As they were waiting for their meals, they heard someone at the next table say, "Hey! Have you heard? They say there's a good shipment of goods coming to the western market. Are you planning on checking it out?"
"What kind of good stuff? There's a mixed bag of people over there. If you want to find good stuff, you might as well go directly to the pawnshop."
"Hey, that's what you don't understand. How can anything compare to the good stuff you've dug up yourself? Isn't that the case with Miss Zichu from Xinyue Tower?"
"Hehehe, you're right. Then let's go together?"
"It's settled."
Listening to their conversation, Shen Jia couldn't help but secretly divert his attention to the table next to him. The people at this table were still excitedly talking about what they had seen and heard along the way since arriving in Xing'an Prefecture.
She also made up her mind to try her luck at the trade fair tomorrow, and to book a suitable shop. She also needed to build the stove that had been drawn in advance as soon as possible.
Soon the food they had just ordered was served on the table. She quickly said, "Everyone has worked so hard for so long. Eat first and have a good rest later. We'll talk about the rest tomorrow."
"Yes, Boss."
The food was excellent, but the portions still surprised her. Two dishes were enough for a complete meal for their group.
The next day, due to time constraints, Shen Jia split the team into two. She and Xu Zhao worked together, while Lin Yuehu protected the others. Du Yue led the team to the blacksmith shop to make the custom-made furnace.
By the time the two of them asked for directions and arrived at the legendary market, Shen Jia was almost unable to move because of his long sleep.
If what I saw when I entered the city gate yesterday was a magnificent scene on earth, then this was a hell where the sun never reached. People were piled on the roadside like animals, and not a single one was without scars.
It is normal to see them with dull eyes, torn skin and groaning in pain, and there are fawning dealers around them trying to sell them things.
"Girl! Look at what we have here. These are all good goods just brought from the north. I guarantee you will make a profit."
"Ladies, if you want to see something else, we have everything in our shop. If you have any requests, just ask directly. I'm afraid it would be polluting your eyes here."
This person even came right up to the two of them to sell their products. Indeed, no one outside was spared from injury, and generally speaking, it really couldn't meet Shen Jia's requirements.
From what he said, it seemed that they could go in and discuss it in detail. Shen Jia, who had just arrived, seemed to be relieved and asked, "Do you really have everything?"
When the broker heard that this was a big deal, his attitude became even more humble, his face full of wrinkles in a smile, "Of course, I, Li the Broker, am also well-known in the market. I will definitely have something that will satisfy you. Why don't you go in and discuss it in detail?"
Seeing that the place she pointed to was the shop next door, Shen Jia and Xu Zhao followed her into the house.
As for the possibility of something happening, it was extremely low. After all, her people were still waiting at the door, and the dealer whose business she had taken away was staring at her covetously.
As soon as Shen Jia entered the room, he said, "We need a female manager who is well-educated and can support the shop. Do you have such a person?"
Hearing Shen Jia's request, the matchmaker was a little dumbfounded. Who normally would come to the matchmaker's shop to find the owner, especially a woman? With such skills, why would she sell her body?
It was not difficult for some official slaves to learn to read and write, but it was not easy for them to be eloquent enough to run a shop and earn money.
However, she could really satisfy Shen Jia's needs one by one, but she had a bad temper and needed to buy her whole family.
In order to make money, Li Yapo smiled and said, "Girl, you have found the right place! Wait a minute, I will bring the person up to you."
The next second he walked towards his backyard, and soon brought back three people, one of whom looked to be in his twenties, with two little kids.
Seeing Shen Jia's dumbfounded look, Li Yapo's face was stiff for a moment, but in order to make money, she could even make the dead look alive.
Without waiting for Shen Jia to speak, she began to introduce: "Speaking of which, our Madam Li Shu is also a good hand at managing a shop. She used to be the wife of the shopkeeper of our Qingfenglou, and she also managed the shop herself.
It's not that after the divorce, I lost my place to live and money for medical treatment, and everyone is a little concerned about my reputation, so this is a good deal for me, a pawnbroker. Don't worry, this is a real skill."
Shen Jia glanced at the person opposite him. He had clear eyes, a handsome face, and a straight back. He did not treat Shen Jia differently because of his current status.
However, it is not easy to be the owner of your own shop.
She stared at him intently and said, "Not everyone can be the manager of our shop. We need to investigate the person a little. Do you have any objections, Mrs. Li?"
Li Yapo waved her hands repeatedly, "Of course not, Miss, feel free to ask. If you don't like it, we have other people to look at."
