The two of them had lost their appetite. The sun was just beginning to rise over the mountain peak, and if they didn't go to the county soon, they would be basking in the sun.
“Alright, then let’s do it as President Huo says,” Gu Fengyan said.
The two divided the work: Gu Fengyan cleaned the table and washed the dishes, while Huo Duan packed the medicinal herbs and carried them to the village entrance. They made more than ten trips back and forth before they had transported all the medicinal herbs they had accumulated over the past few days.
Upon arriving in the county, the two went straight to Xinglin Hospital. The medicinal herbs had been prepared in advance; some that could be used in the meal were left for Dongfulou Restaurant, and the rest were given to Xinglin Hospital.
After delivering the money to Xinglin Academy, I received a total of over sixty strings of cash. After deducting the ten strings of cash I had invested, and adding the ten strings of cash I had left over from last time, I had a total of seventy strings of cash.
It has to be said, the profits are outrageous!
Even the two CEOs, who had grown up with plenty of money, were shocked by the speed at which this money came in.
With a large amount of money, it was no longer possible to carry it on one's person as before. Firstly, it was for fear of exposing one's wealth and attracting trouble; secondly, it was tiring to have a large wad of coins jingling and hanging on one's body.
Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan both enjoyed regaining the troubles of being rich.
Finally, the two decided to go to the money exchange to exchange the copper coins for paper money, and kept twenty strings of cash for emergencies.
As he left the money exchange, Gu Fengyan tucked a thin roll of banknotes into his pocket. He grinned like a satiated fox. "President Huo, we've made a killing this time. If we save up a little more, we can buy a house."
Huo Duan was preoccupied with his own thoughts... He was afraid that Gu Fengyan would ask him about the progress of the mission.
"Buy it when the next batch of medicinal herbs is sold. That little house in the village has a lot of mosquitoes and is cramped... Also, make sure Father takes good care of his medicine and gets better." He didn't ask any questions, and Huo Duan breathed a sigh of relief, carefully arranging how to use the money.
At this point, Gu Fengyan frowned slightly. "Speaking of which, Mr. Huo... as you just saw, Xinglin Academy has already stockpiled a lot of medicinal herbs. If we send more over, they will definitely have a hard time."
When they signed the contract with Lin Ru, it was agreed that Xinglin Academy would accept all medicinal herbs. Lin Ru probably didn't expect that the two of them would be able to collect so many medicinal herbs.
With excessive stockpiling of medicinal herbs and unstable demand, coupled with contractual obligations, Xinglin Academy couldn't back out and had no choice but to accept them all.
In the short term, this matter will not cause any loss to Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan. However, as time goes on and the amount of medicinal herbs piled up in Xinglin Courtyard increases, they will also be affected.
Huo Duan understood what Gu Fengyan wanted to say, and nodded as he said, "There are still a few pharmacies in the county. Besides, in addition to Qianmo County, the neighboring counties and the prefecture all need medicinal herbs... We will discuss with Mr. Lin another day to change to a fixed supply."
“Mr. Huo is right,” Gu Fengyan smiled brightly. “Let’s buy a house first… Sigh, I don’t know if Dongfulou made a profit or a loss.”
Gu Fengyan had already said this twice.
Do you really want to sleep separately from him that badly? Huo Duan's brow twitched, feeling extremely uncomfortable.
"Young Master Gu, are you in such a hurry to buy a house? Do you dislike me?" He suppressed his grievances and asked jokingly.
Gu Fengyan was worried about whether the medicinal herbs Dongfulou had invested in would recoup its costs when Huo Duan asked him a question, and he turned his head.
"How could I hate President Huo? I like you more than anything..." Gu Fengyan laughed happily, yet mischievously, "What? Are you addicted to this human-shaped body pillow? President Huo can't bear to part with it?"
Huo Duan's face immediately turned red; he had actually been teased by Gu Fengyan.
"What nonsense are you talking about! It's clearly you who keeps snuggling into my arms every night, who knows who's more reluctant to leave whom?" Huo Duan retorted with a snort.
“Mmm, that is…” Gu Fengyan’s smile grew even brighter as he nodded repeatedly. “Oh dear, I don’t know who’s holding me so tightly every night that I can’t breathe, and what’s pressing against me every morning—um.”
