On one side, Gu Zuo was still in the middle of calculating the gold. On the other side, two operating factions were already starting to discuss the specific cooperative arrangements.
Fu Manduo directly said: "This Fu actually possesses several ways for acquiring the Qi Linking Pill. However, the more the better. As for the supply of high grade Revitalization Pills, it's not that abundant. So, with junior sect brother's cooperation, I mainly hope to acquire more Revitalization Pills… The inner sect's disciples are numerous, so the demand for Revitalization Pills is, indeed, enormous. And if it can be stably supplied, everyone would make for good friends. Is this not a wonderful thing?"
Gongyi Tianheng nodded his head: "At that time, this one will still need to ask senior sect brother Fu for a referral." After saying this, "I'm unaware of the quant.i.ties senior sect brother Fu needs… If it can be accomplished, this one will certainly urge my subordinates to do so for senior sect brother."
Fu Manduo smiled, and unambiguously said: "Junior sect brother Gongyi is a refreshing person. This Fu won't speak in circles with you. One thousand two hundred Revitalization Pills and eight hundred Qi Linking Pills, two thousand in all. I believe that the capabilities of junior sect brother's subordinates can produce this much?"
Tianheng heard this, and frowned while shaking his head: "Although some medicinal pills can be put aside, this one also needs to give his subordinates some safeguards. Two thousand pills is too many. Eight hundred Revitalization Pills and three hundred Qi Linking Pills… If it's any more, then I'm afraid I'd be cutting a loss. It really would be no good."
Fu Manduo's smile deepened: "Junior sect brother, this certainly isn't being sincere. One thousand one hundred pills is rather lacking. Moreover, with this small amount of medicinal pills, suffering a loss is out of the question, right? It'd be better for junior sect brother to listen to this Fu's price before reconsidering.
He continued: "So long as they're high grade Qi Linking Pills, each pill is sixty five gold, which is much higher than the market price's fifty gold. As for the Revitalization Pill, the market price is one thousand gold per pill, but this Fu will give junior sect brother one thousand one hundred gold per pill. How's that? This Fu makes a profit, but still hopes junior sect brother won't be stingy, and provides more medicinal pills…"
Tianheng's furrowed brows tensed even more as he seemed to completely hesitate.
Gu Zuo saw him putting on this act and was certain that he needed to perform in a little while. In his mind, he asked: Big brother, Fu Manduo looked for us to get these medicinal pills. The given price is higher than the market price, so how does he make a profit? As a profiteer, not only wouldn't he be making money, he'd be losing it instead. There shouldn't be a conspiracy in here, right?
Gongyi Tianheng's face was still at a loss, but his tone while transmitting was very cheerful: The market price isn't the final, true price. In the inner sect, there are many disciples with money, and many disciples without money. Doing business and supplying goods is not the same thing. What Fu Manduo is selling should be the right social connections and channels.
Gu Zuo didn't understand.
Tianheng also wasn't stingy with his explanation: While Zhang Mingyue and the others pa.s.s for pharmacists, they are very clear about the current market situation. You've seen them obtain cultivation methods and pill seals, but the Qi Generating Pills and Rejuvenation Pills they can refine are only high grade. As for the higher level Qi Linking Pills and Revitalization Pills, usually only the mid grade pharmacists who've advanced to Xiantian have the a.s.surance of refining high grade pills.
He continued: However, there are far fewer mid grade pharmacists than low grade pharmacists. The Pill Fire Society may have some, but the high grade medicinal pills those people refine are certainly not enough to be useful. As for the Qingyun Sect, there are many mid grade pharmacists, but the pills they refine are usually allocated to the sect's monthly allowances — The sect needs to provide for its numerous disciples, and this isn't easy.
Gu Zuo listened, and understood a bit: So even if someone was an inner sect disciple, apart from occasionally getting high grade pills from the sect's distribution, the rest of the purchased Qi Linking Pills and Revitalization Pills are mostly all mid or low grade?
Tianheng nodded: Correct. Even if Fu Manduo had many channels and has a supporter, the high grade medicinal pills his supporter can pick out are very few. The pills he supplies to the other "poor" disciples are mostly mid and low grade. And him securing enough high grade pills from us here would let him establish even more ways to win over many inner sect disciples who have or don't have the money, interweaving a huge social network. At that time, no one would dare move against him. In the inner sect, he could obtain a comparatively large influence.
Gu Zuo comprehended this: High grade medicinal pills are really that priceless?
Gongyi Tianheng nodded: This child can be taught.
Gu Zuo was a little helpless: So when that profiteer sells these high grade pills to the inner sect disciples, it'll be swindling?
Tianheng nodded again: For the seller, this is proper and to be expected.
Gu Zuo felt even more helpless.
So his dear big brother and that Fu Manduo had a tacit mutual understanding, huh…
But, he was still a little worried: That Fu Manduo, could he find trouble for us? Getting rid of our pharmacists, pill seals, cultivation methods, and so on?
Tianheng smiled faintly: Despite being a profiteer, he wouldn't negotiate without honor. While he still can't figure out our foundations, he'll be more cautious, and certainly won't act blindly without thinking. What's more, Fu Manduo's familiarity with Xun Suying and Liu Wuyan means that he won't have a falling-out with us any time soon. Waiting until I've entered the inner sect, he won't start a feud with me over business that was originally mutually beneficial… He won't seize the leak of information unless if he gets the exact details. Otherwise, his pigtails wouldn't be few. How else could he guarantee that he won't cause himself a setback?
If it was just an ordinary inner sect disciple, he definitely wouldn't have reached an agreement so easily.
But rather than saying that Fu Manduo was an inner sect disciple, it was better to say that he was a merchant.
