Chapter 15, To Gain, One Must Give (2nd Update)

Facing such a delicate young girl, Yuan Cheng couldn't insist too much.

"Then it's settled!"

He thought about asking his parents later what the girl's background was. If she came from a good family, he could consider her for his son.

Xie Zhinuan simply smiled, saying nothing.

She also told Yuan Cheng that the brine could be used to braise pigs' feet, focusing specifically on those pigs' feet.

"The braised pig's feet can sell by itself or be added to noodles, commonly referred to as pig's trotter noodles!"

When she came out of the kitchen, she washed her hands by the water tank.

Yuan Cheng stood at the kitchen doorway, filled with emotion. This wasn't just selling a recipe. With these few dishes, if he managed them well, he could make a fortune.

The silver shouldn't be given short.

After Xie Zhinuan washed up, Old Mrs. Ni came over with a smile, "Girl, it's still early; shall we go out for a walk?"

Xie Zhinuan shook her head.

The old couple rarely came to the county town, naturally wanting to spend quality time with relatives.

She didn't want to go shopping either.

"Are you tired?" Old Mrs. Ni asked.

Thinking of how Xie Zhinuan had been seriously injured before and must be physically weak, and having ridden on a bumpy donkey cart since early morning, she must be tired.

"A bit!" Xie Zhinuan nodded.

"Then I'll take you to rest!"

Xie Zhinuan's room was the boudoir of the Yuan family's eldest unmarried daughter, and the clothes she wore belonged to her as well.

The room was immaculately tidy, and although it wasn't decorated with many possessions, it was evident the Yuan daughter was dearly loved by her parents.

Madame Yuan even assigned a young maid to serve Xie Zhinuan who smiled, not refusing, and lay on the bed to close her eyes.

With the Spiritual Spring, her internal injuries healed quickly, but after all, she had been injured and needed proper rest. After such an exhausting day, she fell asleep swiftly.

The delicious aroma wafting from the kitchen cauldron was enticing, and Yuan Cheng sought out Old Master Yuan to discuss how much silver would be appropriate for the recipe.

Old Master Yuan pondered before lifting one hand.

Five hundred taels!

Yuan Cheng nodded.

Braised meat, braised rabbit, braised game, braised chicken, braised duck, braised goose—although it was a single brine, it accounted for three dishes, plus there was the saltwater chicken and braised pig's feet.

However, he had to save the silver he had for his two sons' provincial exams in the capital come autumn. The expenses and necessary tips for the journey, whether the Yuan Family could turn their fortunes around, all depended on this.

Therefore, he dared not touch the thousand taels of silver he had saved up for many years.

But silver is lifeless, whereas people are alive. Smelling the fragrance coming from the kitchen, Yuan Cheng tentatively asked, "Father, shall we offer five hundred taels?"

...

Old Master Yuan tightened his lips before nodding.

"Give her five hundred taels then!"

"I'll follow Father's advice!"

He hurried to tell his wife to take out five hundred taels, and Madam Yuan's eyes widened, "Why so much?"

"After discussing with Father, we've agreed that five hundred taels is a fair price. How much she accepts is up to the young lady's discretion. Smell the scent coming from the kitchen—if we sell this recipe to other restaurants in the county town, our restaurant might not last till the end of the year!"

Madam Yuan's heart skipped a beat, and her expression became serious.

After hesitating for a moment, she said, "Then give it!"

The restaurant definitely couldn't close; what else would her family eat? Would they drink the northwest wind? Plus, two sons needed to get married, and there were many places they needed to spend silver.

If they ran short of silver later, they could borrow from the three younger daughters-in-law.

She got up to open the chest and take out the silver note.

They were all fifty-tael notes—she had never seen thousand or ten-thousand-tael notes in her life!

Upon waking up, the young maid immediately went to fetch water with a smile, helping Xie Zhinuan to wash her face and rinse her mouth, then softly remarked while standing to the side, "Miss, you are really beautiful!"