"How is this possible? How can a piece of dried tofu taste this good?" Gaopeng Shangguan exclaimed in disbelief, then quickly polished off the rest of the tofu.
"Ian, how did you make this dried tofu? Why is it so delicious?" Faye Shangguan asked, still unsatisfied after eating most of Cynthia Murong's portion.
"That's a secret," Ian Song replied with a smile.
"Mr. Song, I'm sure if your WonderTaste Signature Dried Tofu goes on sale, it'll be a huge hit!" Gaopeng Shangguan praised.
"I believe that," Ian Song nodded with a smile. After all, he personally created the seasoning recipes for the dried tofu, duck neck, and chicken feet.
"By the way, Mr. Song, how do you plan to price your dried tofu?" Gaopeng Shangguan asked again.
"Three yuan per bag."
"Isn't that too low? This dried tofu tastes so good—even ten yuan wouldn't be expensive!" Gaopeng Shangguan said enthusiastically.
"That's right! Not just ten—even fifty yuan, I'd still buy it!" Faye Shangguan chimed in.
"The real reason I developed these three ready-to-eat foods isn't to make money. I want everyone in the country to be able to enjoy Ian Song Brand WonderTaste foods!"
Hearing Ian Song say this, Gaopeng Shangguan couldn't help but start calculating. With such delicious ready-to-eat food entering the market, its unbeatable flavor would make it a bestseller in no time. Plus, since it's a consumable, people would buy it today, and again tomorrow.
If sales reach ten million bags per day, that's ten million in profit. In a month, profits would hit three hundred million, and in a year, three point six billion. But with food this good, daily sales should easily surpass ten million bags.
Even twenty million bags a day wouldn't be a stretch.
"The profit is just..."
Earlier, he thought Ian Song's investment in ready-to-eat foods was too high and would surely lose money. But now, it's not a loss at all—it's a huge profit. The Shangguan Clan may have assets worth fifty billion yuan...
...but their annual net profit doesn't exceed five billion.
Especially in the past two years, with the real estate market in a slump, there's barely any profit at all, and the Shangguan Clan's earnings have drastically shrunk. In the past three years, total profit hasn't even reached three billion.
"So, Gaopeng, are you interested in joining my company now?" Ian Song asked again.
"I accept!"
After a brief hesitation, Gaopeng Shangguan agreed.
Seeing this, Ian Song smiled in satisfaction. "Good. Since you're Faye's older brother, I won't treat you unfairly. I'll give you a yearly salary of one billion yuan, and within a year, I'll help you break through to the Innate realm!"
"One billion!"
Hearing Ian Song offer him a one-billion-yuan salary, Gaopeng Shangguan was stunned again. Although he managed the Shangguan Clan's businesses, those were family assets—his personal wealth was only about seven or eight hundred million.
But what truly tempted him was Ian Song's promise to help him reach the Innate realm within a year.
An Innate expert—a true powerhouse among martial artists. After decades of training, he'd only barely reached the late Postnatal stage. To reach Innate, he might need another ten or twenty years, if ever.
"Thank you, Mr. Song—no, thank you, boss!"
Just then...
The Head of State and nine Cabinet Elders walked over.
"Ian, why are you hiding over here? Are you avoiding us old men?" the Head of State joked warmly.
"You're joking, Mr. President. I saw you were busy, so I thought I'd wait until you were free to greet you!" Ian Song replied with a smile.
"Ian, I hear you haven't visited the Directorate in a while. You're not doing your job as Director!" one Cabinet Elder teased.
"Director Long and the others are there, so I can slack off a bit," Ian Song said matter-of-factly.
After that, the Cabinet Elders all spoke warmly with Ian Song.
The Shangguan siblings and Cynthia Murong were left stunned.
These were the Head of State and Cabinet Elders—even just standing nearby was intimidating. But Ian Song chatted with them as if it were nothing.
After some small talk, Ian Song introduced the others: "Head of State, Cabinet Elders, let me introduce you. This is Gaopeng Shangguan, this is Faye Shangguan, and this is Cynthia Murong—they're all my good friends!"
"Hello, young friends!"
The Head of State shook hands with each of them, leaving the trio thrilled.
The Cabinet Elders also greeted them warmly.
The Head of State and Cabinet Elders had a country to run, so after half an hour at the banquet, they prepared to leave together.