護花近衛 - 第499章 成本這麼低 - 清風書屋

"One box? There are at least twenty boxes every year," Fatty Lai said. "Though generally it's a fixed-price auction - the cap is five hundred thousand. Whoever hits five hundred thousand first gets it, which saves everyone the tedious business of bidding. Twenty boxes - it comes down to who's quickest. Whoever reaches five hundred thousand first takes it."

"So every box sells for five hundred thousand?" Wei Zhao nodded and pressed on.

"Not exactly. The first few all go for five hundred thousand, but once fewer people are scrambling, the price naturally drops - four hundred thousand, three hundred thousand, and so on," Fatty Lai said.

"Five hundred thousand will do. See if there's a pharmacy along the road later - I'll buy some herbs." Wei Zhao nodded. The profit was reasonably solid. Not on the scale of the Life-Extending and Toxin-Purging Elixir, but still considerable. Above all, it would help make a name for him.

"...," Fatty Lai had long since grown accustomed to Wei Zhao's miraculous abilities. Compounding medicine at the last minute the night before an auction - Wei Zhao was probably the only person alive who could do it. He hurriedly said, "Then I'll contact someone to order premium packaging and have it delivered overnight?"

"No need. I'll buy some disposable medicine bottles and fill them," Wei Zhao waved his hand. "Let them believe it or not - those who believe will bid; those who don't won't."

"True enough. Good medicine sells itself - why bother dressing it up? That saves a bundle, too!" Fatty Lai nodded.

"Heh..." Wei Zhao thought Fatty Lai really did have a gift for doing business. Placing him in charge of the pharmaceutical group seemed a wise decision after all. "By the way, what's the retail price for Doctor Kang's wound medicine?"

"Doctor Kang's wound medicine retails at two hundred and ninety-nine yuan a box, and our trauma medicine - I was thinking two hundred and eighty-eight," Fatty Lai said. "But since I don't know what our costs are, the price hasn't been announced publicly yet."

"What? We're charging two hundred and eighty-eight?" Wei Zhao's eyes went wide. A regular box of wound medicine, and Doctor Kang actually charged nearly three hundred yuan? That was plain daylight robbery! Something tied to people's livelihood - who could afford it at those prices?

Against people he found displeasing, Wei Zhao naturally swung his blade wide and gouged them until their heads spun. But toward the poor, he truly had no desire to squeeze them dry.

"Too cheap?" Fatty Lai was startled by Wei Zhao's expression. "Chief, Doctor Kang's wound medicine sells for two hundred and ninety-nine. Even though demand outstrips supply, if we price ours above his, I'm afraid we won't be able to break into the market! I know our efficacy is definitely better than his!"

Hearing Fatty Lai's words, Wei Zhao realized he had misunderstood and couldn't help laughing: "This stuff costs only a few yuan to make - I think we're already charging too much!"

"Huh? A few yuan?" Fatty Lai froze, nearly tripping over himself. "Chief, I didn't hear wrong, did I? A few yuan? How is that possible? Then wouldn't Doctor Kang's wound medicine also cost only a few yuan to make?"

"I don't know about his - I've never seen it," Wei Zhao shook his head. "But that's what ours costs. I suggest we price it lower so ordinary people can afford it!"

"All right, then - we'll be a company that benefits the people!" Fatty Lai gritted his teeth, speaking with clear reluctance: "Then we'll sell it at one hundred and ninety-nine!"

He was a born profiteer by nature, but since Wei Zhao had spoken, Fatty Lai could hardly push back. In his view, two hundred and eighty-eight would have sold splendidly - demand would very likely outstrip supply.

One hundred and ninety-nine? In truth, Wei Zhao still found it a bit steep, but he had no idea what running a company actually cost. Seeing how pained Fatty Lai looked, he simply nodded: "That works."