Protect Our Chief-Chapter 558 - 38 Shouda Trading Company VS Qiaan’s Trading Company_2
The chief shopkeeper of the branch, Lei Yongbai, had already started his busy day. Today, he had appointments to meet with the heads of three Eighth-Grade Noble Families to discuss the price and supply of White Jade Spirit Rice and Fire Crystal Spirit Rice seeds. Furthermore, he had to talk about a long-term supply contract for fresh Spirit Fish Flesh, along with an agency agreement for the family’s Spiritual Flesh industry!
The clansmen of these families, having long relied on Spiritual Flesh to supplement their vitality and blood, had grown tired of it. Fresh, tender Spirit Fish Flesh was what they truly craved.
The young people under the trading company also started their work full of energy. Recently, after a period of trial operation and promotion, business at the Northwest Branch had started to improve, greatly boosting their confidence and making them feel the future was unlimited.
Guests came into the trading company one after another, each with their own needs. Some came with letters to send, while others wanted to purchase some scattered fresh goods!
"Elder Chunyu," a young clerk surnamed Gongsun skillfully processed Chunyu Andong’s paperworks, "here is your travel itinerary. Tomorrow, you will reach the commandery city, and later you can take a flying chariot from the commandery city to Chuyun Guard. The day after tomorrow, you will arrive at Chuyun Guard. After spending two days in Chuyun Guard, you can take the Longzuo Ring Line Flying Chariot to reach Hundred Islands Guard, Changning Guard, and Zhenze Guard. Finally, you can take a flying chariot from Zhenze to the commandery city and then transfer to a flying chariot to the Northwest Guard."
"This itinerary ticket only costs one hundred Qian Gold, and being newly opened, we’re giving you a 10% discount! However, before you board the flying chariot, personal luggage must not exceed ten pounds; otherwise, you will need to purchase an extra luggage ticket."
Only ninety Qian Gold? Chunyu Andong felt a bit dizzy. Apart from the seven days of nostalgia and exploration in each Guard, the entirety of the journey including round trips would only take about six or seven days.
In just half a month, with ninety Qian Gold, he could fulfill his lifelong dream! If he were to take a horse carriage, it would take him well over half a year without returning.
Indeed, the academy’s flying chariot not only moves fast but also travels the shortest routes.
At this moment.
A crisp crane’s cry echoed from the sky; a Spiritual Bird Flying Chariot cut through the air, landing swiftly and punctually. Although it was not the first time it had been seen, it still attracted a crowd.
Once the flying chariot settled.
The passengers disembarked first, totaling five people. Besides one young person in the Qi Refining Realm, there were three in the Spirit Platform Realm and one middle-aged man with profoundly unfathomable cultivation.
Evidently, that was a Celestial Human Realm cultivator.
Celestial Human Realm cultivators can hover and fly for extended periods, but every moment requires profound qi. To have him traverse the skies, traveling continuously overnight for two or three thousand miles, is impossibly taxing for him.
In fact, even if some formidable Celestial Human Realm cultivator could manage it, it wouldn’t be practical; it’s too exhausting! Why not sit comfortably in a flying chariot cabin, sleep overnight, and reach your destination with ease?
After all passengers disembarked, the store’s hired workers began unloading cargo expeditiously. Mounted on the flying chariot was a small ice crystal cold cabinet, along with a small cargo compartment at the bottom of the cabin.
The ice crystal cold cabinet was used to store premium ingredients. There was freshly caught seafood from the day before, lobsters weighing about ten pounds each, abalone the size of a bowl, and giant sea urchins with ample roe, among others.
There was also some even more valuable iced Sea Spirit Fish, specifically some premium cuts of a Tier Three Purple Gold Spirit Spearfish, an excellent choice for raw Spirit Fish cuisine.
Most of these premium ingredients, according to the agreement between Shouda Trading Company and the Yuwen Family, were supplied to Hundred Flavors Inn at Northwest Guard; a minor portion went to allied noble families by reservation.
Due to the reasonable prices of these fresh ingredients, the business at Hundred Flavors Inn was booming.
Suspended in the small cargo compartment beneath the flying chariot were some lightweight goods, such as precious spirit silk, spiritual materials, and other profitable items.
