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“Is that so? So you’re saying Li Biao was the mastermind, and it was entirely his idea? That would mean his punishment will be much heavier.” Wei Ruo turned to look at Li Biao.
Hearing this, Li Biao panicked and immediately pointed at Boss He. “It was Boss He who gave me money! He ordered me to do it!”
He had no intention of taking all the blame himself.
Boss He also became desperate. “You scoundrel! You good-for-nothing! What nonsense are you spouting?”
“I’m not lying! You gave me five taels of silver to do your dirty work! If I’m lying, may the heavens strike me with lightning!” Li Biao shouted.
“Shut up!” Boss He frantically signaled Li Biao with his eyes, hoping he would take full responsibility.
But Li Biao was too anxious to notice and kept revealing all their dealings.
“Enough, take this matter to the yamen.”
Wei Ruo ordered the two guards to take them away, while he and Xiumei did not follow.
Since their identities were fake, going to the yamen for further questioning would be troublesome.
Now that the guards had revealed their official status, Boss He and Li Biao dared not resist. Even if they had the strength to escape, they didn’t have the courage.
Afterward, Wei Ruo led Xiumei toward Xu’s Braised Food Shop.
From a second-floor window of Drunken Immortal Restaurant, Master Fan had been watching everything unfold on the street.
Only after Wei Ruo and the others left did Master Fan finally get up and return to his seat.
Then he asked the shopkeeper in the room, “Who is this young nobleman?”
The shopkeeper stood to the side and cautiously replied, “Please forgive me, young master. I’m not sure either. I only found out today that he is the owner of that newly opened braised food shop. I’ve never seen him before.”
The shopkeeper then added, “But I suppose he must be from an official’s family. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to hire Madam Yuan’s guards.”
“Take some people to that braised food shop later and offer a high price to buy their recipe.” Fan Chengxu ordered.
Fan Chengxu had tried to get the chefs at Drunken Immortal Restaurant to replicate the braised food, but they had failed.
Although his Drunken Immortal Restaurant claimed to be the best restaurant in Taizhou Prefecture, it had been overshadowed by a small braised food shop.
Since he couldn’t recreate it himself, he would simply buy it.
As long as he offered enough money, there was nothing he couldn’t acquire.
“I’ll take care of it right away,” the shopkeeper responded, hurrying off to make preparations.
When the shopkeeper arrived at Xu’s Braised Food Shop, Wei Ruo and Xiumei were just finishing up and preparing to leave.
With a bright smile, the shopkeeper stepped forward. “Greetings, young master. I am the shopkeeper of Drunken Immortal Restaurant. My surname is Shen. We met earlier at the restaurant—perhaps you still remember me?”
“I do,” Wei Ruo replied. “What can I do for you, Shopkeeper Shen?”
“It’s like this—my master wishes to purchase your braised food recipe.”
Wei Ruo smiled faintly and declined, “I’m sorry, but the recipe is not for sale.”
Shopkeeper Shen wasn’t discouraged and continued, “Young master, don’t be so quick to refuse. We can discuss the price.”
Wei Ruo shook her head. “No matter the price, I won’t sell it.”
She wasn’t just planning to run a single shop—she wanted to expand it. Since that was the case, she wouldn’t easily sell the recipe.
“If my master offers five hundred taels?” Shopkeeper Shen suggested.
Paying five hundred taels for a recipe was an outrageous price.
Wei Ruo shook her head. “Apologies.”
Shopkeeper Shen persisted and raised the offer. “Six hundred taels.”
Wei Ruo continued shaking her head.
“Eight hundred taels.”
Wei Ruo still refused.
“One thousand taels!” Shopkeeper Shen raised the price to a thousand taels.
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