Chapter 334: Adding Wine to Water [Part Two]
Shen Tang looked at Xu Jie and others with suspicion.
Xu Jie looked at her with a subtle expression, his face practically screaming, "Is Shen Jun asking a question she already knows the answer to?"
Shen Tang: "???"
She didn't plant any spies to monitor Xu Jiean.
Why would I ask a question I already know the answer to?
Xu Jie noticed the genuine confusion in Shen Tang's eyes. His facial muscles twitched strangely and stiffly a few times as he said unnaturally, "Ahem, because Shangnan and Yiru have very strict controls on alcohol, and sales are not allowed without permission, we can't get into these two places through normal channels, so... well, we inevitably have to use some... special methods to circumvent it..."
Shen Tang was completely confused.
"Special methods of evasion? Could it be smuggling?"
The so-called "smugglers" are those who engage in smuggling.
According to Xu Jie's explanation, the liquor sales rights in Shangnan and Yiru are strictly controlled, making it difficult for private merchants to obtain them. The only way to enter this market is through illegal smuggling. But even smuggling wouldn't amount to turning fifty jars into two hundred.
Xu Jie's answer was irrelevant.
"They are smugglers."
It also saved on high municipal and liquor taxes.
“How did you turn fifty jars into two hundred? Did you change the big jars into small jars? That makes it easier to break up the shipment into smaller ones and smuggle them across the border, and it’s not easy to get caught…” As she spoke, she wasn’t so angry anymore. “It’s been a long and arduous journey for Wenzhu.”
Xu Jie: "..."
My lord, your phrase "close friendship" has stolen your words!
He forced himself to ignore the urge to complain.
He chuckled dryly, "It's not just about changing the size of the wine jar."
Shen Tang: "???"
That's a lot of information!
Good heavens, she calls herself a "shrewd businesswoman," but she's still too naive and innocent! Expanding from fifty jars to two hundred jars, did she not only change the size of the jars, but also add water to them?
Pooh!
Is this some kind of drink that's been mixed into the water?
In an instant, Shen Tang's smile froze.
Xu Jie gritted his teeth and started racking his brains.
He was trying to make amends for his lord and himself.
"Shen Jun, please don't be angry. This is a decision made by our lord after careful consideration, truly for the sake of the greater good. Shen Jun, think about it: the effects of the spirit wine you personally brewed are too obvious. Once it is sold outside of Tianhai and Heyin, it will inevitably attract countless covetous individuals, both openly and secretly. However, appropriately weakening the effects of the spirit wine is beneficial to both Shen Jun and our lord..."
He did this not because he was a shrewd businessman.
The idea came from your close family.
It has nothing to do with Xu Wenzhu.
He conducts his business in a proper and honest manner, and has never deliberately sought "legal tax avoidance" to obstruct those in power.
Speaking of this, the conversation from that day comes to mind.
Xu Jie was shocked: "[Dilution of the wine?]"
Wu Xian leaned against the low table, leisurely flipping through a page of a book, and asked with a smile: "Otherwise what? How much money can you make from a mere fifty jars of wine? It's like throwing a pebble into a river or sea—how big of a splash can it make? Gu Ziyi and Zhang Yongqing probably wouldn't even notice. Isn't the wine business always about mixing seven parts wine with three parts water?"
Xu Jie's expression was indescribable. He said softly, "Others may know, but I have never done such a thing..."
Wu Xian smiled and spoke frankly without any hesitation.
[It's not like you're being asked to sell watered-down wine in Tianhai, it's in Shangnan and Yiru. Besides, brewing wine consumes a lot of grain, wouldn't adding a couple more jars save two jars of grain? Even if you add water, the taste will only be a little weaker, the effect will be diminished, and those people won't be able to tell the difference. What does Wenzhu think?]
Xu Jie: [...]
He just wanted to ask if it was appropriate to listen to this in broad daylight.
Why do the lord and Lord Shen, the leaders of two major and minor forces, always try to instill in him a "guide to becoming a cunning merchant"?
One taught him how to legally avoid taxes, and the other taught him how to commit fraud... Xu Jiexin and the other were like brothers.
They are completely half-brothers!
Xu Jie: [But what about Shen Jun...]
Isn't this ruining the reputation of their spirit wine?
Wu Xian sneered—making a fortune quietly isn't shameful! Shen Tang's spirit wine signboard is really too open and aboveboard. He puts up the signboard in the morning, the enemy attacks at noon, and by nightfall, he's buried alive.
Unable to resist his lord's determination to exploit Gu Ziyi and Zhang Yongqing, Xu Jie finally brought the diluted "Zhongpin version of Lingjiu" into the black liquor market in both regions.
However, Xu Jie was unaware that these wines, after passing through middlemen, would also produce "lower-quality spiritual wines".
In short, it's like diluting the 7:3 ratio again after diluting it once more. _(:з)∠)_
As for legal tax avoidance...
Xu Jie also explained everything to Wu Xian.
