Qianfeng Tower has six floors, constrained by architectural techniques where the higher it goes, the smaller it gets, until the sixth floor where there is only one room.
Gu Wen entered and only smelled a hint of fragrance.
Yang Shanyu stood at the side of the door, apparently not intending to invite him in.
In the rooms with hanging curtains, behind the light gauze screen, a lazy voice sounded.
"Mr. Gu is truly talented, always so sharp in the ways of business. Do you know the profit margin of the Dragon Tiger Pill if I don't tell you?"
Fox Immortal Lu Chan, ranked fifth on the Earth Ranking Mirror.
"I dare not call myself a mister, nor do I dare to speak presumptuously."
Gu Wen bowed with vigilance in his heart, knowing this was an opportunity.
He didn't need to forcefully enter the circle of the worldly, but if there was a suitable opportunity, he didn't mind securing a position for himself, making it convenient to purchase elixirs and gather more information to avoid being in the dark.
The lazy voice came again, "The purchase price of the Linchuan medicinal fruit is ten taels each. It is the main ingredient for refining the Dragon Tiger Pill, requiring five portions, while there are many auxiliary medicines of various kinds, averaging five taels per portion. It is known that one portion of Dragon Tiger Pill material requires fifty taels, with an average of fifteen pills per furnace. How much profit did our Qianfeng Tower make?"
Doing math problems?
But this elixir does make a huge profit, flipping over ten times.
Gu Wen answered without hesitation, "After deducting the costs, a total profit of six hundred and ninety-five taels."
"Do you think it's a lot?"
"Not enough."
"So how can we earn more?"
Gu Wen didn't answer, but instead said, "This is my way of making a living."
Want to know? Pay up!
The hunger marketing of Qianfeng Tower seems to have been learned from himself, but only the superficial aspects.
Not all goods can be sold simply through marketing, nor are all goods suitable for marketing.
The Dragon Tiger Pill mainly targets the nobles and dignitaries who often visit the brothels, these people can be said to be the main consumer group of the Longqiao brothel.
However, the inferior Dragon Tiger Pill is not much different from ordinary aphrodisiacs, and if ordinary people consume too much, they will have problems digesting it.
With a small consumer group, weak purchasing power, and not outrageously high prices.
In Gu Wen's view, it's a simple truth, but it is incomprehensible in ancient society, not because the people living in that era were foolish, but because the objective conditions did not allow it.
In the feudal dynasty, being too opportunistic in business was easily crushed by an iron fist, and earning too much would be wiped out by the literati.
The most profitable thing is power, not business.
No matter how much Longqiao struggles, it can only earn a few hundred thousand taels, while the salt and iron trade is worth tens of millions in a year, and the fundamental income from farmland and food cannot be described in terms of money.
"Shanyu, bring five high-grade Dragon Tiger Pills to Mr. Gu."
"Yes."
As Gu Wen expected, the other party would not hesitate to pay more.
Those who only think of looting and plundering would not come to Longqiao to open a shop.
Opening a shop indicates a tendency for cooperation, and business itself is a high-level social behavior.
Business is not about making money, but about socializing.
Only people of similar nature can gather together.
Gu Wen received the elixir, expressed his thoughts, clarified the pros and cons, and pointed out the product's flaws.
The other party asked, "So should I raise the price?"
Gu Wen countered, "How long can the Dragon Tiger Pill last?"
Upon receiving the answer that its efficacy would dissipate in a month, it's no wonder that Qianfeng Tower doesn't stock rare goods, as they are short-term commodities that cannot be hoarded.
In other words, these things were meant to be discarded.
Thus, I can seize the opportunity and profit from it.
He replied, "Selling for fifty taels each in Bianjing has already created an impression of the product. Since the Dragon Tiger Pill cannot be stored, it's better to sell it directly. If Mr. Gu can sell it to the south, or even beyond Daguan. Bianjing is the wealthiest place in the world, but it doesn't mean that all the wealth in the world is here, and aphrodisiacs are needed by all wealthy men."
"Selling for five hundred taels each? Let the price be the reason for buying the Dragon Tiger Pill, and it can also boost sales in Bianjing."
Five hundred taels?
Yang Shanyu's mouth slightly opened, showing surprise, as the price had increased tenfold directly.
Even the room fell silent for a long time.
Gu Wen wasn't sure what the other party was thinking, but he knew the art of persuasion.
If someone says a hundred taels, the other party might believe it without hesitation, but what if it's five hundred taels, or even a thousand taels?
Furthermore, the logic of the words is not important, what's important is who said them.
"The wealthy merchants in Nanshui are numerous, and there are countless fur traders in Mobei. If we can create a reputation, a thousand taels won't be enough."
