Chapter 323: Exploiting Others (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

"This is?"

Xu Jie looked curious.

Gu Chi smiled and invited him inside to take a look.

He explained, "This is a shop run by the government office."

"A shop opened by the government office? Was this Shen Jun's idea?"

"yes."

"That's quite a strange thing."

Xu Jie was surprised that this young Shen Jun knew about business. You see, whether in the past or now, local policies have mostly been policies to suppress commerce. Merchants do not engage in production but control a lot of money, and have always been feared by those in power.

Small merchants are one thing, they just do small business to make a living, but those big merchants are all backed by powerful and influential families. They usually keep a group of private soldiers, and when they go on trade, they set out in a grand procession with carriages and horses.

Otherwise, how can we protect the safety of valuable goods?

The larger the merchant, the stronger their private armed forces, which in itself is a daunting and destabilizing factor.

Therefore, it has always been necessary to restrict the status of merchants and set high market taxes, which is also conducive to the stability of people's livelihood under the jurisdiction.

Merchants were considered low-class and of the lowest status. Even the Xu family behind Xu Jie rarely got involved in business themselves, entrusting it to servants, relatives, or distant collateral relatives. It was extremely rare for a prefect to personally run a business.

It's actually quite embarrassing to say that out loud.

However, Xu Jie, as the head of the Xu family, naturally wouldn't think that way. The Xu family's success today is inseparable from its various basic industries. Without these, how would the clan's members eat, wear, and use their food? No matter how tall a person is, their legs still have to stand on the ground.

He followed Gu Chi into "Fugu Department Store" chatting and laughing. As soon as he entered, a small bamboo basket was stuffed into his hands.

"This is?"

Gu Chi said, "It's a bamboo basket."

Xu Jie knew, of course, that it was a bamboo basket woven from bamboo.

They even knew there was a bamboo forest near Fugu.

But why hand him a bamboo basket?

Gu Chi also asked the "salesperson" for a bamboo basket, which he slung over his forearm: "My lord calls it a 'shopping basket,' used to hold the goods in the general store. Note: If you want something from the shelf, just call someone over and they'll open it and take it down for you."

After a period of development, the variety of goods in the department store has increased, unlike the meager few items at the beginning. The shelves have also been renovated, and small bamboo doors have been added.

When a customer wants to buy something, they ask the "sales assistant" to open the door and take it down.

This was also done for safety reasons.

Shen Tang didn't hesitate to speculate on the worst aspects of human nature. After all, Fugu was a poor place, and bad people often come from poor and remote areas. Open shelves were prone to frequent theft. It wasn't practical to have someone watch over every customer, so they simply installed doors on the shelves.

Customers enter the store, select their items, and then have someone pick them up.

Of course, some of the more valuable items are not displayed on the shelves; there is only a sample item available, and you have to go to the warehouse to get it.

Then you can go to the counter to pay.

Xu Jie listened intently, muttering, "It can be like this?"

The department store is much larger than before.

Two people can easily stand between the shelves.

Xu Jie then noticed bamboo strips hanging under the goods on the shelf.

He knew that these bamboo strips were usually used for price tags, but what was novel was that instead of familiar characters, the strips had strange patterns on them. He asked, "What are these?"

Gu Chi said, “Prices. Shen Jun felt that common people would have difficulty understanding complex numbers, so he used a few simpler symbols to represent the different numbers. The first line of the sign outside the shop lists the numbers from zero to nine. It’s easy for common people to remember. They can remember the number corresponding to each symbol and then they won’t need to ask for prices frequently when they enter the shop. They can just look at the price list directly.”

Xu Jie listened attentively and took careful notes.

"I see, that's certainly novel." The words and numbers are simple, but they are still difficult for ordinary people to remember.

Normally, a shop as large as Fugu Department Store would require a lot of people to manage, but customers can see the prices and select goods themselves, which reduces the shop's costs and makes it easier to manage.

