Chapter 197
197 Negotiation
The waiter served them tea and some desserts. He even secretly brought two candies for Little Ah Yu before leaving.
Little Ah Yu tapped and waved at the waiter. Then, she took out a wild fruit from her pocket and stuffed it into the waiter’s cloth pocket before he left.
The waiter smiled at her and reached out to close the door of the private room.
“Yesterday, I was still thinking that the little fellow came to talk to me alone because of her family’s instructions. Now, I don’t think so.” Chen Yuan took the initiative to start the conversation.
Old Madam Wang followed his words and said, “Our child has been pampered since she was young. She’s a little casual in her actions, but she has a good heart. If she offended you yesterday, I’ll apologize to you here.”
“Senior, you’re being too serious. Ah Yu is an obedient little girl. I like her very much, so how can I be offended by her? I think my wife will be giving birth in two months. If I can have a daughter like Ah Yu, I won’t have any regrets in life.”
Old Madam Wang smiled especially sincerely. “No doubt.”
When others praised Little Ah Yu, Old Madam Wang would accept them all. She never knew how to be humble.
After Chen Yuan finished praising Little Ah Yu, Old Madam Wang also praised him. Chen Yuan was young and promising. It was obvious that he was someone who did great things.
Only Little Ah Yu was anxious. Didn’t Grandma come to talk to Uncle Chen about the shop? Why were they still praising her here?
Little Ah Yu asked in her heart, “Elf, why are they all talking about me? Could it be that they want to sell Ah Yu?”
[Pfft, of course not.]
[You can understand it as a kind of business conversation with each other. Both sides are praising each other and starting a conversation. Look, aren’t they talking about the shop now?]
Soon, they returned to the topic. Chen Yuan told them his plan. 800 taels of silver was already a very high price.
Old Madam Wang naturally knew that.
However, Old Madam Wang said, “If it were any other shop, 800 taels of silver would definitely be an astronomical price. Even if you go to Wanning City to buy a bun shop’s recipe, you won’t need to spend 800 taels of silver. Shopkeeper Chen is quite considerate.”
As she did not know what position Chen Yuan held, Old Madam Wang called him Shopkeeper directly. Chen Yuan did not deny it.
In any case, the title was not important.
“Senior, you know your stuff. Indeed, we’ve gone to Wanning City to collect recipes before. There were even some recipes that could be bought with ten taels of silver. It’s just a matter of worth.”
Chen Yuan also said that he was more optimistic about the Wang Family Steamed Bun Shop. He even felt that their method of making meat soup dumplings could be promoted throughout the entire Great Chang Nation.
If that happened, it could be said that their Wang Family had contributed to the Great Chang Nation.
Old Madam Wang was unfazed by the flattery. She said indifferently, “800 taels is indeed a good offer, but if this is the final offer, my family and I have decided not to sell it. As for whether the bun shop can last longer and whether the buns can be sold in other places, we’re not worried about that.”
At most, the bun shop would close down. However, their Wang Family would not starve to death.
Chen Yuan was really surprised. 800 taels was really the highest price he could offer, and this was all thanks to Ah Yu.
“Senior, can you tell me why? Why are you unwilling to sell? Did I offend you in any way?”
Old Madam Wang shook her head. “That’s not the case. If Shopkeeper Chen has the time, why don’t you listen to this old woman talk about business? Just treat it as me showing off in front of an expert.”
Chen Yuan’s expression became even more solemn. “Please elaborate.”
Old Madam Wang said, “I believe Shopkeeper Chen is not from this county. From your accent, you should be from a place not far from the borders. The land of the outside world is different from the land of the Great Chang Nation, especially when it concerns the cultivation of barley and wheat. The yield is not high, so the flour there is very scarce. Not to mention our family’s meat soup dumplings, even ordinary dumplings and steamed buns can be sold for an astronomical price there. Ordinary people can’t afford it. It’s an additional rare item. Am I right?”
“Senior’s analysis is right. However, if we want to sell it to them directly, it’s not as simple as you imagined. There are so many hurdles and procedures to jump through, and we have to pay a price.”
When Chen Yuan heard Old Madam Wang’s words, he knew that this old woman was definitely not an ordinary peasant woman. To be able to talk about the outside world so clearly, she had at least been there before.
In this world, women who could go so far were more admirable than men.
Therefore, his expression became even more respectful, and he cast away the last bit of contempt.
Old Madam Wang did not know what Chen Yuan was thinking and only said, “These are things that Shopkeeper Chen has to consider. My guess is that you wanted to buy our family’s recipe to sell in the Great Chang Nation first before going to the outside world to try. Other than the Xifeng Kingdom, the surrounding countries are all affiliated with our Great Chang Nation. Shopkeeper Chen is from the Great Chang Nation so if you want to do business with other countries, it won’t be as difficult as you say.”
Before Chen Yuan could speak, Old Madam Wang continued, “You must be thinking in your heart that this is your own business, and we sellers don’t have to care so much. However, what I want to tell you is that our Wang Family’s future development is the same. Even if we don’t sell it to you, our buns will definitely advance to the Great Chang Nation in the next few years. Then, Shopkeeper Chen, do you still think that we’ll be willing to sell this recipe for 800 taels?”
Chen Yuan was not the first to say these words, but Old Madam Wang. This meant that this was the old lady’s foresight.
Since the old lady could explain it in such detail, it meant that she had indeed planned it carefully. It was not something to take for granted.
The old lady was extraordinary at a glance. She was knowledgeable, cultured, well-spoken, and logical.
Chen Yuan did not doubt that it was because of her that the Wang Family could be raised to such a state.
Now that he thought about it, Chen Yuan felt that 800 taels was indeed too little.
If the Wang Family could really achieve their vision, earning 800 taels a day would be too little, let alone selling the recipe for 800 taels.
Chen Yuan smiled bitterly and said, “Senior, what you’re talking about will take at least 10 to 8 years of preparation, but the immediate benefits I’m offering can be directly grasped.
With these 800 taels, you can also develop locally. I can promise you that at the very least, after I buy the recipe, I won’t fight with your family for business. You can even open your own branches in the entire country. We can also compete fairly. Is that feasible?”
Old Madam Wang still shook her head. “800 taels is indeed unable to make me relent. If Shopkeeper Chen’s price is still the same, then there’s no need for us to talk today.”
Chen Yuan looked at Little Ah Yu, who was sitting beside him, and felt his heart soften.
Actually, normally, if someone was so aggressive and wanted him to raise the price, Chen Yuan would definitely leave with a flick of his sleeve.
There were so many businesses in the world, and their Chen family did not have to do this bun business.
There were too many ways to earn money. Even if he gave up on the meat soup dumplings, he could still buy other recipes. When the time came, he would earn another kind of income.
However, when he looked at Little Ah Yu, Chen Yuan thought to himself, “Forget it, I’ll just treat it as repaying the little benefactor. I really can’t bear to disappoint such a cute Ah Yu.”
Since the little fellow could come to him alone to discuss business, she was definitely willing to sell it to him.
Chen Yuan looked at Little Ah Yu and said to Old Madam Wang, “Old lady, in that case, I want to ask. Yesterday, Ah Yu told me that there’s actually another secret why your Wang Family can sell the buns so well.”
Old Madam Wang’s expression instantly changed.