Rise in Douluo Continent with the help of bean buns

In Tiandou City, as summer approaches, the days gradually become longer.

In the alleys of the southern city, cicadas chirped incessantly, and sunlight filtered through the sycamore leaves onto the bluestone slabs, dazzling the eyes.

In the back workshop of Qinghetang, the workers were busy sifting, grinding, and packaging herbs, their movements swift and orderly. In the warehouse in the front yard, neatly stacked packages of medicine powder awaited pickup by representatives from partner pharmacies.

Only half a month after the Zhangji incident, Qinghetang is gaining momentum.

The number of partner pharmacies has increased from over eighty to over one hundred and twenty, and daily sales have nearly doubled. At this rate, breaking four hundred gold coins in net profit by the end of the month is a certainty. Old Chen is working hard every day to reach out to the distribution channels, and he always has a smile on his face.

But Lin Chen knew in his heart that the calm was only temporary.

Just because Zhang's company has threatened Nancheng's market share doesn't mean everyone else will. This market is too big, and too many people are eyeing it.

Sure enough, things started to go wrong a few days later.

First, when Lao Chen was exploring new channels, he was repeatedly turned away. Pharmacies that used to be willing to give it a try with the promise of free distribution and payment after the goods were sold are now waving their hands, saying they have fixed suppliers and dare not switch.

Later, several long-standing pharmacies that had been cooperating with us for a long time secretly came to our door, hesitantly saying that they wanted to reduce their orders and dared not take more.

"Boss, something's not right." Old Chen returned after a long day, his face grave. "I've found out what's going on. Zhang's has teamed up with three other wholesalers in Nancheng to form the 'Nancheng Herbal Medicine Industry Alliance.' They've declared that anyone who dares to sell Qinghetang's goods will have their entire product line cut off, and they're even going to gang up on them."

He paused, his tone turning somber: "Many small pharmacies rely on them for their regular medicinal herbs, and they dare not offend them, so they no longer dare to cooperate with us. New channels are simply not working, and even old customers are reducing their orders."

The four companies joined forces.

This effectively tied up most of the wholesale channels in the southern part of the city, using the threat of supplying all categories of goods to force pharmacies to choose sides.

This is no longer a small-scale operation by Zhang's family; it's a coordinated crackdown by local businesses.

"I knew they wouldn't admit defeat so quickly; they were saving their trump card." Old Chen was a bit angry. "These guys can't make anything good themselves, so they resort to these dirty tricks!"

  

Lin Chen sat behind his desk, tapping his fingertips lightly on the tabletop, his expression calm and without the slightest sign of panic.

"As expected," he said calmly. "We stole their jobs, so naturally they'll join forces against us."

"What should we do then?" Old Chen asked anxiously. "We can't just watch the distribution channels shrink, can we? How about we lower our prices and start a price war with them?"

"Lowering prices is a bad strategy," Lin Chen shook his head. "Our costs are higher than theirs, and we'll only suffer in a price war. Besides, once we start, we'll only get deeper and deeper into a mess, losing all our profits and ruining our brand."

Old Chen scratched his head: "Then... what do we do? We can't just sit here and wait to die, can we?"

Lin Chen didn't answer immediately, but instead called out to Doubao in his mind.

"Deducing the optimal path to break the current predicament."

[Received. Building a scenario model for the suppression of medicinal herbs by the Nancheng Medicinal Herbs Alliance... Model completed.]

Situation assessment:

- The other party's advantages: They control the supply rights of all categories of common medicinal materials and have strong control over terminal pharmacies; they have deep local roots and extensive connections.

- Disadvantages of the other party: The products are highly homogenized, there is no exclusive core product category, the profit margin is low, and the interests within the alliance are not aligned.

-Our dilemma: The brand is new and has a shallow foundation. Pharmacies at the terminal level dare not offend suppliers of all categories by focusing on a single product category.

-Our core advantages: Our product's effectiveness surpasses that of competitors; its unique formula cannot be quickly imitated.

[Strategy for Breaking the Impasse:]

Core idea: differentiated competition, shifting from "stealing business" to "giving away business", turning terminal pharmacies from competitors into partners with shared interests.

Specific path:

1. Track Shift: Completely abandon the retail sector and focus entirely on the wholesale sector, clearly stating that it will not engage in terminal retail, will not compete with pharmacies for business, and will dispel any resistance from them.

2. Innovative Model: Introducing the "Exclusive Supply + Regional Protection" mechanism—only one pharmacy is signed on each street/area, granted exclusive sales rights, and other pharmacies in the same area are prohibited from purchasing goods, thus avoiding internal price wars and protecting the exclusive profits of the cooperating pharmacy.

