Chapter 536: Smelling Business Opportunities

"Second sister, what are you looking for Shopkeeper Chai for right now? It's getting dark, I'm afraid he's gone to bed."

San Ya was so curious that even ten taels of silver couldn't stop her from talking.

Arya continued walking, her voice remarkably calm in the night, carrying a subtle urgency: "It's precisely because it's getting dark that we have to go now. If we're late, I'm afraid it will be too late."

"What do you mean it's too late?" San Ya was even more confused.

Erya did not answer immediately, until she reached the small house of Shopkeeper Chai, which was next to the storehouse and also had an oil lamp on, then she stopped.

She took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

The door opened quickly, and it was obvious that Manager Chai had not slept either. He was wearing an overcoat and holding an account book in his hand.

Seeing that it was the Erya sisters, he was a little surprised: "Second Miss? Third Miss? It's so late, is there something urgent?"

"Uncle Chai, let's go in and talk." Erya pulled Sanya into the house and closed the door behind them.

The oil lamp in the room was dim. Shopkeeper Chai looked at Erya's solemn expression and his heart skipped a beat: "Second Miss, what happened?"

He thought there was a problem with the merchant warehouse or the fleet.

Erya didn't beat around the bush. She lowered her voice and got straight to the point: "Uncle Chai, I just got the news that the emperor has passed away."

"What?!" Shopkeeper Chai was shocked and the account book in his hand fell to the ground with a "click".

The emperor is gone?

This news is too sudden and too big!

"The source of the news is reliable and will reach Qiongzhou five or six days earlier than the official document." Erya added, her voice still steady.

After all, Shopkeeper Chai had experienced many ups and downs, and after the initial shock, he quickly calmed down.

He looked at Arya and instantly understood the purpose of her coming late at night - it was definitely not just to tell him the bad news.

He knew how sharp the second girl was.

"Second Miss, what you mean is..."

"Uncle Chai, this is a national mourning. The whole country is in mourning. Qiongzhou may be far away, but the etiquette cannot be abandoned. The government will issue an order, and the people will also act spontaneously."

Except Qiongzhou, Leizhou and surrounding areas are also like this.

All under heaven belongs to the king, and national mourning is everyone's concern.

"Now, in Leizhou and the surrounding areas, stock up on white cloth, incense, candles, and paper money," Erya ordered calmly. "Also, all our businesses involving brightly colored items will be suspended."

After a pause, she continued, "Also, we can make some plain-colored ready-to-wear clothes. But we can put this off until later."

"Food!" Erya said. "During a period of national mourning, people's hearts are unsettled. Furthermore, local governments may requisition supplies to be brought to the capital, so food prices are likely to fluctuate. We must ensure that our company and the people on the island have sufficient food reserves. If necessary, we can release food at a fair price to stabilize people's hearts."

When it comes to food, she doesn't take the initiative and only seeks to protect herself.

You can make some money from plain clothes.

Shopkeeper Chai listened to Erya's well-organized instructions and was filled with admiration.

It turned out that Chang Hui found him and told him to leave his hometown and become a shopkeeper. The boss was only fifteen or sixteen years old, so he resisted.

But something happened to him in the capital and no one wanted to use him anymore.

With no other choice, I could only go south and take a gamble.

Looking at Erya who was giving orders in front of him, Manager Chai remembered a phrase she always liked to say.

"Those who are close to me will be rich. Follow me and I won't let you suffer any loss!"

She is not just talking nonsense, she really has the ability.

His calmness and courage in quickly grasping the key points and planning for the future in the midst of drastic changes made even an old veteran like him feel ashamed.

"Second Miss, that's a brilliant idea!" Shopkeeper Chai praised heartily, then his expression became serious. "I understand. Don't worry, I'll do it right away! I'll arrange for personnel overnight and mobilize all my connections to stockpile everything I can before the news spreads and prices skyrocket!"

He immediately bent down to pick up the account book. There was no sleepiness in his eyes anymore, only a swift and decisive look in his eyes.

"Thank you for your hard work, Uncle Chai. You have to be quick and secretive." Erya reminded him again, "If you don't have enough money, go to my room and get the key to open my private vault."

"Yes!" Shopkeeper Chai nodded heavily and immediately turned around to call someone.

"Wait, Uncle Chai." Erya called him, her voice lowered. "Please also prepare some of the best plain cloth, incense, candles, and paper money. We will also need them for ourselves."

Only when her mother feels at ease can she feel at ease.

San Ya was stunned the entire time. Only after Shopkeeper Chai left did she regain her voice: "Second... Second Sister? Are you trying to profit from the national crisis?"

Erya was silent for a moment and did not refute immediately.

She walked to the window, looked out at the dark night, and said softly but firmly, "Jiaojiao, this isn't about profiting from a national disaster. This is a battle for survival. We need to seize this opportunity to make our future better."

There is not much time left for them.

"The Emperor has passed away, and the whole nation is mourning. This is a fact. Mother is very sad, and I am sad too.

But life must go on.

Qiongzhou needs money, supplies, and needs to become stronger in order to cope with future storms.

The demand brought about by national mourning is real. If we don’t do it, others will do it, and they may even drive up prices so that people who really need to mourn cannot afford it.

We prepare in advance, stockpiling when prices are low. When demand surges, we can sell at par or slightly above market price. This not only makes money, but also helps our own people get through this special period, stabilizes food prices, and avoids panic."

San Ya was confused when she heard it.

After a while, she suddenly said, "Second sister, you are lying."

"Where did I lie?"

"Mom is really upset, but you're not." San Ya snorted, "I'm not that upset either. But don't tell Mom."

"Just know it in your heart, no need to say it out loud."

After a pause, Erya continued, "But you have to promise me that you won't tell anyone a single word of what you heard tonight, including to your parents! Otherwise, not only will the ten taels of silver be taken back, but you'll also lose all your pocket money."

She knew that her mother would feel somewhat uncomfortable after hearing about this.

Then don’t tell mom.

She needs the money.

Their future needs it too.

"I've already come out with you, and you're still deducting ten taels of silver from me, you profiteer."

"But, Second Sister, how do you know you can make money by hoarding these? Will there really be so many people buying plain cloth during a national mourning period?"

San Ya was really afraid that she would spend the money and lose all her pocket money.

Erya didn't answer directly. She just looked towards the northern capital with a deep look in her eyes: "Because, that's the emperor."

The death of the emperor affected the nerves of the entire dynasty.

From the government to the underworld, no one can stay out of it.

She simply sensed in advance the piece of driftwood that could be grabbed in the huge wave that was about to sweep the world.