Huo Duan's face flushed red to her neck, and she quickly covered Gu Fengyan's mouth, "You, you shouldn't talk nonsense!"
"I haven't finished speaking yet, why are you in such a hurry?" Gu Fengyan grasped his hand, pulled it away, and her rosy lips brushed against Huo Duan's palm as she opened and closed her mouth.
"That was a normal reaction!" Huo Duan turned his head and clenched his fist tightly to preserve the touch.
Gu Fengyan lowered her eyes and chuckled softly, her gaze fixed on him. Her upturned eyes were full of allure and provocation, like a pool of moist spring water.
He said, "Mr. Huo, we only live once, so being honest isn't necessarily a bad thing, right? What do you want..."
It is not a question.
"What do you want..." This question sounds like a spell, like a fox spirit in a desolate mountain temple seducing you: "Come on, come hug me, come tear me apart, come fall into the abyss of desire..."
However, the fox in front of us is male.
Huo Duan felt a buzzing in his head, his throat bobbed up and down, and he almost uttered that word.
"Young Master Gu, what do you want?" He held back and asked Gu Fengyan instead.
Gu Fengyan stared intently at him, down to his eyes… After a moment, he listlessly uttered a single word, “Coward!”
Huo Duan was stunned.
But then he saw Gu Fengyan turn around, his upturned eyes like small hooks, making Huo Duan's heart tremble.
"Mr. Huo, I'm waiting..." He was still smiling, his smile still as cunning as a fox.
For the entire noon, Huo Duan felt as if he were floating on clouds.
He meticulously analyzed and pondered every word Gu Fengyan uttered, so much so that he continued walking forward even after they reached the entrance of Dongfulou.
Gu Fengyan glanced at him, his smile enigmatic. "President Huo, we've arrived."
Huo Duan suddenly realized that he was in front of the Dongfu Building.
"It seems Manager Li's business is doing well; this investment is worthwhile!" As if he hadn't said those words, Gu Fengyan was completely oblivious to Huo Duan's dazed expression.
The sun was getting stronger, and a small window opened in front of Dongfulou. A long queue formed on the street, and the shouts of the waiters inside were constant as the restaurant was packed with people.
However, the Yingchunlou restaurant across the street was deserted, with only a few customers who came to drink tea... Several waiters squatted on the threshold, occasionally spitting at Dongfulou with a sour tone.
His jealousy and resentment were palpable.
In just a few days, Dongfulou has truly come back to life.
Huo Duan was shocked and immediately snapped back to reality.
Gu Fengyan laughed heartily and pulled a person in line next to him to ask, "Excuse me, is this line for Dongfu Restaurant?"
The man, annoyed by the long queue, initially had a bad attitude, but seeing that Gu Fengyan and Huo Duansheng were pleasing to the eye, he softened his tone, "They're from Dongfulou. They've introduced a refreshing summer dish, said to be made from peaches, good to eat alone or with porridge in the summer."
"It's a pity they're hard to buy. I've been queuing all morning, and they still haven't arrived... Sigh." After saying that, the man sighed and peered ahead.
After hearing this, Huo Duan and Gu Fengyan were both very happy. Dongfulou's business was good, and they could get 40% of it. Their investment in medicinal herbs and medicinal recipes was not a waste of effort.
"Just wait until you're rolling in money, Mr. Huo." Gu Fengyan patted Huo Duan's shoulder with a smile and stepped into Dongfu Restaurant.
At the window, several shop assistants were selling chilled perilla drinks, and others were bringing bowls and basins to buy peaches and ginger. Inside, several people sat at each table, and all the seats were taken. The dishes ordered were the medicinal cuisine written by Gu Fengyan.
Manager Li was so busy that he barely had time to breathe. When he saw Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan come in from outside, he hurriedly greeted them, "Gentlemen, please go upstairs to a private room and sit for a while. I will come and serve you when I am done."
He then sent a waiter to take the person upstairs and serve them some delicate snacks and the finest Yushan Yunwu tea.
The private room faced the street, and through the window, one could see Manager Zhou of Yingchun Restaurant across the street, his abacus clicking away, his face as black as the bottom of a pot.
"The shopkeeper rejected us this week, and now he must be kicking himself..." Gu Fengyan leaned against the window and sipped his tea.
