Chapter 36 The Combination Blow

“Ahem, ahem…” Ning Yongqiang deliberately cleared his throat before beginning. “We have two ways to counterattack: by offering stored-value VIP cards and holding a lucky draw for customers who make purchases.”

“What do you mean?” Ning Yaxin was puzzled.

“Don’t be impatient, sister,” Ning Yongqiang replied. “Let me explain it in detail. Let’s start with the stored-value VIP card…”

For people of the twenty-first century, the stored-value VIP card is an all-too-familiar model. It’s simply storing money in a card, deducting the amount directly when making purchases, while enjoying VIP discounts at the same time.

But for those in ancient times, this mode of consumption was entirely novel.

Besides, the Delicacies Pavilion was a Ning family business; people had no worries that the Nings would abscond with their money, so the card was warmly welcomed as soon as it launched.

Xu Mo’s approach was simple: the more money one deposits, the greater the discount. The maximum discount, however, was forty percent off; after all, the Delicacies Pavilion still had to make a profit.

On the first day, more than fifty customers signed up for cards.

After Ning Yongqiang finished explaining, he asked, “Sister, isn’t Mr. Xu’s method brilliant? Everyone saves money in my Delicacies Pavilion; sooner or later, that money will be spent here.”

Ning Yaxin didn’t deny this, but asked, “That may be true, but what if these customers don’t come back for a year or more, and don’t spend? That won’t help you at all in your wager with Wang Shunyang… Don’t forget, you’re betting on who makes the most profit in three months!”

Ning Yongqiang grinned immediately, proud. “Sister, Mr. Xu has already thought of that.”

“How so?” Ning Yaxin was slightly surprised.

“We have to talk about the other activity: the lucky draw for purchases!” Ning Yongqiang explained.

Lucky draws for purchases are also among the most common marketing tricks in modern society. As long as the customer spends a certain amount, they get a chance to draw for a prize, all down to luck.

Again, what’s commonplace in modern times is unheard of in the past, so when the lucky draw was introduced, it was novel and exciting, and the effect was much better than expected.

Ning Yaxin, hearing of this novel idea for the first time, couldn’t help but nod inwardly, thinking: This Xu Mo may be a degenerate gambler, but his talent can’t be denied—he actually came up with such an interesting method.

After explaining how the lucky draw worked, Ning Yongqiang continued, “Sister, to encourage customers to use their VIP cards frequently this month, Mr. Xu set a rule: the lucky draw event lasts only one month, until the day my wager with Wang Shunyang concludes.”

Ning Yaxin instantly understood. “I see! If customers want to participate in the draw, they’ll have to spend frequently during this month!”

“Precisely!” Ning Yongqiang nodded. “And, sister, to entice customers to join in, Mr. Xu has ensured the prizes are quite generous…”

He began counting on his fingers. “There are jade pieces and inkstones, calligraphy and porcelain, objects made of rosewood and huanghuali… Oh, and hairpins, earrings, pendants, silks and brocades—there’s no end to it!”

Ning Yaxin suddenly voiced a concern. “Yongqiang, offering these as prizes isn’t cheap. If no one wins, that’s fine, but if someone does, it’s a considerable expense. I must remind you, these costs will be deducted from your total profit after three months—don’t end up shooting yourself in the foot!”

Ning Yongqiang shook his head with a smile. “Not at all, sister! Mr. Xu has already calculated everything. The prize expenses seem substantial, but in reality, they’re a very cost-effective investment!”

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Ning Yaxin frowned slightly. “He’s that confident?”

Ning Yongqiang nodded eagerly. “Absolutely! Take today, for example—the prize was a green jade belt clasp with a dragon pattern, valued at ten strings of cash on the market!”

Upon hearing the price, Ning Yaxin was shocked. “Ten strings of cash? Isn’t that too extravagant?”

Ning Yongqiang couldn’t help but laugh, then lowered his voice. “Sister, ten strings is just what we say publicly. The actual cost of the jade clasp is less than two strings.”

