Li Wen and the other men opened their mouths, their eyes blank.
Master Wang and Master Zhao didn't say they wanted any, so why isn't it enough?
They stared blankly at Steward Li, whose round face beamed with an even wider smile as he praised, "Brother Hu, you're so sensible! There are many people in your household, so I'll take twenty."
With a hearty laugh on his rugged face, Hu Wenhua said in a carefree manner, "It's all thanks to you, Brother Li, for being so good to me. I heard that the King of Yan has rebelled, and things are even more chaotic outside. This is the last batch before the New Year. I don't know when we'll be able to come again after the New Year. After all, you have to be alive to spend the money you earn."
So, Brother Li, how about we stock up on more? The weather's cold now; one batch can be eaten fresh and will last a long time, while the other can be pickled or smoked for a change of pace.”
My sister said this is called scarcity marketing, which makes people feel that the goods are in high demand and will be gone if they don't buy them now, and they don't know when they will be available again.
In the past, he didn't need to use it because if he stocked up too much, the buyers wouldn't be able to finish it, and it would affect sales next time. But this time is different because they really don't know when they will come again!
Even if it comes, it will be much later.
Manager Li hurriedly asked, "Is this the last batch before the Lunar New Year? We don't know when it will arrive after the New Year?"
On second thought, it makes sense. Many wealthy households had been robbed, with some dead and others injured. It's understandable that these country men wouldn't want to risk their lives. If they couldn't get fresh food, pickled or smoked food would be a good alternative for the old lady, master, mistress, son, daughter, and concubines.
After all, it's not as easy to get a bite of meat as it used to be.
In the past, there was an abundance of pigs, sheep, donkeys, chickens, ducks, geese, and all kinds of wild game. However, after the flood, not only were there fewer livestock, but after the chaos, they were also robbed and frightened by bandits, making them even scarcer.
He thought for a moment, then changed his mind and said, "Okay, fifty then."
Twenty will be eaten fresh, and the rest will be pickled and eaten slowly.
Hu Wenhua waved his hand, signaling the men to weigh the rabbits, and said, "Alright, by the way, Brother Li, it's almost the end of the year and everyone's busy preparing for the New Year. Do you and your wife have any relatives or friends you'd like to visit? How about these rabbits of mine? If they're suitable, I'll save a few for you."
Otherwise, once we get to Master Wang's and Master Zhao's houses, they might not be able to conjure me up again even if they wanted me.
My sister said this is called sales. In the past, they didn't have many rabbits and even couldn't keep up with demand, so they just needed to maintain their existing customer base. But now they've lost so many customers at once, so they have to expand.
It's naturally good to visit wealthy families who want to be part of their social circle.
Manager Li was stunned for a moment, then, as if remembering something, he instructed, "You all weigh it and calculate the silver first, I'll go in and ask the old lady!"
He remembered that the old lady had once mentioned which official's wife liked to eat it, and asked him to keep an eye out for it.
The men of Shanshui Village waited anxiously.
A moment later, Steward Li hurried back, beaming, and said, "Thank you for the reminder, Brother Hu. The old lady said that Magistrate Wu's wife also loves to eat them, and asked me to buy eighty-eight to send over for good luck!"
Each one costs a little over a hundred coins, so eighty-eight of them would only cost a little over ten taels of silver. A little over ten taels of silver is a very good deal, so it's well spent.
In Guangning Prefecture today, the person you should curry favor with the most is Magistrate Wu!
Magistrate Wu had his own yamen runners and was also an official. As long as the imperial court remained in power, no foolish bandits would dare to attack or kill officials. Even if they wanted to harm officials, they would have to consider whether they had enough men and weapons.
And their residences, protected by officials, would naturally be safe.
The old lady also rewarded him, saying that he had done a good job today.
"Alright!" Hu Wenhua waved his hand, signaling for people to continue weighing, and instructed, "Pick the big, fat ones; the ones for the officials must be the best!"
The men of Shanshui Village stared wide-eyed for a while before finally closing their mouths. They couldn't help but swallow hard, and after realizing what was happening, they quickly replied, "Yes, yes, yes!"
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