Chapter 161: Want to Buy Wei Ruo’s Formulai

Translator: 549690339

Wei Ruo said with a faint smile, “Mr. He, do you intend to seek public trouble and get thrown into jail?”

“Nonsense. I just want you to let the people go. What right do you have to detain people? I can file a charge against you for injuring them!” Mr. He pompously argued his point.

“You injured first. We intend to take the person to the Government Office. If you have anything against us, you can choose to take us to the Government Office as well. I can go there with you right now if you want. So, what’s it going to be: will you go or not?” Wei Ruo retorted.

Mr. He’s face turned sour. He hadn’t expected this young man with an ugly blue birthmark on his face to be so sharp-tongued.

“You little brat, you really are shameless!” Mr. He went into a rage out of embarrassment.

“I think the person acting shamelessly is you. You become envious because my business is good so you come to make trouble, and you don’t even dare to use your own name, instead hiding behind others’. I’ve seen shameless people before, but never as shameless as you!” Wei Ruo shot back.

“Fine, you rude brat! You won’t listen? Then I’ll teach you a lesson, I don’t take insults lightly!”

Provoked by Wei Ruo’s words, Mr. He ripped off his last shred of dignity, intending to resort to violence against Wei Ruo.

Many people had gathered in the street to watch the commotion, but Mr. He was still unafraid to resort to violence. His years of impunity had conditioned him to do as he pleased, and the local residents were all too afraid of him to stand against him.

The locals, who’d suffered at the hands of Mr. He before, watched Wei Ruo stand up to him with a mix of worry and sympathy.

At that moment, one of the guards pulled out his waist plate and showed it to Mr. He.

Mr. He, once arrogant and cocky, quickly lost his color at the sight of the waist plate.

“The….the princess…”

These are Princess Jingmin’s people!

Seeing this, Mr. He’s eyes bulged in shock, not knowing what to do.

His own men, who’d been following him, promptly dropped the “weapons” in their hands.

They were all mere common folks, how could they dare to offend royalty?

Li Biao, who had initially hoped that Mr. He would save him, found his hopes dashed.

“Esteemed officers, I was short-sighted and didn’t recognize you. I hope you can forgive this.” Mr. He quickly apologized.

On any given day, no one would dare to offend these guards dressed in their official uniform.

Today, in order to assist Wei Ruo, they had purposely dressed like common people.

“Mr. He, it would be best if you accompany us to the Government Office.”

As the guard spoke, Mr. He’s face turned a sickening shade of white, he tried to struggle: “Esteemed officers, this is all a misunderstanding. I don’t know this man named Li Biao. I merely mistook your actions for bullying the common folk, hence why I brought my shop’s men to help.”

Both guards remained silent, instead they looked at Wei Ruo.

Mr. He got the hint that is the young man with the ugly face was the one calling the shots.

“Young master, it was all a misunderstanding.” Mr. He smiled weakly, a stark contrast to his earlier belligerence.

“Is that so? So getting Li Biao to bring his men to vandalize my shop was also a misunderstanding?” Wei Ruo asked.

“No! I’m not familiar with him! I did not send him to smash the shop!” Mr. He denied.

“Is that so? So, Li Biao was the mastermind? This was all his own doing? In that case, his offense would be much graver.” Wei Ruo turned to look at Li Biao.

On hearing this, Li Biao became frantic and quickly pointed at Mr. He and said, “Mr. He gave me the money, he was the one who instigated me!”

He didn’t want to take all the blame himself!

Mr. He also panicked: “You hoodlum! This is complete nonsense!”

“I’m not talking nonsense, I took your five taels of silver to do your bidding! If I’m lying may the heavens smite me!” Li Biao cried out loudly.

“Shut up!” Mr. He frantically tried to signal Li Biao, hoping he would take full responsibility for everything.

But Li Biao, in his panicked state, didn’t catch the signals Mr. He was sending him and continuously confessed his dealings with Mr. He.

“Enough, save it for the Government Office.”

Wei Ruo instructed the guards to take Mr. He and Li Biao to the Government Office, deciding not to go along herself.

The main reason being that both their identities were fake, and if they went along and were questioned in detail at the Government Office, it could lead to complications.

Once the guards had revealed their identities, Mr. He and Li Biao had no choice but to comply even if they had the physical strength to resist; they didn’t have the courage to do so.

Afterwards, Wei Ruo led Xiumei towards Xu’s braised food shop.

At a window on the second floor of the Zuixian Residence, boss Fan had watched everything unfold on the street below.

Only after Wei Ruo and the others had left did Fan rise from his seat and return to his table.

Then he asked the shopkeeper in the room: “What do you know about this young master?”

The shopkeeper who stood by, carefully replied: “My apologies, sir. I’m not sure either as I had only learned today that he’s the boss of the new braised food shop. I haven’t seen him before.”

The shopkeeper quickly added: “However, it’s likely that he’s a young master from some official family, otherwise he wouldn’t be able to employ Madam Yuan’s guards.”

“Take some men over to the braised food shop later and offer a high price for their recipe.” Fan Chengxu ordered.

They had tried to fathom the recipe for the braised food at the Zuixian Residence, but had failed.

The Zuixian Residence, which he ran, claimed to be the best in the Taizhou prefecture. He never thought they would be outshined by a tiny braised food shop.

If he can’t figure it out himself, then he’ll just buy it.

As long as he offered enough money, there is nothing he couldn’t buy.

“At once, sir.”

The shopkeeper hurriedly set off to prepare.

When the shopkeeper arrived at Xu’s braised food shop, Wei Ruo and Xiumei were just about to leave.

The shopkeeper walked up to them with a smile on his face: “Greetings, young master. I am the shopkeeper of the Zuixian Residence, my surname is Shen. We met at the Zuixian Residence just now, I’m not sure if you remember me.”

“I remember. Is there something you need, Mr. Shen?” Wei Ruo asked.

“Actually, my master wants to purchase your braised food recipe.”

Wei Ruo lightly smiled and politely refused, “I’m sorry, this recipe is not for sale.”

Mr. Shen was undeterred and continued, “Young master, don’t be so hasty in refusing, we can negotiate the price.”

Wei Ruo shook his head, “No matter the price, I won’t sell.”

Wei Ruo had no intention of running just one shop. If possible, she wanted to expand. And with that in mind, she would not sell the recipe easily.

“What if my master is willing to offer 500 taels?” Shen, the shopkeeper, made his offer.

500 taels for a recipe was an astronomical price.

Wei Ruo shook her head, “I’m sorry.”

The persistent shopkeeper raised the price further: “600 taels.”

Wei Ruo again shook her head.

“800 taels.” n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Wei Ruo was still shaking her head.

“1,000 taels!” Shen the shopkeeper raised the price to 1,000 taels..