Chapter Fifty-Six: Doubt

The people around were puzzled as well!
A tavern opens its doors to do business, yet complains when customers buy too much?
What kind of logic is that?
“Luotong, you must explain to me—why can I buy only one bottle?” Fang Yiai demanded.
“Because the brewing process for this wine is extremely intricate. It takes a long time before it’s ready. If we supplied it freely, many would go without. That’s not something we want to see!”
“So that’s the reason!” Fang Yiai understood now.
The First Tavern was leveraging its limited resources to build its reputation, so more people would learn of the Immortal Wine. But this meant his hope of buying it in bulk was impossible.
“Very well, for your sake, I’ll buy just one bottle!”
Fang Yiai took the bottle. “I’ll leave first—send someone to my residence for the payment!”
...
After Fang Yiai, many wealthy young men, curious to try it, spent three hundred coins to buy a bottle and tasted it on the spot.
“This is the strongest liquor I’ve ever had!”
“Haha! Excellent wine!”
“Another cup!”
Anyone who tasted it could not resist its allure.
Without hesitation, they paid up.
The five bottles of Immortal Wine at the window sold out in just over ten minutes.
Luotong announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, today’s Immortal Wine is sold out. Tomorrow morning, we will sell again—fifty bottles available. Please line up early!”
Snap!
He shut the window after speaking.
Upstairs.
Cheng Chubi exclaimed with delight, “Your Highness... The Immortal Wine has sold!”
“With goods in hand, there’s no fear of customers—unless the quality is lacking. Our Immortal Wine is unmatched throughout the land, superior even to the imperial nectar. At only three hundred coins a bottle, it’s the cheapest price possible!”
“Yes, yes...” Cheng Chubi reflected and realized the price was indeed not expensive.
Luotong hurried up, laughing heartily. “Your Highness, the Immortal Wine has sold out. And I announced that tomorrow morning, fifty bottles will be available!”
“I thought we agreed to sell only five bottles?”
“Your Highness... Five bottles is too few, it won’t achieve the publicity we need. So, I took the liberty and changed it to fifty bottles. With so many customers, even fifty won’t be enough! Please, rest assured!”
...
Luotong was inexperienced in business and unaware of its subtleties.
Cheng Chubi, more knowledgeable, smiled and said, “Luotong, do you think the more wine is sold, the more people will know about it?”
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“Isn’t that so?”
“Certainly not!”
Cheng Chubi explained, “The reputation of wine is not built by selling or drinking, but by word of mouth! Today we sold just five bottles—it seems little, but many know about it. They’ll spread the word, and soon, the whole capital will know!”
“And furthermore...”
“If you sell fifty bottles, it doesn’t sound remarkable. But if you sell only five, and refuse to sell more regardless of the price, isn’t that intriguing? The news will spread even faster!”
Luotong pondered deeply.
He couldn’t help but admire Cheng Chubi. “You’ve run this tavern just a few days and already you’re so shrewd! They say business requires cunning—how true that is!”
“Haha...”
Cheng Chubi was very proud. “It’s all thanks to my teacher’s guidance!”
The following days—one, two, three...
The tavern closed its doors!
Only Immortal Wine was sold!
And in very limited quantities, starting with five bottles and gradually increasing to ten, twenty, fifty!
The price soared as well!
From three hundred coins at the First Tavern, resold at five hundred coins!
Some noble scions cared nothing for the price.
What mattered was the wine’s quality!
For such high-quality white liquor as Immortal Wine, no matter the cost, it was worth it. Most importantly, it was prestigious. Everyone talked about Immortal Wine, but few could buy it. If one could procure a bottle or two, it best demonstrated their status.
“This year, don’t accept gifts—accept only Immortal Wine!”
“Hurry up, everyone!” Someone shouted, drawing the attention of many on the street, pushing Immortal Wine fever to its peak!
The queues grew noticeably longer.
“Your Highness’s strategy is truly brilliant!” Luotong and Cheng Chubi were full of admiration for Li Zhi.
“Ahem...”
Li Zhi glanced downstairs, raised his chin, and said, “It seems Immortal Wine is about to become famous throughout the capital. I must return to the palace—there are matters to attend to. Keep watch, I’ll leave first!”
“Your Highness, I’ll go with you!” As the commander of Lize Palace’s guards, he naturally followed Li Zhi.
“Very well!”
“Chubi, I leave the tavern in your hands!” Li Zhi instructed him on several matters.
With Cheng Chubi’s acumen, he was bound to become a commercial tycoon.
...
...
Mid-July.
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The envoys from the Nan Ni tribe arrived in the capital.
Li Shimin went out of the city to welcome them.
He took the envoy’s hand and walked step by step to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, engaging in close conversation.
Afterward,
Li Shimin washed his hands with soapberry dozens of times!
“Attend me...”
“Prepare the carriage for Lize Palace!”
Before receiving the envoys, Li Shimin had promised Empress Zhangsun to tell her about the Nan Ni tribe, as she was very curious about what kind of tribe they were.
Li Shimin entered Lize Palace.
He happened to run into Li Zhi.
“Father, why do you look so pale?” Li Zhi asked.
“Sigh!”
Li Shimin shook his head, his expression grim, and walked to the parlor.
Li Zhi followed, curious.
“Your Majesty... Did you finish receiving the envoys? What’s wrong?” Empress Zhangsun noticed something was amiss with Li Shimin.
“The Empress wasn’t present, so she doesn’t know how filthy the Nan Ni envoys are. According to him... He’s never bathed since birth, reeks of foul odor, and even his hands were caked in yellow mud. It truly disgusted me!”
Thinking about it now, he felt nauseated.
“What? There are people in the world who never bathe? That’s unbelievable!” Empress Zhangsun covered her nose, smiling gently.
Li Shimin always loved cleanliness. Shaking hands with someone who hadn’t bathed in decades was bound to leave him queasy for quite some time.
“Father, you said Nan Ni tribe?” Li Zhi interjected.
“You’ve heard of the Nan Ni tribe?”
“I think it sounds familiar, but I can’t quite recall!” Li Zhi fell into deep thought for a moment, then exclaimed with delight, “I remember now! Aren’t they the ones who eat earth?”
“Indeed!”
Thousands of people who never bathe or change clothes, spending their days eating mud. At this thought, Li Shimin retched on the floor. “Heavens... There really is such a tribe in this world!”
After rinsing,
Li Shimin closed his eyes, seemingly restraining himself—he still felt like vomiting!
“The world is vast and full of wonders!”
“Your Majesty ought to learn about them, and grant them the lifestyle of the Central Plains,” said Empress Zhangsun.
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