The ones merchants paid attention to were those who were affable and wouldn't go too far when negotiating mutually beneficial business.
Although Tianheng didn't seem to have any foundation right now, it could already be considered that his social background had both Xun Suying and Liu Wuyan. Once he thought of ways to elevate his position, people would naturally see his potential.
Currently, Fu Manduo first thought about monopolizing this channel of Gongyi Tianheng. Then, after slowly thinking of a way, he would see if he could use conciliatory methods to obtain the pill seals from Tianheng.
Being tough and unyielding would be the next best policy.
Gu Zuo silently nodded.
In any case, what his big brother said was all correct. The pill seals with the least utility could be directly given to that Fu Manduo. He had plenty of these kinds of things in his possession… It would also serve as a concealment trick.
At worst, they would face business compet.i.tion, and they could switch locations to sell medicinal pills elsewhere.
They still needed to open a store.
In this way, Gu Zuo transmitted his comments in his mind in a short while. Tianheng, who faced Fu Manduo, also exposed an expression as if his heart was resolved: "Since senior sect brother Fu has said this, then I can only call on my subordinates to band together. As such, one thousand Revitalization Pills and five hundred Qi Linking Pills… This really is the limit; we can't go any higher!"
Fu Manduo was somewhat satisfied. He also didn't believe that this compelled person was even without cultivation resources. Immediately, he simply said: "Delightful! Since it's like this, then just sign the contract!"
Tianheng looked towards him, and also clapped the table with a smile.
This business deal was settled for the time being.
Following this, with Zhao Yuheng and Liu Wuyan bearing witness, the two signed a contract. It stipulated the amounts and prices of each month's medicinal pills, but didn't mention this business deal's time limit.
In any case, they were all aware that once this business was smoothly conducted, unless if there was a need to increase the amount of supplied goods or for any other reason, they would continue to cooperate.
This was until anything unexpected arose, or if there was a need to further modify the method of cooperation.
Having discussed such a big business deal, Fu Manduo already had the intent of treating Gongyi Tianheng as one of his own people. This person was able to mingle and generate waves, but this didn't mean that he was disingenuous. Being a profiteer also meant being frank and straightforward.
After that, a room of people ate together heartily as they drank their fill and conversed. During such a meal, the relationships between those involved drew a bit closer.
Drinking wine and eating food, Xun Suying and Liu Wuyan didn't forget to raise several gla.s.ses to Tianheng. Even Gu Zuo was forced to drink quite a lot of wine. It gave his cheeks such a heated, rosy flush that the alcoholic fumes were practically steaming out.
After he finished eating and drinking, Gu Zuo only felt that his eyes were blurry and his head was spinning.
His mind also vaguely thought that the success of becoming Xiantian didn't help with his capacity for alcohol…
After the meal ended, the heat got to everyone's heads to some extent.
Liu Wuyan was still very uncommunicative, but his eyes appeared darker. From his tugging of Xun Suying's wrist, one could see that he was also drunk.
Because Xun Suying was a woman, she also hadn't been poured too much wine. Naturally, she was very clear-headed. Right now, despite being clung to by Liu Wuyan, she didn't throw him off. On the contrary, her cheeks grew rosy, which increased her charm.
A blush emerged on Zhao Yuheng's face, and he wasn't completely sober. At this moment, his arm was grabbed by Fu Manduo, who steadied him. Yet, Zhao Yu Heng still remembered to keep his back straight.
Fu Manduo's alcohol tolerance was very strong, and at this time, he didn't forget to say to Tianheng: "I hope my junior sect brother will go back to make the appropriate preparations for the medicinal pills. This Fu will go to receive them himself at the end of the month."
Gongyi Tianheng, who likewise didn't get drunk, faintly smiled: "I'll be sure to prepare for my guest."
Fu Manduo waved his hand, and supported Zhao Yuheng as they left Huiren Restaurant.
Xun Suying shyly nodded her head to Tianheng in farewell, bring Liu Wuyan along as they walked away.
Those remaining were only the slightly tipsy Gongyi Tianheng and Gu Zuo, who was unwittingly half-lying on top of the table.
Tianheng chuckled as he looked at Gu Zuo's bewildering appearance. He walked over, and softly pat his face: "Ah Zuo, Ah Zuo?"
Gu Zuo opened his blurry eyes and strained his eyes at the person before him: "Oh… Big brother… Wanna go?"
Tianheng's gaze gently lowered: "En, let's go."
Gu Zuo feebly nodded: "Eh."
After he finished speaking, two hands supported themselves on the table, weakly wanting to stand up.
The outcome, after drinking too much, was that his limbs were powerless and his head was dizzy. As Gu Zuo stood up, he tipped over. He was giddy with a spinning head, and almost threw himself out — Nevertheless, Tianheng's eyes were swift and his hands were quick. His hand pulled Gu Zuo's arm.
Gu Zuo staggered and directly fell over.
Gongyi Tianheng helplessly carried him by his waist.
…So thin and small. If he wasn't careful, he might b.u.mp into something.
Gu Zuo discovered that his position wasn't right, and promptly leaned backwards: "Big brother… I'm sorry! I b.u.mped into you… Does it hurt? I, I didn't do it on purpose…"
Tianheng shook his head as he laughed: "Ah Zuo naturally didn't do it on purpose. Ah Zuo's only drunk."
Gu Zuo stared blankly.
Afterwards, he nodded his head, and said seriously: "Right. I…got drunk."
Gongyi Tianheng: "…"
Ah, his little pharmacist. Even if he drank a lot, he was still very obedient.
T/N: It's the start of a beautiful relationship. I'll give you three guesses for the two I'm talking about.
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