Rise in Douluo Continent with the help of bean buns

On the third day after Lin Chen returned to Tiandou City, the monthly account book of Qinghe Hall was placed on his desk.

Last month's net profit was 3,700 gold, an increase of more than 500 gold compared to the previous month; the number of exclusive cooperative pharmacies increased to 67, and agency intentions from surrounding towns continued to pour in; the first batch of medicinal herbs in the 100-acre planting base in the south of the city is about to be harvested, and the self-sufficiency rate of core raw materials can be increased from 30% to 60%.

Everything was progressing at the established pace, with such rapid momentum that even Old Chen often remarked that at this rate, breaking five thousand gold coins by the end of the year wouldn't be difficult.

But after Lin Chen finished flipping through the account books, he lightly tapped the table with his fingertips.

The momentum is too strong.

The medicinal herb market in Tiandou City is only so big. In just six months, Qinghetang went from nothing to something and managed to take nearly 30% of the mid-range medicine market share in Nancheng, which is equivalent to directly snatching food from the bowl of established merchants.

The other party cannot remain indifferent indefinitely.

"Give the order to keep a close eye on the movements of the three major pharmaceutical companies in the near future, and to increase the raw material inventory by 50%," Lin Chen instructed calmly.

Old Chen was stunned for a moment, then realized what he meant and his expression turned serious: "Yes, I'll arrange it right away."

His hunch was right.

The storm came faster than expected.

A week later, more than a dozen partner pharmacies in Nancheng came to us one after another, hesitantly proposing to reduce their orders.

"Manager Chen, it's not that we don't want to sell, but Baicaotang and Huichunge have announced that the same Ningshen Powder and Tempering Potion will be reduced by 20%, and they'll even throw in some regular medicinal herbs. Our small business can't keep up with that."

"The people at Huichun Pavilion said that if we continue to sell Qinghetang's goods, they will raise the price of all their medicinal herbs by 10%. We have no choice..."

Lowering prices is the first move.

  

The three major pharmaceutical companies joined forces to reduce the price of all their similar drugs by 20%, while putting pressure on pharmacies to choose between selling Qinghetang's products or getting the three major companies' low-priced, full-category supply.

Most small and medium-sized pharmacies rely on the regular supply of medicinal materials from the three major merchants, and they simply cannot withstand this pressure. They have reduced their orders from Qinghetang, and some have even stopped supplying goods altogether.

In just ten days, Qinghetang's daily sales dropped by nearly 40%.

The next move was the second strategy: securing a supply of goods.

Suddenly, a large number of merchants appeared in the major medicinal herb producing areas around Tiandou City, offering prices 15% higher than the market price and buying up most of the core raw materials such as Concentrating Spirit Grass and Body Tempering Vine. High-quality raw materials circulating in the market instantly became scarce, and prices soared.

"Boss, all the upstream suppliers have raised prices, and a few have even cut off supplies altogether, saying they have exclusive supply agreements and can't sell to us." The purchasing manager was sweating profusely. "If this continues, the workshop will have to shut down in at most half a month."

Old Chen slammed his fist on the table in anger: "It must have been those three companies! They've controlled the production area for so many years, it's too easy for them to cut off our supply!"

Lin Chen remained calm, his fingertips tracing the raw material price list: "What's the panic? Our own planting base will be ready for the first harvest of medicinal herbs soon, enough to last the next two months. We can also buy herbs from individual farmers in the surrounding towns; a slightly higher price is fine, as long as production capacity is maintained."

He had anticipated this, which is why he insisted on building his own planting base. This move happened precisely at the point where the other side was trying to suppress him.

But the other side's methods go far beyond that.

The third tactic is to poach workers.

A few days later, three skilled workers who had worked in the workshop for more than half a year suddenly quit, not even asking for their wages for the month, and disappeared overnight.

I found out that he was poached by the Huichun Pavilion, who offered him three times his salary and promised him a managerial position.

"That's outrageous!" Old Li's face turned ashen with anger. "They're trying to steal our formula!"

"They can't steal it." Lin Chen said calmly. "I personally adjusted the core proportions. They only have access to the packaging process; they can't get the complete formula."

That being said, the loss of skilled workers still affected the workshop's production capacity, and output dropped again.

The last resort, and the most insidious, is to spread rumors.

At some point, various rumors began to circulate in the streets of Tiandou City:

"Qinghetang's medicines are effective because they contain forbidden drugs. They work at first, but prolonged use will deplete your soul power and damage your foundation."

"I heard they use inferior medicinal herbs and rely on additives to enhance their effects. Any problems that occur are suppressed."

"What good things can a small, out-of-town business with no roots or foundation make? It can only fool laymen."

The rumors spread like wildfire, and even many long-time customers hesitated.

The number of returns for the body tempering potions that were originally the best-selling items suddenly increased; many Soul Master customers would rather spend more money to buy the expensive products from the three major merchants than buy from Qinghetang.

Sales plummeted; at its worst, daily sales were less than 30% of their peak.

In the warehouse in the front yard, boxes of finished medicines were piled up, but the horse-drawn carts hauling goods were few and far between.

After finishing the accounts, the accountant, pale-faced, went to Old Chen and said, "Manager Chen, if this continues, we'll be lucky if this month's net profit falls below a thousand gold coins. The workshop is still operating, and raw materials are still being delivered. If the profit drops any further, we'll lose money."

Old Chen was so anxious that he developed blisters on his lips and stayed in the lobby every day, losing a lot of weight.

