After the palace examination for Jinshi, the palace examination for trade comes next.
For the palace examination of the trade department, Yan Shiyue did not plan to let them write essays, but would use a method similar to an interview.
Since stainless steel happened to be available and Yan Shiyue hadn't figured out how to sell it, he just used it as a topic.
I took it to them in advance to show them, and told them that it was a bowl, hard and would not rust, and that the price would be around thirty or forty cents. I asked them how to sell it best.
Then we gave them an hour to prepare, and then we drew numbers and asked them one by one.
Emperor Ming Yan came over to interview with her, Yan Shiyue was helpless: "I believe you take it seriously! I really believe it! But when you come out, they are scared to death, and they will definitely not perform well."
After much persuasion, a screen was put up at the back.
After a while, the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince also came over. Yan Shiyue was really impressed by them. He invited them all to sit behind the screen and put scoring sheets next to them.
While warning the Fourth Prince: "Fourth brother, you can only listen. If you don't understand something, come back and ask. Don't run out suddenly, and don't ask why in the middle of the conversation!"
"Okay," the fourth prince said, "but why are you only telling me?"
...
...
Yan Shiyue chuckled: "Aye was on the list for the trade subject, he understands!"
"Oh?" The fourth prince asked, "Where is His Highness?"
"Brother is not a curious baby, he is different from you!"
Curious Baby Fourth Prince: "..."
While waiting, there were several knocking sounds coming from the hall. Yan Shiyue called someone over to ask, and the eunuch replied, "It was a man who knocked the ground with a bowl, saying he wanted to test its hardness. Everyone else called him Zhou Huiyuan."
Yan Shiyue smiled and said nothing.
Then when the time came and the bell rang, Yan Shiyue and Qu Sinian drew lots and started asking questions.
What a coincidence, the third one I drew was Zhou Jianwei.
After all, they were acquaintances, so Zhou Jianwei was very calm when he came in, kneeling down and bowing: "Prime Minister, Mr. Qu."
Yan Shiyue said: "Sit down."
Zhou Jianwei bowed and said, "Thank you." Then he sat down.
Yan Shiyue said: "Start talking, you have a quarter of an hour."
"Yes," Zhou Jianwei said, "This should be a new product made by the Ministry of Commerce. I think that if you want to sell new products, you should first consider what kind of customers you choose. This bowl is sturdy and durable and will not rust. The biggest advantage is that it is easy to transport. However, it is sold for 40 coins, which is much more than an ordinary porcelain bowl. It is actually not easy to sell."
"Ordinary people can't afford it. The rich and powerful won't buy it because they are attracted by things that are beautiful and meaningful, and the advantage of durability cannot impress them. As for pots and pans, they are usually bought by servants. They won't take care of these things themselves..."
Those who have read her "Trade Principles" and those who have not read it are exactly the same when they start speaking.
He used her language, which made her feel like she had traveled back in time.
Yan Shiyue listened quietly.
Zhou Jianwei continued, "So we have to start with the Xiaofu family. As for the Xiaofu family, it also requires some skills to let them experience the beauty of this kind of thing. From the perspective of the Ministry of Commerce, I think we should follow the example of the talented scarf of Yuefang and give this thing some special meaning. For example, a wedding item."
"You can name this item 'Bai Lian Jin' and make a set of pots, bowls, and utensils. If you can do it, you can also engrave the word '囍' on it and promote it in a way like '百年长青' to make it popular. After you get to the local area, you can bribe the official media and let the people choose this item as a dowry. The value is much lower than silver, but it is novel and beautiful, and it won't lose face. You won't feel bad about using it in the future."
"In addition, it can also be used to celebrate birthdays and births..."
"In short, only when people use it first can they realize how convenient and practical it is. Word of mouth will spread and sales will gradually open up."
Qu Sinian realized what she meant by "it's in the direction I want."
Anyway, he couldn't think of this method, but it was obviously in line with Yan Shiyue's wishes, and if he thought about it carefully, it was indeed feasible.
Yan Shiyue waited for him to finish speaking before smiling and saying, "Very good."
She then asked, "So, what do you want to say about what the Ministry of Commerce has now?"
Zhou Jianwei talked about it: "The next step for glass is glass windows, which can replace window paper and window screens..."
Well, it coincides with hers again.
After he left, Yan Shiyue ran to the screen and stretched his head to say, "Father, this year's Qianqiu Festival..."
Before she finished, Emperor Mingyan said, "As a first birthday gift for the four of you, this year, Grandpa will give you Hundred Refined Gold."
Yan Shiyue: “…”
The prince laughed out loud.
Yan Shiyue silently retracted his little head.
My IQ was crushed or something...
Tang Junchen answered the same question: "In fact, the more ordinary people are, the more careful they are at calculating. As long as they find out that this thing is really hard and durable and will not rust for a hundred years, they will save money to buy it and pass it down to their children. It may seem like a small amount, but a little adds up to a lot, and the amount cannot be underestimated."
Gu Hengsha's answer was, "In fact, in many households, servants are the ones who do the buying. They only need to let the buyers take a cut. It is not difficult for them to convince the owner to buy stainless steel utensils. Once they start selling, the quantity will definitely be huge."
As soon as Meng Yiqiu came in, he smiled like a peacock and said, "Ayue! Please give me a third place in the imperial examination!"
Yan Shiyue said speechlessly: "You are just dreaming, you are the third place winner. I didn't reject you purely because you are good-looking."
"That's right!" Meng Yiqiu said, "Based on my looks and our friendship, can't I be given the title of Tanhua Lang? From now on, people will call me Meng Tanhua... Tsk, I feel happy just thinking about it!"
Yan Shiyue propped up her cheek and looked at him: "Meng Er, have you ever thought about how you are going to do business when you are old and your face is not so good-looking?"
"I have thought about it!" Meng Yiqiu said, "I think it's impossible for my face to be ugly! Even when I get old, it's still beautiful in a different way!"
Yan Shiyue: “…”
Qu Sinian knocked on the table speechlessly: "You only have a quarter of an hour. If you keep talking nonsense, I will really kick you out."
Meng Yiqiu glanced at him.
Then he answered politely, "It's very simple. Don't make any bowls or plates. Make weapons. The Ministry of Commerce has more than just these to sell. Why do you have to sell them? Why not use them to make weapons for the Imperial Guards? Swords and knives are forged into steel and are indestructible. Isn't that great? If there are any leftovers, make other weapons and sell them at a high price! A sword is worth ten thousand bowls! Let them buy them and collect them! In short, since it is so hard and can last for a hundred years without rusting, it is best to use it to make weapons!"
How should I put it? It's not without reason.
Yan Shiyue said: "If I just want to make bowls, how would you sell them? Talk about the big picture!"
"Then..." Meng Yiqiu said, "First find a few famous scholars to use it, write a few poems about it, and then sell it. At this price, if people say it was used by a famous person, there will definitely be a lot of people who will buy it!"
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