I was chased by my sickly junior brother who had two lives

In Qing, Chen Jia and Chen Jue have made remarkable achievements in many fields with their extraordinary creativity and unremitting efforts. From the magnificent glass wood carvings to the all-time popular pearl beauty, every innovation they made is like a bright star, shining in the business sky of Qing. And this time, the mother-of-pearl and shell carvings they carefully crafted with pearls and shells have amazed the entire upper class of Qing with their exquisite craftsmanship and unique charm.

One afternoon, the sun shone gently through the carved window lattices into the workshop's showroom. Chen Jia and Chen Jue were strolling in it, carefully admiring the newly completed mother-of-pearl works. The mother-of-pearl screen was like a gorgeous painting. Under the caress of the sun, pearls and shells complemented each other, emitting a dreamy luster. Every texture and every color seemed to tell the ingenuity of the craftsmen.

At this moment, the butler hurried in and reported with a slightly excited look: "Duke, Madam, there are several well-known wealthy businessmen in the city who want to see you. They said that they are very fond of the mother-of-pearl products in our workshop and came to visit us specially."

Chen Jue and Chen Jia looked at each other, with a hint of surprise and expectation in their eyes. Chen Jue frowned slightly, thought for a moment and said, "It seems that our mother-of-pearl works have become famous and have attracted colleagues from the business community to come to our store in person. Let's go meet them and see what they are here for."

The three of them came to the living room, and saw several wealthy merchants in gorgeous brocade robes waiting in the hall. Their clothes were made of exquisite fabrics and finely embroidered, and their every move showed their wealth. The leader was a plump man with a kind face. When he saw Chen Jia and Chen Jue come in, he stood up quickly, bowed, and said with a smile: "Duke Chen, Madam Chen, I have heard of your great names for a long time. I am here today because I have been fascinated by the mother-of-pearl products made in your workshops for a long time and I can't help myself."

Chen Jue and Chen Jia smiled and returned the greeting. Chen Jue said, "Thank you for being so polite. I wonder what you think of this mother-of-pearl product?"

The wealthy businessman paused for a moment, his eyes sparkling with excitement, and then he said, "To be honest, we are well aware that the mother-of-pearl craftsmanship is exquisite and the products are exquisite, and the domestic supply is already in short supply. But we have a bolder idea. Now that maritime trade is booming, overseas countries are quite yearning for the rare treasures of our Qing country. If we can sell these mother-of-pearl products overseas, it will surely set off a wave of enthusiasm in the overseas market and create immeasurable wealth. Therefore, we are willing to invest and help you two expand your mother-of-pearl business overseas. What do you think?"

Chen Jue frowned slightly when he heard this, thinking to himself. Although overseas trade has huge business opportunities, the journey is long and risky. If you are not careful, you may lose everything. He pondered for a moment and said, "Your proposal is indeed quite forward-looking, but overseas trade is not easy. The sea is unpredictable, and the loss of goods during transportation is unpredictable. In addition, the preferences of overseas markets are very different from those of domestic markets. There are many uncertainties. Let me discuss with my wife and give you a reply."

The wealthy businessmen nodded one after another. One of them, a bearded wealthy businessman, said, "It should be so. Such a major matter naturally requires careful consideration. I hope you two will consider it carefully. We will wait for good news."

After the merchants left, Chen Jue and Chen Jia returned to the inner room. Chen Jue looked at Chen Jia, his eyes full of worry and thought, and said, "Madam, what do you think of the proposals made by those merchants just now? Although the mother-of-pearl is exported overseas, it may bring rich profits, but the risks are also not small. When sailing on the sea, strong winds and waves, pirates and plunder are all potential threats. Moreover, we have no idea how the overseas market accepts mother-of-pearl. If we act rashly, we may make mistakes."

Chen Jia paced lightly, her expression focused, and she quickly sorted out the pros and cons in her mind. After a moment, she stopped, her eyes flashing with determination, and said: "My husband, I understand your concerns. But in my opinion, this is a rare opportunity. Our mother-of-pearl craftsmanship has condensed countless efforts and is so exquisite. If we can let people overseas appreciate its charm, it will not only spread the culture of our Qing country, but also further enhance the reputation and influence of the workshop. As for risks, they are not unavoidable. We can choose an experienced fleet to be responsible for transportation, purchase insurance for the goods, and reduce losses. For overseas markets, we can also conduct a detailed investigation first, understand the local customs and consumer preferences, and then adjust the products in a targeted manner. As long as we make adequate plans and choose reliable partners, I believe this matter has great potential."

Chen Jue listened to Chen Jia's analysis, and the worries in his heart gradually dissipated. He nodded and said, "My lady, what you said is very true. It is clear and well-thought-out. Since you also think it is feasible, then we might as well give it a try. However, there are many details involved that need to be carefully discussed with those wealthy businessmen."

