Eldest Sister, Why Haven't You Married Yet Chapter 59

Published at 1st of February 2023 10:16:02 AM

Chapter 59. The recipe

After entering Yunweixuan, Second Master Huang, who hadn't been seen for a while, was standing guard at the stairs. Upon You Jin’s arrival, he clapped his hands and said, "It turns out to be Su Family’s lass!"

When his family’s master came and said that someone was coming over for a discussion, Second Master Huang was tremblingly staying guard at the stairs out of fear of neglecting Master’s distinguished guest. Who would have thought that Xiao Family’s two servants would bring over an old acquaintance, Su Family’s lass.

You Jin merrily bowed to Second Master Huang, "Second Master, I haven't seen you for a few days. Your complexion is even more rosy!"

"Lass, you haven't come here for a while. I heard that you are famous for selling sour plum soup at the entrance of the market. Why didn't you bring me a bowl when you came here?" Second Master Huang had been in Luohe Prefecture for so many years. Naturally, he has his own connections. Although he didn't take a fancy to Su Family's small profits, Second Master Huang was naturally discerning when it comes to delicious food.

While the two were talking, Second Master Huang led her to the private room on the second floor. You Jin smiled and said nothing. However, she was guessing in her heart what the origin of Xiao Family was. It seemed they weren’t ordinary people.

When they were almost at the door of the private room, Second Master Huang withdrew his smile and respectfully knocked on the closed door three times: "Master, the lass from Su Family has arrived."

"Come in." A very clean and pleasant voice came from the room. Only then, Second Master Huang slightly opened the door on the right: "Su Family’s lass, go in."

You Jin nodded slightly and gave thanks. After stepping over the threshold and entering, Second Master Huang closed the door from the outside.

"Miss Su, please sit down." Passing around the agarwood screen at the door, she finally saw the person who arranged to meet her here today. He turned out to be about eighteen or nineteen years old, wearing a bamboo green gown embroidered with cloud patterns. There was a gentle smile and warmth in his starry eyes. The plumpness was just right. A gentleman with unblemished and vermilion lips that carried faint mirth.

It was the first time for You Jin to see such a good-looking man. She couldn't help but take a second look. Xiao Lin Feng who was wearing a flamboyant scarlet gown beside him, was a little unhappy: "Little lass, don't just look at my eldest brother ah!"
 

Being exposed on the spot, You Jin blushed. She showed an apologetic smile to Xiao Lin Yu in embarrassment before glaring at the formerly white horse riding youth with flirty air. In fact, she saw Xiao Lin Feng as soon as she came in. Not at all a seductive beauty. What was there to see with his seedling radish?

Xiao Lin Yu acted as if he hadn’t noticed the brow exchange between the two children and poured a cup of tea for You Jin with a smile: "Miss Su, please sit down."

You Jin didn't learn the etiquette of a major household’s miss. She just cupped her hands and said: "Thank you, Gentleman."

Then she sat down politely: "I don't know why Gentleman called me here?"

Looking at the little girl who was neither humble nor overbearing, Xiao Lin Yu felt inexplicably appreciative of her. And because she saved Lin Feng last time, he liked her even more: "Last time Lin Feng caused trouble and Miss’s action was of great help. I thank you, Miss."

"It was clearly me who saved her, okay?" On the side, Xiao Lin Feng disgruntled hollered at Eldest Brother who was ‘twisting the facts’.

Xiao Lin Yu raised his eyes to look at his younger brother and amusedly spoke: "You don't even know how to fight, how can you save people?"

Then he turned to You Jin and apologized, "I'm sorry Miss Su. Youngest Brother is young and ignorant. Pardon the offense.”

It turned out that having an ignorant younger brother in the family was like this! Looking at him and then thinking back on the sensible girls in her family, You Jin suddenly felt that she was in blissed. However, she got to save some face for others: "It's fine. That day, it was him who help out first."

Although she can solve the three ruffians with his interference, You Jin knew that it would hurt the mischievous child’s heart.

After the two exchanged a few words of pleasantries, Xiao Lin Yu got to the point: "I invited Miss here today because I have a business that I want to talk about with Miss. I wonder if you can bear to give up your sour plum soup recipe?"

It turned out to be a recipe buyer! You Jin slightly raised her eyebrows. Her mind couldn't think for a moment. She smilingly answered: "It's not difficult to give up, but I wonder how sincere Gentleman Xiao can be?"

Seeing her money-loving reaction, Xiao Lin Yu couldn't help smiling slightly. This little lass was really different from ordinary country girls. She was bold enough and greedy enough. He threw the ball back to her court: "Please do tell how much Miss Su thinks it's appropriate?"

One big and one small fox exchanged blows. Neither was in a hurry. While Xiao Lin Feng, who was watching the fun, was very anxious: "Little lass, just because I saved you, sell the recipe to us! Eldest Brother won’t let you be at a disadvantage!"

Then he winked at Xiao Lin Yu: "Eldest Brother, right?"

Xiao Lin Yu coughed twice in embarrassment. This younger brother was really going to put him in a pit. How can he help the seller to raise the price when he is buying something for their family? The gentle smile still remained on his face: "Miss Su, why don't you make an offer?"

You Jin pondered for a while before slowly raising her right hand and spreading her five fingers: "What do Gentleman think?"

You Jin admitted that she was opening a lion’s mouth. But since they dared to buy the recipe, they must have been mentally prepared?

Although there were suspicions of extortion, the price was indeed within Xiao Lin Yu's acceptance range. He had calculated it before coming here. As long as he gets the recipe, it won’t take a summer to earn it back. It was at least double or triple times more. So after thinking for a while, Xiao Lin Yu nodded and agreed: "Sure."

