As they were talking, they had already arrived at East Street and saw from afar the manager of Dongfulou, Mr. Li, standing at the door to see off guests.

This person had bought spring bamboo shoots from Gu Fengyan before, so he was considered an old customer. Since he passed by the door, he wanted to say hello.

"Shopkeeper Li, long time no see. I hope business is booming." Gu Fengyan waved with a smile.

Shopkeeper Li had just seen the guests off and was about to go back inside when he heard the greeting. Turning back, he saw that it was Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan. He hurried forward and said, "It's you two young men. What a coincidence! I was just about to send someone to the village to look for you two, but I caught you!"

It was the first time that Ye Shan met a big shot like Manager Li. When he heard that he was looking for Huo Duan and his wife, he was frightened... Could it be that Erdan did something to anger Manager Li?

While Huo Duan was chatting with Shopkeeper Li, Ye Shan asked Gu Fengyan in a serious tone, "Brother Yan, did you two do anything to offend Shopkeeper Li?"

Gu Fengyan was both amused and annoyed, and explained: "Don't worry, Brother Dashan, it's not true. The other day I went up the mountain to dig some spring bamboo shoots and sold them to Dongfulou, so I recognized Manager Li and just said hello."

Ye Shan felt relieved after hearing this. He then remembered that his mother asked him to buy some snacks to comfort his younger brother. He told Gu Fengyan that he would meet him at the city gate before leaving.

After Manager Li and Huo Duan exchanged pleasantries, he asked Gu Fengyan, "Brother Gu, I have something I want to discuss with you two. I wonder if you two can give me some time..."

Gu Fengyan looked at Huo Duan, who whispered, "It's about the spring bamboo shoots."

Gu Fengyan suddenly realized that the spring bamboo shoots he sold to Dongfulou last time were extremely popular, and they wanted to cooperate with them for a long time.

"That's what Manager Li said. You're welcome." He said with a smile.

Shopkeeper Li looked at the two of them and suddenly bowed. "To be honest, those spring bamboo shoots were in great demand last time. They were snapped up as soon as they were served. Some people even came here just to have a taste. It's a pity that there are not many left..."

At the last birthday banquet for Mr. Zhang, a dish of stir-fried spring bamboo shoots was served and was immediately snatched up. Even Mr. Zhang, who was used to eating delicacies from land and sea, praised it highly and rewarded Dongfulou, which contracted the banquet, with a large amount of silver on the spot.

After that, Dongfulou became even more famous than the Yingchunlou chain hotel across the street.

When Shopkeeper Li thought of Shopkeeper Zhou's angry face, he felt better and continued, "I said this because I want to do business with you two young men. From now on, all the mountain products and wild vegetables you bring down from the mountains can be sent to Dongfulou. You name your price, and I can afford any price."

"What do you two think?" He looked at them, afraid that they would refuse. "Or maybe you two can set some conditions..."

Gu Fengyan had already anticipated what Shopkeeper Li was thinking, so he was not surprised.

"I'm afraid you two won't be able to agree to Manager Li's proposal." Gu Fengyan smiled slightly.

Shopkeeper Li was stunned immediately. He thought the conditions he proposed were already generous and he never expected that the two would refuse.

"Why? If you are worried about the price, you can just state your conditions." Shopkeeper Li said anxiously.

Gu Fengyan was about to explain, but Huo Duan said, "It's not about the price. Shopkeeper Li, please listen to my wife's explanation."

After saying that, he looked at Gu Fengyan and raised his eyebrows, which actually showed that he had seen through his thoughts.

Gu Fengyan's face burned at the word "Madam". He smiled helplessly and said, "Manager Li, think about it. What we two sold to you are seasonal mountain products. Now it's the turn of spring and summer, so you can still find some. But if it's past this season, I'm afraid they will be gone. How much money can you make?"

Shopkeeper Li lowered his head and thought about it, and felt that it made sense.

Gu Fengyan got straight to the point, "I have a better idea, I wonder if Shopkeeper Li is interested?"

"Just tell me, young man." Shopkeeper Li said hurriedly when he heard that he had a better idea.

"Manager Li, have you ever heard of medicinal food? Manager Li, why don't you consider selling medicinal food in Dongfulou. In addition to wild vegetables and mountain products, Heqing Village is also rich in medicinal materials, and I happen to know how to prepare them, so we can cooperate with Dongfulou in this regard." Gu Fengyan stated the ultimate goal.

