Chapter 89: Chapter 089: Unacceptable
Translator: 549690339
Yet for some reason, Zhang Yongchang seemed determined to find a way to share the profits with Zhuang Qingning in this matter, appearing almost too eager to help outsiders.
Zhuang Qingning was indeed shrewd. First, she persuaded Zhang Yongchang to switch to her family’s tofu. Then, she focused her attention on the salted eggs and even came up with a recipe for a sauce bone dish, which kept Zhang Yongchang constantly thinking about her.
Just now, Zhang Yongchang said that the recipe comes from Zhuang Qingning’s parents. Does that mean her family has more recipes? If they’re all introduced at Fushun Tower, and all split the profits as Zhang Yongchang suggests…
Would that mean she’d have a say in the future of Fushun Tower?
Feng Yongkang was not keen on this development.
“The shop manager has a point…”
Zhang Yongchang pondered for a long time, then said, “I was just worried about using young Ning’s recipe without compensation. Considering that she and her sister don’t have anyone to rely on, I overlooked this point.”
“So, let’s do it as the shop manager suggested, give her some silver. That should keep both sides happy.”
The main point was that they couldn’t just take Zhuang Qingning’s recipe for free and put her at a loss.
Seeing Zhang Yongchang conceding, Feng Yongkang breathed a sigh of relief. He said, “That’s right, we need to comply with the rules in all things. I will handle the monetary issue later.”
“We should invite Miss Zhuang to come and dine at Fushun Tower when she has free time.”
As Zhang Yongchang had given ground, Feng Yongkang felt he could be more generous.
After all, it was just one more moneymaking recipe for Fushun Tower. They could simply not take advantage of it and offer market prices instead.
However, all these thoughts had to wait until the sauce bone dish started to sell. Nothing was certain until they saw actual results.
“Agreed.” Zhang Yongchang nodded.
The kitchen gradually got busy. Feng Yongkang didn’t stay long and left for the front hall, thinking deeply.
Looking and seeing Ma Tong nearby, he waved him over and asked, “Do you know why that Miss Zhuang, who has been delivering tofu to us, has given a recipe to Chef Zhang?”
“Do you know why?”
“I heard about it from Lian Rong.” Ma Tong answered, “It seems that Uncle Zhang won a dozen taels of silver in a bet in the county town using Miss Zhuang’s tofu. He then gave the silver to her, saying it was only because of her that he won.”
“Miss Zhuang came to the shop yesterday to ask Chef Zhang about his preferences. Maybe she felt uneasy about accepting the silver and wanted to buy something for Chef Zhang instead. Lian Rong said Chef Zhang is only interested in cooking. So, Miss Zhuang brought the recipe for the sauce bone dish this morning.”
“I guess that’s the situation.”
“So that’s what happened.” Feng Yongkang cleared up the matter and waved his hand, “Alright, you can go back to work.”
“Ok.” Ma Tong left to continue his work.
Meanwhile, Feng Yongkang’s expression once again darkened.
Zhang Yongchang gave Zhuang Qingning over a dozen taels of silver and in return, she gave him this recipe. As it stood, they were even. So why did Zhang Yongchang feel the need to give Zhuang Qingning additional compensation in the form of silver coins?
Was his kindness directed outward, and were they conspiring to take money away from him?
Zhang Yongchang was becoming more and more inappropriate!
Feeling angry, Feng Yongkang tugged on his sleeve, also dismissing the idea of the supposed reward silver he had previously planned for Zhuang Qingning. An affair that was already settled, why would he eagerly give out more silver?
He would definitely not play the fool.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Lian Rong had already brought the large bones over and was preparing them.
“Master, the manager doesn’t look happy. Did you two have a fight?” Lian Rong couldn’t help but ask.
When he came back, he saw Feng Yongkang walking out of the backyard with a gloomy face.
“Unhappy? Why would he be?” Zhang Yongchang raised his head abruptly. “He was fine just now.”
“I don’t know.” Lian Rong felt like he had asked the wrong person.
Zhang Yongchang’s personality was such that if he offended Feng Yongkang, it was a normal occurrence and Feng Yongkang wouldn’t react directly, only sulking quietly behind his back.
Besides, even if Zhang Yongchang really upset Feng Yongkang, he would not be aware of it.
Furthermore, the most important point was that Zhang Yongkang extremely disliked people who gossiped and snooped around.
Lian Rong, realizing he hadn’t been able to suppress his curiosity and asked his question too abruptly, hurriedly added, “Perhaps one of the other workers upset the manager…”
“You guys who are always poking your noses into other people’s business and not working properly, it would be strange if you didn’t anger the manager,” Zhang Yongchang retorted irritably. “Come on, get on with it. We need those materials.”
“Alright.” Lian Rong quickly agreed and got to work.
Zhang Yongchang, however, gave a sidelong glance.
Feng Yongkang was unhappy? Was it because he said he should give Zhuang Qingning a reward?
Nonetheless, it seemed only fair.
Although Zhuang Qingning gave him this recipe for the sauce bone dish as a thank-you for the twelve taels of silver he gave her, theoretically, the transaction was a private one that had nothing to do with Fushun Tower. Yet, Fushun Tower would still benefit from this arrangement, so it would only be right for them to acknowledge their appreciation.
Zhuang Qingning had also mentioned that her mother was a good cook, hence, it was likely that there might be more recipes from her in the future. If Fushun Tower were to use these recipes without any form of gratitude, Zhuang Qingning might feel ill-treated.
So, from the beginning, they should make their intentions clear so that Fushun Tower can reap the benefits while Zhuang Qingning can feel satisfied—an arrangement with mutual benefits so that everyone can get along well in the future. That’s the best solution Zhang Yongchang had come up with after much consideration.
But if Feng Yongkang still wasn’t satisfied with this…
Zhang Yongchang furrowed his brows.
Meanwhile, Zhuang Qingning and Zhuang Qingsui sold all their tofu, bought some groceries and returned home.
For lunch, they ate steamed bread with tofu, sliced pork belly with soybean sprouts, and some garlic sprouts from their courtyard garden that filled the air with a rich aroma.
Picking some water spinach from the vegetable garden, they made a green vegetable soup. Paired with their meal, it was simply delicious.
After they finished their lunch, Zhuang Yonghe and Mrs. He arrived..
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