Furthermore, hadn’t she used the same method to sell the vegetable recipe to Yuexiang Lou before?

Why was it unacceptable for him now?

“I don’t intend to sell this pastry recipe this time. If Young Master Rong truly wants my formula and method, I have another proposal. I wonder if Young Master Rong would be interested?”

“What proposal?” Rong Zhihe frowned and asked.

It was at this moment that Rong Zhihe realized that Jian Xiu had been emphasizing that she didn’t want to sell the recipe.

If she wasn’t selling it, did she intend to give it to him as a gift in exchange for something from him?

Thinking about his status and then about Jian Xiu’s status, Rong Zhihe immediately looked at Jian Xiu with a strange expression.

Jian Xiu: “…..” Could she just say that Rong Zhihe was being a little too self-absorbed?

She could see clearly from his face what he was thinking.

She just wanted to say: she was a married woman and would never take an interest in him.

Seeing Jian Xiu’s calm and forthright expression, Rong Zhihe suddenly felt a little embarrassed.

“So, does this mean you need me to do something for you?” After thinking it through, Rong Zhihe could only come to this conclusion.

“No, I want a share of Caifangzhai’s profits!” Jian Xiu stated concisely.

Hearing this, Rong Zhihe was stunned.

It was only then that he realized he might have underestimated this woman in front of him.

After all, a woman who could chat and laugh with Wu Mingtang would never be simple.

“What’s wrong? Is Young Master Rong unwilling? Of course, the choice is yours. Didn’t you just ask where I live? I live in Jianjia Village. If you make up your mind, come find me at the village entrance.”

With that, Jian Xiu stood up confidently, ready to leave.

“Wait, my lady!” Rong Zhihe quickly called out to her.

“What? Have you already made up your mind, Young Master Rong?”

“How much of Caifangzhai’s profits do you want?”

Hearing this, Jian Xiu turned around, walked back to her seat, and seriously said,

“Don’t worry, Young Master Rong. I’m not someone who makes excessive demands. For the pastries I provide, I only want 20% of the profits. How about that?”

“Twenty percent?” Rong Zhihe murmured.

“Yes, just twenty percent. I will only take a share of the profits and won’t interfere in any of Caifangzhai’s affairs, including pricing. How about that?”

Twenty percent sounded like a lot, but Jian Xiu knew that the cost of pastries was extremely low.

Even if she took twenty percent, Rong Zhihe’s earnings would be far greater than that.

After all, a great pastry could become the signature of a pastry shop.

If Rong Zhihe had any business sense, he wouldn’t refuse this deal.

Sure enough, after a brief consideration, Rong Zhihe nodded in agreement.

“But I have one condition!” Rong Zhihe added.

“Please speak, Young Master Rong.”

“You said earlier that you have dozens of recipes. Those recipes must be exclusively used in Caifangzhai and not sold to other pastry shops. Can you do that?”

“Of course. I, Jian Xiu, am not a two-faced person.”

“Excellent, excellent!” Rong Zhihe nodded in satisfaction.

In reality, their partnership was mutually beneficial.

For years, Rong Zhihe had been troubled by the lack of innovation in pastries.

With Jian Xiu’s involvement, at least he wouldn’t have to rack his brains every day for new pastry ideas.

Next, they needed to formalize their agreement in writing.

Rong Zhihe was decisive and immediately instructed Fu Hengtian, a manager in his shop, to draft the contract.

It only took a quarter of an hour for the contract to be placed in front of Jian Xiu.

One had to admit that big businesses operated efficiently.

“My lady, please review this contract. If everything is in order, place your fingerprint here.”

After saying this, Rong Zhihe suddenly realized that Jian Xiu might not be literate.

Feeling a bit awkward, he added, “My apologies, I got too excited and forgot that you might not…”

“No need to find someone. I can read it myself,” Jian Xiu interrupted.

“You can read? You’re literate?”

“Is that so strange?”

Rong Zhihe: “……” Was it not?

A woman dressed like a commoner claiming to be literate—any random passerby would find that odd.

“But Young Master Rong should clearly specify in the contract that I will receive 20% of the profits from all Caifangzhai branches, not just the one in Quanyong County.”

“Is that not already written?” Rong Zhihe asked curiously.

As he spoke, he carefully reviewed the contract.

Seeing that it indeed wasn’t specified, Rong Zhihe glanced at Manager Fu, full of silent inquiry.

“Apologies, Master. That was my oversight. I will revise it immediately!” Manager Fu replied courteously.

Hearing this, Rong Zhihe was satisfied.

Jian Xiu observed their interaction.

It seemed that Rong Zhihe was a straightforward and open-minded person.

If he weren’t, she might not have partnered with him.

Thinking it over, Jian Xiu added,

“One more thing—about profit distribution. Should we settle it monthly or bi-monthly, Young Master Rong?”

“Hmm… either works. What do you prefer?”

“For the first three months, let’s settle every two weeks. After that, we can do it monthly. Is that acceptable?”

“Fine, let’s do it that way!” Rong Zhihe agreed without hesitation.

For him, the timing of payments didn’t matter much.

Opening a pastry shop was just a hobby for him.

“But, Jian Xiu, let’s be honest. That conversation you had with the shop assistant earlier—you meant for me to hear it, didn’t you?”

At this moment, Rong Zhihe finally realized that Jian Xiu was not a simple woman.

She was a deeply strategic thinker.

Jian Xiu was momentarily stunned, not expecting Rong Zhihe to ask so directly.

Then, as if realizing something, she became interested in the topic.

“I suppose Young Master Rong won’t keep those two assistants, will you?”

Hearing this, Rong Zhihe immediately understood her intent.

Straightening his posture, he said, “Indeed, I’ve already dismissed them. People like that don’t deserve to stay in Caifangzhai.”

“Good. Have you found replacements yet?”

With this question, Rong Zhihe immediately grasped Jian Xiu’s intent.