Chapter 757: Cooking Personally

Translator: Henyee Translations | Editor: Henyee Translations

The servant said, “Thank you, Miss Chu.”

Chu Qingzhi had signed a special contract with Zhou Xiangfu, allowing for transactions of individual goods without needing to sign a contract each time.

Rong Shiyu remarked, “Tissues are in such high demand.”

Chu Qingzhi nodded. This was the effect of celebrity endorsement. She planned to send some gifts to the Empress later as a token of gratitude.

“Let’s go.”

“Ok.”

The two entered the workshop, and Chu Qingzhi led Rong Shiyu directly to the storeroom to see the tissues. Rong Shiyu bought twenty thousand sheets, dividing them into four parts, one for each family.

After Rong Shiyu took her tissues away, Chu Qingzhi called Chu Yun over, Go back to the village and tell Ruyue to find me another thirty people who can work at night.”

With such a large volume of orders, the only way to get the goods out quickly was to work overtime.

Chu Yun replied, “Okay, I’ll go right now.”

The people were quickly found: ten for tissue production, ten for tissue box production, and ten for packaging. Since packaging wasn’t possible yet, these ten were temporarily assigned to tissue production. Once packaging was possible, they would be reassigned.

After tasks were allocated, an old customer arrived.

Chu Feng informed Chu Qingzhi, who decided to personally receive them. Rong Shiyu went back to Chu Village and informed Tang Jinghong about Chu Qingzhi’s temporary commitment to the workshop, so he wouldn’t worry.

In the reception room.

Chu Qingzhi offered tea to the guest, “Young Master Tan, please sit.”

Tan Mengyang smiled and sat down, exchanging pleasantries, “It’s been a while, Miss Chu. You’re as graceful as ever.”

Chu Qingzhi smiled, “And you’re as elegant as always, Young Master Tan.

Tan Mengyang chuckled, “I’ve been to Chu Village several times but never saw you, Miss Chu. I didn’t expect my luck today.”

“Master Tan has become even more eloquent.” Chu Qingzhi maintained her smile, “What brings Young Master Tan to the workshop today?”

Chu Qingzhi was indeed very direct, Tan Mengyang replied, “Recently, you changed the packaging of your products, which I found quite appealing. I m also considering changing the packaging for our goods. I wonder if we could place an order?”

Ordering packaging? Chu Qingzhi had thought about this before but didn’t expect Tan Mengyang to have the idea so soon, “As an old customer, of course, we’ll take Young Master Tan’s business. What kind of packaging does Young Master Tan have in mind for his products?”

Tan Mengyang signaled to his servant.

The servant placed a food box on the tea table and took out sesame crisp cakes, placing them next to Chu Qingzhi, “Miss Chu, it’s these.

Sesame crisp cakes, similar to walnut crisp, are palm-sized, baked, and very fragrant.

“Do you have a design in mind?”

“No, but I have an idea,” Tan Mengyang came prepared, “I hope you can help me design the pattern on the packaging, using the Q-cute designs from the food festival as a sample.”

Chu Qingzhi thought to herself, Tan Mengyang’s business acumen was commendable, “Do you have any specific ideas?”

Tan Mengyang shook his head, “I’d like to discuss the specifics after seeing the design you come up with.”

Chu Qingzhi agreed, “Okay, but it will cost a bit more for me to draw the

design.”

“No problem,” Tan Mengyang readily agreed, and they signed a contract.

Chu Qingzhi saw Tan Mengyang off, “Take care.”

After Tan Mengyang left in his carriage, Chu Qingzhi returned to the reception room and tried the sesame crisp cakes. They were crunchy, full of sesame flavor, and quite delicious.

After finishing the sesame crisp cakes, Chu Qingzhi had an idea for the design and immediately started sketching.

Once the design was complete, she handed it to Li Changjiang, asking him to make a sample when he had time.

Li Changjiang said he could make it in the afternoon. Now that he had over thirty people working under him, and some already trained, he only needed to oversee the work and didn’t have to do everything himself.

After handling the workshop’s affairs, Chu Qingzhi led a team transporting oil paper back to the village.

