169: Clear the Land

Clear the Land

Lin Yuelan continued, "What I mean is that in the next three years, I promise not to cooperate with other restaurants and that I will only provide you with my seasonings. I also promise to release a new recipe every month.1

"Three years later, I might work with other restaurants, or I might even open my own restaurant. Of course, I will not set up the partnership or new restaurant in An Ning County or the surrounding counties. So it won't have much of an impact on Yuelai Inn." 

Liu Qi pondered over Lin Yuelan's words.

It made sense. The world was so big, and Yuelai Inn was just a small town in the Long Yan Country. No matter how delicious the food was, people from far away would not be able to frequent it.

Even the people from Qingfeng provincial city would find it hard to come here for a meal, let alone those in the capital, where the rich and powerful gathered.

Therefore, three years later, as long as it didn't affect the business of Yuelai Inn, it was Lin Yuelan's freedom to expand her business. Therefore, Liu Qi did not disagree with this.

As for why it had to be three years later, Liu Qi believed Lin Yuelan wanted to use Yuelai Inn to make a name for herself first.

After that, he raised another question. "Will you still get the profit-sharing after three years?"

Lin Yuelan nodded. "Of course. That's part of the offer."

The corners of Liu Qi and Zhou Wencai's lips twitched once again. Lin Yuelan was openly taking advantage of them. She only provided the recipes, but she wanted to take advantage of them forever. Liu Qi did not agree with this.

He said, "No. If Yuelai Inn continues to operate in the next 100 years, doesn't that mean your children and grandchildren will continue to benefit from the profit share? They can just sit back and enjoy the free money. That is not fair." Liu Qi had to plan ahead. He couldn't agree to this.

Of course, Lin Yuelan wouldn't keep taking advantage of him. Besides, she would eventually sell soy sauce on the market. But she'd make sure it was after her deal with Liu Qi was over. Or else she'd feel so apologetic towards him.

"Of course, you're right. Any transaction has to have a deadline. Ten years," Lin Yuelan said seriously, "I will only work with Yuelai Inn for ten years. After all, I will not take any profit share anymore. Young Master Liu, what do you think?"

Ten years wasn't a long time, but it wasn't short, either.

However, it was also the most reasonable time limit.

Liu Qi nodded and said, "Alright then."

Lin Yuelan continued, "However when it comes to business, I think it's better for us to write it down in black and white. Then we can all feel at ease, don't you agree, Young master Liu?"

This was good for Liu Qi, so he naturally agreed.

After a while, Liu Qi picked up a pen and paper. In black and white, he wrote down the cooperation method, profit sharing, and so on clearly.

After that, the two of them signed their names, and Zhou Wencai became the witness.

...

"Just like that, the cooperation deal is done?" Guo Bing's mouth was wide open in disbelief.

Guo Bing was a military counselor on the battlefield, but he was a blind strategist in the business world.

He didn't understand the politics of business, but he felt that Lin Yuelan was really good at taking advantage of others.

However, once he thought about it, Liu Qi hadn't lost fully either. If the new dishes could bring booming business to Yuelai Inn, then the whole inn would benefit. For example, they would order the other dishes on the menu that were not part of Lin Yuelan's recipes. Plus, these customers would stay at Yuelan Inn too. These profits would have nothing to do with Lin Yuelan. Therefore, it was not that Liu Qi didn't earn anything.

"But, how did miss Lin know so many new recipes?" Guo Bing was a little confused. The recipes she knew had not been seen in the Long Yan Country before.

Jiang Zhennan and Guo Bing didn't know what to think of Lin Yuelan. On the surface, she looked like a young woman, but she knew too much mysterious knowledge. She was so mysterious that they wouldn't be surprised that she was actually a fairy.

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