"Medicinal food?" Shopkeeper Li pondered, "I have heard of it. Your suggestion is indeed good. It's a pity..."

Medicinal diet is the use of medicine in food to achieve the purpose of health and longevity. Due to the beautiful scenery of Qianmo County, many retired officials and wealthy businessmen will buy properties here to spend their remaining years in peace.

These wealthy businessmen usually rely on precious medicinal herbs to nourish their bodies and attach great importance to maintaining their health. If Dongfulou can really make medicinal meals, many people will come to eat. Why would they be afraid of not being able to surpass the ones across the street?

It’s just a pity…

Shopkeeper Li sighed, "It's a pity that it's not just Dongfulou. I'm afraid there's no chef in the entire Qianmo County who can make medicinal food!"

Huo Duan smiled slightly, trusting Gu Fengyan very much, "Don't worry about this Shopkeeper Li. I think the chef in charge of Dongfulou has some skills. As long as there is a recipe, are you still worried that he won't be able to cook it?"

Shopkeeper Li was startled for a moment, then overjoyed, "Could it be that you two have a recipe for medicinal food?"

Huo Duan just smiled and looked at Gu Fengyan without saying anything.

Mr. Huo has really dug up all of our secrets.

Gu Fengyan felt that he was completely exposed to the gazes of Huo Duan and others, as if he was not wearing any clothes.

"If Manager Li is willing to do this business, I will provide the medicinal recipes." Gu Fengyan said.

Shopkeeper Li was naturally willing to do so, but if this couple was the only ones who knew this technology, they could completely monopolize it. There was no reason for them to sell it to him. What's more, the price... I'm afraid it would not be low.

"Of course I'm willing to do it, but the price..." Shopkeeper Li looked embarrassed.

"Shopkeeper Li is a good man. He didn't look down on us because we were poor when he sold us spring bamboo shoots..." Gu Fengyan was not very good at drafting contracts, so he pushed it to Huo Duan, "Brother Duan will give you the most fair price."

Huo Duan knew that Gu Fengyan would do this, so he took over the conversation, "We can provide medicinal materials and prescriptions for free, but... after Dongfulou starts providing medicinal food, it doesn't matter if it doesn't make money. If it does, it has to give us 40% of the income. What do you think of this proposal, Shopkeeper Li?"

If you only sell medicinal materials and prescriptions, you will make no money. If you can invest in Dongfulou, you will have money coming in every month. Why worry about not making back your investment?

Huo Duan is confident that the medicinal food will make Dongfulou soar to success.

Manager Li has been in the business world for many years...Brother Huo's suggestion is very pertinent. Besides, if he wants to buy the medicinal recipe, he may not be able to get it even if he loses the entire Dongfulou.

It would be better to let them invest.

Besides, if he doesn't make any money, he won't lose money either.

"Then I would like to thank you two young men first." Shopkeeper Li smiled and respectfully invited them into the building, "Let's go in and talk in detail."

After talking for an entire afternoon, Huo Duan carefully drafted the contract. After both parties signed it, he left the house with Gu Fengyan.

Because he wanted to write some medicinal recipes, he went to the bookstore and bought some pens, ink, paper and inkstone.

At the city gate, Ye Shan had been waiting for a long time with a few bags of snacks. When he saw the two of them, he asked hurriedly, "What have you been doing? Why are you here so late?"

When Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan told Ye Shan about their business with Dongfulou, Ye Shan was surprised again. He also thought that after the business grew, Erdan and his wife would be even busier and his uncle would not be able to help.

So I made up my mind to persuade my mother to help when I got home.

In the evening, Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan put on their clothes and wrote prescriptions page by page on the table under the light.

Gu Fengyan is okay with a hard pen, but the ones used here are small wolf hair pens. He has never held a brush in a day, so how could he know how to use it?

Fortunately, there is Huo Duan.

“Use three grams of high-quality ginseng and one hundred grams of polished rice. Cook them in a casserole until the porridge is cooked. Then add the melted rock sugar juice and mix well.” Gu Fengyan supported his chin with his hand and recited the prescription slowly.

Huo Duan listened and wrote at the same time, and the words he wrote were vigorous and powerful, with a natural style.

"It is used to replenish vital energy, benefit the spleen and lungs, promote the production of body fluids and calm the mind..." Gu Fengyan lowered his eyes to look at his slender joints against the black ink-like pen holder, and praised, "I didn't expect that Mr. Huo could do this. This handwriting... wow."