A few days later, Chen Jia and Chen Jue invited the wealthy businessmen to come again. Everyone gathered in the living room again, and the atmosphere was particularly warm. Chen Jia smiled and looked around at everyone, saying: "Everyone, after careful consideration by my husband and I, we have decided to accept your proposal and jointly expand the mother-of-pearl business overseas. However, this involves a lot of details, and we need to discuss them in depth to ensure that everything is foolproof."

The wealthy businessmen were delighted and said one after another: "Mrs. Chen is wise. With you two leading the way, we are confident that this business will be a great success."

The bearded businessman spoke first, "Madam Chen, Duke Chen, I think the most urgent thing is to identify overseas sales channels and franchisees. We have some business dealings overseas and know some merchants with good reputation and strong management capabilities. What do you think?"

Chen Jia nodded and signaled the other party to continue, saying, "This is of course the top priority. I just don't know what the reputation of these merchants is like, and what their management capabilities are like. Please tell us in detail so that we can have a better idea."

Another thin wealthy businessman quickly took over the conversation and said, "Don't worry, Madam Chen. The merchants we are talking about have been operating in the local area for many years and have a deep foundation. Take the Lin family business on the coast of the South China Sea for example. They mainly deal in various luxury goods and have a good reputation among the local aristocracy and extensive connections. If we can cooperate with them, our mother-of-pearl products will surely quickly open up the market in the South China Sea. There is also the Sun family business in the Western Regions. They have a huge influence in the Western Regions and are very experienced in promoting various novel products. By joining forces with them, we can promote our mother-of-pearl products to the broader Western Regions market."

Chen Jia pondered for a moment and said, "Well, it does sound good. However, seeing is believing. We still need to conduct detailed investigations on these merchants to understand their business models, financial conditions, market reputation, etc., to ensure that there is no worry about the cooperation. In addition, there also needs to be clear and reasonable planning for product pricing, transportation, after-sales service, etc."

At this time, an older wealthy businessman stroked his beard and said, "Mrs. Chen has considered everything very carefully. In terms of product pricing, we can formulate a price that is both profitable and competitive in the market based on the market conditions in the overseas market and the production costs. In terms of transportation, we can hire a professional and experienced fleet and equip the goods with sophisticated protective measures to ensure the safe delivery of the goods. In terms of after-sales, we will set up a special after-sales point in the local area and select personnel who are familiar with the business and good at communication to handle customer questions and feedback in a timely manner. Only in this way can our business prosper."

After hearing this, Chen Jia smiled with satisfaction and said, "Your ideas coincide with mine. In this case, we will divide the work and cooperate. My husband and I will be responsible for the production in the workshop to ensure stable product quality and sufficient supply; you will be responsible for overseas market research, establishment of sales channels, and transportation. I believe that everyone will perform their duties and cooperate with each other and we will succeed."

The wealthy businessmen responded one after another: "Mrs. Chen has made all the arrangements. We will definitely do our best to live up to your trust."

In the following days, Chen Jia frequently communicated with the wealthy businessmen and conducted a detailed investigation of potential overseas franchisees. Through correspondence, intermediary introductions, field visits and other methods, they had a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of each franchisee's background, reputation, business conditions, etc. During this period, various details continued to emerge, and everyone was also seeking the best solution through repeated discussions.

At a meeting, Chen Jia looked at the thick materials in his hand and said attentively: "Everyone, after this period of investigation, I think these franchisees have their own advantages. Lin's Company has a huge influence in the South China Sea area and is experienced in selling high-end handicrafts. They have various marketing methods and can accurately grasp the preferences of local nobles. Sun's Company has extensive connections in the Western Regions and a business network all over the country, which can help us promote mother-of-pearl products to more remote areas. But at the same time, we can't take it lightly. When cooperating with Lin's Company, we need to pay attention to the integration of product style with local culture to ensure that it conforms to their aesthetics. When cooperating with Sun's Company, we must pay attention to the safety of transportation routes and customs clearance issues of goods. When further discussing the details of cooperation with them, it is necessary to clarify the rights and obligations of both parties."

A wealthy businessman nodded and said, "Mrs. Chen is right. In particular, the quality standards of the products, delivery time, profit distribution and other aspects should be clearly stated in the contract to avoid disputes in the future. We must ensure that every aspect of the cooperation is clear, so that we can develop long-term and stable."

Chen Jia nodded and said, "Yes, this is the top priority. We must not only ensure our own interests, but also make franchisees profitable and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, so that we can establish a long-term and stable cooperative relationship."

After several rounds of difficult and detailed negotiations, Chen Jia and Chen Jue finally reached a cooperation intention with overseas franchisees. At the grand signing ceremony, Chen Jia, dressed in gorgeous clothes, stood in front of everyone with great demeanor, and said in a firm and passionate voice: "Today, we gather here to jointly open a new chapter in the mother-of-pearl business. This mother-of-pearl embodies our wisdom and hard work, and carries the culture and charm of Qing. I hope that we can work together to promote this exquisite work of art to every corner of the world, so that the world can appreciate the unique charm of Qing mother-of-pearl."

The franchisees said: "Don't worry, Madam Chen, we will not let you down and will go all out to sell mother-of-pearl overseas."