In Xu Jie's view, these were all "business secrets," but Gu Chi made no attempt to hide anything, displaying an unusual openness and frankness. He not only generously showed them to him but also explained them to him in detail, his hospitality making Xu Jie feel flattered. It even made Xu Jie begin to have a slight doubt—was this frail-looking young man really... a scholar with a literary heart?

This art style is a bit off.

Xu Jie couldn't bear to lose face by coming in and browsing without buying anything, so he bought some expensive items as a token gesture, which could be considered as paying his "tuition fee".

From the perspective of the head of the Xu family, the goods in the general store were not high-end. But upon reflection, it was understandable, since it was a store catering to the common people, and people couldn't afford things that were too good.

Accompanied by Gu Chi, Xu Jie looked through each shelf and actually discovered some interesting patterns.

Goods are categorized according to their usage, which greatly reduces the time spent in the store and searching for items, making the purpose more clear; frequently used items are placed within easy reach, while less frequently used items are placed in high or low positions...

Xu Jiezhuo figured these things out.

He said, "Shen Jun's actions are not motivated by profit."

Gu Chi asked him what he meant.

Xu Jie smiled and pointed to the shelves around him: "If you were a merchant, you would definitely try to make customers stay in the store longer, so that they would buy more. You would also put the expensive and high-profit items in the most convenient positions... However, looking at the layout of this general store, it is completely contrary to this. Therefore, Mr. Shen is not interested in profit."

Gu Chi: "..."

Good heavens!!!

No wonder he's from the eldest branch of the Xu family in Tianhai; this guy is truly a cunning businessman! He's only been in the store a short while and he's already thinking about all this!

Oh, so you're the head of the family now.

No wonder he's the man who can become the head of the family!

Gu Chi adjusted his micro-expressions to avoid giving himself away.

At this moment, Xu Jie also summoned a "salesperson" and asked for several jars of wine.

The "sales assistant" was a burly man.

He used to be a bandit.

Later, he was recruited by Shen Tang. Because of his talent for numbers, good arithmetic skills, and approachable appearance, he was transferred here to work. He glanced at Gu Chi, looking troubled: "This is a daily limited supply, exchanged for 'wine bars'..."

Xu Jie was stunned for a moment.

What does "limited supply" mean?

What does "exchange for liquor bars" mean?

Again, unfamiliar and novel words.

These questions can be asked of Gu Chi, who gestured with his eyes that he would explain in detail later. He then turned to the "sales assistant" and said, "Wen Zhu is Mr. Shen's distinguished guest, unlike others. Just go and get it. If anyone asks, just say it was my idea."

"But this is against the rules..."

The "sales assistant" is finding it increasingly difficult.

Xu Jie was pondering what this meant when he heard a strong male voice beside him, with a hint of inexplicable mockery: "I thought it was something important. Rules are rules, and they won't be disregarded just because you, Gu Wangchao."

Xu Jie looked in the direction of the sound and his eyes lit up.

There's no other reason than that this person is extraordinary at first glance.

Gu Chi smiled wryly: "Master Yang."

He turned to the side, revealing Xu Jie behind him.

With just a glance, Commander Yang knew this man was truly a "distinguished guest," exuding an air of "nobility" from head to toe, which dispelled his desire to watch the lively scene at Gu Chi. He beckoned to the "salesperson" and instructed, "Go to the back and fetch my few jars, quickly."

After saying that, he turned to Gu Chi and said, "You pay for the drinks."

Gu Chi chuckled, "Alright, alright, it won't break the rules."

Before long, all the jars of wine were brought over.

At the counter, Commandant Yang had Xu Jie check each item for any problems, then said to Gu Chi, "Check out."

Xu Jie then saw the so-called "wine slip".

It's just ordinary wood chips.

It looks like a scroll.

Xu Jie asked, puzzled, "Can't we pay with money?"

What's the secret behind this?

Commandant Yang noted it down and said, "Other things are fine, but the daily ration is not. It must be settled with a 'wine slip' contract. Perhaps this restriction will be lifted when the common people become a little wealthier in the future."

Xu Jie nodded. When you're on someone else's turf, you should follow their rules. He didn't insist on making an exception; he simply paid Gu Chi the normal price. After all, he was the one paying his "tuition fee," so why should Gu Chi pay for it?

