Qi Jiao greeted Hui Zhenyu with a smile.
Hui Zhenyu was very amiable and invited her into the house to sit for a while.
He looked at Fang Yunxin inside the house and gave her a doting smile. "I'll go change my clothes first."
After saying that, his long - attendant A Yuan served Hui Zhenyu to go and change his clothes.
Qi Jiao thought that it was better to do it now than to choose another day. Since she happened to meet the county magistrate today, she might as well bring up her idea.
Fang Yunxin also told Qi Jiao not to leave in a hurry. "My husband said the other day that he had something important to discuss with you. But he has been so busy these days that he had to put it off."
Hui Zhenyu came back soon.
He behaved very naturally and casually. First, he stroked Fang Yunxin's black hair and asked, "How do you feel today? Did the baby give you any trouble?"
Fang Yunxin was a bit listless and shook her head. "It's okay. Thanks to the dietary recipes Jiao Niang gave me. I've felt much better after eating them."
Actually, both the Fang and Hui families had sent their personal cooks and nurses.
Even far away from the capital, Fang Yunxin could enjoy the best care.
But she thought Jiao Niang's medicinal - diet recipes were not only nourishing but also to her taste, so she spared no effort in praising Jiao Niang.
Hui Zhenyu gave Qi Jiao a grateful smile. "Actually, I've long wanted to consult you about a business matter. Can the food sold in your shop, such as oyster sauce, crab roe paste, salted duck eggs and so on, be preserved for several months without spoiling?"
Qi Jiao nodded. "If properly preserved, without being exposed to heat or moisture, they'll be fine for two or three months." The things in the shop didn't contain preservatives, so three months was a reasonable time limit.
Hui Zhenyu was overjoyed. "Then, are the raw materials easy to obtain?"
"Easy. Most of them are marine products from Yinggehai."
Qi Jiao thought that except for duck eggs which required raising ducks and hatching eggs, the others were all from the sea.
Hui Zhenyu was quite excited and couldn't help clapping his hands. "Excellent!"
He stood up. "This is really great! Jiao Niang, do you know why Lingle County has always been a lower - level county?"
Qi Jiao thought to herself that how could she know?
She casually replied, "Is it because it's located in a remote area, far from the political and economic center?"
It was just too poor anyway.
Hui Zhenyu smiled. "Yes, but not entirely."
He simply asked A Yuan to bring pen and paper, spread them on the table and drew a few lines. Pointing at the black route he had drawn, he said, "Lingle County is near the sea. The weather is warm and the rainfall is abundant, nourishing countless products. But the mountains of seafood can only be consumed locally at most and can't be transported out at all. If they can't be sold, no silver can be earned..."
He was quite distressed. "The county is really short of money. Only after I took office did I learn that Lingle County still owes the prefectural city hundreds of thousands of taels of silver..."
At that time, he didn't know how many times he had cursed the previous county magistrates. It was such a mess. If he hadn't been restricted everywhere in the capital, he would never have come to this god - forsaken place!
It had made Yunxin suffer.
However, everything has two sides.
He naturally knew that if he could achieve something here, on the one hand, it would benefit the people's livelihood, and on the other hand, it would greatly help his way back to the capital in the future.
The marine - product side dishes made by Jiao Niang were very likely to be the key for him to turn the situation around.
Hearing him point out the poor financial situation of Lingle County, Qi Jiao let out an "uh" sound. "Then, what does your honor have in mind?"
Hui Zhenyu looked at Qi Jiao expectantly with bright eyes. "I... cough, then I'll just say it straight. I want to buy the recipes in your hand."
After saying that, he seemed to think it was inappropriate and quickly explained, "Don't worry. I have absolutely no intention of hitting your shop. If the government makes the products, they can be sold to other places in the future. The signboard of your Jiao Niang Restaurant will still be the best."
Qi Jiao understood. Lord Hui wanted to develop the industry to fill the debt hole and at the same time save the economy of Lingle County.
She thought for a while. Her original intention of making gourmet products was just to make money.
Moreover, in the final analysis, how could the production of her small workshop compare with the scale of the government's operation?
She had no other skills, but making delicious food was a piece of cake for her. She could just pick a few recipes to sell.
Moreover, once she got involved with the government, Jiao Niang Restaurant would invisibly gain an extra layer of protection, avoiding some competitors from coveting and setting obstacles.
Qi Jiao could see clearly.
Lord Hui and Lady Fang were the highest - level people she could contact at the moment.
The most precious thing was that they were kind - hearted, and Lord Hui was really dedicated to serving the people.
Since he took office, he had never engaged in any ostentatious things. Instead, he had been devoted to practical matters.
Therefore, Lord Hui had a good reputation among the people.
Far away from the emperor, the power of a county magistrate in a place was greater than expected.
Just from the fact that he said he would buy the recipes with money instead of letting her "offer the recipes" according to his hint, Qi Jiao thought Lord Hui was a good official.
After pondering for a moment, Qi Jiao agreed. "Since it's beneficial to the finance of Lingle County, I'm willing to offer the recipes. But I won't sell them for money."
Hui Zhenyu didn't expect Jiao Niang to be so straightforward. He laughed. "Why not sell them? If you have any requirements, just say them."
Qi Jiao nodded. "Actually, the production skills of these foods are not difficult. If someone studies them carefully, they can make them as well as I do. I want to use these recipes to take a 10% stake."
Fang Yunxin couldn't help laughing. "Sure enough, Jiao Niang is far - sighted."
She turned around and gave Hui Zhenyu a coquettish look. "Jiao Niang's recipes are priceless treasures. Since she's willing to offer them, you can't let her suffer losses!"
Hui Zhenyu smiled. "Of course not."
"How about we sign a document now? In my capacity as the county magistrate of Lingle County, I promise to give Jiao Niang a 20% profit share from every product sold by the government in the future."
Qi Jiao was overjoyed.
20%!
It might seem small, but she had only contributed a few recipes.
The manpower, production, and export were all the responsibility of the government. It could be said that Qi Jiao was making money lying down.
Qi Jiao smiled sincerely and bowed deeply to Hui Zhenyu and Fang Yunxin. "Your honor and lady are really my benefactors. Please accept Jiao Niang's bow."
Fang Yunxin quickly supported her. "This is what you deserve."
She gave a playful smile. "All things are difficult at the beginning. We'll still rely on you to lay the foundation in the future."
Since there was no time to lose, Hui Zhenyu immediately signed a deed with Qi Jiao, which clearly stated the production methods of more than a dozen recipes including salted duck eggs, as well as the details of the profit - sharing.
That is to say, Qi Jiao would get a 20% profit share from every food item sold by the Lingle County government in the future.
In addition, Lord Hui also gave Qi Jiao a silver note worth 500 taels. "This is the hard - work money we pay you separately. At the beginning of the industry, there are still many problems that need your advice."
Hearing that there was still work to do, Qi Jiao was not polite and calmly accepted it.
After finishing this important matter, it was already completely dark when Qi Jiao returned home.
A Yuan sent Qi Jiao to the courtyard gate. "Lady Jiao, please go in quickly."
Qi Jiao thanked him, then turned around and walked into the gate. Suddenly, she bumped into someone, which gave her a big scare.
There was no lantern in the courtyard. By the light coming out of the window, Qi Jiao recognized the person. "A Xia, why are you standing here alone?"
Pei Xia's face was a bit gloomy and his voice was also low. "I've been waiting for you."