Chapter 11: Strange Goods Can Be Sold (Part 2) (Seeking Recommendation Tickets)

  A new week has begun, seeking votes!

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  Qin Yi wore a brocade robe, kneeling on a low table. The small table in front of him was filled with food, the fragrant and savory mutton stew made people drool, along with a dish of garlic paste, a dish of bitter vegetables, and a jug of Qin wine.

  Braised lamb is the most famous dish in Qin State, and even the King of Qin makes it a point to eat it every day. Braised lamb must be paired with garlic paste to taste good. Bitter vegetables are a specialty vegetarian dish in Qin State, used to complement Qin wine, with a lingering aftertaste. Because Qin wine is slightly thin, while the bitter flavor enhances its thickness, surpassing even the famous Zhao wine.

  This is a sumptuous feast, where one can't eat their fill, Lü Buwei would be surprised if he weren't astonished.

  "What exactly happened?" Lü Buwei couldn't figure it out.

  Everyone knows that Qin Yi Ren was abandoned by the Qin State, with no one paying attention to him. However, looking at this table full of delicious food, where is the shadow of being abandoned? Even someone as astute as Lü Buwei cannot help but be deceived.

  He absolutely did not expect that Qin Yiren robbed Zhao Ping and others, getting a lot of food. This time, he brought out the best ones, just to create an illusion for Lü Buwei, making him mistakenly think that Qin Yiren was not as rumored, hungry and cold, so that the next price negotiation would have a bottom line, and he could get the most benefits.

  "You... Qin people are so rude!" Lü Buwei pointed at the Qin stranger, his anger bursting forth, his face red and his neck thick.

  Because Qin Yi was doing something extremely rude, he couldn't bear it anymore.

  Moyi was kneeling on the ground, washing Qin Yiren's feet.

  Washing one's feet in front of guests is an extremely rude thing to do, and it will bring shame to others. In Chinese history, only one person has done such a thing, and that was Han Gaozu Liu Bang. While washing his feet, he received Confucian scholars, who strongly criticized him, scolding him for being unlearned and illiterate, and calling him a rascal from the streets.

  Qin Yi Ren washed his feet in front of Lü Buwei, which was an extremely rude thing to do. No one could tolerate it, and even Lü Buwei, who was used to seeing big scenes, was furious with anger piercing through his forehead.

  "Who is this person?" Qin Yiren cast a sideways glance at Lü Buwei, asking in a low voice, without even considering inviting Lü Buwei to take a seat.

  "In the Lü's merchant house, Lü Buwei met with Gongzi." Lü Buwei came to his senses; he had come this time with great ambitions and could not afford to let small matters ruin big plans, so he swallowed his anger.

  "We don't know each other, why have you come to visit?" Qin Yiren was asking with a clear understanding of the situation, he knew exactly what Lü Buwei's intentions were.

  "I've long heard of your esteemed reputation, and have always wanted to make your acquaintance. Today, I finally have the pleasure of meeting you, and indeed, you are no ordinary person. You are a phoenix among men, with an extraordinary demeanor." Lü Buwei was a smooth talker, lavishing praise on Qin Yiren.

  Qin Yiren had a very useful look on his face, with his head held high and his chest out, he looked intoxicated. With a wave of his hand, he said, "Come, please take a seat, sir."

  Meng Zhao responded with a sound, hastily moved over a velvet cushion, and asked Lü Buwei to sit.

  Lü Buwei examined the brocade cushion, and saw that it was wrapped in high-quality brocade. He couldn't help but feel a sense of surprise - how could Qin Yiren have such a luxurious cushion when he had heard rumors that he didn't even wear warm clothes? When he sat down on it, he felt an extraordinary softness, more comfortable than a woman's bosom, and was again surprised by the excellence of this brocade cushion.

  "The news is uncertain, the rumors are false, I want to think that the things I plan will succeed, it seems that I have to pay a lot." Lü Buwei's confidence was shaken.

  "Sir, you didn't come just to flatter me, did you? Please, sir, speak your mind." Qin Yiren sized up Lü Buwei and couldn't help but secretly praise his extraordinary demeanor, no wonder he became a legendary hero and successfully bought the country.

  "Can a gentleman trapped in Handan still have great ambitions?" Lü Buwei's view of the Qin stranger had changed somewhat, and he didn't dare to underestimate him, his tone was quite respectful.