3. Product Enhancement: Launch an optimized version of the body-strengthening agent (liquid dosage form, with higher absorption efficiency than medicine packs), with 40% better results than similar products on the market and a 15% lower cost. As an exclusive product, it can only be obtained by pharmacies with exclusive cooperation agreements, leveraging scarcity to incentivize cooperation.

4. Alignment of interests: Set up tiered profit sharing, the higher the sales volume, the lower the purchase price, and the greater the profit margin for the pharmacy, so that the other party is willing to resist the pressure of the alliance.

Expected outcome: Break through channel blockade within 20 days, double the number of partner pharmacies, and stabilize monthly net profit above 400 gold.

Risk: The alliance may follow suit and imitate regional protection, but without exclusive products to support it, the effect will be limited.

Doubao's reasoning was clear and logical, and every step he took hit the nail on the head.

Lin Chen nodded slightly.

It aligns with his thinking.

If a head-on confrontation isn't worthwhile, then let's switch tracks and try a different approach.

"Old Chen," Lin Chen looked up and calmly instructed, "starting today, Qinghetang will completely cease its retail business. From now on, we will only do wholesale, supply only pharmacies, and will not do business with end customers."

Old Chen was taken aback: "Not doing retail? That means we'll be making a lot less money..."

"It's not worth sacrificing long-term gains for short-term profits," Lin Chen said calmly. "When we do retail, we're taking business from all the pharmacies, so they're naturally opposed to us. We only do wholesale, which means we're delivering profitable goods to them. We're all in the same boat."

Old Chen thought about it for a moment, then suddenly realized: "That's right! If we don't steal their business and instead give them exclusive, high-quality products, they won't have any reason to go against us!"

"That's not all," Lin Chen continued. "We're launching two new policies. First, exclusive supply and regional protection. We'll only sign contracts with one pharmacy per street, granting them exclusive rights to our products. No one else can get them."

"Exclusive? Regional protection?" Old Chen's eyes lit up. "That's a ruthless move! Whoever signs first will have the advantage; they'll be the only one selling it on the whole street, no worries about getting a good price!"

"Secondly," Lin Chen said, "we're launching a new product, a body-tempering potion, in liquid form. It's absorbed better than medicine packets, and its effects are 40% higher than similar products on the market, all at a lower cost. This product will only be supplied to pharmacies that have signed exclusive agreements; those without such agreements won't get it."

Old Chen slapped his thigh: "This is brilliant! They have exclusive, top-quality goods and regional protection. Only a fool wouldn't cooperate with us! Even if there were a four-way alliance, or even more, the lure of making money wouldn't be enough!"

"Don't get too excited yet," Lin Chen said calmly. "First, develop the product, clarify the policies, and then negotiate with each company one by one. Start with our existing, hesitant clients to find a breakthrough."

"Okay, sure!" Old Chen exclaimed, full of energy. "I'll go arrange it right away!"

For the next three days, the courtyard was bustling with activity.

Lin Chen plunged into the workshop, guiding Master Wu in adjusting the formula and process of the body-tempering potion. With Doubao's precise calculations, the formula ratios, cooking temperature, and extraction process were all executed flawlessly.

Unlike body-tempering packets, body-tempering potions are liquid, allowing for more efficient absorption through the skin and faster onset of action. They are more suitable for soaking or wiping before training. Similar products exist on the market, but they generally have mixed medicinal properties, poor absorption, and are prone to skin irritation.

Lin Chen's optimized version replaced the expensive medicinal materials in the original formula with three auxiliary materials, and then used a low-temperature extraction process to purify them. Not only did the effect increase by 40%, but the cost was reduced by 15%.

Three days later, the first batch of body-tempering potion was produced.

The pale blue liquid is contained in a small brown porcelain bottle. When the cap is opened, it releases a faint, mild, and non-pungent herbal scent.

Old Chen volunteered to try a bottle, poured it into hot water and soaked it for fifteen minutes. When he came out, he felt refreshed all over, the soreness in his muscles had subsided by more than half, and he could even walk much more easily.

"Amazing, boss!" Old Chen stretched his arms, his face full of amazement. "It's so much better than those body-tempering potions I used to buy! It doesn't irritate my skin at all, and it feels so comfortable!"

The desired effect was achieved.

Lin Chen nodded: "Let's mass-produce using this process. Let's make three hundred bottles first for trial sales."

"Okay!"

The products are in place, and the policies have been clarified.

Lin Chen drafted a simple exclusive cooperation agreement:

-The cooperation period is six months, and Qinghetang products will be supplied to only one pharmacy within the designated area;

- Contracted pharmacies are prohibited from selling competing products of the same type;

-Achieving monthly sales targets entitles you to tiered price reductions; the higher the sales volume, the lower the purchase price.

