hsntnovel Chapter 2642 Signing Two Contracts
Chapter 2642 Signing Two Contracts
Li Zhi and Li Tai were even more eager to get a share of the pie, but unfortunately they didn't have the ability.
Their business volume is only a few hundred thousand strings of cash a year. Even if they could sell it, it would take them a very long time.
Moreover, they had no experience in handling such a large quantity of goods, so Li Shimin would certainly not entrust them with it.
"Then let's sign a contract." Li Shimin waved his hand, and Wang De hurriedly ran to get a pen, ink, paper, and inkstone.
"Huh? Father, things haven't been settled yet, how come you're signing a contract?"
Li Shen was a little confused. Didn't Li Chengqian say that they still needed to discuss the specific details? It was still uncertain whether it would work out, so wasn't signing a contract a bit too early?
"If it's not settled, this contract is invalid. What are you afraid of?"
"I'm signing this contract now because I'm afraid you might go back on your word later. Your elder brother might not be able to negotiate with you."
Li Shimin made no attempt to hide his intentions and stated them directly.
"No, Father, don't you trust me at all? I'm the most trustworthy person." Li Shen's nose was crooked with anger. So it was because he was guarding against him.
"Tenth Brother, you just said that you can't make money with honesty. You said you're the most unscrupulous merchant."
Li Chengqian delivered the final blow at the crucial moment, realizing that his father was doing it for his own good.
"Did I...did I say that?" Li Shen was speechless.
Soon Wang De brought over the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and Li Chengqian wrote two copies of the contract.
"Brilliant! Write down the oil pressing contract we just discussed. I will invest 300,000 strings of cash and take 50% of the profits. Li Shen cannot use only my money to do this business; otherwise, all the profits will belong to me."
Li Shimin asked Li Chengqian to write a second contract.
Li Shen pursed his lips, wondering how he, who had no background and had come here to eat, had ended up making two unprofitable deals.
Those who come on their own are really treating themselves like animals.
"Father, please take a look." After Li Chengqian finished writing and let it dry, he handed it to Li Shimin for review.
Li Shimin read it once and then nodded:
"Come on, sign your name, Prince Ji."
"Father, I didn't bring the seal of the Prince Ji's residence today." Li Shen touched his waist.
"It's alright, just use a private seal. Write your name on it, sign and affix your fingerprint." Li Shimin could tell that Li Shen wanted to stall for time.
Helpless, Li Shen could only take the pen, carefully write his name on the paper, and then press his fingerprint and personal seal on it.
Li Shimin didn't go through all that trouble; with a wave of his hand, he took out the imperial seal and stamped it on the first contract for the sale of goods.
The soybean oil extraction contract was stamped with the individual's personal seal, clearly separating public and private matters and keeping money separate.
He handed the commission contract to Li Chengqian, and kept the other oil pressing contract for himself, giving it to Wang De.
The other one was given to Li Shen. Li Shen took it and glanced at it. He didn't recognize what was written on the imperial seal. There were too many imperial seals from the Zhenguan era.
Besides the Imperial Seal that symbolizes the Mandate of Heaven, there is also the Mandate of Heaven Seal, the Core Seal, and the Six Seals of the Emperor.
These all have their own uses, but Li Shen has never cared about or knew what those uses were.
Li Shen only knew that the imperial seal read, "By the grace of Heaven, those with virtue will prosper."
Li Shen had the privilege of seeing it a few times, but he felt it was better to write "Those who obey me prosper."
The seal he saw most often was his father's private seal, also known as the emperor's seal, which had the four characters "Zhenguan Imperial Treasury" written on it.
Li Shen was quite familiar with his father's seal, as his father always used it for all communications.
Sure enough, this stamp was affixed to the oil pressing contract.
"Alright, the contract has been signed. You need to get things done as soon as possible." Li Shimin looked at Li Shen.
"Yes, Father. We will start working on this matter after the New Year, but I can't guarantee whether it will be successful."
Li Shen packed his contract and luggage and accepted the mission, which turned out to be a big one.
In fact, Li Shen really wanted to see the Imperial Seal of the State, but he didn't dare to say it out loud, as it would be considered a great act of treason.
To be honest, Li Shen had been around for so many years and had a good relationship with his father, the emperor, but he had never actually seen what the Imperial Seal of the State looked like.
Inside the main hall, everyone saw Prince Ji sign a contract with the emperor, but no one knew the specific contents.
This alone is enough to drive people crazy; King Ji's strength is terrifyingly powerful.
"Your Majesty, the meal is ready."
At this moment, a palace steward entered and reported.
Li Shimin stood up:
"Alright, everyone, let's go to the dining hall for our meal. Wang De, go and tell them that the meal can be served."
Li Shen was already hungry; he hadn't eaten enough at noon, so this wasn't the right time for him to eat.
Now that they said it was time to eat, Li Shen was the first to stand up, and the person who had followed him there wanted to run over on their own.
If someone isn't enthusiastic about eating, there's definitely something wrong with their brain.
Upon arriving at the dining hall, everyone took their seats. Li Shimin, along with the Empress, four concubines, and several sons, sat at one table.
Li Fu and Li Ming were naturally included as well.
The enormous sandalwood table also has a rotating function, ensuring that everyone can enjoy all the dishes.
Before long, the palace maids began to come up carrying trays.
Each palace maid carried several small bowls on her tray, and they worked in an orderly manner, placing the bowls in front of everyone.
"This is..." Many people don't know what this is.
"Shen'er, isn't this just steamed egg?" Empress Zhangsun asked after glancing at it.
Steamed eggs originated in the Prince Ji's residence and were developed by Li Shen a few years ago specifically for his children.
The news naturally reached the palace, where the Empress and Consort Wei were very pleased.
Li Shen stood up and deliberately raised his voice to Empress Zhangsun:
"Yes, Mother, this is indeed a bowl of steamed egg, also called egg custard."
"Ha, I thought it was something important." Li Shimin smiled contemptuously.
Hearing his father's mockery, Li Shen wasn't angry and explained:
"Mother, today's steamed egg custard is different. It is made with black-boned eggs, and the yolks are discarded."
A rich broth is made by simmering old black-boned chicken and deer marrow for three hours, skimming off the surface oil, and then thickening it while it is still slightly warm.
Place two slices of century-old ginseng, two slices of purple lingzhi, three slices of pine mushroom at the bottom of the bowl, dice the top-grade sea cucumber from Liaodong, and shred the fish maw.
Steam over a low flame for half a quarter of an hour, then add a small amount of deer placenta extract and steam for another forty breaths. Remove from heat and let it sit for eighty breaths to complete the process.
Avoid contact with metal objects throughout the process to prevent loss of freshness.
Li Shen described the process of steaming eggs in a rapid-fire manner, leaving everyone who listened in stunned silence.
Everyone says that Prince Ji lived a life of unparalleled luxury, but isn't it a bit too much to go to such lengths for a single meal?
It contains ginseng and lingzhi. The purple lingzhi is a divine material, a tribute among tributes, which even the most powerful and wealthy cannot buy.
Even for royalty and nobility, this would be extremely difficult.
"Hehe, my son is so thoughtful." Empress Zhangsun was not surprised. She had long been aware of Li Shen's extravagance, so steamed eggs were nothing to her.
"Mother, how does it taste?" Li Shen asked with a smile.
(I'm getting hungry just writing this, I'll cook some instant noodles.)