"Well, I'm really a little puzzled..." He said slowly to Horace, holding his knife and fork.

"Please say it." Horace was about to write it down.

"It's the open space between the bottom of our hotel and the lake—" Gann said deliberately, "it really looks so empty, why can't we plant a flower field?"

"Flower field?"

"Yes, the flower field. Without it, looking out the window always feels empty, as if something is missing...I thought your artists would notice that."

Gunn finished his opinion triumphantly, then waited to see the uneasy look on Horace's face.

Although he is in awe of those "company directors" who have never met before, he is not afraid of the waiter in front of him, and he can make himself mentally balanced by making things difficult for him.

But Horace just frowned, then nodded.

"Flower fields...really good advice," he said, "and it doesn't cost a lot of money."

With this proposal, he can hand over the business.

Chapter 252 Little trouble

Although Lockhart admitted that he had enough expectations about the troublesome level of things, the wizarding world still gave him a lot of surprises.

In his vision, the Hogsmeade store complex was the easiest place to deal with.

Therefore, under his strong suggestion, the stores temporarily put away those things that were obviously wrong at first sight, such as the sorbet **** that can make people fly by Honey Duke and the pepper candy that can make people breathe fire. All kinds of trick products inside, etc.

But Hogsmeade's storefronts, like the Wenrenju stationery store, can still make visiting Muggles shout.

Quill pens and parchment paper have basically faded out of people's daily life on the Muggle side since the 19th century, and even the church has rarely used it to copy the Bible, but they are now sold in stores. Can't help but be pleasantly surprised by those who deal with documents all year round and often need to sign off.

In the 1990s, computers and mobile phones were not as popular as in the future, and the quality of ballpoint pens and fountain pens was not so good that they lost their cheapness, so fountain pens were still very common writing supplies.” Even the fountain pen industry as a sunset industry has already begun to take shape.

However, even after the pen, like a mechanical watch, has almost become a pure gift, it can still exist as a high value-added product, and it is marketing the brand value, just like diamonds.

The quill pens just meet the needs of users, and even add an attribute of "crafts", so Muggle elites are naturally rushing.

In addition, the price of the quill pen that has not been enchanted by the literati generally does not exceed 1 Galleon, and the most luxurious one is only 3 Galleons. Compared with the price of the Muggle Pike Gold Pen, it is really not expensive.

So as far as Lockhart knew, most of the people who visited last bought a few quills and a dozen pieces of parchment, presumably to take them back and show off.

In addition, the Fengya brand wizard store also has some income, even if many wizard robes and dresses are considered exotic clothes by Muggles, but because the price is too cheap, these rich ladies can't help but buy a lot.

Although the operations of these stores were relatively smooth, Lockhart did not seem very

/

Because whether it is a quill or a special style of wizard robes, they cannot be used as the core export industry of wizards, but can only be used as handicrafts or hand-tailored customized products. Although the profit is not small, the scale is not up to it, and it can only be reduced to a luxury, or a new existence for Muggles.

What can really be exported on a large scale is either consumer goods or industrial products required for production, and these gadgets Lockhart has not yet paid attention to. What he's really targeting is the potions industry, and the industrial intermediates industry that he's trying so hard to preach to the purebloods.

But even these things that Lockhart failed to appreciate have already satisfied the residents of Hogsmeade.

Although Hogwarts students spend a lot, they are still students: single-person consumption is not large, and it is often concentrated on snacks, stationery, and toys.

However, the consumption structure of tourists is completely different. They are more concerned about whether they can buy some novel experiences or memorable things.

So whether it is a clothing store, a stationery store, a candy store, or a pub, what Muggles choose to buy are the signature items that are usually only used for display in those stores. Muggles would also be happy to give them some tips.

Especially in Fengya brand wizard clothing store, little wizards rarely come to buy clothes.

But these Muggle women bought seven or eight or a dozen pieces at a time, which undoubtedly made them overjoyed.

The Muggles only came to more than 20 people in total, but the profits they generated were difficult to bring by a hundred little wizards, which made the residents of Hogsmeade have a new understanding of Muggle financial resources. .

Because Lockhart continued to show Muggle movies in the village, the residents of Hogsmeade had a good view of Muggles, and now that these Muggles are generous in their stores, they feel better.

So at noon, many residents warmly invited these Muggles to their homes for dinner, wanting to observe these Muggles only in movies up close.

And here's the problem - the residents don't care about anything at home, they cast spells if they want, and the conversation starts to go out of style, which Lockhart couldn't have foreseen.

Lockhart felt physically and mentally exhausted after reprimanding a resident who used magic to bake a whole plate of sausages again, and he couldn't remember how many times he cast Oblivion this afternoon.

J~UJ

"I repeat, don't use magic in the presence of Muggles!" he exclaimed angrily.

As a result, the family looked aggrieved: "I didn't use magic in front of them.