Furthermore, the flying chariot driver Hui Qisi had a storage ring. It contained high-end garments custom-made at the commandery’s Zhou’s Clothing Shop, procured cultivation pills, about a dozen letters, and small parcels.
After removing the storage ring, Hui Qisi went to dine and rest under the clerk’s hospitality. A dedicated person took care of the Spiritual Bird, feeding it Spiritual Food and allowing it to rest.
The clerks and workers busied themselves.
Some courier employees, with letters and parcels in hand, started delivering them across various locations. The staff from Hundred Flavors Inn came to fetch the freshest ingredients as their customers had already booked lunch and dinner, making it seem as though no supply would be enough for demand.
Meanwhile.
In Northwest Guard City, there was a local Seventh-Grade powerful family, Northwest Xiong Family, who happened to have a Miss of the Direct Lineage about to get married. On the very first day of Shouda Trading Company’s opening, she took a flying chariot to the commandery city, custom-made a beautiful wedding dress at Zhou’s Clothing Shop, worth two to three thousand Qian Gold.
The "Shouda Trading Company" was responsible for transporting the dress back once Zhou’s completed it and delivering it to the Xiong Family. Though Shouda Trading Company didn’t earn much from this, it did open up a new perspective.
Back in the day, Wang Shouzhe had also entrusted Qiaan to purchase wedding attire from Zhou’s in the commandery city. Yet, besides the long duration, there was no way to pick it in person.
Thus, taking advantage of this opportunity, Shouda Trading Company reached a certain cooperation with Zhou’s, specializing in promoting Zhou’s clothing catalog. Whether ferrying customers to Zhou’s for custom garments or transporting Zhou’s seamstresses for door-to-door service, Shouda Trading Company could draw a 10% commission.
This demonstrates how once the Spiritual Bird Flying Chariot System is fully developed, it could bring about so many lifestyle changes in Longzuo County. Going to the commandery city to buy a suit and having hotpot, then returning home the next day.
If feeling down, one might go to Chuyun Guard to watch the sunrise and sunset.
Perhaps someday, with some free time, head to Zhenze Guard for fishing, or gallop across the great plains in Northwest Guard for days on horseback! Naturally, one can also feed seagulls in Hundred Islands Guard and return home the next day to continue with life...
Such conveniences are revolutionizing the lifestyle of people in Longzuo County. Of course, the changes mainly affect the top-tier individuals and a small number of ordinary people with business acumen.
The vast majority of those at the bottom of society still live their lives as usual.
Situations like those in Northwest Guard are just the tip of the iceberg. The flying chariot systems in various Guards have gradually been put on track, becoming big news and main gossip in Longzuo County.
Additionally, many "rumors" began spreading throughout Longzuo County.
The establishment of "Shouda Trading Company" was attributed to the oppression and betrayal of an old ally by Qiaan’s Trading Company. The owners of Shouda Trading Company used to be intimate partners with Qiaan’s Trading Company, but suddenly, Qiaan’s Trading Company wanted to hike the partnership commission from 20% to 50% at once.
Helpless, the partners found ways to open their channels. And previously, led by the Wang Family, the partners had initially wanted to join forces with Qiaan to build Shouda Trading Company.
Such waves of rumors and facts dealt a blow to the reputation of Qiaan’s Trading Company, also mocking Qiaan’s foolish strategic arrangements. It was said that even the Ancestor of the Purple Mansion of Qiaan was alarmed, and he flew into a rage within the family.
Meanwhile.
In the main hall of Longzuo Qian Family.
A broad-faced, imposing middle-aged man smashed a vase with a "crack," furious and humiliated, "Has that little brat Xue Rui returned yet?"
A steward with profoundly mysterious cultivation replied in a low voice, "Patriarch, we’ve already sent someone swiftly to bring the Young Master back. However, with the Six Southern Guards being distant, it might still take some time for him to return home."
"Distant?" The face of Patriarch Qiaan twitched, laughing angrily, "If it’s distant, why not take Shouda Trading Company’s flying chariot? That little brat really is incapable of succeeding and proficient at failing. Daring to turn against the Wang Family without even understanding the situation, he caused Qiaan to miss a great opportunity!"
"Patriarch, calm your anger," the steward advised, "The Young Master meant well for Qiaan and made such a decision for this reason. Also, that Wang Family clearly harbored ill intentions, perhaps already secretly plotting to ditch us and operate alone."
...