“…Well…”

Ning Yaxin was momentarily speechless, then asked, “Is this really appropriate? If customers find out, won’t they accuse you of cheating?”

Ning Yongqiang replied, “Sister, say you opened a jade shop, bought a jade plaque for two strings, and priced it at ten strings—would customers accuse you of cheating?”

Ning Yaxin shook her head. “Of course not! I set the price clearly. If they think it’s expensive, they don’t have to buy.”

“Exactly! The same applies here.” Ning Yongqiang smiled. “Sister, we’ve already told everyone the belt clasp is worth ten strings, so we’re clear about the price. If customers think it’s not worth it, they can choose not to participate in the draw, right?”

Ning Yaxin fell silent. Although something still felt off, she couldn’t find any flaw in his reasoning.

Ning Yongqiang continued, “Sister, just for this green jade belt clasp, over thirty tables of guests participated in the draw today, each table spending more than a string of cash!”

“A jade belt clasp costing less than two strings, exchanged for more than thirty strings in revenue—tell me, sister, isn’t that worthwhile?”

Ning Yaxin nodded seriously, expressing her agreement.

Ning Yongqiang grinned. “Sister, do you know what Mr. Xu calls these two tactics—the VIP card and the lucky draw?”

Ning Yaxin shook her head.

“The combination punch!” Ning Yongqiang said, throwing two mock punches in the air, triumphant. “Mr. Xu said, once the combination punch is launched, Wang Shunyang will be utterly dumbfounded!”

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Meanwhile, Xu Mo.

After leaving the Delicacies Pavilion, Xu Mo went to pick up Chen Miaoyi.

On their way home, they bought a large jar of aged vinegar.

Because of last night’s events, Xu Mo felt the courtyard still carried a lingering stench. The vinegar was to be sprinkled around to mask the smell.

Upon arriving home, Xu Mo washed the yard again with clean water, then sprinkled the aged vinegar.

The strong smell of vinegar finally brought him some relief.

After dinner, the couple chatted for a while, then washed up and retired to their bedroom.

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Before long, the lights in the bedroom went out and the little courtyard fell into complete silence.

But not much later, a furtive figure appeared outside the wall of Xu Mo’s house.

The person was masked, showing only their eyes, and held a clay jar in their hands.

Though the jar’s mouth was sealed, it still emitted a foul odor, forcing the person to keep their brows deeply furrowed.

Indeed, last night’s jar of excrement was this person’s handiwork.

Unexpectedly, he had returned again tonight.

The masked man observed the area around Xu Mo’s house cautiously. Once certain no one was nearby, he chose a spot, ready to toss the jar into the yard.

But just as he raised his hand, a voice barked from a nearby corner, “You bastard, what are you doing? Do you want me to kill you?”

The masked man was startled, turning to see that it was Xu Mo, who appeared to be wielding a firewood knife.

Terrified, the masked man dropped the jar in his panic, which smashed at his feet.

With a loud crash, the jar shattered, splattering filth all over his foot.

The masked man didn’t have time to be disgusted; he turned and fled at full speed.

“You bastard, if you’ve got guts, don’t run!” Xu Mo shouted.

But the masked man was so quick he vanished in the blink of an eye.

Xu Mo, seeing he couldn’t catch up, cursed helplessly, “Damn it, you’re lucky you ran fast!”

As it turned out, Xu Mo had anticipated trouble tonight. He had created the illusion of going to bed by turning off the lights, then quietly scaled the back wall and waited in the shadows for his quarry.

Elsewhere, the masked man ran frantically for several streets before finally stopping in a dark alley, panting heavily.

Feeling short of breath, he tore off his mask.

By the moonlight, it was clear—the man was Jiang Zhaoming.

After a few breaths, Jiang Zhaoming caught a whiff of the foul stench rising from his feet.

“Damn it, what bad luck!”

Jiang Zhaoming felt utterly disgusted. After cursing angrily, he quickly took off his shoes and walked away barefoot.