The Wealthy Eldest Sister Rules Supreme

Zhang Yongchang only turned back to the kitchen after sending Zhuang Qingning out of the backyard. He bellowed for Lian Rong, “Hurry, prepare some large bones for me. I want to try cooking them while I still have the time to see how it will turn out.”

Having finally got the recipe, it didn’t make sense to set it aside.

Any task should be completed promptly—that was always for the best.

Zhang Yongchang indeed disliked procrastination.

Even though Lian Rong was busy, he had overheard the conversation between Zhang Yongchang and Zhuang Qingning and understood what was going on. Upon hearing Zhang Yongchang’s request for large bones, he briskly agreed and promptly went to gather them.

And he was thrilled.

Since Zhang Yongchang was his master, if the master was happy, so was he.

They had to admit, Zhuang Qingning was a genuinely affable person. She knew of Zhang Yongchang’s particular interest in cooking and managed to procure a recipe for a large braised bone dish for him today. Judging from Zhang Yongchang’s jubilation, the recipe must be exceptional.

It was a mystery how Zhuang Qingning had procured such a recipe, which could possibly be more valuable than twelve taels of silver.

If that was the case, Zhuang Qingning was indeed a gracious person who knew whom to be kind to and what kindness should look like. They could establish a relationship with a person like herself, and it was worthwhile.

“What are you up to?” Feng Yongkang, the shop manager, arrived at the backyard. Seeing the grin on Lian Rong’s face stretching to his ears, he asked curiously, “What are you so happy about?”

“Shop manager,” Lian Rong greeted as he paused his task, “Don’t blame me for being happy. It is because Miss Zhuang just handed my master a recipe for a dish, and he ordered me to prepare some large bones for him to try cooking the dish. I’m just sharing my master’s joy.”

“Oh?” Feng Yongkang seemed surprised, then began to laugh, “What kind of recipe could make your master so happy?”

“That, I don’t know. You would need to ask my master, but he seems to be really pleased, so I guess it must be a good recipe.”

Lian Rong, while grinning, said, “Shop manager, I should go prepare some large bones for the master. He looked quite rushed.”

He didn’t dare overlook Zhang Yongchang’s assignment.

“Alright, you go get busy.” Feng Yongkang nodded and made his way to the kitchen.

He was curious about what kind of recipe it was and whether it was good enough to be used at Fushun Tower.

If it made Zhang Yongchang happy, adding it to the Fushun Tower menu could certainly improve their earnings, right?

With this thought in mind, Feng Yongkang approached Zhang Yongchang and asked, “Brother, are you busy?”

“Shop manager, you’re just in time.”

Zhang Yongchang, filled with excitement, pulled Feng Yongkang over, “Earlier, Miss Zhuang gave me this recipe for a braised large bone dish. This recipe seems to be really good. I had just ordered Lian Rong to bring some large bones over so I can try it promptly. If the taste is right, I intend to reintroduce this dish at our Fushun Tower.”

Feng Yongkang was wondering how to tactfully inquire about the recipe, uncertain of how to broach the subject.

After all, if Zhang Yongchang didn’t plan on using it at Fushun Tower, a careless question from Feng Yongkang could strain the comradeship between the two and make things awkward in the future.

Before he could find a way to ask, Zhang Yongchang had already brought up the topic. He openly mentioned his plan to use it at Fushun Tower, which delighted Feng Yongkang.

Especially since this was a large braised bone dish.

Zhang Yongchang’s earlier version of the recipe was quite delicious and had been well received by many diners. Given its low cost and the potential to price it high due to it being a meat dish, Feng Yongkang had favored it.

However, Zhang Yongchang had later insisted that there was something amiss with the taste and wanted to remove it from the menu. Despite Feng Yongkang’s long spell of persuasion, he couldn’t change Zhang Yongchang’s mind, and eventually, the dish had to be removed.

Now the dish was making a comeback, and with even better flavor than before, Feng Yongkang couldn’t help but feel ecstatic.

“Indeed, that’s great!”

Feng Yongkang laughed and said, “Looking at the situation, Fushun Tower seems to have a new signature dish.”

“I suppose so. This could very well become our best-selling dish in the future,” Zhang Yongchang chuckled, “We owe it all to Miss Zhuang’s generosity in sharing her family’s recipe with me.”

Seeing Zhang Yongchang praise Zhuang Qingning, and reflecting upon how delighted he was himself, Feng Yongkang figured there was no harm in extending a bit of courtesy, “We should indeed be grateful to Miss Zhuang. If this dish does well, we should thank her properly.”

“The shop manager is thinking exactly what I am. Considering this recipe came from Miss Zhuang, I propose that we give her ten percent of the profit from this dish as a token of our gratitude. What do you think, shop manager?” Zhang Yongchang laughed.

Feng Yongkang’s smile froze.

His idea of thanking involved taking some pastries or maybe buying a couple of boxes of rouge powder for ladies, or even inviting Zhuang Qingning to Fushun Tower for a lavish hospitality.

But he most certainly did not mean handing over a part of the profits from the dish to her.

If the cost of the dish sold at Fushun Tower was ten coins a dish, one-tenth of the profit was one coin. So, if many portions of this dish were sold each day, Zhuang Qingning would earn that many coins a day.

How much would she earn in a month or a year then? Would she not get several taels of silver for doing nothing?

If he subtracted the costs of labor and ingredients from his annual earnings, the net profit was only about forty percent of the total revenue. Why should he surrender one-tenth of the revenue of an entire dish to Zhuang Qingning? On what grounds?

So, it finally came down to this. As manager of Fushun Tower, he was now in a situation where he was working for Zhuang Qingning and making money for her!

Obviously, Feng Yongkang was not pleased by this.

This was far more expensive than buying a recipe.

“Shop manager, are you unwilling?” Zhang Yongchang saw the disgruntled look on Feng Yongkang’s face, and he arched an eyebrow.

“Brother, this is no small matter. In the first place, it’s impossible to track down every single dish sold, whether it’s a small portion or a larger one. It would be tricky to deliver an accurate count daily.”

“Moreover, at Fushun Tower, we have never rented a recipe before. If we were to set such a precedent, it might lead us to tricky situations in the future. If we really have to express our gratitude to Miss Zhuang, why not offer her a one-time token of money?”

Feng Yongkang said, feeling somewhat unhappy deep inside.

Zhang Yongchang, being Fushun Tower’s chef and a longstanding friend, should be considering the best interests of Fushun Tower when handling such matters..