Gavin was quite invested in the matter of the new mental recovery potion.
The Bulstrode family was slightly weaker than the Malfoy family in business, but only slightly. It's important to remember that the Malfoys were known as the wealthiest family in the British wizarding world. Although they had diminished in recent generations, even a wounded lion is still a lion. Their business still permeated every industry in the British wizarding world.
The Bulstrode family also had a business in potion manufacturing and sales, so Sean's new mental recovery potion was a considerable stimulant for this aspect of the Bulstrode's business.
The new mental recovery potion, because its cost was much lower while its effectiveness was significantly higher, was inherently competitive. In a price war, the new potion had a natural advantage, not to mention its superior effects. This was why Sean had received so many letters seeking cooperation while he was at Hogwarts.
"Sean, you'll contribute the patent for a stake. How about thirty percent of the annual profits?"
Hearing this profit-sharing ratio, Sean's eyebrows twitched slightly. Everyone says business is business, and this shrewd grandfather of his was truly taking those words to the extreme.
Thirty percent?
Why don't you just go rob someone?!
"Dear Grandfather, I think when it comes to making money, robbing Gringotts directly is the fastest way. What do you think?"
Hearing this, Gavin suddenly laughed heartily, pointed at Sean, and amended, "Forty percent. We can't have the Bulstrode family working for you, can we? At least not yet."
As soon as these words were spoken, Sean's peripheral vision clearly caught the look of disbelief on Marcellus's face, and Borell's expression of feigned indifference.
Lowering his eyelids slightly, Sean couldn't be bothered to guess or speculate about Borell anymore. He would have to deal with this guy sooner or later anyway. If he wanted to cause trouble, it would just give Sean more reason to act against him. At that time, not even Gavin could stop him from retaliating.
With this thought, Sean looked at Gavin and said, "Forty-five percent. I'll only be responsible for collecting the annual dividends. I won't be involved in anything else."
"Fine, deal."
Seeing how readily Gavin agreed, Sean wouldn't be foolish enough to think that forty-five percent was a small amount. In reality, those outside collaborators would offer a profit share of thirty or thirty-five percent at most. If it was thirty-five percent, it would come with many additional conditions, such as priority for future collaborations.
Ultimately, although Gavin claimed it was just business, he had actually given Sean a huge discount and benefit. For a prominent family like the Bulstrodes, a fifty-five percent share was actually very small. When Gavin said he wouldn't let the Bulstrode family work for Sean, it was practically already the case.
From the first time he met Gavin, he had always given him many benefits and preferential treatment, both overtly and covertly. Even if Gavin had his own requests or other motives, as long as he didn't endanger the safety of Sean and his parents and brother, Sean would accept the favor.
Of course, although the Bulstrode family only had a fifty-five percent stake, the new mental recovery potion brought more than just the profits from this one potion. The distribution rights for the new potion, and the customer traffic it brought to the Bulstrode family's potion shops, were also part of the revenue. Sean was not involved in these things, so they naturally belonged to the Bulstrode family.
"Alright, it's about time. Let's get ready for lunch."
Sean's grandmother, Eleonora Bulstrode, stood up and beckoned everyone to the dining room. Gavin was the first to respond to his wife's call, and together with Eleonora, he led everyone to the Bulstrode's main dining room. The long table inside was already set with flowers and tableware. Two house-elves were placing napkins in their respective places, while a female attendant in her thirties, dressed in a fitted wizard's robe, stood in the dining room, waiting to seat everyone.
There was a protocol to the seating.
Gavin sat at the head of the table, with Eleonora to his left. Martha sat next to Eleonora. This was at Eleonora's own request, so she could help Martha take care of Caesar.
Yard followed, sitting next to Martha, and Sean was last.
Across the long table, Borell and his son Marcellus sat. Because the Flint family had some matters to attend to recently, Borell's wife and Marcellus's mother was not at Bulstrode Manor at this time. Of course, it was also possible that she didn't want to see Sean's family of four and had left in advance to avoid them.
Sitting at the head of the table, Gavin looked at Sean's family and said, "It's a shame Doris isn't here, but your family's return to the Bulstrode family is also a pleasant surprise. It's been a long time since the family has been this lively. Let's begin our lunch."
With Gavin's signal, the female attendant in her thirties immediately ordered the house-elves to start serving the food. These dishes were all meticulously prepared by the house-elves. Sean took a bite. The taste was similar to the food Jade made... very delicious, but without any variation. The taste was the same every time, and after eating it for a long time, it started to feel a bit bland.
Putting a piece of beef in his mouth, Sean glanced at Aldrich standing not far away. Aldrich had previously told Sean that the attendants in the Bulstrode household were half children with magical talent who were adopted from a young age, and half were children from the families of the Bulstrode's outer circle personnel.
The former received a family education and would not attend magical schools like Hogwarts, and would work for the family for the rest of their lives. The latter were sponsored by the family from the time they started school. They could choose to repay the money with interest like a Gringotts loan, or they could choose to work for the family for ten years, with their compensation handled according to the standards for outer circle members.
Aldrich was one of the children adopted from a young age.
His magic awakened when he was eight, and he then received the family's education. Unlike at Hogwarts, Aldrich's education did not include subjects like Potions, Astronomy, or History of Magic. It only consisted of subjects like Charms, Transfiguration, and Dark Arts.
Aldrich had a high talent for Charms, was slightly weaker in Dark Arts, and was average in Transfiguration. Therefore, the Bulstrode family later focused on teaching Aldrich knowledge related to Charms, making him one of the most prominent young people within the Bulstrode family. It was precisely because of this that Gavin had sent him to Sean's side.
After lunch, Yard and Gavin went for tea, Martha and Eleonora went to lull Caesar to sleep for his afternoon nap, and Borell and Marcellus went off somewhere. Sean directly took Aldrich and started exploring the interior of the Bulstrode's home.