“Business deal.“
As early as the first time Cheng Yun let Liu Wen try the sour plum soup, he gave him the recipe for crispy pickled radish and a sales plan. Later, when Cheng Bao’er took charge of selling the sour plum soup, with Wang Liang’s help, Cheng Yun let them handle the sales on their own, while he focused on refining the business with Liu Wen.
Building on the existing foundation, Chef Ye made slight adjustments to the taste of the crispy pickled radish, making it more suitable for the people in Nanming City. He also made two versions: spicy and non-spicy, so that both those who liked spicy food and those who couldn’t tolerate it could try it.
Inspired by Chef Ye’s suggestion, Cheng Yun thought of making Sauerkraut Fish and Sauerkraut beef. He bought some ingredients and spent three days experimenting at home, finally producing a reasonably decent batch of Sauerkraut. However, it still fell slightly short of his satisfaction, probably because it hadn’t been marinated long enough.
But for those who had never tasted it before, this bit of Sauerkraut was already quite good. He brought it to Chef Ye and Liu Wen to try, and he demonstrated how to make Sauerkraut Fish in front of them, explaining the subsequent selling methods.
“As autumn is approaching, this Sauerkraut Fish can be introduced as a new signature dish. Given Yueqiong Tower’s current influence, it will surely create a sensation once it is launched. During this period, we can also introduce Sauerkraut Jars and other items like crispy pickled radish. That way, even people who want to eat Sauerkraut Fish but can’t go to the restaurant every day can buy the Sauerkraut and make it at home.”
Cheng Yun continued, “We can initially introduce the crispy pickled radish to the market as a side dish for noodles, generate some interest. Once the Sauerkraut Jars are also introduced, people can consider buying them as well.”
Liu Wen calculated in his mind and couldn’t help but feel that Cheng Yun’s approach was ingenious.
However, at the same time, he had concerns. If everyone started buying Sauerkraut Jars and making Sauerkraut Fish at home, wouldn’t it lead to a decline in business at Yueqiong Tower?
It seems like he knows what he is thinking. Cheng Yun added, “The method of making Sauerkraut is not easier than making sour and crispy radishes. It involves the process of fermentation, and the amount of seasoning added is also crucial. It’s not easy for outsiders to imitate, so the price can be relatively higher.”
With the previous experience of sour plum soup being imitated, everyone knows that once something gets imitated, it becomes difficult to continue doing business. Now, hearing Cheng Yun’s words, they have at least solved one of the difficulties.
Cheng Yun continued, “The recipe for delicious Sauerkraut Fish is very intricate. It requires a large amount of spices, but the quantity must be controlled. The sourness of the cabbage must be sufficient, and the spiciness should be significant. I can tell you that what you are currently eating as Sauerkraut Fish is not the best I can make.”
Upon hearing this, Chef Ye and Liu Wen were surprised. In their eyes, this was already one of the best dishes they had ever tasted. And it wasn’t the best?
In the past, Cheng Yun used to enjoy eating Sauerkraut Fish. He had visited many small and large restaurants in the city, so he knew that the same dish, made by different people, could have a significant difference in taste.
Now, because he had to make it quickly for them to taste, Cheng Yun skipped many steps. The sourness of the Sauerkraut Fish he made was not enough, and the spiciness was average. The flavor only reached about fifty percent. However, because the ingredients he had on hand were the best, the taste wasn’t too bad.
Therefore, he was not worried at all about others imitating their dishes or customers buying Sauerkraut and making it at home, leading to a decrease in sales at the restaurant.
He shared his thoughts with the two of them and said, “Furthermore, those who have some money and don’t mind spending a little extra to eat at the restaurant, or whose home chefs are not as skilled as our restaurant’s standard, will still come to Yueqiong Tower to dine. As for those with average cooking skills, if they want to make this dish, they have to do it themselves. From preparing the Fish to cooking it, every step can lead to different flavors. If they are unsatisfied and want to taste the best flavor the restaurant offers, they can only come here.”
“Our target customers for the Sauerkraut Jars are actually those who have average financial conditions but still want to taste something new and be able to eat dishes similar to those of wealthy families at home,” Cheng Yun said confidently. “There are also those who come from afar to visit relatives or those who need gifts for special occasions.”
After Cheng Yun explained, even Liu Wen was impressed by his business acumen. This person not only excelled at cooking but also had such a high level of business acumen. Fortunately, he had decisively chosen to cooperate with him; otherwise, he would have been at a disadvantage now.
In the past, there were two or three restaurants in Tengyun Town that could compete with him. Although Yueqiong Tower had always been in an absolute advantage and had a higher reputation than them, the extent to which they currently dominated and monopolized the market was far beyond comparison.