Huo Duan smiled but remained silent.
After finishing his work, Manager Li went upstairs and bowed to the two people before even entering the room.
"The fact that Dongfulou has been able to come back to life is all thanks to you two. I thank you both very much." He couldn't suppress the smile in his eyes.
They clearly made money.
Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan accepted the greeting politely. Gu Fengyan smiled and said, "Manager Li, you're too kind. Although we provided the medicinal herbs and the prescription, we should also thank Chef Zhao for his superb cooking skills."
Manager Li smiled and beckoned his assistant to come forward. The assistant was carrying a tray, which Manager Li lifted to reveal a neatly arranged pile of coins.
"As agreed, Dongfulou is to give you two 40% of the profits. Dongfulou's income these days far exceeds what it used to be in a month, and this is all thanks to you two." Manager Li put the money on the table. "This forty strings of cash is my reward for these days. I hope you two will take good care of me in the future."
Forty strings of cash!
Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan couldn't believe it; they had no idea that Dongfulou was so profitable.
"You're too kind, Manager Li." Gu Fengyan smiled and accepted the money.
Manager Li was busy attending to the guests, so he didn't stay to keep anyone company, only having a waiter serve them. Huo Duan and Gu Fengyan also didn't stay long. They drank tea for a while and then went back.
With forty strings of cash plus seventy strings, making a total of one hundred and ten strings of cash, Gu Fengyan was so moved that he wanted to cry.
Finally, I can move to a new house.
Huo Duan was both happy and worried.
A beep sounded in my mind—"Your task progress has reached 13.45 per thousand. Please keep up the good work!"
A note from the author:
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter Thirty-Two
Huo Duan and Gu Fengyan emerged from Dongfulou at noon. They exchanged their money for banknotes as usual, and Gu Fengyan carried the rest with him.
Thinking that they didn't have much food left at home, they went to the grain store and bought some. They also bought some seasonal vegetables and fruits from the street vendors they passed by.
It cost about three hundred coins.
Half an hour later, Huo Duan and Gu Fengyan hurried home with their bags and packages. They returned to the street where Dongfulou was located, where a long queue still stretched out in front of the store. Perhaps they had run out of things to buy, because the shopkeeper was banging on a clapper and shouting to let others know when they would arrive. Then he lowered the small window to block the way.
Those who bought the item were beaming with excitement and joy, while those who missed out were frustrated and disappointed, grumbling to those around them.
The manager of Yingchunlou across the street, Manager Zhou, peered out through the curtain with a pair of envious, three-white eyes.
The hall was completely silent, and the waiters kept their heads down, afraid of incurring the manager's wrath.
At this moment, a waiter timidly lifted the curtain and walked in. He looked around first before approaching Manager Zhou and saying, "Manager."
"Have you investigated the matter I asked you to investigate?" Manager Zhou's eyes flickered, and he lowered his voice.
The waiter, with a fawning expression, said, "Don't worry, sir. I just secretly inquired across the street. Apparently, a few months ago, two young men came to Dongfu Restaurant saying they were selling bamboo shoots. Manager Li took pity on them and bought them. Later, for some reason, these two young men started a medicinal herb business and even wrote a recipe to cooperate with Dongfu Restaurant..."
"That guy said that even the secret recipe for peaches and perilla drinks on the other side of the river was taught to him by those two guys."
Shopkeeper Zhou squinted, catching the key information, "A country bumpkin? Did you ask his name?"
A few months ago, two country bumpkins came to sell bamboo shoots. They looked so shabby that he felt they were bad luck, so he kicked them out.
Could it be them?
The waiter, who was waiting to collect his reward, scratched his head when asked this question, and smiled even more cautiously, "I was only focused on coming back to report to the manager... I forgot to ask what his name is..."
Manager Zhou was immediately enraged and smacked the waiter on the head, yelling, "Idiot!"
Then, pointing his index finger at each of the waiters in the dining room, he said, "You're all useless piece of trash! Get back to attracting customers and watch your wages this month! Do you think you can get away with anything?"
The waiters inside were still indignant, but when they heard the manager mention wages, they immediately fell silent and rushed outside to greet the customers.
Manager Zhou's face was grim, and the shop assistant beside him said cautiously, "Manager, don't be angry, there's always a way to turn things around..."