Chapter 432: New Year's Eve
The big problem was solved, and Lu Fei's brows relaxed at this time.
"The problem of selling paper has been solved, but what about books? The books sold in the Liaodong Chamber of Commerce Bookstore are too cheap, and the handwriting is neat. Books from other places can't compete with them at all." Gu Huaisheng beside him couldn't help but ask.
"Liaodong County should have mastered a carving technique." Xie Zhan didn't have any good solution for this. They could only find someone to study it and see if they could replicate it.
"Why are there so many new things in Liaodong County?" muttered the head of the Liu family.
His in-laws, the head of the Zhang family, cooperated and began to count, "Paper and books, white wine, soap and various lotions, various pills, and light and warm winter clothes made of wool, goose feathers, and duck feathers..."
The head of the Liu family continued, "When Wu Ren was in Nanyang, he signed cooperation agreements with major merchants from all over the country. The Liaodong Chamber of Commerce charged a certain fee and then supplied them with goods, making them the exclusive local distributors. Now, these new products are selling very well everywhere."
When saying this, the head of the Liu family had a sour tone. There was a man named Cheng next door to them. He was originally a small grain merchant. He went to Nanyang and lost everything. Later, somehow, he won the favor of Wu Renwu, the general manager of the Liaodong Chamber of Commerce, and got the exclusive sales rights of various cleaning lotions invented by the Liaodong Chamber of Commerce in their local area. Now his business is booming.
Xie Zhan, Gu Huaisheng and Lu Fei were silent.
The Zhang family head asked tentatively, "Master Xie, as far as I know, the people in our southern land also like the soaps and various lotions invented by the Liaodong Chamber of Commerce. Can we ask them to buy some of their products?"
Xie Zhan was extremely reluctant to see the Liaodong Chamber of Commerce intervene in the South, but he was also very clear-headed.
He knew that if he tried to stop them, it would only arouse dissatisfaction among merchants and public resentment.
"If you're interested, you can try to negotiate with them. But I personally feel that the Liaodong Chamber of Commerce is biased against the South. Even if they're willing to supply goods to Southern merchants, their requirements will be more stringent than others. They might even propose conditions we can't agree to, trying to make things difficult for you, or even using them as a pretext to reject you."
The two heads of the Liu and Zhang families looked at each other and felt a sinking feeling in their hearts. What Xie Zhan said was not impossible.
Xie Zhan pondered for a moment and said, "Actually, there is another way."
Everyone looked at him.
Xie Zhan said, "We can find someone to imitate them. The Liaodong Chamber of Commerce has come up with so many new things, and they're selling so well. This proves that there's a market for these things, and that ordinary people need them."
Shameless.
"Aren't you businessmen? It's normal for businessmen to pursue profit. It's better to have things in your own hands than to let others have them, right?"
The two heads of the Liu and Zhang families murmured in their hearts that it was easy to say, but they had to be able to imitate it.
"At the beginning, it doesn't matter if our imitations are a little worse, we can just improve slowly. Then we can lower the price a little bit below that of the Liaodong Chamber of Commerce, and we will definitely have no trouble selling them." Xie Zhan believed that there were many smart people in the world, and Lu Songli had only recruited a small group of people.
The two heads of the Liu and Zhang families exchanged a glance. If that were the case, would they have to temporarily postpone the introduction of the Liaodong Chamber of Commerce's products? What if the people of the southern land were so used to the good stuff that they looked down on their imitations?
Then, Xie Zhan continued to help them solve the problem.
Gu Huaisheng sat next to him without saying a word.
Gu Huaisheng now came to agree with what his grandfather had said before: Xie Zhan treated his enemies differently from his own people. His vision extended beyond the Southland; he and they shared common prosperity and adversity.
Over the past six months, he had witnessed Xie Zhan's efforts. His sincerity was evident in the fact that he had brought them to Nanyang and was willing to share the profits of Nanyang with them.
