Chapter 660: A Merchant Guild Just for Yorang
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 660: A Merchant Guild Just for Yorang
"I shall back you. How about starting a business?"
Neung So-hwa spoke, her flame-like crimson eyes sparkling.
"A business?"
Yorang tilted her head, a look of confusion crossing her face. Neung So-hwa’s sudden proposal had caught her off guard.
A business?
Where did this come from all of a sudden?
"Did you not say you were purchasing foreign snacks?" Neung So-hwa asked, watching Yorang’s puzzled expression.
"Yeah, that's right."
Yorang nodded in agreement.
"Then what is the procedure for those purchases? And what is the scale?"
"Ummm... I ask the Head of the Alliance Trading Guild to handle the procurement... and the scale is about one cargo wagon..."
Yorang continued, looking lost in thought.
The procedure was simple. She would pay a premium to the Head of the Alliance Trading Guild, who already had trade schedules abroad, and request that they buy the snacks for her.
"The scale is too small. Furthermore, since snacks are not a primary commodity for the Alliance, they likely charge you a brokerage fee twice as high as they do for their standard goods."
Neung So-hwa continued in a calm tone.
"......Is that so?" Yorang asked back, sounding surprised.
"If you add a wagon, you must add a horse to pull it and a coachman to drive it. Additionally, the cost of the coachman’s meals will increase, and you will be billed for the horse's maintenance."
Neung So-hwa spoke matter-of-factly.
"Moreover, since foreign snacks are not the Alliance Trading Guild's main product, they must account for the inefficiency in their route. Therefore, the amount billed to you, Yorang, is bound to be high."
".......I see."
Yorang nodded slightly as she spoke. She had always wondered why the brokerage fee felt so expensive—why they were charging her so much. Now that it was broken down point by point, the high price finally made sense.
"That is why I am proposing a business."
"A business?" Yorang asked again.
"Founding a merchant guild solely for you."
"A... merchant... guild?"
"Indeed. A guild that procures nothing but snacks."
Neung So-hwa nodded as she spoke.
"......But..... there wouldn't be any demand for snacks..."
Yorang trailed off, looking troubled. Unlike cheap tang-gwa or mooncakes, foreign snacks were extremely rare luxury items. By their nature, they required much more labor than local sweets, and the taste varied wildly depending on the confectioner's skill. It seemed unlikely there would be much demand for such luxuries.
"Why do you assume there is no demand?" Neung So-hwa asked, looking genuinely curious. She wondered what led Yorang to that conclusion.
"Foreign snacks are very high-end luxury goods... so they're much more expensive than the Central Plains' tang-gwa or mooncakes... If I import and resell them, I'd have to charge double... In that case, not many people would buy them... because the Central Plains has much cheaper alternatives."
Yorang offered her own analysis. No matter how delicious a snack was, if the price was equivalent to two full meals a day, people wouldn't easily think to buy it.
"That is a misconception, Yorang."
Neung So-hwa shook her head.
"A misconception?"
"Yes. The demand will be more than sufficient."
She looked at Yorang with eyes full of conviction.
"Why do you think so?" Yorang asked, still not understanding.
These were foreign snacks that cost as much as a commoner's daily meals for just a single piece. How could there possibly be demand?
"Yorang, you are focusing only on the commoners. If you try to sell to them, foreign snacks certainly won't sell. To those who struggle to afford a single meal a day, snacks are nothing but an unnecessary luxury."
Neung So-hwa continued calmly.
"However, if you shift your focus to the wealthy class, the problem is solved. They are the affluent who do not spare any expense for pleasure or to satisfy their vanity. If you sell the snacks to them, you will secure a constant stream of demand."
"The upper class?"
"Precisely. High-ranking officials, local gentry, or wealthy merchants—the affluent class will be the backbone of your business."
Neung So-hwa looked at Yorang with a confident gaze.
"But... I don't really know any high-ranking officials or local gentry..."
Yorang spoke with a dejected expression. Having been cooped up in the Tang Clan, she had no such thing as a social network.
"That is why I said I would help you, did I not?"
Neung So-hwa spoke with a gentle smile.
"I shall build the bridge for you. Take the imported snacks and send them as gifts to the wealthy here and there."
"Give them as gifts instead of selling them?! Those expensive things?!"
Yorang asked, her face contorted in shock. It took a fortune—two hundred silver taels—just to fill a single wagon with those snacks. To give them away for free was unthinkable.
"You must give them as gifts."
"Why?" Yorang asked, unable to comprehend.
"Currently, are you not the only one who knows how delicious foreign snacks are? If they are unaware of that fact, who would readily buy the snacks you import?"
Neung So-hwa maintained a calm expression.
"...That... is true."
Yorang nodded in agreement. Neung So-hwa’s logic was sound.
"Therefore, promotion is necessary. You must let others know the taste and flavor that foreign snacks possess."
"......Promotion."
"Of course, there will be some loss since you must give the snacks away for free. However, in the long run, this is an investment, not a loss. By gifting the snacks, you can attract potential customers and create a great opportunity for publicity."
Neung So-hwa spoke with an air of confidence.
".........So that's how it works."
Yorang finally conceded. Every word made perfect sense.
"Once it is successfully established as a luxury item, you will be able to procure more snacks than you can handle through your guild and generate profit by selling them. Is it not perfect?"
Neung So-hwa spoke with a soft smile.
"But... can it really be established as a luxury item?....."
