Chapter 582 - 612: The Secret Recipe is Not for Sale
Chapter 582: Chapter 612: The Secret Recipe is Not for Sale
"Lu Jiuan?"
"Yeah, he’s the husband of our high school classmate, Meng Lanlan. We met him last time we all got together with her. I just have a feeling he seems a little familiar."
As they spoke, the two of them entered the private room. Qin Zhonghui and Su Yun had also arrived, and the group started to chat.
Some of these restaurant owners were older than even Qin Zhonghui and Su Yun. If Qin Jiao had really come alone, they would have certainly looked down on her.
However, even with Shen Yi and Sun Jianhua accompanying Qin Jiao this time, some people were still skeptical.
Just as Qin Jiao finished explaining the details of the franchise, one of them, a Boss Li, immediately spoke up. "Are you kidding? How much money are we expected to pay you? It’s just learning a technique. Isn’t your asking price a bit too steep?"
Qin Jiao didn’t get annoyed. She smiled and said, "Our family’s noodle shop uses a unique recipe to make our noodles. This isn’t just a matter of technique. Besides, without this recipe, the noodles you make won’t taste as good as ours. I imagine you’ve all made that comparison for yourselves in private, right?"
If they hadn’t made the comparison, these people wouldn’t be sitting here now.
The men exchanged glances, all with mixed feelings.
But at that moment, Lu Jiuan spoke up. "Then what if we wanted to buy this recipe from you?"
He was here accompanying his uncle this time. He looked refined and scholarly, not like a businessman.
He watched Qin Jiao with that same gentle gaze, while Shen Yi, sitting beside her, furrowed his brow slightly.
Qin Jiao’s reply was direct. "The secret recipe is not for sale. Here in North City, we won’t need a huge number of franchise locations. And whether or not you can open one, there will be restrictions on the number of stores and other requirements. The informational packets are right here. You can all take one back to look over. If you’re interested, you can contact us in advance."
The various bosses looked at one another, their gazes filled with apprehension.
On one hand, they felt that franchising this way would be a losing deal and they wouldn’t make much money. On the other hand, they worried someone else would snatch up the opportunity, leaving them unable to get in on it at all.
And this mix of emotions was exactly what Qin Jiao was aiming for.
After everyone else had left, Boss Lu and Lu Jiuan stayed behind. Lu Jiuan smiled and said, "Last time, Lanlan told me that one of her classmates’ families was in business. I never expected your business to be doing so well. You’re so young, yet you’re completely at ease in a setting like this."
His words were full of praise and seemed to have no hidden meaning, which put people at ease.
’You had to admit, a person like that was actually quite formidable, because he could make you let down all your guards in a very short time.’
Even Shen Yi couldn’t find it in himself to be jealous.
But it was for this very reason that he was so on guard.
Qin Jiao made polite small talk. "We should arrange to have dinner or something when Meng Lanlan is free."
"Yes, that sounds good. Well, we’ll be going now."
"Goodbye."
Watching them leave, Sun Jianhua commented from the side, "If that Lu Jiuan decided to go into business, he definitely wouldn’t do poorly. He’s tactful and incredibly thoughtful in his actions."
To be able to quickly get close to strangers and earn their trust and approval is actually a very difficult thing to do.
Objectively speaking, that was certainly true.
Qin Jiao, however, exchanged a look with Shen Yi.
’In my past life, if such an outstanding person from North City had gone into business, there’s no way we wouldn’t have known him.’
’Unless he had spent his whole career in the public sector or a similar line of work. And in my past life, Meng Lanlan and I weren’t classmates, so I wouldn’t have met him.’
’But then, why did he seem so familiar?’