Chapter 1401: Partnership
Chapter 1401: Chapter 1401: Partnership
People outside knew that the Gu Family won their case, and the Gu Family Brothers managed to topple a fifth-rank magistrate. Shocked, they rushed over to offer congratulations.
However, not just anyone could enter Da Feng Village. Most people were stopped outside and their congratulatory gifts were collected and brought in.
The Luo Family handled things well and set up a banquet at the workshop residence. Anyone from Da Feng Village, even married-out daughters, could go to the workshop residence to join the feast.
Married-out daughters living nearby returned with their families. It was crowded and chaotic, but surprisingly nothing happened. Everyone was afraid of the Gu Family, and with Luo Family Escort Agency patrolling the workshop residence, no one dared to cause trouble.
The joyful banquet lasted until nightfall, and the guests only left then.
Young Master Dou unexpectedly didn’t leave; he stayed at the Gu Family to celebrate Brother Cheng’s birthday.
The ninth day of December was not only Gu Jinxiu’s wedding day but also Brother Cheng’s ninth birthday.
After the guests departed, Mrs. Cui personally made a small bowl of longevity noodles for Brother Cheng and also carried a food box.
When the food box was opened, Brother Cheng was overjoyed: "Cake, it’s a cake! Mother, did you make this?"
Brother Cheng thought that after Second Sister went to the Northwest, there wouldn’t be anyone to make him a cake for his birthday.
Mrs. Cui laughed: "The Quan Family People made it for you."
Brother Cheng was the most cherished in the family. Knowing his love for cake, the whole family worked together to make it in advance. Besides, Xiao Yu had mentioned that freezing the cake would improve its texture.
Mrs. Cui took out a small box and handed it to Brother Cheng: "Open it, it’s specially made for you by your Second Sister."
"Second Sister made it for me?" Brother Cheng was extremely happy, opened the small box, and saw nine chopstick-sized, multicolored... candles?
"Candles, Mother, are these candles?" Brother Cheng asked in confusion.
Mrs. Cui nodded: "Yes, they’re candles. Your Second Sister said to light as many candles as your age, place them on the cake, and after making a wish, blow out the candles to make it come true."
Brother Cheng frowned: "Second Sister is lying again. How can blowing out a candle make a wish come true?"
Gu Jin’an laughed: "It’s just for fun; no one asked you to truly believe it. Quickly, put the candles on, make your wish, and eat the cake. I’m getting sleepy."
Once you finish celebrating your birthday, everyone can go to sleep.
Brother Cheng nodded, placed the nine small candles, carefully lit them, and started making a wish with hands clasped. After the wish, he bowed thrice to the cake before blowing out the candles.
Young Master Dou watched, feeling complex... This cake-bowing posture looked strangely akin to tomb sweeping.
But he didn’t speak up, fearing Gu Jin’an would beat him.
"Brother Dou, have some cake; it’s very delicious." Brother Cheng offered a piece of cake to everyone present, just as Second Sister instructed in previous years.
"This thing looks odd; is it tasty?" Young Master Dou hesitated to eat the cake, worried it was something unfamiliar that might poison him.
Upon eating it, his eyes widened with surprise... Though new, its taste and texture were excellent; soft and fragrant with a smooth buttery feel.
Good, a sellable item.
Being a businessman, when Young Master Dou saw the cake was good, naturally he wanted to profit from it, immediately asking Third Grandma, who was the most agreeable, with pleading eyes: "Third Grandma, this cake is great and better than many pastries in the Capital. I want to sell it there; can you teach Dou Zhi to make it?"
Gu Jin’an felt like rolling his eyes and stared at Young Master Dou: "You’re bold, trying to get the cake recipe with just a word."
"Brother An, how can you speak to Young Master Dou like that?" Third Grandma reprimanded Gu Jin’an, reminding him that Young Master Dou was a noble from the Capital, who had helped them quite a bit. His background was pitiful, losing his mother early, unloved by his father, and abused by his stepmother; they should treat him kindly.
"This cake isn’t anything precious, just novel. But Xiao Yu said before leaving that the cake recipe should be given to Brother Cheng as a ninth birthday gift, so how to handle it is up to him."
Damn, it’s Gu Jinli again!
Young Master Dou cursed inwardly and began coaxing Brother Cheng: "Brother Cheng, sell the recipe to Brother Dou. Brother Dou will give you a fair price that won’t make you lose money, and tomorrow, you’ll receive a birthday gift as well. How about it?"
After speaking, he glared at Gu Jin’an to keep him from intervening, lest he turn hostile.
Brother Cheng replied: "I won’t sell the recipe; let’s partner up and split the profits fifty-fifty."
Young Master Dou was furious, held back from swearing with Gu parents present, and reasoned with Brother Cheng: "It’s just a cake recipe; even in the Capital, the profit wouldn’t be much. It’d be better to sell the recipe to me directly."
Brother Cheng shook his head: "Second Sister left the cake recipe for me not so I’d sell it, but to use it to make money. Partnering up to turn the cake into a long-term income stream is what Second Sister truly wishes to see."
He was nine, and Second Sister often said that growing up at nine, he must learn to make money and not just study, or he wouldn’t even be able to support a wife in the future, which would be terrible.
Again, it’s Gu Jinli!
Enough scheming, no cursing; that’s the Young Marquis’s official wife, whom he must respect. But why did he feel Gu Jinli was his nemesis as he always lost money in business dealings linked to her?
No, this time he couldn’t lose again.
"A partnership is possible, but not a fifty-fifty split; how about seventy-thirty?" Young Master Dou wanted to suggest twenty-eighty but, surrounded by Gu Family people, couldn’t give too little.
Brother Cheng wasn’t pleased: "Sixty-forty!"
Young Master Dou was irritated, unable to get angry or haggle further, so he nodded: "Fine, sixty-forty."
Then he sat down, asked Dou Zhi to bring the paper and pen he carried, wrote two copies of the contract, signed and stamped one, and handed it to Brother Cheng: "Hurry up."
Brother Cheng was a bit excited and nervous about partnering for the first time, took the contract, read it twice carefully by lamplight, then signed his name and stamped it.
"It’s settled; give me the recipe tomorrow and teach Dou Zhi to master it." Young Master Dou took one contract, left one for Brother Cheng, and the deal was done.
Third Grandma laughed heartily: "It’s late. You rushed back through the night, you should rest."
Third Grandma liked Young Master Dou, treating him like a grandson and giving him the best of everything.
But Young Master Dou was picky; Gu Family’s things were indeed poor!
The bed was made of pine wood, let alone the quilts; their covers were cotton fabric while he only used silk-covered ones!
Young Master Dou couldn’t take it, so he complained to Gu Jin’an, hoping he’d bring out something better for him to use.