Merchant From Earth in the Magical World

After Yan Xing had a taste of red wine at Count Theodore's place, he had once considered selling this type of red wine in the real world.

However, red wine is very different from agarwood.

Setting aside the challenge of introducing an uncertified product to the market, red wine without brand recognition simply couldn't command a high price.

Wealthy individuals primarily choose wines based on brand; the actual taste often comes second.

Thus, after inquiring about the difficulties of establishing a winery, Yan Xing abandoned the idea of bringing wine from the Magic World to sell.

After all, the red wine he had consumed at Count Theodore's estate wasn't inexpensive in the Magic World either.

A gallon cost about one Gold Coin. That translated to 250 woven bags. Fifty yuan per bag, huh...

Yan Xing purchased a batch of red wine from Count Theodore's private winery, exclusively supplied to nobles, and repackaged it into five-liter buckets as gifts for his important suppliers.

He explained it was home-brewed red wine from a friend's private winery abroad, offering them a chance to try something new and exclusive.

Since Chen Shi was handling the auction for his agarwood, Yan Xing naturally gave him a five-liter share of the wine as well.

However, Yan Xing hadn't anticipated Chen Shi calling him so urgently about the red wine.

Yan Xing shut down his office computer and answered the phone, "Manager Chen, the red wine I gave you is good, right? When I gave it to you, I mentioned... don't judge it by its simple packaging; the wine inside is top-notch.

Those wines on the market costing hundreds or even thousands can't compare to the wine from my friend's private winery.

If you like it, I'll give you more next time."

Chen Shi responded, "President Yan... the red wine you gave me is indeed good. Not just merely good; it's absolutely the pinnacle of fine wines.

I took one sip and couldn't bring myself to drink more, so I repackaged it and distributed it to my clients.

Just yesterday, a prominent businessman asked me where I obtained this wine, as he's interested in purchasing some...

That businessman is very generous with his spending.

If President Yan has any surplus wine to sell, I'd be happy to facilitate a connection for you."

Yan Xing hadn't expected the red wine venture to find success so unexpectedly; his gift of wine had actually attracted a major client.

Looking out through his office's glass window, he saw the company employees were ready to depart.

Yan Xing said to Chen Shi, "Our company is about to head out for a meal; you should join us. We can discuss the red wine over dinner."

By saying this, Yan Xing indicated that he had such red wine available and was willing to sell it.

Chen Shi immediately replied that he would set off at once and inquired about the hotel's location.

Yan Xing answered, "My employees chose the hotel; I'll ask them and send you the address."

"Alright, President Yan... I'll be there soon."

"We'll head over first; we'll wait for you."

Yan Xing hung up, got up, left his office, and departed with his employees, driving the company's van directly to the pre-booked hotel.

Eternal Commerce and Trade had a total of fourteen people, including Yan Xing. They selected a large room and settled around the dining table.

Chen Shi arrived before they had even begun to order.

Yan Xing first introduced Chen Shi to his employees, then sat down with him to discuss the red wine.

The young woman who had earlier approached Yan Xing in his office to suggest the company meal handed him the menu, "Boss, you order first..."

Yan Xing glanced through the menu, casually selected two dishes priced at 700 yuan each, and handed the menu back to her. "The rest of you can order whatever you like."

The young woman was delighted after seeing Yan Xing's order.

At company dinners, the price of the dishes ordered by the boss typically set the upper limit for what employees could choose. With Yan Xing setting a 700-yuan-per-dish cap, the employees had a vast array of delicious options.

The employees of Eternal Commerce and Trade all felt their boss was quite generous. There was just one thing... they couldn't help but glance at the large water bucket on the table. The wine just seemed a tad too shabby.

When the waiter had come in earlier and asked what it was, they had been too embarrassed to admit it was wine. "It's sugar water mixed with Coke... for a game..." they had mumbled.

Yan Xing had no idea how much his employees disdained the bucketed red wine. After the food was ordered, he began discussing the wine business with Chen Shi.

Chen Shi briefly recounted to Yan Xing how he had gifted the wine.

As a key figure at the auction house, Chen Shi had cultivated connections with many distinguished and affluent individuals.

These individuals were extravagant bidders at auctions and Chen Shi's primary patrons. Consequently, upon discovering the supreme quality of the wine Yan Xing had given him, Chen Shi procured some high-end bottles, decanted the wine, and presented it to these elites.

The feedback was unanimously positive.

Chen Shi said to Yan Xing, "My clients have moved beyond the stage of purchasing items based on brand. Their clothes and accessories are all custom-made by renowned designers.

They all give high praise to the home-brewed red wine from your foreign friend's private winery.

It has a sense of aged depth, embodying the refined spirit of Ancient European nobility."

Truthfully, Yan Xing knew the red wine was delicious, but he couldn't articulate precisely how.

Hearing the reviews from these elites, Yan Xing felt they had hit the nail on the head.

The favorite pastime of human nobles in the Magic World... was showing off.

Ice Jade Porcelain commanded such high prices precisely because it satisfied the nobility's desire to flaunt their status.

In their daily lives, nobles spared no opportunity to exhibit their prestige.

Red wine was a primary prop for them to display their taste and sophistication.

Therefore, the nobility held extremely high standards for red wine quality.

In response, winemakers continuously refined their craft, leading to mature Magic wine-making techniques.

Naturally, nobles expected their red wine to possess a taste reflecting their family's accumulated honor and distinction over the long sweep of history.

This kind of taste, of course, also resonated with the desire of real-world elites to project an image of sophistication.

What was the purpose of custom-made items, if not to distinguish themselves from the nouveau riche and elevate themselves to an "aristocratic" level?

Showing off had reached a new echelon.

Thus, red wine from a foreign private winery, by its very origin, struck a chord with these individuals.

Combined with the wine's noble character, which resonated with their self-perception, the elites finally found a world-class, limited-supply red wine befitting their status.

Doesn't this set one apart more effectively than the famous '82 Lafite, XO, or Remy Martin, highlighting one's uniqueness and superior standing?

Consequently, some began asking Chen Shi if there was a stable supply of this red wine and at what price it would be sold.

Yan Xing had an epiphany. The elites of the real world and the human nobles of the Magic World shared the same mentality. If not showing off, they would rather die! Then you can't blame me for sharpening my knife so quickly.

"Chen Shi, my dear friend... The home-brewed wine from my friend's private winery uses a technique strikingly different from other wines, so its production is extremely limited!

The wine we are drinking now was a gift from my friend.

He gives it to me, and I can drink it as I please; he doesn't charge me a cent.

However, if I were to sell it... the price would require some serious discussion..."