Chapter 9

Shangguan Yong stepped onto the stool, "Xian Di, are you surprised to see the three of us? Haha, you actually spent almost four months at the workshop. I wonder if you really got your head knocked silly, to go and learn those lowly trades!"

"That's right, that's right, Xian Di, you've really worried your big brother." Yuan Zhao, who looked a bit like a young boy, patted Li Xian's shoulder like a little adult, "Because I was worried that your brain might be damaged, I prepared some dragon blood for you, guaranteed to make your blood boil. How about it, are you moved?"

I'm so damn moved that I want to hit someone!

Finally, the more astute Zhang Quan squinted his eyes and spoke, "Xian Di, it looks like you've woken up. It's really a pleasant surprise for your big brother. You don't know, the lantern business is booming. The surrounding countries like Cai, Chen, and Qi are all buying our lanterns at high prices.

Ha ha, the lanterns that cost only 10 taels of silver here have already risen to 10 taels of gold in the surrounding countries, and even then, there's a high demand. My orders are already booked for next year.

Especially the mirrors, they're practically worth their weight in gold. You haven't seen the scene of trading mirrors; there's no haggling, just a balance scale. One side for the mirror, the other for gold, and the deal is made when they balance.

Hahaha, I've been in business for so long, but this is the first time I've seen such a transaction!"

Upon hearing this, Li Xian suddenly frowned, "You've raised the price tenfold?"

Shangguan Yong shouted, "What, Xian Di, do you think it's too little? Well, such exquisite items shouldn't just be raised tenfold. But we have to take it step by step; the price will eventually rise."

"That's right, that's right, Xian Di, don't worry, we'll raise it to a hundredfold eventually!" Yuan Zhao had a grand goal.

Only Zhang Quan noticed the problem, "What's wrong, Xian Di, did we price it too high?"

Li Xian sighed, "Can you guys stop calling me Xian Di?"

The three of them said in unison, "No way!"

Li Xian's lips twitched; this had happened countless times, and all his efforts to change it had failed.

After some more playful banter, Zhang Quan kept asking for reasons, and Li Xian finally spoke, "If I just tell you, you won't understand. Let's go to the outer city, and I'll explain as we walk."

"Alright." The four of them finally walked out the main gate. As Li Xian left, he saw several cultivators using magic to repair the walls, quickly restoring them to their original state. Seeing this, Li Xian sighed again, thinking that it seemed a bit difficult to develop technology in the world of cultivation. Just this magic trick alone could make concrete cry in the mountains.

All the way to the main street, Li Xian was still worried about concrete technology.

"Wow, a beauty!" Zhang Quan exclaimed dramatically.

Li Xian felt a deep, instinctive desire surge within him. Before his consciousness could react, his body had already looked up. Indeed, it was a woman, but only a decent one.

Seeing Li Xian's reaction, Zhang Quan and the other two burst into laughter.

Li Xian didn't laugh; he realized for the first time that the original consciousness of this body might not have completely disappeared. He needed to be careful not to do anything he would regret. But he couldn't tell anyone, so he had to figure it out on his own.

However, after Zhang Quan's "reminder," Li Xian knew he couldn't be too silent and started telling some jokes, making the three of them laugh heartily.

"Chang'e flew to the moon with a rabbit, actually to bring carrots? Damn, Xian Di, you're really talented. But let's not push this topic too far, or the gods might hear and give you carrots."

"Oh, oh, oh, a single kiss can break a princess's curse, not because the method is right, but because it's too shameless, making the princess's blood boil and break the curse? Hahaha, that's a good joke."

"The greatest sorrow in the world: ascending to heaven in broad daylight—enemies, meeting an old friend in a foreign land—creditors, a long drought followed by a drop of rain—a single drop, the wedding night—next door."

"I may not be the most suave, I may not be the wisest, I may not be the strongest. Hello, my name is Wei Bihui."

Li Xian's jokes made even himself laugh uncontrollably, let alone the three "country bumpkins" who had never been online.

"Haha, I'm laughing so hard I can't breathe, let me rest a bit." Yuan Zhao leaned against the wall, laughing like a shrimp.

Shangguan Yong, speaking without thinking, said, "Damn, why don't I have the surname Wei, whether it's the Wei of a guard, the Wei of a position, the Wei of fear, the Wei of a grand councilor, or the Wei of a palace gate, any of them would do."

Zhang Quan laughed strangely, "Shangguan Yong, would you dare say that in front of your father?"

"Um... hehe..." Shangguan Yong laughed foolishly, not daring to say such a thing in front of his father, or he'd be beaten to the point of internal injury.

Li Xian quickly smoothed things over, "Alright, alright, let me talk about the pricing and sales strategy of the goods. Listen carefully, I'll only say this once.

Zhang Quan, you have the most business experience. If we classify people by wealth into six levels: destitute, subsistence, well-off, wealthy, extremely wealthy, and unimaginably wealthy, which level do you think would buy luxury goods?"

Zhang Quan didn't even think, "Well-off and above would buy."

"Then which level has the greatest purchasing power?"

"Of course, the unimaginably wealthy."

"Wrong!" Li Xian immediately corrected, "The well-off and wealthy have the greatest purchasing power."

"Hmm?" Zhang Quan frowned and thought for a moment, then praised, "Not bad, Xian Di is right."

The conversation left Shangguan Yong and Yuan Zhao completely confused.

Li Xian didn't bother to explain, just continued, "I have a new sales method called brand sales. Top-tier businesses sell brands, while lower-tier businesses sell products.

What is a brand? In simple terms, it's reputation. And reputation mainly comes from—credibility.

Specifically, credibility includes quality. I must ensure the quality of the goods. Do you understand this?"

Shangguan Yong said casually, "Hey, Xian Di, you're treating us like fools, of course we understand."

Zhang Quan, however, was serious, "Xian Di, what else besides quality?"

"Two more points. First, pricing. We must have clear prices, whether in the north or south of Daxia, east or west, domestically or internationally, the same product must have the same price, treating everyone fairly.

Of course, if there are transportation costs, we must inform the customers of the transportation price.

The third point is service. All our lanterns have a one-year warranty. Within one year, if there's a quality issue, even on the 364th day, we must replace it with a new, brand-new one. Our customers are not ordinary people but wealthy individuals who care most about face.

Of course, if someone deliberately damages the product, we must take decisive action.

How about it?"

"Xian Di, you're amazing!" Zhang Quan was speechless with admiration.

Li Xian sighed, "Gentlemen, the jade lantern doesn't have much technical content and might soon have imitations..."

"Who dares to imitate, I'll lead troops to investigate them!" Shangguan Yong was furious.

"What if it's from abroad?" Li Xian's question left Shangguan Yong speechless.

After a pause, Li Xian continued, "To make our business last, we can't just sell products; we must build a brand and establish our own brand.

So, my idea is to set up chain stores with the same name, the same decoration, the same color, and staff in the same uniform, using the same etiquette to serve customers. The prices of the goods must be consistent and non-negotiable, and the service must be consistent.

The transportation costs of the goods must be clearly communicated to the customers.

Any excess charges previously collected must be refunded; if the customer wants the product, they must decide for themselves."

"Clap, clap..." Suddenly, clapping came from behind.

The four turned to see a man in his thirties walking slowly with a smile, "Sorry, I've been listening all the way, it's really impressive.

I am a strategist, Xu Ren, and I want to serve the young master."