Many people were surprised by the price reduction at Zhou Family Cloth Shop.

However, some clever people were just watching the show, and there were even groups of three or five whispering among themselves, because they felt that Zhou's Cloth Shop was definitely not the only one lowering prices today.

Sure enough, less than half an hour after Zhou's Cloth Shop announced its price reduction, news came from Qu's Cloth Shop in the east of the city that it had also announced a price reduction!

One cotton-padded coat costs one hundred coins!

The people who had just been gathered outside Zhou's cloth shop scattered in a rush after hearing the news, heading towards the east of the city.

Those who had been queuing to buy cotton-padded clothes from Zhou's Cloth Shop but hadn't gotten a turn were overjoyed and stopped queuing altogether, heading straight to Qu's Cloth Shop—the cotton-padded clothes there were fifty coins more expensive than those from Qu's Cloth Shop, and anyone who bought them there would be a complete fool.

Thinking this, these people looked at the big fool who had just been in line in front of them, who had bought a cotton coat in advance and was still smug about it, their eyes full of mockery and schadenfreude.

These people naturally didn't want to be seen as fools, especially a tall, thin man with a pointed face and a monkey-like appearance, who threw his cotton-padded coat on the counter and said, "We're not buying it, give us our money back!"

"Yes, refund me!"

Others who bought cotton-padded coats also expressed their dissatisfaction.

"Ladies and gentlemen, according to the rules of our fabric shop, once the garment leaves the counter, we do not accept returns unless there is a quality problem!"

At this moment, Old Li stepped forward and negotiated amicably.

"Why won't you give us a refund? You sold it for such a high price, why won't you give us a refund?"

The man at the front, with his pointed mouth and monkey-like face, complained.

Old Li wasn't angry and remained amiable: "Does this young master really think 150 copper coins is too expensive for a cotton coat? You know, a long robe usually costs about the same, doesn't it?"

Old Li was right. An ordinary robe costs about 100 coins, and a better one would be even more expensive, not to mention a cotton-padded coat. According to the saying that scarcity increases value, the real price of a cotton-padded coat is actually 400 to 500 coins.

Now, cotton-padded coats are selling for 150 coins each, which is already considered a clearance sale. If it weren't for Zhou Ziqiong's idea, Old Li wouldn't be willing to sell them so cheaply.

But some people still complained that it was too expensive. It just goes to show that greed knows no bounds. If they thought it was too expensive, why were they scrambling to buy it and pushing others aside?

"I don't care! Your cotton-padded coats are fifty copper coins more expensive than those from the Qu Family Cloth Shop, why should I buy from you? Give me my money back right now!"

"That's what the man with the pointed mouth and monkey-like cheeks said."

Seeing this, the others also gained confidence.

"Yes, the Qu family's cloth shop only sells it for one hundred coins, but you dare to sell it for one hundred and fifty coins? You're a rip-off, you really are a rip-off!"

"No wonder the Qu family's cloth shop is so popular, while there's not a single person here. Serves them right, it's a shady business."

"Yes, it's a rip-off, give me my money back!"

"You...you all..."

A group of people were making a ruckus. Old Li, who was used to all sorts of things and had such a good temper, pointed at them and was so angry that he couldn't speak.

According to Lao Li, the more they act like this, the less they should be given a refund. Otherwise, wouldn't that embolden them and make everyone think that the Zhou family's cloth shop can be bullied at will?

Just as he was about to refuse again, Zhou Ziqiong, who had been standing behind the curtain, came out.

"Miss...they insist on a refund..."

"Give them a refund, give them a refund."

Zhou Ziqiong said calmly.

"But Miss, this doesn't make sense—"

"Uncle Li, there's no need to say anything more. If they want to back out, then let them back out!"

Zhou Ziqiong interrupted Lao Li, her face calm.

The Zhou family cloth shop lowered its prices to entice the Qu family cloth shop to lower its prices, not because it really wanted to sell cotton-padded clothes—after all, selling such cheap cotton-padded clothes would result in a loss, and Zhou Ziqiong would not be willing to do so.

Selling to these kinds of people not only resulted in financial losses, but also left her feeling uneasy. Now that they want to return the goods, Zhou Ziqiong is naturally happy.

"Hehe, as expected of Miss Zhou, you're truly straightforward!"

"That's right! Look at him, he's so old, yet he's not as open-minded as Miss Zhou. I think he's just getting senile!"

"..."

These people are typical examples of people who get a good deal but then complain. When they heard that Zhou Ziqiong agreed to refund the money, they were overjoyed and started mocking Lao Li again.

"We agree to return this cotton-padded coat, but you'd better watch your mouths!"

Zhou Ziqiong said coldly.

"..."

Although Zhou Ziqiong was a woman, she had always been in charge of the Zhou family's cloth shop and was very famous in Ruzhou City. She also had a strong presence. When she suddenly said that, the group of people were immediately stunned.

The man with the pointed mouth and monkey-like cheeks chuckled awkwardly, "Hehe, it was just a joke! Since Miss Zhou has agreed to refund the money, let's hurry up and do it, so as not to delay our trip to Qu Family Cloth Shop to buy cotton-padded clothes!"

Zhou Ziqiong instructed Lao Li to refund their money, and at the same time, she wrote down their names.

The man with the pointed mouth and monkey-like cheeks asked with some confusion, "Why do you need to remember names?"

Zhou Ziqiong said coldly, "From today onwards, you are all on our Zhou Family Cloth Shop's blacklist. Don't even think about buying another piece of clothing from our Zhou Family Cloth Shop in the future!"

"..."

The man with the pointed mouth and monkey-like cheeks burst into laughter upon hearing this.

"What did we mean? It turns out they just don't let us buy clothes?"

After laughing, he said coldly, "You really think you're so great? At the current rate, in just a few days, the Zhou family's cloth shop will be swallowed up by the Qu family's cloth shop. You won't even let us buy clothes? You can beg us to buy them then, but we won't be able to buy any, hahaha!"

After he finished speaking, the group burst into laughter and left triumphantly.

"Miss, you shouldn't have given them a refund!"

Old Li was still quite angry: "These people are just scoundrels. They gave us a refund when we had no problems at all. Wouldn't that just embolden them and diminish our own prestige?"

Zhou Ziqiong laughed and said, "Even Uncle Li said that these people are all scoundrels. If we sell our cotton-padded clothes to them, wouldn't we be losing out?"

"..."

Old Li opened his mouth, but hesitated to speak.

Not only would it be a loss to sell to these scoundrels, but at the current price of cotton-padded coats, it would be a loss to sell to anyone. So when Zhou Ziqiong set the price at 150 coins, he strongly opposed it. Who knew that Zhou Ziqiong would now say that he was at a loss? If that's the case, then why bother?

So Old Li nodded and said, "Miss, selling this cotton coat for 150 coins is indeed a rip-off. Let's change the price back while no one's buying it yet! Otherwise, it'll be too late to change it back once more people come!"

According to the commercial laws of Da'an, merchants could decide to lower prices for any commodity, since lowering prices was beneficial to the people. As long as the merchants were willing, the court would not stop them—the merchants themselves were not afraid of losing money, so the court did not care!

Of course, the imperial court would not interfere with minor price increases based on objective facts. For example, if there was heavy rain this year and the grain harvest failed, then a price increase would usually be normal.

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