Protect Our Chief-Chapter 553 - 36: Shouzhe’s Counterattack_3

"Shouzhe, do you mean..." Liua Yuanhui’s eyes lit up, "you’re planning to cut out Qiaan and go it alone? Great idea, Qiaan’s two percent take is from the gross sales, quite a hefty sum."

"Think thrice, Shouzhe~" Although Lei Yangyu was previously quite eager, being the patriarch of an old Heavenly Human Noble Family, he was more acutely aware of the power of a Purple Mansion Family, "Qiaan’s Trading Company is spread throughout Longzuo, and they have excellent relationships with all the Guardian Cities. Moreover, their transportation channels have been developed over hundreds of years, with expertise and advantages we can’t easily learn. Besides, when it comes to land transportation, it often takes remote rural routes... Do you understand this point?"

Facing a business rivalry with Qiaan in the transportation industry, Lei Yangyu was not optimistic about their chances. They simply did not have the capability to establish a trading company with a network spanning Longzuo County in a short time.

Lei Yangyu’s words left everyone deep in thought.

Qiaan was a giant entity, a slight squeeze in some areas could make things very difficult for the Marriage Alliance. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

The most important thing is, creating a heavy-duty transportation channel like Qiaan’s involves a huge amount of funds and labor. How can they compete with Qiaan’s centuries of operations!

"Everyone, if you’re tired from the meeting, let’s have some Spirit Mushroom Soup first."

Yet Wang Shouzhe didn’t directly answer these questions. Instead, he put down his teacup and clapped his hands.

Soon, maids served steaming hot fresh Spirit Mushroom Soup, with some Spirit Pork added to enhance the flavor.

Though confused, everyone started drinking the soup as instructed.

As the Spirit Mushroom Soup entered their stomachs, everyone praised in admiration: "What good soup, what good spirit mushrooms. This is the best spirit mushroom I’ve ever had, so rich and fresh, my vitality suddenly feels boosted."

"If you like it, have some more. These are the specialty of the Academy Changchun Valley line, growing only under that one Longevity Tree, and only appearing during the Spirit Tide," Wang Shouzhe said with a smile, "These were specially picked by Zong’an and sent back as a filial gesture to us."

"So they’re spirit mushrooms from beneath the Longevity Tree? No wonder they’re so delicious and packed with Spiritual Qi."

"So they were sent back by Zong’an... That child is quite filial."

"Wait a minute..." Xu Anbang said, "I’ve also heard of the Academy Changchun Valley’s spirit mushrooms, they’re incredibly fresh but have a very short shelf life once picked. Even if stored in an ice cellar, they can’t last more than half a month. But these mushrooms are so fresh, as if just picked recently."

Everyone listened and looked, indeed it was so.

From Changning Guard to the Purple Mansion Academy, even for a Spirit Platform Realm Cultivator on an excellent horse rushing day and night, it would take eight to ten days.

Instantly, everyone’s hearts were filled with confusion.

Could it be, this is a new spirit mushroom variety cultivated by Shouzhe? Imitating the Academy’s spirit mushrooms?

"These mushrooms are indeed the Academy’s spirit mushrooms, picked just three days ago, kept fresh with Ice Crystal Iron Cold Storage," Wang Shouzhe said, no longer keeping them in suspense, "Zong’an came up with an ingenious solution, creating a cold storage with Ice Crystal Iron and sending them back overnight using the Academy’s Spiritual Bird Flying Chariot. A large number were sent back this time, everyone can have a share later."

"But... I heard hiring the Academy’s Flying Chariot is very expensive..." Xu Anbang frowned, "Plus the Ice Crystal Iron Cold Storage, these spirit mushrooms must be quite valuable."

"Of course it’s not cheap," Liua Yuanhui said, "Ancestor Xuanfu once mentioned that hiring a Flying Chariot for a day costs ten academic credits, worth over a hundred Qian Gold. This round trip probably costs several hundred Qian Gold. Even Ancestor Xuanfu was reluctant to use them back then... she preferred to ride a horse back and forth. But lately, Ancestor Xuanfu has used it twice."

Indeed, making several hundred Qian Gold is not easy. When Wang Family was the poorest, being able to save several hundred Qian Gold extra in a year was lucky. Shanyin Liu Family, though slightly more prosperous, was also reluctant at that time.

"Going one round trip costing several hundred Qian Gold is indeed extremely expensive." Wang Shouzhe agreed, "But what if a trip to the Commandery costs only fifteen Qian Gold? And then returning at any time is also only fifteen Qian Gold, would you take it?"

"Fifteen Qian Gold to go to the Commandery? Seems like the Flying Chariot only needs a little over a day?" Gongsun Yan’s eyes lit up, "Yes, of course, I would. I’ve always wanted to visit the Commandery, but the carriage ride takes too long! Even on horseback, the time needed is quite long, and rushing overnight is too tiring."

"Shouzhe, do you mean..." hope gleamed in everyone’s eyes.

"I’ve calculated, the Academy has about thirty Spiritual Bird Flying Chariots. Due to their high cost, most of the time they’re underutilized," Wang Shouzhe quickly calculated, "These Spiritual Bird Flying Chariots lead to an annual loss of about three hundred thousand Qian Gold for the Academy! We can lease them and create an aerial cold chain transportation system!"

...