And those suppressed shops, instead of being wary of Yueqiong Tower’s fame, were actually grateful for its development, as it brought prosperity to the entire Tengyun Town and boosted their own business performance. They sincerely hoped that Yueqiong Tower would continue to thrive.
The rise of Yueqiong Tower even attracted the attention of the officials in Tengyun Town and Nanming City, who formed a team to “inspect” the restaurant. They were highly satisfied with the dishes and the ambiance of Yueqiong Tower.
In this era, the influence of government officials was significant, and when the common people saw them showing such admiration, their satisfaction with Yueqiong Tower grew even more.
Based on the current progress, once the reputation of Yueqiong Tower is firmly established, with the promotion of the Sauerkraut Jar, opening branches in other places, or even in the capital, would just be within reach!
Therefore, after everything was settled, Liu Wen suggested sharing the profits with Cheng Yun.
“We agreed on this when we first started working together. Once our cooperation becomes mature, in addition to buying your recipe, I will also pay you a share based on the sales. I haven’t forgotten about that,” Liu Wen said. He wanted to keep someone as talented as Cheng Yun by any means necessary.
Cheng Yun took a sip of tea without showing any fluctuation in his expression, as if everything was expected. His demeanor secretly impressed Liu Wen, who then adopted a more respectful attitude.
Sharing the profits with Yueqiong Tower was a remarkable opportunity. Now, in the whole Nanming City, who didn’t know about the extraordinary popularity of Yueqiong Tower in Tengyun Town? Every time a new dish was introduced, it would become popular even in neighboring towns. Many people took pride in being able to taste the new creations from Yueqiong Tower first.
Cheng Yun, a person from humble origins, should normally be overjoyed, but he displayed a calmness that didn’t match his age and background. He even negotiated with Liu Wen.
“Regarding the profit-sharing aspect, I have another suggestion,” Cheng Yun said, which immediately sharpened Liu Wen’s eyes and attention.
Ignoring Liu Wen’s guardedness, Cheng Yun smiled and said, “You also know that this time I brought my younger brother along, hoping to let him get some exposure. Now that my own life has improved, I also want to raise the living standards of my family members, right?”
“Yes, that makes sense,” Liu Wen agreed.
“With the current trend, sour plum soup will soon become unsustainable, but the Sauerkraut Jar is a business that can be developed in the long run,” Cheng Yun said. “I hope you can entrust the supply of the ingredients to us.”
Liu Wen fell into deep thought upon hearing Cheng Yun’s words. Cheng Yun didn’t rush him, allowing him to think carefully, while he continued to drink his tea and poured a cup for Yang Hongjin sitting beside him.
After a moment, Liu Wen’s furrowed brow relaxed, as if he had made a significant decision. His expression was unusually serious as he said, “I can agree to the deal, but I want every recipe for the Sauerkraut Jar, and you must sign an agreement with Yueqiong Tower. Besides supplying us, you cannot provide ingredients or recipes to any third party.”
“Deal!” Cheng Yun immediately agreed without hesitation.
Seeing him agree so readily, Liu Wen’s expression softened, and he no longer appeared tense.
Cheng Yun knew what he was worried about. To be honest, this business could bring immense profits. At least for a long time, Yueqiong Tower would rely on them for their supply, while they would hold the lifeline of the other party.
Even if Liu Wen didn’t mention it, Cheng Yun would still want to sign a contract with him. Otherwise, once they obtained the recipes, they could find someone else to produce for them, resulting in a significant loss of income for Cheng Yun.
Now that Liu Wen had taken the initiative to propose this point, it proved that both sides had the intention of mutual binding. This allowed Cheng Yun to gauge the other party’s attitude and added weight to his future negotiations.
Cheng Yun informed Bao’er and Wang Liang about the details of the collaboration and said to Wang Liang with a smile, “Xia Er, if we are short of staff in the future, we might have to ask Madam Wang to help too. You should go back and ask her opinion first.”
The two individuals, who had been worrying about the sales of the Sour Plum Soup earlier, were now left dumbfounded as Cheng Yun casually mentioned this deal. It was shocking. Taking over the entire Sauerkraut Jar for Yueqiong Tower, what a massive deal it was! Moreover, Yueqiong Tower planned to open stores in other towns and even possibly in the capital city!
They exchanged a glance and saw astonishment and incredulity in each other’s eyes. Now, Cheng Bao’er didn’t even want to make the 70% of the Sour Plum Soup anymore. He wanted to start making Sauerkraut as soon as possible and go home to tell his parents the news. They would have good days ahead!
Wang Liang had the same thoughts as Cheng Bao’er, but he had an additional one—
Could I be getting married soon?!
Author’s note:
Official comment: #Overthinking series#
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