Before the words had even faded, Sarah Harper walked in from outside.

Edward Harper asked curiously, “Then why did he suddenly come to visit...?”

Sarah Harper said, “Father, won’t we know once we see him in a moment?”

Edward Harper nodded and said to William Harper, “Quickly, please invite him in.”

After a while, Helen Brooks walked in from outside, laughing heartily at Edward Harper, “Brother Kou, it’s been a while. I hope you’ve been well.”

He was seven or eight years older than Edward Harper, but his body was still very fit—much more so than Edward Harper.

Sarah Harper noticed Helen Brooks’s look of satisfaction and felt a bit puzzled.

With Sarah Harper’s support, Edward Harper stood up and said, “I’m truly sorry, my legs aren’t what they used to be, so I couldn’t come out to greet you. Please don’t take offense, Brother Brooks.”

“Hey, brother, you’re being too formal!” Helen Brooks waved his hand and said, “I’m the one intruding.”

Sarah Harper bowed and said, “Greetings, Uncle Chen.”

Helen Brooks smiled and nodded, then turned to Edward Harper, “Brother, if you ask me, since your health isn’t great, you shouldn’t keep worrying about business. Leave it to the younger generation.”

Edward Harper glanced at Sarah Harper, feeling both pleased and worried. Though his daughter was clever, she was, after all, a woman—how could she inherit the family business?

But then Helen Brooks looked around and asked, “Where’s your son-in-law?”

Could he be talking about Brian Grant? Edward Harper was taken aback, but quickly dismissed the thought, assuming it was just a polite remark. Thinking of Brian Grant made him feel embarrassed, and he shook his head with a sigh, “Let’s not talk about him, let’s not talk about him. If he had even a bit of ambition, I wouldn’t be in this situation.”

He’s already charging at least a thousand taels without ambition—if he were more ambitious, I probably couldn’t even afford him. It’s all your fault for being too stingy and paying too little. Helen Brooks grumbled inwardly, but said aloud, “I’ve heard a bit about your talented nephew. Young people are bound to be a little restless. I think he’s quite a fine young man—you should invest more effort in him. Don’t let talent go to waste.”

He wanted Edward Harper to call Brian Grant over, so he’d have a better grasp of the situation—after all, that was the main character.

But Edward Harper didn’t dare call Brian Grant over. Although he wanted Brian Grant to gain more experience, this was only the beginning of negotiations, and they didn’t even know what would be discussed. Having Brian Grant here would only make things worse, not better. He shook his head and took the opportunity to invite Helen Brooks to sit down, steering away from the topic.

Helen Brooks was a little disappointed—this old fellow really didn’t get it.

On the side, Sarah Harper found it a bit strange. This seemed to be the first time she’d heard someone speak up for Brian Grant, and even ignore her presence. In fact, everyone knew that Edward Harper had already stepped back, and she was the one truly in charge.

After some small talk, Helen Brooks cleared his throat and said seriously, “Brother, I came today mainly to ask for your firm’s help.”

Edward Harper said, “Please, Brother Brooks, go ahead.”

Helen Brooks sighed, “As you know, ever since that scoundrel Zhou Feng came to Liangyuan, my Chen Restaurant’s business has been getting worse by the day. So many years have passed... sigh... I no longer wish to compete with him. That’s why I want to entrust your firm to help me sell Chen Restaurant. But I have one condition: it cannot be sold to Jinyu Restaurant.”

“This...”

Edward Harper looked a bit troubled.

Their firm made money by taking a three percent commission from the transaction amount, but if the deal didn’t go through, there’d be no commission at all. So they always had to judge whether a deal could be completed. Given the current situation in Liangyuan, Edward Harper thought no one would dare take over, because that would mean going up against Jinyu Restaurant. Jinyu Restaurant was already wealthy and powerful, and had connections with the government—how could anyone compete with that?

Suddenly, Sarah Harper asked, “But may I ask, Uncle Chen, what price are you planning to sell for?”

Helen Brooks smiled, “I plan to sell it in parts.”

“In parts?”

Sarah Harper and Edward Harper said in unison.

Helen Brooks nodded, “That’s right. I’ll sell the kitchen and the restaurant separately. As everyone knows, my Chen Restaurant’s chefs are top-notch, so the kitchen can’t go for less than two thousand taels, and as for the restaurant, not less than three thousand taels. Of course, the higher the price, the better. If the total price exceeds ten thousand taels, I can give you a ten percent commission.”

Ten thousand taels?

The Kou father and daughter, including William Harper, all ignored the second half of that sentence. That price was completely impossible. Even if you offered fifty percent, it couldn’t be sold. At that price, you could buy two Chen Restaurants.

Edward Harper was a bit confused, frowning, “Selling the restaurant and kitchen separately... Forgive my ignorance, but I’ve never heard of such a method. Besides, isn’t the kitchen tied to the restaurant?”

Helen Brooks chuckled, “I can change the contract.”

Edward Harper frowned and said nothing.

Helen Brooks smiled slightly, “If you think it’s too difficult, brother, then forget it. I’ll find someone else.”

The silent Sarah Harper suddenly said, “Thank you for your trust, Uncle Chen. Our firm will do our utmost to help.”

Helen Brooks was taken aback—he hadn’t expected Sarah Harper to agree so readily. Then he smiled and said, “Then I’ll leave it to you.”