Chapter 089: Separate the Sale
Xu Degui was completely confused by what she said.
Xu Huiming, however, stared at Xu Qingying and smiled. "Sister, you always look so confident. How are you planning to drain the wealthy families in Xingyuan Prefecture this time?"
"Let's wait and see. After all, the family can still make some money."
Feng'er, that girl, didn't listen to anyone in the Xu family at all. She just stubbornly carried out Xu Qingying's orders. She took advantage of the gap between conversations to go and take a look at the fur.
Xu Degui frowned, "This girl... really doesn't take the rest of us seriously."
Xu Qingying slowly reminded him, "Feng'er is not a slave. I pay her wages, so she naturally has to listen to me."
Xu Huiming suddenly realized that this sentence was a warning to them.
Xu Qingying seemed to be particularly protective of those who belonged to her side and would not allow anyone else to interfere.
Does the high degree of centralization mean that Xu Qingying's power is not allowed to be interfered with by anyone, including her closest relatives?
He looked at Xu Qingying again, but found that the man had a calm expression, without any trace of the strong attitude he had just shown.
Xu Huiming smiled and said, "Of course. You're her boss. If she doesn't work for you, who else can she work for?"
After a few stops and starts, the snow gradually subsided, and the lights of Xingyuan Mansion illuminated the evening pilgrims. The flickering candlelight illuminated the snow-white ground, and the birds were singing and dancing, creating a scene of prosperity.
Today's dinner was held in Miss Qi's villa. As the sky was getting dark, Xu Qingying appeared as the finale guest.
When we arrived at the villa, we found that it was not very big, but it was elegant and fresh. There was a table in the middle of the courtyard, with a pot of steaming food in the middle and freshly slaughtered mutton next to it.
Mutton hotpot.
The weather is just right.
Miss Qi led Xu Qingying to the center. Xu Qingying looked over and saw that there were already eight or nine people sitting at the small round table. They were of different ages and looks, including an elderly man, a handsome and elegant young man, and two female managers.
When the group saw Miss Qi leading a man, they knew that this man was the protagonist of today, Mr. Xu, who was said to have a source of soap.
Everyone stood up without hesitation. Before Miss Qi could introduce herself, someone had already recognized her identity. "Oh, this must be the rumored Mr. Xu. He's so young and promising."
"Mrs. Dong, you're too kind." Xu Qingying clasped her fists and bowed to everyone, introducing themselves to each other. "I'm younger than everyone else, so just call me Little Xu."
No one dares to raise their own prices. In the business world, whoever has more money is the boss.
Legend has it that Master Xu has a supply of soap, and this alone is enough to garner respect.
"Young Master Xu, you're so polite. I heard you're from the north. Are you acclimating to Xingyuan Prefecture?"
"It's okay, but I didn't expect it to snow so heavily in November."
"Oh, that's right. There's still a war going on in the north this year. In this icy and snowy weather, I wonder how many more people will die."
Seeing everyone chatting away, Miss Qi quickly pulled everyone to a seat: "Why are you all standing? Come sit down and eat while you chat. Today we're having mutton hotpot. The mutton comes from the north, so it doesn't have any smell at all and is very tender and fresh."
Everyone sat down as instructed, and the order of rank could be seen from their positions. Xu Qingying sat first on the left. The main seat was occupied by an elderly man with a white beard. He was dressed in fine silk and had a jade belt around his waist, indicating that he was quite wealthy.
The girl next to Miss Qi Er, perhaps on Qi Er's instructions, glanced at the old man and immediately whispered, "This man is the owner of the largest grocery store in Xingyuan Prefecture. He's nicknamed Old Man Lin. He sells not only groceries but also rouge and powder."
"That younger woman is from the Su family. They run a grain store. I don't know how she got here this time."
"The older mother-in-law runs a clothing store. She has shops in almost every county town in Xingyuan Prefecture. It is said that she has a very good relationship with the imperial court."
"The remaining few are all wealthy families in Henan Prefecture. My young lady specially called them over to help you support the party."
Xu Qingying now basically understood the situation.
Most of these people were wealthy families from Henan Prefecture and Xingyuan Prefecture. They probably listened to Miss Qi's lies and really thought there was an opportunity to make a fortune in Xingyuan Prefecture, so they came here to test the waters.
It's hard for Miss Qi to help her gather so many people.
If there were fewer people, the situation would not be fun.
The rich broth is boiling, and the chef cuts the mutton into slices as thin as a cicada's wing. He gently picks it up with chopsticks and cooks it in boiling water for about ten seconds. The tender and delicious mutton slices are ready.
Since everyone was there to make a fortune, naturally, their appetite was just a formality. Not long after the banquet began, someone impatiently asked, "Young Master Xu, I heard you have a source of soap. Is this true?"
