205: Preparation for meeting the parents

"Boss, we can't keep dragging this out. We need to cut the Gordian knot."

The assistant looked at the financial report in his hand and couldn't help but speak up.

"How much money is left in the account?"

"3 million. If we're not careful, it won't even be enough for today's acquisition."

"Damn it, those two guys are definitely doing this on purpose. They kept claiming they only had a few tens of thousands of catties, but damn it, how much more is there now? Ask them one last time exactly how much they have left. We've dumped so much in, I really am not willing to give up."

"And the money..."

"I've already applied for funds from headquarters. We can rotate it for now. As long as we confirm the goods in their hands don't exceed 10 million, buy them."

"Alright, Boss. What about the formula?"

"After we finish buying the Cockroaches, process them and sell them all to those cosmetics companies, then make those three guys pay the breach of contract penalty. Basically, that should be enough money."

"Okay, I'll probe them again."

The assistant rolled his eyes.

He took out his phone and called Zhang Liang.

"Hello, Boss Zhang. How are you? How are the Cockroaches coming along today? You're preparing them? About how many are there? It's like this, I need a larger quantity during this period. I wonder if you can provide more? How much do you need? Around 60,000 to 70,000 catties. Not that many? Didn't you have quite a lot the past few days? Alright then, the old rules apply: we'll take whatever you have, try to get us as much as possible."

He hung up the phone.

The assistant's face lit up with joy.

"Boss, it looks like they are bottoming out. They actually told me there are only 20,000-plus catties today."

Zhang Guangsheng sneered and nodded: "It should be that way. Even our Company's Breeding Farm struggles to ship this much continuously. How could a small, unknown Company like theirs manage it!"

"Right, and since we've increased our purchases during this period, I guess the other side has been lulled into complacency. If they have goods, they're bound to push them out. I estimate in two days at the latest, we will definitely be able to drain them dry. By then, the 10 million and the goods will all be ours."

"There's nothing to be happy about. Truth be told, our losses these past few days have actually been significant. If we hadn't increased the selling price to the cosmetics companies, we would definitely have lost everything. Furthermore, because I restricted the circulation of American Cockroach in the Southwest and raised prices without authorization, headquarters has already issued a warning. If the head office hadn't also intended to raise prices across the board this time, it would have been really hard for me to explain."

"The head office plans to raise prices across the board?"

The assistant asked, somewhat surprised.

"Yes. With the establishment of the Copper City Breeding Farm this time, our Company has basically completed its national layout. From now on, the American Cockroach medicinal market will be decided by us. Otherwise, why do you think headquarters would still approve funds for me despite the mess here? It's simply because if those three guys aren't dealt with, it will affect the Company's plans."

"I understand. So, our ultimate goal is to finish them off in one go so they can't get back up?"

"Exactly. If they are sensible enough to take the money and leave after paying the breach of contract penalty, then that's fine. If they aren't, then we have plenty of ways to deal with them."

Zhang Guangsheng sneered.

Their little schemes were soon passed on to Ye Tian by Zhang Liang.

Ye Tian smiled slightly: "Haha, well done. It looks like the other side is about to stop pretending. You just hold steady for these two days, save up the extra Cockroaches, and wait for my notification. We'll finish them off in one go."

"Brother Tian, is it really ending soon? It's such a good business, what a pity. I really can't bear to let it go."

"There's no other way. I want to keep doing it too, but the other side isn't stupid. The moment they discover the problem, they will definitely cut their losses in time. Besides, the Housekeeping Company has been busy enough during this time, so the employees should return to the Pharmaceutical Factory. After all, production is the main event."

"That's true. Then I'll act for another two days and wait for your good news, Brother Tian."

He hung up the phone.

Ye Tian organized his thoughts.

He called Zhao Rubing again.

"Sister Bing, can the amount of garbage be increased a bit more every day?"

"Increase it again? Can you handle it?"

"It should be no problem. The Cockroaches in the two new factory buildings have been growing quite fast these past few days, the demand from Li Ming's Chicken Farm is also constantly increasing, and plus the Pharmaceutical Factory also needs a supply of raw materials. So, increasing it appropriately is necessary."

"Fine, how much do you want?"

"How about doubling it?"

"Doubling it? Your appetite is not small at all, little guy. Alright, I'll arrange two hundred tons for you tomorrow and see if you can handle it."

