Yan Ruyu watched from the side as Zhang Tianxing resolved the crisis with the young hoodlum, but she hadn't expected the appearance of the middle-aged man to be the one to defuse the situation.
"Sigh, I watched for so long, and this is what you show me..."
It seemed the saying "looks are justice" wasn't wrong.
There are only wrong names, never wrong nicknames.
However, this trip had yielded much. The crayfish alone tonight had opened a new window for Yan Ruyu.
This was a brand new industry, one no one had yet ventured into.
She hadn't expected to see a pioneer in such a small county town.
The only question was how big this market could grow.
The hustle and bustle, everyone in the world comes for profit.
If this venture succeeded, her family would have no reason to object. It was all a game of capital.
Confidence bloomed on Yan Ruyu's face. A confident woman is the most captivating, a timeless truth.
At this moment, Yan Ruyu's aura grew even stronger.
If this handsome young man could achieve this much in a small county town, then she, a great beauty, could too.
"Handsome boy, how much is it? Oh, and by the way, did you win the lottery the last time we met?"
Hearing the question, Zhang Tianxing instinctively wanted to say no. Then he remembered that she had paid for the lottery ticket.
Regardless, a single clap doesn't make a sound; both sides were at fault in the collision.
But before Zhang Tianxing could answer, Yan Ruyu's eyes sparkled with intelligence. "Alright, I know the answer. How much is tonight's bill? And one more thing, your crayfish is quite good. I want to learn how to make it. Is the recipe something you can share?"
When meat is delivered to your doorstep, why not take it? It seemed this lady was also not short on cash. "Sure, do you want the simplified version or the full version?"
This statement made Yan Ruyu's heart flutter. This young man was interesting, trying to trap her.
"What do you mean by the full version, and what do you mean by the simplified version?"
"For the simplified version, you can pay a small fee, and I'll tell you. I take no responsibility if it doesn't turn out well. For the full version, I'll give you the recipe. I'll cook a batch for you right now, so watch carefully. The key point is signing a contract guaranteeing you'll purchase a certain amount of crayfish from me each month."
Zhang Tianxing's proposal stunned Yan Ruyu. What kind of operation was this? A tie-in?
She wanted to buy a recipe, but now she had to source the ingredients from him.
"What's the price of crayfish, and how much per month?"
"Market price, large and fresh. Five thousand jin a month."
Hearing Zhang Tianxing's exorbitant demand, Gao Tianming's heart pounded. This Zhang Tianxing was truly something else.
He's pushing away money that's being handed to him. Can your crayfish even sell that much? And a contract? I think you're overthinking it.
I'll talk to him properly when we're alone. Just because the crayfish is your recipe doesn't mean you can act recklessly.
We're here to do barbecue. No, wait, we're here to make money! Damn it, I've been worrying myself sick, only to realize I'm not the boss. Gao Tianming felt a pang of melancholy.
Yan Ruyu thought to herself that she would test it out in Zhonghai City. This young man's proposal was worth considering, and it seemed the supply issue was also resolved.
His recipe, combined with a supply channel, meant this young man had big ambitions. However, she would be dependent on this handsome young man.
Yan Ruyu then inquired about the delivery location: would she pick it up or would it be delivered?
"It's all the same. The wool comes from the sheep. Door-to-door delivery will cost extra, and picking it up has its own price."
Zhang Tianxing thought for a moment and said, "How about this, miss? I'll give you the recipe, and you just pay a hundred yuan tuition fee."
Everyone is treated the same. The thugs pay this price, and the great beauty pays the same price. Making money is the way to go.
Yan Ruyu nodded in agreement and directly handed Zhang Tianxing a hundred yuan.
Deliciously refreshing. Making money through skill is fast. In just a short while, a hundred yuan was in hand.
Yan Ruyu looked at Zhang Tianxing's seamless operation and saw the color, aroma, and taste of the crayfish coming out of the pot.
This is good. It's sure to be a hit in Zhonghai City. With such a delicious taste, paired with beer, a few drinks, and crayfish, life couldn't be better.
Gao Tianming was stunned. He couldn't comprehend why such a beautiful woman would care about how crayfish was made.
He had to admire Zhang Tianxing even more.
A beauty like jade, deep affection, I cannot...
Gao Tianming rubbed his aching arm. It was indeed tiring. He was okay, but Zhang Tianxing, that beast, delivered goods during the day, cut meat in the afternoon, skewered, and marinated. He did every job, and still had such energy now.
Why do I get tired so easily? Have I lost the motivation to make money? Gao Tianming was puzzled.
He took the opportunity to ask Zhang Tianxing, "You've been working all day. I see you still have plenty of energy whether you're grilling skewers or stir-frying crayfish. Where does all your energy come from?"
Zhang Tianxing laughed heartily at the question. "Of course, it's tiring. If you want to make money, you can't say it's tiring. If the meat isn't grilled well, do I get a refund? If the crayfish isn't delicious, won't they refuse to pay in the end?"
Hearing Zhang Tianxing's words, Gao Tianming realized he had never considered these things. No wonder Zhang Tianxing persisted. Making money is not easy.
Li Fang came from a poor family and knew the difficulty of earning money, so she adapted quickly. What was even more impressive was Wen Qing.
Despite being a little princess at home, she handled herself with ease at this night stall.
Although nothing happened tonight, Zhang Tianxing still sensed that a crisis was approaching.
It's clear that everyone can see whether a business is profitable or not. Once you start making money, flies and mosquitoes will swarm, ready to drink your blood and eat your flesh.
They want to reap without sowing.
However, Zhang Tianxing didn't say much. No amount of words would be useful. Gao Hongqiang wouldn't have appeared at the barbecue stall for no reason.
Worrying about his child is one thing, but the main reason was likely fear that he would use Gao Tianming to do other things.
It seemed Gao Hongqiang knew that his son was currently just a errand boy and couldn't handle important responsibilities. He wanted to see what his son was actually doing.
This scene also lifted a weight off Gao Hongqiang's heart. At his level, he no longer sought much for himself, but his son was the pride of his life. Gao Tianming was his weakness.
That young hoodlum, it seemed he would have to inform the nearby police station. His son's affairs were minor, but Wen Qing's were major.
Currently, no problems could arise at that barbecue stall. He still hoped for advancement and didn't want to be marginalized.
Perhaps this was also an opportunity for him, depending on how well his son performed at that barbecue stall.
Gao Tianming had explained the family situations of Li Fang and Zhu Dayong. If Gao Hongqiang didn't know their family backgrounds, he wouldn't have agreed to let Gao Tianming come home after midnight every night.
Thinking about it, that was impossible. Yet, his son had been returning at two or three in the morning for the past few days.
But to be fair, his son seemed to have undergone a complete transformation in the past few days. From not doing any chores before, he was now proficient in household tasks.
To use Gao Tianming's own words, "I'm so skilled at the barbecue stall now, I wipe the tables until they shine!"