SFS Chapter 125 Unique
Chapter 125 Unique
Ji Yanchuan was silent for a long time. The room was so quiet that only the sound of each other's breathing could be heard.
"You're quite bold. Tell me, what do you want?" Cheng Yuntao was delighted, knowing that Ji Yanchuan at least didn't refuse immediately. She gathered herself and was about to speak out what she wanted, but then she heard Ji Yanchuan say, "But you have to understand, I, Ji Yanchuan, am not someone who grants favors easily. What you want had better be worth my effort."
Cheng Yun raised his eyes to look at the screen, and said cautiously, "Boss Ji, your theater is well-known in Nanfang City, and the surrounding area is a very busy place. I'd like to ask you for a favor. Could you please allow me to set up a stall in front of the theater and sell some of my homemade food?"
Ji Yanchuan sat behind the screen, his leisurely fiddling with the jade ring in his hand suddenly paused, then sneered, "Humph, I didn't expect Miss Cheng to go through so much trouble just to come up with this idea."
He sat up slightly straighter, his voice tinged with coldness and impatience. "Since you've come prepared, you should know that I established the rules a long time ago: no stalls of any kind are allowed in front of the theater."
"You also know that the people who come to my theater to watch plays nowadays are either rich or noble. Why should I agree to this from you and lower the grade of my own theater?" After saying this, he leaned back heavily in his chair, as if he didn't want to talk about this topic anymore.
Mu Qingfeng, standing aside, had already been fuming with anger. He saw an opportunity and quickly chimed in, saying, "Young lady, you're so ungrateful! Being able to enter our Ji Mansion is a lucrative position that's hard to come by even with a lantern. So many people are eagerly waiting for it, yet you're unwilling to do so and insist on going out and setting up a stall on your own."
"How much money can you make by setting up a stall and showing off, working from dawn to dusk? It's better for me to stay here steadily and just cater to the taste of my master. Then I won't have to worry about anything for the rest of my life." As he spoke, he couldn't help shaking his head, his eyes full of regret for Cheng Yuntao's "obstinacy".
Cheng Yuntao had anticipated this outcome, but she didn't want to give up. She said earnestly and eagerly, "Boss Ji, please don't rush to refuse."
"I understand your concerns, but think about it: those distinguished guests will inevitably get hungry after watching the theater for so long. If there were a small stall nearby selling some exquisite, delicious, and unique food, it would not only satisfy their cravings, but also add a touch of local flavor to your theater, and perhaps even attract more customers. Wouldn't that be a win-win for us?"
There was a glimmer in her eyes as she tried to convince Ji Yanchuan with her own reasons.
Ji Yanchuan remained unmoved. After a long silence, he slowly spoke, "The world is bustling with people, all for profit. I am a businessman, so I will not do business that loses money. You have to let me get some real benefits, so there is no need to continue this matter, right? Otherwise, why should I agree to you?"
Although the words were cold, they also seemed to carry a hint of consideration, which made Cheng Yuntao see a glimmer of hope: "Boss Ji, I understand everything you said. Since I took the initiative to find you, I must have already had a plan in mind. The food I sell is unique and will definitely refresh everyone's eyes."
Cheng Yuntao's eyes grew brighter, and her speech speed unconsciously quickened: "I plan to launch limited-edition delicacies based on the specific songs performed in the theater every day."
"For example, if the elegant and graceful play 'The Jade Hairpin' is being performed that day, I will meticulously prepare a 'Jade Hairpin Vegetarian Dessert'. Its appearance is modeled after the jasmine flower, shaped with translucent yam paste and garnished with tender mint leaves, creating a refreshing and refined image of a jasmine hairpin blossoming on a plate. The filling is made with the freshest lotus seeds of the season, finely ground into a paste and blended with a touch of sweet osmanthus honey. It's soft and glutinous, with the intertwined fragrance of lotus and osmanthus, just like the subtle, elegant and lingering affection conveyed by Pan Bizheng and Chen Miaochang under the moonlight, playing the zither in the play."
"If I were to perform the poignant and moving 'Legend of the White Snake,' I'd serve 'Broken Bridge Pastry.' Using the finest flour, I'd repeatedly knead the dough until it's chewy, then roll it into a thin, cicada-wing-thin wrapper, then fill it with a carefully prepared filling. This filling is based on delicious crab meat, mixed with seasonal diced bamboo shoots. The fresh aroma of the crab meat complements the sweetness of the bamboo shoots, and a pinch of chopped perilla leaves, which removes the fishy smell and enhances the aroma, creates a rich and complex taste. Carefully molded into the shape of a broken bridge, and deep-fried until golden and crispy, it evokes the heart-pounding and awe-inspiring moment of Xu Xian and White Snake's encounter on the Broken Bridge."
"The repertoire changes, and the food changes accordingly, bringing new surprises and freshness to the guests every day." Cheng Yuntao took a deep breath, looked at the screen with a firm gaze, and her tone became more confident.
"Moreover, these limited-edition delicacies I sell are the product of my creativity and hard work. They use fine ingredients and are produced through complex and time-consuming processes. Only those with the money to spare and a good taste can afford them."
"In this way, there is no need to worry about the stall being surrounded by poor people and affecting the audience's impression. Instead, it can attract more distinguished guests to linger and become a unique existence in the eyes of others!" Cheng Yuntao pursed her lips nervously, her heart pounding, and she hoped that Ji Yanchuan could be persuaded by her.
Mu Qingfeng was listening on the side. Although he still had some doubts, a hint of emotion flashed in his eyes. He subconsciously looked at Ji Yanchuan behind the screen, as if waiting for his decision.
Ji Yanchuan chuckled softly, his laughter like a spring breeze blowing through the bamboo forest, gentle yet with a hint of elusive meaning. Then, he generously praised her, "Miss Cheng, I have to say, you are indeed a very thoughtful person. Not only are you a superb cook, but you are also very quick-witted."
"It's really interesting to do what you said." His voice came through the screen, making Cheng Yuntao's originally tense heartstrings relax a little. But before Cheng Yuntao could immerse herself in this rare praise for long, Ji Yanchuan changed the subject and paused slightly: "But..."
This brief pause was like the calm before the storm, making the atmosphere in the room solemn again.
Cheng Yuntao's heart was in suspense again, and she couldn't help asking, "Just what?" Her voice was a little anxious, and her eyes were fixed on the screen, trying to see through Ji Yanchuan's thoughts.
Ji Yanchuan spoke slowly: "I own many businesses, and the income from a mere theater is less than 10%. I don't care about the customers brought by your clever ideas. If you want me to agree, you must come up with conditions that really move me." His tone was steady, but it revealed the shrewdness and decisiveness unique to businessmen. He weighed all the pros and cons calmly.
Upon hearing this, Cheng Yuntao hesitated for a moment, her brain working rapidly.