That evening, everyone happily enjoyed a hearty meal, and Luo Wu finally got to see Gu Jinxiu as he wished, exchanging a few words with her.

He learned that the Frost Descent Map she sent to Huaiyu Embroidery Shop had sold for a high price, and he was very happy for her: "Sister Xiu is getting more and more skilled."

It's just that his skills were still not enough, and he didn't know how long it would take before he could marry her.

Luo Wu felt a bit down.

Upon seeing him, Gu Jinxiu said: "Brother Luo Wu is already very impressive, and in such a short time, he became a squad leader. Some people spend their lifetime as government officials without ever being promoted to squad leader."

Luo Wu was thrilled, and with excitement, he asked: "Sister Xiu, do you think I'm very impressive?"

Gu Jinxiu nodded: "Yes, very impressive."

Brother Luo Wu had been protecting them since they were young. Without Brother Luo Wu and Hui Niang, she and Good Brother An would have suffered even more beatings.

Her words swept away Luo Wu's exhaustion of the past few days, leaving him rejuvenated.

After dinner, Gu Jinli let Qin San Lang take the remaining two grilled fish home: "It's cold, you can save them for tomorrow."

She also packed a lot of food for Qin San Lang to take back.

Elder Qin chuckled and said: "Little Xiao Yu, are you trying to fatten San Lang like a pig? There's so much food, he can't finish it all."

Gu Jinli replied: "If he can't finish, just take it to the Military Office. The food at the Military Office isn't good, consider it an extra dish."

Elder Qin shook his head and went back home with Qin San Lang, carrying a lot of food.

On the way, Elder Qin said: "Are you a blessed man, my boy?"

Qin San Lang frowned: "What blessing?"

Elder Qin: "Wife's blessing."

Qin San Lang was startled and hastily said: "Grandpa, please don't talk nonsense, it's not good for Xiao Yu."

Elder Qin looked back at Qin San Lang and said with a smile: "The old man is just saying you're blessed with a wife's favor, I didn't mention that wife was Xiao Yu. It's what you have in your mind that matters, it has nothing to do with me."

After saying that, he walked away briskly, leaving Qin San Lang annoyed.

...

Indeed, Gu Jinli seemed intent on fattening Qin San Lang like a pig, as she took him to the Yanfu Building for a feast the next day.

Luo Wu did not go, as he stayed in the village where he could see more of Gu Jinxiu.

Upon arriving at Yanfu Building, they met Boss Hu, Manager Feng, and Manager Lin.

The three gentlemen, overwhelmed with joy upon seeing her, hurriedly approached: "Gu Family's daughter, it's great to see you. What about the deal we spoke of yesterday? Can you sell us the recipe from Yanfu Building? Don't worry, if you think the price is too low, we can offer more."

On Dongzhi day, after eating at Yanfu Building, Steward Hu was amazed and took two high-quality meals back home. After eating, Boss Hu could hardly sleep. He rushed to Yanfu Building the next day, hoping to pay a high price for the recipe.

Manager Feng and Manager Lin had the dishes from Yanfu Building one day after Boss Hu, and they were just as startled after eating them. After enquiring about the prices, they became restless and immediately rushed over to ask for the recipe.

Such delicious food, selling for as little as thirty cents and at most under one hundred cents—ridiculous! In the county, even the cheapest of these dishes could sell for upwards of two hundred cents.

It was a waste for Yanfu Building to hold onto these recipes, better to sell them and let others make more money.

Gu Jinli said: "The recipes are the foundation of our restaurant. We don't sell them to outsiders, but since you uncles have such a familiar relationship with us... we'll sell you five recipes. You can choose which dishes you want, but the deal isn't just a one-time purchase. We'll take a percentage of the future sales from these dishes."

"Revenue share from dishes? This..." Boss Hu and the others were quite surprised, as they had never seen anyone do this before.

