Price reductions and slight price increases do not require reporting to the imperial court; merchants can decide for themselves.
However, significant price increases require reporting.
What does "significantly large" mean?
The imperial court also stipulated that any price increase exceeding double the original price would be considered a significant increase. For example, if a price that originally sold for one tael of silver was to be increased to two taels or more, it was necessary to report to the government one day in advance, and the price increase could only be approved by the government.
That's why Old Li is so anxious, because they currently pay 150 coins for a cotton coat, and if the price goes back up to the original 500 coins, that would be more than three times the original price!
It would take a whole day just to wait for the imperial court to report, so we had to hurry!
But Zhou Ziqiong smiled and shook her head: "Now is not the time to raise prices! Besides, so far, we haven't lost any money, have we, Uncle Li?"
"..."
Seeing that Lao Li remained silent, Zhou Ziqiong smiled and said, "There's no rush to raise prices. What we need to do next is lower prices!"
"Another price reduction?"
Old Li's eyes widened when he heard this.
...
Meanwhile, Qu Family Cloth Shop.
Because the cotton-padded coats sold at the Qu Family Cloth Shop for 200 cash each had been on sale for nearly a month, almost every family in the city with enough money had bought their cotton-padded coats from there.
However, after the news spread that the cotton-padded clothes at Qu Family Cloth Shop had been reduced by 100 coins, the people of Ruzhou City spread the word, and the area outside Qu Family Cloth Shop was instantly crowded with people again.
Everyone rushed to act, making frantic moves.
In the back courtyard of the Qu Family Cloth Shop, the owner of the shop was overjoyed to see such a lively scene, while the Crown Prince of Yu also came from the Yu Prince's Mansion so that he could issue orders as soon as possible.
Seeing the scene before him, he was quite excited.
At the same time, he didn't forget to ask, "How's the Zhou family's cloth shop doing?"
"Your Highness, I just sent someone to inquire. After Zhou Family Cloth Shop lowered its prices, there were indeed many customers. However, they probably didn't expect so many people, so they only left three shop assistants at the counter, which is far from enough."
Master Qu poured a cup of tea for Prince Yu and continued, "So there are many people who want to buy, but they are not very efficient at selling. Before we lowered the price, they had only sold a few pieces. As soon as the news of our price reduction came out, all the people who were queuing over there rushed over here! Oh, by the way, those people who had already bought cotton-padded clothes from Zhou's Cloth Shop immediately became unwilling when they heard that we had lowered the price and clamored for a refund."
"oh?"
The Crown Prince of Yu took a sip of tea and smiled broadly: "Did they give you a refund?"
"I heard that old Li didn't agree to the refund, but those people said some very nasty things, so Zhou Ziqiong stepped in and got it done."
"hehe."
The Crown Prince of Yu put down his teacup and laughed, "I guessed it. A proud woman like Zhou Ziqiong would definitely refuse!"
At this moment, neither Master Qu nor Prince Yu sensed a hint of conspiracy. They even felt that the Zhou family's cloth workshop's idea of a desperate counterattack had been ruthlessly crushed by them.
...
The bustling scene at Qujia Cloth Shop lasted until noon.
At noon, news came from Zhou's Cloth Shop that prices would be further reduced: a cotton coat for eighty coins!
This price reduction is truly astonishing!
You should know that 150 coins is already a low price, let alone 100 coins from the Qu family cloth shop.
Now, it's clear that Zhou's Cloth Shop is locked in a battle with Qu's Cloth Shop!
You're lowering the price?
Then I'll lower the price too!
Let's see who can defeat whom!
However, no matter how much they lower the prices, the people are happy because they are the ones who benefit.
Of course, even though Zhou's cloth shop lowered its prices, the number of people at Qu's cloth shop did not decrease; on the contrary, there were more people, and they were all crowding forward. They weren't stupid; they naturally sensed that the two cloth shops were fighting, and they had to follow along to find bargains.
So even though more and more people were coming, not a single person was buying a cotton-padded coat; everyone was waiting.
The poor, monkey-faced man had just bought a cotton coat for 150 coins at Zhou's Cloth Shop. Qu's Cloth Shop immediately reduced the price to 100 coins. Given his personality, he naturally couldn't stand being taken advantage of, so he immediately demanded a refund from Zhou's Cloth Shop. He was also determined that if they dared not refund him, he would cause a scene at Zhou's Cloth Shop!
Business owners value their reputation most. If you make a scene, how dare they not refund your money?
As for his skin—what's the point of having that?
Fortunately, Zhou Ziqiong was smart enough to return his money before he could make a fuss. Without saying a word, he rushed to Qu Family Cloth Shop because he really needed cotton clothes, but he was short of money. He couldn't bear to buy them when they cost two hundred coins each.
He finally had 150 coins in his hand. If he had bought cotton clothes from Zhou's Cloth Shop, he would have been left with nothing. But after he came to Qu's Cloth Shop and squeezed to the front, he still had 50 coins left after buying them. He made a profit!
But when he heard that Zhou's cloth shop had lowered its prices again, the man with the pointed mouth and monkey-like face almost turned green!
Damn it, I bought it too early again!
However, the man with the pointed mouth and monkey cheeks wouldn't do anything to make himself lose out. He had already returned the money at Zhou's Cloth Shop, and now he had to return the money at Qu's Cloth Shop as well!
"Give me my money back!"
So when a group of people were whispering among themselves in the Qu family's cloth shop, the man with the pointed mouth and monkey-like face shouted out loud.
The shop assistant at Qu Family Cloth Shop was also a little confused: "What money are you refunding?"
"I just bought a cotton-padded coat from you, but it turns out your coat is so much more expensive than Zhou's Cloth Shop's. Of course, I have to refund your money!"
The man with the pointed mouth and monkey-like cheeks remained calm and composed, using the same excuse he had given at the Zhou family's cloth shop.
"One hundred coins for a piece is too expensive? One hundred coins can't even buy you a decent robe, and now you think one hundred coins for a cotton coat is too expensive? Are you out of your mind?"
Because of the backing of the heir apparent of the Yu King, and the recent booming business of Qu Family Cloth Shop, the shop assistants are usually very assertive and will directly confront others.
The weasel-faced man was displeased: "I don't care if you can buy a robe for 100 coins! The current situation is that a cotton-padded coat from Zhou's Cloth Shop costs 80 coins, while a cotton-padded coat from your Qu's Cloth Shop costs 100 coins. You're just selling it for more than Zhou's Cloth Shop. If it's more expensive, I don't want it. I'll give you my money back, so what? Besides, Zhou's Cloth Shop can give you a refund, so why can't your Qu's Cloth Shop? Everyone, tell me, isn't that the truth?"
As he spoke, he didn't forget to encourage the others, but they remained calm because they hadn't bought anything!
"Yes, the Qu family's cloth shop only sells it for eighty coins, but they dare to sell it for one hundred coins? A black shop, truly a black shop!"
"Don't be fooled by the current booming business of your Qu Family Cloth Shop. If you don't refund your money, the Zhou Family Cloth Shop will definitely take your place and become the best in the world! Serves you right, who told you to be a shady shop?"
"Yes, it's a rip-off, give me my money back!"
"..."
————
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