Zhao Yan’s rambling was calculated to highlight the painstaking difficulty of producing lotus root starch; the harder something is to obtain, the more justified a high price becomes. What was wrong with him charging a premium for his unique product? Trade has always been a matter of mutual consent.
Lord Xie’s expression darkened further after being rebuffed once again. He knew that if Zhao Yan held firm on the price, nothing he said would matter—after all, this starch clearly had no trouble selling. Some people were even willing to pay a king’s ransom just to get their hands on it. To these merchants, this was simply market response; being able to gift lotus root starch to high-ranking officials to smooth over relations was, in itself, a lucrative investment. Fifty taels was a pittance to them, but handing it over still left a bitter taste in their mouths. It was as if they knew Zhao Yan was setting a trap, yet they had no choice but to walk right into it.
Once Lord Qian fell silent, no one else dared to step forward. They lacked his courage and his eloquence; if he had returned empty-handed, they certainly wouldn't fare any better. Silence was taken as consent, and Zhao Yan smoothly transitioned to the next phase. After the blow, it was time to offer the sweet treat. Zhao Yan always believed in a balanced approach.
Chapter 475