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Doing Business Together

T/N: Chapter (7/8) sponsored by Madam Daim! Thank you for sponsoring!

The originally bare mountain all of a sudden getting planted two hundred some fruit trees, such a big disturbance, the villagers naturally all noticed on that very day. Everyone finally learned what those holes Du Xiao Li had them dig that time were for.

“Xiao Li, what are you fiddling with here?” Li Ming Fu arrived at the bottom of Du Xiao Li’s mountain and asked Du Xiao Li, who was currently examining the tangerine trees’ condition.

“Village chief.” Du Xiao Li followed down the mountain path and came to the village chief’s side, lifting her head to look to the tangerine trees, “This is a tangerine tree. I found them in the mountains.”

“Tangerine tree? What’s that?” Li Ming Fu asked.

“It’s that yellow-orange fruit I sold a while back, that’s a tangerine.” Du Xiao Li explained.

“So you already long had plans. I was wondering what you were buying the mountaintops for!” Li Ming Fu said, “Xiao Li, if you get rich, don’t forget to help support the villagers.”

“En en, I won’t forget about all the help everyone’s given to big brother and I.” Du Xiao Li said.

If she’s really able to get rich off of planting fruits, she didn’t mind giving those that have helped her before some a.s.sistance, but those that have bullied her in the past, forget it.

Although Du Xiao Li meticulously took care of them, several trees still died. However, in comparison, it was still considered very few.

“I was just thinking if I’d walked to the wrong place.”

Du Xiao Li had finished inspecting around the orchard and was just preparing to go back, when she heard the sound of a horse carriage below the mountain, following which she saw Li Xue Qing stick her head out from the carriage window.

“Madam.” Du Xiao Li came to the bottom of the mountain.

Li Xue Qing got down from the horse carriage, and upon seeing the tangerine trees on the mountain, she said, “It hasn’t been that long since I last came, and this place already changed greatly! Made me think that I’d gone to the wrong place, if not for spotting you in the distance, I probably would have already turned around. What tree is this?”

“This is a tangerine tree.” Du Xiao Li said, “Does madam want to go up for a sit?”

Li Xue Qing had precisely came to find Du Xiao Li; thus she followed Du Xiao Li back up the mountain.

“Madam, please drink tea.” Du Xiao Li made a cup of tangerine peel tea and placed it before Li Xue Qing.

Li Xue Qing only took a sip before placing down the teacup, saying: “Xiao Li, I came to look for you this time, because I want to talk about the partnership with you. Let me hear your thoughts on it.”

She left last time because she wanted to go back and discuss this matter with her husband, and also to cool off Du Xiao Li for a period of time, letting her voluntarily come find herself on her own. But unexpectedly, in the end, the one that got impatient was still her, taking this first step instead. She also was aware that she was being impatient, but if she can successfully get that recipe, then in the future, in the wine brewing business, their Li family will have an unshakeable place.

“Actually, it’s very simple. Agree on and sign a contract. I’ll provide the fruit wine fermentation method, and the rest is all given to madam to handle. Afterwards, the profits, we then divide according to the agreed upon ratio.” Du Xiao Li said.

“And the ratio?” Li Xue Qing asked.

“Fifty-fifty.” Du Xiao Li bluntly replied.

This ratio she’d already thought of beforehand. If not for Li Xue Qing coming to find her, right now, she wouldn’t have been able to call out this high of a ratio either.

Li Xue Qing smiled and said, “You’re only providing the recipe. The remaining raw materials, production, sales are all taken care of by us. Don’t you think this fifty-fifty divide is a bit too high?”

“Madam, if this fruit wine can expand the market, surely the profits this brings in will be enormous. You also drank this grape wine before and know this fruit wine’s taste. Once it spreads out, it’ll definitely be very popular with a lot of people. Compared to the highly concentrated shaojiu, this fruit wine will have an even larger market, because it’s suitable for people of all ages and gender.”

(T/N: Shaojiu is similar to baijiu; it’s alcohol concentration is between 40-60%)

“But you also said, this grape’s maturing period is only a month or two. I have to prepare a separate distillery for this short period of time, and during other times, it’ll just be left unused. This production cost is also huge.” Li Xue Qing said.

