CHAPTER 27: THE FIRST GOLD POT 2

Everyone enjoyed their quick supper, and then Tapiwa and Ma Michaels left the men to go to Tapiwa's room, where they began discussing business.

In cities with high living expenses. Whereas the cheapest thing one could buy started at 100 copper coins and those like her who stayed at inns had to pay 5 bronze coins every night without food, uncommon recipes were extremely expensive.

Her family once paid more than 20 silver coins for a recipe for their restaurant over a decade ago, and it was already too pricey at the time.

When the recipe was acquired, it felt like a waste, but as the restaurant began serving the dish, it was quickly proven that the price was well worth it.

Her recipes, of course, would be sold at a lower price, and because she planned to sell numerous recipes at once, she would make the most of it.

"As I previously stated, I will not sell these specific recipes to anyone else for at least the next five years. After that, I'll begin selling them. As a result, I will not charge a greater price, but rather a sensible one. I will need 100 silver coins for each recipe that I will sell to you, but because we are acquainted, I will give you a discount and sell them to you for 85 silver coins," Tapiwa brazenly remarked.

She wanted a lot of money to begin with, and while these rates were exorbitant, this was nothing.

She'd seen plates of food sold for silver coins in larger towns, and this was especially true for uncommon delicacies.

Her foods were likewise uncommon, and she didn't confine them to the inn. If they wanted to sell in other places, it was their choice and they would earn more money.

Ma Michaels did not interrupt Tapiwa's talk. And when she heard the asking price, she wasn't too surprised. In fact, given how rare the recipe was, she got it for a steal.

And it was really inexpensive. Life in Karoba was already pricey, so it wouldn't be long until she earned back her money.

"Do you only have recipes for sweet potatoes?" Ma Michaels decided to try her luck because Tapiwa was selling her recipes.

Tapiwa didn't think about the question for long and simply replied, "Nope, I have a few but I can't possibly sell all of them."

"That's correct. Furthermore, I am concerned that the other recipes will be more expensive than these, and we do not have a lot of money to be greedy."

"That is correct; we should always be rational and not get caught up in momentary pleasure. Furthermore, if you ever need another recipe, you may come to my house, and if I have a new recipe, I will undoubtedly help you as much as I can," she was not going to reveal that the recipes belonged to her ancestors.

What if someone looks into her and discovers that there was nothing of the sort?

Placing oneself in the line of fire was only one method to experiment; otherwise, it would be difficult to respond to how she might come up with such delicious recipes in the future.

Ma Michaels agreed with a nod, utterly ignorant that she had been duped.

Finally, after much deliberation, the ladies agreed.

Ma Michaels purchased three recipes from Tapiwa. One is the form of fried chips in which Ma Michaels can chop the sweet potatoes into round thin slices that, after being fried, look like Lays.

The peanut and sweet potato stew was the second recipe. Finally, there's savory mashed sweet potatoes.

To sweeten the deal, she included another recipe for sweet potato leaves that can be stir-fried and eaten like regular or wild veggies.

Ma Michaels was overjoyed with the arrangement. Tapiwa was handed 255 silver coins after Ba Michaels and the brothers signed as witnesses. That was a lot of money, money she hadn't seen in a long time.

Even when she divorced her ex-husband over three years ago, the best she got out of the marriage was roughly 30 silver coins, the most of which she used to buy her estate and the remainder had been used frugally in the previous three years.

Tapiwa had finally gotten her first pot of gold with just one contract, and the feeling was amazing.

Tapiwa spent the next day perfecting the meals and showing Ma Michaels how to make them. Ba Michaels, Henry, and Gerald were there as food tasters on the side.

Tapiwa wasn't in a hurry to accomplish anything else because her reputation with the couple was more important. And as for the brothers, she paid no attention to them because their lecherous gazes bothered her every time.

On the third day, Tapiwa, who had finished instructing Ma Michaels and was planning on exploring the market now that she had some money, had a visitor.

Tapiwa was already dressed and checked to see if there was anything else she needed to do when she heard a knock on her door.

She sashayed towards the door, thinking it was Ma Michaels who had come for her, and opened it without hesitation, "huala."

"Big sis!" exclaimed a loud and enthusiastic voice as she opened the door.

'Damn! I had almost forgotten about this person!' Tapiwa frowned as Ratidzo jumped at her.

When has she ever been treated so well or had someone been so delighted to see her?

Tapiwa had never felt anything like this before, and it scared her.

Tapiwa instinctively stepped away when Ratidzo jumped at her, making it harder for Ratidzo to touch her. Ratidzo's failure to touch Tapiwa prompted her to fall hard on the floor, causing the younger woman to groan in pain.

"Eish, it hurts!" she exclaimed, lying flat on the floor.

Tapiwa was taken aback and felt quite bad when she saw this. Ratidzo would not have fallen if she hadn't taken a step back.

She couldn't just stand there and watch as a vivacious young woman lay on the floor, so she swiftly walked back to Ratidzo and assisted Ratidzo off the floor before anyone else, especially those two brothers, observed what had happened.

"I sincerely apologize."