Chapter 297: Seizing This Opportunity
Fortunately, when the houses were built earlier, several inns had already been prepared, and most of the furniture had gradually been completed. For an inn, all that was needed was some soft furnishings, a manager, and an attendant, and it could be opened for business immediately.
The most troublesome issue was setting the prices, which had left Yu Luo in a bit of a dilemma.
“Didn’t you say that the prices in Feng City are sky-high? Even a bowl of noodles with just a few slices of beef costs several taels of silver. A basic inn room costs dozens of taels per night. Xiao Luo, what are you hesitating about? Just set the prices high! After all, our target customers are mostly wealthy martial artists.”
“Honey, don’t forget, Xiao Luo is considering opening the city earlier because of the people outside. Even if there are a few martial artists among them, the majority are exiled criminals. Do you think they have that much silver?”
“Father is right. The exiled criminals who come here may not be able to afford our inn, but I don’t want to follow Feng City’s pricing model either. The prices in Luo City will certainly be higher than in other places because resources here are hard to come by. But they can’t be unreasonably high either. Let’s set them at twice the prices outside. As for grain, I think it should only be slightly higher than outside. Otherwise, people won’t stay. After all, they need food to survive. If they can’t even afford grain, they won’t be able to remain in Luo City. Besides, if we set the prices too high, what do we have to compete with Feng City? Could we even match them?”
Feng City’s prices were several dozen times, or even hundreds of times, higher than outside. Setting Luo City’s prices at twice the standard was already quite generous.
“Alright, let’s go with Xiao Luo’s plan. But will we control the pricing for our workers if they rent shops and open their own businesses?”
“Of course, we must. This entire city belongs to us. Not only do we need to regulate their prices, but we also have to collect business taxes, sanitation fees, and stall fees. These are all opportunities for Luo City to generate revenue and must be strictly managed. Even imported goods will be taxed. Otherwise, how do we sustain such a large city? Am I supposed to keep funding it forever?”
Yu Luo had already planned all of this. Originally, she had intended to open the city in the spring when the snow melted, but it seemed like she couldn’t wait any longer. Many people might otherwise perish in the wasteland, lost in some unknown corner.
Opening the city earlier would not only save their lives but also allow Luo City to start generating revenue sooner.
For the rest of the day, Yu Luo remained busy with various preparations, only managing to get a few shops ready for business by nightfall.
Meanwhile, that afternoon, Yu Haojie had announced that the shops were available for rent, with priority given to the long-term workers. Within just half a day, the news had spread throughout the outer city of Luo City.
Among the nearly seventeen thousand people, many were eager at the opportunity, even the families who had been exiled alongside Yu Luo’s group.
In the Bai family’s cave, after finishing their work, the whole family gathered to discuss the news they had heard that day.
“Our family has stable jobs, but winter is coming, and when the snow falls, there won’t be much farm work to do. We have so many mouths to feed. Instead of being long-term workers for the Yu family forever, I think it’d be better to rent a shop and start a business,” said Bai Xiuyuan, the third eldest grandson of the second branch of the Bai family. At eighteen, he knew archery, horseback riding, and some basic martial arts, but he had no internal energy.
As a young man, his vision was naturally more ambitious. When the entire Bai family gathered for discussion, he voiced his opinion.
Some agreed, while others doubted whether it was feasible.
The first to question the idea was Bai You.
“Starting a business sounds good. Over time, our family has saved up a decent amount of silver—probably over a hundred taels in total. But none of us have experience in business, and sourcing goods is a problem. What could we even sell?”
“Exactly, Xiuyuan, your uncle is right. We all know this is a rare opportunity, but even if we get a shop, what can we sell? And how will we even get the goods?”
Faced with these questions from Bai You and his wife, Bai Xiuyuan was momentarily speechless. But he knew that doing business would definitely make money, especially in the wasteland where supplies were scarce. There was great potential for profit.
If they continued as long-term workers, the Yu family might not always need them. If they eventually lost their jobs, how would they support their family of dozens?
“Tomorrow, I’ll go to the city and ask Xiao Luo. She and Uncle Yu are capable people. Since they’re giving us workers the first opportunity, maybe she can offer some guidance.”
Over in Zhang Yuan’s cave, the men of the household sat in silence, deep in thought.
“I can forge metal, but there’s no iron mine here. It would be great to open a blacksmith shop, so we wouldn’t have to worry about getting laid off. But where would we find an iron mine?”
“Why not take a risk and go to Dongfeng Kingdom to check? We have martial skills. If Xiao Luo’s people can transport fruits out, then we can surely get out too. If we manage to open a blacksmith shop in Luo City, we might have a booming business selling weapons. After all, many martial artists pass through the wasteland.”
“Alright, tomorrow we’ll go find Yu Luo and rent a shop first.”
With their decision made, the Zhang family men were determined to act.
Meanwhile, in the Yu family’s third branch, the situation was quite different. They were hesitating over whether to seize the opportunity, wondering if they could make a fortune in the wasteland.
“I think you should all drop the idea. Xiao Luo and her family are giving us a good opportunity, but we’re just farmers. Even if you two brothers can read a bit, who here knows how to run a business?”
“Your mother is right. Just focus on farming for the Yu family. At least we earn a steady wage every month. Right now, with so many of us working, we’re saving more than ten taels of silver a month. That’s much better than when we lived in our old hometown. You two brothers should be grateful.”
As Su Suhua spoke, Yu Qiang, the head of the household, glanced at his two excited sons, their wives, and even his youngest daughter, who also looked eager. He sighed and supported his wife’s viewpoint, trying to dissuade them.
“Father, your way of thinking is outdated! Sure, we can save ten taels of silver a month working for others, but if my two sisters-in-law and I start a business, we might be able to earn dozens more taels in a single month!”
