144 I Do Not Accept This Condition
“Where is the remaining tofu? Our manager says he wants it all!”
The person who had come was none other than Visitor’s Aroma’s bartender.
During lunch, Manager Lin gave early customers a small portion of tofu per table. The remaining tofu was then almost immediately ordered up by them.
When later customers came and saw the new dishes, they all wanted to try them out. However, the tofu was already sold out. Hence, Manager Lin sent the bartender to find Zhao Chuchu, hoping there was still tofu remaining.
Zhao Meilan apologetically said, “Bro, we just sold off our last bit of tofu.”
“What? Sold out? Is there none left?” asked the bartender as he stretched out his neck to take a look. He immediately revealed a look of disappointment. He then said, “Then, what do I do? There are many customers still waiting for the tofu dishes. Mrs. Xie, can I trouble you to follow me back to the tavern to speak with the manager? Otherwise, he will blame me.”
This bartender was not like Fuzi. He was an honest person.
Zhao Chuchu naturally did not turn him down. She was just about to head to Visitor’s Aroma for a meal and buy some of Xie Jun’s favorite snacks.
Children needed to be pampered!
“Let’s go.”
The bartender was extremely grateful.
Zhao Meilan and Niu An also followed them.
Manager Lin was waiting anxiously at the door. When he saw Zhao Chuchu arrive, he immediately came to welcome her and said, “Mrs. Xie, you have finally come. Where is the remaining tofu? Send them immediately to the kitchen.”
Zhao Chuchu said, “Manager, sorry, but we have already sold all of it off.”
“What?”
Manager Lin looked over hopefully but was immediately discouraged by the empty trays.
“Did other taverns buy the rest?”
“No, we merely sold the rest at the marketplace.”
“Then, that’s fine.”
Manager Lin heaved a sigh of relief.
“Mrs. Xie, please come in. Let us discuss this business of tofu inside.”
Manager Lin had already made up his mind. If he could not get the method of making tofu, he would get exclusive rights to it.
Otherwise, he would lose his advantage if other taverns got their hands on the tofu.
Manager Lin personally invited Zhao Chuchu and the others into his study in the back courtyard.
This was the place where he tallied the accounts daily.
Manager Lin did not beat around the bush and said, “Mrs. Xie, let me get straight to the point. I will accept your price. However, I have a request. Aside from Visitor’s Aroma, you cannot sell tofu to other taverns.”
Zhao Chuchu raised her eyebrows and said, “Manager Lin, you are being too overbearing here. If I can only sell tofu to your tavern, how is that any different from giving you the method of making it? I do not accept this condition. Moreover, if you do not want our product anymore one day, what do we do with our tofu? Do you expect us to throw it out? Be it soybeans or labor, all of these cost money. How can you expect us to waste it?”
When Zhao Meilan and Niu An heard this, they did not even dare to breathe.
They had never seen a negotiation like this.
Manager Lin explained, “You can still set up a stall and sell the tofu yourselves. You just can’t sell them to other taverns.”
“How would I tell whether the person buying tofu from me is your competitor? If someone wants all the tofu, are you expecting me not to sell it to them?”
“Mrs. Xie, aside from the tavern, I have other ways to help you sell the tofu. Don’t you wish to sell more?”
“Right now, we don’t have enough manpower. We couldn’t make more even if we wanted to.”
When Zhao Chuchu put it that way, Manager Lin did not know how to respond.
“Then, Mrs. Xie, how do you think we should proceed?”
He relented.
Zhao Chuchu was different from the others he had done business with.
Her greatest trump card was her medical skill.
The other day, the woman, who had difficulty in childbirth and was declared unsavable, was saved by Zhao Chuchu.
With such medical skill, Manager Lin did not want to get on her wrong side.
“We can provide as much tofu as you want. However, it takes almost four hours to deliver the goods from Lengshui Village to the county town. We need a dedicated deliveryman.”
“So?”
“Either you arrange for someone to collect the tofu from Lengshui Village, or you pay an additional 30 cents for the delivery.”
“This is not an issue. The problem at hand is the tofu. How do you plan to sell it to us?”
“If other taverns wish to buy the tofu from me, I will at most sell them 40 percent of what you buy from me. What do you say?”
Manager Lin thought about it. This seemed acceptable. With most of the product being bought up by him, other taverns could not threaten Visitor’s Aroma’s business.
“Alright, then, we have a deal. However, I would like to request that you don’t sell too much tofu at your stall.”
Otherwise, what difference would all these arrangements make if others could buy more tofu at their stall?
“Deal.”
Next, the two of them ironed out some finer details.
When both parties no longer had any issues with the arrangements, Manager Lin got someone to draft an agreement. This would serve as insurance for both parties.
Zhao Chuchu asked, “As for who will deliver the tofu, do you wish to use your own personnel, or do you want us to deliver it?”
Manager Lin could part with one Tael of silver every month.
After all, the tofu was not just for their tavern.
...
Most importantly, the owner had other taverns in the Guangqing Province, but they weren’t doing very well.
If tofu could save these taverns’ business, his standing in the eyes of the owner would improve.
“Find someone to send it over. We lack manpower here. Even lovers cannot be trusted these days.”
“Alright, then, we have a deal. If that is all, we would like to have a meal.”
“Come, it is my treat today.”
Manager Lin was very generous.
He added, “Mrs. Xie, please do not forget the other soybean product you mentioned this morning.”
“I won’t. When we manage to make it, we will send some over. To be frank, many things can be made from soybeans. We are still slowly figuring things out.”
“That is alright. I will await good news from you,” said Manager Lin with a laugh.
The private rooms were fully occupied, and there was no space out in the main hall, so Manager Lin arranged for a table to be prepared in the back courtyard. They were served the tavern’s signature dishes.
This was the first time Zhao Meilan had seen so many delicacies. She did not dare touch her chopsticks.
...
“Meilan, let’s eat.” Zhao Chuchu invited her as she passed her a pair of chopsticks. “This is Manager Lin’s treat. Oh, by the way, Manager Lin, we were so busy discussing business that I forgot to introduce my sister. Her family makes the tofu. Please take care of her when she comes into town in the future.”
“Of course, Miss Zhao. If there is anything I can help out with, please feel free to seek me out.”
“Many thanks, Manager Lin,” said Zhao Meilan softly.
Manager Lin served them many dishes. The three of them could not possibly finish them all.
Zhao Chuchu borrowed some containers from Manager Lin to let Zhao Meilan and Niu An pack the rest back.
They would not waste food.
She also bought the snacks for Xie Jun and left for Lengshui Village.
On their way back, Zhao Meilan was in an exceptionally good mood. She was especially talkative.
Her family was initially in despair. With a sudden twist of fate, they now had a bright future ahead of them. How could she not be happy?
It was not just Zhao Meilan who felt so. It was the same for Zhao Guitang and Madam He.
Zhao Chuchu and the others arrived in the village in the evening. They had just entered Zhao Guitang’s house when Madam He came out to welcome them. She told them what happened when selling tofu in the village.
They sold all the tofu they made today. Not a single piece was left.
However, there was a minor incident.
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