"What does Master Ye Xiao have to say?"
Ye Xinghan smiled upon hearing those words. Instead of replying directly, he began clearing the desk between them. One by one, plates of food appeared from his space ring until the desk was almost overflowing. There were approximately fifteen dishes, each releasing an enticing aroma that filled the room.
Xiao Yi's stomach grumbled despite having had breakfast, the fragrant smells making him eager to start eating.
"Uncle Xiao Yi, please!" Ye Xinghan gestured invitingly towards the food.
Xiao Yi scanned the dishes before choosing a cup labeled with a small paper tag reading 'Vanilla Pudding'. He scooped a spoonful of the creamy white substance. It was smooth, silky, and jiggling like a cloud. As he tasted it, sweetness burst in his mouth—creamy, delicate, an experience beyond his usual culinary vocabulary.
"Young Master, this thing is amazing. Vanilla Pudding? It must have been created by a mad genius!" Xiao Yi exclaimed, full of praise.
"Don't be too excited; please have the next dish," Ye Xinghan suggested, pushing a plate of meat towards him.
"This is called Olive Wagyu Steak. The meat comes from the Verdant Horned Cow, which primarily feeds on certain oily plants, making it extremely tender with a high fat content," Ye Xinghan explained.
Xiao Yi cut into the steak, the knife gliding through as if it were hot butter. The flavor explosion in his mouth was indescribable; the meat was so tender it almost didn't need chewing, offering a nutty, umami taste with hints of herbs.
"Wonderful! Delicious! This is the best meat I've ever eaten. Even the Sacred Family's Star Restaurant's meat doesn't come close!!" Xiao Yi exclaimed loudly.
"It's good to hear. Please help yourself to taste the rest of the dishes," Ye Xinghan said with a calm smile.
Xiao Yi tried each dish in turn, each one eliciting gasps of delight. It took about twenty minutes for him to finish all the dishes, leaving nothing behind, even burping shamelessly in front of Ye Xinghan, ignoring his image as an elder.
"Have you figured anything about our cooperation?" Ye Xinghan asked with a serene smile.
"Please enlighten me, Young Master," Xiao Yi replied, cupping his fist in respect.
"So, the Winged Dragon Family will set up restaurants with these dishes as the menu."
Xiao Yi nodded, hiding his excitement. He foresaw a significant influx of money into the family, boosting his chances of becoming patriarch. However, he needed to keep his composure to not appear too eager.
"The restaurant will be divided into three levels.
- **The first floor will be named the Primary Floor.** Dishes here include 'Ramen', 'Pizza', 'Pudding', 'Hamburger', 'Fried Rice', 'Fried Chicken', 'Chicken/Beef Porridge'. We'll only take a 15% profit margin to make these accessible to everyone in Glory City.
- **The second floor will be called the Earth Floor.** It will offer 'Beef Rendang', 'Tom Yum', 'Ice Cream/Sorbet', 'Chicken Tikka Masala', 'Peking Duck', plus all dishes from the Primary Floor. Here, we'll take a 30% profit margin, targeting wealthier customers.
- **The highest floor, known as the Heaven Floor,** will serve 'Olive Wagyu Steak', 'Foie Gras', 'Beef Wellington'. These dishes must be eaten immediately after cooking. The profit margin is 50%, and entry requires a member card. Only 40 member cards will be available, auctioned off in sets of 10, 5, and 5 until all are sold. We aim at the richest individuals in the city."
"Understand, we'll maintain exclusivity to maximize profit," Xiao Yi nodded, rubbing his chin. "Then, what are the conditions of this cooperation?"
"First, my father will provide the recipes and the chefs. The Winged Dragon Family will supply the location and other miscellaneous needs. In return, my father will receive 40% of the profit, with the rest going to the Winged Dragon Family. The money will be sent through me monthly," Ye Xinghan detailed.
*'60% for my family? They're really generous!'* Xiao Yi thought excitedly, though Ye Xinghan's strategy was to motivate him while retaining control by potentially introducing better recipes if needed.
"I accept, Young Master. Any other conditions?" Xiao Yi inquired.
"Second, the Winged Dragon Family will source the ingredients themselves, with the exception of meat, duck, chicken, milk, and eggs."
"These things will be provided by Master Ye Xiao?" Xiao Yi asked, a hint of skepticism in his voice.
"No, you must buy them from Nie En of the Heavenly Marks Family!"
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(Note: Nie En is an elder from Nie Li's branch family.)