Although she said so, Mrs. Li really didn't have any other good stuff in her hands, so she frequently winked at Li Shu while speaking.
Then Shen Jia began to ask Li Shu questions about some emergencies that might occur in the shop, and conducted a comprehensive investigation on her etiquette, attitude, problem-solving methods, bookkeeping and management, etc.
These were situations that Shen Jia himself had faced before, and they would only become more frequent in Xing'an Prefecture. Moreover, from what the matchmaker said just now, Li Shu had her own enemies in Xing'an Prefecture. It would not be an exaggeration to say that a man who ignored his wife and children after the divorce was an enemy.
In order to avoid adverse effects on her shop, she had to take all these situations into consideration. After the questioning, she felt like her throat was about to smoke.
But Li Shu did not disappoint her. It seemed that she did have her own insights in business, and she solved the difficult problems raised by Shen Jia in a straightforward and efficient manner.
Thinking it would be hard to find someone who satisfied her, she asked Mrs. Li, "How much would it cost to buy the indentures of these three?"
Originally, Mrs. Li was listening to their questions and answers with great interest, but suddenly she became excited when she heard Shen Jia's question. She had paid Li Shu a lot of money for selling her body before, and it was because she got a lot of money for her daughter's medical treatment.
So she simply held up her five fingers and said, "Fifty taels! Don't underestimate them because they're just orphans and a widow, but you've seen Li Shu's abilities. The mother from Xinyue Tower gave her sixty taels before, but she just didn't want to leave. This is all a business done with conscience."
"If you're sincere, there's still room for negotiation. But it's pointless, Mrs. Li. My money didn't come from the wind, and you said you were ill before. Do you think the three indentures you hold are worth that much?"
Shen Jia thought to himself: Why does every broker always ask for exorbitant prices? Is it because he looks rich and stupid?
After some further bargaining, the deal was finally concluded at a price of forty-five taels. After buying the person, Shen Jia went to another brokerage firm to buy a shop.
This time they are mainly selling coal. As long as the location has convenient transportation and a large area, it doesn’t matter if it is a little remote. Anyway, they are buying an exclusive deal and are not worried that no one will come to buy.
The main reason is that the prices in the prosperous commercial street next to the center of the city are really not cheap, and the people backing it are all very competitive. Generally, there will be no buyers or sellers unless there is a situation like this, so you have to rely on luck.
Shen Jia now felt that his luck was not very good. Seeing that it was already March, although the temperature was still cold, it was much better than before. He didn't know when he could sell his products.
This kind of goods that depend on the weather are more troublesome. As soon as she bought the shop, she asked someone to send a letter to Duobao Pavilion, hoping that the coal from Yanhe Town could be delivered as soon as possible.
What she needed to do now was to decorate the shop and produce other coal-related products. As for the managers and employees who came with her, she first asked Li Shu to teach them etiquette and how to treat others.
The first thing you see when you enter the shop is the display area, which must be protected from the stove. Next is the display of goods. On one side are coals of different prices, and on the other side are stoves ranging from simple to sophisticated.
Originally, Shen Jia thought that the coal would not arrive until at least April. Looking at the truckloads of coal being transported into the yard, she felt that she had really underestimated Yan Xu and the others' communication methods.
She said to the delivery worker, "You guys are really fast! I remember it only took me more than half a month to deliver the mail myself."
"This was all Manager Wang Jin's idea. We knew the boss was planning to come to these places, so we started shipping coal to several prefectures almost as soon as the mine started. We received a letter on the way explaining the location, and then we rushed all the way here. Fortunately, we didn't lose any time."
"In that case, since you've come so far, why not eat and have fun in the capital first, and then rest for two days before heading back."
"Thank you, Boss."
Now everything is ready, just waiting for Shen Jia to open the store. In order to achieve the desired effect, she also adopted a unique way of promotion.
She told the beggars roaming around the city about the emergence of a cheaper and more effective heating coal on the market, and she was responsible for providing the beggars with food for a month.
It’s mainly these little kids. She’s worried that if she gives them other things, they won’t be able to protect them.
The publicity effect of this kind was certainly outstanding. Within three days, the entire city knew that a kind of coal for heating had appeared.
Finally, the day of opening arrived. In order to promote her coal shop, she set up a simple coal stove at the door and stewed fragrant braised meat on it. She did not believe that there was anyone who did not know the sustainable burning ability of coal.
“Crackle!”
As the sound of firecrackers rang out, the people who were attracted looked towards the direction of Shen's shop. This time, Shen Jia directly let Li Shu take charge, so it was she who stood in front of everyone and spoke.
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