Chapter Thirty-Nine: Profits Should Be Shared, Not Monopolized!
Year 28 of the Kaiyuan Era, the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, an auspicious day according to the almanac.
Appropriate: Sacrifices, opening business, accepting wealth.
Avoid: Beware of petty people!
...
At dawn, when the sky was just beginning to brighten, a long line had already formed in front of the Drunken Immortal Tavern’s gates. Well-dressed young gentlemen, rotund merchants, and even blond, blue-eyed foreigners from the Western regions—all had come for the famed Erguotou.
When the doors opened at the hour of the dragon, the guests surged inside. Before they’d even settled into their seats, they began calling out their orders boisterously:
“Waiter, bring a whole lamb feast and two jugs of Erguotou. I want to taste if this wine truly burns like fire going down and cuts like a blade in the belly, as the rumors say.”
“Certainly, sir, you’ll be satisfied.”
“Waiter, a full fish banquet and two jugs of Erguotou. Bring the wine first, then the dishes. Hurry up, do you understand?”
“Understood.”
“Waiter, hurry up with the wine… What? You’re overwhelmed… Never mind, where’s the wine cellar? I’ll fetch it myself.”
...
To describe the tavern’s business as booming would be an understatement—it was nothing short of madness. Upstairs and downstairs, every seat was filled; even the corridors were packed with people, yet more customers kept streaming in, far beyond what the tavern could accommodate.
Every guest was a god of wealth; there was no reason to turn anyone away. But how to host them all?
Manager Jia, quick-witted in crisis, ordered that the inn’s rooms at the back be cleared, transforming every guest room, large and small, into private dining chambers. Only then did they manage to seat the guests.
The Erguotou from the cellar was carried out by the vat, yet still could not quench the guests’ thirst. Some, too impatient to wait, went to fetch the wine themselves. Though such conduct was beneath their dignity, for the sake of savoring this peerless brew—Erguotou—it was worth it.
In short: Erguotou was selling like hotcakes, and the Drunken Immortal Tavern was reaping immense profits.
When the tavern made money, Li Zhao made money. Earning money is always a cause for joy!
But as ever, in the affairs of the world, there is always opposition. If some are happy, others must be unhappy.
Who, you ask?
Of course, it was Li De and Lady Zheng, that pair of scheming lovers!
...
Li De resided in the county town, on West Gate Street, with three courtyards front and back, blue bricks and gray tiles—a grand residence not inferior to those of government officials.
In the parlor, Li De paced with hands clasped behind his back, like an old mule circling a millstone, his face twisted in anger. At his feet were puddles and two shattered porcelain teacups. Lady Zheng sat nearby, equally furious.
Previously, they had returned the ancestral home and brewery to Li Zhao, intending to find a scapegoat and kill two birds with one stone.
Who could have guessed that the young man had real talent? In less than a month, he not only revived the brewery and created the exquisite Erguotou, but also forged ties with Lord Cui Zongzhi of the minor Qi state.
It was rumored that Li Zhao and Cui Zongzhi now traveled together, dined at the same table—inseparable, closer than brothers.
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With Lord Cui as his patron, and wealth amassed from Erguotou, it would not be long before Li Zhao soared to prominence. By then, what future would remain for the couple?
“Smack! Smack!”
Thinking of this, Li De slapped his own face in self-reproach, bitterly regretting his actions—a classic case of hoisting a stone only to crush one’s own foot.
“Wife, we must act first. If we end that brat, we need not fear the consequences.”
“Alas, it’s too late. Li Zhao has grown powerful, now a figure of note in Wu’an County. With our resources, we can hardly touch him.”
“If we lack strength, we can call on Father-in-law for aid. He’s been a major player in the magistrate’s office for years, with extensive connections and cunning methods. Dealing with a youngster should be easy.”
...
Li De’s father-in-law, Lady Zheng’s own father, was named Zheng Ji. He served as county administrator in Wu’an, an eighth-rank official, second only to the magistrate.
A man of sinister cunning and cruelty, during his decade as administrator he had committed countless misdeeds: embezzlement, extortion, seizing men and women, oppressing the innocent... Anyone who dared resist was immediately framed and thrown in jail. It was said that at least half the prisoners in Wu’an’s jail were put there by Administrator Zheng’s vile schemes, many dying miserably within.
If being full of evil were not enough, Administrator Zheng liked to feign benevolence, always wearing a smiling face. Thus the townsfolk dubbed him “the Smiling Tiger.”
If this “Smiling Tiger” were to act, it would be no trouble to fabricate charges and have Li Zhao locked up, or to kill him and dispose of the body.
Li Zhao was the last of the Wu royal line: no uncles, brothers, or nephews, and still unmarried. Should he die, the ancestral home and brewery would naturally revert to Li De and Lady Zheng.
