Chapter 411: Wishes Fulfilled and Unfulfilled

Chapter 411: Chapter 411: Wishes Fulfilled and Unfulfilled

"The restaurants and taverns here in the Northern Pass might be unfamiliar with spices, but my Liuxian Building was the first to use them."

Manager Liu began with this statement.

It both revealed his familiarity with spices and served as an indirect message to Ji Huan: Liuxian Building had been using them for a long time, so a partnership with Ji’s Flavor Industry wasn’t a necessity.

’He’s clearly trying to play mind games.’

But how could Ji Huan be fooled by him?

"However, you’ve only ever used single spices, never a blend like this. Am I correct in my guess?"

As early as last year, when she had asked Xin Ziqi to procure seeds, she had learned that spices were relatively common as seasonings in the Southern regions, and that some restaurants in town had also begun to experiment with them.

Even in the South they were still only using single spices, so what could be expected of the businesses in Yeyang who were merely following the trend?

Therefore, Ji Huan was neither surprised nor worried.

Manager Liu paused for a moment, then stroked his beard and smiled. "Proprietor Ji, you are a discerning person who speaks plainly, so I will be direct as well. Liuxian Building’s main branch is in the Capital City, with locations spread across more than ten prefectures and several hundred counties of the Great Zhou. The branch I manage doesn’t even rank in the top fifty. Two years ago, many of our Southern branches started using spices in their cooking, and our branch here only began to follow suit last spring... Although the Northern Pass is a key military stronghold, it is far less prosperous than Jiangnan. This has led to my situation of always being a step behind, merely picking up others’ scraps. I never expected..."

I never expected a shop selling seasonings to suddenly appear in the city.

He had just taken a trip to the South a few months ago, so he knew better than anyone that the products in this shop were unique; they weren’t available even in the South.

"So I have come today, Proprietor Ji, to discuss a business proposition with you."

Before Manager Liu even spoke, Ji Huan knew what he was going to say. It would be about an exclusive partnership or buying her secret recipes.

After all, Liuxian Building was a massive enterprise with powerful backing; they hardly needed to share a bowl of rice with anyone.

And just as Ji Huan had guessed, Manager Liu offered a hefty sum, wanting to acquire Ji’s Flavor Industry in its entirety.

If Ji Huan just nodded, she could instantly become a bona fide wealthy woman. How could that not be better than showing her face in public to do business?

Manager Liu had come feeling ninety percent certain, but seeing Ji Huan’s obvious temptation after hearing the amount, his confidence instantly soared to one hundred percent.

Ji Huan was indeed tempted. And as her heart fluttered with temptation, she refused.

Her reasons were much the same as when she had refused Manager Hong.

Having lived for half a lifetime, Manager Liu could naturally tell the difference between someone playing hard to get to jack up the price and a genuine refusal.

Fortunately, he was also a sensible man. Since this path was blocked, he would simply find another. In any case, he was determined to partner with Ji’s Flavor Industry one way or another.

"How about this, then..."

After seeing Manager Liu off, Ji Huan fell into deep thought.

Liuxian Building was spread across the entire country, which for Ji’s Flavor Industry, was a ready-made sales network. This network was mature and vast. Even if she only partnered with one branch for now, there was always the chance of a full-scale collaboration in the future.

Xu Laifu was also incredibly excited.

"Proprietor, don’t hesitate! What is there to hesitate about? Liuxian Building is the top restaurant in Yeyang. Even Quanju Xuan has only managed to catch up in the last couple of years. And I heard that Quanju Xuan only started using spices because they stole the idea from Liuxian Building..."

Ji Huan crossed her arms and paced for a while.

"Alright. You watch the shop. I’m going to Hongfu Restaurant."

After Manager Hong heard Ji Huan explain her purpose, he sighed.

"To be honest, I always knew this day would come. With a product this good, there’s no way Liuxian Building and Quanju Xuan would remain indifferent. It wouldn’t be realistic to ask you to turn down two major clients like them... My only ambition was to secure a place for myself here on East Street; I never had any intention of competing with those two. But for you to come and tell me this today... I’m truly grateful."

"You are our first long-term customer. When I gave you those few recipes as a bonus, I never specified whether I would give them to other partners in the future, so I felt it was necessary to talk to you... But rest assured, what has been given to Hongfu Restaurant will not be given to another. Even if I do provide recipes, they will be completely different... And I can guarantee you that no more than three establishments, including yours, will receive this kind of treatment."

"Really?!"

Ji Huan nodded. "Liuxian Building is interested in adding a sweet and sour flavor profile to their menu, separate from their regular cuisine. Your restaurant currently leans toward spicy and numbing flavors, so there’s no conflict."

Receiving this affirmative reply, Manager Hong’s sorrow instantly turned to joy.

He had thought his restaurant’s signature dishes were done for. He had even envisioned a mass exodus of his customers if Liuxian Building started selling the same things.

He never expected this, never at all!

"Oh, Proprietor Ji, Proprietor Ji..." Manager Hong was so happy he was rubbing his hands together. "I, Old Hong, wasn’t wrong about you! We must continue to work together for a long time!"

Ji Huan smiled. "Of course."

When she returned from Hongfu Restaurant, she found someone new in the shop.

Xu Laifu had a troubled look on his face. Seeing Ji Huan enter, he quickly went to greet her.

"This man is from Quanju Xuan. A little while ago, they sent an assistant over who said he wanted to buy our secret recipes. I told him straight up that it’s not possible, so the assistant left. But then their manager came... His surname is Quan," Xu Laifu whispered as a reminder.

This Manager Quan was incredibly arrogant, disdaining even to speak with Xu Laifu and demanding to see the proprietor directly.

Now that Ji Huan had returned, he saw that she was just a young girl, and the disdain in his eyes grew even stronger.

He pulled a stack of silver notes from his sleeve and slapped it directly onto the table.

"This is to buy all your secret recipes. From now on, Ji’s Flavor Industry will close down, and you can no longer sell your seasonings to anyone, especially not to Liuxian Building... Do I make myself clear?"

’Ha! This man has an even bigger appetite than Manager Liu.’

Manager Liu was shrewd and ambitious, yes, but at least he was reasonable.

But this Manager Quan wanted to completely buy out Ji Huan’s possibility of ever working in a related industry again.

"To be perfectly honest, Manager Quan, you are not the first person to make such a request, and you probably won’t be the last. But no matter who asks, my answer is always the same—not possible, no deal, and not for sale."

Manager Quan’s eyes flickered. "The one named Liu wanted to buy you out too?"

Ji Huan gave a noncommittal response.

This only strengthened Manager Quan’s resolve.

He pulled a few more silver notes from his sleeve, slapped them on the table, and pushed the whole stack toward Ji Huan.

"This should be enough to keep you fed and clothed for the rest of your life, shouldn’t it? I advise you to stop playing coy and take a good offer when you see one."

Then there was nothing more to discuss. It was time to see him out.

Manager Quan never expected her to be so ungrateful. His face ashen, he snatched up the silver notes and stormed out with a flick of his sleeve.

Xu Laifu thought this Manager Quan was not only shameless but also delusional.

"But by doing this... have we offended him?"

Ji Huan scoffed.

’With some people, if you don’t give them what they want, they consider it an offense.’

’But if I give him what he wants, I won’t get what I want.’

"Don’t worry. As long as Manager Liu signs a contract with us, he’ll be back. Go and invite Manager Liu over."