Chapter 55: Alliance Opening
The poor people work hard during the day and are confined at home when they return home at night, with endless frustrations already piling up in their hearts.
When they heard that it was the owner of Shixianglou who took the lead, united more than 20 owners to donate generously, and lobbied everywhere to finally raise the funds needed for opening the market, they were all excited.
To show their support and to spend a happy reunion festival together, people flocked to Shixianglou with money.
If you can afford the one-time enjoyment with 100 Wen, you can enjoy it once. If you can pay for a monthly subscription, you can pay for a monthly subscription. If you can pay for a quarterly subscription, you can pay for a quarterly subscription. There are also annual subscriptions.
Don’t worry about the main store or branch of Shixianglou, as long as there is wine and meat, it’s fine!
In an instant, the crowd poured in like a tide, making Qing Ning and the others extremely busy.
If Su Shengsheng, who has super memory, hadn't been in charge at home, Qing Ning would have really worried that these people would get impatient and swallow them up as dishes.
"The monthly and quarterly passes don't conflict. It doesn't matter if you lose this card. It has a number on it. I'm writing down my home address and name for future reference. I can use this to replace the card later."
Su Shengsheng answered questions from the crowd while helping them apply for the cards.
Although the situation was full of constant competition, her gentle voice gradually calmed things down and restored order.
The account books in her hand include a general ledger, a classified ledger, and a detailed ledger.
Even if everyone talks to her at the same time, she can keep the accounts in her hands clear and orderly.
She has divided the account books into separate sections based on the last digit of the account number for annual cards, quarterly cards, and new customers who make purchases based on the number of times, so that the accounts are clear at a glance.
Even Zai Qing, who usually gets a headache just looking at the account books, can now quickly grasp the situation.
"Miss, this is a great idea. If we were to sort them by surname, it would probably take up a hundred pages. Now, it's clearly divided with just nine layers."
Not to mention Zai Qing's constant praise, even Qing Ning, who had been taught a lesson by Su Shengsheng for a long time, felt her mind clear up immediately.
"This saves me the headache of accounting later!"
Su Shengsheng kept busy and smiled when she heard this, "We're just getting started! We'll have to distribute it to the ten shopkeepers later!"
"Ah!" Qing Ning felt a headache after hearing this, but in fact, she felt more distressed about having to sell the money to others before it could even warm up.
She hurriedly counted on her fingers, "Eight hundred and eighty-eight taels for one shopkeeper, nine thousand taels for ten, and then deduct the training fee for Shopkeeper Wan... the opening fee, the total is two thousand eight hundred taels..."
This is far from twenty thousand taels!
Su Shengsheng chuckled after hearing this, "You calculated it accurately this time."
Qing Ning couldn't help but mutter, "Even if the shopkeepers paid the franchise fee, and the main store didn't have to pay for the vegetables and meat, the eight hundred taels would be considered a free profit. But next year, we still have to bear the market fees of those ten shopkeepers, and there's no income to balance the accounts, and the customer base has been divided up. No matter how you calculate it, it's still a loss!"
Su Shengsheng listened to every word she said. "Do you think this night market is running for nothing? If we can't even make enough money from the opening fee, who would be willing to be the sucker next year?"
Her words did not relieve Qing Ning's burden, but made her more worried.
If Qing Ning could think of the problem, how could Tang Zheng and Wan Quan not think of it?
After they returned, they had their signature dishes prepared and waited for the members to be served.
However, after thinking about it, they always felt that Su Shengsheng had something else to express.
Tang Zheng was still the first to arrive this time, and he saw Su Shengsheng busy in the crowd from afar.
He asked Zai Qing to tell Su Shengsheng that he was waiting in the private room.
Unexpectedly, Su Shengsheng came back before the tea was served.
Coincidentally, Su Shengsheng and Manager Wan entered the store together and went into the inner room together.
Shopkeeper Wan was a straightforward man who didn't mince words. He went straight to the point without waiting for any greetings.
"Shopkeeper Su is so obsessed with the catfish, but he hasn't mentioned the fishmonger who released the catfish yet."
They have signed a contract that will be renewed every year. Unless someone cuts corners, uses inferior materials, or Su Shengsheng fails to distribute customers fairly, the party that withdraws midway next year will have to pay a huge fine.
Therefore, at this moment, the three people in the room are on the same boat.
Su Shengsheng was not surprised that they reacted so quickly.
Although the economy in her previous life was prosperous and all industries were thriving, those who started their businesses during the war years must have gone through a lot of trials and tribulations.
If it weren't for the inconvenient transportation here, the war, and the low status of merchants, she believed that if they were given a stage, they would definitely be able to create a broader path than her.
"Our model is to divert next year's income from the people inside the Great Wall. But if the people's food and drink improve but the income doesn't keep up, we will be unable to continue."
Although her words were new and sharp, both of them could understand her, and this was exactly why they had the confidence to challenge Su Shengsheng.
But now that they have to work together, this trump card has become a potential crisis.
Su Shengsheng continued, "Most people here hunt and gather ginseng. Even if they work day and night, they can't earn more than five taels. But what if there are other ways out?"
"Other ways out?" The two looked at each other, then looked back at Su Shengsheng.
Tang Zheng was the first to ask, "Even if southern ginseng is sold in the north, there are people who are already doing it."
Hearing that he was still thinking about the catfish effect, Su Shengsheng shook her head slightly.
She held the cup and said nothing for a moment.
It’s not that she’s afraid of revealing her business secrets and letting them learn them, but the waiting time is something even she can’t control.
The level of trust between them has not yet reached this stage. If it is made clear, it will probably lead to more doubts.
Seeing that she didn't say anything and was still deep in thought, Tang Zheng was puzzled.
He couldn't believe that she suddenly made such a big fuss just to get a franchise fee of more than 800 taels.
If that was the case, she just had to keep quiet and deal with them one by one.
Manager Wan also looked confused, wondering why Su Shengsheng was hesitant to speak.
"Have you heard that the troops at the border are going to be reduced?" Su Shengsheng asked instead of answering.
How could the two of them not know about this, but what does this have to do with their discussion?
The two were puzzled and simply asked her directly, "Please enlighten me, Shopkeeper Su."
It took more than ten years to end the internal strife in Pinglai Street, but she did it in just a few days. It is not shameful to ask for your advice.
Su Shengsheng said slowly, "We absolutely cannot rely solely on stimulating domestic demand. What we can utilize, besides people, is also land..."
"Tian?" Tang Zheng was even more confused.
Everyone knows that the fields at the Tianqian Pass are so valuable that no one would want them even if they were given away for free.
Whatever was planted was either destroyed by the night frost or rotted by the fickle sun.
Even though the Baishang Kingdom is still powerful this time, the imperial court will ignore the situation and reduce the number of troops in the thirteen southwestern passes.
This is because there is no military farm here, so it cannot be self-sufficient and the cost of military supplies is huge.
Su Shengsheng was halfway through her words when she asked, "What if there is something that can make crops grow in the fields?"
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