"Sister Bing is generous."

Ye Tian chuckled and flattered her.

"By the way, how is the booth coming along?"

"It's already underway. I guarantee to make Sister Bing satisfied."

"I hope so! My grandfather should be coming over then, so it's up to you to perform!"

"Grandfather? Is he really coming?"

"Yes. I originally thought he was just joking, but he called me today and said he would come over to inspect our work in Copper City."

"Then what does Grandfather like?"

"What? You want to bribe him?"

Zhao Rubing laughed.

"I'm just thinking that since it's my first time meeting the parents, I have to make a good impression."

Upon hearing this, there was a slight pause on the other end of the line, and then a voice came through.

"My grandfather usually likes fishing and raising fish. Besides, he drinks a little wine every day. He especially likes drinking Grandpa Lu's Hundred Fruit Brew, but unfortunately, Grandpa Lu doesn't have much of it on hand."

"Good!"

Ye Tian was instantly filled with joy upon hearing this answer.

What he was happy about wasn't the answer itself, but that Zhao Rubing had actually given him a serious answer.

What did this mean?

Ye Tian was teased by Wang Shufang as being a blockhead, but he wasn't really a blockhead.

"Then that's it. I have things to do, let's talk later."

"Okay!"

Hanging up the phone, the corners of Ye Tian's mouth curled up to his ears.

After thinking for a long time, he rushed to Food Under Heaven.

To his surprise, even without the free attraction, business at Food Under Heaven was still booming today.

Whether it was the old store or the new one, they were both packed with people.

So much so that even Li Ming didn't have time to stay at the Chicken Farm and ran back to preside over the overall situation.

"Brother Li, the business today feels like it's increasing rather than decreasing."

Ye Tian looked at everyone busy coming in and out and smiled.

"We call this 'the fragrance of wine doesn't fear the depth of the alley.' The quality is right here, how could it not be good?"

"So, it's going according to what we said yesterday?"

"Yes. And guess what? Our requirements seem to be exactly what they wanted. Those scattered customers, after watching for a long time, would group up in twos and threes to place joint orders. Each person only spends about 100 yuan to buy chicken. Seeing their enthusiasm, I specifically instructed the kitchen to try to divide the chicken into one-catty portions."

"Did anyone complain about everyone getting different parts?"

"No. Our chicken is flawless; any part tastes good. And the people who choose to group up also take pleasure in sharing and will exchange parts they don't have to taste them. The most critical point is that when a few people sit together to group up, they are quite bold. Besides chicken, many people also chose to try other things like termite mushroom. As for those who came in groups, they had even fewer scruples. It got to the point where I had to ask the boss to send another truck of chicken just to have enough to sell."

"Not bad, not bad. How many have been sold so far?"

"About 2,000, I think. It hasn't stopped since we opened this morning."

"Have any scalpers appeared?"

"Not yet. Although our taste is good, it's currently limited to those who tasted it yesterday. If scalpers are to appear, I guess it will take some time to ferment. At the very least, it would need Boss Zhang and the others to exert effort before it gets hyped up. By the way, I arranged two more trucks early this morning and sent a few trucks to their hotel side as well. I estimate we can sell about 10,000 today."

"Looking at it this way, our 130,000 chickens won't be enough to sell, especially since a portion of them are hens that can't be sold."

"It's not a big problem. After seeing the business was that good, I immediately contacted the chicken vendors we cooperate with. Although we sold 10,000, the Chicken Farm will have at least 30,000 more today. In addition, a batch of lambs arrived today, about a thousand. Brother, you can transport more of that cockroach manure over. With so many sheep and Wagyu Cattle, the pressure on the forage grass is not small."

"No problem. I've already told Sister Bing that the amount of garbage will double starting tomorrow, which means the cockroach meat can also double. Brother Li, feel free to raise them boldly."

"Good. Actually, I've figured it out too. Instead of struggling with the catering business, it's better to leave it to professionals. We'll focus on the supply of fresh raw materials, which also has great potential."

"That's the logic. By the way, didn't my brother over there also say he wanted chicken? Contact him later and see if you can send some to his family's restaurant too."

"Of course."

Li Ming nodded.

"Also, for this week or so, don't save the cockroach meat at the Chicken Farm. Supply it openly to ensure we have at least 100,000 adult chickens."

