gnovel Chapter 59 Wang Zhihuan's Scheme
Chapter 59 Wang Zhihuan's Scheme
"Brother Cheng, Chu Liang, why did you come in such a hurry today?"
Wang Zhihuan stepped aside to open the courtyard gate, glancing briefly at the money bag in Cheng Chumo's hand without asking any further questions.
Cheng Chumo entered the courtyard, and without saying a word, grabbed the ceramic pot on the stone table and poured half a bowl of cold tea into it.
He wiped the water from the corner of his mouth before speaking with a wry smile: "Brother Wang, to be honest, my father forced my brother and me to come here today, so it's really a bit presumptuous of us."
Wang Zhi raised an eyebrow, signaling him to continue.
"That small jar of original liquor you gave me last time," Cheng Chumo put down his teacup, his face full of helplessness, "I originally intended to leave it only for my father and a few familiar uncles to taste, but who knew that Uncle Yuchi got addicted after taking a sip and immediately begged to buy it."
"My father originally claimed that he bought it from a foreign merchant. But Uncle Yuchi didn't believe him and even called my father an old fool, saying that he had used the same excuse to deceive them last time."
Father, at his wit's end, explained that the wine was a privately brewed item by a friend, produced in extremely limited quantities, and simply couldn't be shared. But Uncle Yuchi stubbornly refused to believe him, and the two argued until their faces turned red, almost coming to blows on the spot.
Cheng Chuliang nodded repeatedly, looking shaken: "It really almost came to blows! Uncle Yuchi's fists are bigger than my brother's head. When he slammed his fist on the table, the bowls and plates on it bounced up. The servants were too scared to come near."
"Later, my father couldn't resist any longer and had to make excuses, saying he would ask his friend who brewed wine if he could spare a few jars. Only then did Uncle Yuchi agree to give up."
Before leaving, he made a threatening statement, saying he didn't care about the money and that I must leave him three jars, otherwise he would drag my father out for a one-on-one fight.
In a one-on-one fight, how could my father possibly beat Uncle Yuchi? You know, Uncle Yuchi has almost never lost a one-on-one fight.
But my father only had those three tricks up his sleeve, and he didn't want to get beaten up, so he put the pressure on my brother and me.
At this point, Cheng Chumo looked up at Wang Zhihuan, his eyes full of apology: "Brother Wang, I remember you said that this wine was only for personal consumption and as a gift to relatives and friends, and would never be sold to the public."
But my father was so pestered by Uncle Yuchi that I had no choice but to swallow my pride and come here to ask if... I could make an exception and sell some?
Upon hearing this, Wang Zhihuan chuckled inwardly.
Everything is going smoothly. I was just thinking about how to bring up the wine sales cooperation, and now the perfect opportunity has come my way.
Yuchi Gong's outburst conveniently paved the way for his future, saving him from much deliberate groundwork.
"Brother Cheng, Chu Liang, don't rush. Now that you've brought this up, I promise I won't let you go home and get a beating. Besides, I've been thinking carefully about the wine-selling matter lately."
As the saying goes, sharing happiness is worse than enjoying it alone, so I'm also considering selling it appropriately.
Wang Zhihuan gestured for the two to sit down, his tone calm and composed.
"But my sales method is completely different from that of the taverns and vendors in the market."
Cheng Chumo and Cheng Chuliang exchanged a glance, then obediently sat down on the stone bench, their expressions serious.
As long as this wine can be sold, everything else is a minor matter.
Hua Hua the tabby cat jumped down from the jujube tree at some point, squatted on the corner of the stone table, tilted its head and looked at the two sweaty guests with a lazy yet curious expression.
"You've all seen the situation at my distillery. Each distillation yields only a few jars, so the production capacity is extremely limited and we can't sell in large quantities."
Even if we don't include all the restaurants in Chang'an, supplying only one-tenth of them would still be insufficient.
Wang Zhihuan gently stroked the rim of the teacup with his fingertips, his tone resolute.
"Therefore, I don't follow the usual path of selling alcohol, I don't sell by weight or ounce, I don't open a street-front tavern, and I don't do business with individual customers."
