Shen Tang looked at Xu Jie suspiciously, waiting for an answer.
Xu Jie looked at her with a subtle expression, with the words "Mr. Shen, are you asking this even though you already know the answer?" written all over his face.
Shen Tang: “???”
She didn't place any spies in Xu Jie's place to monitor him.
How can you ask questions even though you already know the answer
Xu Jie saw that the confusion in Shen Tang's eyes did not seem fake, and his facial muscles twitched a few times strangely and stiffly. He said unnaturally: "Ahem, because Shangnan and Yiru have very strict control over alcohol, they cannot sell it without permission. You can't use normal ways to enter these two places, so... well, it's inevitable to use some, some special means to circumvent..."
Shen Tang was completely confused.
"A special method of evasion? Could it be smuggling?"
The so-called "smugglers" are smugglers.
According to Xu Jie's explanation, the liquor business rights in Shangnan and Yiru are strictly controlled, and it is difficult for private merchants to obtain them. If they want to enter this market, they can only smuggle illegally. But smuggling is not enough to smuggle 50 jars into 200 jars.
Xu Jie: This is not answering the question.
"It's a bootlegger."
It also saves high city and liquor taxes.
"How did fifty jars become two hundred jars? The big jars were changed into small ones? This would make it easier for smugglers to smuggle the jars across the borders, and it would be harder to be discovered..." She said, not feeling so angry anymore, "Thank you for your hard work along the way."
Xu Jie: “…”
My lord, your "friendship with Tangdi" has stolen your words!
He forced himself to ignore the urge to complain.
Laughing dryly: "It's not just about changing the size of the wine jar."
Shen Tang: “???”
This statement contains so much information!
Good man, she calls herself a "swindler", but her feelings are still too naive! The expansion from fifty jars to two hundred jars, not only did they change the size of the jars, but they also added water to them
Pooh!
Is this a case of mixing barley into the water
As he sighed, Shen Tang's smile froze.
Xu Jie gritted his teeth and started thinking.
Trying to make amends for his master and himself.
"Don't be angry, Mr. Shen. My Lord has considered this carefully and it is for the sake of the overall situation. Mr. Shen, think about it. The effect of the spirit wine you brewed yourself is too obvious. Once it is sold outside Tianhai and Heyin, it will inevitably attract countless covetous people, either openly or secretly. But appropriately weakening the effect of the spirit wine will be beneficial to both Mr. Shen and my Lord..."
This is not because he is a profiteer.
The idea was proposed by your close friend.
It has nothing to do with Xu Wenzhu.
He always does business in an upright and law-abiding manner, and has never deliberately sought "reasonable tax avoidance" to create trouble for those in power.
Speaking of this, the conversation that day came to mind.
Xu Jie was shocked: Adding water to the wine
Wu Xian leaned against a table and read a book. He turned a page leisurely and asked with a smile: What else? How much money can be made from just fifty jars of wine? It's like throwing a stone into a river or sea. How big a splash can it make? Gu Ziyi and Zhang Yongqing probably didn't notice this. In the wine business, isn't it always sold as 70% wine and 30% water
Xu Jie's expression was indescribable, and he whispered: "Others must know this, but I have never done this before..."
Wu Xian smiled and spoke frankly without any hesitation.
I'm not asking you to sell watered-down wine in Tianhai, I'm selling it in Shangnan and Yiru. Besides, making wine consumes grain, wouldn't it save two more jars of grain if you add two more jars? Even if it's watered-down, the taste will just be a little lighter, the effect will be weakened, and those people won't be able to tell the difference, what do you think
Xu Jie: …
He just wanted to ask if this could be heard in broad daylight
Why do the Lord and Shen Jun, the leaders of two major and minor forces, always want to instill in him the "Guide to Becoming a Corrupt Merchant".
One taught him how to avoid taxes legally, and the other taught him how to commit fraud... Xu Jiexin and he and his partner were close friends.
They are completely half brothers!
Xu Jie: But Mr. Shen...
Doesn't this ruin the reputation of their spiritual wine
Wu Xian sneered—It’s not shameful to make a fortune in silence! Shen Tang’s spirit wine sign was really bold to put it out openly. He showed the sign in the morning, the enemy attacked at noon, and he was buried in the evening.
Xu Jie was unable to resist his master's determination to reap the benefits of Gu Ziyi and Zhang Yongqing, and finally entered the black liquor market in the two places with the "medium-grade spirit wine" mixed with water and placed in jars.
However, Xu Jie didn’t know that these wines would be resold by middlemen and turned into “low-end spirit wine”.
In short, it is to dilute the 7:3 dilution again with 7:3_(:з)∠?)_
As for tax avoidance...
Xu Jie also explained everything clearly to Wu Xian.
