Chapter 70

According to Xu Ran’s plan, he didn’t just sell fried chestnuts, which was his present biggest source of income though. He planed to sell them to Mr. Chen because they could be used to make a variety of special dishes, such as chestnut rice, chestnut soup and chestnut pastries. In fact, for the restaurant, it needed to have several famous pastries to attract its customers!

With this plan in mind, Xu Ran got to the town with Wu Mei and others the next day. He then went straight to Mr. Chen’s restaurant with half a basket of chestnuts on his back.

Xu Ran had left a good impression on Mr. Chen, because every time Xu Ran came, he would give him opportunities to make money. He believed that this time would be no exception. Of course, Xu Ran was warmly received by Mr. Chen.

As the chestnuts in the basket were covered, Mr. Chen didn’t know what was inside. He was curious and asked in a hurry, “What have you brought to me this time? Is it still chili paste? ”

“No, Mr. Chen, but they’re no worse than chili paste. I think the customers to your restaurant for dinner may have been tired of chili paste, so I’m here to give them a change this time. ”

“What is it? Take it out and let me look at it?” asked Mr. Chen. He couldn’t wait to see the result.

Xu Ran looked around and found that there were many people coming in and out of the restaurant, so he suggested, “Mr. Chen, we’d better find a room to  have a good talk about it! ”

Mr. Chen knew what kind of person Xu Ran was. Since he said so, he must have something important to discuss with him, so Mr. Chen did not refuse but immediately took Xu Ran to the second floor.

Mr. Chen had his own room on the second floor. At the moment, as soon as Xu Ran was led into the room, he put down his back basket, and said to Mr. Chen directly, “Mr. Chen, these are chestnuts. I think you also know this stuff. It can be mixed in rice, can be used to make soup, can be made into dishes, and can be made into pastries as well. Do you like hem?”

‘Yes, definitely!’ When hearing Xu Ran say that this stuff could be made into dishes, Mr. Chen had already been moved, let alone the fact that it could be made into pastries.

“Xu Ran, just tell me directly! How much shall I pay to get all these including your recipe for it?”

Mr. Chen wasn’t stupid either. He knew well that Xu Ran’s purpose of bringing this stuff to his own restaurant was to make money, and that no one would be reluctant to do anything more than buy it.

“Mr. Chen is really a smart man. Now let’s see if my proposal is feasible. From now on, I will offer you chestnuts at the price of 10 pence half a kilo. In addition, I will sell you my complete set of three secret recipes. You only need to pay me 200 taels of silver for all of them. ”

“Two hundred taels of silver? Xu Ran, you’re not very kind! Let’s say 150! You sell them all to me.”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Chen. First you can have your servants go to the stalls selling fried chestnuts to buy some back to taste. You’ll find out if it’s worth two hundred taels of silver. The secret recipe for fried chestnuts is also from me.”

Hearing this, Mr. Chen didn’t hesitate. He went out, called a servant over and gave him some money to buy some chestnuts out in the street.

The fried chestnuts had only been on the market for a day, but people around here all knew about them.The servant had always been well-informed, so of course he knew them ,too, so he ran out directly for the fried chestnuts.

At the moment, Xu Ran asked Mr. Chen to prepare some paper and a writing brush for him, and he began to write down the secret recipes, the main part of which Xu Ran noted was the secret recipe for cooking chestnut rice. When making chestnut rice, people should remember to put some oil and salt , and also add some lean meat into it. In this way, when the chestnut rice was ready, it was fragrant and powdery, very delicious.

Of course, it was also good to cook chestnuts directly with rice without oil and salt.

As for the ways of making chestnut roast chicken and chestnut chicken soup, they were simple, just remembering to add chestnuts when making them.

The last one was the way to make chestnut pastries. The chef of this restaurant was much better than him in the making. What Xu Ran needed to do was to write clearly how to add chestnuts into the process of making the pastries.

After Xu Ran finished his writing of the secret recipes, the servant bought back the fried chestnuts, and they were still warm. Mr. Chen took a chestnut and tasted it finding that it was indeed good.

Looking at the paper full of writing in Xu Ran’s hand, Mr. Chen thought that even if he spent 50 taels of silver more, the business was worth it. Moreover, the chestnuts would be kept in supply in the future. He could save a lot of effort.

Immediately, Mr. Chen made a decision and said, “Xu Ran, as you said, you will provide me with chestnuts in the future. In addition, I’ll pay you two hundred taels of silver for these secret recipes. But in the future, you can’t give them to anyone except your own family. ”

Xu Ran nodded, “Of course I’ll keep my promise.”

Then he pulled his basket over and said, “Mr. Chen, I will give you these chestnuts today. You let the chef try them first. If they don’t sell well, I will return you the money when I come again tomorrow.”

“All right. You are indeed a trustworthy man. Ha ha.” Mr. Chen laughed happily. He immediately settled the account for Xu Ran, and then asked the staff to take the chestnuts to the kitchen.

And, Xu Ran went back to Wu Mei’s selling stall at ease.