Cheng Chumo frowned slightly and lowered his head in thought.
Cheng Chuliang, being straightforward, immediately asked, "Brother Wang, how much should we sell this wine for? Just tell us, we'll do whatever you say!"
"My idea is that we should first classify and categorize wines."
Wang Zhihuan slowly extended three fingers and spoke clearly and logically.
"Wine is divided into three grades, each with its own name and its own place."
"The first batch of original liquor has the highest alcohol content, the strongest flavor, and the rarest production. I named it 'Tianlu'."
This wine is only given away as a gift, not for sale, and is reserved for maintaining the most important relationships or for special occasions.
Upon hearing this, Cheng Chuliang's face instantly filled with regret, and his mouth slightly agape.
Clearly, they were reluctant to let such fine wine go unsold, but they wisely held back and did not utter a word of objection.
"The second brew has a rich and full-bodied taste with a long aftertaste, so I named it 'Yunmen Spring'."
"This product is also produced in limited quantities and priced extremely high, making it inaccessible to ordinary wealthy households. It is only sold to the elite circles who truly understand wine and have substantial financial resources."
As soon as he finished speaking, Cheng Chumo's eyes lit up instantly.
He was more astute than his younger brother and had already vaguely guessed Wang Zhihuan's intentions.
This is to establish the wine as a rare and precious item within Chang'an's elite circles, firmly locking in high-end customers.
"The third distillation is the tail liquor from the second distillation, or the finished product after being properly blended with Yunmenchun liquor. I named it 'Songlao'."
"This wine has a slightly lower alcohol content and a smooth, mellow taste, making it ideal for family gatherings and as a gift for relatives and friends."
"This product has the most abundant production and the most affordable price, but even so, it is still a few cents more expensive than the most expensive tribute wine on the market."
"Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!"
Cheng Chumo couldn't help but slap his thigh, his eyes full of admiration.
"Tianlu, Yunmenchun, and Songlao—these three names are not only elegant and apt, but also clearly distinguish their different grades and uses!"
"The wealthy and powerful who appreciate wine and value status will flock to Yunmenchun; those with slightly less wealth but who still want to enjoy fine wines will choose Songlao. Either way, they are all my family's fine wines."
"Tianlu only gives them away, not sells them, which will only make those top elites want them even more—what they can't have is the most precious and the best way to show off their status!"
That's exactly the point.
Wang Zhihuan nodded slightly, quite satisfied with Cheng Chumo's insight.
"But naming and grading is only the first step; how to sell and who will act as the agent are the most important things."
He picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and slowly revealed his core plan.
"I don't want to open my own shop. It's too much trouble and would disturb my peace and quiet. I just want to farm and brew wine in peace."
"Therefore, I need to find an exclusive agent, and the agency rights for the entire Chang'an City will be granted to only one person."
"The distributor is fully responsible for sales, distribution, and customer liaison; I am only responsible for brewing and setting a unified price."
"After deducting your payment, all proceeds from the sale will belong to my winery."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Chumo's heart inexplicably quickened.
He vaguely guessed what it was, but he wasn't sure. He subconsciously sat up straight, his eyes becoming more serious.
"The agent I'm looking for isn't the Duke of Lu's mansion, nor is it the Cheng family's title or influence."
Wang Zhihuan put down his teacup, looked directly at Cheng Chumo, and spoke in a calm yet weighty tone.
"It's you, Cheng Chumo."
"This business is conducted using your name, your connections, and your reputation. It has nothing to do with your father or the title of Duke Lu."
"If the business is successful, that's your skill; even if there are setbacks, that's my fault for drinking, and you don't need to take responsibility."
These words, seemingly disregarding the power of the Cheng family, actually conceal a deeper meaning.
Supporting Cheng Chumo to handle this big business independently is a real way to help him accumulate experience and prestige, thus indirectly paving the way for his future.
Cheng Yaojin was well aware of this sentiment, and the relationship between the two families naturally became more and more stable, which was far more sensible and reliable than simply currying favor.