"This recipe," Lian Manman consulted Lian Shouxin, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi with her eyes, then slowly said, "I don’t really want to sell. We country folks aren’t looking to make a fortune overnight. We’re not afraid of hard work, of putting in the effort. Having this recipe ans we can make so money every year—a steady, modest inco is best for us."
Woo Zhonglian and Shopkeeper Wu, upon hearing Lian Manman express her disinclination to sell the recipe—and seemingly not just in jest—both beca sowhat anxious. The business of selling roasted goods may not appear glamorous, with seemingly slim margins, but those who truly engage in it realize it is a very lucrative enterprise.
"Young lady, you should think it over, the price of the recipe is negotiable," Woo Zhonglian said.
"Elder Woo is so keen on buying? Then, how much do you plan to offer for my recipe?" Lian Manman pondered for a mont before asking.
Woo Zhonglian couldn’t help but feel elated. Since Lian Manman had asked this question, it ant there was still hope he could purchase the recipe.
"Young lady, you just said that with this recipe, you can make eight taels of silver a year. So, I’m willing to pay the price for ten years, how about eighty taels of silver?" Woo Zhonglian hesitated for a mont before making his offer.
He had no intention of spending too much to buy Lian Manman’s recipe, thinking that offering around fifteen, or at most twenty taels of silver, would be enough to cheerfully persuade Lian Manman to hand it over. He had not expected Lian Manman to be so shrewd and determined not to sell, which forced him to make a substantial offer. He was very optimistic about the prospects of garlic-flavored peanuts. If he acquired the recipe, he planned to mass-produce them, not just to sell in his own shop but also to distribute to other grocery stores and small vendors. Eighty taels of silver could be recouped in a year, or perhaps even less.
Of course, it still pained him to make such an offer, but he had no choice. From Lian Manman’s words, it was clear that without offering a considerable amount of silver, there was no chance of her considering selling the recipe to him.
Seeing Woo Zhonglian willing to offer eighty taels of silver, Lian Manman put on an expression that suggested she was tempted, yet conflicted. In reality, she had already ntally signaled victory. Woo Zhonglian had sought to purchase her recipe with posturing intent on driving down the price, so naturally, she would respond in kind, doing her due diligence to raise the value of her recipe. It seed she had gained the upper hand for now.
Lian Shouxin, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi all showed signs of happiness on their faces.
"Eighty taels of silver is the sum for ten years, but if we sell it ourselves, we could sell for many ten-year periods," Lian Manman said to Lian Shouxin.
"The offer from our eastern neighbor is not low at all; such an opportunity is rare," Shopkeeper Wu hurriedly interjected.
"Our family needs to discuss whether to sell it or not," Lian Manman stated.
After all, it was a significant matter, and it was only reasonable for them to want to discuss it.
"Okay, then you discuss it. My patience is limited; I won’t wait too long," Woo Zhonglian said deliberately. He had already noticed that apart from Lian Manman, the other mbers of the Lian Family were inclined to sell.
Lian Manman then left the private room with Lian Shouxin, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi and sat down in another room nearby.
"This recipe of ours—are we selling it or not?" Lian Manman asked.
For a mont, Lian Shouxin, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi remained silent. Lian Shouxin was still sowhat dazed; the idea that the recipe for garlic-flavored peanuts could sell for eighty taels of silver was beyond anything he had imagined. In his view, the peanuts were just a concoction the children had co up with on their own, a bit of good fortune that could earn so pocket money at the market and improve their lives at ho. But today, watching Woo Zhonglian and Lian Manman’s back-and-forth, he realized just how valuable the recipe was.
"Eighty taels of silver is a considerable amount," seeing that the children were all looking at him, waiting for him to make a decision, Lian Shouxin thought for a mont and then said, "Even if the recipe is clever, in the span of ten years, it’s uncertain whether others won’t co up with sothing tastier. In my opinion, the price is acceptable, and it could be sold."
Lian Manman silently nodded her approval; she had anticipated Lian Shouxin would say this.
"That’s what I think," Lian Shouxin continued, "but Manman, the final decision to sell or not is up to you."
Lian Shouxin thought this way because the recipe was sothing the children had co up with, and Lian Manman had shown capable and even more thoughtful judgnt than him in the exchange with Woo Zhonglian. After making his attitude clear, he left the final decision to the children.
Lian Manman smiled. This was Lian Shouxin’s strength: he respected his own children, didn’t arrogantly pretend to know it all, and didn’t use his status as a father to impose his will on the kids. This was a quality that was truly rare.
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