Chapter 24

Sure, here is the translation:

---

Nodding, Yan Shi's calligraphy is the best and most valuable, of course, it should be kept for oneself. It's not used on a daily basis; a personal inscription by a renowned scholar would be a great honor to display. Master's calligraphy is upright and grand, so I'll give it to Xu Qixian. Xu Qixian's father is also a scholar, so I need to leave something for him. I still need to rely on their channels, so I should make sure to give something appropriate. I might as well get one for Xu Qixian's uncle as well. If my guess is correct, Xu Qixian's uncle is the true controller of the Xu family. To get things done, I need his approval. That makes four fans. For the remaining two, I'll pick the ones I like for my own use, and the one left over will, of course, be for the most flamboyant person in the academy. Xia Hongsheng muttered to himself and quickly arranged the six fans in his hand.

---

That Bai Jianzhi, always wearing white, thinking he looks suave, carrying a scroll of books wherever he goes to show off his elegance and talent. He's a living advertisement! Just imagine, once he gets the fan, how much more flamboyant he'll become and how much he'll show off. His family has properties in Luozhou and Luoyang, and they are never short of guests. He also likes to gather followers and enjoys being flattered. Once he gets the fan, it will spread much faster than if it were given to the scholars.

---

Xia Hongsheng went to find Bai Jianzhi, who was surrounded by his followers, sitting in a pavilion at the back of the academy, talking elegantly. It was unknown what he was boasting about. From a distance, Bai Jianzhi saw Xia Hongsheng walking towards the pavilion and stood up, taking a few steps forward, saying, "Junior Brother Xia, why do you have time to come see me today? By the way, are you satisfied with the blacksmith I found for you a few days ago?"

---

Bai Jianzhi deliberately raised his voice so everyone around could hear. Xia Hongsheng smiled inwardly, thinking he was still just a young man, quite immature. Xia Hongsheng walked up, bowed, and said, "I came today to thank Senior Brother Bai. The tea leaves are excellent, and the blacksmith's skills are superb. Senior Brother Bai knows that I am poor and have nothing good to offer, so I made this folding fan and had a scholar inscribe it. I hope Senior Brother Bai will accept it."

---

As he spoke, Xia Hongsheng took out the fan, opened it with a flick, fanned a few times, and then closed it with a snap, presenting it to Bai Jianzhi.

---

The opening and closing of the fan, combined with the flowing calligraphy on the fan, created a transcendent and elegant aura.

---

All the students around were captivated, and Bai Jianzhi's eyes gleamed with desire, as if he couldn't wait to grab it.

---

"Junior Brother Xia, this... this is really..." Bai Jianzhi's eyes were fixed on the fan, and he unconsciously swallowed, revealing his inner thoughts.

---

"Senior Brother Bai helped me before, and I hope you will accept this fan without refusal." Xia Hongsheng timely pushed the fan closer to Bai Jianzhi's face.

---

Bai Jianzhi struggled to look away, forced a calm smile, and said, "Hehe, since Junior Brother Xia is so determined, I will not refuse."

---

"Then, Senior Brother Bai, I have some matters with Master, so I will take my leave." Xia Hongsheng handed the fan to Bai Jianzhi, bid farewell, and turned to leave. Not far away, he heard Bai Jianzhi unfolding the fan and the subsequent chorus of praise and flattery. Xia Hongsheng smiled, knowing that once he talked to Xu Qixian's family, the fans could be sold along with the tea.

---

Leaving Bai Jianzhi, Xia Hongsheng returned to his study and saw Xu Qixian wandering outside. Seeing Xia Hongsheng, Xu Qixian quickly walked over. Xia Hongsheng was about to take out the fan when Xu Qixian spoke first, "Junior Brother, I have relayed your message to my father, and he has invited you to his home for a discussion."

---

"Alright, I will come after school." Xia Hongsheng nodded.

---

Xu Qixian looked at Xia Hongsheng with a surprised and suspicious expression, looking him up and down, and said, "Junior Brother Jing Shi, how did you know my family has properties? When I asked today, my father finally told me the truth. It turns out we do have properties, all managed under Uncle Fu's name!"

---

Xu Qixian's face was strange, unsure if he was angry that his father had kept him in the dark.

---

"Brother Xu, there's no need to be upset. I believe Uncle Xu just wanted you to focus on your studies and not get involved in these matters. After all, scholars engaging in business is not something to be proud of, and your uncle is also a government official, so it wouldn't be good for the family's reputation." Xia Hongsheng, skilled in reading people, comforted Xu Qixian.

---

Xu Qixian nodded, and Xia Hongsheng took out a fan and gave it to him. Xu Qixian's reaction was almost identical to Bai Jianzhi's, repeatedly opening and closing the fan, standing with his hands behind his back, trying to look like a worldly sage, but lacking the confidence, making him look somewhat comical.

