Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 532 Vision
Min Duhai voiced his question, and Shang Wenchao picked up his teacup, took a sip, and didn't rush to explain.

"Brother Shang."

Min Duhai urged, and Shang Wenchao finally said, "Since you haven't figured it out, why didn't you join those people in making a scene?"

“I trust Brother Shang’s judgment,” Min Duhai said. “How have I made money these past few years? I’ve always followed Brother Shang’s lead. Whatever Brother Shang does, I do too, and I’ve never made a mistake.”

“It’s the same this time.”

Min Duhai wasn't very smart, but he knew how to adapt. Knowing how capable Shang Wenchao was, he followed behind Shang Wenchao, taking a bite of any extra food he could find and helping him out when he encountered trouble. Gradually, he became friends with Shang Wenchao, who was also willing to give him some pointers.

Shang Wenchao smiled slightly and said, "Have you gone to the South City Wharf to take a look?"

“I saw it,” Min Duhai said. “Didn’t a lot of merchants gather there recently? I even ate at the restaurants at the South City Wharf and had my staff and boatmen stay at the post station.”

"That perfume shop is really great. I've been there several times, and it's much more comfortable than bathing at home. The staff there are also very skilled. After being massaged by them for a while, most of the fatigue from the journey immediately disappears."

After listening to all this, Shang Wenchao asked, "And then?"

Min Duhai looked at Shang Wenchao and tried hard to recall: "I also went to Baode Temple, but I didn't see the reliquary. Instead, I saw a piece of Buddhist porcelain that was fired at the same time as the reliquary in a pawnshop."

The pawnshop finally acquired a piece of Buddhist porcelain, which they then enshrined on the Buddhist shrine, refusing to sell it no matter how much money others offered.

"That's all?" Shang Wenchao asked.

Min Duhai shook his head: "That's... all for now!"

"What did you see?" Shang Wenchao asked again.

This time, Min Duhai didn't give it a second thought.

Shang Wenchao sighed: "Haven't you noticed that 80% of the shops at the South City Wharf benefit from coal? Whether it's perfume shops, restaurants, or even vinegar shops there, they all burn coal."

"And the Buddhist porcelain you mentioned was also fired in a coal kiln."

Min Duhai said, "I do know that, but what does that have to do with Brother Shang's support for Madam Xie?"

Not joining those people in causing trouble is a way of supporting Lady Xie.

Min Duhai initially thought there wouldn't be many such merchants, but he discovered that quite a few merchants followed closely behind Shang Wenchao, signing new contracts with Madam Xie. Among them were six or seven people he could name, who were quite well-known in the area.

"Could it be that Brother Shang has already made a deal with someone else?"

Shang Wenchao shook his head: "I didn't discuss it with anyone. The merchants following me are probably in the same boat as me. We are optimistic about Madam Xie, not because we were instructed by anyone. We are just optimistic about Madam Xie herself and the businesses she runs."

Min Duhai realized: "You mean the perfume shops..."

Shang Wenchao nodded: "How did Madam Xie manage to establish herself in Bianjing in just a few months?"

Min Duhai tentatively asked, "Coal?"

Shang Wenchao put down his teacup: "Whether coal is useful or not, and what it can be used for, Madam Xie showed us at the South City Wharf."

“We could make a fortune just by copying their methods, so why go against Madam Xie? Everyone says Madam Xie is just a woman and doesn’t have much ability. But are any of those people at the South City Wharf genuine?”

Min Duhai shook his head. Shang Wenchao said, "First discover the benefits of coal and put it to use. At least we'll be one step ahead of others. Right now, there aren't many people in Daliang who know more about coal than Madam Xie. If we ask her for advice, we can benefit a lot. Not to mention several boatloads of porcelain, even a year's worth of porcelain can't compare to this."

Min Duhai's eyes lit up: "Thank you for teaching Brother Shang, Madam Xie?"

Shang Wenchao nodded: "My clan is in Qingzhou, which is also in the north. There should be coal mines there. After I deliver these porcelains, I plan to take people back to Qingzhou."

As he spoke, Shang Wenchao reached into his pocket, took out a few sheets of paper, and handed them to Min Duhai.

That's the style of a coal kiln.

They all sell porcelain and own porcelain kilns. It wouldn't be difficult for them to build a coal kiln in a place with abundant coal.

Even if you can't build a porcelain kiln, you can still open a perfume shop.

Shang Wenchao said, "The construction of the perfume shop and the building of the stoves are things we've never seen before. If we do it ourselves, we might not be able to do it well. If we open it together with Madam Xie, we won't have these worries."

“I will pay for the shop and materials, and I will leave the repairs and building of the stove to Madam Xie. After the perfume shop is opened, we will split the profits 30/70 within the first five years, 20/80 from the sixth to the tenth year, and after ten years Madam Xie will only take 10% of the profits. During this period, the replacement and repair of the stove will be done by Madam Xie’s people, and I will not have to pay any more money.”

"Wait," Min Duhai grabbed Shang Wenchao, "Who's the second and who's the eighth?"

“Madam Xie will take 20%, and I will take 80%,” Shang Wenchao said. “After ten years, Madam Xie will take 10% of the profits.”

Min Duhai paused for a moment, then immediately said, "Let's go back now... and finalize this with Madam. Let's open a few more perfume shops."

"The porcelain kiln was also opened together with the old lady."

Shang Wenchao patted Min Duhai on the shoulder: "There's no rush. We need to take the porcelain back, then take some people and money to look for and buy land. Once we've got a general idea of ​​what's going on, it won't be too late to come back to find Madam Xie."

Min Duhai grabbed Shang Wenchao's wrist: "What if Madam Xie changes her mind? What if she decides not to cooperate with us and does it herself... then we'll have been happy for nothing."

Shang Wenchao shook his head: "Why did Madam Xie set up those shops at the South City Wharf?"

“When merchants from outside come to Bianjing and hear that the head of the trade has changed, they must go to the South City Wharf. By seeing the shops and the crowds coming and going at the South City Wharf, they can know the abilities of Madam Xie.”

Min Duhai nodded: "Yes."

Shang Wenchao said, "A capable person is never afraid of being watched. In other words, she wants to stand higher and let more people see her."

"So she's not afraid of trouble in the porcelain trade. The more people discover the shops at the South City Wharf, the better, so she can choose merchants to open shops together. That's Madam Xie's goal, how could she possibly refuse to do this business?"

Min Duhai couldn't help but smile: "However, as you said, many merchants will be willing to do this business, so Madam Xie can choose someone else."

Shang Wenchao shook his head and said, "Haven't we already seized the initiative?"

As he spoke, he pointed to the ships outside.

“We’ll take the porcelain and leave Bianjing first, which will solve Madam Xie’s immediate problem. That should be enough to make Madam Xie choose us.”

Min Duhai praised Shang Wenchao's abilities.

This is why Min Duhai followed behind Shang Wenchao.

In the past, when he relied on himself, by the time he realized the benefits, others had already gotten there first. What he lacked compared to others was his vision and insight.