Xu Qingying put down her chopsticks and said slowly, "Of course it's true. When we were in Henan Prefecture, Miss Qi and Mr. Zhao from Zhao's Grocery Store bought 6,000 bars of soap from me. They can testify to this."
Miss Qi Er immediately took advantage of the situation and said with a smile, "That's right. Everyone, this soap business is really profitable. Three thousand bars of soap were sold from me in less than ten days. Not a single piece was left."
After she finished speaking, she smiled and glanced at everyone, "Those of you who are lucky have probably already bought the first batch of soap. This is a unique batch, and only because our Xingyuan Prefecture is close to Henan Prefecture, we are among the first people in the Great Zhou Dynasty to use soap."
Someone said sarcastically, "Such a small piece of soap, yet you're asking for two taels of silver. Second Miss Qi, your business is really dishonest."
Miss Qi laughed heartily. "Businessmen, of course, put profit first. I was fortunate enough to meet Master Xu, so I was able to seize such a great opportunity and make a killing. But with the wealth of the Zhang family in Xingyuan Prefecture, with mountains of gold and silver at home, why would you care about a few taels of silver? Besides, just tell me, is this thing any good?"
The man's expression naturally brightened after being praised by Miss Qi Er. Under everyone's expectant gaze, he slowly said, "It really works, many times better than fragrant soap."
Talking about the effects of soap immediately got everyone talking.
"Don't say that. My hands are a little greasy. Wash them with soap and they will be really clean."
"I also had my servants buy two, but before I could even use them, my wife and daughter got them first. As soon as my wife heard about the soap, she rushed me over. She said it's not only good for washing your hands and face, but also your body. It leaves a long-lasting fragrance, and the scent is light and natural. It's actually better than perfume!"
Miss Qi Er immediately said, "That's exactly the point. Think about it, spices are much more expensive than soap, right? And this soap has a pleasant fragrance and cleans really well. For two taels of silver, you're not wasting any money at all."
"So, Young Master Xu invited so many people here, and mentioned a big deal. Could it be the soap business?" Old Man Lin was an elderly and prominent figure in Xingyuan Prefecture. As soon as he spoke, everyone naturally looked over to him. "Excuse me, Young Master Xu, who is the real owner of this soap business? Could you please invite him out for a chat?"
As soon as Old Man Lin said this, others immediately seconded him, "Yes, we all came from Henan Prefecture just to meet the man behind the soap business."
"This business is too big. Can Young Master Xu make the decision alone?"
"We have traveled day and night to come here with all our sincerity, but Young Master Xu is here alone. Isn't that too much of a disrespect for us?"
Xu Qingying knew that she might not be able to finish the meal properly.
The mutton hotpot was so delicious that she originally wanted to eat a few more bites before talking about business, but she didn't expect everyone to be so enthusiastic about making money.
Okay, since that’s the case, let’s finish the job as soon as possible.
Xu Qingying stopped eating, glanced at everyone, and then slowly said, "To be honest, this soap business is mine. I have no other owner. So I think my words should still count."
When these words were spoken, everyone was extremely shocked.
What Miss Qi had said at the beginning was that the soap recipe was in the hands of a powerful person in the capital, and the supply was controlled by Mr. Xu. When the businessman heard the word "powerful person", he naturally tried to avoid him and gave up the idea of stealing the recipe.
Who would have thought that Master Xu would directly state that the prescription was in his hands after he spoke.
How can this not make people excited?
Even a blind man could see the huge profits of soap. Miss Qi was selling it for two taels of silver but the goods were still in short supply, which showed how popular it was.
At that moment, more than one person wanted to grab the recipe.
Fortunately, Xu Qingying brought some good players this time. They were all tall and strong, with amazing momentum. When they stood behind Xu Qingying, people dared not underestimate them.
"I never thought that Young Master Xu, despite his young age, could possess such abilities. Since you have the recipe, why did you call all of us here?"
Xu Qingying sighed, her brow furrowed, but she hesitated to speak. "Well, it's just a fight between brothers and sisters over the family fortune. It's hard to say much. It's just that I'm not in a position to do this business right now, so I'm in urgent need of a reliable partner with sufficient funds."
Everyone present was a shrewd person. After careful consideration, they imagined a scene of wealthy brothers fighting for the family property.
Keeping one or two small stashes of cash in private can be said to be a necessary skill for children of wealthy families. Therefore, no one present doubted Xu Qingying's excuse.
Who could have imagined that an exiled prisoner would dare to come into the house and do business so openly?
As long as Miss Qi doesn't tell anyone, who will know her identity once she leaves Xingyuan Mansion today?
"Then may I ask, Master Xu, how would you like to cooperate?"
"Simple." Xu Qingying's eyes gleamed as she spoke of this. "My recipe will be divided into 100 portions. I'll take 36 of them, and the remaining 64 will be sold to two people. Whoever pays the highest price per share will get it."
