Chapter 99 Liao Yongan decided to trick his brother
Chen Biao made many good things that he didn't sell, most of which were skin care products and cosmetics for Ma Xiuying, as well as toys for him and his younger brothers to play with.
The reason is simple. There is not enough raw materials for these things and they are too difficult to produce. We can only satisfy our family. At most, we can make a little more and give them to our mother and father as favors.
For example, playing cards require a color ink printer. These days, the printers are running at full capacity on textbooks, leaving them completely unused for playing cards.
Chen Biao wanted to find a printing workshop of another business to cooperate with, he would provide the ideas, and they would provide the money and manpower. However, the backward printing workshops of other businesses in Yingtian were all working at full capacity to print Chen Biao's pirated textbooks and were all busy.
Chen Biao made a few decks of playing cards for himself.
Chen Biao has many novel games in mind, such as recreating some old computer games in the form of board games. But all of these require the use of printing presses, craftsmen and Chen Biao's own brain.
Chen Biao's mind was already occupied with resource allocation, overseas exploration, and teaching and educating people under Zhu Yuanzhang. He really had no time to make games to benefit the general public.
When the world is at peace, his father comes back to take over the responsibility of the head of the Chen family, and his younger brothers have grown up, maybe he can devote himself to game production.
But it is also possible that he has new interests at that time and still won't make games.
Biaoer, a winner in life and a successful career, is not interested in games.
As for the skin care and cosmetics that the ladies in Yingtian like, it’s not that Chen Biao doesn’t want to sell them, but he really doesn’t have the materials.
Today’s skincare and makeup still contain heavy metals, which make your face look worse the more you use it.
Because Ma Xiuying was frugal, she only used oil on her face to avoid damaging her skin when she was outside. She almost never used makeup. Coupled with her natural beauty, her skin was in much better condition than her peers.
But when Chen Biao grew up a little, he no longer agreed with Ma Xiuying treating him in that way.
It would be fine if his mother didn't like to dress up, but Chen Biao clearly saw that when his mother saw beautiful jewelry and clothes, her eyes would stop for a moment, and then she would force herself to look away.
There is no human being in this world, regardless of gender, who does not love beauty. At most, laziness overcomes the love of beauty and makes people too lazy to take care of themselves.
Ma Xiuying is not lazy, she just wants to maintain her reputation for frugality and simplicity.
Through crying, making a fuss and even playing tricks, Chen Biao finally made Ma Xiuying accept the idea that "women dress up not only for their confidants, but also for those who love them" and "it would be a huge waste to have good things at home if they are not piled up in the warehouse to rot", and she used the things Chen Biao prepared.
Hairpins, silks, rouge and powder, Chen Biao, a straight man who never had a girlfriend in his previous life because of his career, actually prepared a complete set for Ma Xiuying based on just a few words he saw on the Internet.
However, both essential oils and pearls were difficult to obtain in Zhu Yuanzhang's small territory. The Chen family caravan's extensive travels through the mountains and seas yielded only enough for Ma Xiuying's own use. Chen Biao gave the rest to Ma Xiuying to win over her support.
Whether rewarding concubines and maids at home or giving to the wives of officials and generals in Yingtian, precious skin care cosmetics are probably more attractive to aristocratic women than gold, silver and jewelry.
Liao Yongzhong's wife once received a small box of "Tea Tree Jasper Cream" from Ma Xiuying. Her face was oily and prone to breakouts at the slightest exertion. After applying the "Tea Tree Jasper Cream," the pimples quickly vanished, and she marveled at the miracle cure.
Unfortunately, the Chen family only gave it away, not sold it. Mrs. Chen was even more reclusive, as mysterious as Chen Guorui, with only Mrs. Xiuying interacting with her. She had no way of getting more.
In order to establish her own prestige in the backyard, Liao Yongzhong's wife reluctantly gave some of the skin care products that Madam Xiuying had rewarded her to her concubines.
After the concubines used it once, although there was no visible effect from the little thing, the fragrance had already made them infatuated.
After a few days, they found that their skin was better, their sleep was better, and some minor ailments were gone, and they became even more obsessed with those "miracle drugs".
Of course, Chen Biao later learned about these women's madness and asked the Chen family to spread the word everywhere that these skin care products were just skin care products. They had some benefits for the skin, but they were not medicine, and certainly could not cure all diseases. Please do not believe in rumors or spread them.
But the more the Chen family promoted it, the crazier the women became. They wouldn't believe it unless the Chen family let them buy it and try it.
Chen Biao was very depressed. He suspected that the so-called miraculous effects were partly due to the placebo effect, and partly due to false rumors to force the Chen family to sell the product.
But we really can’t get so many raw materials at home!
To appease these women, Chen Biao posted skincare formulas and simple recipes outside his shop. Other merchants and women rushed to copy them and try them at home. So far, no one has succeeded, or perhaps even if they have, they won't share.
But if the Chen family couldn't get the raw materials, other businesses would have no luck getting them. Even if the Chen family generously shared their recipe, no one would sell their new skincare products.
The women of wealthy families in Yingtian only recognized the Chen family's shop, and even if there were other stores selling the same products, they would denounce them as fake.
So now Liao Yongzhong was surrounded by his wives and concubines and could not leave.
"Husband!"
"Husband!"
"master!"
"Big Brother, can you help us buy some Chen's skincare products? We'll pay for it from our own coffers!"
Liao Yongzhong was frightened by the enthusiasm of his wives and concubines, but he still had his wits about him and did not agree immediately.
