freenovelworld Chapter 203 Distribution Rights
Chapter 203 Distribution Rights
Faced with the chaotic scene below, where everyone was talking at once and arguing amongst themselves, Gu Lin remained silent and did not try to stop them.
He watched quietly and silently.
After a moment, when everyone realized that Gu Fulang had not spoken, they gradually stopped and turned to look at the young man at the head of the table.
Seeing that they had all quieted down and stopped making noise, Gu Lin smiled and said, "I would like to thank you all for your kindness, but I have already chosen the location for the white porcelain factory, so I won't trouble you to do so."
Upon hearing this, the crowd below showed expressions of either regret or disappointment.
Clearly, everyone was reluctant to let go of the opportunity to not only cultivate a good relationship with the prefect's uncle but also with Lord Zheng, as well as the lucrative white porcelain business.
Undeterred, someone asked, "Mr. Gu, after the white porcelain factory is built, could you spare some white porcelain to sell to this humble person? This humble person is willing to pay a high price to buy it."
These words stirred up a storm of emotions among the guests present.
They were all among the wealthiest merchants in Youzhou Prefecture. Their wealth might not be comparable to that of merchants in the Jiangnan region in the entire Daqian Dynasty, but they were willing to pay a heavy price to acquire the white porcelain from Gu Fulang's factory.
Gu Lin raised his hand to calm their agitation: "Please calm down, everyone. I invited you here today to discuss the sale of white porcelain."
Before anyone else could speak, Gu Lin finished speaking, Song Heng asked, "What does Mr. Gu mean?"
Gu Lin didn't mince words: "Everyone here is a well-known merchant in Youzhou Prefecture. I am also a merchant. I prefer to make money together with everyone rather than go it alone. I can sell the white porcelain to you, but I have other requirements."
Upon hearing that Gu Fulang was willing to sell the white porcelain to them, the merchants of Youzhou Prefecture were overjoyed. Even if the other party had other requirements, they would not be surprised. The white porcelain was precious, rare, and priceless. It would be strange if Gu Fulang sold the white porcelain to them without any requirements.
Ignoring their complex and varied thoughts, Gu Lin said, "Because very few white porcelain pieces can be perfectly produced from the kiln, when Gu's White Porcelain Factory negotiates white porcelain business with others, it does not buy out the entire product at once, but rather sells the white porcelain distribution rights for a certain area."
Song Heng asked, "May I ask, Mr. Gu, what is a distribution right?"
Faced with the puzzled expressions and eyes of the crowd below, Gu Lin felt that Song Heng's question was perfectly appropriate.
He used a ready-made example to explain to them: "Just like when I sell you the distribution rights for white porcelain in a certain area, in the future, no one else in the area can sell Gu's white porcelain except you."
After listening to Gu Lin's explanation, Song Heng and the other merchants from Youzhou Prefecture understood. Then, they asked the most important question: "Husband Gu, how much is the distribution right worth?"
Gu Lin had already discussed this with Yu Ercheng before the banquet. He looked at the crowd below and said, "The prices vary from prefecture to prefecture. In prosperous areas, the price of white porcelain distribution rights will be higher, while in remote areas, the price will be lower. On an annual basis, even in prosperous areas, the highest price for a distribution right is one thousand taels per year."
The group quickly started calculating, and within moments they had figured out the approximate price of the distribution rights. Their breathing quickened; this was a sure-fire way to make money.
Just looking at the fact that we have to pay Gu Fulang a thousand taels of silver every year seems like a huge expense, but we can earn back that money just by selling one or two white porcelain bottles.
Just as they had finished thinking it over and were about to discuss the sale of the white porcelain distribution rights with Gu Fulang, Gu Lin changed the subject and said with a smile, "No rush, you can make a decision after you hear what I have to say next."
Everyone was taken aback, wondering what else the young man had to say.
Taking in the eager expressions below, Gu Lin withdrew his gaze and said, "Those who purchase the white porcelain distribution rights from the Gu family must give 10% of their profits to the Gu family for every piece of porcelain they sell."
"this……!"
As soon as Gu Lin finished speaking, it immediately caused an uproar among the merchants of Youzhou Prefecture. The so-called "goods and money settled" means that after the money is exchanged for the goods, it is none of the seller's business whether the buyer makes a profit or a loss. Why should they share the profits with the young man after they have worked so hard to sell the porcelain?
Even if the other party is Lord Zheng's own uncle, there is absolutely no reason for this to happen.
Confusion, doubt, struggle, and dissatisfaction filled everyone's hearts.
Seeing that everyone's expressions were different, and they were not as enthusiastic and eager as before to immediately finalize the white porcelain deal, Gu Lin had already anticipated this.
These terms of cooperation would be considered harsh by many, not just in ancient times, but even in modern times.
Gu Lin was not in a hurry. Most of the porcelain kilns in the entire Daqian were official kilns, and the perfect white porcelain they produced was given priority to the royal family and nobles. After calming down and analyzing the fact that the Gu family's white porcelain factory could produce perfect white porcelain, the wealthy merchants present could not refuse this piece of fat that was about to be eaten.