Gu Jinli nodded and said: "Yes, a revenue share from the dishes, taking twenty percent. If you gentlemen agree, we can sign the contract and I will teach you the recipes."

The business at Yongxing Building was similar to theirs at Yanfu Building, but the business at Changfeng Building and Futai Building was exceptionally good. Especially Futai Building, which owned quite a few restaurants. Selling them the recipes and then taking a percentage would be akin to her becoming a shareholder; as long as Futai Building continued to sell these dishes, she would make money, which wasn't much different from opening a restaurant in the county herself.

Boss Hu was really conflicted. This was not as good as paying a high price to buy the recipes outright. With such a revenue share, Gu Family's daughter would have the authority to review their Futai Building's accounts, which felt somewhat like being cheated.

Gu Jinli glanced at them and said: "If you gentlemen find it difficult, then let's forget it. I will still sell you the crispy pork belly."

Crispy pork belly was similar to roast duck. They could pick up the stock in the morning and sell it, and it was easy to package and transport.

"This..." Boss Hu and the others were truly troubled. They felt reluctant to give up, but also felt it was somewhat disadvantageous not to.

Eventually, Boss Hu made the decision: "Alright, our Futai Building agrees to buy your five dishes through a revenue-share deal."

Manager Feng hastily said: "Boss Hu, have you really decided?"

Boss Hu nodded: "We all run restaurants and fully understand that without new dishes, the restaurant will gradually decline. Our Futai Building may look prosperous, but if we don't introduce new, tasty dishes, we too will eventually decline."

Looking at the cured food shop, then at Yanfu Building, the only thing Futai Building could compete with was its solid financial foundation, owning restaurants in the county and nearby towns.

But Yanfu Building was aggressively expanding, and if one day they decided to open a restaurant in the county, what would become of Futai Building?

To destroy the Gu Family?

That was impossible.

Because Jin'an Gu knew the legitimate heir of the Zheng family and Shangguan family of Jinling Prefecture, the Qi Family of Prefecture City conducted business with the Gu Family, and the young men from the Qin, Gu, Luo, and Luotian families were also officials in the government office—how could they even try?

Unable to destroy them, the only option was to collaborate.

Seeing the situation, Manager Feng and Manager Lin weighed the pros and cons and agreed: "We are also willing to buy the recipes with a dish revenue sharing model."

Gu Jinli smiled and said: "Alright, I will go write the contract now. Gentlemen, please wait."

Gu Jinli, accompanied by Xiao Ji, went upstairs clanging and quickly returned with six contracts, handing them to Boss Hu and the others to review.

After seeing them, Boss Hu and his companions were at a loss for words. Although they had already experienced the strictness of contracts from the Gu Family, this time they felt like vomiting blood.

No poaching of chefs or helpers from Yanfu Building to steal the recipes, otherwise, once verified, they would have to compensate Yanfu Building fifty thousand taels of silver.

Girl, do you know how much fifty thousand taels of silver is to dare write that!

They had been running restaurants all their lives and hadn't yet earned fifty thousand taels; she was trying to wipe them out in one go!

Suddenly, they wanted to tear up the contract and not sign. But then, looking at the towering Qin San Lang next to them, the fox-like smiling Gu Jinli, and the packed Yanfu Building, they had no choice but to sign.

"Come on, gentlemen, don't be shy, choose some dishes," Gu Jinli brought out a menu for them to select from.

Boss Hu and the others felt like crying; they ultimately held back their tears and selected the five best dishes they ate, with the squirrel fish becoming the top choice, selected by everyone.

"Gu Family's daughter, can you also sell us the crystal osmanthus cake, please? That dessert is indeed very pretty, from my family's old lady down to the children, everyone loves it."

Gu Jinli shook her head: "That's not possible right now, maybe next year. The flour used to make the crystal osmanthus cake is very special, not the regular kind, and currently, only our Yanfu Building has access to it."

The people of Great Chu do not know how to make water chestnut flour; only she knew how to make it. Ah, the joy of having a monopoly.