- If a supplier breaches the contract, their supply qualification will be cancelled, and a new partner will be found within the region.

The conditions aren't too harsh; the core issue is exclusive protection.

Everything is ready.

Old Chen, carrying samples and agreements, first approached several pharmacies with which he had previously had good cooperation, but which had recently been observing the situation.

The first one is Baohetang, an old pharmacy on the old street in the south of the city. The owner's surname is Wang, and he has been in business for more than 20 years. He is a shrewd man.

"Manager Wang, it's been a long time." Old Chen sat down with a smile and pushed the porcelain vase over. "I brought a new product for you to see."

Manager Wang glanced at it, then hesitated, "Manager Chen, it's not that I don't want to give you face, it's just that the trade alliance has said that if I continue to sell your goods, they will stop supplying my family with regular medicinal herbs... My small business can't withstand that."

"Manager Wang, please don't be so quick to refuse." Old Chen said calmly, "Qinghetang will no longer do retail; we will focus solely on wholesale and will never compete with you for business. In fact, we're here to offer you exclusive business opportunities."

He pushed the body-tempering potion forward, explained the policy of exclusive supply and regional protection, and finally added: "On this old street, we're only talking to you. If you sign, you'll be the only one selling this body-tempering potion, as well as calming powder and spirit-concentrating powder on the whole street. No one else will be able to get them."

Manager Wang, who had been nonchalant, perked up at the mention of "exclusive" and "regional protection." After hearing about the effects of the body-tempering potion, he sat up straight.

"Is it really as miraculous as you say? Forty percent more effective than other products on the market?"

"You can try it on the spot," Old Chen said with a smile. "If it doesn't work, I'll turn around and leave without saying a word."

Manager Wang was a straightforward person; he immediately took a bottle and went into the back room to try it.

Fifteen minutes later, when he came out, all the hesitation on his face was gone, leaving only a sharp look.

"This stuff... is really amazing." Manager Wang rubbed his hands together. "Exclusive supply, am I the only one in the old street?"

"Just your family." Old Chen nodded. "We keep our word; it's clearly written in the agreement."

Shopkeeper Wang pondered for a few more seconds, then gritted his teeth.

"Fine! I'll sign!" He slammed his hand on the table. "It's just a trade alliance, right? At worst, I'll just get the regular medicinal herbs from another supplier! With this exclusive, high-quality stock, how could I not make my money?"

He knows how to calculate things clearly.

The profit margin on conventional medicinal herbs is thin, and even with high volume sales, you only earn a meager living. But Qinghetang's body-tempering potion has undeniable effectiveness, and being sold exclusively, it offers a much larger profit margin.

If it sells well, you can earn more money than with regular medicinal herbs.

It's not worth putting pressure on us for something as small as this and giving up a profitable business opportunity.

The first one is a success.

Once the first breakthrough was achieved, everything else went smoothly.

Using Baohetang as an example, Old Chen then went to talk to several other pharmacies that were still observing the situation.

Upon hearing that the product had exclusive protection and was so effective, many shop owners were tempted.

After all, the purpose of opening a pharmacy is to make money, and nobody wants to turn down money.

Although the pressure from industry alliances is annoying, as long as the exclusive product earns enough money, the risk can be completely offset.

In just five days, seventeen pharmacies signed exclusive cooperation agreements.

It covers most of the main streets in the southern part of the city.

As expected, the body-tempering potion became an instant hit as soon as it was put on the shelves.

Body tempering products are a necessity, useful to Soul Masters, Martial Masters, and even wealthy young men. Qinghetang's product is highly effective, only 10% more expensive than others on the market, making it extremely cost-effective. Furthermore, its exclusive sales channel eliminates the possibility of comparing prices elsewhere, resulting in exceptionally strong sales.

A pharmacy that has signed a contract can earn several more silver soul coins every day just from body-tempering potions, which is more profitable than selling ten portions of ordinary medicinal herbs.

The shopkeepers were all grinning from ear to ear, completely ignoring the pressure from the trade alliance.

Many pharmacies that couldn't get an exclusive contract even approached us, asking if we could also sign one.

"Boss, this trick is amazing!" Old Chen would excitedly report every day when he came home. "Now so many pharmacies are coming to us, they're just afraid someone else will sign our street deal!"

Lin Chen flipped through the account book, his expression calm.

Expected.

The world is hilarious, all come for profit.

Even the strongest alliance can be breached if the benefits offered are substantial enough.

"Don't expand too quickly," Lin Chen cautioned. "The territories need to be divided into smaller, more manageable areas. Otherwise, the pharmacy won't make money and will only damage its reputation. Be steady and selective; better to have fewer but better options."

"Yes, I understand!" Old Chen nodded. "I'll do as you said, only one store in each area to guarantee their profits."

