Chapter Ninety-Eight: Huachun Tower

Weren faced the afternoon by hiding in the back courtyard. When it was time for supper, he instructed Sun Peng, “Tonight you will have to rest late. Someone may come looking for us.”

At once Sun Peng understood. “Is the young master really planning to sell them strong liquor?”

Weren nodded. “Of course. Since we are in the wine business, how could we refuse to sell wine?”

“Then what price should we set?” Sun Peng asked again.

“We want to promote our strong liquor and seize the market, so the price must not be set too high. Take the selling price of the strong liquor at Dream Inn and cut it by thirty percent; that will be the wholesale price. Of course, there is still room to negotiate downward. You can allow another ten or twenty percent off for bulk buyers, but at the very least it can only be priced at fifty percent of the Dream Inn’s retail price as the wholesale rate,” Weren said. “If the wine is not expensive, more people will drink it. What they are buying is low-proof strong liquor, and in the first place it is not premium stock. Selling it a little cheaper to these large restaurants and taverns is also a way of having them help us promote it.”

“I understand.” Sun Peng nodded. “Young master, should I find some people to spread the word that Nine Inns and One Pavilion have acknowledged us as the leader?”

“Spread it, of course. Say that Nine Inns and One Pavilion admit they are no match for Dream Inn, so they have taken the initiative to surrender, recommending Dream Inn as the leader in hopes of obtaining strong liquor from our hands,” Weren said with a nod and a smile. “But after it has been circulating for a few days, you must go out and clarify it. Say those rumors are untrue. In fact, Nine Inns and One Pavilion have a very good relationship with Dream Inn, and there was never any talk of surrendering at all. Dream Inn’s strong liquor can be supplied to any tavern or restaurant, but production is limited, so orders must be placed in advance with a deposit. Then supply will be arranged in the order that reservations were made. Their recommendation of Dream Inn as leader has nothing to do with that. Also tell Nine Inns and One Pavilion not to let malicious rumors, coming from who knows where, damage the harmony between us.”

Sun Peng thought it over briefly, then slapped his hands together and laughed. “Understood! Young master, what a brilliant scheme!”

After they finished eating, Wang Xiaosui and the head cook were still busy up front, and the clamor inside Dream Inn had not yet subsided. Only when curfew drew near would the guests be seen out and the doors closed.

Sure enough, not long after, Sun Peng led a man to the back courtyard.

“Young master, this is sent by the owner of Flourishing Spring Tower. He is the chief steward of Flourishing Spring Tower, Steward Yuan Dekai.” Sun Peng introduced him before Weren.

“I have heard from my master that the owner of Dream Inn is actually a young gentleman. Truly, youth surpasses age in valor! I am Yuan Dekai, steward of Flourishing Spring Tower. Greetings, Young Master Weren!” Yuan Dekai bowed respectfully and spoke.

“My friend Liu praises me too highly,” Weren said with a smile. “Steward Yuan, please.”

Once inside, Weren smiled and said first, “If I am not mistaken, Steward Yuan has come for the strong liquor?”

Yuan Dekai nodded. “After returning home, my master praised Young Master Weren to the skies, and regarded the chance to cooperate with you and with Dream Inn as something of the utmost importance. As soon as he returned, he prepared gifts and sent me to pay my respects. Dream Inn’s strong liquor is truly extraordinary, and our Flourishing Spring Tower, as the largest restaurant in Luoyang, sells more wine in a day than any other place in the city—heh, I do not boast lightly. If Young Master Weren is willing to sell strong liquor to the outside world, then our Flourishing Spring Tower would certainly be your best choice.”

“Flourishing Spring Tower does indeed live up to its reputation,” Weren said with a nod, smiling, but he said no more.

Seeing this, Yuan Dekai understood that Weren was waiting for him to lay out his own credentials.

So he continued, “There is Flourishing Spring Tower in the capital of Chang’an, in the eastern capital of Luoyang, in the western capital of Fengxiang, in the southern capital of Chengdu, and in the northern capital of Taiyuan. Among the five capitals, our towers and eateries are among the very best. If Young Master Weren wishes to spread the strong liquor business quickly, cooperating with Flourishing Spring Tower would be of great benefit to you.”

“Heh, as expected of Brother Liu—he saw at once that I wanted to expand the strong liquor business,” Weren said. “Yes, Dream Inn exists only in Luoyang, and in the short term it will not be opened elsewhere. If we use Flourishing Spring Tower, then the strong liquor can quickly be spread throughout the five capitals. But I had not intended to move so fast; I still prefer to go step by step. That is more steady. Besides, today during the banquet I already said in front of everyone that since we are all brothers, whoever I give it to will offend the others. Better to speak plainly in business: let everyone bid for the stock, and whoever offers more will get it first. In that way it is business as business, and no one’s feelings are hurt.”

“Ha ha, Young Master Weren speaks truly,” Yuan Dekai said, seeing that Weren still would not give a firm answer. “But cooperating with our Flourishing Spring Tower is not only a matter of money. To tell the truth, our Flourishing Spring Tower has channels in the imperial palace—not the sort bought through endless pleading, bowing, and throwing money around.”

“Oh?” Weren lifted his head. “Then what sort are they?”

“The kind that belong to family,” Yuan Dekai said with a smile. “So by cooperating with our Flourishing Spring Tower, not only can you quickly expand your strong liquor business to the five capitals, but with us at your side, we can also block many troubles on your behalf.”

Weren laughed, rubbing his fingers together as he spoke. “Ha ha ha! No wonder the moment I met Brother Liu, I felt he was no ordinary man. Steward Yuan has even told me this much—that sincerity of yours, I have seen with my own eyes. Very well! Since that is the case, I will supply Flourishing Spring Tower with the strong liquor. As for what is said outside, Steward Yuan... heh, you know how it should be explained, yes?”

“Rest assured, Young Master Weren. Since our Flourishing Spring Tower is among the first to obtain strong liquor from Dream Inn, it naturally came through bidding,” Yuan Dekai said with a laugh.

“Good,” Weren replied. “Then I will tell Steward Yuan directly: the strong liquor sold to other restaurants and taverns is cheaper than what I sell inside Dream Inn, because the quantities are larger. But the cost is there for all to see, so my original wholesale price was set at thirty percent off the Dream Inn retail price. The gentlemen of Nine Inns and One Pavilion recommended me as the leader, and I had originally intended to let it go for half a percent less. But since Steward Yuan is so sincere, and I also wish to make a friend of Brother Liu, I will give you another ten percent off, selling it to you at forty percent below the Dream Inn price. That is almost at cost. Surely I must make a little profit? As for others, I hope Steward Yuan will not disclose this.”

“Hahaha! Young Master Weren is indeed a straightforward man!” Seeing Weren relent, Yuan Dekai laughed. “Young Master Weren, you have a sharp eye. Choosing our Flourishing Spring Tower as a partner is a great blessing for both our establishments.”