65 Monopoly of supply
◎A good cook cannot cook without rice.◎
After meeting Xie Wuyang and seeing Song Jinyi's attitude, Zhang the Carpenter didn't dare to cause any more trouble, fearing that he would lose his job. He could only sigh that he was unlucky and hadn't been able to give birth to a son with such good looks.
After the wall was opened up, the wall was mainly orange-red in accordance with the original decoration style. I also went to the street to find someone to draw some blueprints and pasted them on the wall.
Someone else also asked someone to write the words "Tea Fate" on the plaque.
The name was given by Xu Ruolan, meaning that they were brought together by tea. Guests also came here to drink tea, so it was named Tea Fate.
They met because of tea.
After hearing this, Song Jinyi thought it was a good idea and adopted it immediately.
The shop is ready, and the next issue is raw materials.
Early the next morning, she took two bags of snacks to Shopkeeper Zheng's house to pick up the goods.
She knocked on the door. After a while, someone came to open the door. A face appeared behind the door. It was Boss Zheng.
Song Jinyi smiled and said, "Boss Zheng, long time no see—" Before she finished the word "see", the door was slammed shut.
Song Jinyi's smile froze on her face. She looked at the closed door blankly. What happened?
She knocked on the door and asked in a raised voice, "Shopkeeper Zheng, Shopkeeper Zheng, it's me! I'm Madam Song from the sweet water shop up ahead. We agreed on a price before the New Year, so I'm here to pick up the goods."
An indistinct voice came from behind the door, "I don't have any goods here, please go away, please go away." The tone of the voice sounded as if she was avoiding him, as if she was not a guest but a creditor.
Song Jinyi thought: That's strange, even if there is no stock, she wouldn't be turned away.
She paused and said tentatively, "If you don't have high-quality goods, then the cheap ones from before will do."
She stood at the door and waited for a long time, but there was no response from Manager Zheng. She peeked inside through the crack in the door, but saw that the room was empty and the person had disappeared long ago.
She stamped her feet angrily, thought for a while, and without giving up, she found a step in front, sat down on it, and waited for people to come in or out.
The monk can run away, but the temple cannot. She doesn't believe that she won't be able to meet Manager Zheng today.
After waiting for half an hour, a woman wearing a Four Happiness Ruyi satin coat, a long silk eight-treasure skirt, and carrying a vegetable basket, finally came to the Zheng family's gate.
Song Jinyi hurriedly said, "Mrs. Zheng, wait, wait a minute!"
She ran over with the cakes in her hand and asked the woman, "You are Madam Zheng, right?"
Mrs. Zheng nodded and asked her what she did.
She held up the snacks in her hand and said with a smile, "I'm the one selling snacks up front. Your husband, Mr. Zheng, ordered these. He said you like sweets, so I brought them here specially."
When Mrs. Zheng heard that it was her husband who ordered it, she smiled and accepted the snacks.
Song Jinyi continued, "Madam, you are so kind. I ran all the way here and I'm a little thirsty. I wonder if I can go in and ask for a cup of hot tea?"
Considering that she was a woman, Mrs. Zheng did not think anything of him. She took her into the house and handed her a cup of hot tea.
On this side, Shopkeeper Zheng heard his wife's voice, pushed open the door and came out. When he saw Song Jinyi, his expression froze and he turned around guiltily. He wanted to leave but found: this is his home, where else can he go?
He hesitated for a while, turned around and glanced at Song Jinyi, feeling a bit like a mouse seeing a cat.
Song Jinyi said with a forced smile: "Manager Zheng, long time no see. I came to bring you some snacks and to talk about business."
Mrs. Zheng heard the voice and it seemed that the two knew each other. She glanced at her husband, gave her a look, and then left on the pretext of cooking.
Song Jinyi didn't wait for Manager Zheng to call her. She found a comfortable chair and sat down, leaning back with her hands on the armrests. After all, she was already an uninvited guest.
"Shopkeeper Zheng, what's going on? You and I are both businessmen, and we know that business is based on integrity, and people should keep their promises. We clearly agreed to come and pick up the goods after the New Year.
Even if you can't deliver so much goods at once, you shouldn't slap me out. If this gets out, how are you going to do business in the future?"
Shopkeeper Zheng was nearly twenty years older than Song Jinyi. After being scolded by such a little girl, her face turned red and hot with shame. She took out a handkerchief and slapped her face to hide her embarrassment.
