The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 324: Chapter 324: Satisfying the Customer’s Deeper Spiritual Needs

Kuno Hiroo asked, ”Ms. Han, you don’t think ordinary families can afford such expensive goldfish, do you?”

At that moment, it dawned on Xu Shu as well.

”That’s right, Ms. Han. The kind of people who can afford ornamental fish like these aren’t short on servants. They might feed the fish themselves on occasion, but with servants to handle the feeding, there’s absolutely no need to worry about this problem.”

Hearing this, Han Xiaorui sighed to herself. ’Ah, the evils of capitalism!’

The logic was sound. Since they didn’t see it as a limitation, she might as well sell.

”In that case, make sure you communicate this clearly to your clients. Hold on, I’ll have someone prepare a guide on care techniques and precautions for the first three to six months. You can use it to train your staff so they can inform customers accurately and in a timely manner.”

Hearing this, Kuno Hiroo pointed at the three-month-old fish and said, ”I’ll take all of these!”

When Xu Shu saw that Kuno Hiroo was actually trying to buy up all the high-end ornamental fish, he was instantly displeased.

”On what grounds? If you buy them all, does that mean I fought you for nothing?”

Kuno Hiroo retorted irritably, ”Not happy about it? We can go outside and have another round. A samurai duel. The winner takes all. How about it?”

”You...” Xu Shu was clearly no match for Kuno Hiroo. If Yang Jianguo hadn’t pulled them apart just a moment ago, he would have been the one to lose out.

Ye Feng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He patted Xu Shu’s shoulder. ”Xu Shu, are you sure you’re suited for business, being so impulsive? This ornamental fish farm doesn’t belong to him. He doesn’t get to decide the quantities.”

”Besides, you’re an important client too. It’s not like she won’t sell to you; it’s just a matter of how many. There’s no need to argue, much less fight, over something that can be resolved through negotiation.”

Han Xiaorui chimed in quickly, ”If you’re going to fight, take it outside. If you so much as break one thing in here, I’ll have you pay for it a hundred times over.”

To prevent another fight, Han Xiaorui decided to herd them out.

Just as they were passing the Money Turtle breeding area, Xu Shu stopped in his tracks, his eyes shining. ”Ms. Han, however many of these you have, I’ll take every last one!”

He didn’t just say it; Xu Shu ran over to get a closer look.

The turtles’ gleaming golden shells were covered in patterns that looked just like old copper coins, making them especially captivating.

Kuno Hiroo pointed at the Money Turtles. ”These turtles have copper coins on their backs. Does that mean they’re for attracting wealth and treasure?”

Xu Shu saw his chance and quickly retorted, ”You don’t even get it. That just proves people where you’re from don’t believe in Fengshui. Even if we gave you these Money Turtles, you wouldn’t be able to sell them for a high price.”

Kuno Hiroo was not pleased. As a Japanese man, he knew better.

They might talk about admiring Europe and America, but that’s only for advanced technology and a few modified holidays. Deep down, they still love the culture of Hua Country. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be clamoring all day about being the true heirs of Tang Culture.

’Fengshui is such a high-end concept. How could they not like it?’

’Especially the mysterious, mystical power to change your own fortune for the better and someone else’s for the worse—that’s the real essence.’

’Who wouldn’t want to possess that?’

”Just because it’s not popular now doesn’t mean it won’t be in the future. We have our own traditions for something as wonderful and mysterious as Fengshui. We have Geomancy Masters and Onmyoji.”

”These Money Turtles can attract wealth in your Hua Country, and they can do the same in Japan. So, I want to buy these Money Turtles too. Are there any others besides the Money Turtles?”

Han Xiaorui was surprised, but if someone was willing to buy, she was willing to sell. She wasn’t one to turn down money.

Xu Shu then saw a variety of other Fengshui Fish, all with beautiful shapes and vibrant colors.

He used to source some of his stock from Guangzhou and Southeast Asia, but now it seemed that was completely unnecessary. From now on, he would get his supply from Jinshan Bay.

At this point, Kuno Hiroo was no longer in the mood to bicker with Xu Shu. He told Han Xiaorui in a very serious tone,

”Ms. Han, please prepare a detailed information packet on all the Fengshui Fish and fengshui turtles you have here. I want to take it back with me to create an entire fengshui series.”

Han Xiaorui was shocked. She had to admit that even though Japan’s economy was now taking a hit from the United States, and ordinary people were suffering losses, the wealthy upper class was affected, but not significantly.

As a result, those people were even more inclined to believe in mystical things like this.

”Alright, I’ll prepare a detailed and practical information packet for you,” Han Xiaorui said with a smile. ’Looks like I’m about to make another fortune,’ she thought.

Xu Shu grew anxious. ”People in Hong Kong and Macau believe in this stuff too! I’m even carrying a peace charm I went to a temple to get!”

Han Xiaorui nodded. ”Alright, I can agree to your request. I guarantee you’ll both like my proposal.”

At noon, with Ye Feng acting as a mediator, Kuno Hiroo and Xu Shu made up.

They had been fighting over the supply, but now that the supply issue was resolved and their markets didn’t overlap, there was no reason to keep arguing.

After a few drinks, they were back to being chummy, with their arms slung around each other’s shoulders!

After seeing the drunken Kuno Hiroo and Xu Shu off, Han Xiaorui and Ye Feng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

”People will really do and say anything for money!”

Ye Feng shrugged. ”This is nothing. Just you wait. Once they start making more and more money, they’ll get even more outrageous. Still, the more they make, the more you’ll make.”

Han Xiaorui was delighted. ”That’s right. Selling smaller ornamental fish for the price of large ones saves me half the time. It’s not a bad deal at all.”

Ye Feng had a question. ”They’re buying a lot now, but their customers are all high-end clients. Once that whole group has bought them, won’t you be unable to sell any more?”

Han Xiaorui gave a mysterious smile. ”Have you ever heard the story about the kitchen knife factory that went out of business because their knives were too good? People could use one for decades without it breaking.”

”So, the product’s quality can’t be *too* good. But it has to be beautiful, something that makes people want to own it. That way, when it’s gone, they’ll buy another one.”

Ye Feng was taken aback. ”Are you saying these ornamental fish will die?”

Han Xiaorui rolled her eyes. ”People die. Isn’t it perfectly normal for fish to die?”

Realizing he’d just asked a foolish question, Ye Feng gave an embarrassed laugh. ”Look at me, asking something so dumb.”

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”Except for the Money Turtles, the others have a lifespan of about three years.”

”The lifespan of a Fengshui Fish is usually around two years. Since they have to help their owner block negative energy, their lives naturally won’t be too long.”

Ye Feng had thought Kuno Hiroo and Xu Shu were the capitalists, but now it seemed his wife was just as shrewd.

”Not bad. That’s how you create a sustainable, long-term business cycle!” Ye Feng laughed. ”I respect your decision. Perhaps this can become another point of growth for us.”

”People in other places might not believe in it, but in areas of Asia influenced by Confucian culture, many people are still firm believers.”

”Remember that big fengshui ceramic basin in the courtyard of our city house? The one with all the seal script written on the outside? That thing is an antique!”

”Since people in Japan, Hong Kong, and Macau believe in this stuff, you should make everything elegant, beautiful, mysterious, and full of rich cultural symbols. It’ll make it easier to pull the wool over their eyes.”

Han Xiaorui raised an eyebrow and retorted, ”How can you call it fooling people? We are clearly satisfying our customers’ deep-seated spiritual needs!”