"Thanks to the Prince's promotion, our bicycles will be unveiled sooner rather than later."
Blacksmith Yuan nodded in approval, and then he asked, "But, young master, although we have steam power and production lines, we are still too few in number. If we don't expand the site and personnel, I'm afraid we won't be able to meet the current demand."
Quan Yi smiled faintly and said, "Who said we must meet the market's demand? Starting tomorrow, we will only produce ten bicycles a day. There is no need to expend all our manpower on producing bicycles."
"But, young master, if we reduce the production by half, our income will also decrease. There is no need for the young master to save effort for everyone; everyone is full of energy."
Under Quan Yi's leadership, the blacksmith shop has long been in the research and development stage.
During this stage, the expenses and wages of these blacksmiths were provided by the Quan family.
Now that they finally have the opportunity to sell the products they forged, everyone has been holding back a breath, wanting to take this opportunity to repay the Quan family.
Blacksmith Yuan had the same idea.
"I'm not trying to save effort for everyone," Quan Yi explained. "You must know that the price of a commodity is related to the scarcity of the item. At this stage, only we have the ability to forge high-quality bicycles.
As the saying goes, scarcity increases value. The rarer the bicycle, the more expensive it can be sold for.
Moreover, our target audience is the 'most' distinguished soul masters. Too many would not befit their status."
When Quan Yi turned to look at Blacksmith Yuan, he just nodded blankly.
Quan Yi sighed helplessly, "None of this is important. You just need to know that I'm doing this to maximize profits."
Blacksmith Yuan knew that he was not as good as Quan Yi in this regard, so he decisively decided to follow Quan Yi's instructions.
"I understand. I will give the order later. Young master, now, there is only one last question left. That is, how much should we set the price for each bicycle."
Quan Yi was silent for a moment and said, "I heard that someone offered several thousand gold soul coins to buy a bicycle forged entirely of fine iron.
Our bicycle certainly cannot be weaker than it.
I have decided to set the price of each bicycle at ten thousand gold soul coins, and limit sales to ten bicycles per day."
"Hiss~!"
Blacksmith Yuan quickly calculated the profits in his mind.
But, he didn't need to calculate at all. The cost was more than four hundred gold soul coins. After deducting the cost, the profit was as high as more than nine thousand three hundred gold soul coins.
Ten bicycles a day is ninety-three thousand gold soul coins.
"Young master, will anyone buy it at such a high price?" Blacksmith Yuan asked uncertainly.
Quan Yi smiled mysteriously and said, "Let's wait and see."
With that, Quan Yi directly put more than a hundred bicycles into the Heart of the Scorching Sun and left the blacksmith shop.
The next day, a magnificent shop in Soth City mysteriously opened.
A month ago, the shop that originally sold clothing suddenly closed.
After a month of renovation, the front wall of the shop was directly changed into a huge floor-to-ceiling window.
Passersby could clearly see the interior situation as long as they walked by.
When they curiously peeked inside, they were surprised to find that ten bicycles of various colors were neatly placed inside.
After the Prince's promotion, bicycles were considered well-known in this city.
Now, there was actually a shop specializing in selling bicycles, which attracted the attention of many interested people.
Many people walked into the shop and witnessed the quality and effect of the bicycles with their own eyes.
Then, they knew that this shop was not simple.
However, when they wanted to buy a bicycle.
Ten thousand gold soul coins, the high price directly scared away most people.
"At this price, I can buy hundreds of horses," one customer said, shaking his head, and left the shop.
At this time, a gorgeously dressed noble man smiled contemptuously and said, "Blind! How can mere mortal horses compare with bicycles? Didn't you see that His Royal Highness the Prince once relied on a bicycle to outrun an agile-attack-type Soul Saint?
Moreover, this thing is not for mortals like you to use. Only powerful soul masters can exert its true effect."
After speaking, the noble man directly bought a shiny gold bicycle on the spot, and then specially transported it away in a carriage.
Since then, the news of the bicycle specialty store spread like wildfire.
The first day, one was sold.
The second day, three were sold.
The third day, ten were sold.
The fourth day and the fifth day were also ten.
From the third day onwards, the bicycle specialty store would be sold out as soon as it opened every day.
Under Quan Yi's instructions, the staff of the specialty store associated the bicycle with the soul master group when introducing the bicycle.
The bicycle was introduced as a commodity with luxury attributes.
However, to achieve this effect, the quality of the bicycle itself must be excellent.
Otherwise, the current effect cannot be achieved.
After Blacksmith Yuan learned about this situation, his eyes and mouth were wide open, and he couldn't close them for a long time.
A month has passed.
In just thirty days, Quan Yi earned nearly three million gold soul coins.
This amount can easily make up for the family resources that Quan Yi consumed since he was two years old.
Even the research funding consumed by the research institute over the years is less than a quarter of the profits earned.
According to Quan Yi's observation of the market, it will take at least a year to meet the existing demand.
One year is three hundred and sixty-five days, and ten bicycles a day is three thousand six hundred and fifty days.
The number of people in Soth City who have the ability and willingness to buy is about this number.
However, this is only calculated based on the size of Soth City.
A year later, the reputation of bicycles will spread out of Soth City and spread to all parts of the mainland.
After Quan Yi watched the auction, a thought arose in his mind, that is: 'There are so many rich people in this world!'
The experience of the auction completely changed Quan Yi's mind.
Originally, Quan Yi wanted to use advanced production methods to seize the market of the lower-level people with a strategy of small profits but quick turnover.
However, Quan Yi felt that in this world, most of the money was in the hands of the top.
Therefore, Quan Yi felt that he still had to scrape some oil and water from the rich.
The result also proved that Quan Yi's decision was very correct.
For new things, rich people with spending power have a stronger willingness to spend.
In this top-down publicity, the lower-level people's view of bicycles has also become more acceptable from the initial resistance.
Moreover, the principle of bicycles is very simple and easily imitated.
If Quan Yi doesn't seize the high-end market, then Quan Yi will not be able to exert the advanced productivity they have mastered.
Now, in the city, people will continue to ride bicycles specifically for travel.
They gave up riding carriages and switched to bicycles. Among them, most are not soul masters, but more of those nobles.
For nobles with weak strength, even if carriages are more comfortable, they still ride bicycles.
Because, in their eyes, riding a bicycle is a symbol of status.