I just didn't tell him Shen Tang's words of dissension, "I have what others have, not as much as I do" and "If you store grain but not guns, your home will be your granary; if you store guns but not grain, everywhere will be your granary." Xu Jie knew 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 it
Such tests of trust should be avoided as little as possible.
Wu Xian listened with great interest, and was even so surprised that he almost couldn't close his mouth. He slammed the table and shouted "brilliant". He wished that Shen Tang, who came up with such a tricky way to avoid taxes, could be his confidant. If this guy became a businessman, he might be revered as the founder in the future!
Xu Jie: …
He felt that his lord was really abnormal.
Wu Xian also realized that he had lost his composure, and quickly showed his seriousness, saying in a deep voice: Shen Youli made this request, it must be because she went too far last time and caused dissatisfaction. This time, just settle the account again, give more benefits, and lightly let this matter go.
Just drink and apologize, and pretend nothing happened.
Wu Xian looked around guiltily.
He also felt that he had gone too far in cheating Shen Tang last time, packing up the old cows and replaced farm tools to clear out the inventory. Fortunately, the seedlings and crops were not mixed with water, otherwise Shen Tang would have been furious and turned the table over and came to kill him with a sword.
Xu Jie breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this.
Fortunately, I have something to tell Shen Tang next time I see him.
otherwise-
He probably entered Fu Gu vertically and came out horizontally.
Xu Jie came back to his senses from his memories.
Shen Tang was still shocked by Wu Xian's outrageous behavior.
He exclaimed, "It's a pity that Brother Zhaode doesn't go into business."
What a good seed for a profiteer.
They are so confident in counterfeiting and adding water.
What else could Xu Jie do
Of course I just smiled awkwardly.
After all, this was the lord he chose.
At the same time, the "low-end version of the spirit wine" diluted twice with 73% was quietly circulated in Shangnan and Yiru.
The second-hand dealers were also smart. They held the supply tightly in their hands and shipped the goods out little by little, making a lot of money.
The corners of his mouth are almost reaching his earlobes.
The minimum price for a jar of wine is fifty taels.
Even this one is hard to come by.
Although Shangnan and Yiru have strict control over alcohol, and there are very few wine shops with business licenses, the market is too big for these wine shops to take over. In addition, under the management of Gu Ren and Zhang He, people's livelihood in these two places is relatively stable and prosperous, and alcohol is not an unaffordable "luxury". As long as there is a market and it is profitable, there will definitely be people who take risks.
This law applies at all times.
There is also serious secret smuggling in the two places.
The umbrellas for the smugglers are local families with reputation and connections. If they give a secret greeting, these guys with vested interests will tacitly turn a blind eye and cover up for each other to make some "extra money". It's good for everyone.
Gu Ren knew that the "low-end version of spirit wine" was to be consumed at a banquet long afterward, and he thought the wine tasted good at the time.
_(:з)∠?)_
"Ji Shou, I just don't understand, isn't Wu Zhaode afraid of getting into trouble, being exposed and beaten?" 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.
Kang Shi was indeed a little surprised when he first heard about Wu Xian's unscrupulous businessman behavior. After thinking about it for a while, he knew why.
The wine of the time was not very strong in taste, and even a girl in the boudoir who could not drink much could drink a few pots.
But the wine that Shen Tang created using his spiritual words was different.
The wine has a strong aroma and mellow taste.
Even if it is diluted with water, it is not easy to detect.
This is probably the source of Wu Xian’s confidence in cheating.
The corners of Shen Tang's mouth twitched: "..."
As expected, I am not cunning enough!
“Should we also enter the two markets?”
Shen Tang learned from his mistakes.
Kang Shi: "... What does the Lord mean?"
Shen Tang gritted his teeth and said cruelly, "We are not the leeks in Wu Zhaode's yard, allowing him to cut us as he pleases. Why should Wu Zhaode, the black-hearted profiteer, take all the profits when we are shipping goods? No, we must fight back!"
Say no to Wu Zhaode’s tyranny!
Kang Shi frowned: "Isn't this exposed?"
Shen Tang felt that his intelligence was underestimated: "Who said we should use our own name? Who would be so stupid as to use the real-name system to smuggle? Isn't this just dancing in the minefield of Gu Ziyi and Zhang Yongqing? We can take a roundabout way and be tactful!"
Kang Shi asked Shen Tang directly for the answer.
"How to be tactful?"
After all, he is not the material for a profiteer.
Unable to keep up with the pace of his lord.
Shen Tang said loudly: "Copyright!"
Kang Shi was at a loss: "Copyright?"
Shen Tang added: "You can also brand it!"
Kang Shi: "OEM?"
These two are all unfamiliar words.
