Fishing and Hunting 82, Starting with Three Sisters Who Overprotect Their Brothers

Chapter 127 Two Agreements

"Oh dear, this, this—"

Hong Yuan regretted it as soon as he said it.

As the saying goes, even close brothers should keep clear accounts; otherwise, how would they make money?

They should have stayed within their bottom line when discussing business, but unexpectedly, upon hearing about the South, they got so excited that they revealed their bottom line.

He composed himself, immediately put on a worried expression, took two steps back, picked up the stool, and changed his strategy.

"My dear brother, you have no idea! My hair has turned completely white from worry these past few days. Your fish balls are a godsend!"

"You manage a state-run restaurant, what's there to worry about?" Zhang Wenshan said without any ceremony, tugged at his collar, and sat down directly.

"I'm just the cook, why shouldn't I be mindful of my superiors' opinions?"

Hong Yuan sighed and leaned back in his chair.

"Look, the inspection team from the south couldn't get used to our heavy oil and salt in Northeastern cuisine, so they barely touched their food at the meal."

.

"Surely not?" Zhang Wenshan asked, puzzled. "Didn't everyone collect quite a few rare items?"

Even if you don't like the taste, you still have to try something new, right?

"Hey, this is our last stop. We're tired of all the good food." Hongyuan sighed. "Without your oil-film carp, the leaders at the agricultural machinery factory would be embarrassed."

"What's going on?" Zhang Wenshan asked, puzzled.

My impression of Zhou Daguo is that he is quite shrewd, so there's no reason for him to make such a big mistake.

"Director Yang, of course!" Hong Yuan sneered. "The leader specifically called and asked me to prepare something light and refreshing, and this old bastard actually had the kitchen serve tofu and cabbage."

"Cough cough cough." Zhang Wenshan suppressed the urge and couldn't help coughing.

Wu Xia poured a bowl of water and handed it to him: "Laugh if you want to. Old Yang has really embarrassed himself this time, so the task will fall on us, husband and wife."

"I finally managed to get through the previous level with the snow-white bean paste, and now I'm worried about how to get past the next one?"

"And those snails, they ate the most of those," Hong Yuan patted Zhang Wenshan on the shoulder and said, "You're our lucky star!"

"What a coincidence, what a coincidence." Zhang Wenshan picked up his water glass and took a sip, not expecting this reason.

As for the lucky star and all that, he didn't believe a word of it.

Although Wu Xia and her husband were anxious, they didn't reveal a single word from beginning to end, clearly indicating that they still had cards up their sleeves and didn't want him to raise the price.

It was only by chance that he let it slip, which forced him to resort to emotional appeals.

"Brother, we're all family, no need for formalities. Name your price, and I'll take it all."

Hong Yuan stood up, stepped forward, patted him on the shoulder, and looked very heroic.

Zhang Wenshan leaned back slightly: "Then I certainly can't make things difficult for you. Like I said before, I'll teach you the fish ball recipe for free, but you have to sign a purchase agreement with me for at least three years."

"Three years? Impossible. State-run restaurants don't have that rule. Even if it's to help people in need, it's not allowed."

Upon hearing this, Wu Xia shook her head repeatedly.

"Brother, you don't know, the purchasing power, pricing power, and contract terms of our state-owned enterprises are controlled by several parties, such as the Grain Bureau, the Commerce Bureau, and the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, all of which have unified prices."

Wu Xia softened her tone and said, "At most, it can be signed for one year."

"I know," Zhang Wenshan nodded. "I mean, you sign a three-year procurement agreement with me, and as for the fishing and hunting team, a year or six months is fine."

The words weren't explicitly stated, but the meaning was quite clear.

"You—" Wu Xia tilted her head, a hint of worry and fear flashing in her eyes.

Hong Yuan's eyes narrowed suddenly, as if he had thought of something. He turned to Wu Xia and said in a deep voice, "Go and close the door, and make sure to entertain the people that my little brother brought. Don't let any outsiders in."

Wu Xia nodded immediately, jogged away, and closed the kitchen door behind her.

"Hey bro, do you know something?"

As the door closed, Hong Yuan sat down again, leaning slightly forward, his eyes filled with vigilance.

Zhang Wenshan crossed his legs and said confidently, "My brother-in-law is, after all, a former soldier."

He casually attributed the source of the information to his brother-in-law.

According to memory, privately contracted state-owned restaurants will soon become widespread.

In reality, Hong Yuan and his wife were already operating the state-run restaurant as their own business, keeping one set of books on the surface and another in private.

There might even be a third book.

"That's true." Hong Yuan suddenly grinned. "So, how do you want to sign, little brother?"

"For a period of three years, whether you and your spouse continue to work at the state-run restaurant or go out on your own, you must purchase willow roots and jujubes from me. I guarantee a stable supply, at prices no higher than the market price and no lower than the cost price."

Zhang Wenshan's eloquent speech left Hong Yuan completely bewildered.

The other party immediately proposed a three-year agreement, and he thought they were going to ask for an exorbitant sum.

As a result, this is it?

There are only two types of fish, priced neither higher than the market price nor lower than the cost price.

How much is a willow root berry worth?

As for things like not guaranteeing exclusive supply or not engaging in malicious competition, he didn't care at all.

"Brother, have you thought this through? Only these two types of fish are available, at a price no higher than the market price and no lower than the cost price."

"certainly."

Zhang Wenshan nodded expressionlessly.

He knew very well that if things really fell apart, signing any agreement wouldn't make a difference.

The real purpose of this agreement was to prevent the Hong couple from prematurely contracting out the state-owned restaurant and abandoning their own interests.

After all, I'm just starting out on my own, so I have to maintain a certain level of self-respect.

Once policies are further liberalized, the dual-track system will be phased out, and the market will enter a fully market-oriented phase.

Minor fish like catfish and willow root will no longer be subject to price suppression; their prices will return to their true value.

At the same time, with economic freedom, people's demand for non-staple foods will shift from eating enough to eating well.

Prices will skyrocket.

At that point, Hong Yuan would be begging him to fulfill the agreement.

"Now I believe you truly care about those people in need," Hong Yuan couldn't help but say with emotion.

This was the only reason he could think of; otherwise, Zhang Wenshan's actions were completely inexplicable.

To put it bluntly, this agreement is to leave a way out for those in difficulty when state-owned restaurants are restructured in the future.

Soon, the two parties signed an agreement.

Fresh fish from the willow root costs one cent, and catfish with the bones removed costs five cents.

There were two agreements. One was a formal agreement between the state-run hotel and the Chishongtun fishing and hunting group for the purchase of two kinds of fish.

One of them is a private supply agreement between Hongyuan and Zhang Wenshan.

After the handover was completed, the two smiled at each other, all the previous probing and scheming vanishing.

In their eyes, they had gotten a great deal.

Zhang Wenshan and Hong Yuan walked out of the kitchen with smiles on their faces. In the yard, Wu Xia was chatting with Zhang Fengxia, while several people nearby looked serious and stared intently at the direction of the kitchen.

"Look, sister, I told you it was nothing. Men always talk about serious matters like this, all secretive, as if they're afraid others will find out."

Wu Xia looked up and saw her husband's beaming face; the worry in her eyes vanished instantly.

"Is your younger brother alright?"

Zhang Fengxia ignored Wu Xia and quickly stepped forward.

The rest of the fishing and hunting group immediately surrounded them.

"What could possibly happen to me?"

Zhang Wenshan smiled and said goodbye to Wu Xia and her husband.

Just as the group's carriage left the alley, Zhang Fengxia suddenly raised her hand and pointed to a spot not far away.

"Hey bro, isn't that Li Dong?"