Chapter 55 - He nearly believed it

Bai Xu understood what she meant and was elated.

“Are you going to sell me the secret technique of turning yellow sugar into white sugar?”

He was actually prepared that Shi Qingluo only sold him the sugar.

It would be a lie if he said that it wasn’t a pity.

Shi Qingluo nodded. “That’s right. Otherwise, why would I ask you to bring yellow sugar? Of course, I’m going to turn it into white sugar on the spot for you to see.”

Bai Xu was pleasantly surprised. “That would be great.”

He asked, “How do you want to sell it?”

This wasn’t about handing the initiative to Shi Qingluo, but rather, it would be easier for him to adapt to the situation.

If the price was in line with his expectations, he would agree immediately.

If it was too high, he could haggle over the price.

How could Shi Qingluo not see through his intentions? She didn’t expose him either.

It was good that Bai Xu was following her lead.

“1000 taels of silver, with 20% of the profits from the sugar.”

If the Bai family wanted to buy sugar, they would have to spend a lot of effort to strengthen their networking.

As the Bai family was in charge of acquisition, decolourisation, and sale, she only asked for 20% of the profits.

Bai Xu frowned slightly.

1000 taels of silver was fine, but 20% of the profits was too high for him.

“I can give you 10% of the profit.” He knew that this woman was smart and difficult to deal with, so she definitely wouldn’t agree to it.

Shi Qingluo said bluntly, “I’m a straightforward person and don’t like to beat around the bush. So, what I said was the actual price.

“If you agree, we’ll sign the contract. I’ll do it on the spot to prove it to you. If you don’t, just take it as I didn’t let you see the white sugar today.”

She didn’t choose to enter the business world in the modern world because she didn’t like to be involved in the twists and turns and scheming.

In the ancient times, the technology was in her hands, so she had the confidence to be straightforward and do whatever she wanted.

“Getting 20% of the profit is nothing compared to the huge profit you can get from mastering this technology.

“Besides earning this revenue, it’s also good for your Bai family’s family reputation so that you can get in touch with some people.

She looked at Bai Xu with a half-smile and continued, “It’s just like how you raise flowers. You may like them, but you can use them to make a fuss.”

Bai Xu was speechless. This woman’s eyes were really sharp.

He didn’t expect her to be able to see through all of this.

He believed that even the ladies from the aristocratic families in the capital wouldn’t be able to see so far ahead.

How could a village girl do this?

Therefore, he couldn’t help but look at Xiao Hanzheng. Could it be that he taught her?

Xiao Hanzheng knew his thoughts at a glance.

He smiled and said, “My wife is the disciple of an old immortal, so she’s very powerful.”

Not to mention Bai Xu, even he was amazed at his little wife’s vision and intelligence from the beginning.

He was definitely not responsible for teaching this kind of wife.

His strange rebirth made him guess that her background wasn’t simple and that she wasn’t a real village girl.

However, Bai Xu and the rest had never experienced such strange things, so they didn’t think too much about it.

Besides, the reason that they gave was also able to gain a firm foothold.

Shi Qingluo also smiled and agreed. “That’s right. My master ascended to immortality, so anything that happened to me is possible.”

Anyway, it was just an explanation.

It was up to him whether he chose to believe it or not.

Bai Xu wondered, why should I believe you?

But on second thought, if he didn’t, how did this woman know so much?

It didn’t seem to make sense.

In fact, he was almost convinced…

He thought for a moment and asked, “Is the method you used difficult? Is the cost high?”

Shi Qingluo replied, “It’s not troublesome. The cost is very low.”

Bai Xu pondered for a moment before replying, “Sure. If you can turn the yellow sugar into white sugar, I’ll give you 1,000 taels of silver and 20% of the profit.”

“But the profit can only be calculated after a month. After all, I have to finance my expensesfor the first month to get some connections.”

He had to find a backer in this business so that no one else could touch him.

So, he had to pay first.

“You also have to promise me that when you raise a rare flower, you’ll give me priority in selling it.

“Either I’ll help you sell them, or you can sell them to me, and I’ll resell them.”

Although he still didn’t believe that this woman could nurture the flowers that she mentioned, in view of the face-slapping incidents earlier, he decided to treat it as if she could really nurture them.

Anyway, it was better to be prepared.

“Also, if you have any new or fancy items in the future, you better think of me first.”

Shi Qingluo didn’t think as deeply as he did.

She had already guessed these conditions.

“No problem, I’ll give you the priority. But if it’s a big business, I might work with a few more companies, so you can’t force me to reserve it all for you.

“Also, I have another request. I want to buy livestock from your uncle. You have to get in touch with him.”

She also made it clear in advance.

Bai Xu was straightforward this time. “Alright.”

So, Xiao Hanzheng went to get a pen and paper and signed a contract with Bai Xu in his name.

Of course, he had also made it clear in advance that if Shi Qingluo was unable to turn the yellow sugar into white sugar, or if the production was too costly or too troublesome, the contract would be nullified.

After signing, Shi Qingluo stood in front of Bai Xu and sprinkled moist yellow soil on the sugar.

Bai Xu was still stunned when she saw the yellow sugar turn into white sugar.

Was it that simple?

After all, it was still shocking to see it with her own eyes.

It was really something.

He sighed after a long while. “Your master is really amazing.”

Back then, the Taoist priest was in Nanxi county.

Why didn’t he think of paying him a visit? What a pity.

Shi Qingluo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when she saw the regretful look on his face.

But it seemed like the excuses and brainwashing she and her young husband used were very useful.

“Of course, I’m truly his disciple.”

Bai Xu was speechless.

He didn’t believe her.

He asked her to write down the method in detail.

Then, he asked Number Four to fetch a thousand taels of silver from the Bai family.

Shi Qingluo went to the kitchen and verbally instructed Xiao Baili to cook a few tofu dishes that she hadn’t told anyone about before.

Bai Xu tried the tofu dishes separately, and his eyes lit up with surprise again.

“The tofu dishes are really good.”

He asked again, “Apart from these, can you cook other dishes?”

Shi Qingluo nodded. “Of course. The tofu can be used to cook nearly a hundred dishes. I can write some for you.”

She had never eaten so many tofu dishes, but her cousin had a complete collection.

Bai Xu beamed. “Alright, starting from tomorrow, I want to reserve tofu.”

He asked, “By the way, can this be freshly preserved in the capital for cooking?”

Shi Qingluo shook her head. “No.”

There was no preservation equipment here, so there was no way to keep it there for a long time.

Bai Xu had an idea. “Why don’t you sell me the method to make tofu?”

Shi Qingluo shook her head. “I won’t sell it.”

Tofu was the easiest method to sell in bulk.

She was hoping that the tofu business would improve her reputation and tie in her benefits with the villagers and many others in Nanxi county.

Otherwise, the villagers wouldn’t be so successful in buying and selling sugar and paper every day.

There wasn’t much demand in the county, hence not suitable due to the high production cost.

Just as Bai Xu was feeling disappointed, she changed the topic. “But I can make some tofu skins, tofu bamboos, and tofu curds. You can use them to cook in the capital.”

Bai Xu nodded. “Alright, then you have to tell me how to make them.”

Shi Qingluo smiled. “No problem.”

After dinner, Bai Xu handed the thousand taels that Number Four had brought over to Shi Qingluo.

Both of them had a copy of the contract.

Shi Qingluo had just put away her silver banknotes when someone from the Shi family suddenly came looking for her.

Seeing this, Bai Xu automatically left with Number Four.