The price per book averaged between one and two Beli, equivalent to fifty to one hundred Renminbi from his previous life.
By price, they weren't expensive.
However, Zhang Wei had purchased too many at once, exceeding the limits of his wallet.
The manager glanced at the size of the money pouch and immediately understood.
Seeing Zhang Wei's good attire, he quickly said, "Perhaps you were in too much of a hurry to leave and didn't bring enough worldly goods?"
"A bit coincidental."
The manager gritted his teeth and said, "It's alright, sir. Just leave a written IOU, and you can take the books. You can settle the bill when you come next time."
What the heck?
He's this accommodating!
The manager said with a wry smile, "For you to come and shop at the Desert Scripture Pavilion instead of choosing pirated copies is itself a testament to your character. I trust you. Besides, the cost of these books for the pavilion, aside from copyright and printing fees, isn't that much."
Zhang Wei quite liked all these books, and it would be best if he could take them.
But at present, Zhang Wei had no means of making money. Although the Treasury was full of rare ingredients, there was no market for them yet.
Zhang Wei thought for a moment and said, "How about this, I'll make some delicacies for you, and you can consider it as payment."
"Are you a respected chef?"
"Mhm."
The manager's respect grew, and his posture became more deferential. "May I ask where Chef sir is employed, and what is your star rating?"
"Star rating... I haven't been rated yet."
The manager: ...
The manager was about to go mad. While chefs held prestigious positions, this only applied to officially recognized chefs with star ratings.
A cook from a street stall wasn't even qualified to call themselves a 'chef.'
They wouldn't even be worthy of being called a 'cook'!
A chef's skill was worth a thousand gold, but they had to be a chef first!
"Then, sir, let's stick with the IOU."
"Damn, am I not worthy?"
"That's not what I meant."
Zhang Wei rubbed his forehead. This world, which valued superficial reputation, was indeed the same as his previous life.
"What about recipe books, do you accept them?"
"Recipe books!"
The manager was shocked.
Unlike theoretical books, legitimate recipe books were extremely valuable.
Even in the Desert Scripture Pavilion, one could only glimpse them in the most central premium section.
Buy first, read later, circulation forbidden.
The cheapest cost several hundred Beli, and high-end ones could be acquired for tens of thousands of Beli!
If a chef commissioned the Desert Scripture Pavilion to sell their recipes, they would receive at least fifty percent commission!
If they were from an academy, with copyright for a dozen recipe books, they would rake in copyright fees daily.
Theoretical books were like textbooks, mostly abstract and detached from reality, requiring the reader to invest significant time and effort to digest.
Recipe books, on the other hand, were specific blueprints that could directly generate economic value.
The manager looked doubtful. What valuable recipe book could a mere... cook without any star rating produce?
He was probably just making things up himself.
However, to spare Zhang Wei's pride, the manager gritted his teeth and said, "You can leave your contact information, sir. If we can successfully sell it and generate profit, we will remit payments to you regularly. The copyright term will be fifty years."
"That's too much trouble. Just sell me the copyright directly. All future proceeds will be yours."
A mere recipe book and a little money, Zhang Wei could easily write ten or eight of them.
The manager sighed helplessly, "Recipe books have to go through an evaluation process before entering the pavilion. If it's not... good enough, it cannot be sold."
"Then just evaluate it. I'm confident in my recipe books."
"Alright, since you insist."
Faced with such an oblivious customer, the manager was also quite annoyed.
One should know that the evaluators were retired gourmands, highly respected elders in the culinary world.
These gourmands, even to esteemed chefs, were not easily impressed, possessing not only discerning palates but also incredibly sharp tongues!
Countless official chefs had been thoroughly criticized by them, deemed worthless.
Those with good mental fortitude often retreated into themselves for a while. Some with weaker resilience even developed psychological blockages, reacting to kitchenware upon sight.
Ultimately, they were forced to abandon their culinary careers.
Let them have their sharp tongues used on you, and you'll know the immensity of the sky and the depth of the earth!
Following the manager, Zhang Wei arrived at an elegant restaurant called Wangyue Zhai (Moon Gazing Studio).
Pavilions, terraces, small bridges, and flowing water – the ambiance was certainly rich.
It was evident that this restaurant had a very low seating capacity, clearly catering to a high-end clientele.
Furthermore, in the heart of the densely populated Desert City, possessing such a large garden area spoke volumes about their financial clout.
"Wangyue Zhai... sounds a bit familiar."
The manager said proudly, "Of course. Wangyue Zhai has been a tradition in Desert City for centuries, and among many restaurants and hotels, it is one of the absolute top-tier. Without a personal connection, ordinary people cannot even reach the back courtyard."
Passing through a secluded path and a grove of bamboo by a stream, Zhang Wei and the manager arrived at a thatched cottage.
A straw mat was spread before the cottage, and at a tea table, an old man was pouring and drinking tea.
The manager bowed deeply, "Greetings, Old Lord."
The old man's face was creased with wrinkles, and his drooping mouth and eyes gave him a perpetually gloomy and grumpy demeanor. From his appearance, he was a difficult and eccentric old curmudgeon.
The old man grunted with displeasure, "What 'Old Lord'? Just call me Old Jun. Always acting so stiff and awkward, what kind of a way is that! Speak, why have you sought me out?"
The manager, evidently accustomed to the old man's attitude, paid it no mind.
"Someone at the Scripture Pavilion wishes to sell recipe books, and we hoped you would authenticate them and suggest a selling price."
"The one next to you?"
"Precisely."
"Quite young."
Old Jun's tone softened slightly. "Young man, to be able to research recipes at such a young age is quite impressive. What star chef are you?"
"No star."
"Huh?"
"I've been very busy. This is my first time in the city."
Zhang Wei spoke the truth, feeling there was no need to lie.
Old Jun spat out a mouthful of tea and berated the manager, "Are you even more muddled than I am!"
"You bring anyone to me? Do you think I have nothing better to do! Get out, get out!"
The manager flinched, sprayed with tea, and grabbed Zhang Wei, intending to leave.
Zhang Wei naturally wasn't willing; where else would the money come from?
Pushing the manager away, he thought carefully about his words.
He had considerable experience dealing with stubborn and obstinate old men like this.
With that in mind, Zhang Wei deliberately adopted a mocking tone: "Heh, I thought you were some transcendent master, but it turns out you're just another snob who judges people by their appearance! Coming here today was truly a waste of time!"
Saying this, he turned to leave.
As expected, Old Jun immediately roared, "You stop right there! What did you say?"
"I said you're a snob who judges people by their appearance!"
The manager beside them broke into a cold sweat, rushing forward to cover Zhang Wei's mouth.
"My dear ancestor, please don't say another word. Do you know who you're dealing with?"
"Who?"
"A connoisseur! A true connoisseur who has tasted countless delicacies in his life. Numerous famous chefs have been guided and criticized by him. He's a towering figure in the culinary world!"
Zhang Wei scoffed, "A connoisseur? You reject someone without even looking at their work, solely based on their status? Is this how you be a connoisseur? In the end, you're just an amateur!"
"Silence!"
Old Jun bellowed!
"Today, I shall see what astonishing work you can produce!"
"Hand it over!" the old man extended his hand.
The manager's heart was pounding in his chest. Angering Old Jun so much, if he couldn't produce a top-tier work, even the manager would be implicated.
"Ahem... I haven't written it yet. Do you have paper and pen? I can compose it quickly."
Old Jun: ...
Manager: ...