Chapter 31: Indeed, A Horse Won’t Grow Fat Without Grazing at Night

“Your craftsmanship is truly exceptional,” Ram observed, carefully examining each bar of soap. “However, if you want this business to have staying power, you can’t afford to make your product this good. It can closely resemble the real thing or even be a tad inferior, but it must never be noticeably superior to the genuine article. Do you understand?”

Wu Qingsong nodded. He had, in fact, come to the same conclusion himself.

Producing a small number of subpar counterfeits might not draw the attention of the Feget Trading Company. Even with their considerable influence, it would be practically impossible for them to maintain control over every nook and cranny of the vast empire. That was a level of oversight not even possible in Wu Qingsong’s own world.

However, if products superior to their own started appearing on the market, it would inevitably trigger their alarm bells and draw their scrutiny.

The notion of deliberately creating something subpar when you have the capability to excel is frustratingly illogical, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles.

So what can be done? Simply accept it, after all, counterfeiting has its own unwritten rules.

“This batch could net us at least two thousand renals,” Ram declared.

Wu Qingsong’s cost for the soap base was virtually negligible when compared to its selling price. The real expenses lay in the fragrances and medicinal herbs, as well as in the costs related to transportation, smuggling, and selling the product. A quick calculation revealed to Wu Qingsong that their cost was only about a quarter to a tenth of the genuine product’s wholesale price. For the more expensive items, the cost difference was even more pronounced.

As smugglers, they were unlikely to pay taxes, further increasing their already considerable profit margins.

Ram looked visibly pleased, while Wu Qingsong felt a sense of helplessness. If the elves hadn’t exploited their social standing and military prowess to enforce a malicious monopoly, he could have achieved so much more. 

How could he be content with merely this if circumstances were as he had hoped?

“I’ll give you your share after we’ve sold the goods,” Ram offered.

“If it’s not convenient for you at the moment, there’s no need to hurry,” Wu Qingsong replied, his words not entirely reflecting his true feelings.

In the presence of a beautiful woman, most young men would naturally feel an urge to show off and act generously. However, all the money he’d received–from Nina, from the thugs he’d dispatched, and even the ten gold Sols Ram had previously given him–was gone. While he could probably get some credit from the innkeeper to sustain himself for a few days, he was reluctant to be in such a predicament unless there were no other options.

“Really?” Ram tilted her head to look at him. Her eyes glowed in the dark, similar to those of other beastfolk.

‘Wait, aren’t you supposed to insist on paying me as soon as you can? What’s going on here?’ Wu Qingsong thought to himself.

Having already spoken, and sticking to the principle that it’s easier to let your guard down around people you know, Wu Qingsong mustered up some courage and said, “Haha, well, since we’re partners, there’s no need to get too caught up in these minor details, right?”

A smile graced Ram’s lips. She stepped closer, shrinking the space between them. In the dim light, Wu Qingsong’s vision was impaired, but his other senses felt heightened. Being this close, he could almost sense the warmth emanating from Ram’s breath and body.

Wu Qingsong involuntarily leaned back a bit.

‘Seriously, don’t play with fire,’ he thought to himself.

Once again, Ram leaned in slightly closer, her voice a soft whisper in his ear, “So, what would be an appropriate way to thank you for your kindness?”

The delicate fur on her face lightly grazed Wu Qingsong’s, amplifying his sense of unease. His hands seemed lost, unsure of where to rest.

Ram broke into a soft chuckle at that very moment.

“You’ve run out of money already, haven’t you?” she confided in a low murmur near his ear.

‘So she had figured it out from the beginning.’

Feeling as if he were being toyed with, Wu Qingsong’s irritation began to flare up. But just as he prepared to give her a piece of his mind, Ram abruptly retreated.

“I’ll arrange for someone to send you some emergency funds soon. I am a bit tight on money at the moment, so don’t expect a large amount,” she said, her fingers lightly brushing his face as she walked toward the doorway of the small storage room. “Be prudent with it this time.”

“I haven’t been squandering my money,” Wu Qingsong instantly defended himself.

“Haha,” Ram let out another chuckle, then gestured a dismissive wave as she turned her back on him. “You’re quite the character, Wu. Honestly, you’re the first half-elf I’ve met who blushes. Well, that’s all for today. If you come up with anything new, make sure to inform me. Who knows, I might just give you the surprise you’ve been longing for.”

‘That cunning vixen!’

Wu Qingsong stayed seated for a few minutes more before finally rising to leave the storeroom. He locked the door behind him, his emotions a mix of irritation and fascination. Ram had a knack for keeping him on his toes, both in business and whatever else this was.

As for what Ram and her team would do with the soap—how they would transport it, where they would sell it—those details were no longer his concern.

For him, creating the soap was merely a three-day job. One day to prepare the soap base, another to add the fragrances and medicinal ingredients, and a final day to cut, shape, and package the products. Ram, on the other hand, might need a whole month, or perhaps even longer, to successfully distribute and sell them all.

Wu Qingsong surmised that the city of Umber was unlikely to be their target market. Their smuggling activities would probably focus on areas around the Tecks Mountain Range, which was within their sphere of influence and where they had enough armed support to ensure safety.

However, this approach would significantly limit their customer base compared to what could be reached in a commercial city.

As the market slowly opened up, there might be a gradual increase in demand for their products, but several factors such as the high price point, the restricted customer demographic, and the covert nature of their distribution channels ensured that the sales volume would likely remain modest. Every new distribution channel in a smuggling operation inevitably came with its own set of increased risks.

By working just three days a month to fulfill his entire monthly production goals, Wu Qingsong could earn hundreds, even thousands, of Renals. For most natives in this world, that would be seen as a considerable fortune and a dream come true. Yet, for Wu Qingsong, it was far from fulfilling.

Initially, Wu Qingsong saw an industry teeming with boundless potential and room for growth. However, he now understood that his achievements in this sector would always be limited as long as the Feget Trading Company existed. Moreover, he should relinquish any ambitions he had in any industry that was already established in this world and dominated by an elven noble family.

If he sought to carve out a completely new business, he would inevitably face a plethora of cutthroat competitors jostling for market share.

‘What a twisted world,’ Wu Qingsong thought, unable to suppress his sentiment.

As a young man, he had been filled with numerous grievances about the world he originally came from. However, when compared to this one, his previous world seemed downright heavenly.

The intense social stratification here had effectively eradicated the hopes and dreams of anyone aiming for something better. It was as if the society was provoking its members to revolt.

The raccoonman he had met earlier had quietly slipped him a hundred renals, temporarily solving his immediate financial woes. Surprisingly, half a month later, he received a message from Ram to meet her at a particular warehouse near the docks.

“This is your share,” Ram handed him a bag, heavy with golden sols.

“You’re kidding, right? This much?” Wu Qingsong was stunned.

“We sold this batch to some individuals in the south. They offered a better price than I’d expected, which increased our profit margins,” Ram succinctly explained.

Wu Qingsong had his reservations, doubting that matters were that straightforward. Who exactly were these ‘southerners’? Were they merchants, smugglers, or fellow insurgents like Ram?

Regardless, he was elated that Ram had been transparent about this information instead of pocketing the surplus profits herself.

“They’re interested in establishing a long-term relationship, so we’ll need a larger supply of goods from now on,” she continued.