Lu Chen still underestimated the spending power of these Xixia nobles. A wool spinning machine only cost two hundred taels, yet Lu Chen still felt that he had been too cruel.
Now Li Chixiang told him that the perfume costs 500 taels per bottle, and they are also responsible for providing the raw materials. Who can he go to for justice?
In fact, Lu Chen has always been worried about how to price the perfume. He is afraid that if the price is too high, he will be criticized by those wealthy families.
After all, the ethos of the Great Qi Dynasty was thrift and frugality, at least on the surface.
Don’t worry about how those dignitaries live in luxury at home, but when they go out, especially when they go to court, they have to pretend that they can’t afford three meals a day and have to eat coarse food all day long.
So if the price of perfume is too high, the rich and powerful will buy it, but they will never use it ostentatiously.
Compared with these famous families, the nobles of Western Xia are so cute!
I don't care about reputation. My main focus is on extravagance and luxury.
What does the life and death of the common people have to do with us nobles? Even if tens of thousands of people freeze to death in the winter, they still have to eat and drink.
This is a fucking quality customer!
In front of Li Chixiang, Lu Chen made the decision that perfume and moisturizing cream would be supplied to Xixia first in the future, and Li Chixiang would have the exclusive rights.
The two sides had a very pleasant conversation, and Lu Chen even treated Li Chixiang to a meal at noon.
The two sides discussed some details of the cooperation. Li Chixiang patted his chest and promised that everything would be settled when the Xixia delegation arrived tomorrow, and everyone would have a couple of drinks at that time.
The entire Great Qi Dynasty was looking forward to the visit of the Western Xia delegation.
After all, they had won a victory, and the defeated country was coming to them to beg for peace. Both the public and the official authorities attached great importance to this matter.
The Ministry of Rites had already arranged the specifications and seating arrangements for the dinner. I heard that there would be all kinds of delicacies from land and sea tonight, and the chefs in the palace had pulled out all the stops for this dinner.
Lu Chen did not go to see these so-called envoys during the day. They were all formalities anyway. The rules had already been discussed by everyone, and today was just a formality.
At night, he was led to the palace by a young eunuch.
As soon as he walked into the hall where the banquet was set up, Lu Chen's eyes were almost blinded by the light.
Just by looking at the candles lit in the hall, you can tell that Li Zhuo spent a lot of money this time.
There wasn't much to say about the banquet. Li Zhuo, as the emperor, simply raised his glass and said a few words. The Xixia envoys also stood up and responded with a few words.
The tone of the conversation was generally harmonious. Li Zhuo looked into the future and hoped that both sides could take this peace talk as an opportunity to live in peace in the future.
The envoy also expressed that he would bring back the goodwill of Da Qi and thanked His Majesty Li Zhuo for his generosity.
Then the singing and dancing began, and everyone started drinking and chatting with each other.
Li Chixiang did what he said and introduced Lu Chen to many dignitaries of Western Xia.
Among them, I focused on getting to know some family representatives in charge of the border. These people will play a key role if goods are to enter Xixia in the future.
After drinking a round, even though Lu Chen had a good alcohol tolerance, he was a little tipsy.
He sat down on the seat, reached out to grab an apple and took a big bite, then Lu Chen breathed a sigh of satisfaction.
The tributes to the emperor were always different. In his two lifetimes, this was the first time he had eaten such delicious apples.
Just when he was thinking about whether to ask the eunuch to pack a few for him to take back, a man suddenly sat down next to him and said to him naturally, "These Xixia people can drink a lot."
Lu Chen didn't know this person, at least he hadn't seen him since his rebirth.
But since I can have this meal here today, my status must not be too bad. Since I came here with a glass of wine, I must be a drinking buddy.
So Lu Chen replied naturally: "Yes, just like drinking water, people from bitter cold places are different."
"Master Lu is also quite alcoholic. I saw you and the others drink quite a bit just now, yet you are still able to maintain a clear mind. Master Lu is indeed not an ordinary person."
"Hahaha, brother, you're too kind. What kind of skill is that? You don't even know me."
The other party put down his wine glass and nodded slightly, saying, "Well, I am a relative of His Majesty. I don't usually participate in government affairs. It's normal that Master Lu has never met me."
"Oh, royal family, I'm so sorry for the disrespect."
"No, no, I'm just barely surviving thanks to the merits of my ancestors."
"Brother, you are being too modest. If you, the royal family, can only barely survive, then the people below will be living in dire straits."
The young man smiled and handed Lu Chen a pear, saying, "Master, although we are royal relatives, the treatment of royal relatives in the Great Qi Dynasty is really average. If we want to live a more comfortable life, we can only find some ways on our own. For example, I have some land at home and grow some crops, but just like ordinary people, I also depend on the weather for my livelihood."
Lu Chen curled his lips and thought to himself, I don’t believe you at all. The “a little bit of land” you mentioned, could it be the area of a state?
This is the first time I've seen someone describe the identity of a landlord in such a refreshing and refined way.
Lu Chen felt that the boy in front of him was not honest, so he simply didn't want to pay any attention to him.
But the other party was intrigued, and without even reading the atmosphere, he continued, "By the way, I heard that Master Lu can make perfumes. My family happens to grow a lot of flowers. I wonder if we can collaborate?"
Um?
Lu Chen raised his eyebrows and immediately became interested.
The main factor limiting his perfume production nowadays is the supply of flower petals. As long as the supply of this thing is increased, he can make as much as he wants, whether it is perfume or moisturizer.
Since he had the resources, Lu Chen's mentality changed. He quickly poured him a glass of wine and said, "Brother, why don't you tell me earlier? I wonder how many flowers you have at home? How do you plan to cooperate?"
"We have several hundred acres, and if necessary, we can even have several thousand acres! As for the way of cooperation, naturally, I will provide the raw materials, you will provide the finished products, and we will split the profits 50-50."
Fifty-fifty split, what are you dreaming of!
"A 50-50 split is impossible. I'm the only one who can make perfume, and flower petals aren't just found in your family. Even the eldest princess's family has a lot of flowers planted far away. If it weren't for that woman's bad reputation and me not wanting to get into trouble, I could actually cooperate with her."
"I heard she burned a lot of flowers in a fire before. Don't you think this woman is a spendthrift? But luckily she replanted them later. Women like this who lack men are really capable of making trouble."
"I heard her name is Li Mingyue. Tsk, tsk, tsk, what a waste of that name! How can she be as noble and aloof as Mingyue?"
"By the way, I haven't asked you anything yet. What's your name, brother?"
"Haha, I'm Li Mingyue!"
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