Yet after much consideration, Lady Zheng shook her head in resignation. “Li Zhao is close with Lord Cui. If anything happens to him, Lord Cui will surely intervene. That would be troublesome.”
“There’s a saying: ‘A mighty dragon cannot suppress a local snake.’ No matter how powerful Lord Cui is, can he really meddle in Wu’an County’s affairs?”
“Ah, husband, you do not understand. That saying only means the dragon is not strong enough... Lord Cui not only holds a hereditary title, but is also son-in-law to the Emperor. His prospects are limitless. Even ten of our fathers combined couldn’t match a finger of his. He is not someone we can afford to provoke, or disaster will follow!
Fortunately, Lord Cui is only here for leisure. He’ll likely return to Chang’an soon. Once he’s gone, we can have Father act against Li Zhao. As long as it’s done cleanly, and a few scapegoats are found, even if Lord Cui learns of it afterward, he cannot blame us. Ha ha!”
Though a woman, Lady Zheng was far more calculating and ruthless than Li De.
“Husband, you need not idle. Visit the taverns and restaurants in town and stir up trouble.”
“What trouble?”
“Heh, fan the flames, spread rumors, incite discord... If things go well, someone else may deal with that little brat Li Zhao for us!”
“Oh, you mean to kill with a borrowed knife?”
Li De was no fool; he instantly grasped his wife’s intent and praised her with a thumbs-up.
The Drunken Immortal Tavern’s business was booming, with profits overflowing. But other taverns in town were deserted, their business much diminished.
As the saying goes: ‘Cutting off someone’s livelihood is like killing their parents.’ The owners, managers, and staff of those establishments must be furious.
At this moment, a little instigation would turn their resentment into madness—arson, poisoning, murder... nothing would be beyond them.
Lord Cui might be untouchable, but Li Zhao... even if he survived, he’d be stripped to the bone.
This scheme was truly vicious!
...
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Unfortunately for Li De, his plot was extinguished before it began, drowned out by a downpour.
On the third day of Erguotou’s unprecedented sales, the Drunken Immortal Tavern announced: they were willing to share this fine brew with dozens of other taverns and restaurants, so that all might profit together.
The news caused a sensation.
People were astonished, then applauded the tavern’s action: valuing righteousness over profit, a true model.
The proprietors of those dozens of establishments were especially grateful, pledging with hand-on-heart: from now on, we’ll earn together, and stand together in times of trouble!
When Li De learned the news, he smashed over a dozen teacups, yet had no recourse and could only stew in silent frustration!
...
Late night, inside the Drunken Immortal Tavern.
Manager Jia was busily working the abacus with one hand, ledger in the other, calculating today’s earnings.
Nearby, a dozen staff counted boxes of gold, silver, and copper coins, their hands cramped from fatigue, but finally finishing the tally.
In a single day, they had earned two thousand eight hundred eighty strings of coins, equal to more than half a month’s previous income.
With so much profit, it was only right to reward the staff. Manager Jia decided on the spot to distribute eighty strings from the surplus among them.
With over forty staff members, each received more than two strings of coins—enough to buy ten bushels of fine rice.
The staff were grateful for the reward, but a little puzzled: “Manager, why share Erguotou with other taverns? If we kept it exclusive to the Drunken Immortal, our profits would multiply!”
“Ha, making money is good, but don’t forget the saying: ‘Profit can be shared, not monopolized; plans can be few, not many; monopoly leads to ruin, too many planners leads to leaks.’”
“Manager, what does that mean? We don’t understand.”
“It means: share the profits with others, don’t keep everything for yourself. If you monopolize, in the end there will be no profit to be had. When planning, don’t involve too many people—too many, and secrets will be exposed.
Think about it: if we monopolize all the benefits, what future is there for other taverns and restaurants? Those who leave others no way out will themselves meet ruin. Better to be generous and let everyone profit, so we can all live in peace!”
...
“Manager, that’s wise. We have learned much.”
“Bah, you flatter the wrong person. I might be good with small accounts, but such insight is beyond me. This was all explained by Young Master Zhao!”
Mentioning Li Zhao, Manager Jia was full of admiration—nearly ready to set up an ancestral tablet and offer daily incense.
At first, he’d opposed sharing Erguotou. But Li Zhao had patiently explained the benefits and drawbacks, and finally opened his eyes... Young Master Zhao was a true sage—not only clever, but far-sighted.
“Manager, where has our young Lord Cui gone?”
“Oh, he found the inn too noisy, so he and his guards moved to Qianlong Hill to stay with Young Master Zhao. With them together, there’ll be no shortage of amusement!”
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