Chapter 336: The Commerce Association
"Hey, Ningguang!"
Hu Tao cheerfully waved to the Tianquan, who was standing in the pavilion, admiring the lake's scenery.
"Hu Tao, as lively as ever," Ningguang remarked with a soft chuckle, tucking a strand of platinum-blonde hair behind her ear. Turning to face them, she then looked at Nolan and said with a smile, "So, Distinguished Citizen are you here to discuss matters related to the bicycle?"
"Uh, Miss Ningguang, you can just call me by my name. 'Distinguished Citizen' is a bit too grand," Nolan said, looking slightly embarrassed as he and Hu Tao entered the wooden pavilion.
"Alright then, Mr. Nolan, Hall Master Hu, please have a seat," Ningguang invited them, gesturing to the round stools around the circular wooden table at the center of the pavilion. She poured a few cups of tea from the teapot on the table.
"Thank you." Nolan took the tea without hesitation and, after a sip, responded to Ningguang's earlier question, "You mentioned I should come find you when you had time, so here I am."
"As expected."
Ningguang crossed her right leg over her left, her fair calf pressing slightly into a delicate, rounded shape as her knee rested atop it.
They were all good friends, so there was no need for excessive formality. She got straight to the point: "Yes, a few days ago, Baiwen submitted a detailed report on the bicycle.
"According to tests, on smooth roads, the average cycling speed for a typical adult can reach thirteen kilometers per hour.
"With more intense effort, the speed can even reach twenty kilometers per hour for short bursts, though this consumes significant energy.
"And on rough, dirt paths…"
Ningguang continued with various performance statistics, practical evaluations, and market demand reports about the bicycle.
Overall, it was quite similar to what Nolan had anticipated.
However, it seemed that the bicycle's performance fell short compared to those on Earth, especially on dirt roads, where the average riding speed was only ten kilometers per hour and required more effort.
But that was to be expected, considering the wheels of these bicycles were made of wood.
Not only did this impact speed, but it also made for a much bumpier ride, and the overall performance was nowhere near that of modern bicycles, improved through countless iterations on Earth.
Even so, the bicycle was an innovative creation in Liyue, promising to greatly enhance daily life. Its practicality test received a rating of "extremely high."
"What about the cost of production?" Nolan asked, contemplating for a moment.
No matter how practical or beneficial the bicycle was, it needed to be priced reasonably to capture the market. The prototype he and Lumine had commissioned from Old Zhang, which Hu Tao currently used, had a total cost of 150,000 Mora, including labor and materials.
That price was steep for an ordinary bicycle, making it hard to market widely.
"The average production cost of the test batch I commissioned was 90,000 Mora. Once a factory is set up for mass production, we estimate the initial cost can be reduced to around 50,000 Mora," Ningguang replied, clearly well-versed in every detail concerning the project.
50,000 Mora was about one-third of the cost of Hu Tao's current bicycle. While still quite expensive, it was roughly equivalent to a few days' wages for the average person.
With some effort, it would be affordable.
Moreover, future iterations of the bicycle, improvements to the production line, and increased capacity could potentially bring the cost down even further.
With that in mind, it was essentially ready for production and sale as a viable product!
"So, Miss Ningguang, how much Mora would you be willing to offer for the design of such a practical product?" Nolan asked. He knew that Ningguang's judgment of a product's value would be far better than his own, and he trusted that she would not deceive him, so he left it to her to name a price.
"Hehe, placing so much trust in a merchant is not always a wise move," Ningguang said with a soft laugh, shifting slightly as she uncrossed her right leg.
"It might be true for other merchants, but you're different, Ningguang. You've always come across as trustworthy," Nolan responded with a smile.
Hearing his praise of Ningguang, Hu Tao, who had been silently sipping her tea, suddenly showed an expression of disdain. She was sure he had some peculiar thoughts about Ningguang.
Hu Tao knew Nolan very well after spending so much time with him!
"Well, thank you for your trust," Ningguang said with a slight smile, her opinion of Nolan improving a little.
[Ningguang Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 240 Affection Points. Current Affection Level: Lv.5 (260/500)]
She pondered for a moment and said, "Given the situation, I have two proposals. The first is as you and Lumine initially discussed: I'll purchase the design outright for 500 million Mora. What do you think?"
"500 million Mora... How many clients would the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor need to serve to earn that?" Hu Tao's eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't expected Nolan's bicycle design to be worth so much.
Nolan nodded.
500 million Mora was indeed close to what he had in mind. After all, he was only providing the technology, and Ningguang would still need to set up a factory and manage production herself, incurring substantial costs. Earning back the invested Mora wouldn't be easy.
Although he was satisfied with this price, the design also involved Lumine's share, so he needed to check with her first.
Nolan used the "Waymark" to contact Lumine, who was far out at sea, and briefly explained the situation.
"I don't mind. You can make the decision," Lumine replied. She was fishing with Paimon aboard the Alcor and trusted Nolan to handle such matters.
"Alright then."
After receiving her response, Nolan turned to Ningguang and said, "Lumine and I have discussed it and feel that the price is very reasonable, even exceeding our expectations. We have no issue selling the bicycle technology at this price.
"But I'm curious about the second proposal you mentioned. Would you mind sharing it?"
Although Nolan was satisfied with the offer, he didn't decide immediately.
Since Ningguang had mentioned a second option, and the first was merely what he and Lumine had initially planned—to sell the blueprint and not worry about anything else—he wanted to know her own idea.
And if Ningguang had thought of a new proposal, she likely preferred that option.
Out of respect, Nolan felt it was only right to ask, otherwise, it would seem arrogant.
"Of course," Ningguang said, a glimmer appearing in her crimson eyes. Her lips curled into a soft, elegant smile that added to her already captivating features. "Actually, I'd like to form a new commerce association with you."
(End of Chapter)
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