Yorang asked, still looking worried. It would be wonderful if everything went as planned, but reality was often harsher than expectations. She might not even break even, let alone make a profit.
"Do not worry. It will certainly take root. Is that not what the promotion is for?"
"Will the promotion go well?"
"By nature, humans tend to admire others. If high-ranking officials and wealthy merchants fall for the snacks one after another, those who admire them will imitate them and purchase the snacks as well."
Neung So-hwa spoke firmly.
"Unlike jewelry or ornaments... snacks have an expiration date... so long-term storage is impossible... I'm not sure if it'll work out."
"It is because they have an expiration date that they will be treated as precious. Human desire doubles when something is scarce. If they know the expiration date is approaching, they will be even more likely to bring bags of money to buy them. After all, they would have to wait months to taste foreign snacks again."
Neung So-hwa’s eyes sparkled like beautiful flames.
"Waaaah....."
Hearing those words, Yorang’s eyes began to sparkle incessantly. Neung So-hwa’s words felt like a dream. To be able to buy as many snacks as she wanted and even make a profit—how could it not feel like a dream?
"I'll do it! I'll do it! I'll do it!"
Yorang jumped up and down, shouting. Just imagining it made her feel like she was walking on air.
"However, Yorang."
"Yeah, yeah, tell me."
"How much money have you saved up?"
Neung So-hwa asked, looking curious. Yorang, who had been jumping around, froze instantly.
".............."
A long silence followed. Her expression became incredibly serious.
"I am merely asking to gauge the level of your capital. You may answer without pressure. If it is lacking, we can arrange something, so speak without reservation. I am well aware that you do not have much money."
When Yorang remained silent, Neung So-hwa spoke with a gentle smile.
Slowly.
Hearing Neung So-hwa’s words, Yorang slowly held up five small fingers.
"Hmm..... is it five hundred taels? It is insufficient for initial capital, but do not worry........ if I exert my influence......"
Neung So-hwa began to speak, looking thoughtful.
Shake, shake.
Suddenly, Yorang began to shake her head vigorously from side to side.
"Ah, then is it fifty taels.... My... it is even more lacking than I thought...... but do not worry... it is still better than having nothing at all...."
Shake, shake.
Yorang shook her head vigorously again.
"..........Surely not... five taels?"
Nod, nod.
Yorang gave a small, sheepish nod.
".........."
Neung So-hwa fell silent. She was speechless at the investment amount, which was far lower than she had imagined.
"Hmph..... can I... not start a merchant guild?"
When Neung So-hwa didn't say anything, Yorang looked at her with a tearful face. She was worried that the dream of founding a guild had vanished.
"......That is not the case."
Seeing her on the verge of tears, Neung So-hwa shook her head. She assured her that wouldn't happen.
"But..... I... don't have any money...."
Yorang spoke, her eyes filled with sadness.
"It is fine. There is a way."
"What way?" Yorang asked, tilting her head.
"You can attract investors."
"Investors?"
"Yes. If you have no money, can you not simply receive investment?"
Neung So-hwa spoke with a calm expression.
"Who... would want to invest in me?"
Yorang asked back, sounding worried. She knew better than anyone how difficult it was to get investment. Back when she worked as the Head of the Jaegyeong Pavilion, investment proposals had landed on her desk countless times. They all claimed it was a great opportunity and that she could make a fortune if she just invested.
But Yorang had simply crumpled those proposals and tossed them away. She would curse, saying she was busy enough without such nonsense flying her way. Because of that, she knew exactly how hard it was to get someone to invest.
"Do not worry. With my authority, I can grant various benefits to the guild you found. With those benefits, you will be able to attract numerous investors."
"Really?"
"Yes. Just by adjusting the customs duties, a massive number of investors will flock to you. So do not worry too much."
Neung So-hwa spoke with a look of absolute certainty.
"Waaaaah."
Hearing Neung So-hwa’s words, Yorang marveled, her eyes sparkling with hope. It felt as if hope was surging within her once again.
"You will concede a certain share to the investors, gather the funds, and grow the scale. Then, you will surely be able to complete a successful trade!"
Neung So-hwa spoke with conviction.
"A... suc...cessful... trade.."
Yorang repeated the words with a dazed expression. The word 'success' sounded incredibly alluring.
"Yes, a successful trade."
Neung So-hwa also looked at her with a sparkling gaze. Both women seemed to be dreaming of success.
"Wait a minute."
Sun-woo, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, suddenly cut in.
"I'm against it."
He voiced his opposition to their plan.
"................"
The heightened atmosphere immediately plummeted as if cold water had been poured over it. The mood grew so chilly it felt as if they were in the North Sea.
"Why!?"
"Why is that?"
Yorang and Neung So-hwa immediately protested. They couldn't understand why Sun-woo was opposing them.
"It's a business that isn't even certain yet. It's dangerous to rashly increase the scale."
Sun-woo spoke with an utterly calm expression. Their enthusiasm was fine. The plan even seemed feasible. However, he was against attracting investors to increase the scale. If the investment grew, the risk would grow twofold as well.
"Is it not still an unknown?"
"Because it's still an unknown, I'm saying you should be cautious. You said it yourself—you'll need promotion at first. You said people won't be familiar with foreign snacks. So how can you just blindly grow the business scale?"
Sun-woo spoke as if scolding them.
".................."
"................."
Hearing his words, the two women fell silent. He wasn't wrong.