---

In the afternoon, with few classes, the two went to Xu Qixian's home after school. They descended from Kuaiqiu Mountain and got into the same carriage. Looking at the wheels, Xia Hongsheng decided not to ride, remembering the bumpy ride that made his stomach churn, and he didn't want to experience it again.

---

Upon arriving at Xu Qixian's home, Xu Qixian led Xia Hongsheng directly to the study, where his father was already waiting.

---

"Junior pays respects to Uncle Xu." In the study, Xia Hongsheng respectfully greeted Xu Qixian's father.

---

"Junior, no need for formalities, please sit." Xu's father smiled, gestured for Xia Hongsheng to sit, and then coughed lightly. A maid entered with a pot of hot water. Xu's father took a pinch of tea from a wooden box and placed it in a cup. The maid poured two cups and placed them in front of them. After the maid left, Xu's father sighed and said, "Junior Jing Shi, I truly cannot fathom you. At such a young age, you have such sharp intellect. If your previous poems and essays were due to natural talent, that could be understood. But the Beggar's Chicken, oil-splashed noodles, and rice wine, I have traveled far and wide and have never seen anything like them. Not to mention the snack cart, folding table, and folding stool, which the servants found very convenient in the market. Your senior brother Xu Qixian played with them and said they were as ingenious as the ancient Lu Ban. I hear you plan to start a physics interest group in the academy? ... Yes, the name is quite unusual ... The study of physics, which I am not unfamiliar with, emphasizes experience. How did you, at such a young age, gain this experience?"

---

Xia Hongsheng bowed and smiled, "Uncle Xu, the study of physics is my interest. Starting an interest group is just to find a few classmates who share my passion. Uncle Xu, there's nothing difficult in the world; as long as you think hard, you can find a way. My sister-in-law goes to the market every day with a lot of things to carry. I saw carriages carrying people and carts carrying goods, and thought, why not make the carriage bigger and lower, put it on a cart, and load the materials? Since we don't have a cart, I thought of making a handle to push it, and that's it. Later, as more customers came, they needed a place to sit. My sister-in-law couldn't carry ten tables alone, so I thought, if the tables and stools could be folded and stored in the snack cart, wouldn't that solve the problem? That's how these things came about, Uncle Xu. There's nothing complicated about it; they all come from simple and common things. The key is that some people think of it, and some don't. You see, I don't have the skills of a carpenter, but I had the idea, and when I told Uncle Zhang, he made it. If I hadn't had the idea, it might have taken decades for someone to make it. So, ideas and plans are very important, Uncle Xu. Often, without an idea, nothing gets done. Therefore, Uncle Xu, I believe that providing the idea for the tea processing is a significant contribution, and I also provided the technology, so I think I should get fifty percent. What do you think?"

---

Xu's father was initially stunned, then burst into laughter, pointing at Xia Hongsheng, "What a silver-tongued devil."

---

"Uncle Xu, I can guarantee that the tea processing technology will only be provided to the Xu family. Tea can be divided into different grades, and the processed tea is no different. The market is large, from high officials to common people. Even the tea dust can be pressed into bricks and sold to the military. Ordinary tea can be sold in small quantities, but high-quality tea should be sold through high-end channels, with emphasis on packaging and style. The best quality tea should be sold in limited quantities, with a fixed price, making tea not just a drink but a symbol of status. The best of the best should be so rare that even with a thousand strings of coins, one might not be able to get it, making it a great honor. In terms of service, buyers of high-quality tea are bronze customers, with a set of services. Buyers of the best quality are gold customers, and buyers of the best of the best are diamond customers, who should be treated with the utmost care. The more they spend, the more prestige they gain. Uncle Xu, ordinary tea and ordinary people won't bring in much money; they won't spend a lot to gain prestige. The high-quality tea is where the profit lies. Don't underestimate these people; they will spend whatever it takes to outdo each other and gain prestige. Don't look down on them; they are our source of wealth!" Xia Hongsheng spoke eloquently, outlining the strategy for high-end luxury goods.

---

At first, Xu Qixian's father listened with a smile, but as he continued, his smile faded, and he was left in shock. Business could be done this way? He felt a sudden clarity and became confident about the future of the tea business, eager to implement the "high-end strategy" immediately.

---

Xia Hongsheng took a sip of the tea in front of him. These were common tactics from the future, used by countless merchants with great success. Like mooncakes, a box of four could sell for thousands, while the cost of the mooncakes themselves was minimal. The value was in the packaging and the prestige. Human psychology is the same; this strategy would work even better in the Tang Dynasty.

---

Seeing Xia Hongsheng calmly sipping his tea, Xu Qixian's father suddenly broke into a sweat. Is this child a demon from Laojun Mountain, who ate the original Xia Hongsheng and transformed into him?!

---

Page AD starts

Page AD ends