Chapter 43: Delicious!
Seeing Chengfeng Shan’s shocked expression, Gu Yu remained unfazed.
Only after Chengfeng Shan had completely read the words on the Iron Certificate of Immunity did Gu Yu feign embarrassment and reach out to take it back.
For this transaction, Gu Yu had imagined various scenarios multiple times. Therefore, as the ‘negotiation’ was about to begin, he naturally chose to reveal his most advantageous asset to engage in a silent confrontation.
He wanted Chengfeng Shan to see it clearly before deciding if they were on the same level to continue discussing further matters.
After all, it was an imperial reward; the effect should be significant.
If nothing else, judging by Chengfeng Shan’s ghastly expression, Gu Yu knew that his deliberate act of tossing out the Iron Certificate of Immunity had paid off.
“Apologies, Brother Shan. I accidentally dropped this on the ground. Shall we continue our business talk?”
“Oh, okay… Wait, Brother Gu, you possess an Iron Certificate of Immunity, I didn’t see that wrong, did I!”
After Gu Yu put the item back into his pocket, he smiled and spoke to Chengfeng Shan, preparing to resume their unfinished business. Chengfeng Shan numbly nodded in agreement.
However, not long after, Chengfeng Shan’s senses returned. This situation was not something that could be ignored!
Why would an Iron Certificate of Immunity, bestowed by the Emperor, bear Gu Yu’s name?
Considering they were still within the borders of the Linfeng Kingdom, Gu Yu wouldn’t be foolish enough to forge it himself. Doing so would be a capital offense if discovered by the authorities!
This meant it was genuine!!!
“Uh… that’s right. I received this valuable item not long ago when I visited the capital. The Emperor saw that I was exceptionally heroic and granted me this. To repay the Emperor’s grace, I always carry the Iron Certificate of Immunity close to me as a reminder to serve the country faithfully, thus honoring the Emperor’s high regard for me.”
“…”
Seeing Gu Yu’s tearfully grateful demeanor, Chengfeng Shan couldn’t help but twitch his lips, thinking, Why is he still lying at this point!
He had already shown it to him… Chengfeng Shan didn’t believe for a second that Gu Yu’s action was accidental.
It was a hundred percent likely to be intentional.
The deeds Gu Yu had accomplished on the battlefield were already inscribed on the Iron Certificate of Immunity. However, without witnessing it firsthand, Chengfeng Shan truly couldn’t believe that Gu Yu actually had such experiences, single-handedly entering enemy camps, destroying granaries, and influencing an impending war!
This not only required extraordinary courage but also a certain level of skill. Otherwise, even the most foolishly bold would be directly cut down by enemy swords.
So, who exactly was Gu Yu, and how could he possess such capabilities!
Living in the small Yang Family Village, he appeared to be an orphan from a disaffiliated family, and at such a young age, he married into the Gu family. Yet, in reality, he could be connected to powerful figures above, making him mysteriously intimidating!
In that case, the business they were about to discuss couldn’t proceed as planned before. Gu Yu’s considerable capabilities meant he could be a reliable partner, and they could seek his help when encountering difficult matters.
After Gu Yu ‘accidentally’ revealed the Iron Certificate of Immunity, continuing the business talk with Chengfeng Shan became incredibly smooth.
Before Gu Yu could even speak, Chengfeng Shan took the initiative to propose a profit-sharing collaboration method.
However, they wouldn’t see immediate returns, as the silver would need to be used for turnover, and there would be a certain risk and transition period involved. These details needed to be clarified in advance to avoid future disputes.
Gu Yu was satisfied hearing Chengfeng Shan’s detailed explanation, considering him an excellent partner.
After all, thinking through these minor details beforehand required a meticulous mind, careful execution, and foresight, not being limited to a small scope.
It was a pity that the Shan family didn’t let Chengfeng Shan inherit the family business!
But it was the ancient system’s fault…
After a rapid agreement, Chengfeng Shan would draft the contract. Once they set a date, Gu Yu would simply sign and imprint it when Chengfeng Shan delivered it.
With the business settled, both were overjoyed. They then used tea instead of wine, clinking cups and chatting enthusiastically.
Although Chengfeng Shan came from a family of imperial merchants, he had traveled extensively, accumulating many odd and unusual stories along the way. With him leading the conversation, Gu Yu listened intently, wanting to learn more about ancient customs and folklore.
He even felt a desire to travel throughout the country by the end of it.
However, upon calming down, Gu Yu knew that for now, it could only be a thought… At least, when he was older, he could travel around with his wife and brother-in-law, which he imagined would be very happy.
“The first dish is ready. Let’s try it now!” Gu Mengyao’s voice rang out. As Gu Yu and Chengfeng Shan shifted their gaze towards the doorway, they saw Gu Mengyao approaching with a plate of food in her hand.
Behind her followed Bai Lin Yue, her face full of admiration.
“Chengfeng, this dish is truly delicious! Try it quickly. After the first bite, you’ll want to take a second one.”
“Is it that good? Let me try.”