The news quickly reached the ears of the industry alliance.

The four wholesalers sat together, all looking very unhappy.

"This Qinghetang is really shady! They're even trying to get exclusive supply!"

"Damn it, have all those pharmacies gone mad? They're ignoring us just to get some broken medicine?"

"How about we go for an exclusive deal? And lower the price too?"

"What's there to lower the price for? Don't we know the effects of our body-tempering potion? Even if we lower the price, we still won't be able to compete with others!"

The group argued for a long time but couldn't come up with a good solution.

They also tried to imitate regional protection, but their own products were mediocre, and even with exclusivity, they couldn't sell them and ended up offending more customers.

They wanted to wage a price war, but Qinghetang's costs were actually lower than theirs, so they couldn't compete at all.

They wanted to continue applying pressure, but the pharmacies that had signed exclusive agreements were making a fortune and were not buying it at all. Instead, they felt that the pharmacies were blocking their path to wealth.

The alliance may seem powerful, but in reality, it is no match for the absolute product advantage.

Less than half a month later, the so-called Nancheng Industry Alliance became defunct in name only.

Nobody takes their pressure seriously anymore.

More and more pharmacies are proactively approaching us, wanting to sign exclusive cooperation agreements.

Qinghetang's distribution channels were not blocked; on the contrary, they expanded even further.

The number of partner pharmacies has increased from over 120 to over 200, covering nearly half of the small and medium-sized pharmacies in the southern and western parts of the city.

Body tempering potions have become a new hot-selling item, and even pharmacies in the East and North of the city have started coming to ask if they can get some.

When it came time to settle the accounts at the end of the month, Old Chen's hands were trembling as he held the ledger.

"Master... four hundred and sixty-seven gold coins." His voice trembled. "This month's net profit is four hundred and sixty-seven gold coins!"

Four hundred and sixty-seven gold coins.

It not only surpassed the peak level of Blackrock Town, but also far exceeded expectations.

It increased by more than 150 gold compared to last month.

And this is only the result of the rollout in the southern and western parts of the city.

The East and North districts haven't seen much movement yet.

"I really didn't expect this..." Old Chen exclaimed. "Last month we were being blocked in our channels, but this month we've completely turned things around. Boss, your move is absolutely brilliant."

Lin Chen closed the ledger, his expression remaining calm.

"We've only secured the southern part of the city," he said calmly. "Tian Dou City still has most of the eastern, northern, and western parts untouched. This achievement is nothing to be proud of."

"Yes, yes, yes." Old Chen nodded hurriedly, but he couldn't hide the smile on his face.

That's what they say, but everyone knows how crucial this step is.

It only took one month for them to go from being jointly suppressed to gaining a foothold.

Moreover, it has completely opened up the wholesale market, and its future prospects will only continue to expand.

"What's next, boss?" Old Chen asked.

"Let's stabilize first," Lin Chen said. "We need to provide good service to the existing pharmacies we're cooperating with, ensuring quality and timely delivery. We should also optimize the body-tempering potion again and reduce costs a bit more. Once we have a solid foundation, we can expand to the east and north of the city."

Take steady and solid steps, and avoid rash actions.

This is his usual rhythm.

"good!"

It was late at night, and the workshop lights had long been turned off.

Lin Chen sat on a stone bench in the central courtyard, surrounded by a faint scent of grass and trees.

The first spirit ring slowly rotated beneath his feet, while the dark green Blue Silver Grass stretched and coiled around his fingertips, his control becoming increasingly precise.

Soul Power Level: Level 13.

Mental strength: Increased by 9% compared to last month.

Plant database completion rate: 84.1%.

The second-order optimization scheme for the quenching agent has been completed, which can further reduce costs by 8% and improve efficiency by 5%.

The beeping sound from Doubao ended.

Lin Chen withdrew his martial spirit, and the Blue Silver Grass at his fingertips slowly dissipated.

I'm at level 13 now.

I've been in Tiandou City for over two months and I've leveled up.

The speed is not fast, but the foundation is extremely stable.

He looked up at the night sky; the moon was bright and clear, and the stars were sparse.

With the distribution channels broken through, the business has stabilized.

But he knew in his heart that this was just the beginning.

The small-scale operations in the south of the city are not worth the attention of those big businesses.

The real battle will begin when Qinghetang's business grows larger and threatens the interests of true giants like Baicaotang and Huichunge.

But it's okay.

He has the time and the patience.

The product is the root, and the business model is the wings.

As long as the roots are deep and the wings are strong, there is no fear of any storms.

Lin Chen stood up and patted the dust off his clothes.

A night breeze blows by, carrying the warmth of early summer and a faint fragrance of grass and trees.