Chapter 108: Sales Channels

"Ha, excellent!" the crowd cheered.

"Many thanks to Young Master Yang for your guidance. We certainly won't forget this kindness once we've made our fortunes," a man shouted from further away, and the others echoed him with respectful bows.

"Is there anything else we can do to assist you, Young Master? We certainly won't refuse," one person asked.

Yang Cheng thought to himself that they had walked right into the main topic just as he was about to bring it up.

He smiled and said, "What do you all think of this wine? I can teach you the culinary arts, but this wine is brewed from grain using a secret recipe passed down through my Yang family. My livelihood depends on it, you see?"

"Haha, Young Master Yang, you joke. We wouldn't be so greedy," the crowd replied with a laugh.

Yang Cheng continued, "Since we're on the subject, let me introduce this wine to you. It is called Baijiu. It is pure, free of impurities, and possesses a rich, fragrant flavor—several times better than anything currently on the market. What do you all think?"

"Indeed, once this wine hits the market, it will surely dominate," someone remarked.

"That's right. The bottle itself is exquisite; one can tell at a glance it's extraordinary. And the taste is beyond compare—it has a bold kick and a deep aroma."

"It's not murky either; it looks as clear as jade and ice, which is truly delightful."

The crowd buzzed with lively discussion.

Yang Cheng said, "In the future, I hope for your continued support in recommending my family's wine to your guests. You earn your keep from the food, and I'll earn a little from the wine. How does that sound?"

Many responded in agreement, "That goes without saying; we will spare no effort."

"With fine food, there must be fine wine. Yang family wine is the perfect match for these delicacies; they complement each other. Even if you hadn't asked, Young Master, we would be happy to do it."

Yang Cheng then explained the different grades of the wine and the market pricing. He continued, "I will also be brewing new varieties in the future, such as medicinal wines for health, and fruit wines suitable for women and children. You all know my business philosophy: I never seek to monopolize profits, only to achieve high volume through modest margins. I intend to select a group of franchise partners here in Wuzhou City. To protect the interests of these partners, this will be the only group—what I call 'Level 1 Franchisees'—and no more will be added later. The franchise fee is five thousand spirit coins, and the wholesale price will be seventy percent of the market price."

"In other words, Level 1 Franchisees have a thirty percent profit margin. You may retail it yourselves, wholesale it, or expand by recruiting your own sub-franchise shops. From now on, all retail and wholesale of this Baijiu within Wuzhou City must be sourced through these franchise shops. The profit here is significant. Any of you sitting here today who wish to join, speak up. After today, no more Level 1 Franchisees will be added in Wuzhou City."

The crowd had been listening intently. Five thousand spirit coins was a substantial sum for these small taverns, but over the past year, who among them hadn't earned at least eighty or ninety thousand? Not to mention the massive future returns from being a Level 1 Franchisee, even if they hadn't earned a penny, doing a favor for Young Master Yang was worth it.

Everyone could do the math. As long as they were diligent, even with a smaller margin, they could turn a huge profit by reselling the Baijiu to other taverns. If they recruited sub-franchisees, their volume would skyrocket, and the spirit coins would come pouring in.

"Young Master Yang, count me in!" one person shouted.

"I'll join as well."

For a time, everyone scrambled to sign up. Even the members of the Merchant Guild were deeply tempted, though they held back because Elder Le Yin had not yet made a move.

"Good, good. There’s no need to rush. Today is primarily for celebration. As for the business matters, once we’ve finished our meal, just register with Steward Su. Come, everyone, bottoms up!" Yang Cheng said.

The sound of clinking cups filled the air as everyone continued to drink. They socialized and connected, the atmosphere incredibly lively.

Yang Cheng moved among them, chatting casually. He wanted to encourage the tavern owners to collect information for him in their daily business, so he needed to reach out and ask them to provide such conveniences.

Although Elder Le Yin had already spoken with Yang Cheng and knew the purpose of the banquet, he was still struck by Yang Cheng’s methods. With a few lighthearted words, he had effortlessly opened up a sales channel for the Baijiu. As a partner in the new distillery, he had visited the facility and knew the production cost was less than ten percent of the market price; the profits were staggering.

Judging by the situation, he estimated there would be no fewer than two hundred franchisees. In the span of a single meal, a million spirit coins were in the bag. Beyond the profit, it tied the interests of these franchisees directly to the product. With two hundred franchisees working hard to expand their own sales channels, perhaps by tomorrow, every street and alley in Wuzhou City would be filled with Yang family spirits.

He felt he had gained some insight; he could replicate Yang Cheng’s methods in other cities in the future.

Eating hot pot and drinking fine wine on the snow-covered ground held a unique elegance. Three or four hours passed, and no one felt the cold. Even with misty, drunken eyes, they didn't forget to register; many had to be carried to their carriages by their drivers.

Someone even pointed to the table and asked, "Young Master Yang, what about these hot pot utensils?"

Yang Cheng waved his hand dismissively, "Everyone take one home today. If you need more later, just buy them at the general store. I’ve already arranged for the factory to supply them, and the market price is quite low."

"Very generous, very generous," the guests said with bows before departing in high spirits.

Once everyone had left, Old Zhu and Old Le came to bid their farewells.

A member of the Merchant Guild asked, "After listening to Young Master Yang’s analysis of the tavern business, I am quite moved and would like to open one myself. I wonder if my staff might also come to learn the trade?"

Yang Cheng, feeling slightly tipsy, smiled, "Of course. Feel free to send your people to the Yang family kitchen in the coming days; there are chefs there specifically assigned to teach. Once they know the basics, they can experiment and develop their own new dishes."

"Young Master Yang, I am deeply grateful. If you ever have need of anything in the future, just send word to the Merchant Guild and ask for Wu." The man was overjoyed, and several others nearby were equally stirred by this.

The elderly man from earlier bowed again, "Young Master Yang, we have enjoyed today’s Baijiu immensely. It has immense potential. I would like to ask, does Young Master have any plans to export it outside the city?"

Yang Cheng replied, "I have entrusted the export rights of the distillery entirely to Old Le. If you wish to get involved, you can discuss it with him."

A murmur went through the group. The Cloud Kingdom was vast; Elder Le Yin holding exclusive export rights meant his future prospects were immeasurable. The guests began to congratulate Elder Le Yin, their envy plain to see.

Elder Le Yin was secretly delighted. Bringing them along had been the right choice; letting them see the product would surely provide him with more support for his export business.

Yang Cheng added, "Since we have had the fortune to meet today, we are all friends. Let's keep in touch. There may be other business opportunities, and I will rely on your help with the exports."

Everyone agreed eagerly. They would certainly make an effort to get closer to this Young Master Yang. Despite his youth, his methods were truly extraordinary. In the span of a single banquet, he had reshaped the entire landscape of the Wuzhou City wine trade. If they could get close to him, perhaps one day, like Elder Le Yin, they might encounter a grand opportunity and soar to new heights.