He approached Liu He of Wanyaotang, hoping to get a sense of their intentions, but Liu He only smiled bitterly and said that Wanyaotang was also forced into this situation. The other two companies were putting pressure on them, and if they didn't join in, they would be ostracized.

"Manager Chen, I'm sorry. Our manager is also in a difficult position. In the three-way alliance, we can't keep our word." Liu He lowered his voice. "But don't worry, we'll openly lower our prices, but we won't actually steal your customers. We'll help you as much as we can."

Wan Yaotang's attitude offers a glimmer of hope amidst the bad news.

But ultimately, distant water cannot quench a nearby fire.

An atmosphere of anxiety permeated the entire Qinghe Hall.

Only Lin Chen continued to follow the same routine every day.

He cultivates from dawn, glances at the operations report in the morning, deduces formulas in the afternoon, and meditates to nourish his soul power in the evening. His routine is perfectly regular, and his expression remains calm, as if the storms outside have nothing to do with him.

Old Chen finally couldn't hold back any longer. He rushed into the backyard, his voice filled with anxiety: "Boss! We're in a dire situation! Why aren't you worried at all? The three companies are ganging up on us and trying to crush us. If we don't do something, the market we've worked so hard to build will be gone!"

Lin Chen was sitting at the stone table flipping through a pharmacology book when he heard this. He looked up, his eyes gentle and calm: "Is it urgently needed?"

"But..." Old Chen choked for a moment, wanting to say that it would be too late if he delayed any longer, but when he met Lin Chen's calm gaze, he felt inexplicably at ease.

"Lowering prices is a bad strategy." Lin Chen closed the book, his tone calm. "They are large companies. If we follow suit and engage in a price war, we will only drag ourselves down. We can't compete with them in terms of resources, and there's no need to."

"Then what should we do?" Old Chen asked hurriedly.

Lin Chen did not answer immediately, but instead summoned Doubao in his mind.

In fact, from the very first day the price reduction controversy began, he had Doubao start a business war simulation.

Over the past ten days or so, every move the other side has made has continuously improved the deduction model, and now the optimal solution has been formed.

The business warfare breakthrough plan has been simulated and completed.

Current situation assessment: The three-party alliance has advantages in channels, sources of goods, and brand size; its disadvantages are product homogeneity, long decision-making chains, and inconsistent internal interests.

Our core advantages: leading product efficacy, unique formula, flexible decision-making, and the support of our own planting base.

The key to breaking the deadlock: Avoid direct confrontation and focus on weaknesses; engage in differentiated competition, avoiding direct price or scale battles; and break through the deadlock with a differentiated strategy.

A solution to break the deadlock through three parallel approaches:

1. Product Upgrade Line: Launch the third-generation Body Tempering Potion and Mind Concentration Potion, with effects increased by 20% on the existing basis. At the same time, apply for official quality certification from the Soul Master Guild to obtain an exclusive mark, crushing rumors and price wars with absolute quality.

2. Channel penetration: Bypassing the three major wholesalers in Tiandou City, we directly send people to connect with local pharmacies in sixteen surrounding towns, skipping the middlemen, and cooperating directly with them at more favorable supply prices, opening up a second market and breaking free from the blockade of urban channels.

3. Cross-industry collaboration: Proactively connect with Soul Master Guilds and mainstream Soul Hunting Teams in Heaven Dou City, providing customized Soul Hunting-specific potions (antidote, healing, sustain, concentration), offering free trials and targeted supply, relying on genuine word-of-mouth from high-level Soul Masters to break into the mainstream and establish high-end brand recognition.

[Expectation: Prices will bottom out in three weeks, rebound in six weeks, and stabilize completely within two months. The price war among the three major players will be self-destructive, ultimately forcing them to cease hostilities and seek peace.]

The plan was well-organized, and every step targeted the opponent's weaknesses.

If you can't win head-on, then bypass it and focus on three dimensions simultaneously: product, lower-tier markets, and Gaobubei (a local landmark), to cut off the enemy's supply line.

Lin Chen regained his composure, looked at Old Chen, and slowly spoke:

"Three things. First, the workshop will adjust its production line immediately to focus on developing the third-generation potion, with a finished product expected within half a month. Second, two people will be assigned to visit surrounding towns and villages starting tomorrow to directly discuss cooperation with local pharmacies. Third, prepare a batch of the best potions; I need to go to the Soul Master Guild."

His tone was calm, yet it carried a reassuring certainty.

Old Chen's eyes gradually brightened, his earlier anxiety vanished, and he nodded emphatically: "Yes! I'll arrange it right away!"

He knew that his employer never fought a battle unprepared.

No matter how fierce the storms outside, as long as this young boss remains calm and composed, there is no obstacle he cannot overcome.

Lin Chen lowered his head again and opened the book in front of him.

The three major merchants joined forces, seemingly coming on strong, but in reality, they had run out of tricks after using their three main methods.

They are used to overwhelming their competitors with sheer size, but they have forgotten that the real core competitiveness has always been the product itself.

From the very beginning, the other side chose the wrong battlefield in this business war.

His fingertips lightly traced the medicine formula on the page, his eyes still gentle, yet concealing an undeniable sharpness.

Since they want to fight, then let's fight them to the end.

However, winning or losing is never determined by the number of people or the strength of the crowd.

The wind outside the window swept fallen leaves across the courtyard wall, bringing a touch of autumn chill.

The backyard of Qinghetang remained quiet, but a counterattack launched on three fronts had already quietly begun.

The landscape of the Tiandou City medicinal herb market is about to undergo a significant upheaval.