  "What if there is? What if there isn't?" Qin Yiren's answer was quite clever.

  "If the young master has no great ambition, he will end up dying of old age in Handan. In the hundred years of the Warring States period, among the seven major powers, eight or nine out of ten hostages died, either by violent death or dying of old age in a foreign land, and only one in ten could return to their hometown." Lü Buwei was indeed a hero with extraordinary talent, and his words were alarming.

  If it were the previous one, upon hearing this, he would inevitably be terrified and respectfully ask for advice. This was also what Lü Buwei expected, but what made him disappointed was that Qin Yiren didn't even raise an eyebrow, as if he hadn't heard anything.

  "If the young master has great ambitions, Lü Buwei is not talented, I am willing to assist the young master with all my might." Lü Buwei was taken aback for a moment, and could only continue speaking.

  "How can you help this young master?" Qin Yiren's gaze finally shifted onto Lü Buwei.

  This is no small progress, which is exactly what Lü Buwei expected. He would never give up and said: "The prince only needs to make a move, Lü Buwei will definitely do his best to help."

  This means that as long as Qin Yiren needs it, Lü Buwei will do it, which is a boast.

  "Sir, you are a businessman, and although I am not in business myself, I know the ways of businessmen: no profit, no early rising. You wish to use your great wealth to help me achieve my ambitions, but what do you hope to gain from me?" Qin Yiren's eyes sparkled with intensity as he stared at Lü Buwei.

  Lü Buwei was astonished, the phrase "no profit no early rise" is the best portrayal of merchants, he never thought that Qin Yiren would have such determination, in the face of great temptation, he remained calm and composed.

  "The young master smiled and Lü Buwei had no request, only unwilling to let the young master's great talent be buried." Lü Buwei was well-versed in the art of advancing and retreating, at this time he should retreat in order to advance, enticing Qin Yiren to take the bait, proactively setting out conditions.

  However, Qin Yiren's next words made his calculations fall through. He only heard Qin Yiren say: "This young master deeply understands a principle: there must be losses for every gain! This young master wants to get Mr.'s help and must have something to pay out. If Mr. has nothing to ask for and is willing to help this young master, it's a huge lie that even children wouldn't believe. Mr. is deceiving himself with empty words, please leave." With a wave of his sleeve, he seemed to be shooing away flies.

  "There must be losses as well as gains!" Lü Buwei was again astonished, this saying is so profound! He had never heard it before in his life, and he couldn't help but savor it carefully.

  "Hold on." Lü Buwei knew he couldn't deceive the Qin stranger, so he had to offer a condition: "If you can fulfill your ambition, I'll give you an official position, no matter how small."

  The water content of this statement is high. If Qin Yi Ren can achieve his ambition, Lv Bu Wei's efforts will be great too. The official position he gives him cannot be small. It must be a high-ranking official, and even the prime minister is possible.

  The fox's tail has been exposed, Qin Yiren secretly smiled in his heart, but said on the surface: "Sir should know that Qin State is different from the six states of Shandong. In Qin State, officials are appointed based on merit, not kinship. Even if you enter Qin State, if you have no ability, you cannot be an official."

  The Qin state was able to defeat six states with one, and the more it fought in Shandong, the stronger it became. The fundamental reason for this lay in the fact that the politics of Qin were clear and bright, and it chose its officials based on their virtue and ability. As for why the six states of Shandong grew weaker and weaker, it was because they appointed people based solely on personal relationships and did not use those with talent. This can be seen from the chancellors that Qin appointed.

  Since Qin Xiao Gong changed the law, the Qin state has used prime ministers Shang Yang, Zhang Yi and Fan Sui, all from the six states of Shan Dong. They were great talents that the six states of Shan Dong could not use, they had no place to show their skills in the six states of Shan Dong, but when they came to the Qin state, they were able to fully display their abilities.

  At that time, there was an idiom called "Wei's talents are used by other countries", which refers to the fact that Wei State's talents were employed by other states, mainly Qin State.

  Lü Buwei felt even more depressed after hearing the implication of the Qin stranger's words, and thought to himself: "I, Lü Buwei, developed the Lü clan's business into a major merchant house second only to the five great merchant houses, relying on the four characters 'rare goods can be stored'. This time, plotting for the country is no exception. But look at this situation, who is the rare goods? Who is storing the rare goods?"