Zhang Huai’s mind raced as he tried to decide. ’Should I trust this Old Mr. Fang?’

’Qingmu and Juhua pushed me out here because they trust me. But if I mess this up, how can I face them?’

After a long silence, he came to a decision. ’To be safe, this is the only way.’

He looked up, meeting Fang Jingyu’s gaze, and gave a slight nod. "We are willing to part with the secret recipe, but not right now. I think we need at least a year. We have to establish the Qingshan Sausage brand first. After a year, we plan to transfer the rights to the recipe through an auction."

Fang Jingyu was taken aback. He couldn’t help but ask, "An auction?"

Zhang Huai replied, "The highest bidder gets it."

Fang Jingyu studied him, nodding to himself. He mulled it over for a moment before speaking. "Let me be frank, Younger Mr. Zhang, and please don’t take offense. You’re from the countryside and don’t have much power. If you try to play by the rules of the business world for everything, I’m afraid you’ll end up on the losing end. Right now, your business is small and doesn’t attract much attention. But once it gets bigger, you’ll draw the eye of people with ill intentions, and trouble will come knocking. I think you should reconsider. Name a price, and as long as it’s not too outrageous, I’ll buy this secret recipe from you. We can consider it the start of a good relationship, and I’ll even offer you some protection in the business world. Don’t worry, even if I buy it, I won’t operate in the Huzhou area. This market will still be yours. I’ll take the business elsewhere."

After speaking, he watched Zhang Huai with piercing eyes, waiting for his answer.

Li Changyu also stared nervously at Zhang Huai, wondering what his choice would be.

Zhang Huai looked at Old Mr. Fang with a calm smile and said, "As I’ve said, we’re not just in this to make money. The most important thing is to sell something that is our own. It’s our good fortune that you’ve taken an interest in our sausage, Old Mr. Fang. However, I can’t name a price today. I have no idea how well the sausage will sell next year. If I name a price that’s too low, we lose out. If it’s too high, it’s unfair to you. Besides, this isn’t a decision I can make on my own."

Fang Jingyu couldn’t help but hold the young man in even higher regard.

’An ordinary villager, upon hearing that a major merchant wants to buy their product, would just be anxiously trying to figure out a suitable price. Who would consider all these other factors? And he spoke so eloquently, leaving himself plenty of room to negotiate.’

He found it strange. This young man seemed to have a knack for business, never rashly agreeing to anything he wasn’t sure about. ’He’s truly a promising talent.’

He looked at Zhang Huai and chuckled. "I understand, I understand. The fact that you’re willing to sell the recipe to me in a year already makes me very happy. As for the price, allow me to be bold: as long as what you ask for isn’t unreasonable, I can accept it. And I dare say the price I offer will certainly satisfy you. I’m a straightforward person. Since we’ve agreed on this, I won’t haggle over the details. I trust in the simple, honest nature of you country folk, which is something those city merchants can never compare to."

Chen Yu, listening, nodded repeatedly. "That’s exactly right. I’ve gotten that impression myself. They are truly honest, and doing business with them is very reassuring." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Fang Jingyu glanced at him and smiled. "It seems you speak from experience?"

Chen Yu laughed. "I do. They only take what they’re owed. Even if you want to give them more, they won’t accept it—they’re afraid taking the extra money will bring them trouble!"

Hearing this, Fang Jingyu laughed heartily. He turned back to Zhang Huai and said, "Younger Mr. Zhang, I’ll have Manager Song from my Hongfa company discuss the details with you when the time comes."

Zhang Huai nodded. "I just have one small request. If you buy the recipe, Old Mr. Fang, you can’t use the ’Qingshan’ brand name. We’d like to keep a little something for ourselves."

Now Fang Jingyu was even more surprised. Anyone else would probably be begging him to use their brand name. Wouldn’t that be the perfect way to promote it?

Li Changyu added from the side, "Old Mr. Fang, if you get into the sausage business, you’ll definitely do it on a larger scale and do it better than we can. As for us, we just want people to know about our Little Qing Mountain, Xiatang Market, and Qingnan Village, and to know that we produce some very unique things here. It would be great if merchants traveling along the Qinghui River would turn into the tributary and stop by the market to stock up on goods."

Zhang Huai nodded. That was exactly what he meant.

Fang Jingyu gazed at the two young men with a profound look in his eyes. ’They’re worried that in the future, people will think of the sausage as a product of the Fang family, not of Little Qing Mountain, aren’t they?’

’Well, so be it. Their concerns aren’t unfounded. With a family and business as large as mine, I wouldn’t stoop to bullying farmers over such a small matter.’