Chapter 130: Your Tavern Has Closed Its Doors to Me

Moutai Distillery.

Lu Kun listened as Ji Keliang vented his frustrations, thinking to himself, the real drama is about to unfold!

Sure enough.

“Brother Lu, you’ve probably heard about Moutai’s current sales performance,” Ji Keliang wiped the sweat from his forehead and sighed.

After a few pleasantries, Lu Kun spoke directly. “Moutai has always been like the emperor’s daughter—never worried about finding a match. It’s well-known nationwide, so this sales slump is only temporary. Anyway, I have full confidence in you, Brother Ji.”

Ji Keliang was momentarily speechless at Lu Kun’s words, silently fuming: If it weren’t for you messing up the retail market order in Angui Province, how could Moutai’s sales have plummeted so sharply there?

But some things are better left unsaid.

“Alas, Moutai lacks proper distribution channels!” Ji Keliang slapped his thigh, lamenting.

“Of course I know that. Distribution channels are the foundation of the partnership between Huakun Group and Moutai,” Lu Kun mused inwardly, his expression calm and unreadable.

Seeing Lu Kun sitting there feigning ignorance, Ji Keliang’s eye twitched involuntarily.

“Brother Lu, you’re not being fair!” Ji Keliang finally came out bluntly.

“Oh, come on, that’s not true. I, Lu Kun, have always been a man of loyalty and honor, full of righteous spirit,” Lu Kun smiled, lifting the corner of his mouth.

Ji Keliang rolled his eyes inwardly.

“Brother Lu, let’s get straight to the point. If we keep beating around the bush, we might never reach an agreement in three or five months,” Ji Keliang said, locking eyes with Lu Kun.

“That depends on Moutai’s sincerity. This is my first time visiting Yunnan-Guizhou. Spending three or five months here to enjoy the local customs wouldn’t be a loss,” Lu Kun said leisurely, swirling his wine glass.

Huakun Group can do without Moutai, but Moutai cannot afford to lose the vast market of Angui Province.

Angui is currently Moutai’s strategic breakthrough point.

Once Moutai and Huakun establish a strategic partnership, they can save a fortune on channel development, quickly dominate the provincial market, and open up new opportunities that rival liquor groups won’t be able to counter.

This deal cannot be missed.

Ji Keliang pondered what terms to offer Huakun, or what Huakun truly expected from Moutai.

If it were just about money, Huakun wouldn’t have barred Moutai’s products from their shelves entirely.

That was abnormal.

Generally, distributors prefer to carry products from several manufacturers to avoid being strangled by a single supplier and to play suppliers against each other.

After a long moment, Ji Keliang’s eyes gleamed.

The fact that the Huakun boss showed up for this meeting at this time was unusual.

Moutai had sent three invitations before without success.

Once he grasped the key, Ji Keliang no longer felt impatient.

...

“Brother Lu, look, that’s Moutai’s steaming and cooking area. Smell it, isn’t the aroma strong?” Ji Keliang guided Lu Kun through the various production workshops of the distillery, turning back to speak as they walked.

Lu Kun took a deep breath—the air was indeed thick with the scent of fine liquor.

“Kun, do you think it’s risky to let us see the whole production process? Aren’t they afraid we might steal their techniques and brew our own back home?” Cheng Hao whispered mysteriously into Lu Kun’s ear.

Lu Kun nearly froze, thinking, what kind of mindset is that?

Ji Keliang, walking ahead, overheard this and burst into laughter.

Moutai doesn’t fear imitation because outsiders simply cannot replicate it.

Moutai’s uniqueness stems from its specific region and special ingredients—it’s a gift of nature that cannot be copied.

Its unique brewing craftsmanship is a marvel of master artisans.

Even if you poach three or five of their workers, it’s useless—they each specialize in different parts of the process and are clueless about others.

Unless you hire every single person involved, the odds of reproducing Moutai are one in ten thousand.

Even if you manage to brew a batch, its quality would never match authentic Moutai.

The cellars hold the true heritage of a liquor group.

These are all skills outsiders cannot learn.

Guizhou Moutai stands alongside Scottish whisky and French Cognac as the world’s top three distilled spirits for good reason.

Don’t be fooled by Wuliangye’s current popularity; its heritage pales in comparison to Moutai.

Moutai’s recent decline is largely due to internal problems.

As soon as Ji Keliang can make time to excise the rot, Moutai will rise again, reborn as the king.

...

“So, what do you think?” Ji Keliang turned back, a hint of pride in his voice.

“Excellent! Boundless potential!” Lu Kun gave a thumbs-up in admiration.

“Unfortunately, both production and sales are disappointing,” Ji Keliang shook his head, frustrated.

“Moutai targets the high-end market. Its sales figures won’t look as flashy as other liquor groups’, which is understandable,” Lu Kun offered reassurance.

“Sigh, I worry. Young people nowadays don’t drink Moutai. I fear the trouble will only grow,” Ji Keliang leaned on the railing, clearly troubled.

“...” Lu Kun was speechless. Big brother, are you joking?

Young people don’t have the spare cash to buy Moutai!

“Don’t worry. I used to hate Moutai. When I saw others drinking it, I wanted to smash their bottles.

But in the past two years, after experiencing life’s bitter and sweet, I naturally found Moutai quite intriguing,” Lu Kun said earnestly, patting Ji Keliang’s shoulder to comfort him.

Ji Keliang was speechless. Couldn’t he at least pretend to be cool for once?

Life’s tough enough without that!

...

Cheng Yuan and Cheng Hao tried hard to stifle their laughter, their cheeks puffed like they’d stuffed rice balls.

Li Changfu, all muscle and no filter, blushed furiously.

All three silently wondered, “Does one have to be shameless to become a big shot?”

At the welcome banquet, the group sat in a tavern, drinking and eating.

Strangely, all the liquor served was Moutai—brought by Ji Keliang himself.

The waiter looked at them oddly. If not for the intimidating muscular man, the tavern owner might have kicked them out by now.

“Brother Lu, this toast is for you—consider it a welcome celebration!” Ji Keliang raised his glass and downed a full cup in one gulp.

...

Late into the night.

By the end, Lu Kun felt he had drunk too much; the figures before his eyes were nearly doubling.

“Closing time! Closing time!” The tavern owner began shooing them away, unwilling to let drunkards stay overnight.

“Bah!” Lu Kun kicked at the door, missing, and was half-carried out by Cheng Yuan and Cheng Hao.

All wore expressions of utter exasperation.

Lu Kun, drunk and unruly, sang loudly, “Your tavern has closed for me, so I booked a room across the street...”

PS: Thanks to the reader ‘What’s Your Name’ for the generous 2,000 Qidian coins reward!