Instead of urging the merchants of Youzhou Prefecture to make a decision immediately, Gu Lin said understandingly, "Doing business is always about mutual consent. Even if the transaction is not final, goodwill is still important. There's no need for you to rush. You can think it over carefully after you get back and make a decision later."
Seeing that Gu Lin did not urge them and gave them time to discuss, the merchants from Youzhou Prefecture softened their expressions: "What you say is right, Mr. Gu. We will go back and think about it carefully."
Gu Lin smiled slightly.
Time waits for no one, and so does money. He did not explain to the wealthy merchants of Youzhou how long he had given them to think it over, nor did he agree to sign white porcelain deals with each of them.
It's true that he sought cooperation with merchants from Youzhou Prefecture, but he wasn't begging them; the white porcelain factory had no shortage of partners.
Besides, Gu Lin believed there were plenty of smart people out there, and many would be vying for something so valuable. He figured they'd see who reacted the fastest and was the first to realize what was going on.
After the banquet ended, Gu Lin asked Da Yan to escort all the guests away from the mansion. Just as he was about to return to his courtyard to rest, a servant walked into the main hall and bowed to him.
"My lord, a young man surnamed Lin has come to the gate with more than a dozen men, requesting an audience. He says he is one of your men. Steward Da Yan is busy seeing guests off, so I had no choice but to come in and ask for your permission."
"What did you say that person's name was?"
Upon hearing the servant's report, Gu Lin immediately shook off the fatigue from his earlier charade with the merchants from Youzhou Prefecture. A flash of inspiration struck him, and he stood up with a mixture of surprise and delight, staring intently at the servant in front of him.
Seeing his husband's joyful expression and excited tone, the servant felt relieved, knowing that the young man outside the door was not lying to them and was indeed one of his husband's men.
The servant replied truthfully, "That young man surnamed Lin said his name is Lin Xiaoyao."
Seeing that it was just as he had guessed, Gu Lin quickly lifted his leg and said to the servant, "Take me to see him quickly."
Seeing that her husband was going to personally go out to greet the other party, the servant was very surprised but did not stop and quickly walked in front of Gu Lin to lead the way.
The two quickly arrived outside the mansion gate. Gu Lin immediately spotted the smartly dressed young man and couldn't help but call out, "Xiao Yao!"
"Master!"
Lin Xiaoyao, whose mind was originally focused on the gate of the Zheng residence and carefully observing it, heard the call coming from not far in front of her. She raised her head, turned her gaze, and looked at the young man walking towards her.
Walking up to Lin Xiaoyao, Gu Lin saw that although she had been away on business for many months and had become much thinner and darker, her spirits were stronger than before, and half of the worry that Gu Lin could not hide disappeared.
He looked up at Lin Xiaoyao and said, "After my sister-in-law and I left the capital and arrived in Youzhou Prefecture, we were worried that you wouldn't be able to find us, so we specially sent you a letter. I didn't expect you to arrive in Youzhou Prefecture so quickly."
Lin Xiaoyao also spoke up: "When we received the letter, the caravan was only a short distance from the capital. I saw that after you came to Youzhou Prefecture with Lord Zheng, you led the caravan directly here, which saved you some travel time."
After a brief reminiscing, Gu Lin said to Lin Xiaoyao, "It's not convenient to talk outside with so many people coming and going. Let's go inside."
Lin Xiaoyao agreed and followed the other person into the mansion. At the same time, she raised her hand to let the guards behind her carry the items from the carriage inside.
The two arrived at the lobby, and Gu Lin invited her to sit down, but Lin Xiaoyao did not sit down immediately.
He straightened up, cupped his hands in a respectful bow to Gu Lin, and said, "Your subordinate has fulfilled his mission and the trade trip has been successfully completed!"
Upon seeing Lin Xiaoyao, Gu Lin noticed that although she was covered in dust, she did not appear dejected or tired, leading him to guess that her trade trip must have gone smoothly.
Now that it's been confirmed, Gu Lin looked at Lin Xiaoyao with trust in his eyes: "I know you can do it."
Lin Xiaoyao lowered her clasped hands and smiled, her eyes full of high spirits: "The fact that the caravan was able to travel smoothly without incident and that no one was injured on the way here is all thanks to Mr. Han. If Mr. Han hadn't had to return to the capital to handle important matters, he would have come along to report the caravan's situation to the owner."
Gu Lin poured tea for Lin Xiaoyao and said, "Mr. Han is very talented. It is my honor to have him as the leader of the caravan."
Lin Xiaoyao sat down, then looked at the young man opposite him, hesitated for a moment, and then asked about what had happened back then.
He asked Gu Lin, "Master, on the day the caravan set off, Lord Zheng said that you had unfortunately caught a cold and were unable to go out. At that time, seeing that the caravan was about to depart, I wanted to see you, but Da Zhuo turned me away. I wonder how your condition was then, and when you recovered?"
