The group paid their respects to the Old Madam and Madam Qian. Madam Qian’s smile grew even brighter.
She pulled Li Nuan’s hand, “I remember this girl. She’s your maternal niece, isn’t she? The bracelet you gave me was from this girl, right?”
The Old Madam nodded, “This girl is skilled at making incense. I used to have trouble sleeping at night, but now I burn her calming incense, and I fall asleep peacefully every time. I recall you also had some sleep issues; how did you find that calming incense?”
Madam Qian smiled, “I slept wonderfully. My grandson learned how good the incense was and even clamored to thank the maker in person, and to ask for some more for me.”
Li Nuan maintained a proper smile, not showing excessive joy at Madam Qian’s praise.
All of this made Madam Qian more pleased.
“Here, this bracelet is for you.” Madam Qian removed a string of dark, polished beads from her wrist and slipped it onto Li Nuan’s.
The others were not left out; each received a jade bracelet.
Qi Zhenzhen’s was a spring green with streaks of pink, Qi Xuanxuan’s was a clear, bright aquamarine, and Li Rou’s was made of mutton-fat jade.
The four thanked Madam Qian and then sat obediently to the side.
“My dear sister, you are truly fortunate to have so many lively young girls accompanying you. Unlike me, I only have that one rascal of a son. He’s not happy unless he’s causing trouble all day.” Madam Qian said with envy.
“You can’t envy this!” the Old Madam said with a laugh. “But it’s not without hope. Once your grandson marries a granddaughter-in-law and has a few more children, won’t that solve it?”
Madam Qian’s face crinkled into a smile, “You speak the truth.”
The two elderly ladies chatted, reminiscing about the past, while the younger ones listened attentively.
As it neared noon, Madam Qian asked Qi Zhenzhen with a smile, “Your grandmother said that wolf peaches are delicious. I wonder if this old woman has the fortune to taste your cooking?”
“It is my honor to prepare a few dishes for you, honored elder,” Qi Zhenzhen replied with a smile.
“Excellent, excellent.”
With ample ingredients today, each of the four famous dishes was prepared with plenty. As the methods were simple, they were completed in a short time. In addition, Qi Zhenzhen made sweet and sour pork with tomato sauce, which tasted exceptionally authentic.
Cold dishes, hot dishes, soup dishes, and meat dishes filled the table, and the aroma of steamed glutinous rice wafted through the air.
The Old Madam had tasted them once and acted as a commentator, tasting each dish as she introduced it.
“You certainly didn’t deceive me; these things are truly delicious,” Madam Qian said after the meal. “The food is good, and Zhenzhen’s cooking is also excellent. Very good, very good. I’ll have people send you a few more baskets later. We have them growing in several greenhouses at home, and Yuanbao often gives them away as potted plants.”
Several greenhouses?
Truly wealthy and powerful. How many people would they have to give them to before they were all used up?
This year, they would make do with what they got from the Qian family. Next year, she would persuade the Old Madam to have the Marquis’s mansion grow some themselves, so they could eat as much as they wanted.
After a basket of tomatoes was brought, a small half-basket was used for lunch. The Old Madam gave the rest to Qi Zhenzhen, much to the delight of the younger ones. They had heard Qi Zhenzhen say that eating the fruit raw, in its original flavor, was even tastier.
Madam Qian did not linger long at the Marquis’s mansion and left shortly after the meal.
The Old Madam then dismissed the sisters. As one aged, they tired more easily. Although she enjoyed lively company, her health did not permit it.
After returning to her mansion, Madam Qian summoned Qian Yuanbao and told him about the Marquis’s mansion’s request for wolf peaches, and how delicious they were when cooked.
When Qian Yuanbao inquired, he learned that the wolf peach dishes were prepared by Qi Zhenzhen. His eyes lit up. When he had first brought them back, it was purely for their aesthetic appeal. Although people in Persia ate them, as an imported item, Qian Yuanbao had never considered eating them. But now that his own grandmother said they were delicious, this item could be a great moneymaker. After all, so far, his was the only fleet that could sail out to sea, and this was with the Emperor’s support.
After some deliberation, he concluded that this venture was a sure profit.
Qian Yuanbao immediately told Madam Qian. Madam Qian, who also helped manage some of the Qian family’s businesses, had some business acumen and knew her grandson’s idea was feasible.
“Tomorrow, Grandmother will visit the Marquis’s mansion again and inform the Old Madam, and we’ll finalize this matter,” Madam Qian said.
“We can’t just take Miss Qi’s recipes for free. Even close relatives keep clear accounts. When you speak with the Old Madam, tell her that these recipes will be considered Miss Qi’s investment. She will receive a ten percent share of the net profit from wolf peach dishes at our Qian Ji restaurant. And, make sure the agreement is signed properly,” Qian Yuanbao instructed.
Madam Qian nodded, “You are quite the calculating young man. If Zhenzhen eventually joins our family, you won’t lose anything, will you?”
Qian Yuanbao gave an embarrassed smile, muttering inwardly, *Of course, she’ll be brought into our family.*
The next day, Madam Qian visited the Marquis’s mansion again and discussed the matter with the Old Madam. The Old Madam sent for Qi Zhenzhen. Upon hearing Madam Qian’s intentions, Qi Zhenzhen couldn’t help but admire Qian Yuanbao’s business acumen. He had previously shown disdain for wolf peaches, and now he was thinking of making money from them.
“It’s just a few recipes, very simple. I’ll write them down, and any experienced cook will be able to learn them at a glance,” Qi Zhenzhen said with a smile.
Madam Qian presented the drafted agreement to Qi Zhenzhen. “My relationship with your grandmother is good, but as the saying goes, even close relatives keep clear accounts. Our Qian family is a merchant family, and as businessmen, we cannot take your recipes for free. Yuanbao and I have discussed it; you will receive ten percent of the net profit from wolf peach dishes. The agreement states all of this. Furthermore, once these recipes are given to our Qian family, you cannot give them to anyone else in the future. Of course, you can still prepare them for yourselves within the mansion.”
Qi Zhenzhen quickly scanned the agreement. It was comprehensive and required no additions.
“Then Zhenzhen thanks Madam Qian and Young Master Qian,” Qi Zhenzhen said, signing her name with her brush and affixing her handprint. The agreement was in duplicate, with Madam Qian and Qi Zhenzhen each keeping one copy.
Coupled with the winter kimchi business, this marked her second collaboration with Qian Yuanbao.
This was all money.
Madam Qian left after signing the agreement. Qi Zhenzhen tucked the agreement away and gave it to the Old Madam, “Grandmother, this is my filial offering to you.”
The Old Madam was touched and chided her with a glance, “Keep it for yourself. This will be your future reliance. Your birth mother didn’t have much. When you get married, the dowry from the mansion will be according to regulations. Even if I privately supplement it, I can’t give you much, as there are many people eyeing the little I have. Also, there’s Yi ge’er; I need to leave more of these things for him.”
Qi Zhenzhen buried her head in the Old Madam’s lap, “Grandmother, I will definitely take good care of you in the future.”