novelThe Grand Moneymaking Scheme
| ← Ch.005 | Ch.007 → |
The Grand Moneymaking Scheme
Beast meat was rich in nutrition, allowing the body to grow stronger, and was even able to increase a person's magical power. Cooking this meat required some special skills, thus ordinary people would not dare to eat this meat. Even those with a high level of cultivation would still strictly limit their consumption of the meat. Failure to do so could easily harm their body!
Chu Tian's magical cooking techniques, however, could resolve almost all of those problems!
For the first time!
The idea of doing something big popped up inside Meng Ying Ying's mind.
Never in her life had she felt so full of strength; so much passion! She felt an entrepreneurial passion in her. In the past, this was impossible.
How could it be so easy to start a business?
JieJie is intrepid, yet she is also so cautious and solemn, as if always walking on thin ice.
Meng Ying Ying wasn't like her sister who had poise and wisdom, nor was she astute and cunning like a merchant; however, she has the mysterious Chu Tian. Through her intuition, she became aware of the broad market and the amazing business opportunities!
This was the kind of opportunity that rarely, if ever, comes by.
Meng Ying Ying was currently at the lowest point of her life so far, after being both expelled and humiliated by Han Shao Long. She wanted to regain face, and do something big for everyone to see!
Chu Tian did not object and asked: "How do you plan to go about it?"
"We will go sell steak at the square!" Meng Ying Ying ambitiously said: "We'll split the profits, fifty-fifty!"
When he heard these words, Chu Tian almost spurted out his tea.
This psycho missy sure is something! You will only see someone as ignorant as her only once every hundred years!
Do you not see the commercial value of the light bulb?
Do you not notice the business potential of the fan array?
She just happens to ignore all those and only thought about selling steak.
Sure, with this advanced cooking technique, there are indeed plenty of ways to earn money, such as licensing the technology and developing a franchise. All of these are definitely good ways to earn money, however, this missy has thought of the stupidest idea of them all - street vending.
Whatever!
It's fine, as long as she doesn't keep clamouring for a return.
Tian Nan Square was at the centre of the city. It was also located near the Mercenary Guild, Scrivener Guild, and the Pharmacist Guild, hence, it was a very lively place.
Meng Ying Ying was an impatient person. She immediately took 10 gold coins and purchased 200 moonlight yak steak, along with some necessary seasoning. She then loaded other necessities from home like tables and chairs into a beast wagon and departed towards the Tian Nan Square together with Chu Tian.
"What would be an appropriate price for the steak?" Meng Ying Ying showed a difficult expression while sitting in the wagon, "The fresh steak we bought from the market cost us 5 silver coins each!"
Chu Tian suggested: "In my opinion, 1 gold coin each!"
Meng Ying Ying was slightly shocked: "Will people buy it if it's so expensive?"
One gold coin is equal to 100 silver coins or 10, 000 copper coins. An average household of three people would have a monthly expenditure of about 20 to 30 silver coins. The four year tuition fee for Meng Ying Ying to study under the famous Zhang Li Qing was 2000 gold coins.
Even though the moonlight yak was classified as a beast, it was only a level 1 beast. It had only cost Meng Ying Ying 10 gold coins to buy 200 slices of fresh steak!
At this price, just one steak would cost as much as ordinary people's two month of expenditure!
Will people really buy it at such an extravagant price?
Chu Tian said: "Normal people don't eat beast meat. The people who eat beast meat are the people with money, such as practitioners and merchants. This amount of money is nothing to them."
Chu Tian saw that Meng Ying Ying was still worried, so he raised his tone and said: "We have a valuable commodity, and we also have a monopoly on this. If we don't get ten times the investment, then it's not worth setting up a stall. Trust me on this, it will be fine! But don't forget your promise that you will give me half of the profits."
After Meng Ying Ying heard this, she immediately patted her chest and righteously said: "Don't worry, I Meng Ying Ying will always stay true to her words. From our profit, I will not take even a single copper more than we agreed upon."
............
Tian Nan Square.
Tall palm trees towered like pillars on both sides of the road. Every palm tree was garnished with huge fruits hanging all over it. This kind of palm-tree was called Solar Palm. Their fruits could absorb light during the day and then emit it during the night, illuminating the whole road. Those palm trees serve as the street lights in this world.
Flowerbeds and lawns were filled with different types of light-emitting plants such as Moonlight Mushrooms and Twilight Blossoms, creating colourful spectacles.
High-rise buildings and shop tops were decorated with colourful shimmering vines. The colour of the light emitted by these vines had shades of five to six different colours. When these vines interlaced together, they produced the same effect as neon lights. Some people even used the vines to create billboards.
Pedestrians strolling on the street carried pumpkin lights and jellyfish lights.
Pumpkin light was made from a plant called "Daylight Pumpkin". When daylight pumpkin matures, it is soaked in a special liquid in order to increase its lifespan. The daylight pumpkin" absorbs the light element during the day and releases it back during the night. It acts similar to a lantern when held in hand.
Jellyfish light was actually a beast creature. It has very little magical power and low combat capacity. It floats around in the water emitting lights like a firefly. It breeds fast so it is very suitable to be made into a lighting tool to provide light during the night.
The streets of Tian Nan city were filled with beast wagons. Pulling those wagons were a variety of beasts, such as giant lizards, giant oxes and other various beasts. All of these things created a very mystifying scene.
Such was this world's urban night scenery. A mix of half-plant, half-city, creating a scene where nature and city life intertwine.
Meng Ying Ying came late.
All of the best spots for setting up stalls were already occupied. She could only find a location in the outer perimeter to set up venue.
"Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! I'll set up the umbrella! You go hang the electric lights!"
