“It’s very simple.” Xu Kuo held up one finger. “First, I decide how these vegetables are sold and at what price. Second, I will also arrange the sales channels.”
"No way!" Shi Jixing refused without hesitation. "Give you the power to set prices? Who knows if you'll set an even higher price! If the people complain, who will take responsibility?!" He was convinced that Xu Kuo had ulterior motives.
Upon hearing this, Xu Kuo let out a sneer, "Deputy Secretary Shi, what's wrong with your brain? These vegetable prices are already outrageous; hardly anyone can afford them. Do you expect me to set an even higher price? Do you expect the vegetables to rot in your hands and be fed to pigs?"
"Let me say it again, I'm here to help Secretary Wen lower prices, not to cause trouble. Of course, I won't do business at a loss, but at least I can ensure that ordinary people can eat affordable vegetables."
"You..." Shi Jixing was choked, his face turning red with anger, trembling all over, but he couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal. Xu Kuo's words were indeed reasonable; if the price was too high, it simply wouldn't sell.
But he was unwilling to give up, and he just couldn't stand Xu Kuo. He turned to Secretary Wen and urgently tried to dissuade him, "Secretary Wen! Don't trust him! This guy is cunning and definitely has bad intentions! Don't be fooled by him!"
Secretary Wen fell into deep thought. She looked at Xu Kuo's calm and confident eyes, then at the exasperated Shi Jixing. There truly was no better solution to the current situation.
Should they take a gamble? If Xu Kuo could really lower vegetable prices, that would be a great achievement; if he broke his promise… they could always find another way. But for now, Xu Kuo was their only hope.
A few seconds later, Secretary Wen raised his head, his gaze becoming firm: "Good! Comrade Xu Kuo, we'll do it your way! Go and prepare the specifics!"
"Secretary Wen! Are you out of your mind!" Shi Jixing exclaimed, hardly believing his ears.
Secretary Wen waved her hand, indicating that Shi Jixing didn't need to say anything more. "I believe Comrade Xu Kuo will not let us down." She turned to Xu Kuo and said, "Let's act as soon as possible; the people can't wait much longer."
"Thank you for your trust, Secretary Wen." Xu Kuo nodded, said nothing more, and turned to leave the town committee office.
Xu Kuo didn't stop and went straight back to the village.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, Niu Erbao and Tan Wang rushed over as if they had seen a savior, their faces filled with barely suppressed excitement and joy.
"Master! Master! You're finally back!" Niu Erbao's voice rose eight octaves. "You're amazing! Absolutely amazing!"
Tan Wang nodded repeatedly, his eyes shining: "Yes, Brother Xu! Just now, several villagers came to us, eagerly asking if we were selling our vegetables, and offering really high prices! Several times higher than when we bought them!"
They had been worried that the vegetables would go to waste, but in just one day, the situation had changed dramatically! Those who had previously mocked Xu Kuo as a fool are probably kicking themselves now!
Xu Kuo's sharp gaze swept over the two men. Seeing that although their eyes were shining, they did not act rashly, he nodded in satisfaction. Although Niu Erbao and Tan Wang were sometimes boisterous, they were quite clear-headed and knew their limits when it came to important matters.
"Master, those people are offering really high prices!" Niu Erbao rubbed his hands together, unable to hide his excitement. "Are we really not selling?"
"Sell, of course we have to sell. But not now, and not at their price."
Xu Kuo paused for a moment, then gestured with a number.
This price is much lower than the current market's highest price, but compared to the price he paid when he acquired it, it is still a very high price, with substantial profits.
The excitement on Niu Erbao and Tan Wang's faces froze instantly.
"Brother Xu... this..." Tan Wang hesitated, "Isn't this price... a bit too low? There's a frenzy of demand outside right now. If we set a higher price, there will definitely be buyers!"
Niu Erbao nodded repeatedly: "Yes, Brother Xu, we worked so hard and took so many risks to acquire this, and we're just going to sell it so cheaply? Those villagers even called us stupid before!"
He felt resentful when he thought about the gloating faces of the villagers.
"Think long-term." Xu Kuo glanced at them indifferently. "Prepare according to the price I said, arrange all the dishes, sort them by quality, and wait for my notification."
He didn't explain further. The two men only needed to follow orders.
Seeing Xu Kuo's confident gaze, Niu Erbao and Tan Wang had their doubts, feeling that the price was a bit "neither here nor there," but out of trust in Xu Kuo, they still silently agreed.
"Understood, Brother Xu, we'll get on it right away!"
"Hmm." Xu Kuo waved his hand, signaling them to get back to work.
Xu Kuo smiled as he watched the two figures leave.
Lowering the price? Of course, he'll do it, but not as a charity. He wants long-term benefits and public support, not a one-off deal. As for those villagers who kicked him when he was down? Heh, the real show is yet to come.
Turning around, Xu Kuo walked towards his home. Back home, there was likely still a tough battle to fight.
Sure enough, as soon as he stepped into his own courtyard, he sensed that something was wrong.
In the courtyard, his two older brothers, Xu Jianguo and Xu Jianjun, sat on small stools on either side of him, their faces dark and their eyes fixed on the doorway, clearly waiting for him.
"Oh, everyone's here?" Xu Kuo greeted them lazily, as if he hadn't noticed their murderous glares.
"Xu Kuo!" Xu Jianguo sprang up from his stool and rushed to Xu Kuo, spitting almost in his face. "You ingrate! Do you have any conscience?! Huh?!"
He pointed at Xu Kuo's nose, his finger trembling, clearly furious: "Did you know all along that vegetable prices were going to go up? Huh?! You deliberately cheated us, didn't you?! You harvested all the vegetables we worked so hard to grow, and now look what's happened, vegetable prices have skyrocketed, you're rich, and our whole family is going to starve?!"
Xu Jianjun, who was standing next to him, also stood up and chimed in, his tone equally indignant: "Third brother! How could you do such a thing! Those were vegetables we were saving for the winter! You better give them back to us right now! Otherwise, we'll never forgive you!"
Hearing these accusations that twisted the truth, Xu Kuo almost laughed in anger.
The languid look on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a cold sneer: "Ha, now you know how to feel sorry? Who were you crying and begging me to sell your vegetables to you for money? I advised you to keep them for yourselves, did you listen? You all patted your chests and said you'd feel at ease selling them for money and would never regret it!"
This is a blatant slap in the face!
Xu Jianguo and Xu Jianjun choked, their faces turning pale and then red. That was indeed their initial thought; who could have predicted that this damned infectious disease would cause vegetable prices to skyrocket so drastically!
"Well...we didn't know it would turn out like this!" Xu Jianguo argued stubbornly, his neck stiffening. "We're your own brothers! Now that you're rich, you just stand by and watch us starve? Have you lost your conscience?!"
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