After an hour, Xie Zhan was so exhausted from talking that he finally came up with a rough solution to all the existing problems. He drank a cup of tea and began to talk about his plans for next year.
"Let's talk about Zhuya Island. I went out this time and asked for advice from a farmer..."
Liaodong County
While others rest during the New Year, Lu Desheng and Lu Songli are busy.
Lu Desheng is now the governor of Pingzhou. During the New Year period, he receives constant visitors and invitations.
For Lü Desheng, if it was a friend or family member visiting, he would have his eldest son, Lü Zhiyuan, accompany them. If it was an official from another county, his daughter, Lü Songli, would accompany them. Lü Desheng didn't care what others thought; that was his plan.
During the social event, Lu Songli didn't say much and let her father take the lead.
This is Lu Desheng's home ground, so he has the right to take on the responsibility. Besides, he also knows that his daughter is still restricted by her status as a fugitive of the Qin family.
Lu Desheng's different treatment of his eldest son and his married younger daughter surprised almost all visitors, except for Le Guicai and other direct descendants.
Most of these people, local officials, knew that she was the president of the Liaodong Chamber of Commerce. Only then did her direct descendants, such as Le Guicai, realize that the flourishing development of Liaodong County was due to her design and planning, and several major gains were due to her planning.
Many confused officials were wondering in their hearts, what is Lord Lu trying to do?
They also knew that Lu Zhiyuan and Lu Songli were very different in their abilities, one being the president of the Liaodong Chamber of Commerce and the other being the manager of the paper mill under his command.
After all, as Lu Desheng's eldest son, it was impossible for them not to pay attention to him. To be honest, compared to his father, his younger sister, and even his younger brother, Lu Zhiyuan's ability was indeed not that outstanding.
But Lord Lu's behavior of praising the little girl so much is still confusing.
But they are all veterans in the officialdom and won't say anything.
Some people couldn't stand it and went to Tian to gossip about her.
This person was a fifth-degree cousin of Tian's father. Her husband, Tian's uncle, was a medicinal herb merchant. Earlier this year, Yang Wei's escort agency brought back a batch of herbs from the Northeast, which sold very well. With Liaodong County's growing reputation, the man saw a business opportunity and headed to Liaodong County. Later, recognizing Tian as his niece, he began trading herbs back and forth between Chang'an and Liaodong County.
This time, the couple stayed until early winter to harvest a batch of medicinal herbs in late autumn. As winter arrived, Pingzhou was covered in snow, making the roads difficult to travel, so the couple decided to stay in Liaodong County for the New Year.
This aunt said in her words and deeds that her father-in-law was partial to his eldest son, harsh on him, and did not give him the respect he deserved.
Standing outside the door in the middle of winter, Lu Zhiyuan was sweating profusely.
Lu Xiao accidentally caught a cold these two days and felt a little unwell. Lu Desheng was worried about him, so after seeing off the guests, he planned to go see his grandson with his eldest son.
Unexpectedly, he heard such a conversation outside the door. Lu Desheng glanced at his eldest son and asked, "Didn't I give you the dignity you deserve?"
The suppression from his bloodline made Lu Zhiyuan quickly shake his head to express his opinion.
"Your second sister's respectability is something she earned herself. You and your wife have benefited from it, so what are you dissatisfied with? I'd like to take you with me. Do you think you're capable of it?"
Lu Zhiyuan shook his head again and again.
"We need to develop Pingzhou this year, and we're so overwhelmed with things to do. Could you and your wife offer some advice?"
Lu Desheng asked three questions in a row, leaving Lu Zhiyuan speechless.
Although these questions hurt, they were the truth. Lu Zhiyuan knew that his wife and her aunt had offended his father, so he couldn't blame his father for his sharp tongue.
"Dad, Tian and I definitely don't have that idea." Lu Zhiyuan almost swore to the sky.
Lu Desheng snorted, "How do you deal with a relative with such ulterior motives? I don't need to teach you, do I?"
"No, no, Dad, just watch."
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