Bai Mingxia could tell at a glance that Hua Zhi wasn't boasting. She truly could support the Hua family on her own, which was why she wouldn't tie the family's survival to others. That was also why she proposed cooperation rather than asking for help.
Suddenly, Bai Mingxia understood why Yue Zhi had expressed such sentiments.
Lowering his gaze to the contents in the two bowls before him, he picked up a piece with a toothpick and put it in his mouth. It was very sweet, but not cloyingly so. Even though he wasn't particularly fond of sweets, he found it acceptable. Women and children would likely adore it.
"How do you propose we cooperate?"
This was promising. Hua Zhi's eyes lit up, and she straightened her back even more. "Do you think this product has market potential, Young Master Bai?"
"If it's unique, then yes."
"It's certainly unique. Even if others try to imitate it, they won't master the technique quickly."
Such confidence. Bai Mingxia smiled. "Do you want to sell it at Yunlai Restaurant?"
"Yes." Hua Zhi appreciated dealing with straightforward people. She didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "For example, this fleshy peach—we can cut large pieces into smaller ones and offer them as free samples to customers. If any customer likes it, they'll naturally order more. Of course, additional orders would require payment. What do you think, Young Master Bai?"
"Most customers who come to the restaurant to eat and drink are men. They might not be particularly interested in such sweet things."
"Even if just one out of ten customers thinks of their wives and children at home, that would be enough." She didn't actually intend to sell large quantities through the restaurant. Rather, she wanted to leverage Yunlai Restaurant's reputation to elevate the product's status. She believed most women and children would love it. As long as they spread the word, the market would open up.
Bai Mingxia tapped the table. "Will your shop continue selling it as well?"
"Of course. No matter how much is sold through your restaurant, I'll give you fifty percent of the profits."
Fifty percent! Bai Mingxia was astonished. This was truly bold. "Aren't you worried that people might only trust Yunlai Restaurant and only buy from us?"
"So what?"
Indeed, so what? Everyone has eyes. Over time, they would naturally learn where the goods came from. While Yunlai Restaurant wasn't accessible to ordinary people, the shop on the street would always have its doors open to welcome everyone. On the surface, it seemed Hua Zhi was at a disadvantage, but in reality, she was sacrificing a little to gain much.
No wonder Old Madam Hua had bypassed her daughters-in-law and entrusted the household to this eldest granddaughter.
Bai Mingxia picked up a piece of candied tangerine and chewed it slowly. Hua Zhi sipped her tea unhurriedly, showing no signs of impatience.
"Then let's have a mediator come in."
Gu Yanxi, who had been quietly observing while suppressing his imposing presence, spoke up, "The mediator is waiting downstairs. Xu Jie, go and bring him up."
Hua Zhi didn't turn around. This wasn't the time to express gratitude.
Her reaction made Bai Mingxia think she had calculated that this deal would succeed before coming, hence bringing the mediator along directly. He was even more impressed by this young woman and said with a smile, "I had planned to visit Yue Zhi in the northern borderlands after the New Year when the weather improves. If you have anything you'd like me to bring him, just give it to me then."
Hua Zhi didn't mention that she would also go this year, merely saying, "Then I'll trouble you with that, Young Master Bai."
"In terms of seniority, you should call me Uncle Bai."
Hua Zhi readily complied, "Yes, Uncle Bai."
A smile appeared in Bai Mingxia's eyes as his gaze fell upon Gu Yanxi. "May I ask how I should address you? You look unfamiliar."
"I am Lu Yanxi."Lu? There was indeed a Lu family in the capital, but he was acquainted with all the members of that family and had never heard of this particular one. "Niece, this gentleman and you..."
"The children in my household are frail, so I invited Lu Xiansheng to teach them some exercises to strengthen their bodies. I don’t expect them to overpower three or five people, but at least they’ll suffer fewer illnesses."
Her reasoning was perfectly sound, but how did this Lu Yanxi resemble a martial arts instructor? Seeing both of them wearing expressions of utter conviction, Bai Mingxia refrained from further comment, merely filing the matter away in his mind, thinking he must mention it to Yue Zhi later.
The intermediary was a well-known honest broker in the capital. After signing the contract, Hua Zhi had no intention of lingering. She rose, took two steps back, and curtsied. "Thank you, Uncle Bai. The Hua family is indebted to you."
"Indebted? This is merely a mutually beneficial transaction," Bai Mingxia said self-deprecatingly. "If Yue Zhi found out I dared to take fifty percent of your profits, he’d probably sever ties with me. But if I hadn’t, niece, you wouldn’t have done business with me, would you?"
Hua Zhi smiled, neither confirming nor denying. She curtsied again, donned her Veiled Hat, and turned to leave.
She preferred discussing business over personal relationships. In her view, any favor that could be negotiated was no longer a favor—it was merely a transaction.
Bai Mingxia gazed at the two porcelain jars on the table before him, picked up another piece of Fleshy Peach, and popped it into his mouth. Suddenly, he chuckled. If the Hua family were to fall, he’d dig a hole and toss his own head into it.
Descending from the third floor to the first, numerous eyes fell upon Hua Zhi. The Daqing Dynasty was not lenient toward women; few women frequented taverns, and those who did were usually accompanied by their husbands. A young lady like her, clearly unattended, was a rare sight. However, since she had access to the third floor, it was wiser not to make careless remarks.
Gu Yanxi’s gaze swept across the room, causing many to hastily avert their eyes—though they merely shifted from open staring to covert glances.
Hua Zhi pretended not to notice the whispers directed at her. Once inside the carriage, she removed the Veiled Hat; she had never grown accustomed to wearing it.
Pulling aside the curtain, she looked out at the man astride the tall horse. "I was thoughtless today. Thank you, Lu Xiansheng, for considering what I overlooked."
Shadowtreader, catching sight of Hua Zhi, thrust its large head toward the window. Gu Yanxi, delighted to be closer to her, made a show of pulling it back before letting it be. "You simply didn’t expect the negotiation to conclude so easily. Bai Mingxia and your Hua Si Ye have been friends since childhood. When your shop lost business but faced no harassment, it was because he intervened. For this, he incurred considerable trouble from the eldest Bai."
Hua Zhi hadn’t known about this. She ought to express her gratitude. "Does the Bai family wish to avoid involvement with the Hua family?"
"The old Bai and your grandfather never saw eye to eye, but he’s rigid and conservative—not the type to kick someone when they’re down. He simply prefers to steer clear of the Hua family."
"Then why did Uncle Bai today..."
"He can handle it." Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating Hua Zhi’s face and accentuating her snow-white complexion. Gu Yanxi discreetly lowered his gaze, continuing, "He’s the only capable one in his generation of the Bai family. The old Bai stubbornly clings to the outdated rule of passing inheritance to the eldest son, forcing him to concede at every turn. Any achievements he makes are credited to his utterly incompetent elder brother. The Bai family’s decline is inevitable in their generation."
"What if it were passed to Uncle Bai?"
"It wouldn’t be worse than the current state. His talent is no less than your fourth uncle’s."That was truly excellent. She had always believed that the most capable person in the Hua family was Fourth Uncle. It was just a pity that a hero had no place to display his prowess. Fortunately, the overall environment of the Hua family was quite good, and her father's greatest virtue was his ability to tolerate others.
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