Seeing the sly look that flashed across Ruan Jiu's eyes, Shen Yu felt a sense of unease rising in his heart. He nervously swallowed and couldn't help but shift his body backward. Cautiously, he asked, "What kind of business?"
Ruan Jiu replied, "I can help you make Drunken Immortal Restaurant the number - one restaurant in Qinzhou City, but you have to help me in return."
Shen Yu's expression turned solemn. Although it sounded like mutual assistance, the thing Ruan Jiu wanted him to do must not be a trivial matter. So, with a dodgy look in his eyes, he said with a smile, "We've known each other for so long. Moreover, we're like close friends sharing a secret. With such a bond, let's not get into all this."
In Shen Yu's heart, he thought that Ruan Jiu clearly had some hidden agenda. It was as if he could almost feel the abacus beads hitting his face. He mustn't fall into her trap!
"You're talking business with me, and you're talking about our bond?" What a joke! Besides, what kind of bond did they have?
"Miss Ruan, your words sound so distant," Shen Yu said obsequiously while pouring tea for Ruan Jiu.
Ruan Jiu crossed her arms over her chest, frowned, and asked, "Just tell me whether you'll do this business or not."
"Tell me what it is first," Shen Yu said suspiciously. He wondered if Ruan Jiu was going to make an exorbitant demand.
"You know that now, thanks to being the head of the Xie family, Xie Jing has cut off all connections between the cloth - making workshops and the silk stores. But I've got a good idea to get the silk stores out of this predicament."
Seeing the glint in Ruan Jiu's eyes, Shen Yu looked terrified and waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "I won't do anything illegal like murder!"
Ruan Jiu rolled her eyes after hearing this. Was this guy crazy? So she immediately explained, "I plan to build a cloth - making workshop myself, but I'm short of a bit of silver."
Shen Yu suddenly understood. So she just wanted silver. That was so easy. He waved his hand grandly and said, "Tell me. How much silver do you need?"
Ruan Jiu smiled and said, "Not much, just five hundred thousand taels."
Shen Yu stared intently. He wasn't unable to come up with five hundred thousand taels. However, since it was a business deal, he couldn't give the silver away for free.
"I can agree to this, but the Shen family should have a share in this cloth - making workshop," he said.
Ruan Jiu had long anticipated that Shen Yu would say this. But she wasn't going to agree. If the Shen family got involved in the cloth - making workshop, once the Shen family was well - established in Qinzhou City, she might be kicked out at any time.
"Mr. Shen, why would the Shen family care about a mere cloth - making workshop?" Ruan Jiu said.
"You can't say that. After all, even a fly is meat," Shen Yu replied.
Judging from Shen Yu's words, it seemed that he was determined to get a share. But Ruan Jiu wasn't going to do something that was just benefiting others.
Ruan Jiu smiled and said, "According to what you said, Mr. Shen, shouldn't I also get a share of Drunken Immortal Restaurant?"
"That's out of the question," Shen Yu refused.
"If Drunken Immortal Restaurant becomes the number - one restaurant in Qinzhou in the future, it will surely make more money than the cloth - making workshop. After all, as you said, even a fly is meat."
Shen Yu didn't expect her to say this. This woman really wouldn't let herself suffer the slightest loss.
Shen Yu stared intently at her and said, "Don't forget that you're the one asking for my help now." After all, besides the Xie family, only the Shen family could come up with five hundred thousand taels.
Ruan Jiu slightly raised her eyebrows and said, "Isn't Mr. Shen also asking for my help?"
Shen Yu was so angry that he was speechless. She was really sharp - tongued! And he simply had no way to deal with her.
After a moment of stalemate, Shen Yu helplessly said, "But I can't just give you the five hundred thousand taels for nothing."
"Of course not," Ruan Jiu paused and then continued, "I'll consider this five hundred thousand taels as a loan. I'll pay you back the principal and interest in a year, and I'll also help you make Drunken Immortal Restaurant the number - one restaurant in Qinzhou. This business is a sure - win for you no matter how you look at it."
That was true, but Shen Yu still felt uncomfortable.
"What if you can't pay me back the five hundred thousand taels in a year?" he asked.
"Then I'll be willing to be at the Shen family's disposal," Ruan Jiu replied.
This actually sounded quite good. Spending five hundred thousand taels to recruit a business talent like Ruan Jiu into the Shen family was worth it. Even if Ruan Jiu paid back the principal and interest in a year, it wasn't a loss. And it would also give the Shen family an explanation for reviving Drunken Immortal Restaurant. It was truly a sure - win deal.
Shen Yu's eyebrows relaxed a bit, and he said, "In that case, I agree to this business."
"However, I need one more small favor from Mr. Shen," Ruan Jiu squinted her eyes.
Shen Yu smelled a hint of conspiracy and asked suspiciously, "What else?"
"I heard that the Shen family has a piece of land in the suburbs, which is perfect for building a cloth - making workshop. I wonder if Mr. Shen could rent it to me at a lower price?" This way, she could save the silver for buying the land.
Shen Yu frowned. She was really good at setting traps. But now that his foot was already in, was he still afraid of getting his whole body in? So he had no choice but to helplessly agree, "Okay, I agree to this."
After saying that, Shen Yu immediately called someone to write down all their oral agreements on paper. Ruan Jiu, the little fox. She really had to be guarded against!
"Now you can tell me how to revive Drunken Immortal Restaurant," Shen Yu asked.
Ruan Jiu hooked her finger at Shen Yu. Seeing this, Shen Yu immediately leaned closer. Ruan Jiu shook her head and glanced at the silver note in front of Shen Yu. Shen Yu immediately understood what she meant. She was really money - minded! Then he picked up the silver note and put it in Ruan Jiu's hand.
After carefully counting the silver note, Ruan Jiu nodded in satisfaction and carefully put it into her bosom. Then she said to Shen Yu, "You're so silly. The taste preferences in Qinzhou are very different from those in the capital. If you use chefs from the capital to cook for the people in Qinzhou, they'll only be curious for a while. Once the novelty wears off, of course, there won't be any business."
Hearing this, Shen Yu suddenly understood. Why hadn't he thought of this? These days, he had suspected the ingredients, the decoration, and even the feng shui of the restaurant. But he had never thought of this simple point! And it was this simple point that allowed Ruan Jiu to "cheat" five hundred thousand taels from him so easily.
By the time he came to his senses, Ruan Jiu had already left with her maid. However, he was really looking forward to it. He was looking forward to what other surprising things Ruan Jiu would do next.
As soon as she left Drunken Immortal Restaurant, Ruan Jiu was in a great mood. The biggest problem was now solved. She had to go back quickly and tell Jiang Jibai to handle the matter of building the cloth - making workshop as soon as possible.
But Chuntao looked worried. Frowning, she asked, "Cousin, if you can't pay back the five hundred thousand taels to Mr. Shen in a year, will you really go and work for the Shen family?" Her cousin had even sacrificed herself for the silk stores. Chuntao felt really sad for her.
Ruan Jiu raised her eyebrows and said, "It's clearly written on paper. If I can't pay it back, I'll be at the Shen family's disposal. It's just being at their disposal, not signing a slavery contract. At most, I'll just run errands for the Shen family."
Hearing this, Chuntao's eyes lit up, and she exclaimed, "Cousin is so wise!"