Liu's Grocery Store.
Since purchasing Chen Qingqing's brown sugar, the purchase price has been five coins cheaper, so the retail price has also decreased by two coins.
More and more customers came to buy, and rice, noodles, seasonings and other products also became popular, and the store's business got better and better.
Manager Liu was overjoyed.
As usual, Chen Dabao delivered brown sugar to Manager Liu by oxcart.
Manager Liu greeted him with the same enthusiasm as always, "Da Bao, you're here!"
"Manager Liu, today's sugar has arrived. Please weigh it." Da Bao said with a smile.
Manager Liu waved his hand with a smile, "There's no need to weigh it. We've been cooperating for so long, and I trust your and Miss Chen's character."
Under Chen Qingqing's tutelage, Chen Dabao learned that there are no small matters in business. Even when dealing with old acquaintances, he had to inspect the goods in person before signing for them to prevent any mishaps.
He smiled憨厚ly, "Manager Liu, we may be friends, but business cannot be taken lightly. We should inspect the goods before signing for them; that's the rule of doing business."
A hint of surprise flashed in Manager Liu's eyes, then he smiled and nodded, "Alright, you're right."
Da Bao skillfully opened the package, showing it to Manager Liu while explaining, "Look, this batch of brown sugar has a great color, purity, and quantity. Please take a look. If there are no problems, please sign for it. If there are any shortcomings, please point them out, Manager Liu, and we will strive to do our best."
Manager Liu nodded repeatedly, secretly praising Da Bao for his meticulous thinking and methodical approach to tasks.
After personally checking and confirming that everything was correct, Manager Liu signed the ledger.
Chen Qingqing and Da Bao agreed to meet at the entrance of Liu's Grocery Store.
After Da Bao finished delivering the goods, he and Liu Laohan waited at the door.
Before long, he saw the two siblings approaching, and he quickly went up to them, "Sister Qingqing, are you tired?"
"Not tired. How is it? Manager Liu, are you satisfied with the goods this time?" Chen Qingqing asked.
"I'm quite satisfied, don't worry!" Da Bao said, then looked at Chen Han and quickly asked, "Xiao Han, how did the exam go?"
Chen Han nodded and smiled shyly, "Brother Da Bao, I passed the preliminary examination."
"Wow, Xiao Han, you're amazing! You passed the preliminary exam at such a young age. You're definitely destined to be the top scholar!"
Upon hearing the praise, Xiao Han gave a humble smile, "Brother Da Bao, you flatter me. The title of Tong Sheng is just a stepping stone to becoming a Xiucai. The questions are all basic knowledge and are very simple."
To obtain official rank, one must first pass the county-level imperial examination, a step extremely difficult for ordinary people. Many in our academy, for example, have studied for over twenty years without ever passing, let alone becoming the top scholar (状元). It's practically impossible.
“You’re right. Take that old man we keep, for example. He’s been taking the exam for over thirty years and he’s still a nobody. He’ll probably never pass the county-level exam even if he takes his whole life,” Chen Dabao vented his frustration.
Chen Han couldn't help but laugh at these words. "Brother Da Bao, you're wrong this time. It seems that Uncle San has already passed the imperial examination and become a Xiucai. The list of successful candidates has been posted in the academy."
"What? He passed the imperial examination and became a scholar?" Chen Dabao was astonished, his eyes widening in disbelief.
Chen Qingqing was also taken aback upon hearing this, thinking to herself, "It's really not easy. It seems that Chen Zhancai has some ability after all these years of studying."
"When one person attains enlightenment, even his chickens and dogs ascend to heaven," it seems Old Man Chen and his wife will have something to brag about again.
She shook her head and smiled, "Alright, these things have nothing to do with us, let's hurry up and get on the bus home!"
After saying that, the group got into the oxcart, and Liu Laohan slowly drove it.
******
At this moment, Li Fu, the owner of Li's Grocery Store, was chatting with his cousin, Butcher Li.
Suddenly, he saw Chen Qingqing walk past him, and he couldn't help but grit his teeth in hatred.
Ever since he refused Chen Qingqing's brown sugar, it's as if his luck has turned around. Not only are there fewer and fewer customers, but even his regular customers have turned to Liu's Grocery Store.
From then on, his business plummeted.
In an effort to improve business, he asked his former supplier to lower the price of his raw sugar, but the supplier stubbornly refused.
It's not his fault; they transport goods from the south to the north, and after deducting expenses, they really can't lower the price.
Blame Chen Qingqing; he had already compromised, and then shamelessly went to her to get the goods.
But that brat actually signed an exclusive sales contract with Liu's Grocery Store, showing him absolutely no mercy.
They even said they still had a three-year contract with Liu's Grocery Store, and they would only consider cooperating with him after the contract expired...
Thinking of this, Manager Li couldn't help but curse, "Shameless bastard, I really underestimated you."
Li the butcher, who was chatting with him, was taken aback. He followed his gaze and his eyes immediately fell on Chen Qingqing.
This young woman has become even more alluring in the months since I last saw her. He couldn't help but swallow hard. "Brother, you know her too?"
Shopkeeper Li gave a bitter laugh. "Don't even mention it. That brat really screwed me over. If it weren't for her, my shop wouldn't be doing so badly."
"What happened, brother? Tell me quickly."
Shopkeeper Li sighed and began to recount, "Last summer, this little girl came to my shop to sell brown sugar..."
At the time, I thought she was a maid from a wealthy family who had received a few pounds of brown sugar as a reward from her master. She was reluctant to eat it, so she planned to sell it to get some money.
I've encountered this kind of thing many times before, and every time I've managed to buy low and sell high.
But I misjudged her that time. That brat turned around and went to Liu's General Store. I didn't take it seriously. It was just a few pounds of sugar. Liu's General Store wouldn't affect my business at all.
But to everyone's surprise, this unassuming village girl actually had some skills and could actually make sugar.
An exclusive purchase and sale agreement was signed with Liu's Grocery Store.
The old, arrogant shopkeeper Liu became even more brazen. He sold brown sugar two coins cheaper than mine, and from then on, all the customers in the town—big and small restaurants, pastry shops, pharmacies, and so on—were monopolized by Liu's General Store.
"Isn't this infuriating? If this continues, my shop will have to close down sooner or later!"
Manager Li looked worried and distressed. Instead of reflecting on his own condescension, dishonesty, and greed for petty gains, he blamed everything on Chen Qingqing.
"Alright, brother, there's no medicine for regret in this world." After saying that, Li the butcher's eyes flashed with a fierce light. "This little wench is really a cat with thorns. She's really damn good, and she actually made us both suffer."
"Hey brother, you know her too?" Manager Li asked, looking surprised.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
