The premise of something being valuable is that it is in short supply. Only by making merchants feel a sense of crisis, preferably by offering something that is so hard to come by that people are scratching their heads and can consumption be stimulated.
Zhang San and his ilk were seasoned businessmen, far more adept at sniffing out opportunities than the more modest of ordinary people. They knew the perfect time to snag the clothes, precisely when the dignitaries were still around. Then, through their influence, they could sell the clothes and make a quick buck. In short, they were leveraging the celebrity effect to make quick money.
Jiang Xuqing's repeated refusal would only make Zhang San feel that this thing was in short supply and he had to get it to relieve the itchy feeling in his heart.
"Sir, please sell all your clothes to us." Zhang San gritted his teeth and said, "I don't want the money you asked me for earlier. I will just consider it a gift to congratulate you on your promotion."
Xu Jing's interest brightened. "I didn't expect you to be so understanding. I underestimated you. Well, considering your plea, let's write off our previous grievances. If you have any further problems, just go to the prefectural government and see Master Bai."
Zhang San smiled flatteringly and said, "Sir, you are really giving me face. What do you think about the clothes?"
Xu Jing's face wrinkled into a bitter melon. He paced the courtyard for a long time before making a decision. "I really don't have any extra. I promised Magistrate He that I would send him two hundred leather jackets. Now it seems..."
He paused, and Zhang San, understanding, immediately continued, "Sir, I'm willing to pay eight taels, no, ten taels per piece. Will you sell me the two hundred pieces of clothing?"
Xu Jing said calmly, "I'm really surprised. Where do you get the channels to sell these clothes?"
Seeing his plan coming to fruition, Zhang San beamed with joy as he revealed some of his sales channels. "I have some connections with Mr. He from Guandong. He's a fur trader, and most of Guandong bears his surname. I'm a humble servant, working under him to make a living, and I only have two sales channels at the moment."
Two is no small number. Northeast China is such a vast land; if you can control two sales channels, you can make money even without doing anything. Especially if you buy cheap leather from the Jiannu and sell it, you can basically buy it for free and make hundreds or even thousands of yuan in profit.
No wonder these Jiannu merchants were willing to risk their lives for silver.
No one can escape the temptation of huge profits, not even the saints of today.
They are all profit-seeking people, so who is nobler than who?
Xu Jing smiled knowingly and said, "Since Boss Zhang is so sincere, I'll give it to you."
Zhang San was overjoyed upon hearing this. He was so excited that he felt like he had taken Xuanmai. He couldn't calm down no matter what. His heart was trembling, his hands were excited, and his facial expressions were twitching, which was so exaggerated that it was jaw-dropping.
He fell to his knees with a thud, and cried with joy, "Thank you, sir, for giving me the seat."
"Shi Nian, get some yamen runners to take Boss Zhang and the others to the warehouse." Xu Jing gave Bai Shinian a flirtatious look, frightening him so much that he trembled all over and got goose bumps all over his body. "By the way, when will you give Boss Zhang the money?"
Without hesitation, Zhang San took out a heavy purse from his pocket and handed it to Bai Shinian respectfully. Bai Shinian untied the purse and counted it. There were only 250 taels, 750 taels short of 1,000 taels.
Zhang San smiled awkwardly and said, "I came here in a hurry and didn't have much money. This is considered a deposit, and I'll make up the difference when I get back."
"How can that be?" Xu Jing frowned, thought for a moment and said, "Since Boss Zhang can't afford the full price, the clothes can only..."
"Sir, please wait a moment. Liu Si, Wang Wu,"
Liu Si and Wang Wu reluctantly took out their purses from their pockets. The three of them, including Zhang San, counted the money together and found it was exactly one thousand taels.
Only Li He, who had come with him, had doubts. "Sir, are leather jackets really so popular?"
Before Xu Jing could even open his mouth, Bai Shinian barked back. "Why, you dare to question the Lord?"
"I dare not." Li He said calmly: "I roughly counted the nobles accompanying you, and there are only about twenty of them. Can they really consume so much as the garment workshop?"
Yes, Zhang San came to his senses and felt that he had been deceived. Because the other party was an important figure, Zhang San dared not speak out. He could only laugh and say: "Li He is right. The noble man left in a few days. How could he take so much goods with him?"
Xu Jing had long known that there would be troublemakers who would expose the trap, so he prepared his excuses early on.
"There's a birthday banquet being held at the Qin Prince's mansion in the capital. I've heard that the Qin Prince is truly sincere and his filial piety is truly moving. I've made a bold statement that I'd be happy to spend millions of gold just to please the old birthday girl, Concubine Yang."
Li He added the topic at the right moment. "Your Excellency is saying that the nobleman has connections with the Qinwang Palace?"
"Isn't it?" Xu Jing sighed, feeling very regretful. "It's a pity that I, as a local official, will not have the opportunity to witness such a magnificent and grand spectacle.
If I can be a guest of honor, why would I need a noble? I alone can drive the income of the entire state. Why do I need to rely on others?
"That's right, sir. You are truly a man of great ambition and extraordinary character."
That being said, Li He wasn't happy about having to pay. He wasn't a fool like Zhang San, eager for quick results. Short-term gains couldn't shake the Buddha in his heart; he was focused on long-term benefits. "How long will your clothing workshop last? It's not just a one-time deal, is it?"
"Of course not." Xu Jing smiled slightly and clapped his hands.
After a while, Li Guo came out holding a mahogany tray covered with a black cloth.
What's so mysterious?
Not to mention Li He, even Zhang San and others who had paid money to Bai Shinian were attracted by the sudden appearance of things.
"I am certain this item will have a significant impact on the clothing industry of Great Yan. Whoever obtains it will ensure food and drink for at least three generations of their descendants."
What on earth is worthy of praise from Jiang Xuqing, a profit-seeking official?
Could it be the golden brocade dress?
But can this thing be made in the remote countryside of Jianzhou?
Li He sneered, "Sir, please don't keep me in suspense. I am a man of limited talent and knowledge, and I hope you can give me some guidance."
Xu Jing didn't say anything and pulled off the black cloth in front of everyone.
A fashionable dress, all white, appeared before everyone's eyes. A beam of sunlight happened to hit the dress, refracting a variety of colors.
Li He's gaze changed from disdain at first to shock later, and his mouth opened as big as an egg.
He had traveled extensively for years and had never seen such dazzling array of clothing. While others admired the clothes, he saw them as a source of endless wealth.
Li He took a deep breath and said, "Sir, can I touch it?"
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