As for the strange and confusing words that popped out of his master's mouth from time to time, he would classify them as "the master's hometown dialect slang." He didn't need to investigate the origins of these words, he just needed to know what they meant.
Shen Tang patiently explained to him: "Yes! Xu Wenzhu has already opened up the market in Shangnan and Yiru. Spirit wine is definitely in short supply. We just need to follow him and secretly smuggle the water mixed with wine into the market, pretending that it is the source of Xu Jie's goods, or simply pretending to be Xu Wenzhu's disciples. We secretly took this batch of goods without Xu Wenzhu's knowledge..."
She is not greedy either.
Not selling at such a high price as Xu Wenzhu.
If you're in a hurry to get rid of it, half will do.
Shen Tang: "If this route doesn't work, we can say that this wine was secretly shipped from other countries. It has similar effects to spirit wine and can be considered a substitute for spirit wine. It's good value for money. Although the effect is not as good as others, it's cheaper and has a larger quantity!"
She patted Kang Shi's shoulder.
A cunning smile.
Kang Shi: "... This method... is very good, very good."
The lord also complained to him that Wu Zhaode was a profiteer.
She is no less capable than him!
Shen Tang even sighed hypocritically: "People always have to push themselves to realize their potential in business, ah—"
She and Wu Zhaode probably selected the wrong skills.
Shen Tang is a man of quick wit and quick action. He does what he says.
I’m afraid I’ll lose out if I’m a step late.
Alas, there is no way. I am afraid of being poor.
Shen Tang was enthusiastically studying how to mix wine into water, and what proportion would be sufficient to make it impossible for the unsuspecting party to taste it - even the poor wine-tasting Gong Shuwu ended up drinking a bellyful of water.
When Shen Tang of Danghe Yinfugu came up with an idea, the liquor market in Shangnan and Yiru began to boom.
_(:з)∠?)_
Twenty days passed in a flash.
The weather is also starting to warm up.
The warm spring breeze blows on your face and new leaves sprout on the treetops.
Ordinary people working on construction sites no longer have to wear bulky clothes.
After a winter, the numbness and dullness of the past are rarely seen on faces. Instead, there are smiles from the heart and expectations for the future in the eyes.
It was on such an ordinary day that the always low-key Bai Su made a breakthrough!!!
Yes, Wudan succeeded!
She wasn't even the first to discover this.
That day, Bai Su got up early as usual to warm up and practice swordplay.
From darkness to bright day.
I kept practicing until my whole body became hot and my arms felt sore.
She was used to practicing in secluded places, where a quiet environment would allow her to concentrate more, but today was a little different. An unexpected person came to the wasteland where she had always been alone.
When Bai Su saw this person, he put away his sword and clasped his fists.
"Chief Gongshu."
She is now under Gong Shuwu's command and counts as one of his soldiers, but she spends most of her time learning how to deploy troops from Zhao Feng...
"What brings you here?"
Gong Shuwu asked her, "Do you feel something is wrong?"
Bai Su was stunned: "No."
Gong Shuwu pointed to the sun in the sky.
"Four hours."
He's here to look for someone.
On weekdays, Bai Su always goes to work on time.
But she has not been seen today, and no one has seen her after asking around. Gong Shuwu was worried that as a woman she might encounter danger that she could not handle outside, so he followed her to look for her.
I felt relieved when I saw that Bai Su's training had come to a temporary end.
Bai Su didn't understand what he meant at first, but when she looked up where Gong Shuwu pointed, she was shocked to find that the sun was in the wrong position.
She was so engrossed in cultivation that she spent four full hours!
This is almost impossible to happen!
Her previous job was a thief.
The timing is always precise.
Only then did he realize that Gong Shuwu was looking for him. He couldn't help but feel ashamed for having made Gong Shuwu run so long. But at the same time, he began to wonder in his heart - how could he have made such a mistake
She felt that she was in a better state than ever before this morning. Specifically, her body felt lighter, as if the invisible restraint of the ground on her had loosened up a lot. Her sword strikes became more powerful. She could strike out three swords instead of one in the past... The moves that used to be difficult to connect were now as smooth as flowing water, and she could do them with ease...
Bai Su blinked.
I realized later that there was something wrong with my vision.
There was such a long distance between her and Gong Shuwu that she could only see his face before, but now, if she concentrated, she could see the fine hairs on his face and the slight rise and fall of his chest.
Bai Su raised her hands to cover her eyes.
Not only her eyes, but her ears and nose also seemed to have problems... She didn't feel panic, but instead a possibility arose in her heart that made her blood boil with excitement. Could it be that she—
Gong Shuwu's chuckle came from my ear.
Although she was far away, she could hear it clearly.
"Congratulations, the last noble scholar Bai Su."