20demayo Chapter 32 Scarcity Marketing
Chapter 32 Scarcity Marketing
Having defeated the "Bloody Hands" and obtained the scepter of the underworld, and having also established a connection with the "Sons of Liberty," Levi's power expanded rapidly like a sponge soaked in water.
But he knew very well that neither of these was respectable.
No matter how strong the fists at the dock are, they can't be stronger than the rifles of the governor's mansion.
No matter how beautiful the promises of the Sons of Liberty may be, they are nothing more than empty checks that can be torn up at any time.
To truly establish himself in Boston, he needed to penetrate the city's true power structure and get in touch with the British rulers in their scarlet uniforms, sipping afternoon tea.
The key to getting in was his adjutant, Andrew Gage.
Li Wei boldly improved upon the syphilis prescription he obtained from the ship's doctor, combining it with several Eastern herbs.
He removed the potent medicinal components, retained the ingredients that could excite and produce a sense of pleasure, and then mixed in a small amount of refreshing mint and ginseng.
A brand new "refreshing powder" was born.
Instead of rushing to sell the product, he first called Boyle to the warehouse and casually tossed out twenty Spanish silver coins.
"I want you to find the best craftsmen in the city to make me a batch of small porcelain vases, the most exquisite ones. And use the finest Oriental silk to make a batch of brocade boxes to hold them." Levi pushed a piece of paper with a sketch on it in front of Boyle.
Boyle looked at the ingenious design on the blueprints, puzzled, but still readily agreed.
A few days later, a batch of delicate porcelain vases painted with elegant bamboo leaf patterns, along with boxes made of dark blue brocade, were delivered to the warehouse.
Li Wei personally divided the brown powder into porcelain bottles, and then carefully placed them into a brocade box.
He gave this new product a name full of exoticism and imagination: "Oriental Morning Dew".
"Boyle, from today onwards, your bakery will sell this in addition to bread." Levi handed him a well-packaged brocade box.
"But remember, it doesn't have a price tag, and it's not for sale."
"Not for sale?" Boyle was even more confused.
"You just need to give it as a free gift to those VIP customers who order large quantities of bread from your store, especially the gentlemen in the Royal Oak Club."
"Tell them that this is a precious gift from the Far East, a gift that can dispel fatigue and rejuvenate the spirit."
"Mr. Li, what if those gentlemen insist?" Boyle thought of those arrogant noblemen, and his face immediately turned sour.
"Force them? Then tell them the Governor's Office doesn't want to be taken advantage of."
Although Boyle was puzzled, he dared not disobey Levi's orders in the slightest.
Things progressed even more smoothly than Li Wei had anticipated.
Those officers and wealthy businessmen who spent their days drinking and feasting, whose bodies were hollowed out by alcohol and idleness, were immediately captivated by the magical effects of "Oriental Morning Dew" after trying it for the first time.
The hangover headache disappeared, replaced by a false sense of energy.
His mental depression vanished, and he even felt ten years younger when facing his mistress.
This fleeting, unparalleled euphoria was something they had never experienced before.
Within days, "Dawn Dew" had become a sensation in Boston's high society.
"Hey, have you heard? Boyle Bakery has some kind of miraculous oriental medicine."
"Of course! I tried a little yesterday, and God, it felt like I could kill a bear with one punch!"
"That thing is simply a gift from God!"
Boyle's bakery became the hottest spot in town overnight.
Countless well-dressed gentlemen arrived in carriages, not for his baked black bread, but for that mysterious "gift".
For a time, the streets and alleys near Boyle's bakery became a frequent haunt of homeless people, and black breads thrown from the carriages could be picked up from the ground everywhere.
Andrew Gage became one of the most loyal fans of "Oriental Morning Dew".
His long-standing insomnia and anxiety were greatly relieved by the false euphoria brought on by the drug.
He felt he had regained control of his body and his whole being became radiant.
After the free gifts were distributed, Boyle, following Levy's instructions, hesitated and reluctantly revealed a little inside information to his regular customers.
