Chapter 84: Marrying into the Family Business

The reason Lin Dong came up with other ideas was that if Lou’s Winery reduced the price of Kaibainhong to eight wen per jin, and relying on its years of reputation, as long as Kaibainhong didn’t lower its price again, business would return eventually. Reducing it directly to seven wen per jin clearly indicated an attempt to crush Lin’s Winery at any cost.
After careful consideration, Lin Dong finally made up his mind and said resolutely, “Seven wen per jin. Reduce by one wen per jin for every additional thousand jin purchased, and give one jin free for every twenty jin bought.”
Lou Wentang asked cautiously, “Boss, what’s the cost of the ingredients?”
“One wen!” Lin Dong replied with a smile.
“One wen?” Lou Wentang breathed a sigh of relief, then asked in confusion, “Giving one jin free for every twenty jin bought can barely offset Lou’s Winery’s reputation. Since our cost is only half that of Lou’s Winery, reducing the price by another wen would allow us to take over their business. Once we’ve crushed Lou’s Winery, we can gradually raise the price.”
Lin Dong shook his head, a glint in his eyes, and said meaningfully, “What do you think Lou’s Winery would do if we reduced the price to five wen per jin?”
Lou Wentang replied confidently, “They would hold on for a month or two. If they see no sign of price increases from Lin’s Winery, they’d try to find out the cost of Kaibainhong, then close their store in Xilan City and focus all their efforts on competing with the other major wineries in Qiufeng City.”
“What should we do after we establish a foothold in Xilan City?” Lin Dong asked.
Lou Wentang replied without hesitation, “Of course, we need to find ways to spread Kaibainhong to other counties and Qiufeng City.”
“Why?” Lin Dong pressed further.
“The price!” Lou Wentang answered firmly, but his confidence faded soon after, and he said helplessly, “For the same wine, our cost is lower than that of other wineries. As long as Kaibainhong maintains a low price, it can easily outcompete the other major wineries in Qiufeng City. As for high-quality wine, it depends on whether we can hire a master winemaker.”
“A master winemaker is only likely to be hired by another winery after the original one declines—this happens very rarely, and it might take three to five years before such an opportunity arises,” Lin Dong said calmly. “Lou’s Winery’s thyme is quite good in the entire Qiufeng Prefecture.”
Lou Wentang was shocked and stood up abruptly. “Are you saying we should let Lou’s Winery decline so we can buy their thyme recipe?”
“That’s right!” Lin Dong said intently. “With Lou’s thyme recipe plus my ingredients, aside from those aged for over a decade or two, which other winery in Qiufeng Prefecture can compare?”

Lou Wentang was overjoyed. Wines aged over ten years were sold in small quantities, so they posed no concern at all. If they could really acquire Louji Winery’s recipe, without a doubt, Linji Winery would become the largest winery in Qiufeng Mansion.

“So, we can’t rush this. We need to take things slowly,” Lin Dong said leisurely. “It’s like boiling a frog in warm water. We must never let Louji Winery see the cost of getting started. They need to keep thinking that if they hold on a few more months, Linji Winery will collapse. The cost of starting up can’t be hidden; we have to work on the ingredients. Do you have any good ideas?”

Lou Wentang frowned in thought for a moment before a smile appeared on his fair face. “As long as we create an atmosphere where further price cuts would result in losses, Louji Winery will probably guess the cost of the ingredients on their own.”

Lin Dong’s eyes lit up. That made sense. He had been thinking too much about costs. As long as prices were well controlled, Louji Winery would naturally assume those ingredients were expensive.

Lou Wentang said firmly, “Rest assured, master. I know Lou Jingsong and Lou Wanzhang’s personalities well. I guarantee I can gradually draw them in.”

Lin Dong nodded and discussed things for a while longer before sending Lou Wentang out to the back yard. Just as he was about to return to his room, Ma Chun rushed in.

“Master, there’s a man named Cao Wei who says he knows you.”

“Cao Wei?” Lin Dong frowned. He did know someone named Cao Wei—a minor captain in the Yang family’s guard team. Back when he was with the Yang family, he had often been bullied by this man. Even after leaving the Yang family, Cao Wei would frequently show up at the inn Lin Dong ran in Qiufeng City and take advantage of it for free.

But if it really was this man, why would he come to Linji Inn?

“Let him in!” Lin Dong didn’t want to overthink it. He’d find out once he met him.

“Well…” Ma Chun looked hesitant but didn’t dare say anything outright.

“Shall I go greet him?”

Ma Chun nodded helplessly.

Lin Dong smiled. It was indeed Cao Wei—well, more properly, Lord Cao.

Lin Dong sat down on the stone bench and said, “Ask him to come in.”

Ma Chun didn’t hesitate and turned to leave.

A moment later, he returned, accompanied by several men dressed as guards. The leader, around twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, of average build, wore an unhappy expression.

Although six years had passed since his memories of the past, Lin Dong still recognized him—it was indeed Cao Wei.

Striding in with confidence, when he was less than ten meters away and saw Lin Dong still not getting up to greet him, Cao Wei’s displeasure grew even more evident.

After sitting down at the stone table, Cao Wei remained silent, staring coldly at Lin Dong.

Lin Dong stared calmly at Cao Wei. It had been several years since they last met, and it seemed Cao Wei had become much less aggressive. In the past, if someone had dared to act so arrogantly, they would likely have been knocked out with a single punch. Seeing Lin Dong’s fearless gaze and his lack of intention to speak, Cao Wei’s cold expression softened slightly, though his voice still carried a hint of frostiness. “Little Lin, it’s been years. The inn has grown bigger, and so has your temper!” Lin Dong replied indifferently, “Do you need something from me?” “Get ready. Come with me to Qiufeng City tomorrow.” Remembering the matter at hand and Lin Dong’s future status in the Yang family, Cao Wei refused to argue and ordered firmly, “Sell this inn if you can tonight; if not, just leave it here. The family head will reward you tenfold for any losses.” “Go to Qiufeng City?” Lin Dong was quite surprised. Cao Wei said proudly, “Consider yourself lucky. The family head has decided to let you marry into the Yang family and become our fourth son-in-law.” Lin Dong was stunned. The fourth daughter of the Yang family had written a divorce letter to her previous husband when she left. It could be said that neither she nor Lin Dong had any connection to the Yang family. So why, after four or five years, would she suddenly want to marry into their family? Could it be that because she was divorced for eloping, she hadn’t been able to marry until now, and in desperation, she turned to him as a suitor? Unlikely, right? Lin Dong doubted it. With the Yang family’s reputation, even if she had a stain on her record, marrying the heir of a small family wouldn’t be a problem. It certainly wouldn’t be as low as marrying the owner of an inn. Besides, the fourth daughter never intended to marry at all; otherwise, she wouldn’t have eloped with an inn owner just to tarnish her own reputation. “Enough, stop talking nonsense and get ready quickly!” Cao Wei stood up, clearly impatient. Lin Dong ignored him and asked, “Why?” Cao Wei’s eyes flickered, and he snapped, “Why so many questions? The family head values you as the greatest luck of your life. Do you really refuse?” “If I don’t want to go, I won’t see you off.” Lin Dong was also getting impatient. Marrying into the Yang family was nothing but a joke to him. Cao Wei looked surprised, then grinned viciously. “It’s been years—have you grown bolder? Think carefully about who broke your legs the day after you married the fourth daughter.” “If you don’t tell me, I really would have forgotten!” Lin Dong nodded and stood up. Since he had accepted everything from his predecessor without hesitation, he naturally had to accept his humiliation and resentment as well. There was no need to dwell on trivial matters, but breaking legs demanded repayment.