When Xu Qingying's proposal came out, everyone was silent for a moment, and soon someone asked, "This is too troublesome. How can you sell a house like this? Why don't you just name a price, and we can buy it out directly if we offer the highest price? Wouldn't that be much more convenient?"
Xu Qingying shook her head and said with a smile, "Everyone, if you do business with me, you have to follow my rules. Besides, if you sell the whole recipe, only one person can make money. But if you follow me, Xu Zhenying, I want everyone to make money."
"Humph, that sounds nice. If you sell it to two people, then both of them will make money, right?"
"If you sell the recipe to two people at the same time, that means both parties own the same recipe. Isn't that a competition between the two? Why should I buy your recipe then? Why do I have to do such a thankless task?"
"That's right. This recipe is so important, how could it be leaked to others?"
"No." Xu Qingying dipped her chopsticks in water, pushed away the cup in front of her, and began to write directly on the table under the gaze of everyone. "This is not a one-time deal for Fangzi. I want to set up a joint-stock company."
"Young Master Xu, what is a joint-stock company?"
"Yes, I understand stocks. Does it mean buying shares?"
Seeing everyone's inquiring expressions, even a seasoned businessman like Old Man Lin showed some rare interest and came closer, Xu Qingying carefully explained, "If it's a joint-stock company, you can think of it as me being the majority shareholder of this soap shop. I'll sell some of my assets, and you can buy them and become my partners. The three of us can manage this shop together."
At this point, everyone understood a little.
"You just don't want to go it alone in this soap business, and you want others to pay and work with you."
"good."
"But it's not easy for you to do that. The plate is so big, what if someone has the ability to eat it all in one bite?"
"Some businesses only look lucrative. Precisely because the scale is so large, working in groups often yields better results than going it alone. Let's put it this way: everyone bid first. Anyone who wants to buy shares of my soap can take a piece of paper, write down their bid and name without interfering with each other, and then put it in the box. The highest bidder wins."
"Wait a minute. Master Xu just said that the recipe will be divided into 100 shares, and you will take 36 of them. The remaining 64 will be sold to two people, whoever pays the highest price per share. So, how many shares can each of these two people buy? Can I buy 64 shares by myself?"
"Two people can only buy 32 shares. Either take all 32 shares, or don't buy any."
"What if I bid a higher price per share than the other person? Doesn't that mean he spends less money than me but gets the same number of shares as me?"
"Don't worry. Don't worry. Doing business with me, Xu Zhenying, won't make you suffer any loss. Shares with higher prices will receive an additional right. I'll only tell one of the two successful bidders what this right is. Furthermore, if you still feel you're at a disadvantage after bidding and listening to my proposal, you can simply leave."
Everyone was talking about it. None of them had ever tried this kind of operation before, so they were a little unsure for a moment.
It was the young woman, Mrs. Su, who made the decision immediately. "It's just a partnership, what's the big deal? The soap business is so profitable anyway, so joining in won't be a loss."
The second Miss Qi naturally wanted to act as Xu Qingying's tool, and immediately fanned the flames, dropping a bombshell, "It's more than just making money. I heard that the cost of the soap was only a few dozen coins. Think about it, everyone, how much profit this is, dozens of times, this is even more profitable than the salt merchants!"
"A few dozen coins? Second Miss Qi, we've been friends for over ten years, don't talk nonsense."
"Why would I lie to you? I, Qi Er, will have to live in Henan Prefecture for the rest of my life, and Xingyuan Prefecture is just a stone's throw away. Could it be that I would gamble my reputation for the rest of my life and invite all of you here just to lie to you? Come on, I'm still counting on you brothers and sisters to help me when you get rich."
This sentence made everyone laugh, although they still had doubts in their hearts, but the soap business made money was a foregone conclusion. It was said that in just ten days, more than 3,000 bars of soap were sold out, and there was even a shortage of supply.
The soap business can be said to be a very profitable business.
Xu Qingying continued, "I'm sure everyone understands the logic. Everyone knows exactly what this soap is like. All I can say is, everyone needs to act quickly. If we alert the Grand Supervisor, the soap will become like the salt and iron, and if the Grand Supervisor takes over, we won't be able to make this quick buck. Think it over. If you're willing to trust me, Xu Zhenying, and follow me, Xu Zhenying, take a piece of paper, write down the purchase price per share, and put it in this wooden box. Later, the two highest bidders will come in to discuss. The third highest bidder can be a substitute."
"What's the meaning?"
"We have to give others a chance. What if someone thinks my conditions are too harsh and refuses to accept? It just so happens that the third person is the replacement, so it won't waste anyone's time."
Someone immediately suggested, "Young Master Xu, this is a serious matter. Can you give us a few days to think about it?"
