C14 If You Dont Cooperate Youll be Killed!

"Ms. Luo, if we're to partner up and start a new toothpaste factory as you suggest, it seems we need to bring in some influential investors. Could you explain why that's necessary?" Guibao, resigned to handling the negotiations, attempted to engage with the stunning woman before him.

Luo Yuqiong wasn't fond of Bao Guo's demeanor, but given her current need for cooperation, she begrudgingly acquiesced. Addressing Guibao's question, she earnestly asked, "Before I answer that, let me pose a question to you. What's the most you're willing to pay for toothpaste?"

"Uh, well, the priciest I've ever used was around 40 to 50 yuan a tube. Why do you ask?"

"Do you happen to know the volume of toothpaste you get for 40 to 50 yuan?"

Guibao was at a loss for words; he had no clue about the weight of a tube of toothpaste. Like many, he had brushed his teeth his whole life without ever considering the volume of toothpaste.

With a knowing smile, Luo Yuqiong clarified, "Here in China, a tube of toothpaste priced at 40 to 50 RMB is on the expensive side, typically ranging from 70 to 100 grams, depending on the manufacturer."

"But how does that relate to finding partners?" Guibao was puzzled.

"Let me break it down for you," she continued. "Taking a 100-gram tube as an example, whether it's for anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, or other purposes, 50 yuan isn't cheap. Now, imagine our toothpaste hits the market at 150 yuan per tube, but with only 50 grams, or even 30 grams of product. If we sell just 10,000 tubes a day, do the math."

Guibao quickly did the calculation: "That would mean daily sales of 1.5 million yuan. Wow, that's seriously big business."

Luo Yuqiong sighed, "Selling 10,000 tubes a day is nothing. With e-commerce, I'm confident we can push our sales beyond 100,000 tubes daily. Consider this: our rise will inevitably cut into the profits of established toothpaste brands. They've been entrenched in the domestic market for years and have considerable strength. Without any powerful allies of our own, what do you think they'll do when faced with our significant profits?"

Do we even need to ponder this? Guibao, with a hand shaking so much it nearly vibrated, lit a cigarette and took a drag, then chuckled wryly, "So, if we don't play ball, they'll destroy us, huh?"

"Destroy is a strong word. We live in a society governed by laws, but there are countless ways they could put you and Bao Guo behind bars, and even your families could get dragged into it. If we want to launch this miraculous toothpaste on the market, we need to secure some powerful patrons. When the money rolls in, everyone profits. That's the only way to keep other envious manufacturers from taking a bite at us."

Guibao inhaled deeply, locking eyes with Luo Yuqiong, "I'm guessing your late-night visit means you've got a solid plan, right?"

...

"This is simply incredible. Master, this can't be the standard Spirit Awakening Elixir, can it? I've heard that one just gives you a brief moment of mental clarity, and then you need over half a month to learn writing, language, and other things. But with just a press on these two stone tablets, he understands everything," Krod said, looking up to the disheveled middle-aged man with reverence.

"Psh, what I've made is the enhanced version of the Spirit Opening Water, far superior to that ordinary rubbish. By the way, what's your name, sir, and where do you hail from? Do you know if this Alchemist Tool that emits flames was really traded to you by him?"

Before Krod could respond, Bao Guo was helped back by someone, his face as white as a sheet. From a distance, he pointed a shaky finger at the disheveled middle-aged man and said feebly, "You... you damn... I've got no quarrel with you, why... why would you give me a laxative?"

Anna couldn't contain herself any longer and burst into laughter, her face flushing red.

Bao Guo shot her a glare, shoved the villager aside, and lurched toward the middle-aged man, grabbing his shirtfront, "Spill it—who are you, and what's your angle?"

"Easy, easy, my friend. I meant no harm. I noticed you couldn't understand our language, so I gave you a dose of the enhanced Spirit Opening Water to kickstart your spiritual intellect. Admittedly, the potion might be a bit past its prime, causing some... minor side effects. Just bear with it—it's only a bit of diarrhea. I'll have someone whip up some meat porridge to help you recover."

Struggling to muster any strength, Bao Guo resigned himself to sitting on the ground, gasping for air. "Alright, spill it. You've put me through the wringer, so you owe me something. Are we talking cash or goods? Let's talk it out."

The middle-aged man's face turned a shade darker. What kind of person was this? He hadn't even asked Bao Guo for the money for the enhanced Spiritual Opening Water, and now he was demanding compensation? How shameless can you get?

Clearing his throat, the middle-aged man squatted next to Bao Guo, pulled out a pale green plastic lighter, and sparked a flame. "My friend, we're cut from the same cloth. I genuinely came seeking your expertise. You're the creator of this marvel, aren't you? This is quite the feat. Might I—"

"No." Bao Guo cut him off mid-sentence with a turn of his head.

Stifled, the middle-aged man's face cycled from black to red, then back again. Unable to contain his frustration, he dragged over a large metal box, rummaged through it, and presented a dark golden box just a tad wider than a glasses case.

Bao Guo admired the object's beauty and fine craftsmanship, noting the intricate and mysterious patterns etched into its surface. It had a satisfying heft to it. Curious, he glanced at the middle-aged man and inquired, "What's this?"

"Hmph, you wanted money, right? There's your money. Now, will you enlighten me about the function of this alchemical creation?"

Money? That was a word that resonated deeply with Bao Guo. Back on Earth, he had amassed a tidy sum, enough to kickstart some modest ventures. But here, his pockets were still empty.

Gently, he opened the dark golden box, and what he saw inside left him momentarily speechless.

"..."

"This is my proposal. Feel free to suggest any amendments now, the sooner the better. I'm staking my entire fortune and future on this partnership. If we succeed, the Luo Family will be poised for a great leap forward. If we fail, I'll just marry a decent man and never concern myself with family honor again."

Luo Yuqiong passed a stack of plans to Guibao, her gaze fixed intently on the somewhat disheveled man before her. Their exchange made it clear he was a man of technical prowess, a scholarly type. And those were always the easiest to handle.

Guibao deftly passed the issue to Bao Guo. "Let's do this, Miss Luo, it's getting quite late. Why don't you head into town and check into a hotel for the night? I need to discuss some things with Bao Guo. We can go over the cooperation details when we meet up tomorrow, is that alright?"

Luo Yuqiong was left somewhat at a loss by his noncommittal response. She had a mind full of words that she couldn't bring herself to voice, and ultimately, she departed with a sense of frustration.

Meanwhile, Bao Guo was fixated on the small amount of crystals in the metal box, curiously questioning the middle-aged man, "What's this? It looks like I have something similar, but not nearly as much as you have here."