After obtaining permission from Shang Xin Ci, Fang Yuan immediately found several Gu Masters from the Jin family. This one was already the sixth.
"I don't have yuan stones," Fang Yuan shook his head. "But I can exchange my goods for yours."
"Barter?" The Gu Master raised an eyebrow, not too surprised. Barter was a common thing, especially in trade caravans.
For him, as long as the value was about the same, barter wasn't a loss.
"So what goods do you plan to exchange?"
Fang Yuan led him and showed the goods on the spot.
The Jin family Gu Master frowned: "Your goods are cheaper on the market than mine."
"But here on Golden Mountain, you can sell them at a good price, can't you?" Fang Yuan smiled.
The Gu Master frowned even tighter: "If the price is set too high, they won't sell."
"Then sell slowly; there will be a day when they all sell out. Rarity drives value. By then, you can sit at home and collect money comfortably." Fang Yuan smiled softly.
The Gu Master laughed. He said all this just to drive down the price, but in fact, his heart was already pounding with interest.
"You're not bad. Although you're a mortal, you are neither humble nor arrogant. I have three shops. Are you interested in working for me? I'll make you a shopkeeper! We can negotiate the salary." The Gu Master patted Fang Yuan on the shoulder.
Fang Yuan politely declined, leaving the Gu Master somewhat regretful.
"Hei Tu, what the hell are you doing!" After the deal was done, Xiao Die ran over with a frosty expression.
"You actually exchanged all of Miss's goods? What are you trying to do? You're too bold!" Xiao Die stomped her foot in anger. "Do you know that these goods were carefully selected by Miss? If they are transported to Shang Family City, they can be sold for twice the price! Hurry up and exchange them back!"
Fang Yuan's face turned cold: "Your Miss has already lent all the goods to me. That is, these goods are mine. Hmm... what's wrong with me handling my own goods?"
Fang Yuan's gaze swept over Xiao Die. A cold gleam flashed.
Xiao Die shuddered, feeling a chill in her heart.
Fang Yuan decided to reveal a bit more; this was the first time he was harsh with Xiao Die.
Xiao Die was usually sharp-tongued, but now a chill rose in her heart: "You, you... I'll tell Miss, you wait!"
She tried hard to hide her emotions, but still ran off in a bit of panic.
Her report, of course, didn't cause any trouble for Fang Yuan.
However, the servants brought by Shang Xin Ci also had their own opinions about this. Many whispered among themselves, thinking this Hei Tu was crazy.
Fang Yuan knew the original value of the goods, which made him aware of Shang Xin Ci's commercial talent.
But she was a first-time trader. She had talent but far from enough experience. Trade isn't simply transporting goods to the destination and earning the price difference.
A true master of trade profits at every step. He has a keen eye to spot opportunities in time; he knows the specialties of each famous mountain and the needs of each family; he builds relationships and profits from all sides.
Of course, these demands were too high for Shang Xin Ci. She was only sixteen years old this year. Although talented, she was still a young girl.
In his previous life, Fang Yuan had spent nearly a hundred years in business. He had been part of trade caravans, served as a leader, opened shops and gambling stone stores, and even held auctions.
In terms of experience and vision, the leaders and deputy leaders of caravans were not fit to tie Fang Yuan's shoes. Let alone Shang Xin Ci, who had just started trading.
"There is still some distance to Shangliang Mountain. If I put my whole heart into it, I can at least increase the value of this batch of goods by seven to eight times!"
This multiplier was already terrifying. Any higher and Fang Yuan couldn't achieve it. Due to various real-world constraints, seven to eight times was the top-tier level in this world.
"Of course, if I use illegitimate methods, not to mention seven to eight times, even seventy to eighty times would be easy." Thinking of this, Fang Yuan couldn't help but recall a poem from Earth: Law-abiding brings worry day by day, while the strong revel every night. Harming others for self-interest rides on horses and mules, while the upright and fair starve. Those who build bridges and repair roads go blind, while murderers and arsonists have many children. I went to the Western Heaven to ask the Buddha, and the Buddha said, "I can't help it either!"
Haha, so the so-called systems and laws are only meant to oppress the masses and restrict the weak.
No matter what world, it's survival of the fittest!
Therefore, even in an era of rule of law, there are countless wealthy and powerful who exploit loopholes in the system to escape legal punishment. Not to mention this world of Gu Masters, where power is fragmented and strength speaks.
In his previous life, Fang Yuan had diligently built up wealth close to ten million, with countless assets. Then he was arbitrarily annexed by the strong, lost everything, and ended up on the streets.
In the four hundred years that followed, every time he recalled this, he felt extremely grateful for that experience!
Thank hardships, for they teach truth!
It was this experience that made him wake up—all the frameworks and constraints imposed by the brainwashing on Earth shattered into pieces.
People are often blinded not by what is before their eyes, but by the shackles in their hearts.
For Fang Yuan, if he strictly adhered to business ethics and acted as a legitimate merchant, he could at most earn a seven to eight times profit.
If he used some slightly unscrupulous means and became an unethical trader, it would be more than ten times.