He just didn't tell him about Shen Tang's divisive remarks, such as "If others have it, it's better for me to have it" and "Store grain, not guns, and your home will be a granary; store guns, not grain, and everywhere will be a granary." Xu Jie knew perfectly well what to say and what not to say.
Once he said it, Xu Jie dared to guarantee that he would always stand on Wu Xian's side, but would Wu Xian always believe him?
Such tests of trust should be minimized.
Wu Xian listened with great interest, even nearly speechless with astonishment. He slammed his hand on the table and exclaimed "Brilliant!" He wished he could befriend Shen Tang, the man who devised such a clever tax evasion method. If this fellow were a merchant, he might be revered as a patriarch in later generations!
Xu Jie: [...]
He felt that his lord was really not normal.
Wu Xian realized his lapse in composure and quickly adopted a serious expression, saying in a deep voice, "Shen Youli made this request because she went too far last time and caused dissatisfaction. This time, just give her more benefits when settling accounts, and we'll let the matter drop."
Offer a drink and apologize, then pretend nothing happened.
Wu Xian's eyes darted around nervously.
He also felt he had gone too far in tricking Shen Tang last time, packing up the old ox that was past its prime and the replacement farm tools to clear out the inventory. Fortunately, the seedlings and grains hadn't been diluted with water, otherwise Shen Tang might have been furious enough to flip the table and come to kill him with a sword.
Xu Jie breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
I'm glad I had an explanation when I saw Shen Tang again.
otherwise--
He probably went into Fugu vertically and came out horizontally.
Xu Jie snapped out of his reverie.
Shen Tang was still shocked by Wu Xian's outrageous actions.
He clicked his tongue and said, "It's a pity that Brother Zhaode isn't in business."
What a promising shrewd businessman!
They are so brazen about falsifying and diluting their products.
What else could Xu Jie do?
Of course, he had to awkwardly force a smile.
Who told him to choose this lord himself?
Meanwhile, a "low-spec version" of Lingjiu, diluted twice with 73% dilution, quietly spread in Shangnan and Yiru.
The middlemen were also shrewd; they held onto the supply tightly, gradually selling off their goods and making a fortune.
His mouth was practically stretched to his earlobes with a wide grin.
A jar of wine costs at least fifty taels.
Even so, it's still incredibly difficult to find a single jar.
Although Shangnan and Yiru have strict controls on alcohol, and very few taverns have operating licenses, the market is too large for these taverns to handle. Furthermore, under the rule of Gu Ren and Zhang He, the people of these two areas are relatively stable and prosperous, and alcohol is not an unaffordable "luxury." As long as there is a market and profit to be made, there will always be people willing to take the risk.
This law applies at all times.
Smuggling is rampant in both areas.
The protectors of smugglers are local families with prestige and connections. With a secret gesture, these people with intertwined interests will tacitly turn a blind eye, protecting each other and making some "extra money"—a win-win situation for everyone.
Gu Ren only learned about the "low-end version of Lingjiu" at a banquet a long time later, and at that time he thought the wine tasted pretty good.
_(:з)∠)_
"Ji Shou, I just don't understand, isn't Wu Zhaode afraid of getting burned and being exposed and beaten up?" After Xu Jie left, Shen Tang thought about it and felt that he couldn't worry about this alone, so he grabbed someone to "share" it with him.
When Kang Shi first heard about Wu Xian's unscrupulous businessmanship, he was indeed somewhat surprised, but after a moment's thought, he understood why.
The wines of the time were not particularly strong, so even young ladies with low alcohol tolerance could drink several jugs.
But the wine that Shen Tang conjured with his words was different.
The wine has a strong aroma and a mellow taste.
Even if it's diluted with water, it's not easy to detect.
This is probably the source of Wu Xian's confidence in fabricating the story.
Shen Tang's lips twitched: "..."
As expected, I wasn't cunning enough!
"Should we also enter the markets of both regions?"
Shen Tang, after much painful reflection, realized the gravity of the situation.
Kang Shi: "...What does my lord mean?"
Shen Tang gritted her teeth and said resolutely, "We're not like the leeks in Wu Zhaode's yard, to be harvested however he pleases. Why should Wu Zhaode, that heartless and unscrupulous merchant, take the lion's share of our profits? No way, we have to fight back!"
Say no to Wu Zhaode's domineering ways!
Kang Shi frowned: "Doesn't this expose us?"
Shen Tang felt her intelligence was being underestimated: "Who said we have to use our own name? Who would be stupid enough to commit smuggling under a real-name system? Isn't that like dancing in Gu Ziyi and Zhang Yongqing's minefield? We can do it indirectly and tactfully!"
Kang Shi directly asked Shen Tang for the answer.
How to be tactful and diplomatic?
He's not cut out to be a shrewd businessman.
They couldn't keep up with their lord's pace.
Shen Tang declared firmly, "A mountain stronghold!"
Kang Shi was bewildered: "A counterfeit?"
Shen Tang added, "We can also use a label!"
Kangshi: "OEM?"
Both of these are unfamiliar words.
He simply labeled any strange or incomprehensible words that occasionally popped out of his lord's mouth as "local dialect slang." He didn't need to investigate the origins of these words; he only needed to know their meanings.
Shen Tang patiently explained to him, "That's right! Xu Wenzhu has already opened up the market in Shangnan and Yiru, so there's definitely a shortage of spiritual wine. We just need to follow behind him and secretly smuggle in water mixed with wine, pretending it's from Xu Jie's supply, or even just pretending to be Xu Wenzhu's disciples. This batch of goods is something we secretly embezzled behind Xu Wenzhu's back..."
She wasn't greedy.
We won't sell it for such a high price as Xu Wenzhu's.
If you're in a hurry to sell, half is fine too.
Shen Tang: "If this approach doesn't work, we'll say that this wine was smuggled in from another country, and that its effects are similar to spirit wine, making it a good alternative at a low price. Although its effects aren't as good, it's cheaper and comes in larger quantities!"
She patted Kang Shi on the shoulder.
His smile was cunning.
Kang Shi: "...This method...is very good, very good."
The lord also complained to him that Wu Zhaode was a cunning merchant.
She herself is just as impressive!
Shen Tang even feigned concern, saying, "People always have to be pushed to discover their business potential, sigh—"
She and Wu Zhaode probably misallocated their skill points.
Shen Tang is a decisive and impulsive person who acts on his impulses.
They were afraid that if they were a step too late, they would lose out.
Sigh, there's nothing I can do, I'm terrified of being poor.
Shen Tang was enthusiastically researching how to mix wine into water, and what proportion would be so that the unsuspecting person wouldn't be able to taste the difference—but poor Gong Shuwu, who was tasting the wine, ended up drinking a bellyful of water.
When Shen Tang of He Yin Fugu had an idea, the liquor market in Shangnan and Yiru began to flood.
_(:з)∠)_
Twenty days have passed in the blink of an eye.
The weather is gradually warming up.
A gentle spring breeze caresses the face, and new leaves sprout on the treetops.
The clothes worn by ordinary people working on construction sites are no longer bulky.
After a winter, the numbness and dullness that once characterized his face are now rarely seen. Instead, there is a genuine smile and a glimmer of hope for the future in his eyes.
On such an ordinary day, Bai Su, who was always low-key and unassuming, broke through!
Yes, the valiant warrior has been made!
She wasn't even the first to realize this.
On this day, Bai Su got up early as usual to warm up and practice her sword dance.
From the first darkness to the first light of day.
He practiced until his whole body felt hot and his arms ached before he stopped.
She was used to cultivating in secluded places, where the quiet environment allowed her to concentrate better, but today was slightly different. An unexpected person had arrived in the desolate place where she had always been alone.
Upon seeing this person, Bai Su sheathed her sword and clasped her hands in greeting.
"Chief Gongshu."
She is now under the command of Gong Shuwu, serving as one of his soldiers, but she spends most of her time learning troop deployment and tactics from Zhao Feng...
"How did you come to be here?"
Gong Shuwu asked her, "Do you sense anything is wrong?"
Bai Su was stunned: "No."
Gong Shuwu pointed to the sun in the sky.
"Four hours."
He's looking for someone.
Bai Su always goes to work on time.
But she hadn't been seen all day, and after asking around, no one had seen her. Gong Shuwu was worried that she, a woman, might encounter danger she couldn't handle, so he came looking for her.
When Bai Su's cultivation came to a temporary end, he felt relieved.
Bai Su didn't understand at first, but when she looked up as Gong Shuwu pointed, she was surprised to find that the sun was in the wrong position.
She actually immersed herself in cultivation for a full four hours!
This is almost impossible!
Her former profession was that of a thief.
The timing is always precise.
Only then did he realize that Gong Shuwu had come to find him. He couldn't help but feel ashamed for making Gong Shuwu come all this way. At the same time, he wondered to himself how he could have made such a mistake.
In the morning, she felt better than ever before. Specifically, her body felt lighter, as if the invisible constraints of the ground had loosened considerably. Her sword strikes were more ferocious; what used to be one strike could now be three. Moves that previously felt awkward to connect were now flowing smoothly and effortlessly.
Bai Su blinked.
I belatedly realized that my vision was also wrong.
She was now so far away from Gong Shuwu that she could only see his face clearly before, but now she could see the fine hairs on his face and the slight rise and fall of his chest at a glance.
Bai Su raised her hand to cover her eyes.
Not only her eyes, but her ears and nose also seemed to be malfunctioning... She didn't feel panicked; instead, a possibility that made her blood boil surged within her—could it be her—
He heard Gong Shuwu's knowing chuckle in his ear.
Even though she was far away, she could hear it clearly.
"Congratulations, Bai Su, a low-ranking scholar."
(End of this chapter)
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