He never expected that such good wine could be found in this remote and impoverished place. He had just inspected the wine and its clear, fragrant aroma was irresistible. Based on his experience, he knew it was definitely a high-quality wine.

No wonder there is a "limited supply".

Is it because the supply is scarce?

Xu Jie asked and found out that this was not the case.

There was a lot of wine, an enormous amount.

Gu Chi began his blatant fabrication—Shen Jun's ancestors ran a wine business and had passed down many excellent winemaking techniques, which could produce the highest quality wine with minimal waste.

We guarantee that every jar will be of roughly the same quality!

Most importantly—

Gu Chi paused deliberately, keeping everyone in suspense.

Only when Xu Jie looked at him with curiosity and a thirst for knowledge did he continue to make up his own ideas. The ancestral brewing recipes in Shen Jun's hands were all inspired by the power of words, improved upon, and refined by generation after generation.

Therefore, these wines have more uses than ordinary wines, and are quite beneficial to scholars and warriors.

Xu Jie was shocked upon hearing this and hurriedly asked.

Is this really true?

"Of course it's true! Our lord regards Lord Wu as an elder brother. How could he deceive us about such a trivial matter?" Gu Chi seemed offended, revealing an expression that said, "How can you doubt the pure brotherly/sisterly affection between our two lords? Are we really brothers and sisters if we can't even keep such a small secret?" His sincerity left Xu Jie completely dumbfounded.

My heart started pounding.

They're actually such good friends?

Or is it—

Did Shen Jun, being young, take his lord's feigned brotherhood seriously, and thus hide nothing from him, treating him with utmost sincerity? Xu Jie felt a subtle unease as this thought surfaced in his mind, as if a shameless liar had deceived an innocent child.

However, Xu Jie was not so easily appeased.

Whether it's true or false, we'll find out when we get back.

If it were truly such a precious and rare wine, there would be no reason for it to be displayed on the shelves of a general store, where ordinary people could exchange it with "wine tokens." Xu Jie also saw other types of tokens.

But there's no need to tell lies that are easily exposed.

Xu Jie had no choice but to test the waters.

What are they testing?

Test this “heartwarming brotherhood”!

He simply didn't believe that anyone would take a casual fling seriously.

Xu Jie feigned curiosity about the "signs".

Gu Chi said, "Wen Zhu mentioned those contracts? It's because although our lord has grain and the property confiscated by the local bullies in Fugu, he doesn't have enough copper coins. However, privately minting coins is illegal! And commoners mostly use copper coins for transactions. Helplessly, he exchanged his grain and money for these contracts to temporarily replace copper coins, just to get through this period..."

He spoke logically and clearly.

Logically speaking, it makes perfect sense.

"条子" represents copper coins.

It represents the money in Shen Tang's hands.

But it didn't reveal the true purpose of these "traces"! Nor did it mention that Shen Tang uses these "traces" to repeatedly utilize limited resources, and that these "traces" can be used as money! Under the premise of not collapsing, she can make as much as she wants.

Gu Chi warmly received Xu Jie.

He took him to visit every corner of Fugu.

Xu Jie saw Fu Gu's poverty, but also her vibrant energy and latent vitality. After a heart-to-heart talk, Xu Jie's guardedness appeared petty and manipulative.

Two hours had passed by the time the tour and explanation were completed.

Gu Chi glanced at the sky and smiled broadly: "At this hour, Dayi should be back from outside the city. I heard from the lord that Wenzhu and Dayi are close friends, with a very deep personal relationship?"

Xu Jie's lips twitched slightly: "..."

I suspect there might be something wrong with Shen Tang's staff.

Three points of politeness can be exaggerated to ten.

A little friendship can be as genuine as twelve parts sincerity.

He had some personal ties with Zhao Feng, but the two families were just on normal terms. Xu Jie also had a good relationship with the other five valiant generals under Wu Xian, since there was no benefit in offending these powerful military commanders.

If you can befriend someone, befriend them; if not, don't offend them.

(`)

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(End of this chapter)