Chapter 30 (continued)

Di Caiyong: "Well, we can't just take your chili peppers for nothing."

Qing Mengzhu: "You can take them back and eat them yourselves. I've been thinking about it. Your restaurant's positioning is mainly clean, affordable, and delicious. Chili peppers are mainly used as a seasoning, unlike other dishes. If you sell them at too high a price, customers will find it hard to accept, and the profit may not be higher than before."

Di Caiyong sighed, "I actually quite like your chili peppers."

Qing Mengzhu apologized profusely, "I didn't think things through that day."

Qing Mengzhu lacked experience and was not very clear about the pricing system for chili peppers.

After chatting with Ming Chunxi, he checked and thought about it carefully before finally deciding to temporarily stop selling chili peppers.

He wasn't sure about the potential of this batch of chilies yet, so he couldn't price them so quickly.

Although Di Caiyong was a little disappointed, he could understand.

When he left, Qing Mengzhu insisted on giving him a large basket of chili peppers, saying, "I can't sell them myself, but I can give them to my friends."

Di Caiyong declined, saying, "You've delivered twenty or thirty pounds of this, which is worth several hundred yuan."

Qing Mengzhu insisted, "A few hundred yuan is fine, this is my compensation. I really didn't handle this well, I'd feel bad if you didn't accept it."

Di Caiyong then accepted the chili peppers. "Thank you for the chili peppers!"

Qing Mengzhu was unwilling to sell, not only because he understood the pricing system for chili peppers, but also because he had finally sold the ripe chili peppers to the Interstellar Mall.

The Interstellar Mall rated this batch of chilies as "Fine Grade" and priced them at 2.68 Star Coins per pound.

This price may seem insignificant, but compared to the prices he initially charged for selling goods to the Interstellar Mall, it's incredibly high.

Since the Interstellar Mall has given this rating and price, the price we discussed with Di Caiyong before is no longer appropriate.

In addition to temporarily lowering the price of chili peppers, Qing Mengzhu also expedited the delivery of chili peppers to Nian Xinfei.

As usual, he contacted Jing Chi this time as well.

Jing Chi received the fresh produce package and that afternoon carried it directly to Nian Xinfei: "Professor, the chili peppers that Mr. Qing, whom I told you about before, sent have arrived."

Nian Xinfei looked up from her computer. "How does it look? Has it been sent for testing?"

Jing Chi: "The quality looks good. The tests have been done, and only preliminary results are in. The values look quite high. If there are no unforeseen circumstances, the quality of this batch of chilies should be very good."

Upon hearing this, Nian Xinfei stood up and took the opened package from Jing Chi's hand. "Let me see."

A whole box of chili peppers sat on the desk. The peppers had bright red flesh and firm, dark green stems; each one looked like a carefully selected Fine Grade.

After returning to China Nian Xinfei worked with chili peppers and inspected countless varieties. Just by looking at this box of chili peppers, he knew that their quality must be excellent.

After finishing the examination, Nian Xinfei said, "It's good. What about the preliminary test report? Let me see."

Jing Chi: "It's already been sent to your email."

Nian Xinfei returned to her computer, opened her email, downloaded the test report, and carefully examined it. "Capsaicin, dry matter content, other phenols... the values are indeed excellent. Mr. Qing's chilies must be very well grown?"

Jing Chi wasn't sure if it was a good idea, but he reminded her, "Didn't you receive the lotus tea he sent before? The one you said was delicious. His produce seems to be quite good."

Nian Xinfei was deeply impressed by the lotus tea that left a lingering fragrance on her lips and teeth. "In that case, today's chili peppers are also something to look forward to."

Staring at the test report, Nian Xinfei said, "Tell your junior brothers and sisters that anyone who's free to come to Swallow Garden for dinner tonight; it's on me. Later, send half of the chili peppers to Swallow Garden so they can cook a few dishes."

Swallow Garden is one of the on-campus hotels of Tengcheng Agricultural University, frequently hosting guests from all walks of life, and also providing catering services.

Jing Chi frequently orders meals from Swallow Garden and is quite familiar with the Swallow Garden: "Should we stick to our group's meal standard?"