In the Chu Village.

Tang Jinghong and Bao Linjiang had already handled all the follow-up work for the horse stable.

Chu Qingzhi went to check on their work and praised them. Then, she invited Bao Linjiang and Rong Shiyu to stay for a meal, which she would cook herself.

With such an offer, neither of them refused.

When it was about time, Chu Qingzhi went back home to cook. Entering the kitchen, she found Chu Xujin already busily working there.

Chu Qingzhi was puzzled, “Third brother, didn’t you go to the county office today?”

Chu Xujin, as if he had taken an excitant, said, “I took a leave. I decided to accompany Lihua for the day.”

Looking around, Chu Qingzhi asked, “So, what are you doing now?”

“I’m making lunch for Lihua.” Chu Xujin turned to look at Chu Qingzhi, “Aren’t you planning to cook lunch for Jinghong? No problem, you do yours, and I’ll do mine. We’ll eat together.”

Chu Qingzhi decided. “That’ll do.”

She decided to make just one dish, soy sauce duck, which was originally planned for last night’s dinner but had to be postponed to today’s lunch due to unexpected events.

Shortly after, Li Qingyu came in, “Qingzhi, Chu Xiaolan’s family in the village has piglets for sale. Didn’t you say you wanted to buy piglets? You can go take a look.”

Chu Qingzhi nodded, “Okay, I know, mother.”

“And mother, are the wheat crops sown?”

Li Qingyu nodded with a smile, “They’re sown. We cleared the surrounding wasteland for sowing, and if there are no disasters next year, we should harvest at least ten thousand pounds of wheat.”

Chu Qingzhi was somewhat impressed, “Mother, you’ve worked hard.” Li Qingyu said pragmatically, “It’s nothing. Farmers are supposed to grow crops. Although our family does business, farming is the foundation.” Chu Qingzhi agreed, “Mother is right. No matter what, we won’t give up farming.”

Li Qingyu continued, “Exactly, that’s what I mean. We must not become like others who forget their roots after becoming wealthy. If we fall on hard times, we won’t even have a place to stay.”

Chu Qingzhi said, “I’ll listen to mother.”

At noon, Li Qingyu invited Xu Songnian, Xu Wenlin, and Tian Xiaoqiu to lunch at their home. The duck gifted by Li Qingyin was cooked, and they were invited to share the meal.

Xu Songnian and Xu Wenlin were more relaxed, as the Chu family had always treated them well. Tian Xiaoqiu, however, was very reserved. Chu Qingzhi’s home was too impressive, and standing in the courtyard, she felt inferior. Noticing Tian Xiaoqiu’s discomfort, Li Qingyu involved her in serving dishes and fetching bowls and chopsticks to make her feel included and lessen her sense of alienation.

Everyone took their seats.

Tian Xiaoqiu, looking at the full table of dishes, swallowed hard. She had never eaten so many dishes even at a feast. How wealthy must her third aunt’s family be? Her young mind couldn’t quite grasp it.

After Grandpa Chu started eating, everyone else was free to eat.

Li Qingyu served dishes to the three children, “Eat more.

The children thanked her in unison, “Thank you, Auntie.”

Li Qingyu said, “Take whatever you like, make yourself at home, and don’t be shy.”

“Okay.”

Meanwhile, Chu Qingzhi served Tang Jinghong the best part of the soy sauce duck, “Try this.”

Tang Jinghong’s eyes softened, “Hmm.”

Chu Xujin offered a duck leg to Ge Lihua, “This is to replenish your body after suffering so many injuries.” He felt extremely distressed when mentioning her injuries.

Ge Lihua’s cool gaze softened, “Okay, you eat too.

Chu Xujin insisted, “Take care of yourself, I can take care of myself. Eat up.”

Ge Lihua nodded with a smile, “Hmm.”

After the meal, Ge Lihua packed some food and went to the county to deliver food to her senior brother.

Since the ledger had not yet been retrieved by Tang Jinghong, and Ling Yijiang’s crisis was not entirely resolved, he stayed in an inn in the county..