TLHRP 🍁 Chapter 11: Partnership

Qin Li nodded and replied, "Naturally. This perfume business is only being discussed with the Ye family."

Hearing this, second young master Ye wore a meaningful expression. The Ye family? Yanheji? Or did he mean the main family branch in the capital?

"In that case, may I ask how you are called, young sir? Calling you 'young sir' this way and that feels rather distant." He gestured for Steward Ye to go out and close the courtyard gate, then personally poured a cup of tea for Qin Li.

"My name is Qin Li. Second young master, you may call me Li ge'er."

"May I ask where you are from, Li ge'er?"

"Jinghe Village."

Thud. The hand holding the teacup set it down, making a sound on the table. Qin Li remained calm and unruffled.

Second young master Ye looked Qin Li over carefully, and after a moment smiled. "It seems I was being short-sighted."

"I wonder how you intend to discuss this perfume business, Li ge'er? Are you selling the already-made perfumes, or..." He paused for a moment, "...or are you selling the production process itself?"

"Second young master..." Before he could speak, he was interrupted.

"Li ge'er, you needn't call me second young master. I am the second son of the Ye family, named Jun. I am a few years your senior, so you may call me Brother Ye."

And so Qin Li smoothly changed his form of address: "Brother Ye."

"Li ge'er, how do you wish to discuss this perfume business? You may speak freely."

"Perfume has always been a sought-after commodity, highly coveted by all. A few days ago, I was looking around various shops, and Yanheji's perfumes were selling the best."

Hearing Qin Li's words, Ye Jun smiled a little and said with some pride, "Though our Ye family's production process isn't as good as yours, Li ge'er, it is still somewhat better than other shops'. Relying on this, we have managed to put down roots in Qinghe Town."

"That's right. These are things one can find out with just a few inquiries. Brother Ye, you also know that making this perfume involves tedious steps. If I hoarded the production process to myself, I couldn't make very much. Besides, I have nowhere to store it properly, and it wouldn't be safe for me either." Qin Li paused for a moment, then pulled a drawing from his sleeve. "Naturally, I want to discuss the production process with you, Brother Ye."

Ye Jun took the drawing. On it was the filtration and purification device Qin Li had drawn, with careful annotations explaining the purpose of each step, such as which step was for filtration and which for purification. Ye Jun could see everything clearly and distinctly.

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!" Ye Jun clapped his hands excitedly and said to Qin Li, "Li ge'er, you truly have an ingenious mind. I've never seen such a device before, yet it is so practical."

"Brother Ye, take this drawing to an experienced craftsman to have it custom-made. You'll have the purification device in just a few days. If you have any questions, I have one I made myself at home that I can give to you for close examination."

"That would be excellent!"

"With this purification device, how much perfume the Ye family can produce will only depend on how large your workshop is."

After his excitement subsided a little, Ye Jun calmed down and said, "But this purification device will first need to be sent to the main family in the capital. Only after the main family has examined it can we begin mass production. The one you made yourself, Li ge'er, will also need to be sent to the capital for the head of the family to see."

Understanding the strong clan values of ancient people, Qin Li nodded in agreement. After all, the main family branch held all the authority.

"Then Brother Ye, send someone back with me to fetch it. I also have a few other types of perfume at home that are quite novel; they can be sent to the capital for the head of the Ye family to see as well." Qin Li had also made several bottles of grass-scented and mint-scented perfume, he was absolutely the first person in this dynasty to create such things.

Hmph, I'm sure I'll win over the head of the Ye family.

"I just wonder, Li ge'er, how much silver do you intend to ask for this purification device?" Ye Jun asked.

Qin Li shook his head and said, "Brother Ye, you know as well as I do that once this perfume goes on sale, it will sell wonderfully. The Dayan Dynasty has such vast territory, with countless aristocratic clans and wealthy merchants in the capital. It will surely be highly sought after, spreading to every prefecture and province. What's more, we could even do business with foreign merchants and overseas visitors. With such a huge business opportunity, Brother Ye, would you simply sell the recipe?"

Catching the implication in Qin Li's words that he wished to negotiate with the head of the Qinghe Ye family branch, Ye Jun went along with it and said, "In that case, my father will have to come to discuss this."

As he spoke, he called for Steward Ye.

"Ye Fu."

"Yes, second young master? What are your orders?" Steward Ye hurried in upon hearing his name.

"Prepare the carriage. Invite young sir Li to accompany me to the Ye manor as a guest!"

Steward Ye glanced at Qin Li in surprise, then went out to prepare the carriage.

Knowing his young master had important business to discuss, Steward Ye quickly had the carriage ready to take Ye Jun and Qin Li.

Riding in a carriage for the first time, Qin Li looked over the interior decorations. The carriage was lined on all sides with expensive, exquisite silk. The gold and jewel-encrusted windows were covered by a curtain of light blue gauze, preventing outsiders from catching a glimpse of the noble person inside this magnificent, speeding carriage.

Tsk tsk, truly wealthy, Qin Li sighed in his heart.

This is just a small branch of the Ye family in a tiny place like Qinghe Town, yet their cosmetics business has made them so rich they're dripping in gold and jewels. Isn't this so much better than slaving away over food?

Soon they arrived at the entrance of the Ye manor. Stepping down from the carriage, Qin Li looked up at the imposing Ye manor before him. It occupied an enormous area. Inside, the entrance opened onto a winding covered corridor; a stone-paved path ran beneath the steps. From the inner rooms, a small door led out to the back courtyard, where large pear and peach blossom trees grew. It was spring, and the flowers were in bloom: red and pink blossoms dotted the white ones, all competing to open, crowded together and very beautiful.

He also saw a gap suddenly opening at the base of the back courtyard wall, where a clear spring flowed through a channel barely a foot wide into the manor. It wound around the steps and along the houses to the front courtyard, then circled out beneath the bamboo.

Truly magnificent and grand, Qin Li sighed. No wonder merchant families in ancient times were always being exploited and squeezed. Without powerful backing, anyone would want to take a piece of such wealth.

Soon they arrived at the main hall. Ye Jun instructed the manor servants to attend to Qin Li carefully, then went to see his father himself.

"Li ge'er, please sit for a moment. I'll be back shortly." With that, he left quickly.

Qin Li sat leisurely sipping tea. Setting other things aside, this tea was truly fragrant and sweet on the tongue, with a lingering aftertaste, nothing like other teas that tasted bitter and harsh when drunk.

After a moment, the sound of footsteps approached.

Qin Li looked up and saw a dignified, imposing middle-aged man walk in, followed by Ye Jun. This must be the head of the Qinghe branch of the Ye family.

"This humble one, Qin Li, greets the head of the Ye family." Qin Li stood up and made a respectful bow.

"Young sir Qin, no need for such formalities." The head of the Ye family waved his hand casually. "I don't stand on empty ceremony."

As he spoke, he sat in the seat of honor at the top, while Ye Jun sat below, opposite Qin Li.

Waving away the servants attending them in the main hall, the head of the Ye family said, "I heard from Jun'er that young sir Qin wishes to discuss business regarding the new perfume production process. He also showed me this drawing. I must admire your ingenious ideas and clever hands, young sir Qin."

"You flatter me, head of the family. This humble one was merely fortunate."

"Haha, such modesty in a young man!" The head of the Ye family laughed heartily and praised him.

"It seems young sir Qin is an intelligent person. So let's speak plainly between sensible people. Say what you have to say: how do you intend to negotiate this business?"

"Naturally, a profit share!" Qin Li replied firmly.