Dali ran around the city for nearly an hour before finally bringing Changsun Chong and the others.
"Big brother, you're not being honest, not telling us beforehand about opening a new shop!" Zhang Daxing complained as they approached Fang Er.
Changsun Chong also sidled up to Fang Er and asked, "Big brother, what kind of business is this shop in? Can your brothers get in on it?"
"Well, well! So that's their plan."
Cheng Chumo and Yuchi Baolin also looked at him expectantly, hoping to continue to piggyback on Fang Er's success and make easy money.
"Don't even think about it. This business is mine alone. I'll bring you in on other ventures later," Fang Er said, tossing a pack of cigarettes to each of them.
Other ventures meant the things his workshop could produce itself, so it was fine to involve them. But everything sold in this shop was redeemed from the system. It wouldn't be appropriate to involve them in this. For this kind of business, the fewer people involved, the better.
The group didn't get angry. After opening and lighting their cigarettes, they entered the shop, exhaling smoke.
Upon entering and taking a brief look, these guys couldn't contain themselves.
"Holy cow! Big brother, this shop is actually selling tobacco and alcohol?" Changsun Chong pointed at the shelves filled with "Mendunlu" (strong liquor), not daring to believe his eyes.
They had all received plenty of these things from Fang Er, and they were well aware of their magic. With cigarettes alone, which had no other source in the Great Tang, this shop's business wouldn't be bad.
Fang Er chuckled, seeing their expressions. "What, you're envious?"
"Mhm!" The crowd nodded in unison. Whoever wasn't envious was a fool!
Smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol, they could even have sex all night.
Of course, this was also because they saw the little blue pills placed on the counter. Fang Er had taken these out later and placed them in a very conspicuous position. It was much like how condoms are displayed at supermarket checkout counters in later eras. For such items, no further explanation was needed; just take them and pay.
A group of second-generation youngsters, like hungry wolves spotting meat, rushed to the counter. The few boxes of little pills on display were snatched up in an instant. At the last auction, they had been too concerned about their image to bid openly. Afterward, the merchant who had bought the little pills, after experiencing their effects, praised them to everyone he met, saying that after taking the medicine, he had felt like a real man for a whole night. The remaining pills in his possession were bought out by someone for three hundred taels each. It was rumored that the buyer was a wealthy merchant from the south who, in his youth, had been traumatized by an event and had suffered from impotence ever since. However, after the medicine reached the wealthy merchant, three months later, he specially returned from the south. Upon entering Chang'an city, he asked everyone he met where he could buy more little blue pills. The reason was that after returning home and taking the pills, within half a month, his household had gained two pregnant women – his wife and a concubine had both conceived.
This was truly unbelievable! From that point on, the little blue pills Fang Er had sold became renowned as aphrodisiacs. Some people were even privately willing to pay five hundred taels for just one pill but couldn't obtain it.
"Big brother, can these be considered a welcoming gift?" Zhang Daxing clutched his box of pills tightly, as if afraid someone would snatch it away.
"What, you're not even fifteen yet, and you're already relying on this?" Fang Er expressed disbelief. "These are all strapping young men, treating this thing like a treasure?"
"Heh heh, well, brother doesn't need it. I'll give it to my father, otherwise, he's always beating me when he's idle!"
Fang Er: "..." What kind of logic is that!
Looking at the others with questioning expressions.
Changsun Chong: "Well, I got this for my uncle-in-law."
Cheng Chumo: "I'm saving it for fifty years later!"
Yuchi Baolin: "I'm giving it to Changwei."
"Giving it to Changwei? That's a female dog!"
"Forget it, take it then. I don't care who you give it to, but don't take this thing when you're young. Be careful you won't be able to do without it after taking it."
These words served as a reminder to the group. If they, in their youth, didn't know fear and got curious enough to try it a few times, and then became dependent, Fang Er's guilt would be immense.
"Don't worry, big brother," Changsun Chong said, pulling out a banknote from his embrace. "Here's a thousand taels in flying money. What do you think I can buy in the shop with this? It's my way of supporting the business on the first day of opening."
Fang Er: "..."
"Damn rich people are really rich people. Their demeanor with money is something a nouveau riche like me can't learn." Fang Er was too lazy to calculate. "Dali, go to the restaurant and call someone over. Deliver the three shelves on the far left to Changsun Manor."
Changsun Chong gave him a thumbs-up. "Big brother is indeed big brother, even delivering shelves when selling things." He then looked at the others. "Aren't you guys going to show some support?"
Zhang Daxing's pockets had also become heavier, thanks to the Zhang family's involvement in Fang Er's glazed tile business. He also pulled out a thousand taels. "Then, big brother, have someone deliver the three shelves on the right to my place?"
"Damn, damn, damn." With these two making their move, they had essentially cleared out the place. How could they play?
"Wait, put the money down first. I'll have someone deliver it to you later. If I send it over now, I won't even have shelves, and how can I do any business?" Fang Er took the money he was handed and said speechlessly.
ps: This is the first update, there are two more chapters, likely tomorrow evening. Apologies.
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Author's Notes: