Daqian Night Emperor

Chapter 14 The way to do business is to benefit yourself, and even more so the country and the people!

Manager Dog Oil Hu glanced at him and sneered, "Don't feel wronged. What you did with those kids in the market may seem like nothing, but do you know how bad you set the bad example?"

"It's only been a short time, and how many 'number bosses' have appeared outside the market? You, Li Xiucai, have studied and have a sense of shame, but those people are all ruffians. Whenever a customer comes to the market, they block him and ask him if he wants to buy a number plate. If he doesn't want to buy one, they will hold him back and not let him leave... How many customers don't want to come because of this, and how much business has our market lost?"

"Now I'm just asking you to do some hard work to teach you a lesson. That's the most I can do. Do you understand?"

These words made Li Yulu feel ashamed.

Manager Dog Oil Hu cleared his throat and said, "In addition, the nobleman has another test for you. He wants you to think carefully about why other rice shops in Kyoto sell rice for five cents a bucket, while Zhao's grain shop only sells it for three and a half cents a bucket, and only sells it for one hour a day?"

"This……"

"Here's a hint for you - 'There's a severe drought this year, and there's no rice in Jingzhou.'"

The map of Daqian immediately appeared in Li Yulu's mind.

In the Kingdom of Daqian, most of the grain and rice are produced in Liangzhou, Jingzhou and Yangzhou. Among them, Jingzhou is closest to Kyoto. The Jingyun Grand Canal can travel between Kyoto and Jingzhou in five days, so most of the grain and rice in Kyoto is supplied by Jingzhou.

The severe drought in Jingzhou will inevitably lead to a sharp rise in rice prices in the capital.

But the price of rice in the capital was only four coins in previous years, and this year it has only increased by one coin. Although the increase is not small, it is still within the acceptable range for the people...

How could those unscrupulous merchants who always hoard goods and sell them at high prices be so kind as to stabilize the rice price? And there is no relevant official document issued by the court...

Li Yulu caught the flash of inspiration in his mind, and his eyes suddenly lit up: "I understand, Zhao's business is not selling rice to the people. It is to let other grain merchants in Kyoto know that Zhao's business is only selling rice for three and a half cents today!"

He finally understood why the Zhao family business did not care about the profit or loss of the grain store.

Most of the grain merchants in Kyoto City purchase their goods from Jingzhou. If they united to raise the price, the price of rice in Kyoto City would probably have reached a sky-high level long ago.

But there is an anomaly in Kyoto City, that is Zhao’s Trading Company.

The roots of Zhao’s business are in Yangzhou.

Compared to the small Jingzhou, Yangzhou is the real "granary" of the Daqian Kingdom. If the Zhao family really wants to transfer grain from Yangzhou, all the grain stores in the entire Kyoto City will be bankrupt!

Therefore, the Zhao family sold grain for three and a half cents, and the rest of the people did not dare to sell grain at sky-high prices.

The Zhao family only sells grain for one hour a day, leaving a way for other grain merchants to survive!
Manager Gouyou Hu looked at Li Yulu in surprise and nodded: "You are indeed smart. But you don't see it clearly enough."

"Due to the severe drought in Jingzhou, grain stores in the capital city have hoarded a batch of rice, hoping to make a fortune in the national disaster. Many have borrowed a large amount of money for this purpose. With the help of the boss this time, I don't know how many grain stores are holding a large amount of grain and rice and can't sell them. I'm afraid they will bleed. The grain will only get older and less valuable if it is stored in the warehouse. However, the high amount of loans owed will increase day by day, and the amount owed will increase day by day."

"In the end, those grain shops that still had a conscience and didn't borrow money to stock up will at least be able to survive, but the others... Haha, in order to repay their loans, they can only pay the Zhao family's merchants, who are creditors, with their accumulated rice at a lower price than when they bought it. Not only that, they will also have to sell everything they have to raise a large sum of money. In the end, they may even have to change their name to 'Zhao'."

Is it Zhao's Company that is lending love loans?!
Li Yulu felt that the door to a new world was slowly opening in front of him. It turned out that this was how business could be done?

If business is done well, it will not only benefit oneself, but also -

Benefit the country and the people!

Li Yulu had great respect for the boss behind the Zhao's Trading Company. His admiration for him reached the extreme and he wished he could be his lackey.

He took a deep breath and bowed to the Dog Oil Manager Hu: "I wonder if I can meet that noble man?"

"Oh, you can't just meet the boss whenever you want." Manager Gouyou Hu laughed, "You're lucky, you said something right in front of the boss. I didn't consider the location of the grain store well back then. I just thought that the boss didn't care about the gains and losses of a store, so opening it in a prosperous area of ​​the market will let the people in Kyoto see our Zhao's business' attitude towards grain prices."

"But now that I think about it, even if the Zhao family grain store is located in a stinking ditch, other grain stores in Jingdu City would have to send people to guard it every day. Why would they occupy a store in the market and affect the business of other stores?"

"You didn't answer the boss's other questions correctly, but at least you got this one right. The boss is willing to give you a chance..."

Manager Gouyou Hu looked at Li Yulu and asked, "If you are willing, you can be my apprentice from now on. Since you have the title of scholar, your monthly salary will be ten taels of silver, no days off, and a meal at noon. Are you willing?"

Ten...ten taels? !

Li Yulu's eyes widened. Even if he was teaching in a wealthy family, he would only earn two taels of silver a month at most. He didn't expect that just being an apprentice to the manager of Zhao's trading house, he would earn ten taels of silver a month!
What if he becomes a manager? How much will his monthly salary be?
He immediately stopped hesitating and bowed, saying, "I am willing to serve you."

"Yes." Steward Dog Oil Hu stroked his mustache and nodded with satisfaction. "Go back to Fangshi Street to get two sets of clothes. Change your clothes and report to Fangshi Steward Office before noon tomorrow. Just find someone and tell him that Steward Gou asked you to come."

……

Coming out of the market, Li Yulu touched the two new sets of clothes with great delight. He had never expected that the Zhao Trading Company would be so generous to its employees. Even the clothes for a young apprentice were made of the best materials.

Better material than the washed and starched student uniform he is wearing!
"Brother Alu, can't we make money in Laifang Market from now on?"

"Brother Donkey, will there be no more fire-baked food in the future?"

The children who had been waiting outside the market immediately gathered around and asked questions one after another.

Li Yulu said, "Okay, okay, stop arguing. Deacon Gou said that my idea is good, but it needs to be standardized. In the future, we don't have to queue up for people. The store will prepare whatever they want to buy, and we will deliver it directly to their homes. We can make more money per trip! Deacon Gou also said that I will be in charge of this matter in the future, so you can follow me, okay?"

"it is good!"

The children suddenly cheered.

"Deacon Gou also said that we should wear the same clothes when working in the future. We should buy new clothes for everyone, okay?"

"it is good!"

Li Yulu waved his hand and said, "Now, go home!"

Surrounded by children, he prepared to leave the market and head towards the shantytown area in the west of the city.

Just then, a carriage passed by them.

The carriage was driven by a deaf-mute old servant, who stared straight ahead at the road.

Li Yulu noticed that when the carriage passed by them, the curtain of the carriage was lifted for a moment.

He also recognized the carriage, stopped, and bowed deeply and respectfully in the direction the carriage was leaving.

The little boy wearing a tiger hat sniffed and tilted his head to look at him: "Brother Donkey, what are you doing?"

After the carriage went away, Li Yulu stood up and touched the little boy's head with a smile: "It's nothing, go home!"

(End of this chapter)