The moment the light bulb lit up, it attracted the attention of many passers-by. The light emitted was very bright and stable when compared to biological lights or crystal lights. However, those people just could not make out what it was.
Meng Ying Ying wore long shirt and long trousers, she fastened her scarf and put on a mask over her mouth. She was a bit nervous; however, when she knew that success or failure was hinging on this business, she immediately yelled: "Selling Moonlight yak steak! Delicious and nutritious, one gold coin each!"
Meng Ying Ying yelled a few times unblushingly.
With the presence of light bulbs and her beauty, the number of surrounding people had quickly increased.
Meng Ying Ying began to notice a depressing phenomenon. Even though the number of surrounding people kept increasing, no one was buying anything. Meng Ying Ying had become a bit anxious because of this."Don't tell me, I won't be able to sell a single one? If my first business is to fail this badly, then the impact would be too much for me to bear".
"To sell it this expensive, what is so special about this steak?"
A middle-aged man who was wearing a helmet, carrying a long sword, and a bow on his back came over and asked.
Meng Ying Ying had yet to open her mouth before Chu Tian had already said: "Since uncle is our first guest, your meal will be on us. If uncle finds this satisfying, then please help generate some publicity."
"Free? Something that's this good? Then I don't mind if I do."
This man was a mercenary that had just returned from a mission. Mercenaries were usually never short on money. So, when he saw someone selling beast meat, he most likely came and asked out of curiosity; after all, he had probably never seen somebody sell beast meat before. The result of this was him getting free food, so when such an opportunity came by, one would be stupid to miss it.
Chu Tian signalled at Meng Ying Ying with his eyes.
"Ok, please wait a moment!"
Meng Ying Ying laid a steak into the pot and carefully cooked the steak; then personally delivered it to the mercenary.
The cooked steak in the plate had caused the mercenary to become suspicious. After many missions and having killed beast himself, he was well aware of the fact that beast meat was difficult to cook. This girl is like a magician performing magic and prepared a cooked steak in only a few minutes. This meat can't be fake right?
The mercenary cut a small piece of meat and carefully put it into his mouth.
"Sss..."
The mercenary immediately wrinkled his brow.
This made Meng Ying Ying nervous as she thought it was not to the mercenary's appetite. The mercenary did not give any judgments and immediately began shovelling piece after piece into his mouth. His pace became faster and faster, and in less than three minutes, the entire steak was already in his stomach.
"Good! Good! Good!" The mercenary stood up and wiped his mouth. He laughed loudly: "This meat is excellent, well worth the money!"
Meng Ying Ying was overtaken with joy after hearing these words: "Thank you uncle!"
Even though there was no profit, to win people's recognition was also something to be excited about.
The mercenary very straightforwardly took out three gold coins: "Something so delicious, I must bring some back to my wife and kid. Help me pack up three!"
We actually succeeded!
This not only was the first business of the day but this also was the first time in Meng Ying Ying's life that she had earned money on her own; the significance and value of this, cannot be measured. If I were to tell JieJie, then she would be very happy!
Meng Ying Ying almost jumped up from excitement when she received the money. Three gold coins, which was the same as two weeks' worth of pocket money was earned this easily. She was almost anxious to give Chu Tian a celebratory hug; however, this was just the beginning, as there were more surprises to come.
"Isn't that Wang Lao Si from the Fierce Tiger mercenary group? I hear he is very picky. If he is satisfied with the food, then it must be good right?"
"Who knows, let's go try!"
"Hey boss, one here please!"
"I will also get one!"
"...."
The mercenary's reaction caught the attention of many people. Immediately, there were people dressed like mercenaries storming in to try out the steak. The result turned out surprisingly good. This small stall business went from not having a single customer to high popularity. Meng Ying Ying and Chu Tian became buried in work trying to serve the steaks.
"Delicious!"
"It tastes great!"
"One for take-out please!"
"Too delicious! I need to tell the guys in the regiment so they can all come to try it!"
"Hey boss! You need to come more often; we will continue to be your patron!"
".........."
Shiny gold coins were coming in nonstop.
Meng Ying Ying smiled and laughed so much that her mouth almost got a cramp. Never in her life had she been this happy. In addition, she had never felt such a sense of accomplishment before; like a lost person finding the right way home; she found where she belonged. It was a magnificent feeling.
The majority of the customers were mercenaries. Mercenaries tend to be very forthright and generous when it comes to bills.
Chu Tian had prepared three frying pans in advance, but he was not prepared for this business to become so popular. Both of their cultivation levels were not very high, so they would have to take turns recovering their magic power to fry steaks. Within two hours, they had sold more than one hundred servings!
Chu Tian and Meng Ying Ying were both exhausted!
Meng Ying Ying took advantage of the break time and bought two cups of cold drink from a nearby stall. She handed one of them to Chu Tian: "Our business is so good that we are being overwhelmed. We should definitely hire more people to increase our revenue."
"Are you even thinking at all?" Chu Tian wiped his head with a dirty towel and drank a mouthful of ice cold fruit juice and said: "If our business is this good, then we should invest big; maybe register our own commerce or open up a restaurant in order to make our brand more popular. What would you gain with just setting up a stall?"
Meng Ying Ying nodded like a little bird pecking at him: "Right, right. Save up first, then open up shop! I will listen to you!"
After tasting such benefits, Meng Ying Ying became more courageous and confident. She decided to keep the 2000 gold that Zhang Li Qing had returned to her. This would act as her own start up fund. If I were to achieve something big with this, not only will JieJie not blame me, but she will also praise me!
Right! That's right!
If she worked together with Chu Tian, then it would most likely open up doors for them to secure a prospective future.
| ← Ch. 005 | Ch. 007 → |