The other party asked again, "How should we sell it?"
"I am not talented, but I can assist."
Gu Wen was at his wit's end, short-term goods could be greedily monopolized.
In response, a clear and melodious laughter rang out, just the sound of it, a graceful figure had already appeared in his mind, more enchanting than the present Yang Shanyu, but the face was indistinct.
Hazy, unknowable, untouchable, yet irresistibly captivating.
"Mr. Gu helps the Wang Family with their affairs, can you help me as well?"
With a flick of the jade sword, the confusion in Gu Wen's eyes disappeared, but he didn't make any further moves.
Instead, he shook his head repeatedly, losing his usual shrewdness and becoming disoriented.
"The Wang Family deals with the water business, while you are in the business of the Dragon Tiger Pill. There is no conflict."
Yang Shanyu inwardly chuckled: You are also susceptible to beauty, usually looking like a monk.
"But I'm afraid I can't afford the fees."
The voice behind the door was soft and alluring, making bones turn to jelly.
"As long as ten percent, no, even half, the remaining fees will be borne by Mr. Gu."
"Then, thank you, Mr. Gu~"
Midnight.
A figure floated down to Qianfeng Tower, Yu Hua stood at the door, the candlelight casting long tails, her leisurely voice echoing.
"Oh, isn't this Sister Yuhua? What wind brings you to visit me today, little sister?"
They knew each other, but were not close, just acquaintances.
"Just passing by, thought I'd take a look."
Yu Hua's voice was calm, but in truth, she wasn't very reassured, so she came to take a look.
Fox Immortal, skilled in illusion and charm, her techniques were like water, seeping through every crevice, and anyone with emotions would inevitably fall under her spell, with varying degrees of severity.
For Yu Hua, she only found the voice pleasant, but the Grand Champion of Daguan was already completely enchanted.
He seemed normal on the surface, but once Lu Chan opened her mouth, he wanted to give her his heart, liver, spleen, and lungs.
The surrounding noise gradually quieted down, the melodious voice seemed to embrace, caress, and comfort the troubled hearts.
Slowly delving deeper, without saying anything, it felt like a confidant, soothing the burdens in one's heart.
Masterful charm doesn't distort the heart, but transforms into the most beautiful imaginations in one's heart.
Why does it sound like a male voice?
"Sister, are you here today to help your protector seek medicine?"
"A waste who needs elixirs to build the path, why would I need to come?"
Yu Hua's heart remained unmoved, she pushed open the door and saw the reflection on the screen, exquisite and alluring, sparking various thoughts.
Going further, beyond the screen, what met her eyes was not a stunningly beautiful woman, but a petite and delicate young girl.
The candlelight elongated her figure, appearing alluring from the outside, but inside was a young girl with claws bared.
They not only liked to deceive, but also to pretend.
It is said that a solitary Yin does not grow, the side effects of the Qianfeng Sect's cultivation technique is to maintain a youthful appearance forever, and the higher the cultivation, the younger one looks, until reaching the stage of infancy, becoming a true immortal.
Reaching the second level of cultivation was considered decent.
Lu Chan watched as the other effortlessly bypassed the formation she had set up, her expression stiffening, her voice losing its aggressiveness, and she spoke softly, "So, Sister Yuhua, what brings you here today?"
Yuhua asked, "I heard that a top scholar recently composed a poem for you."
"That is indeed the case." Lu Chan's eyes lit up, as Yuhua had expected, she was proud as she chattered, "A smile like flowers in bloom, radiant and charming. Although it describes me, it should also suit Sister Yuhua."
She knew Yuhua's preferences, but since the latter never showed herself, there were hardly any poems dedicated to her, she always silently observed like a bystander.
Perhaps she looked down on it, but who doesn't harbor admiration?
Not needing doesn't mean not liking.
A graceful voice responded.
"Yearning for the dress and the beauty, the spring breeze brushes the threshold, the dew is rich. If not seen on the mountain of jade, we shall meet under the moon at the Yao Terrace."
Lu Chan's eyes widened slightly, then gradually darkened.
Not only had she fallen from grace, but she had completely embarrassed herself.
Yuhua smiled, tilting her head she asked, "How did you know someone composed a poem for me?"
After finishing, she turned and left, clear and refreshing.
Lu Chan hurriedly followed, asking, "May I ask, who composed this poem?"
Yuhua didn't answer, just glanced back, causing the latter to feel like facing a formidable enemy, not daring to act rashly.
Until her figure disappeared into the night, Lu Chan pursed her vermilion lips, feeling a hint of murderous intent from the other party.
Just asking for a name elicited such a strong reaction, who could it be?
Curiosity arose, but there was no starting point.
Many books are now hard to find, so cherish what you have.