"So many? Brother, what are you going to do?"

"Preparing to do something big. Besides regular chickens, prioritize the supply of dongtao chicken. It would be best if they can grow to their limit in a week."

"Good. Any other instructions, Brother?"

Li Ming smiled.

"That's it for now. If you have time, Brother Li, get a few chickens for dinner. My appetite has been a bit big lately."

"Alright, the growth of those chickens in the backyard is basically very slow now, so it's just right to kill them for food."

Li Ming nodded, ran to the backyard himself, caught one dongtao chicken and four local chickens, and then pulled some termite mushroom to cook together.

When dusk fell, Ye Tian left after eating and drinking to his fill.

Returning to the Breeding Farm, he immediately caught some Cockroaches to synthesize.

Unlike yesterday when so many people were tasting it, Ye Tian ate to his heart's content.

After one meal, he had at least twenty or thirty catties of chicken in his stomach.

Li Ming and Wang Shufang were stunned.

Plus a few sips of wine.

At this moment, he felt full of vigor.

The number of synthesized Cockroaches also hit a new high.

He synthesized 40 Gold-level Cockroaches at once.

After letting Blade absorb them all, he obtained four molted shells. However, Ye Tian did not directly soak these four shells in wine today.

Instead, he found the old man.

"Old man, when can we start on that Hundred Fruit Brew?"

"Hundred Fruit Brew? It's not time yet, is it? I checked this morning, and only less than a third of the fruits are easy to ripen and can be picked. Why, are you in a hurry?"

"A little. Isn't Ice Girl's grandfather coming? I was thinking if possible, I could get some good wine for him to taste."

"No wonder. Hey, Ice Girl even told you her grandfather likes wine?"

The old man asked in surprise.

"Yes!"

Ye Tian nodded proudly.

"Rare. Then you kid better perform well. But don't you have that mysterious medicinal wine of yours? That should be enough, right?"

"Haha, Old man, you are also a lover of wine. When you drink, do you only look at the effects? If the taste can be better, it should be better, right?"

"That's true. Let me think. The timing for Hundred Fruit Brew isn't right now, but it's not impossible to brew. We can just make a simplified version. Choose some berry-type fruits and process them. It will barely have some flavor in a week. Come with me!"

Saying that, the old man picked up a basket and took Ye Tian to the Hundred Herbs Garden.

After some picking, he harvested a full basket of strawberries and other roughly ripe berries.

"Old man, is this enough?"

"Yes. And these things are not randomly matched by me. When I was researching Hundred Fruit Brew, I went through several stages. In the early stage, I paid attention to the taste, so I chose these berries that are easy to get flavor from. In the later stage, for the sake of overall quality and health benefits, I added other things. Now, for the health aspect, you can use your medicinal wine materials to make up for it."

Saying this, the two had already returned to the laboratory.

The old man instructed Ye Tian to wash all the berries together.

Then he went straight to high-tech.

Various berries were dried if they needed to be dried, crushed if they needed to be crushed, and some were even juiced directly.

Ye Tian was stunned watching this.

"Old man, is brewing wine this complicated?"

The old man rolled his eyes at him.

"Do you think I want to make it this complicated? Generally, if you want to brew fruit wine well, it won't have any taste without a few months. But you need it in a few days, so it must be processed."

"I see."

Ye Tian nodded and actively cooperated with the old man's instructions.

It took more than two hours to process the materials.

Then Ye Tian went back to the room and brought a jar of high-proof white liquor.

He put the various materials in according to the order.

As the materials were added in batches, the color of the white liquor began to change constantly.

Finally, it settled on an amber color.

A burst of wine fragrance mixed with fruit fragrance drifted in the air.

"Old man, this taste is not far from the Hundred Fruit Brew!"

Ye Tian said in surprise.

"Otherwise? Didn't I just tell you? When I was in the early stage, I pursued the taste, so using these berries to season it is basically enough. However, the materials today are much better than what I used before."

Ye Tian nodded. Looking at the wine liquid exuding fruit fragrance, he couldn't help but take a spoon and scoop up some.

With a slurping sound, he sucked it into his mouth.

"Hey, you kid, why are you so impatient? This wine was just brewed, you can't drink it like this. Aren't you afraid of poisoning?"