When Lin Xiaoyao asked about this, Gu Lin was not surprised. Anyone would have doubts if their boss, who had been confirmed to travel with them on the day the caravan was to set off, suddenly fell ill without any warning and sent his men to lead the caravan ahead of them. Moreover, the boss himself did not show up or send any confidants to deliver the message.
If Zheng Hao and Gu Lin weren't close family members, Lin Xiaoyao would have already become suspicious.
Thinking of this, Gu Lin couldn't help but want to curse Zheng Hao a few times, but with Lin Xiaoyao sitting opposite him, he didn't show it and said with a normal expression, "The night before we set off, I accidentally caught a cold from being exposed to the wind. By the time I realized that the caravan was about to depart, I was already unconscious in bed. Fortunately, you and Mr. Han were there to lead the caravan."
Having never imagined that Gu Lin would fabricate lies to deceive her, Lin Xiaoyao quickly shifted her attention to the goods she had brought back after resolving her doubts.
He smiled and said to Gu Lin, "Master, look at all the good stuff I brought back from my trade trip!"
Lin Xiaoyao ordered the guards behind her to bring the things up. Gu Lin looked over, and the guards all got to work, opening the boxes that were half a person's height in front of them one by one according to Lin Xiaoyao's orders.
Lin Xiaoyao got up and walked to the wooden box. Under Gu Lin's watchful eye, he took out a half-arm-length wooden box from it and turned to show the contents of the box to the young man in front of him.
As Lin Xiaoyao opened the package, she said, "These two ginseng roots are over a hundred years old. I bought them from a medicine merchant when I passed through Dongliao Prefecture. Although Liaodong Prefecture is known as the hometown of ginseng and famous for its ginseng, it is not easy to obtain ginseng that is over a hundred years old."
Hearing Lin Xiaoyao's words, Gu Lin looked over and saw two yellowish-brown ginseng roots, shaped like human figures, with distinct rootlets, carefully arranged on a red cloth inside the box.
After putting down the ginseng, Lin Xiaoyao said to Gu Lin, "Besides the ginseng, I also bought a lot of medicinal herbs during this business trip. These herbs are not very potent and are quite mild, making them very suitable as tonics to nourish your body."
Upon hearing this, Gu Lin immediately thought of the tonic medicine that the kitchen prepared every two or three days. This was only because the imperial physician said that the dosage could be appropriately reduced after his health gradually improved. Zheng Hao was worried that medicine was three parts poison, so he did not keep an eye on him to make him drink the medicine every day. However, he did not expect that Lin Xiaoyao had purchased so many medicinal herbs and sent them to him during her business trip. Gu Lin's brow twitched, not knowing whether to be grateful or helpless.
Ignoring the chest full of medicinal herbs in front of her, Lin Xiaoyao walked to the next wooden chest, which contained a crimson silk, a longsword inlaid with exquisite gemstones, and a dagger with a cowhide scabbard...
Lin Xiaoyao introduced each item one by one, and Gu Lin listened with great interest. Each item seemed to have a unique charm and story in her words.
After introducing the items in front of her to the young man, Lin Xiaoyao stopped because she was thirsty, walked to the table, picked up a teacup, and drank some water.
After finishing her tea, Lin Xiaoyao put the teacup on the table and said to Gu Lin, "This is only part of the goods. There are still some goods left at the inn outside. We'll have someone deliver them tomorrow."
The things are there and can't be moved, so Gu Lin wasn't in a hurry. He said to Lin Xiaoyao, "You've been traveling for months, so you should rest well. I'll have someone from the manor go and move the things over."
Lin Xiaoyao thought about it and thought it was feasible: "Then I'll trouble you, boss."
He turned and pointed to the wooden crates piled up on the ground behind him: "There are not only useful things in here, but also food, all of which we have never eaten before. I thought they tasted alright, so I bought some back."
Gu Lin hadn't paid close attention to the contents of the boxes behind Lin Xiaoyao before, but now that Lin Xiaoyao had moved to the side, Gu Lin's gaze involuntarily fell on the wooden boxes behind her that Lin Xiaoyao hadn't shown him.
A round, brownish-yellow object casually placed in the corner of the mahogany box flashed before his eyes. Gu Lin's heart skipped a beat. Under Lin Xiaoyao's surprised gaze, he suddenly stood up and walked towards the wooden box.
Seeing the young man squat down in front of the wooden box, his face slightly tense, and take out a round object from it, Lin Xiaoyao followed him. Looking at the brownish-yellow object in the other man's hand, she asked with some doubt, "Master, is there something wrong with this mountain stone?"
The mountain stone in the young man's hand was something Lin Xiaoyao had acquired by chance during his trade. Although it didn't look impressive, it tasted good, and Lin Xiaoyao bought a lot of it.
Gu Lin carefully examined the brownish-yellow round object in his palm, rubbing it between his fingers to gently remove the dirt from its surface. Seeing that it was something familiar, he suppressed the joy that welled up inside him, turned to Lin Xiaoyao, and asked with barely managed to remain calm, "Where did you buy these potatoes?"