I”

■

Lockhart laughed angrily: "Yeah, there's no face-to-face magic. So you take a bunch of dried sausages from the roof in front of him, and after 10 seconds in the back kitchen, you have a plate of ready-made sausages. Come out one by one, of course, this is not a face-to-face use, is it?"

"It's really not used in person." The villager tried his best to quibble. "And there must be something for quick cooking on the Muggle side, right? I remember that "Terminator" took a fire-breathing thing and baked people in the blink of an eye. ripe. "

Because of time constraints, Lockhart didn't bother to talk to him about this, but just disqualified him from starting a homestay.

Little troubles like this continued into the night, and Lockhart had to jot down all the problems that came up during the day, lest they repeat them in the future.

Hogsmeade is really overkill for entertaining a group of Muggle elites. Lockhart has more grand plans for Hogsmeade in the future, but if he can't overcome this small problem, then he can only You can choose to put the plan aside for now.

This is where he put Muggle movies for more than half a year. 7 If it were another wizarding settlement, I'm afraid there would be more problems.

Tsk, miscalculation - I should start with some semi-wizard settlements, so that at least those wizards know how to hide themselves.

After finishing the left and right stitches on the first day, Lockhart thought that everyone would be better the next day, but in the early morning, Horace, who had been very relieved, caused him another trouble--

Looking at the large sea of ​​purple lavender flowers outside the Jack's Pea Hotel, Lockhart was speechless, and he didn't even know what to say about Horace.

But Horace was unaware of it, and even took credit for Lockhart.

"The Muggles told me yesterday that the outside of our hotel was too empty and lacked a flower field, so I went to Professor Sprout to get some fast-growing potions, and made these overnight...how about it? Spectacular, right?"

Lockhart covered his face and put on a mask of pain: "Yeah, it's spectacular

P.So it took a while to go back to Wuhan

Chapter 253 New business opportunities brought by Muggles

Because the flower field that suddenly appeared was too dazzling, and using the Forgetting Charm would require too many revisions, Lockhart decided to give up the influence on Muggle memories after thinking it over and over.

"For your experience, we bought the turf for these flowers from a nearby flower market overnight...I wish you a good mood!"

Lockhart didn't know if this rhetoric could hide from those Muggles, anyway, he said it with sincerity, as if he believed it himself.

Then he saw from the dull eyes of those people, the brains of these people were numb to the point of shutdown, and they no longer knew how to react.

Among these people, Gann was the first to react: "You are really willing to spend money."

When this happened, Lockhart had to slap his face as a fat man and put the blame on the legendary "company board of directors"

"This is a reasonable request, and the board will never tangle too much on this kind of small money," he said with a smile on his face, Xie Misheng.

The facts are in front of them, and these tourists have to believe it or not. Unless they believe in magic in this world, they can only admit to the deep pockets of Sniff Drill.

"Thank you so much for the hospitality," they could say.

Over the next few days, these Muggles were eye-opening.

In addition to the advertised golf courses and alpine skiing events, boat rides on the lake and various small shops full of "medieval style" also made their trip worthwhile. Especially when they found out that there was actually a cinema dedicated to showing old movies, they were even more surprised.

Of course, none of these rides spent the money of these Muggle elites, they were all "sent" to them by Lockhart, and bribing them was equivalent to spending money on quality inspections. Although there were a lot of small mistakes, such as being seen by Muggle tourists, the Forbidden Forest creatures, but Lockhart finally dealt with it.

When the seven days were over, the Muggles took their souvenirs contentedly, and said goodbye to the hospitable town of Hogsmeade with a relaxed and radiant face.

After putting these people on the train, Lockhart called Horace to count the consumption of Muggles these days.

That's what he really cares about - what the **** are these Muggles buying in Hogsmeade.

Some people bought a bunch of handicrafts that looked like people, someone bought a 17th-century Baroque costume, and others made a special bunch of sweets, which looked like they were going to go back and give them away.

Combining more than 20 invitations, the average cost per family is about 45 Galleons, which is better than Lockhart expected.

The potions that Lockhart had high hopes for were not as popular as they had imagined. Although some were sold, they were all immediate potions such as diluted hair growth and beauty potions. And it's still after the customer has tested it and it really works.

Among them, the hot sale of germinal hair was something Lockhart had not thought of in advance. He doubted that the reason why germicidal hair sold so well was all due to the very common baldness of British men.

As for the potions that Lockhart believed to be useful, such as the euphoria, the soothing agent, the sleepless sleep agent, the brain-refreshing agent, and the intensifying agent: these social elites were skeptical about them, and no one dared to buy them.

After all, they had never heard of the "Extraordinary Apothecary Society", and

The labels of these unbranded products are also not certified by the Central Government and the Health Care Products Supervision Administration. It is normal for them to dare not use them. And according to the potions clerk, the Muggles even suspected illegal narcotics in their euphoria.

Lockhart took into account the needs of Muggles, but did not consider the question of whether they knew the goods or not, so he made a small somersault.

