Legend of the Magnate (大生意人- Dà shēngyìrén) meta: Yuanbao's Classroom
Gu Pingyuan's "starting identity"—an officially certified exile. This identity comes with a "hell mode" buff, subjecting him to discrimination and restricted movement. However, Gu Pingyuan, in Ningguta, a place of exile, managed to turn a bad hand into a winning one, achieving an astonishing reversal from the bottom of society to a business tycoon.
Door-to-door pawning (上门当 - Shàngmén dāng)
This is a revolutionary service launched by Gu Pingyuan, the "pawnshop delivery guy." In an era where traditional pawnshops wait for customers to come to them, they go against the grain, having their staff proactively offer door-to-door appraisals and pickups—a true game-changer in the service industry. This is not just about increased convenience, but a revolutionary shift in business thinking. While competitors are still passively waiting for customers to come to them, they have already begun to proactively develop a core competitive advantage.
Fourth Counter (四柜 - Sì guì)
The "mid-level management position" in a pawnshop sounds like a leadership role, but in reality, it's a "sandwich" position. Above are the senior counters, the second counter, and the third counter, while below are the clerks. The power seems limited, but the responsibility is considerable. Gu Pingyuan held this title at Wang Tiangui's Taiyufeng Pawnshop, but he managed to turn this awkward position into a steppingstone to power, staging a "counter employee's counterattack story."
Pawnshop Manager (朝奉 - Cháofèng)
The "chief appraiser" in a pawnshop, a highly skilled expert who makes a living through keen observation. A good clerk is the core asset of a pawnshop. Su Zixuan poached over a dozen top clerks overnight with hefty sums of money, essentially taking away the opponent's CPU—a simple, brutal, yet extremely effective "decapitation tactic" in business warfare.
Draft Bank (票号 - Piào hào)
A 19th century Shanxi banking institution, which dealt in drafts or bills of exchange, payable in the towns and cities in which clients did business), a type of an exchange shop. It was a financial behemoth of the Qing Dynasty, the prototype of modern banks. Their main businesses were remittances, deposits, and loans; they played a game of making money from money. Li Wantang, ordered by a prince to establish the "Taiping House," aimed to unify the financial world. Gu Pingyuan, however, countered with "virtual transactions" and "credit certificates," making him a veritable financial magician.
An ancient "emergency financing center," its core business was "exchanging goods for money." You would pawn items to borrow money, agreeing on interest and a term, and repay the money to redeem the items upon maturity; if you couldn't repay, the items would be disposed of by the pawnshop.
Illegally Traded Salt (私盐 - Sī yán)
Salt sold without paying taxes or going through official channels. This is a high-risk, high-reward business, with extremely high profits but also extremely high risks; one wrong move and you could lose your life.
Salt Permit (盐引 - Yán yǐn)
A government-issued "license for the legal sale of salt," a monopolistic industry license in ancient times. Possessing it granted the right to legally sell salt and a ticket to enormous profits.
The Three Letters and Six Rites (三书六礼 - Sān shū liù lǐ)
The "official standard procedure" for marriage, a complete and solemn set of rituals from betrothal to wedding. Gu Pingyuan strictly followed this procedure with Chang Yu'er, formally marrying her step by step.
Orchid Snow Tea (兰雪茶 - Lán xuě chá)
A "phenomenal, blockbuster tea IP" created single-handedly by Gu Pingyuan. It's more than just tea; it's a symbol of Gu Pingyuan's business acumen and rebellious spirit. From improving the processing techniques and breaking conventional naming to obtaining the "Number One Tea Under Heaven" certification from Empress Dowager Cixi, every step was a precise marketing strategy. This tea was his weapon in breaking the monopoly of traditional tea merchants, and also a vehicle for uniting people and realizing his business ambitions.
The Great Tea Conference (万茶大会 - Wàn chá dàhuì)
The "Oscars" of the tea industry. It's a top-tier stage that tea merchants nationwide desperately want to reach, a key to brand recognition and securing high-end distribution channels. Gu Pingyuan, with his "Lanxue Tea," made a powerful debut here, directly challenging the old order and staging a spectacular industry comeback.
Tea Merchants Association (茶商会 - Chá shānghuì)
A "monopolistic alliance and rule-maker" in the tea industry. Controlled by industry giants like Old Master Hu and Second Master Hou, they wield pricing power and control sales channels. Anyone who dares to disobey is met with a joint boycott. Gu Pingyuan's solo challenge is against this massive "vested interest group," a typical struggle between emerging forces and the old-world rules of the US.
Water Transport Gang (漕帮 - Cáo bāng)
An "ancient logistics force" controlling the Grand Canal's shipping, they were local tyrants on the water, respected by both the legitimate and criminal worlds. They controlled the lifeline of north-south trade. Li Qin's use of the Canal Guild's goods from the Kagu Plain is a typical example of exploiting channel advantages for business suppression.
Gatekeeper's Gift (门包 - Mén bāo)
A "hard currency" for entering a prince's mansion or government office; an ancient version of an "unofficial entrance fee." Want to meet a high-ranking official? You first have to get past the gatekeeper. If the red envelope isn't thick enough, it won't even get through the crack in the door. It's an unspoken rule, the most blatant manifestation of rent-seeking.
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