บท 23: Chapter 23 Miraculous Operation
In response to Julian's sarcasm, Richard's smile remained unchanged on his face. Perhaps it did, but that smile only grew more humble.
He lowered his head, took out a small iron box from his pocket, which contained a pack of ninety eight cent cigarettes, considered the best available in Ternell City. He handed the pack over, and after Julian accepted it, he imitated Mr. Kasma's manner, sniffing under his nose before placing it in his mouth. Richard quickly took out his customized lighter, lit it, and brought it closer.
After taking two puffs and exhaling a cloud of smoke, Julian said with a half smile, "I have already signed a letter of intent with two of them. They offered me a better price and even promised to customize the shape and label of the liquor I need.
Richard thought seriously, calculating. In fact, glass is not expensive; on the contrary, it is very cheap. Over a hundred years ago, glass was considered a luxury second only to gemstones, controlled by a select few merchants. However, after the world war began, when a burning bomb fell on the beach and created a layer of crystal, glass has evolved and developed over the past hundred years to become so inexpensive that it can be overlooked.
Labels are also not costly; you can print five for a penny. Including typesetting and plate costs, the maximum cost for customizing a bottle and label for each bottle of liquor is only a penny increase.
After hesitating and contemplating for about half a minute, he finally spoke up, somewhat cautiously asking, "Is it because of the penalty clause?"
Julian nodded. "That's right. There are two letters of intent: one for seven hundred star dollars and one for one thousand star dollars. It's precisely because of these agreements that I can't continue working with you. After all, these penalties are not a small sum, don't you think?
For a moment, Julian's words plunged Richard into confusion.
He understood that if he signed the letter of intent and agreed to the penalty clause, and if Julian breached the contract, he would lose one thousand seven hundred dollars at once. However, facing a massive market share right before him made it hard to resist, stirring him up like a cat scratching at his skin. He considered whether Julian could sell this batch of liquor, but he soon brushed that thought aside.
Even if he bought it and hid it away without selling, it would only be a business with little profit for Richard. But what if he could sell it?
That would be a big deal, a long term and increasingly larger business!
Either way, he wouldn't lose money; why not take a gamble?
Thinking about how he had spent over a year in this damn rural city, unable to even cover transportation and daily expenses, and how just a step forward meant a massive market and profit, the merchant's nature finally exploded.
Doing business as a merchant is actually quite similar to gambling; you identify a promising venture, invest, and manage it. Ultimately, aside from the controllable efforts in the middle, the key factor lies in the foresight when initially choosing the investment direction.
At this moment, he had made a decision. He bit down hard, discreetly pinching his thigh under the table, almost crying out from the pain. He took a deep breath and sincerely said, "We are friends, Mr. Julian. Let's do it!
Gasping, he looked at Julian, this time truly determined. For a bottle of almond liquor, the Free Federation's liquor trade union and the national commerce department would subsidize him two cents. The cost was forty five cents, and transportation would take about three cents, meaning that selling a bottle to Julian would only earn him twelve cents. He still had to bear the losses incurred during transportation, as well as storage and labor costs.
The net profit for one bottle of liquor was just over nine cents!
The profit from fifty thousand bottles would only amount to five thousand dollars, yet he had to pay a penalty of one thousand seven hundred dollars upfront. It was quite painful to consider. But he quickly thought that as long as the sales volume of moonshine brand almond liquor opened up, it would lead to an endless stream of money, more money.
Moreover, he wouldn't need to create the channel, with Julian holding fifty thousand bottles, he would certainly be more eager to expand the channel than Richard himself, which meant he would earn a huge amount.
If almond liquor sales succeeded, he could even bypass Julian and trade directly with the end retailers.
At that time, the lost profits would not only be made up for at once but could also yield substantial gains!
For the sake of future hopes, what was this little expense now?
It's all in!
With Richard's words, Julian finally displayed a sincere smile, tightly clasping his hands together. He ordered two cups of twenty cent fruit wine and raised his glass, "Here's to our enterprise shining like the sun, illuminating all things!"
Richard soon left, leaving behind an envelope containing one thousand seven hundred dollars. Watching this good man gradually walk away, Julian shrugged and tucked the envelope into his pocket.
Graf had been dumbfounded for a while, staring at Julian, completely unaware that the thick soup was dripping onto the ground.
What kind of operation was this?
Buying things without paying and still receiving a sum of money first?
Graf felt that the world he knew before must be a fake one. However, what left him even more unsettled was Julian saying that the other four suppliers would also give him a sum of money.
At that moment, Graf suddenly thought selling liquor wasn't that good; he might as well continue playing this miraculous trick. With so many provinces, cities, and towns across the country, perhaps he wouldn't even have to do anything and would already be worth millions!
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