Huo Duan put down his pen and put the paper aside to dry. "My grandfather likes calligraphy and Chinese painting, and he is good at it. When I was a child, I stayed in his study with him every day... Although I didn't put in enough effort, I did learn it."

Seeing that Gu Fengyan was staring at the words intently, he handed him the pen and said, "Why don't you give it a try if I teach you?"

Gu Fengyan held the pen and said with a smile: "Don't think I'm annoying."

“How could that be?” Huo Duan walked behind him, put his hands on his qi, and pressed his chest against the blade-like back. “Follow me, you recite…”

"Slice 30 grams of Codonopsis pilosula, 15 grams of Atractylodes macrocephala, and 20 grams of Poria cocos, and put them into the duck's stomach..."

As Huo Duan wrote, he gradually became absent-minded.

The hand I held was very slender, yet very soft and cool, with pink fingertips... Gu Fengyan had just taken a shower when he came back. The collar of her snow-white pajamas revealed an even whiter collarbone and neck, and her whole body exuded a fragrance.

Huo Duan couldn't control himself for a moment.

How can it be so white? It seems to be luring people to leave some marks.

His face turned red. Writing requires a calm mind, and his unstable mind made the words he wrote crooked.

Gu Fengyan felt something was wrong, so he stopped reciting and turned around to ask, "What's wrong... why is your face so red?"

"Ahem... I'm fine. You try to write. I'll go wash my face. It's too hot." Huo Duan almost ran away.

The whiteness of the snow under the warm yellow light kept flashing before his eyes, making his heart flutter.

hot?

Gu Fengyan pulled his clothes. It was only May and it was night time. How could it be hot?

He didn't understand, so he buried his head in writing those dog-like words.

…

The next day, before dawn, Huo Duan and Gu Fengyan got up first.

After the business of Dongfulou and Xinglinyuan was successful, they would not only make money but also become busier.

They planned to recruit workers after breakfast.

When Ye Shan returned home yesterday, the first thing he did was to tell Huo Xiuling what Gu Fengyan and the others had said.

When Ye Bixian heard that her nephew was so promising, she strongly supported Huo Xiuling to go and help out for a few days. Anyway, she would just be embroidering and taking care of the children if she stayed at home, which would be boring.

Ye Bao was also fully recovered and could walk around happily. When he heard that he was going to his uncle's house, he was happier than ever and ran away, leaving Huo Xiuling far behind.

The mother and son arrived just as the Huo family finished their meal.

Ye Bao first poked his head into the yard, trying to scare Huo Duan, but was caught by Gu Fengyan who came out of the house. "Xiao Bao, you are finally okay. Have you eaten?"

"Hello, Brother Yan. I came here after eating." Ye Bao was a little afraid of Gu Fengyan, so he answered timidly.

Huo Duan liked children. When he turned around and saw Ye Bao, he quickly hugged him and hugged him. The whole yard was filled with Ye Bao's smile.

Gu Fengyan held the winnowing basket and smiled helplessly... If Huo Duan had a child in the future, who knows how crazy he would be. The child must not be brought up by him.

"Brother Yan, thank you for saving Xiaobao last time." Huo Xiuling came over and stuffed a piece of bacon in the basket to Gu Fengyan, "Keep this piece of bacon and cook it for your father Erdan some other day."

Gu Fengyan took the meat with a smile and asked Huo Xiuling to sit down. "We are all family. Xiaobao is also my brother. Why should I be so polite? Please sit down first. I will clean up these dustpans."

After packing up, Huo Xiuling called Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan over and asked, "Dashan told me that you did business with the county's restaurant and pharmacy. Is that true?"

The author has something to say: "It replenishes vital energy, benefits the spleen and lungs, promotes the production of body fluids and calms the mind. Put 3g of ginseng and 100g of polished rice into a casserole, add an appropriate amount of water, cook until the porridge is cooked, then add the melted rock sugar juice, mix well, and you can eat it."

"Yinqi and spleen. Suitable for spleen and stomach qi deficiency, poor appetite, loose stools, sallow complexion, weak voice, and weak limbs. Put 30g of Codonopsis pilosula, 15g of Atractylodes macrocephala, and 20g of Poria cocos (sliced) into the duck's belly; put the duck in a steaming bowl, add appropriate amount of seasoning, seal the bowl with wet cotton paper, and steam it on high heat for about 3 hours. Drink the soup and eat the meat."