The raw materials for "Oriental Morning Dew" come from the distant East and are extremely rare. The production process is also exceptionally complex, making mass production impossible.
The news caused an uproar throughout high society.
Just then, Levi had Boyle spread the word.
Mr. Li is grateful for everyone's support and is willing to share a small portion of his stock, but the price is quite high, with each small bottle costing ten pounds, and reservations will only be accepted from close friends and acquaintances.
Ten pounds! That's almost a year's salary for an average worker.
But this astonishing price did not deter those people; on the contrary, it further fueled their desire to buy.
In their view, being expensive is itself part of the value.
"Dawn in the East" has become a complete symbol of identity.
Being able to get your hands on a bottle of "Oriental Morning Dew" is a better indicator of your status in Boston than receiving an invitation to a ball at the Governor's Palace.
In order to secure his own stable supply, Lieutenant Andrew Gage finally personally invited "Mr. Lee" to a private salon held at his residence.
The opportunity Li Wei had been waiting for had arrived.
That evening at the salon, Gage's living room was brightly lit with candles, filled with the fragrance of fine clothes and the rustling of hair.
Li Wei took off his shorts that allowed him to move around easily and put on a tailor-made dark purple silk robe, and his hair was also neatly combed.
His entire being exuded a classical and mysterious aura unique to the East, completely out of place at the dock.
He was no longer the taciturn gambler at the card table.
When an officer asked him about Eastern porcelain, he talked about the five famous kilns of the Song Dynasty and the blue and white porcelain of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. His extensive knowledge made the officer, who prided himself on collecting, feel ashamed.
When a wealthy merchant inquired about the spice trade, he analyzed the price fluctuations of pepper and cinnamon on the East-West shipping routes with great clarity and insight, leaving the other merchants present in awe of his wisdom.
He could even discuss ancient Roman philosophy with Gage, comparing the Stoic perseverance with Eastern Taoist thought.
Even the ladies of these noble families were impressed by Li Wei's analysis of fashion trends, and their gazes towards him held a hint of allure. Fiona, in the corner, her hands clenched in her pockets, was clearly filled with jealousy, though no one else knew it.
Gage and his friends were completely bewildered.
They could not reconcile the refined and erudite Eastern scholar before them with the ruthless and cunning figure rumored to have stirred up bloodshed at the docks.
The huge cognitive dissonance led them to subconsciously seek a reasonable explanation for Li Wei.
"He must be a fallen nobleman from the East!"
"That's right, those businesses at the docks are definitely just a temporary expedient for him."
They would rather believe the story they have created than admit that a stranger from the bottom of society could possess both wisdom and strength.
What Li Wei wanted was this kind of cognitive subversion, so that he could better cloak himself in a protective layer called "aristocrat".
The salon ended at midnight, with both hosts and guests thoroughly enjoying themselves.
After seeing off the last guest, Gage suddenly called out to Levi, who was about to leave, and invited him into his study.
"Lee, I have to thank you." Gage poured him a glass of brandy himself, his smile more genuine than ever before.
"Your 'Morning Dew' is truly a wonderful thing. It has brought back the feeling of my youth."
"It is my honor to share Mr. Gage's burdens. Moreover, Mr. Gage is already very young and promising," Li Wei said, taking a sip of wine, his manners impeccable.
Gage paced back and forth in the study a few times, then suddenly lowered his voice.
"Li, we're friends, so I have to remind you of something." His expression turned serious.
"His Excellency is very dissatisfied with the state of the docks lately. Smuggling is rampant, and those damned 'Sons of Liberty' are always causing trouble. He is preparing an unprecedented crackdown, starting next week."
He leaned closer to Li Wei and added meaningfully, "You'd better be careful with your 'business' dealings. Don't give those Red Shrimp soldiers any leverage over you; they don't care whose friend you are."
"After all, the gunshots and flashes on the docks could easily disturb the Governor's peaceful sleep."