"No, only tonight, no more waiting." Xu Qingying shook her head and glanced at Miss Qi. "If it weren't for Miss Qi, I wouldn't even plan to seek partners in Xingyuan Prefecture. Business is all about being steady, accurate and ruthless. When you see the right opportunity, you have to act. As the saying goes, opportunities are rare, and the early bird gets the worm. What we are fighting for is the initiative. If you don't come tonight, it only proves that the soap business is destined to be out of reach for you in Xingyuan Prefecture. The wooden boxes are already placed, please help yourself."
Miss Qi's maid took her to the inner room to wait for the bidding results.
The wooden box was placed in this room to ensure that the price written on the paper by each bidder would not be seen by anyone.
Seeing that Xu Qingying had already left, as the saying goes, time waits for no one, Old Man Lin made a prompt decision and stood up to go out to bid, but was stopped by Old Lady Luo who ran a clothing shop.
Although these two people's businesses were not mixed, one made rouge and powder and the other ran a garment shop, but Mrs. Luo had tried her hand at developing a rouge and powder industry a few years ago, but was severely punished by Old Man Lin. Although the two smiled when they met again, they were still at odds with each other behind the scenes.
"Master Lin, none of the younger generations here are as good as you and me at business. They may not see it, but you can. With Young Master Xu's bidding method, everyone is unsure, and there will inevitably be price gouging, both overt and covert. Since we both sincerely want to do the soap business, we naturally can't compete with the clams and profit from it. So, I'll lay my cards on the table. I'll write 500 taels per share. It depends on whether you trust me or not."
The price of five hundred taels is very exquisite.
It just so happens that the two of them can afford it, but other families may not be able to afford it.
From this perspective, Mrs. Luo's price was reasonable and within the psychological tolerance of Mr. Lin.
But the only question is, is Mrs. Luo sincere or insincere?
Will she suddenly stab me in the back?
The word "trust" is indeed the most interesting thing for business savvy people like them.
Old Man Lin stroked his gray beard, raised his eyes slightly, but remained calm, "I understand."
Old Madam Luo was unsure. She had originally decided to pay five hundred taels per share, but seeing Old Man Lin's meaningful look, her heart began to beat fast. She thought that this act of hers had put her in a passive position.
If I really bid 500 taels for one share, wouldn't that be equivalent to telling my competitors my bid price? What should I do if Old Man Lin raises the price based on this?
If I bid more than five hundred taels, wouldn't I be slapping myself in the face?
Mrs. Luo cried out that she had been cheated, but it was too late. Everyone had already started to think about the price. Two of the companies were involved in a lawsuit. They probably didn't have much money and wanted to buy stocks together.
Mrs. Luo had no choice but to make an offer first.
Xu Qingying and Miss Qi were already waiting in the small room behind the screen. There was a wooden box in front of them. Half an hour had passed. After the last person put the quotation sheet into the wooden box, everyone left and waited for the result while eating in the yard.
Mrs. Luo had been secretly observing everyone's expressions, but after all, they were all veterans who had been in the business world for many years, so they were very calm and it was hard to tell anything.
Soon, the inner door opened, and the girl named Feng'er made a gesture of invitation and announced loudly, "Please invite Mr. Lin and Mrs. Luo into the house for a chat. Mr. Zhang, please wait outside. The rest of the bosses, please wait for a moment. My master said that although the single shares have been sold, there is a business deal he wants to discuss with everyone later. Please be patient."
Everyone knew that the outcome was already decided, but they also roughly guessed the ending.
Who made these three people the most financially powerful?
I just don't know how high the bid will be.
Everyone couldn't help but sigh, but they also immediately started asking questions: "I offered five hundred taels per share, and I didn't even get it. Master Xu really made a high price this time. If I had known earlier, I would have just opened the bidding. At least the price is clearly marked, so we can make a decision."
"That's right. I just had to bid with all my courage. If I had known earlier, I should have added a little more. Maybe I would have gotten in."
"The highest price is probably at least seven or eight hundred taels per share."
Someone laughed and said, "Oh, seven hundred and eighty taels! You underestimate Old Man Lin too much. That old fellow has always had a sharp eye. If he sees a deal, he'll sell everything he has to make it happen. Didn't you see how determined he was just now? I'm afraid he'll bid at least one thousand."
Someone gasped, "Old Man Lin is so generous!"
"Why else would they say they should get rich? They're so bold as to make exorbitant bids without even knowing it. I wouldn't dare to do that."
Zhao Bantou, who stayed behind nearby, felt his heart pounding when he heard these numbers.
From the very beginning when Xu Qingying said she wanted to sell the son, he disagreed.
If he hadn't taken into consideration Xu Qingying's abilities and thought that Xu Qingying had never made a loss in business, he would have rushed up to terminate the transaction long ago.
Now when he heard the offers from these people, he felt a chill on his back and a feeling of ecstasy filled his heart.
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