This is entirely due to an accident, and it is an inevitable phenomenon caused by insufficient brand promotion. However, Lockhart believes that as long as his "upper-level plan" can go through, these drugs will be sold sooner or later.

It just has to be the right person to carry out the top plan, who not only has to be recognized in British high society, but who himself has to like doing it.

Fortunately, there is such a person in the wizarding world, and after Lockhart proposed that plan, Dumbledore may have allowed it.

It's just that the Quidditch World Cup is imminent, and Lockhart can only wait for the start of Hogwarts to start that plan.

Just when Lockhart, with all kinds of thoughts, asked Gemma to go to Three Broomsticks with him to prepare a meal, he was suddenly informed that from tomorrow, the price of wine and food would increase.

"Because everyone has more money in their pockets and not enough food and wine, I can only increase the price." Rosmerta said with a shrug.

Lockhart sighed—and sure enough it happened.

Because many big companies sponsored the construction of Hogsmeade, and Muggle tourists generously donated money in Hogsmeade, the town has poured into the hot money of nearly tens of thousands of Galleons in a short period of time.

If the money was given to the Ministry of Magic or the big family, maybe they could take the time to digest its effects, but these circulating funds are too much for a small village like Hogsmeade. . This is equivalent to every merchant

It is normal for prices to be fluctuated by hundreds of Galleons on average.

Although Lockhart had thought about inflation, he never thought it would come so quickly.

If you trade with Muggles in the future, sterling and gold will definitely flood into the wizarding world. Even if the purchasing power of gold in the wizarding world will gradually return to the same level as Muggles, the inevitable inflation will be quickly eliminated. difference.

If inflation does occur, then most of the wizards of the middle and lower classes will be negatively affected, while the upstart and pure-blood wizard families who have mastered the trade will take the opportunity to expand their assets.

At that time, it is very likely that the Lions will change their pro-Muggle stance, turn against Muggle trade and exchanges, and demand that the Secrecy Act be strengthened; on the contrary, the Snakes will support trade with Muggles and denounce the Lions. "Narrowness" and "racism" of people

While that's interesting, it turns out that it's the opposite of what Lockhart originally intended.

Looks like I have to think of another way. Lockhart said heartily.

Because he was so immersed in his thoughts, Lockhart didn't even notice that the dishes on his plate were cold until he was awakened by Gemma's voice calling for the waiter to reheat the dishes.

"Sorry, I lost my mind." Lockhart quickly apologized to Gemma.

"It's okay, I like the way you think." Gemma said that she didn't care. "There are many people who are good at witticism, but very few have brains. I like the latter, but..."

"Just what?"

"It's just better if you're willing to tell me what's in your head, Gilderoy." Gemma raised the glass in her hand, "Would you like a sip?"

Lockhart also squeezed the glass beside him: "Trust me, you'll know soon enough.

Yes, until I", even if you don't want to know, I will desperately want to tell you.

When he found a business opportunity, he would act immediately. After sending the Muggles away, Lockhart went to Mr. Granger of the Extraordinary Apothecary Association and asked him whether the hair growth medicine could be produced on a large scale.

Io doesn't have to be very effective, it's best to let Muggles cure their baldness within a week, if it is too fast, Muggles will be suspicious. ' Lockhart said to Granger.

Granger had never heard of such a strange request. Other people's hair growth potions were required to take effect on the spot, but Lockhart asked him to reduce the effect of the drug to the point where it would take a week to see the obvious effect. This kind of reversing not only seems unnecessary, but even seems a little redundant because of the need to add some additional drugs

But after hearing Lockhart say it was going to be sold to Muggles on a large scale, Granger expressed understanding, after all, no one wanted to miss out on a single big deal.

"We can dilute a bottle of sanitizer to 1/15 of the original, and then add a little slow-release agent, so it should be able to achieve the effect you said." Granger said after thinking for a while.

"Can it be mass-produced?" Lockhart asked tentatively.

"What size do you mean?" Granger seemed confident, "The formula of hair growth is very simple, the scrap rate is extremely low, and unlike the Flux, it can be boiled in a large pot at a time instead of a small pot. It is made in a small pot, so 30 bottles can be boiled at one time, and 450 bottles if diluted..."

"Is it possible to do 100,000 diluted bottles a week?" Lockhart asked.

"How much?" Granger thought he had heard it wrong.

"I said, 100,000 bottles a week, I'll give you eight silver siko's a bottle," Lockhart repeated.

Granger's confident expression slowly diluted from his face, and finally became

dignified.

"Are you kidding?" he asked.

He has no objection to the price that Lockhart offered, because a bottle of undiluted germinal hair is probably the same price, and they can make a lot of money from it.

But what surprised him was how much Lockhart asked for.

The Extraordinary Pharmacists Association said it was an "association", but in fact there were only a dozen core members and dozens of regular members, and the manpower that could be organized was actually very limited.

If they work five days a week, then they have to produce 20,000 bottles a day, and if one person makes one pot a day, they have to deploy 45 people.