As soon as Gu Mengyao placed the plate of food on the table, Bai Lin Yue immediately spoke to Chengfeng Shan, her words full of praise for the dish made by Gu Mengyao.
Seeing her greedy look, as if she wanted to eat more, Chengfeng Shan couldn’t help but curve his lips.
He then watched as Gu Mengyao brought over two pairs of chopsticks, which made Chengfeng Shan think that not only Gu Yu, but his wife was also very clever!
At this moment, she even thought to bring an extra pair of chopsticks, which was a great help.
Chengfeng Shan gestured for Bai Lin Yue to sit beside him, and after giving her a pair of chopsticks, he turned his attention to the table.
On the plate was blanched wood ear fungus, its dressing glistening, especially a layer of red oil that looked very appetizing.
Then, Chengfeng Shan picked up a piece of wood ear fungus with his chopsticks. After putting it into his mouth, his expression instantly became one of shock. He closed his eyes and savored the taste in his mouth, truly too excited to speak.
It was truly delicious!!!
“This dish is cold-dressed wood ear fungus. After adding the seasonings, we drizzle chili oil made from chili powder, making the taste even more delicious.”
“Good! It’s truly delicious, amazing!”
Chengfeng Shan’s face still carried an expression of excitement as he spoke. His chopsticks couldn’t help but reach for a second piece, and he happily ate along with Bai Lin Yue.
Meanwhile, Gu Mengyao took this opportunity to quickly return to the kitchen. She stir-fried sour and spicy shredded potatoes with fresh chilies. By the time she brought the dish back, the cold-dressed wood ear fungus had already been completely devoured.
However, when Gu Mengyao placed the sour and spicy shredded potatoes on the table, they were still welcomed by Chengfeng Shan and Bai Lin Yue. In a short time, not even a shred of potato could be found on the plate.
They ate too fast!
As Chengfeng Shan and Bai Lin Yue happily ate the dishes, Gu Yu sat opposite them with a smile, thinking about… countless silver coins that were about to fly towards him.
Seeing Chengfeng Shan’s satisfied expression, it was clear that he had gained a certain understanding of chili peppers and recognized the immense business opportunity they held.
However, Gu Yu was now a bit conflicted.
For the previous wine transaction, he had agreed with Chengfeng Shan to sign a profit-sharing contract. But how should the chili pepper business be handled?
Although Gu Yu wanted to be the chili pepper supplier, if the business became increasingly popular, and the demand for chili peppers grew, he alone couldn’t supply too many chili peppers.
Even if his space could triple the yield, with only half an acre of land and the need for daily watering, it was quite bothersome.
Therefore, being a supplier was not a viable option.
But if he wasn’t a supplier, how could he acquire a large quantity of chili peppers? He could plant another batch of chili peppers now… Wait, although he didn’t have much land in his space, he could sell chili pepper seeds to Chengfeng Shan, and then Chengfeng Shan could find his own way to cultivate chili peppers!
Selling them as seeds would bring substantial profit in the first batch.
As for the recipes…
“Brother Gu, I underestimated the value of chili peppers! After tasting the dishes made with chili peppers just now, if various restaurants know the effect of chili peppers, they will definitely compete to buy them!”
“I think so too. That’s why I want to sell you a batch of chili seeds. You can then use these chili peppers to cultivate another batch and gradually expand your sales network.”
“Excellent, excellent, Brother Gu, you are truly my lucky star!”
With a few words, the chili pepper transaction was settled. When Gu Yu proposed the price for the chili peppers, Chengfeng Shan didn’t object but readily agreed.
This showed how satisfied he was with the chili peppers.
However, Gu Yu didn’t set an exorbitant price, as he and Chengfeng Shan still had to cooperate on the wine business. If the wine sold well, a jar of wine would be more valuable than gold.
“Young Master Gu, I won’t waste time with pleasantries. I want to ask if you are willing to sell the recipes you have?”
After Gu Yu and Chengfeng Shan confirmed their cooperation and had just left the room, the chubby chef who had been guarding the door immediately approached and directly stated his intentions to Gu Yu.
Having watched Gu Mengyao cook in the kitchen, the chubby chef didn’t treat himself as an outsider. After asking Gu Mengyao for some of the stir-fried dishes and tasting them, he immediately knew that the Chunlai Restaurant would become even stronger.
This unprecedented flavor, after just one bite, was unforgettable. It was truly amazing!
Later, the chubby chef learned from Gu Mengyao that the special taste was due to the addition of chili peppers as seasoning.
The chubby chef secretly pondered that since Gu Yu and Chengfeng Shan were tasting dishes made with chili peppers, they might be discussing cooperation. After the previous transaction involving white sugar, the chubby chef viewed Gu Yu with new respect, no longer seeing him as just a village boy but as a very capable individual.
Therefore, if Gu Yu and Chengfeng Shan reached a deal for chili peppers, and given Chengfeng Shan’s relationship with the owner, they would definitely obtain the chili peppers. As for the recipes…
Regardless, he had to secure the recipes for the Chunlai Restaurant to gain a first-mover advantage!