Didn't he want to fight back? But he really didn't have the energy to refute her.
After all, he was the one who broke the contract first.
He said helplessly: "Shopkeeper Song, this is really not what I want. It's really, really..." He paused, as if he had something to hide.
Song Jinyi waited for a long time, but the other party didn't answer. Every time he asked, he sighed deeply.
She pondered whether she was unwilling to say it or unable to say it. No one would have trouble with money, unless -
She couldn't help but scream, "Someone warned you from behind not to sell tea to me, right?"
As she said this, her eyes were fixed on Shopkeeper Zheng. Seeing that his expression was indeed different, she knew that she was right.
Song Jinyi thought about it carefully. He had a business grudge against her. The previous shopkeeper Zhou? He didn't have that ability!
For a small profit, Shopkeeper Zheng wouldn't destroy his own reputation. That is, he is not only rich but also powerful. Only - she blurted out, "It's Zui Liuxia, right?"
Shopkeeper Zheng had been reluctant to say it, but after hearing her guess about 60% of it, he thought to himself, "That was her guess, not my initiative."
He nodded and moved his lips, but no sound came out.
"Don't worry, it's all my guesswork. It has nothing to do with you. I just want to be clear-headed."
"Mrs. Song is smart. Even if I want to hide it, I can't hide it from you." Manager Zheng said this. On the fourth day of the New Year, he was thinking about the business with Song Jinyi, so he asked a familiar manager to get a pound of tea from Yunshang Tea House. It was still half of the agreed amount, so he told this to his friends in the same industry.
In the afternoon, a colleague invited him to a teahouse, saying that someone had a source of tea. Manager Zheng didn't think much about it and followed him.
When he arrived at the box, he found that there were two people sitting inside. One of them looked very familiar to him. It was the shopkeeper Zhou who had "competed" with Song Jinyi a few days ago.
There was another one, a woman, about the same age as him. Although she put on makeup on her face, it still couldn't hide the traces of time left on the corners of her mouth and eyebrows. She had a pair of long eyes that were bright and she wore clothes made of excellent materials.
Shopkeeper Zhou introduced him, "This is Manager Wu from Zui Liu Xia."
Shopkeeper Zheng immediately smelled something wrong.
But considering that the other party was a leader in the industry, he didn't dare to disrespect them and sat down. Only then did he hear them say that they wanted to take away all the tea in his hands, regardless of grade.
Although Shopkeeper Zheng was overwhelmed by the unexpected fortune, he also knew that promises were more important than gold. Only by keeping a good reputation could a business remain prosperous. He said, "The goods I have are all pre-arranged. If your store needs them, give me some time and I'll try my best to get better ones."
The steward of Zui Liuxia couldn't help but burst out laughing, "Friendship is as light as a feather, its price is insignificant, and it is not as solid as gold and stone."
Shopkeeper Zhou also chimed in, "I know you agreed on a price with the people at Song's Sweet Water Shop, but what's the quality of their shop? What's the quality of Zui Liu Xia? Shopkeeper Zheng, you have to think carefully about that."
"Hey man, you'd be a fool not to make money if you have it." The man who brought him here also advised: "That sweet water shop is just a small retail business, how can it compare to Zui Liuxia? Don't be stubborn."
He looked at Zhou and Wu, then put his arm around Shopkeeper Zheng, lowered his head slightly, and leaned closer to say, "Let me be honest with you. Not only you and I, but even Wang Laosan and his gang have been persuaded to sell tea to Zui Liuxia for 500 wen more than the market price, regardless of the grade.
Everyone is selling, but you're not. Isn't that offensive? You can't go against Zui Liuxia just for a retail investor, right? "
After being tricked by bribes and threats, Manager Zheng had no choice but to agree to the suggestion. He sold all the tea to Zui Liuxiang and signed a contract, promising not to tell Song Jinyi about it.
After Manager Zheng finished speaking, he looked up at Song Jinyi guiltily. Seeing that the other party was staring at one place in a daze, he called out in a low voice, "Manager Song?"
I hope the blow is too great and she loses her mind.
After a pause, Song Jinyi came back to her senses and said, "I understand what Shopkeeper Zheng said. I also know that this is inconvenient for you. I will not bother you anymore after I return the principal."
Shopkeeper Zheng returned the principal and watched her walking alone for a long time, and couldn't help but feel worried about her.
This girl is young, has excellent skills, and has ideas. She will have no worries about not being able to make a name for herself in the future. If she continues to work smoothly, Yunzhou City may not be able to keep her.
