Ye Tian adjusted his demeanor and said:
"The logic is simple."
"No matter how much we publicize this, at best, the public will just be happy for a while."
"They'll feel fortunate that in the future, there's a new place to buy high-quality, low-priced goods with guaranteed quality."
"But the money in their pockets won't flow into our hands quickly."
"Therefore, the real target of our massive publicity isn't the general public at all."
"Sister, think about it. If a Spirit Hall Plaza like this exists, who would be the most anxious?"
"Probably those merchants selling similar goods, right? If customers all go to the plaza to shop, they won't make much money anymore," Bibi Dong said thoughtfully.
"Exactly!" Ye Tian nodded confidently and continued.
"Once the merchants get anxious, all we need to do is leak a little 'inside information.'"
"Quick, tell me! What inside information?"
Hu Liena shook Ye Tian's shoulder mischievously, her expression sly.
It had to be said, Ye Tian's business acumen was extraordinary. Just a few casually spoken words could help listeners make a fortune.
Ye Tian raised a finger and smiled faintly:
"The inside information is: Spirit Hall Plaza will allow a small number of reputable merchants to purchase shop spaces in the plaza. Moreover, certain product categories will only have one exclusive seller in the plaza."
Hearing this, Hu Liena's face lit up with surprise.
"In that case, won't those merchants flock to it?"
"Brother, you're so cunning."
Upon hearing this, even Gui Mei's pupils contracted slightly.
With genuine admiration, he remarked, "This strategy is nothing short of a masterpiece!"
"Chances are, even before the shops are constructed, those merchants will eagerly hand over the money."
After all, the potential earning power of such shops was immeasurable.
Carefully pondering Ye Tian's words, Gui Mei looked at him and chuckled.
"Next, are you planning to withhold part of the funds and use the rest for plaza construction?"
Ye Tian shook his head.
"If that were the case, Elder Gui Mei, you'd be underestimating the value brought by the Spirit Hall brand."
"This isn't a one-off deal. The future earning potential of a plaza like this is unimaginable."
"Moreover, we can't just let it run unchecked; that would tarnish the Spirit Hall brand."
"Then what's your plan?" Gui Mei asked with a slight frown.
"As I just mentioned, we'll only sell a portion of the shop spaces."
"We'll keep a large amount of land in our own hands."
"There are two purposes for this: first, to attract merchants to buy."
"After all, the fewer the shops available for sale, the harder they are to acquire. Their value will rise, and their appeal to merchants will grow."
"The second purpose is to increase the valuation of the shops we still hold."
At this point, Hu Liena interjected with a cheerful grin:
"I get it!"
"If Spirit Hall Plaza auctions just one shop worth 100 gold soul coins, merchants might bid it up to 1,000 gold soul coins."
"In this way, on the surface, all the shops in Spirit Hall Plaza would appear to be worth 1,000 gold soul coins each."
Ye Tian ruffled Hu Liena's hair and chuckled softly.
"You really are a clever little fox."
"Hehe, thank you for the compliment, brother," Hu Liena giggled.
Swallowing the wave of affection on display, Gui Mei asked skeptically:
"But once these shops are sold, their prices will drop. You can't possibly avoid selling forever, right? If you don't sell, what's the point of this inflated valuation?"
"There's plenty of value in it," Ye Tian replied, snapping his fingers confidently.
"At this stage, our second target audience will take the bait—large merchant guilds, nobles, and even famous spirit masters."
"A Spirit Hall Plaza with such prospects and value would be irresistible to local nobles, major guilds, and spirit master families."
"Clearly, merely purchasing a few shops to earn small profits wouldn't satisfy their appetite for wealth."
"Yet, the plaza is backed by the powerful Spirit Hall."
"The only options left to them are either to envy it or resort to small tricks behind the scenes to undermine its reputation."
"Exactly. I know their ways too well," Bibi Dong nodded slightly.
"A massive cake like the Spirit Hall Plaza will inevitably spark jealousy from other factions."
Ye Tian continued:
"So at this point, we'll convert the plaza's valuation into shares and sell the majority at discounted prices to guilds and nobles, allowing everyone to profit together."
"In this way, we'll secure the funds we eagerly need."
"They'll also be delighted, thinking they've made a huge profit by acquiring discounted shares."
"And to earn even more, they'll become the plaza's unofficial promoters, further boosting its reputation and valuation."
"But brother, didn't you say Spirit Hall Plaza is a long-term moneymaking project?" Hu Liena asked, puzzled.
"Now you've sold off most of the shares. You'll make a quick profit, but what about future earnings?"
"Haha, that's where you're mistaken."
Ye Tian gazed into Hu Liena's puzzled eyes and smiled.
"What we've sold is just the land ownership of the shops."
"These plots of land will eventually be sold anyway; we're just letting the nobles and guilds pay for it in advance."
"But the true money-making elements—management rights, operational rights, and branding rights—remain firmly in our hands."
Gui Mei, surprised, asked, "I understand the first part, but how can management, operational, and branding rights make money?"
"That's where you're uninformed, Elder Gui Mei," Ye Tian said with a laugh.
"Imagine this: once the plaza is operational, disputes between shopkeepers and customers will arise. Won't someone need to maintain order?"
"Shops will also need cleaning to maintain a good impression. Hiring personnel for these tasks independently would be inefficient and costly for each small shop."
"At this point, we can establish an organization to handle security and sanitation for the plaza. Shops only need to pay a small monthly fee for these services, which I call 'property management.'"
"Though the fee from each shop is small, the collective income will be substantial."
Ye Tian smiled and added:
"This service can also be used as a promotional feature."
"In a feudal society like Douluo Continent, where streets are often filthy, a clean, well-maintained plaza would stand out and be a delight to visit."
"This is how management rights can generate revenue. Now, Elder Gui Mei, do you still think management rights are useless?"
"They're incredibly valuable," Gui Mei agreed wholeheartedly.
He couldn't help but admire Ye Tian's ingenuity.
Ye Tian turned to Bibi Dong with a smile.
"By establishing a few Spirit Hall Plazas in major cities and leveraging pre-sales of shops and shares, earning tens of millions within two months is entirely feasible."
"In this way, the funding issues for policy adjustments will also be resolved."
"And with ongoing property management income, there's no need to worry about being controlled by the Elder Hall," Hu Liena said with a radiant smile.
(End of Chapter)
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