Chapter 95: The Growth of the Foolish Son and the Impending Severe Situation

In specialized liquor shops, premium wines were often available in only a few bottles; if customers needed more, shopkeepers would call their upstream suppliers for stock or transfer inventory from other merchants.

Premium wines carried higher prices and tied up more capital, making them far from the optimal choice for merchants focused on profit.

The same held true in Jincheng City: a market for mid- to high-end wines existed, but sales volume certainly lagged behind that of low-end wines.

For merchants, the ultimate goal was rapid capital turnover—even a five percent profit margin could double their principal in a short time if turned over quickly enough.

But if capital turnover was sluggish—meaning slow transitions between principal, goods, and sales—even a hundred percent profit margin might yield less in the same cycle than five percent.

This created a peculiar situation: before the alcohol ban, merchants who knew about it and began stockpiling wine stocked almost exclusively mid- to low-end varieties; no one hoarded premium wines at all!

Even if someone did hoard a little, it was only a few hundred or a thousand bottles—anything more wasn’t worth it!

In fact, this was exactly what happened: mid- to high-end wines priced at five or six yuan now sold for eleven yuan—doubled in value.

But wine priced at fifty-nine cents now sold for two yuan—an increase of nearly threefold. Moreover, in the past two days, as low-end wines were no longer scarce, their retail price growth slowed, while premium wines, with limited inventory and steady demand, began accelerating in price.

Mr. Lei Tuo hoped to use this batch of wine to open the premium wine market; the wine in Lans’s hands gave them exactly that opportunity.

Even if they acquired it, they wouldn’t sell it publicly in the short term.

If Lans felt the world was full of beauty because of his sudden wealth, there was another person who shared that feeling—and was even happier!

Arthur—he had earned a large sum of money for the first time without resorting to crime, and he couldn’t help boasting about it to his family.

“I made it!”

At dinner, he couldn’t resist bragging to his father and mother. William was disgusted by Arthur’s transparent emotions—he had no composure at all.

That was also why he would never choose Arthur as his heir; such a man would be devoured in politics, then stuffed into an oil drum and dumped into Angel Lake.

He tapped his knife and fork together, staring at Arthur. “It’s mealtime. Learn to keep quiet.”

His young wife across the table laughed and interrupted him. “Arthur rarely does anything right—let him be happy. Besides, only family is here.”

William, the politician, had greater tolerance for this beautiful, young wife he especially loved.

It was a peculiar mindset: sometimes they treated each other like husband and wife, but sometimes he felt she was his daughter—he indulged and spoiled her excessively. “Fine. Here, you’re in charge.”

The woman turned to Arthur, equally delighted. “Tell me—it’s ‘we’ who made it.”

Arthur froze, remembering that his mother held a major stake in the second investment. Suddenly wary, he said, “We agreed—you get three hundred thousand.”

The woman elegantly manipulated her knife and fork. “Did we?”

Arthur stared at her in disbelief, then at his father—but William had no intention of helping him. “It’s between you two. I don’t know. I won’t interfere.”

The woman blew a kiss across the table to her husband, then turned to Arthur. “We agreed on half. Have you forgotten?”

Arthur said nothing, and she spoke in a wounded tone. “I raised you from a child, and now over a little money, you won’t even speak to me.”

“And do I ask for much?”

“Without my money, you wouldn’t have earned a single cent of this income, let alone so much!”

Arthur felt his blood pressure rising. In truth, the returns from this later investment weren’t nearly as large as he’d imagined.

He followed Mr. Qiao Ba’s advice and hoarded large quantities of cheap low-end wine, acquiring it at about one yuan and thirty-five cents per bottle through William’s connections.

So far, each bottle had netted him only eighty-five cents in profit—total profit didn’t exceed one hundred sixty thousand.

Originally, he only needed to give his mother fifty thousand from that sum, but now he had to give eighty thousand…

When he finally processed this, he immediately agreed—he’d expected to pay far more, but now he realized it wasn’t that much.

Seeing his quick agreement, her mood improved. She asked casually, “How much did you make total?”

Arthur grew alert. “What are you planning?” He felt his tone was weak, so raised his voice slightly. “That’s my money!”

The woman looked at William. William dabbed his lips with his napkin. “Answer your mother.”

Arthur glanced between them, wanting to refuse, but William’s gaze pressed hard on him. He whispered, “About five hundred thousand.”

William was stunned. “That much?”

He’d assumed two or three hundred thousand was the limit—but his younger son had earned so much. He quickly grasped the core issue: “Where did you get the capital?”

He explained.

“My mother gave me two hundred fifty thousand. I borrowed two hundred fifty thousand from Qiao Ba. Then I mortgaged some watches and my car to the bank and got over a hundred thousand.”

“Before that, I pulled out all my own money—two hundred thousand—and hoarded a large stock of premium wine.”

“Altogether, my principal was over eight hundred thousand. Earning five hundred thousand doesn’t seem like much to me.”

William’s expression turned serious. “I hope you didn’t abuse my name.” He paused. “I didn’t expect you to go this big. Get rid of all this stock as soon as possible.”

Arthur didn’t understand. “They say prices will rise higher in December. Selling now means losing a fortune!”

“I’m not asking, Arthur. I’m ordering you. Do as I say!” William’s tone was firm.

The woman across the table coughed. “Darling, why not explain to your foolish son why you’re doing this?”

He hadn’t wanted to explain. “He just needs to know what to do. Why doesn’t matter to him.”

“But now you’ve said it…”

He began. “You have too much wine. We’ve just joined the Alcohol Ban Alliance. To show higher authorities our commitment, we must produce some ‘results.’”

Arthur’s mother added, “Arrest some wine dealers.”

William nodded. “Yes, darling. Arrest some wine dealers.”

“If you’d been playing small, I’d let you do as you pleased. But you have over a million yuan’s worth of wine. If those bastards who already hate me find out and report you to the state government, I can’t save you.”

“So for your own safety—and the family’s—dispose of all that wine within a week.”

“You’ve already made five or six hundred thousand. Beware—greed will cost you everything!”

Arthur wanted to fight back. By December, his profit would be at least seven or eight hundred thousand—or more!

But William’s gaze filled him with fear. He finally lowered his head. “I understand.”

William thought for a moment. “Have James handle disposing of this wine. I’ll make sure he gives you every cent.”

James was William’s older half-brother, William’s eldest son—James William, a rising political star in Jincheng City.

This wine was a hot potato, but if handled well, it could earn James many friendships.

Those connections were his alone—only James’s own network of relationships was truly his.

If I don’t help him build his own web of connections and interests while I still can, the moment I die, the “William Family” will be served on a platter!

Over a million yuan’s worth of wine was enough for James to become close friends with both visible and hidden magnates.

Arthur wanted to say something, but said nothing. In this family, everything belonged to James.

He was merely an expendable “foolish son.”

After lunch, William called James over. “Your brother has over a million yuan’s worth of wine. Help him dispose of it quickly. You understand me.”

James stared at Arthur in surprise. In his mind, this fool only caused trouble and burdened William—he could do nothing else.

“Hey, what’s that look for?” Arthur bristled. “Can’t I make money?”

James couldn’t help laughing. “Of course you can. It’s just… unbelievable.” He smiled, his expression clearly saying, “Our idiot’s come into his own.”

William paid no attention to his sons’ “interaction.” He only warned, “Do it quickly.”

“The governor wants attention—he’ll seek eye-catching results. Don’t let us become the target!”

James’s smile vanished. “Understood. I’ll contact buyers this afternoon.”

“By the way, what kind of wine is it?”

“Are there any premium wines?”