I have experienced many dangers along the way, and now I have encountered the obstacle of Zui Liuxia. The road ahead will be difficult!
Song Jinyi walked back to Tianshuipu lazily. The bustling scenes along the way were like passing clouds, as if there was a barrier isolating her from the sounds.
She thought in some confusion: After hearing the truth, she should have been panicked, but now she was unusually calm.
Before taking out the calligraphy and paintings, I had thought about making a feud with Zui Liuxia. Now they came with a move of revenge - cutting off the supply of goods.
This is not a very clever method, but it is effective.
A good cook cannot cook without rice.
This indeed posed a big problem for her, but she didn't believe it. He had bought this street, the North City Market, West City West Falling Flower Street, and East City...
When Song Jinyi returned to Tianshuipu, she immediately informed everyone about this matter. She asked one person to be responsible for an area. If they found a place where tea could be sold, they would discuss it when she came back.
The shade of the trees slants eastward, and the golden afterglow covers the entire sky. The afterglow spreads out like brocade, and the clear river is as still as a mirror.
When Song Jinyi returned to Tianshuipu from Xicheng, she was the first one to come back. There was no water in the pot, so she scooped a spoonful of well water from the big bucket in the yard and drank it with a gulp. The water stains that slid from the corners of her mouth soaked a part of her collar.
At this time, Xu Ruolan also came back. Without saying a word, she took the water scoop from her hand, tilted her head back, and drank the water in big gulps.
After drinking a lot, the two looked at each other in silence, and the result could be seen from each other's eyes.
Another hour passed, and the remaining two came back. The four of them sat around the small table and told each other the results of their actions.
In Yunzhou City, everyone who sells tea has the same answer: out of stock.
There are also some tea vendors who only have inferior goods. They heard from somewhere that their supply is tight, so they raise the price arbitrarily. The inferior goods that usually no one wants for 100 wen now cost her 300 wen.
Song Jinyi held her forehead and smiled bitterly, "Zui Liuxia wants to kill us this time, spending a lot of money, but I just can't understand why she would do this for a tea chef."
Li He licked his dry lips and suddenly said something, as if answering Song Jinyi's question.
"Sister, could it be because my third sister... Chun Sanniang, is somewhat close to the owner of Zui Liuxia? I've heard others call her the boss lady behind her back."
Song Jinyi and Xu Ruolan looked at Li He in surprise, unable to believe what they heard.
Coming back to her senses, Xu Ruolan asked her, "Ajin, what should we do?"
New hatred and old grudges will never be let go.
Song Jinyi rubbed her face and sat quietly for a long time. They had bribed all the tea vendors. Where could she get more tea?
The Song family? That's absolutely impossible.
Peng Ziyue? He was far away in Huizhou, and it would be difficult to solve the urgent problem in the short term.
She muttered to herself in annoyance, "Is there no tea source in Yunzhou that Zui Liuxia cannot purchase?" After she finished speaking, she paused and a name flashed through her mind - Yunshang Tea House.
Xu Ruolan heard her mention the Yunshang Tea House and sighed, "Outsiders aren't allowed in or out of the Yunshang Tea House, and they don't even sell their wares to ordinary people. For us, we might as well hope that Zui Liuxia will show some leniency."
There is little hope.
Song Jinyi took a breath and continued, "We can't get in, but I know someone who can take us in."
******
Liuxiangju.
After listening to what Song Jinyi said, Cheng Xia's face was calm and no emotion could be seen.
"Although I want to help you, my uncle is not so casual to see outsiders. Even I can't break the rules casually."
Song Jinyi was not surprised to hear this. Although she and Cheng Xia had a "life-saving relationship", it had long been repaid. In the final analysis, it was just a chance acquaintance.
What can move a businessman is profit. She smiled and said, "I asked Manager Cheng to treat me, not to ask him for help. I went to discuss business with him."
"Talking about business?" Cheng Xia glanced at her in surprise. "I'm not trying to discourage Madam Song, but as you know, Yunshang Tea House has always only dealt with royal relatives and nobles. The starting price for business here is several thousand taels..."
Of course, I know that Madam Song has good skills, but she can't earn a few thousand taels a year."
Song Jingyi smiled and put forward her plan: "Of course my shop doesn't have it, so I have another way..."
…
【Author’s words】
Ask for a pre-collection (*▽*) "After the divorce, the cold ex-husband was cremated"
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