He was full of thoughts, guessing that except for the share given away by Madam Xiuying, no one else could get these things. Perhaps, in addition to the precious materials, Madam Xiuying also wanted to use these rare and precious items to win people's hearts. If he rashly asked his eldest brother for them, it might cause trouble.
However, since his wives and concubines had begged him, Liao Yongzhong still had to bite the bullet and ask. Even if his eldest brother could only produce a small bottle, it would be an explanation to his family.
After Liao Yongan learned about it, he went back and gave Liao Yongzhong a bottle the size of his fist: "Why didn't you tell me earlier? Here you go, I made it myself."
Liao Yongzhong was dumbfounded: "Brother, you, you made it yourself? You can do this?!"
Liao Yongan said, "Biaoer taught me."
Liao Yongzhong was even more dumbfounded: "Biao'er even taught this?!"
Liao Yongan smiled and said, "That's right. You mentioned this unique secret recipe for making money, and Biaoer taught it to me immediately. What a good kid. Oh, I heard you sent someone to follow him?"
Liao Yongzhong shook his head vigorously: "Misunderstanding! I just wanted to know Biao'er's hobbies and wanted to give him a gift! I've been reprimanded by the lord! I won't do such a thing again!"
Liao Yongan said, "Well, it's good that you know. Tell your sister-in-law that the Chen family doesn't sell these things simply because the materials are scarce. Once the lord has pacified the world and the Chen family can obtain more supplies, they will naturally sell them. Don't worry now, there's nothing you can do."
Liao Yongzhong asked, "What kind of materials are they? If I can find them, can you help me make them?"
Liao Yongan said, "The Chen family has published the materials used. Whether it's large quantities of flowers or pearls, acquiring small quantities doesn't cost much money, but to acquire large quantities... well, there aren't enough fields to grow crops these days, so who would grow flowers? Furthermore, those rare flowers and plants that are most beneficial to a woman's beauty all come from overseas. In today 's world, it's difficult to go to sea."
In fact, the materials from overseas are not good. Chen Biao just wants to promote going overseas and lay the foundation for public opinion in advance.
Liao Yongzhong said, "Brother, you really know everything... Why did the Chen family tell you everything?"
Liao Yongan smiled and said, "Biao'er is so generous, sharing everything he knows. I don't want to be a general anymore. It would be nice to accompany Biao'er in business and be his guard captain."
He patted Liao Yongzhong on the shoulder and said, "The future of the Liao family depends on you."
Liao Yongzhong's mouth twitched, and he always felt something was wrong.
He was only two years younger than Liao Yongan. How could he not know his eldest brother's character? His eldest brother was definitely not without ambition. In terms of vision and ability, his eldest brother, as the pillar of the family, was superior to him. How could such an eldest brother's ambition be tempered by a few years in prison?
After Liao Yongzhong threw the skin care products to his wives and concubines, he pondered alone in the room, and the more he thought, the more confused he became.
He was not only a person who liked to overthink everything, but also a person who could not suppress his curiosity. Although he had been warned by Zhu Yuanzhang and did not dare to send people to follow other generals, but following his own brother should not be a problem, right?
…
"Biao'er, I know my brother very well. He just likes to be clever and then get himself into trouble." Liao Yongan said as he helped Chen Biao grind ink. "He thinks my behavior is unusual and will definitely be unable to suppress his curiosity. He will send someone to follow me. Then we can deliberately show him a big secret and we can control him."
Yan Qian came over with the freshly heated goat milk and said helplessly, "Why are you plotting against your brother?"
Liao Yongan smiled and said, "Chen Youliang's shipbuilders are very cunning. They need some skilled shipbuilders to supervise them so that they can work with peace of mind. The Liao family employs many powerful shipbuilders. These are Liao family assets, and not even the lord can force them to give them away. If the Liao family wants to give these people to Biao'er, my brother must agree."
Yan Qian's conscience pricked for a moment, then he quickly said, "How do you design it? Add me in."
Chen Biao was speechless: "It's not that serious. I don't believe that I can't hire him with a large salary... Ah, okay, okay, Uncle Liao, don't make such a wronged and heartbroken expression! Disgusting!"
Liao Yongan laughed.
Chen Biao was helpless: "Then what big secret are you showing your brother?"
Yan Qian winked at Liao Yongan. "You don't want to tell your brother Biao'er's true identity, do you?"
Liao Yongan shook his head slightly.
It's not that he doesn't believe in his brother's loyalty, but he really doesn't believe in his brother's self-righteous mind.
Liao Yongan said, "We don't need to actually tell him the secret. We can just let him guess. We can lead him to the ruined temple outside the city and pretend he's about to enter the secret passage."
Chen Biao was suspicious: "What's the use of this?"
Yan Qian understood what Liao Yongan meant: "Biao'er is so smart, the lord will definitely send Biao'er to meet the prince every once in a while and teach him lessons. After Yan Jing returned, he was deeply trusted by the lord. On the surface, he stayed at the Chen family to recuperate, but in fact, he hid his identity and went to the prince's side to teach him together with Biao'er."
Chen Biao suddenly realized: "This makes sense!"
Liao Yongan laughed and said, "Such a big secret, enough for my brother to never dare to be so smart as to send people to follow anyone again, and enough for my brother to sacrifice the Liao family's craftsmen to buy their lives. If this secret is discovered, even I, the eldest brother, can't protect him."
Yan Qian sighed: "Is he really your biological brother?"
Liao Yongan raised his eyebrows: "Of course."
Chen Biao nodded vigorously. If he wasn't his biological brother, he wouldn't try to kill him.