Not bargaining? You Jin froze for a moment. Were there so many wealthy people in Dafeng? Had she known this earlier, she would have called out more! Missing the opportunity to slaughter the fat sheep, You Jin felt sad in her heart. Then sudden thought of her family relying on this recipe to make money. So she hurriedly said: "Gentleman Xiao, I have a request."

"Miss Su, do speak." Lightly waving the folding fan in his hand, Xiao Lin Yu faintly smiled at her. His gentle and jade-like appearance made You Jin feel a little guilty. But for her family, she’ll eat this big cake just this one time! "The recipe can be sold to you, but our family will finish with this business this summer, how about it?"

Naturally, Xiao Lin Yu wouldn’t refuse such a small request. How much business can her mobile stall snatch? Furthermore, his own business was targeted at dignitaries and nobles. The customers of Su Family were mainly ordinary people.

Since both parties had no objection, Xiao Lin Yu took out a brush and paper and rewrote the agreement. He added the request You Jin had just made. Seeing the nearby You Jin’s bright eyes, he reckoned that she was literate. So he handed over the agreement to You Jin: "Miss Su, take a look. If there’s no problem, we’ll settle this matter like this?"

Unreserved, You Jin accepted it and looked at it. She recognized most of the traditional characters. So she could understand a seller's agreement document. Grabbing a brush, she crookedly wrote ‘Su You Jin’ and then pressed her fingerprints.

Looking at the ghostly characters that were written worse than when he was three years old, Xiao Lin Yu only smiled faintly. Afterward, he called Second Master Huang, who was guarding outside, to come in: "Uncle Huang, bring five hundred silver over from the accounting."

It went without saying Second Master Huang didn't dare to question his master's words. Saying ‘yes’, he went out and came back soon. Respectfully, he put five light notes on the table. Seeing that Master didn't have any other orders, he withdrew.

Since the agreement documents were signed and the notes were correct, You Jin embarrassedly smiled, "Gentleman Xiao, my handwriting isn’t good. How about I say and you write?"

At the side, Xiao Lin Feng rushed to speak first: "I'll do it. I'll do it!"

His handwriting was very good. Encountering an opportunity to show off his handwriting, he will naturally not miss it.

Naturally, Xiao Lin Yu wouldn’t compete with his younger brother for such a trivial matter. The two little babies took turns speaking. In a short while, Su Family's ancestral sour plum soup recipe was given to Xiao Family. Su Family’s sisters had all helped Mrs. Su with making the sour plum soup. You Jin had a good memory. On top of that, Mrs. Su and the others had emphasized the ratio of ingredients many times. It went without saying You Jin knew the recipe.

On the side, Xiao Lin Yu listened to You Jin listing the recipe steps. He couldn't help nodding slightly. It turned out that these things were added. No wonder the taste was sweet. Perfectly sweet and sour. It was thirty percent more delicious than the sour plum soup made by the cook in the capital.

Very consciously putting the note into her bosom, You Jin merrily spoke: "Gentleman Xiao, if there was nothing else, I will go back first. There are still many things to do at home."

Xiao Lin Yu nodded slightly, not afraid that what she gave was a fake recipe. Since he could find her to buy the recipe, naturally he would be able to find out where her home was. A girl from the countryside would never have the guts to deceive him.

***
 

Her two feet floated out of Yunweixuan. She looked up at the scorching sun hanging high in the sky and couldn't help feeling that life was impermanent. Who would have thought that a girl in her teens would become rich overnight and carry five hundred silver notes?

Today, the money earned from selling sour plum soup was still in You Jin’s possession. Recalling the almost empty rice tank at home and how much money she had now, You Jin braved the scorching sun and went to the West Market to buy five jins of high-quality pork belly. Only then, she went home with the heavy meat in tow.

When Su Family’s sisters saw Eldest Sister coming back with a huge piece of pork, they were all overjoyed. Even little Seventh snuggled up at Mrs. Su's leg and cutely said: "Mother, little Seventh wants to eat braised pork today! "

"Okay, then let's eat braised pork today." Mrs. Su held and coaxed the energetic little Eighth and nodded in agreement. Then she turned to You Jin: "Didn't you just buy meat yesterday? Why did you buy so much meat today?"

You Jin jollily handed the meat to You Yin who was on the side. Then she accepted a large bowl of cold water that You Zhu had poured and noisily gulped it down: "I have earned money today. So I bought more meat for everyone to eat."

Mrs. Su had heard from the two daughters who arrived home earlier that Eldest Daughter went to discuss business with some rich family. So she thought it was another customer who wanted to order a whole barrel of sour plum soup like yesterday. Somewhat distressed, she said: " That barrel of sour plum soup can’t be sold for much money. How can you buy so much meat?”

You Jin just smiled and didn't say anything. It wasn't until the children were asleep that night that You Jin told Mrs. Su the truth: "Mother, I sold our family's recipe. We’ll make the sour plum soup this summer and won’t do it next year.”

As soon as she heard that her daughter had sold the recipe, Mrs. Su couldn't help but anxiously uttered in the quiet night: "The recipe has been sold? Then what will our family do in the future? How do we make money?"

She can't help but blame You Jin a little: "You didn't discuss such a big matter with your family. The bigger you are, the bigger the idea!"

You Jin wasn’t angry either. In a hushed tone, she said "Mother, I sold the recipe for five hundred liang!"

"Five hundred liang!" At this moment, Mrs. Su forgot that she blamed her daughter just now and took a deep breath: "How can it sell for so much money?"

"Mother, don't worry so much. Now that the family has money, let's go to the city together tomorrow and check your body at the medical clinic. If not, you will suffer when winter comes." You Jin smilingly comforted Mrs. Su. The mother and daughter talked for a long time before falling asleep.

Chapter end