“Actually this fruit wine’s fermentation process isn’t too demanding. Moreover, if we really work together, then I definitely won’t just let the production room sit idly. Madam, wait a moment.” Du Xiao Li returned inside, and then brought out a jar of wine. Afterwards, she poured a bowl for Li Xue Qing.

She had the wine bowl pushed before Li Xue Qing and said, “Madam, try this.”

Li Xue Qing saw Du Xiao Li bring out a wine jar and thought it was grape wine, but seeing the yellow color wine being poured out, she curiously lifted the bowl for a sniff, “This is tangerine wine?”

“Yes.” Du Xiao Li nodded. A while back, when the tangerines had matured, she’d already picked some to ferment into tangerine wine, because she’d long predicted that today would come.

Li Xue Qing had never eaten grapes before, thus she didn’t have a comparison for grape wine. But now, drinking this tangerine wine, she is further able to perceive this fruit wine’s miraculousness.

“Madam, how’s the taste?” Du Xiao Li saw Li Xue Qing take a sip and asked.

“Not bad, has the aroma of tangerines, and also has the taste of alcohol.” Li Xue Qing answered.

“Madam, this recipe of mine only needs to be slightly adjusted, and it’ll be able to suit any season’s fruit, so the production room won’t be left idle. In fact, it’ll be very busy all year round. However many fruit varieties there are, the profits within, you don’t need Xiao Li to explain right?” Du Xiao Li took a sip herself and didn’t say anymore.

Li Xue Qing ran the calculations in her mind and said, “But this share for you is still too high. Although the profits are significant, we still need to unblock the sales channels and whatnot, that is also a very large expenditure.”

“If madam really wants to work together with Xiao Li, then Xiao Li can yield another five percent. Forty-five for me, and fifty-five for madam.” Du Xiao Li said.

A forty-five split was already the furthest she’s willing to yield. If Li Xue Qing is still unwilling, then it’s not like it has to be the Li family winery anyways.

Li Xue Qing also guessed some of Du Xiao Li’s thoughts, and after some pondering, she said, “Fine, then forty-five for you, and fifty-five for me. You really are a good fit for business.”

“Madam is overpraising.” Du Xiao Li smiled.

“Then what is this contract?” Li Xue Qing asked.

“A contract is more or less the same as a pact. We write down the partnership arrangements on paper, have two exact copies, and then let the county magistrate be our witness. In the future, if anyone were to go against the contract, then they will need to compensate according to what’s written on the contract.” Du Xiao Li explained.

“That way is also good.” Li Xue Qing nodded, “Then today, think about your requirements, and I’ll also go back and think about mine. Tomorrow, we’ll come together at Tonglai Inn and have this contract drafted out. Afterwards, take it to my brother-in-law to sign as a witness.”

“Okay.” Du Xiao Li also felt she needed to properly think over her conditions, thus nodded her head in agreement.

“Then I’ll be heading back now. Tomorrow at si-hour(9-11AM), I will be waiting for you at Tonglai Inn.” Li Xue Qing said, and then prepared to get up and leave.

“I’ll definitely head there on time.” Du Xiao Li said.

“Need me to send a carriage to pick you up?” Li Xue Qing asked.

“No need, I will go to the county seat on my own.” Du Xiao Li said.

After Li Xue Qing left, Luo Qi came out from his room. Leaning against the doorway, he said, “You really sure are a good fit for business! That Li Xue Qing has been in the business world for this many years, yet only said a little bit about the split.”

Du Xiao Li laughed and said, ” It’s mainly because she was too impatient and lost the upper hand. However, I didn’t skimp on her either. This fruit wine’s development is very significant. Alright, I’m going to go find big brother Yi to borrow the horse carriage. Do you want to go together?”

“You go, I’ll wait for you at home.” Luo Qi said. Suddenly saying the word home, his heart felt like it was overflowing with something, as if this was really his own home.

“Okay, then you drink the medicine first. I already made it. Wait for me to come back to make lunch.” Du Xiao Li finished saying, and then headed down the mountain.

Luo Qi looked to the medicine bowl placed on the stove, knowing that was for treating his memory loss. Suddenly, he felt somewhat jittery. If he doesn’t drink, then this way, his memory won’t recover. But this thought also just lasted for a moment. He couldn’t just stay here forever. Those people that are after him, he can’t just let off, and he further can’t bring danger to Du Xiao Li.

Thinking to here, he lifted the medicine bowl and downed it in one gulp.

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