it to the owner. However, the manager of another restaurant, Fuqing Restaurant, was impressed after tasting it.
Manager Jiang smiled and said, "Hmm, not bad. Your braised pig's trotters are indeed delicious. However, pig's trotters are not a rare delicacy. It's just that you put a lot of effort into the preparation. It's not easy to sell this dish in a restaurant. Our manager is known for being picky in Pingding County. Our Fuqing Restaurant uses only the best ingredients and the seasonings. I'm afraid this braised pig's trotters won't meet our manager's standards."
He rolled his eyes and said, "How about this, you sell us the formula, and when my manager comes back tomorrow, I'll have a good talk with him and ask him to give you more money, how about that?"
Ha, what a scheme! On one hand, they say they look down on this cheap food, but on the other hand, they want to buy the recipe for braised pig's trotters. They're dreaming!
Seeing that he had already talked to several large restaurants but had failed to reach an agreement, Lin Qingchuan was dejected and had no desire to talk to Manager Jiang anymore.
Lin Xiaotang's eyes remained firm and unaffected. She smiled and said, "The braised pig's trotters sold at Yunlai Restaurant in Qinghe Town and Wanhe Restaurant in Dushui County are supplied by my father and me. If we sell the recipe to you, then all our previous cooperation will have to be canceled. So we are determined not to sell the recipe for braised pig's trotters. Since Manager Jiang said that your manager probably doesn't think much of our food, then we'd better go ask other places. Please forgive us for taking up Manager Jiang's time."
After saying that, she took her father's hand and said, "Dad, let's go."
When Manager Jiang saw them about to leave, he was extremely conflicted. He had deliberately said those things, intentionally belittling the pig's trotters as cheap, just to buy their recipe so he could curry favor with the shopkeeper. He just hadn't expected that this little girl would be so clever, using his words to tease him without falling for it.
To be honest, the braised pig's trotters really taste good, even better than some of the dishes in their restaurant. Moreover, they are already supplying two restaurants in Qinghe Town and Dushui County, which proves that the braised pig's trotters are selling well in those two restaurants. Otherwise, they would have stopped supplying them long ago.
Recently, he also heard that two restaurants on the street had started selling braised pig's trotters, but the sales were not good. In his opinion, it must be because the recipes of those two restaurants were not good.
If their restaurant could reach an agreement with the father and daughter, wouldn't that be a small blow to those two families?
Thinking of this, he immediately chased after them to the restaurant entrance and called out, "Gentlemen, please wait."
Lin Xiaotang and her father exchanged a glance and slowly turned around.
"Did Steward Jiang call us over for something else?"
Manager Jiang smiled awkwardly and said, "My manager will be back tomorrow. Why don't you come back tomorrow and talk to him directly? If he's willing to let you supply him, that would be a good thing."
Upon hearing this, Lin Xiaotang immediately felt that there was still room for maneuver in the matter.