Nian Xinfei: "Yes, we can raise it a little bit."

Jing Chi nodded to indicate that he understood. "Then can I have dinner at 7:30 tonight? The last task on your schedule is to be completed at 6:30 this evening."

Nian Xinfei smiled at his eldest disciple, "Okay, thank you for your hard work."

Jing Chi has made the arrangements.

Around 7 p. m., everyone gradually arrived at the private rooms in Swallow Garden to prepare for dinner.

Everyone is quite curious:

"Senior Brother Jing, why did the professor suddenly invite us to dinner today? Did he receive another award?"

"Right, today isn't our usual get-together time, is it? Or maybe the professor has something to do next week and moved the get-together forward?"

"Senior Brother, why are you being unusually mysterious today?"

Jing Chi had no intention of giving away any spoilers. "You'll find out soon enough."

Everyone became even more curious after hearing this.

At 7:20, Nian Xinfei arrived on time and told everyone to start the meal.

His arrival made the students much more subdued, but their curiosity remained undiminished.

Listening to their chatter, Nian Xinfei said, "A new type of chili pepper has arrived. Please try it and see what you think of it."

The students then understood and exclaimed, "Professor, don't worry, we promise we'll enjoy it!"

The dishes were served quickly; six out of the eight dishes contained chili peppers.

No one was intimidated at all; they all picked up their chopsticks and reached for the bright red dishes.

Nian Xinfei also took a few bites, put down his chopsticks, and asked the students, "How does it taste? How does it differ from the chili peppers we grow now?"

The students were used to Nian Xinfei's straightforwardness and honesty.

"They taste a bit better than the chili peppers we grow now; the flavor is milder and not as pungent."

"I think it's very fragrant, spicy with a sweet aftertaste, and delicious."

"I think its flavor is more complex, and the skin is very thin, so you don't have that feeling of having to spit out the skin when eating regular chili peppers."

Everyone chimed in with compliments, and their chopsticks never stopped; they quickly finished almost all the food on the table.

Whether male or female, when faced with truly delicious food, no one wants to stop eating.

Nian Xinfei listened attentively. After the students finished their evaluations, they all cheered and asked Nian Xinfei, "Professor, what are your thoughts?"

Nian Xinfei: "I think it can rival some of the famous chili peppers on the market."

His evaluations have always been conservative, so getting this kind of assessment from him is no easy feat.

The students then egged them on. "How does it compare to our chili peppers?"

Nian Xinfei smiled and said, "This is our chili pepper."

A burst of cheers erupted from the crowd.

After the meal, the students bid farewell to Nian Xinfei, leaving only the eldest disciple Jing Chi, to handle the remaining tasks.

Jing Chi asked Nian Xinfei, "These chilies are so good, what should we do next? Should we help Mr. Qing make connections and promote them to restaurants?"

Qing Mengzhu didn't send them chili peppers for nothing; she probably wanted their help.

Nian Xinfei countered, "Do you think restaurants would accept it if we sold it there?"

Jing Chi: "Really? Our chilies have a great texture and flavor, and since you recommended them, we should buy them. I specifically asked Mr. Qing about it when I spoke with him, and he hasn't set a price yet, but it sounds like the price isn't high—much cheaper than the hundreds or thousands of yuan that big restaurants buy chilies for."

As Jing Chi spoke, he observed Nian Xinfei's expression, noticing that he was only smiling, "You think the restaurant won't accept it?"

Nian Xinfei said, "We do accept them, but what's offered to us is worthless."

Jing Chi: "What can we do?"

Nian Xinfei: "You'll find out next week. Ask Mr. Qing if he can send us another batch of fresh chilies. I need them. About ten pounds should be enough."

Jing Chi: "Okay, I'll ask when I get back."

Upon receiving Jing Chi's feedback and inquiries, Qing Mengzhu did not hesitate to send him another ten jin of perfectly ripe chilies.

Just as Nian Xinfei and the others had guessed, since the chili peppers were sent, it must be because they wanted to act as matchmakers. Qing Mengzhu didn't mind sending chili peppers several times.